Daily Schedule Routine Ideas

Here are some things to consider as you create your daily schedule or routine.

What time of day are you and your kids strongest?

Go with your strengths and set up your school day for when you and especially your kids are at your collective best. Homeschooling gives you lots of freedom to choose, particularly what time of day you start and when you call it quits.

What activities take the most energy?

If Math is a breeze, but Language Arts is a little slower going, be strategic in when you cover each subject. There are several options. Perhaps you start easy to get some traction on the day. Or maybe you tackle the tougher topic first so that the hard stuff is out of the way. Eat the frog, as they say.

Test out the different theories and see what works best for you. It may be that you just mix it up from day to day.

Are you including regular breaks and “fun school”?

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Make sure that you are including snack breaks, “recess,” and some more “fun” educational activities throughout the day.

Play a game like Bingo, Boggle, or Trivial Pursuit Family Edition. Watch a short video on the topic of history you’re currently studying. Mix up the media that you use for learning.

Get everyone outside several times a day. Consider taking a walk around the block to get the blood pumping and the lungs refreshed. Everyone will feel better for it and concentration will be improved.

Have you scheduled quitting time?

Try to consider each day like it’s a typical school day. Get dressed, showered and ready to go by a specific time frame each morning. And generally have an official quitting time.If someone’s been lagging throughout the day, then they can do “homework” later in the evening and miss out on some of their free time.

Sample of a schedule for kids at home

Mondays-Thursdays Daily Schedule:

8:00am - brush teeth, get dressed (do not stay in PJ’s all day)
8:30am – Breakfast
9:00am – Calendar time & going over the schedule for the day
9:45am – Math game/flashcards
10:15am – Phonics game/flashcards
10:30am – Snack/watch YouTube video
10:45am – Reading (listen to a chapter-audiobook, read silently)
11:15am – Handwriting (practice writing letters with shaving cream, journal, note to friend/family member)
11:45am – Social Studies/History (Have a weekly topic that you read or watch documentaries about-historical figure/event-then act out in a play, create songs, make projects about it)
12:15pm – Lunch/game in backyard, trampoline, hide and go seek around house
1:15pm – Science (Have a weekly topic you read about or watch documentaries about-space, dinosaurs, chemistry/make slime)
2:15pm – School day ends, afterschool snack and free time until 4pm
4:00pm-chores/clean up room/learning area, feed pets, finish school projects that weren’t completed as homework
5:00pm - 5:30pm Dinner
6:00pm - 8:00pm free time, game night, have dessert and watch movie, call/text friends, play outside/walks/take bath/shower, lay out clothes, materials for next day
8:00pm - 8:30pm Get ready for bed, read together or individually, listen to music or audio books

Some ideas for your 5th day/Friday: