Kristy Cammell It’s overwhelming, isn’t it? The sheer volume of homeschool tips, ideas and suggestions that you can find with a simple google search? I know, and I’m here to help answer your questions. How do you find the best homeschool rhythm for you and your family? And how do you even start to figure out what kind of daily rhythm will suit you all best?
First of all – remember that your homeschool rhythm can include anything at all that you use for learning. It includes formal curriculum, as well as resources that you keep in your home, activities that you attend, hobbies that you cultivate and even the shared housework that helps to keep your the house running.
And the reality is that learning never stops!
Here are three key ways to figure out the homeschool rhythm that will suit your family best, right now.
ONE: consider your natural rhythms
First of all, before you even begin to think about curriculum or anything else you’re planning to add in, you need to consider the natural pattern of your days. That is, the rhythms that you already have.
Weigh up what is already happening with rhythms that you want your homeschooling to follow, and the shape you think your days will take. Or that you’d like your days to take. (Side note: don’t make lots of big changes all at once. Start small and sustainable to establish new rhythms.)
Some questions to ask yourself as you consider your natural rhythms:
- Do your days start at a typical time, or follow a typical pattern?
- Do you naturally eat some or all meals together?
- Are you early risers or night owls, or a mixture of the two?
- Do you already read aloud together, or would you like to?
- Do you (or your kids) have more energy at a particular time of day?
- Do you have any nap times or other external factors to work around?
- Is there one thing you’d like to implement, or change?
Your days and weeks don’t necessarily need to follow a set schedule or timetable (unless that’s the way you roll, or that’s what suits the requirements in your country). And let’s be honest: some days won’t follow the pattern you plan for at all, because that’s just the way life goes sometimes.
But you’ll still find that it helps to recognise the patterns that your days already have, and utilise them for your homeschooling. Is there something that you typically do before, after or during breakfast? Before, after or during lunch? Before, after or during dinner?
Those are natural rhythms that you can identify and build your daily homeschooling rhythm around. Remember too, that those rhythms will naturally be different on days that include activities or outings.
Noticing your natural rhythms first will help you to find ways to include what already works for you. That will help you all settle into what homeschooling looks like for you, and bring a greater sense of peace to your days.
Bottom line? You get to pick when, and how, any formal learning occurs. And you get to notice all the life learning that is going on in between!
TWO: consider the season you’re in
When you’re looking at homeschool rhythms for your family, it’s important to factor in the season that you’re in. Both you personally, and your whole family.
My family has been through many challenging seasons during our homeschool years so far. Illness, hospital stays, a house fire, a flood… the list goes on. One lesson I’ve learned? Finding grace for the season you’re in is something that will set you up for success, no matter what happens. It helps you recognise the beauty that can be found, even in the hard times.
If you’re in a season of babies or toddlers, you’ll want to allow for the flexibility you need, and perhaps consider incorporate some more independent learning for your older kids if their ages are spread.
If you’re in a hard season, or a season of sickness, choose a rhythm that eases your load by thinking about what feels ‘easier’ to handle right now.
If you’re weighing up highschool options, consider what type of learning rhythm will serve your young person best for the path that they are on. Include them in the process of figuring it out, and helping with ideas for the whole family.
Some questions to ask yourself as you consider the season you’re in:
- Will your daily or weekly rhythm allow for family time together?
- Which subjects matter most to fit into your rhythm right now?
- Will you separate out subjects or combine them?
- Will your kids be learning individually or together?
- Will your rhythm be consistent every day? Or will you have variations?
- What activities are available near you that might suit your weekly rhythm?
- What do you need to incorporate into your days, in order to cope?
What can you cope with right now, in the season you’re in? What can you put in place that will help you?
Whether it’s connecting with friends, attending classes, doing something you love alongside your kids, or having a scheduled time where they are occupied without you while at home… there are many ways that you can allow for what you need as you plan your homeschool rhythm. I chat all about this in my course, so join me there for more practical tips and ideas to help you.
Remember, it’s okay to drop the ball sometimes and extend yourself grace.
And remember: it’s so important to remember to look after you in this equation too, so that you’re not running on empty!
THREE: consider how much time you have
Think about how much time in your day you want to spend homeschooling. By that I mean time that is dedicated to bookwork or formal curriculum or any kind of focused learning, depending on what you’re planning to include.
How many hours in a day? How many days a week? Be aware of how your traditional school mindset is affecting your answer to this question. You can step into the freedom of a homeschool headspace, instead!
Remember: you don’t need to implement homeschooling lessons for six-hour days, five days a week. If you choose to use any formal curriculum, it doesn’t have to be cumbersome, and so often less is more.
Try to combine what you can, where you can, and enjoy the time it gives you together. (Oh, and be sure to allow yourself the change to spend time deschooling, first!) In the end, your kids are learning all the time, whether they like it or not!
How many hours a day should you spend homeschooling?
This is a question that I always hesitate to answer, because it’s different for every family. Honestly, the answer is as long as a piece of string!
Why? Because all of life is learning.
But to give you a picture of how much time in a day it takes to homeschool – and to help you see how different it can be to how it looks at school – I’ve put together a general guide that you could follow as you plan your rhythm:
5 – 6 years old: under 30mins; 1 to 2 days a week
7 – 9 years old: up to 1.5 hours; 3 to 4 days a week
10 – 12 years old: 1.5 to 3 hours; 3 to 4 days a week
13 – 14 years old: 2 to 3 hours; 4 to 5 days a week
15+ years old: 2 to 4 hours; 4 to 5 days a week
This time is often better to be spaced across a day rather than all in one go. Some families may choose to do more than this, some may do less.
And there’s one thing I can assure you. During the time that your children are not “formally” learning, there will be all kinds of learning going on that is also hugely valuable. (Read my Am I Doing Enough? series for even more reassurance about this.)
Every little bit of learning counts!
Remember your why…
Finally, remember that choosing the best rhythm for your family will happen when you remember why you’re doing this.
It’s not just about filling their heads with knowledge, it’s about igniting a love of learning.
It’s not just about what your kids need, it’s about including your passions, too.
It’s not just about finding the perfect pages to use and boxes to tick, it’s about building character and learning how to learn.
What about subjects & curriculum?
Great question! When it comes to homeschool subjects and curriculum, I’ve created a whole separate section for you to explore at your leisure!
Head to this section of my website for all kinds of tips, tricks and ideas to help you along your way: Subjects & Curriculum.
What about homeschool styles?
Your homeschool style will grow out of the rhythm you want to find for your family.
And in the same way, your rhythm is likely to help you pick the homeschool style that suits you most.
Discover more about how to find your homeschool style here: Homeschool styles: how to pick the best one for you
How can I get help with applying all of this?
I’ve got some exciting news for you! I’ve put together a course that will help you shape your homeschooling in a way that suits you and your family best. It’ll feel like you’re sitting down for a cuppa with me!
Through personal stories, practical ideas and encouraging advice, I’ll support you with tips for homeschooling with grace for the season you’re in. It’s loaded with specific curriculum recommendations and tips on how to navigate them (& so much more!). I’ll equip you to to create a homeschool rhythm that’s as unique as your family!
Get a sneak peek below…
Homeschooling: what you really need to know
THE COURSE – coming soon!
Now what?
It’s time to use what you’ve discovered here and apply it to your own homeschooling! Re-read the questions, figure out your answers, and use that to help you discover the daily rhythm that will suit you best for now.
And remember: nothing is ever set in stone. You can change and adjust things as you go. After all, flexibility is a big part of what homeschooling is all about!
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And don’t forget to grab my free downloadable printable to help you on those harder days: 5 ways to know that you ARE doing enough. Because we all need those reminders sometimes.
Stay awesome!
