What’s the perfect
I sat on the couch in the living room; each child snuggled up beside me. A candle burned nearby on the coffee table. The wind was howling outside but we were warm in this moment of reading and being with one another.
This peaceful moment took my breath away.
I fought with myself and my children in the first couple years of our
However, over the years, I’ve settled into a place of comfort and confidence in working on connecting with my children. To my delight, much of that connection rose out of having a solid family
What is our homeschool rhythm?
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Here is what our average daily schedule looks like:
- wake up (mom time: Bible & prayer)
- exercise
- eat breakfast and have coffee (a must)!
- start laundry and wash morning dishes
- Bible, scripture recitation, and prayer (with my children)
- homeschool activities (rotation between reading aloud, creative, writing /sit-down activities, nature studies, and movement)
- lunch
- wash lunch dishes, fold laundry, and chores for the day (children do their chores)
- work time for me / quiet time for the kids (technology, crafts, reading, playing in the yard, etc.)
- reconnecting time (sharing tea, reading aloud, doing a puzzle, making a handicraft, etc.)
- dinner
- wash dinner dishes
- evening activities include Sparrow Scouts (with me on Monday evenings), board games, and physical education class with their dad (Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays).
- bedtime routine / quiet time
- connecting time for me and my husband
- bedtime for the adults
The rhythm of our day is found in the movement through the day (individual and group time activities, active and sit-down activities, inside and outside times, etc.)
Why should my family have a homeschool rhythm?
A
A
- keep your children focused on lessons (especially if you have allotted times to play and times to learn)
- maintain consistency
- you keep a tidy home
- you with planning for special activities
- to keep a peaceful atmosphere in the home because there is time for the things we need to do and the things we love to do
What’s the difference between a rhythm and a schedule?
A rhythm is a bit more flexible than a schedule.
A schedule often aligns with specific times of the day, whereas a rhythm is the beat of the day—the ebb and flow of activities.
From learning intensive to playful, from sit-down activities to physical activities, from indoors to outdoors, the
However, we do have a few set times in our days (my wake-up time, homeschooling start time, lunch, dinner, and bedtime are pretty consistent).
What are some crucial elements to include in my family’s homeschool rhythm?
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1- A time for chores
As a homeschooling, work-at-home mom, I know that chores can be one item that gets moved to the bottom of the to-do list. Educating my children and work deadlines can easily take precedence over household duties.
By building chore time into our days, tasks around the house will be more likely to get done. My children are assigned tasks for two-week blocks, and they need to attend to those duties on a daily basis. If you want more ideas for how I motivate my children to help clean the house, check out this post: 5 Tips to Get Your Children Cleaning.
2- The three R’s (reading, writing, and arithmetic) + my two extra R’s (reflection and rest)
The essentials of homeschooling are reading, writing, and arithmetic. Regardless of what’s going on around you… these skills should be practiced daily. Get creative, too! If you don’t want to focus on math on a particular day, do a cooking activity instead (and make your children double the recipe)!
I’ve got two extra R’s in here, too… reflection and rest.
With reflection, I would encourage you to set aside five to ten minutes daily to reflect on your children’s development and your
Rest is also an important component of the day. I’m not just talking about bedtime, either! I equate rest time to quiet/alone time for me (and my children). The time we spend apart and independent of one another is just as important as the time we spend together.
3- Connecting times (without a lesson attached to it)
I genuinely believe in connecting with your children (outside of teaching times). Connecting with your children allows you to get to know them as individuals and establishes a relationship of trust.
Connecting times include activities such as talking over tea, dates with your kids, dance parties, karaoke, and family board game nights.
4- Bookwork
Bookwork is simply the lessons, worksheets, and practice needed to build and reinforce the skills taught throughout the day.
5- Outdoor time
Getting outside and enjoying nature is essential to our mental and emotional well-being. Outdoor time can include going for walks, visiting the park, doing nature studies, doing our work at a picnic table, or simply playing in the yard.
6- The necessities for good health
Eating, sleep, and exercise are usually the activities given on a routine day. It’s vital to make time for them and include these in your
How do I create a homeschool rhythm?
A few essential steps exist to create a
- Observe. Take time to observe what happens naturally in your days.
- Make a plan. Write down what works and what doesn’t. Then, map out a possible daily rhythm.
- Practice. Practice your rhythm. Give it a few weeks and observe attitudes and reactions.
- Adjust. If something isn’t working, adjust and welcome change.
- Be flexible. Allow opportunities for your rhythm to change and adapt based on what’s going on in the day.
- Display. I genuinely believe it’s essential for children to know what to expect in their days. Take time to draft up your
homeschool rhythm and display it in your home.
When should I reassess our family’s homeschool rhythm?
It would help if you reassessed your family’s
I like to review all elements of our
Of course, if your children are unhappy or you feel like you’ve neglected important elements within your family’s rhythm, then by all means, reassess things earlier than six weeks.
Reflecting regularly and honestly on your
Do you have a
Pssst—If you’re new to homeschooling and need further ideas and encouragement, I invite you to check out My Kitchen, My Classroom: An Introduction to Homeschooling. This book provides plenty of inspiration and insights for both new and veteran homeschoolers!
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