Scheduling for your homeschool can be intimidating. Especially, when you’re not a schedule kinda girl. So, what is a simple yet effective planning method for your homeschool? I’m gonna share my secret with you.
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Scheduling for Your Homeschool When You’re Not a Schedule Kinda Girl
As a homeschool mom, I get to decide how our homeschool looks and feels.
I’m the boss, applesauce!
Wait. That means I’m in charge! I’ve got to plan our homeschool days and make sure we’re learning everything we’re supposed to learn!
Here’s the thing. I’m not really a scheduler or a planner. We keep a loose rhythm as opposed to a strict schedule. We have a more relaxed homeschool full of enriching opportunities for learning. I like to call them rabbit trails of learning. But I don’t always plan them.
I’m more of a fly by the seat of your pants kinda girl.
I’ve tried all sorts of planners and schedules. And they just end up piling up and collecting dust. Sure, I start out with great intentions, and I may even manage to use my big, fancy, expensive scheduler for all of a week! But then I always go back to my old reliable method.
A simple notebook.
The Power of a Notebook
I plan ahead and behind for our homeschool schedule. I never realized that’s what I was doing until I heard Julie Bogart of Brave Writer mention it! The Brave Writer Lifestyle encourages flexibility, connection, and engaged learning. It is the core of our Language Arts program.
I keep our weekly homeschool flow simple, smooth, and intentional by including things in our core learning like Copywork, Dictation, Math, and Reading. I’ve written about all of the homeschool resources and curriculum we will be using this year for you to look at and gain inspiration.
We also have a bi-weekly schedule of Art, Poetry Teatime, Nature Study, and Music Appreciation.
Right now I’m, also working a looping schedule of History, Geography, Science, and Foreign Language.
That’s the planning ahead part.
But this planning ahead is only on a week by week or bi-weekly basis. Anything farther into the future is a wash.
Why?
We follow our children’s interests. We are constantly following those rabbit trails of learning and going off the map into routes unknown.
Remember, scheduling your homeschool is just having an idea of what you want to cover. It’s not written in stone.
Everything else is following our interests.
Which means that I write down what my kiddos are doing AFTER they do it!
That’s the planning behind part.
And that could include all the books they read, audiobooks, games, the Curiosity Stream documentaries they watch, the random science experiments they do.
Perhaps you have a day spent away from home at co-op, the library, or 4H horse club. So, you have another day with extra math. Or you spend an entire day on art! You can do whatever works for you! Just jot everything down in your notebook.
You can pop over to our Instagram account and watch our stories to get a really good Day in the Life view of what we do around here. Every day is different. Every day there is learning, and that’s part of the beauty of our homeschool.
Sometimes it’s hard to “schedule” some of the awesome learning that happens around here!
Follow Your Child’s Interests
Last week our air-conditioner went out. Hubby called the AC guys and they promptly arrived to try and figure out the problem. After about an hour they concluded that the wall mount was bad. So, they replaced it. My son eagerly asked if he might have the old wall mount. I was fine with it, so the AC guy handed it over to him.
My son spent the next two hours tearing the wall mount apart piece by piece. Then he spent another hour putting it all back together.
When he was done he had a working wall mount.
You just can’t schedule for an educational experience like that.
You Don’t Have to Learn Everything Right Now
We want our kids to follow their interests. So, when my kids show an interest in something I’ll look for documentaries (Curiosity Stream is a favorite), Google facts, and go to the library for books on the subject. Then I’ll see if there’s a game or art that may fit the interest.
I want to leave space in our homeschool for all the things that aren’t planned, and for new interests. If we don’t get to something planned then I may move it to another day or another week depending on our rhythm and schedule.
Sometimes I cross subjects out altogether!
…GASP!
Interests change. But we’ll get to most everything eventually. You’d be surprised at all the things you cover when tumbling down rabbit holes of learning!
Scheduling for your homeschool doesn’t have to be intimidating. Using a notebook can help keep your homeschool planning under control while also allowing for loads of beautiful connection with your kids.
*If you need help with creating a portfolio for your child then be sure to check out my friend Cait’s post:
HOW TO MAKE A HOMESCHOOL PORTFOLIO
You may also enjoy:
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Self-Care for the Introverted Homeschool Mom
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Leaving Space in Our Homeschool Year
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When You’ve Lost Your Homeschool Rhythm
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Homeschooling with Joy and Sometimes on Impulse
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The Importance of Imaginative Play in Early Childhood
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When You Can’t Do Everything: Overcoming Homeschool Burnout
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Growing in Our Everyday Moments of Homeschool
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