How to schedule a homeschool day

Set a start time

It's important for new homeschooling parents to set a daily start time, especially if you are worried about your own discipline when it comes to home education. Consider your kids' natural waking time and allow time for breakfast before you start your day.

Keep demanding tasks in the morning

Most children (and adults) possess better focus and concentration mid-morning. This is the period where you should schedule the meat of your curriculum: the essential lessons and more difficult subjects.

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Find one-on-one time

If you are homeschooling more than one child, find one-on-one time where you can concentrate on individualized teaching each day. You can do this by scheduling independent reading time for the other children during this period.

Get creative in the afternoon

Schedule creative, time-consuming, hands-on projects in the afternoon. The afternoons are also perfect for going on field trips, getting outside for active play or meeting up with other homeschooling families.

Stay flexible

Remember: Your schedule is just a guideline. You don't have to stick to rigid time restrictions, unless that's how your children thrive. Be flexible and willing to move projects and lessons around as necessary.

Try sample homeschooling schedules

A number of websites offer samples of how to schedule your homeschool day. Check out the sample daily homeschool schedules submitted by parents at About.com, as well as the sample homeschool schedules and other homeschooling tips from Homeschooling-ideas.com.