In today’s episode of Journey Through Homeschool Podcast, Jami and Adonna discuss what a successful homeschool day looks like.

If you are feeling overwhelmed to “get school done,” this episode is for you. As long-time homeschool moms Jami and Adonna understand how getting school, chores, errands, and the like done in a day can cause stress.

It doesn’t have to be this way. You can enjoy your homeschool journey with your children by creating a schedule that works for your family.

Check out our FREE Homeschool Schedule Download at the end.

CREATING A SCHEDULE

As Adonna points out in the episode, a successful homeschool day is going to fit the lifestyle of your family. For Adonna that meant that they were all up and ready to see Dad off for the day before beginning their school routine.

Making this moment a routine in their family life created a fun tradition that nurtured the family bond.

For Jami’s family, they chose to delay formal academics until the age of 7. Until the age of 7, their homeschool day was focused around reading aloud, and a playful approach to everyday tasks that taught foundational lessons.

This approach allowed her children to build a positive foundation of knowledge around subjects like math. It also gave them a greater sense of success when formal academics began.

This approach is based on the research of Jean Piaget. This method stresses prioritizing learning through experience instead of memorization, especially in the younger years when children are concrete learners.

THE POWER OF SHORT LESSONS

From Bible to math and science homeschool parents can harness the power of attention with short lessons.

A recent study found that a successful class period should be structured in 10 to 15-minute time spans. This is the attention span of a typical student. Yet, we often feel the need to extend our lessons to feel good about what our children have learned.

Consequently, we find ourselves frustrated because they can’t stay still or are no longer paying attention. Shorter lessons that make a bigger impact are the key.

Adonna points out that when your children get that glazed-over look in their eyes, learning has ceased. To have a successful homeschool day, we encourage you to make your children’s lessons between 10 and 20 minutes. Begin at 10 minutes for younger children. As they mature, you begin to lengthen those lessons to meet their ability.

We also recommend putting your core subjects like math, reading, language arts, and writing at the beginning of your daily schedule. Our brains are most productive between the hours of 9:00a and 11:00a. When you dive into those core subjects first, you are giving your children a step to success by utilizing their natural production rhythms.

AFTERNOON SCHEDULE

By following these tips, most of your children’s formal academics can be finished by lunchtime. This allows you and your child to schedule time for personal pursuits and outings without the stress of over-scheduling.

In the afternoon, your children can spend time outdoors (for the importance of outdoor time check out 1000 Hours Outside HERE.). They can pursue interests that may not fit into the normal academic pursuits such as jewelry making, woodcraft, and so much more. This can also be a time when you visit the library, do the grocery shopping, and run those errands that always need to be done to keep the house running smoothly.

OUR BEST ADVICE

Creating a successful homeschool day is achievable. By taking the tips we have provided here and inputting them into your family life, you can enjoy your days and your children. Our best advice, remember that you are not recreating the “school” in your home. You are living life with your children. This means that everything you do is a learning experience for them.

If you are new to homeschooling, creating a schedule that works can take time. Don’t rush the process. Don’t get discouraged if today doesn’t work. Keep implementing piece by piece, and you will see the results you are hoping for. Reach out to another homeschool mom, or reach out to ECA, we are here to help.

Download the Typical Homeschool Day Schedule. This resource will help you get on track to a successful homeschool day.