• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Nourishing My Scholar

  • Home
  • Start Here
    • 10 Things You Need to Know to Homeschool
    • Scheduling for Your Homeschool When You’re Not a Schedule Kinda Girl
    • Leaving Space in Our Homeschool Year
    • Self-Care for the Introverted Homeschool Mom
    • Are We Still Unschooling?
    • Our Eclectic Homeschool Curriculum Choices 2018-2019
    • When You’ve Lost Your Homeschool Rhythm
    • 10 Easy Ideas for Spending One-On-One Time With Your Child
    • The Importance of Imaginative Play in Early Childhood
    • Playing with Language Games Your Kids will Love
    • When Children Choose Math Books
    • The Best Spelling Curriculum for Hands-On Learners
  • Homeschool
    • Favorite Resources
      • 10 Things You Need to Know to Homeschool
      • A Homeschool Day in the Life
      • Top 10 Posts of 2016 for Nourishing My Scholar
      • Geography Through Stories: Around the World Stories
      • Foreign Languages for Kids
      • The Benefits of Guitar Lessons with Gentle Guitar
      • Eclectic Homeschooling Curriculum: Pre-K and 4th Grade
      • Back to “School”
      • Inspiring a Love of Reading with the Love of Animals
      • 8 Tips for Nature Study
      • Traveling with Kids: Remember to Bring Audio Books & a Big Travel Mug of Patience
      • 5 Life Lessons We Learned from the Harry Potter Books
    • Printable
      • Harry Potter Origami Sorting Hat Fortune Teller
      • Printable Harry Potter Valentines
      • Wizard Math Printable Multiplication Board Game
      • Nature Game Cootie Catcher
    • Books
      • 35 Favorite Read Aloud Books
      • 20 Books for Kids Not Ready for Harry Potter
      • 25 Books Your Child Should Read After Harry Potter
      • Becoming A Family Of Brave Writers
      • 12 Children’s Books about Love
    • Gift Ideas
      • 20 Awesome Harry Potter Gift Ideas
      • Gift Ideas for Kids who Love SCIENCE
      • 50 Favorite Games The Whole Family Will Love
      • 30 Super Cool STAR WARS Gifts
      • Top 20 Doctor Who Gift Ideas
      • Fun Gilmore Girls Gift Ideas
    • Encouragement
      • Homeschooling with Joy and Sometimes on Impulse
      • The Importance of Imaginative Play in Early Childhood
      • When You Can’t Do Everything: Overcoming Homeschool Burnout
      • Helping Our Perfectionist Child
      • The Pressure to be the Perfect Homeschool Mom
      • Through the Lens of My Toddler
      • What If I Acted Like My Toddler
    • Fall/Winter
      • Our Favorite Fall Books
      • Pumpkin Painting & Halloween Picture Books
      • Halloween Poetry Teatime Picnic
      • Winter Solstice Activities & Books
      • Hogwarts Gingerbread Castle
      • Frozen Bubble Fun for Kids and Books About Snow
      • 12 Children’s Books about Love
    • Spring/Summer
      • Solar Oven S’mores
      • Summer Reading for the Homeschool Mom
      • Natural Learning Opportunities on a Beach Vacation
      • Gardening Books and Activities for Kids
      • Easter Egg Dyes with All Natural Ingredients and Flower Stencils
      • Umbrella Easter Baskets
    • Foreign Languages for Kids
    • Go Squish Cardgame: A Fun Way to Learn Spanish
    • Why Teach A Foreign Language To Your Kids
    • Subjects
      • Math
        • When Children Choose Math Books
        • Smartick Math: Because Math Should Be Fun
        • Learning Math with our Favorite Games and Apps
      • Science
        • Backyard Biology: Birds for Kids
        • Backyard Biology Insects for Kids
        • Kids’ Books about Galileo
        • Kids Books about Marie Curie to Inspire Your Little Scientist
        • Fun Brain Activities for Kids
        • Easy Rubber Egg Experiment
        • Borax Crystal Snowflakes
        • Make Maple Syrup Snow Candy
      • Reading
        • Poetry Tea Time and the Brave Writer Lifestyle
        • A Fun & Interactive Online Reading Program
      • Writing
        • Becoming A Family Of Brave Writers
      • Nature
        • 8 Tips for Nature Study
        • Get Outside & Learn
        • Hiking Along Horse Creek
        • Celebrating Earth Day in the Rain
        • Making Nature Fairies
        • Winter Hike with Friends
        • Our Family Hike at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve and My New Camera!
      • History
        • Hands On History with History Unboxed
        • Time Capsule: Medieval England Unit Study
        • Hands on History with Project Passport
      • Art
        • Chalk Pastels for Kids
        • Medieval Chalk Pastels: Video Art Course
        • Incorporating Art into our Homeschool: Mixing with the Masters
      • Music
        • Bring Music Lessons into Your Home with Gentle Guitar
        • Christmas Carol Study with SQUILT
      • Fieldtrip
        • Our Day at the Knoxville Zoo
        • Zoo Day!
        • Our Day at Zoo Atlanta
        • Our Day at the Chattahoochee Nature Center
      • Farmschooling
        • 4 Reasons We Got Goats
        • Our Week in Review: Including Gardening, Chickens, and Reading
        • Our First Week on the Farm
        • Our Holiday on the Farm
        • Our Farm Vacation
        • Farm Life
      • A Day in the Life Series
        • A Homeschool Day in the Life
        • A Day in the Life of an Unschooled Scientist
      • A Week in the Life Series
  • Books
    • 12 Books to Help Children with Death, Grief, and Loss
    • 35 Favorite Read Aloud Books
    • 20 Books for Kids Not Ready for Harry Potter
    • 25 Books Your Child Should Read After Harry Potter
    • 70 Favorite Audio Books For Kids
    • 20 Creepy Crawly Snake Books
    • When Children Choose Math Books
    • A Picture Book About Temple Grandin
    • Kids’ Books about Galileo
    • Winter Solstice Activities & Books
    • Summer Reading for the Homeschool Mom
    • 16 Ocean and Sea Creature Books Your Kids will Love
  • Shop
    • Printable
      • 5 Days of Harry Potter Inspired Fun
      • Harry Potter Origami Sorting Hat Fortune Teller
      • Printable Harry Potter Valentines
      • Wizard Math Printable Multiplication Board Game
      • Nature Game Cootie Catcher
    • Gift Ideas
      • Gift Ideas for Kids who Love SCIENCE
      • 20 Awesome Harry Potter Gift Ideas
      • 30 Super Cool STAR WARS Gifts
      • Top 20 Doctor Who Gift Ideas
      • Fun Gilmore Girls Gift Ideas
  • Review
    • Learning Outdoor Adventure Skills with THiNK OUTSiDE BOXES
    • World War II Hands-On American History
    • Playful Pet Portraits for Animal Loving Kids
    • Exploring Fairies and Fairy Gardens with Kids
    • Fantastic Online Art Lessons with Masterpiece Society Studio
    • Foreign Languages for Kids
    • Hands on History with Project Passport
    • Explore the 5 Senses with the Know Yourself Adventure Series
    • Incorporating Art into our Homeschool: Mixing with the Masters
  • Subscriber Bonuses
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure Statement
    • Cookie Policy
You are here: Home / Homeschool / Scheduling for Your Homeschool When You’re Not a Schedule Kinda Girl

Scheduling for Your Homeschool When You’re Not a Schedule Kinda Girl

September 21, 2018 by Erin Vincent 11 Comments

Pin152
Share129
Tweet4
Share
285 Shares

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.
Scheduling Your Homeschool When You're Not a Schedule Kinda Girl

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure statement for more information.

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.

Scheduling for Your Homeschool When You're Not a Schedule Kinda Girl
You can see the things I’ve got planned for Thursday. But there will be additional entries as the kids dive into different subjects of interest.

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!

Scheduling Your Homeschool When You're Not a Schedule Kinda Girl

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.
Scheduling for Your Homeschool When You're Not a Schedule Kinda Girl

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

Scheduling Your Homeschool When You're Not a Schedule Kinda Girl

You may also enjoy:

  • Self-Care for the Introverted Homeschool Mom

  • Leaving Space in Our Homeschool Year

  • When You’ve Lost Your Homeschool Rhythm

  • Homeschooling with Joy and Sometimes on Impulse

  • The Importance of Imaginative Play in Early Childhood

  • When You Can’t Do Everything: Overcoming Homeschool Burnout

  • Growing in Our Everyday Moments of Homeschool

Pin152
Share129
Tweet4
Share
285 Shares

Filed Under: Favorite Resources, Homeschool Tagged With: Brave Writer, follow their interest, follow their interests, homeschool planning, homeschool schedule, homeschool scheduling, Not a Schedule, planing, planing our homeschool, planning notebook, planning your homeschool, scheduling for your homeschool, Scheduling for Your Homeschool When You're Not a Schedule Kinda Girl, Scheduling Your Homeschool, Scheduling Your Homeschool When You're Not a Schedule Kinda Girl

About Erin Vincent

Erin is a writer, blogger, and homeschooler to two intense kids. She loves nature, farm life, good books, knitting, new pens, and hot coffee. Erin is a contributing writer for Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers. Her work has also been featured on Simple Homeschool and Book Shark.

Reader Interactions

Trackbacks

  1. 10 Things You Need to Know to Homeschool ~ Nourishing My Scholar says:
    June 18, 2019 at 2:13 pm

    […] Scheduling for Your Homeschool When You’re Not a Schedule Kinda Girl […]

    Reply
  2. When You've Lost Your Homeschool Rhythm ~ Nourishing My Scholar says:
    March 23, 2019 at 3:37 pm

    […] Scheduling for Your Homeschool When You’re Not a Schedule Kinda Girl […]

    Reply
  3. The Pressure to be the Perfect Homeschool Mom ~ Nourishing My Scholar says:
    February 8, 2019 at 11:14 am

    […] Scheduling for Your Homeschool When You’re Not a Schedule Kinda Girl […]

    Reply
  4. Keeping Your Happy through Winter ~ Nourishing My Scholar says:
    January 1, 2019 at 11:21 am

    […] Scheduling for Your Homeschool When You’re Not a Schedule Kinda Girl […]

    Reply
  5. Homeschooling with Joy and Sometimes on Impulse ~ Nourishing My Scholar says:
    December 31, 2018 at 8:51 am

    […] Scheduling for Your Homeschool When You’re Not a Schedule Kinda Girl […]

    Reply
  6. When You Can't Do Everything: Overcoming Homeschool Burnout ~ Nourishing My Scholar says:
    November 15, 2018 at 10:27 am

    […] Scheduling for Your Homeschool When You’re Not a Schedule Kinda Girl […]

    Reply
  7. Homeschool Strewing as Part of a Child-Led Education ~ Nourishing My Scholar says:
    October 14, 2018 at 2:11 pm

    […] Scheduling for Your Homeschool When You’re Not a Schedule Kinda Girl […]

    Reply
  8. TypeKids : A Fun Online Touch Typing Program for Kids ~ Nourishing My Scholar says:
    October 7, 2018 at 1:31 pm

    […] Scheduling for Your Homeschool When You’re Not a Schedule Kinda Girl […]

    Reply
  9. Our Homeschool Week in Review: September 24 – 30 – Blossom & Root says:
    October 5, 2018 at 12:29 pm

    […] to document learning, rather than focusing on planning ahead–the more traditional approach. (Click here to read that post.) In homeschools where interest-led learning is prominent, or if your family is like ours and tends […]

    Reply
  10. Self-Care for the Introverted Homeschool Mom ~ Nourishing My Scholar says:
    September 23, 2018 at 11:57 am

    […] Scheduling for Your Homeschool When You’re Not a Schedule Kinda Girl […]

    Reply
  11. Our Eclectic Homeschool Curriculum Choices 2018-2019 ~ Nourishing My Scholar says:
    September 21, 2018 at 8:01 am

    […] Scheduling for Your Homeschool When You’re Not a Schedule Kinda Girl […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Welcome! I'm Erin, a homeschooling mom to two very intense kids. Every day I try to find what works best for me and my family. My blog is filled with information to help you explore a child led education while making meaningful connections with your children. Discover favorite read alouds, seasonal books, games, art projects, hands-on activities, and learn to just breathe through the ups and downs of life. I hope these posts will encourage you on your homeschool adventure.

Search

Follow Us Online

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • StumbleUpon
  • Twitter

Subscribe to Updates

Chalk Pastel Video Art Lessons

Join the fun at ChalkPastel.com!

THiNK OUTSiDE BOXES: Outdoor Curriculum and Survival Skills

Subscribe at Think Outside Boxes

Our Favorite Homeschooling Resources on AMAZON

Our Favorite Homeschooling Resources on AMAZON

Copyright © 2021 · News Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in