Hours in a homeschool day

How many hours did you homeschool is another question I hear. However many hours it takes to get through the lessons for the day was how I did it. Some days were longer than others. Some shorter. It’s not about how much time you spend. It’s about how well the children learn. Some subjects just take longer to understand. Sometimes you have to take a break from a lesson and try again another day. Trust your instincts. If everyone is getting frustrated, it’s time to quit that lesson and switch gears.

I heard some families say they only schooled for a few hours each day. Maybe when their children were younger, but that is impossible when they hit middle school, in my opinion. There is just too much material to cover and harder lessons with longer assignments. Yes, we break them into bite sizes, but it’s true that the longer you spend on something, the better you learn it. Don’t rush through it. Once the student understands it, move on to something more challenging, build on it.

Perhaps they didn’t do each subject every day. That might change dynamics too. But for me, we covered the core subjects each school day.

Number of kids or babies affects hours

The more children you teach, the longer the day goes also.

If you have babies and toddlers, your day is longer due to caring for the younger children as you educate the older children. It’s tricky at first, but eventually, you find what works for you. Often I carried a baby on my hip, or one sat on my lap playing while I helped a sibling. If you need breaks throughout the day for the baby, plan activities for the older kids during that time or let them read on their own. Use nap time to tackle the harder subjects.

Homeschooling is way of life

Homeschooling is your chosen way of life. You’re the teacher. It’s your job to teach the kids, so invest in them by blocking off the hours needed for them to learn.

In Wisconsin, homeschoolers are required to complete 875 hours.  If you have five hours of school for 178 days, that is 890 hours. I always exceeded the required 875 hours. Five hours blocked out will allow some leverage within it and include a lunch break. Don’t answer the telephone or get distracted by other work or people unless you plan to do so ahead of time. (Okay, stuff happens, I know, but I’m talking about every day. You shouldn’t have major interruptions every day. Once I had to leave to assist a neighbor with her baby car seat. Emergencies or calls for help are rare occurrences.)

Start times vary by home

Some families start school later in the day because they are night owls. Some families have four-day weeks. Some parents share teaching, while others rely on one parent. Sometimes parents work and school fits in at different hours of the day. The main thing is to determine your school hours and stick to them because education lapses without a plan.

Set a block of time or two blocks of time within the day, Monday through Friday. Your dedication is required for your children to be educated. It’s your job to prepare them for life, and you don’t want to let them down.

Don’t worry. You’ll figure it out.

How does your day play out now?

Hourglass photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash.