Never let your schooling interrupt your education.

Q&A Friday: Tell Us About Your Homeschool Day

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Written by Jamie Martin, editor of Simple Homeschool and founder of Steady Mom

So far this month you’ve heard from four of our contributors, revealing the details of our typical school days. I love seeing how each mom’s rhythm reflects her individual personality as well as her unique family priorities and purposes.

We have several more posts coming up–including ones by moms of many and those of infants and toddlers.

But today, it’s your turn to share!

How old are your kids? How long have you been homeschooling? What does your homeschool day look like?

Last Sunday, I invited you to write a day in the life post on your own blog to link up below. If you have a link to share, please include it in your comment here.

Even if you haven’t written a separate post, you can of course still tell us about your day in the life just by leaving a comment.

I’d love to have the chance to read how your days unfold.

Thanks so much for sharing!

About Jamie C. Martin

Jamie is an introverted mom of three, who loves books, tea, and people (not always in that order), and avoids answering the phone when possible. She co-founded SimpleHomeschool.net in 2010 and began IntrovertedMoms.com in 2020.

Jamie is the author of four books, including Give Your Child the World (reached #9 on Amazon's Top 100 Best Sellers list), and her latest release, Introverted Mom (an ECPA bestseller). Her work has been featured by LeVar Burton of Reading Rainbow, the Washington Post, Parents, Today Parenting, and Psychology Today.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. se7en

    Folks often ask about a day in the life of our homeschool with more than a handful kids I think they might think it is a bit of a mad house!!! But really it isn’t… just each kid doing their own thing in their own space… I have posted “day in the life” posts about school but recently I took a few snaps of our day and this is what our school days really look like:

    For my older kids: Ranging from Grade K to Grade 6:

    http://www.se7en.org.za/2010/11/19/homeschool-question-what-do-my-older-kids-do-in-school

    And for my younger kids: Ranging from age 1 to 4:

    http://www.se7en.org.za/2010/11/12/homeschool-question-what-do-little-people-do-during-school

    • Jamie

      Love how you’ve made homeschooling fit your unique timetable – that is key! Can’t imagine how your husband can go to work that early, though!!

  11. renee @ FIMBY

    In a couple weeks I’ll be be posting my own contribution here to this homeschool day series but last fall I published this post on my personal blog about our day:

    http://fimby.tougas.net/day-in-our-life-Wednesday

    What I have found true in my own life is that no matter how well thought out and planned the schedule is each day seems to unfold in its own quirky and beautiful way and my challenge as a controlling type person is to go with that. To use my well thought out plans as as base point and then learn to accept life’s inevitable changes with grace (still learning this).

    PS. that’s my excuse for spending more time on the computer this morning than planned – ha, ha!

  14. Beth

    okay. I’m not posting my day – because most of the time I feel like a failure. My kids are 13, 12, 7 & 3. The 7 year old is doing okay. The 13 year old is a bit behind, the 12 year old is VERY behind. I’m daily overwhelmed with how to get them caught up. I’m daily frustrated with the resistance from the 12 year old. Any advice for a homeschooler who needs to get her kids caught up? (and I’m not talking one grade level, I’m talking really caught up)

    • Paula@Motherhood Outloud

      Beth, I hope you are encouraged by reading all of the posts here and seeing that NO ONE is doing things perfectly! My encouragement to you (as a former special ed teacher and current homeschooler) is try not to focus on how behind you feel the kids are. If you feel like they need to gain 3 years in one, it just all seems overwhelming that you don’t even want to start (like our laundry pile sometimes). Instead, look at where they are and decide a reasonable goal for their progress, regardless of what typical kids would learn in their grade level. (part of the beauty of homeschooling : ) So, if your 12 year old is reading on a first grade level, focus on getting him to a second or third grade level. Once they start making progress, you will ALL be encouraged and ready to tackle even more challenging stuff! Oh, and if you do have struggling older readers, I highly recommend Saxon Phonics Intervention. Take a deep breath and don’t be discouraged!
      Paula@Motherhood Outloud’s latest post: A Day at Nix Academy Homeschool with a Kindergartener- 3 year old- and infant

    • Jamie

      Beth,

      I’m so honored that you would share so honestly in this space. I think we all wrestle with self-doubt a lot during this journey, and especially when we don’t see the “results” that we hoped for.

      Being “behind” is so relative, anyway. Behind according to whom? It all depends on the lens we’re using to evaluate a child. The traditional system would have us believe otherwise, but academics are. not. everything. They do not define a life. They don’t define your child. They don’t define YOU as a teacher.

      One of the most important lessons we teach our kids, I believe, is how to enjoy the journey of life. My prayers are with you and I hope you’ll be blessed on that journey as well.

      Jamie

    • Magic and Mayhem

      If it helps, I read recently that 90% of what’s taught before age 12 will be lost. Keeping that in mind, how behind can your 12 y/o be? 🙂

      On a more serious note, I would suggest focusing on a few small goals for all of the kids. This year my HS resolutions were simply these:
      1. Every day, read to the kids (this is in addition to bedtime books and such, mine are ages 3, 7, 10 and 12, so this means different kinds of books at different times). Sometimes it’s a history book, sometimes a fun read-aloud, sometimes a classic book.
      2. Do some sort of *fun* math every day. My goal is not to keep up with 7th grade algebra benchmarks. My goal is to make math fun, interesting and appealing to my kids and have it sneak up on them. Our fun math projects are very simple, like these: http://www.examiner.com/homeschooling-in-mankato/a-week-s-worth-of-fun-math-fillers
      3. Do one extra HS project or lesson each day. This can be small, like following a “rabbit trail” conversation to finding out about bonsai trees, or a science project or lapbook or asking the vet if my kids can tour the office while we’re there. Just one extra thing, when possible.

      This is in addition to whatever we do (we are not a curriculum-driven family though), not all we do. 🙂 So far it is working really well.

      I’d suggest figuring out what subjects your kids are behind in (and is this just behind in the sense of what the local school kids are learning or what some list says or a true delay?) and then brainstorming some easy ways to start helping them practice them. Free computer games, stacks of great library books, educational games, field trips and hands-on projects are a great way to get the kids on board and jump start learning.

      (((hugs))) It’s hard balancing these ages (ours are very close!) and 3 y/o’s make everything so much trickier. It will get better!
      Magic and Mayhem’s latest post: Just a Little Science Funny

  16. Mandy

    Awww, Beth. I’m sorry you’re having trouble. Maybe try focusing on one subject at a time, and let the kids take turns choosing? As relatively new homeschoolers, we are also struggling a bit, trying to find our rhythm and motivate our 7 year old daughter. I’m very excited to read all of the posts here and the links in the comments for ideas about what to do, as well as reassurance that we don’t have to be perfect.

  18. I Live in an Antbed

    We have been homeschooling for 18 years!!! We still have four of our seven children in our school. Their ages are 10-13. Our schedule is quite rigorous, but we have been working at it for a long time and it works well for us. Two of the four still in our school were adopted from Siberia 6 1/2 years ago and they were extremely far behind. So part of the reason our schedule is so intense is to help them. They really are doing well, but it has taken a long, long time to “get traction”. (http://iliveinanantbed.blogspot.com/p/our-homeschooling-schedule.html)
    I Live in an Antbed’s latest post: Chapter 6- Blessing Our Children

  21. Nance

    Here’s a recent “Day In Our Homeschool” entry:

    http://nancextoo.livejournal.com/171584.html

    My 10 y/o daughter and I did our normal schoolwork which included a fun, hands-on activity this week- making our own, homemade ink- as well as writing a poem and playing in the snow with her 5 year old brother (who is enjoying one more year of informal pre-school).

    Each entry of my blog is basically a “day in the life of” post.
    Nance’s latest post: Life Without School – Entry 645

  22. Sarah Johnson

    While I haven’t written an entire post, I would like to share my story. I’m 25 and married and work for my Mom. One of my jobs is homeschooling my 5 youngest siblings {who 9, 9, 8, 7 & 6}. This is our first year {private school was just getting too expensive}. Our normal schedule is {Monday-Thursday}
    8-11 Waking up, breakfast, chores & free time {we have therapy appointments 2 days a week, so that is why we start later in the day}
    11-1 Time to fix lunch and work on our school work {we use LIFEPACs}
    1-330 Finish up our chores, school work, and then we go outside, to a Park or Library, or walk around the block until Mom gets home around 5.
    Sarah Johnson’s latest post: Friday Brain Dump- Countdown Edition

    • Jamie

      Wow, that’s an awesome load, Sarah! I’m so glad you can help your family that way – what a gift to your mom and siblings!

  27. Teri

    We have been home educating our children for 22 years.
    At this point, we are pretty “outside of the box”, but it has worked for us. Our focus is on raising leaders that will know how to think, not what to think.
    We have been blessed with 5 boys, whose ages are 22, 20, 16, 11 and 9.
    I don’t do “Day in the Life” much, but this fits!
    http://www.tommymom.com/its-set-in-stone-6903
    Looking forward to reading about others experiences! Thanks for doing this, Jamie!
    Teri’s latest post: It’s Set in Stone!

  30. Molly

    I have a 7 yr old dad who is in public school and a 4 & 1 year old. I also help homeschool my 6th grad brother. We’ve been HSing for 3 1/2 years now 🙂
    My blog link should take you right to my day in the life post 🙂

  36. Amber @ Homeschooling Voyage

    There is no such thing as a typical day around here. Generally speaking we have breakfast then play outside or go somewhere and then have lunch then some indoor art activities. In between all of that is me trying to remember to throw in a load of laundry or wash the breakfast dishes. But even that isn’t a constant. I like the free flow of our time since my little ones are still quite small. The freedom of time is a gift I feel I’m giving them.
    Amber @ Homeschooling Voyage’s latest post: anchors of our mornings

  40. Kerry

    Ugh here goes, I don’t know why I’m so nervous about this, I just feel so unsure about all the homeschooling stuff still, but I really wanted to be part of this today.

    Our kids are 9, 8, 6 and 3. We are still in the process of deschooling after bringing home a 3rd and 4th grader from local public charter school. We are adjusting to being in charge of our own schedule and spent much of the first half of the year thoroughly abusing that freedom, and we’re quite pleased about that 😉

    I have enjoyed the few posts I’ve read today and look forward to reading them all over the weekend. This site and all the reader comments have truly been an inspiration for me.

  46. Nadene

    I have really enjoyed reading about other homeschool families!
    I have shared our typical day with our 16-year-old high schooler, 11-year-old middle schooler and our 8-year-old junior schooler here:
    http://practicalpages.wordpress.com/2011/01/15/what-our-typical-school-day-looks-like/
    The post is studded with links to more in-depth posts. I compared our routine to creating a tapestry and how our days and activities are the design and patterns of a beautiful fabric.
    Nadene’s latest post: What our typical school day looks like

  47. Cathy

    I don’t have a blog. We live on a 79 acre farm in the midwest, but are transplants from the East coast. We began homeschooling with my oldest daughter partway through her 1st grade year. I currently homeschool our 9 year old daughter and 7 year old son. Our youngest, who is 5, attends kindergarten at the public school.
    Our Friday – 6 a.m. Wake up and exercise and shower (husband left the house before 6 a.m. for a men’s group that plays sports for an hour on Friday mornings)
    7 a.m. Wake up the youngest. Get her dressed, fed and out the door to the busstop by 7:35 am. The two older children are up and fed between 7 and 7:30 usually, although rarely dressed in anything but pajamas before noon.
    7:35 to 8:30 a.m. Open the chicken coop and toss hay to get snow off so hens can go outside, eat my own breakfast and clean up from breakfast. The kids are playing with blocks, games, the dog, reading or just having fun during this time.
    8:30 a.m. We start with a worship time – light a candle, sing a few songs, go over a Bible story or theme (in December we did Jesse Tree, in November we looked at saints, in October we looked at the tabernacle, in September we looked at buildings in the Bible – I owe my ideas to 10 years of work at Mustard Seed School – an excellent faith and arts based private Pre-K – 8th grade school in Hoboken, NJ).
    9 to 10 a.m. We are immersed in Writer’s Wokshop based on Lucy Culkins curriculum
    10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. I work with my son on phonics and reading (Fountas and Pinnell curriculum) and while my daughter works on a vocabulary workbook independently. I use Sequential Spelling with her when my son is done.
    10:30 to 10:45 (roughly) The kids take a quick break and shift from the sunroom to the kitchen. If hungry, they grab a snack.
    10:45 to 11:30 We work on Math (Pearsons Math – not a homeschool friendly curriculum, but what my daughter really likes) and Handwriting (Handwriting Without Tears)
    11:30 to 12:30 p.m. – The kids bundle up and play outside in the snow (its in the teens). Sometimes I do a more formal gym time, sometimes, we just enjoy outside. Sometimes they accompany me, but other times not – my husband works from home and I have the luxury of him being able to keep an eye on them while I walk the dog. The dog and I go for a refreshing walk in the woods. I collect
    12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. – Lunch. My daughter wants to try a recipe from a cookbook she got recently, so she and her brother tackle making scones with some assistance from me.
    1 p.m. to 2 p.m. The kids gt involved in cooking. They pick a second recipe and start in on making it. I let them continue until about 2 p.m. Then shift back to more formal learning.
    2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. I alternate who goes first on what day. While I’m working with one kid, the other usually listens while playing with cars, wooden figures, blocks, art project or sometimes they retreat to their room for some quiet time. I use the Sonlight curriculum for this and love the literature for the most part.
    3:30 p.m. My daughter takes some time on the piano creating songs and learning notes. My son plays with various super heroes figures he has, defending justice and the oppressed.
    3:50 p.m. I’m outside to meet my daughter’s bus as she comes home from Kindergarten.
    3:50 to 5 p.m. The kids pull out the crayons, markers, paper, paints and pastels and start in on various things they want to create.
    5:30 to 7 p.m. The two older kids and I are off to swimming while my husband and daughter have some quality time together for dinner. I don’t like not having dinner as a family, but swimming is only for the first two weeks in January, so its manageable.
    7 p.m. The kids and my husband have time together while I head out for my monthly scrap-booking time. Other nights, I’m home and we read to each child before they head off to bed. We usually read a story book to the youngest and a chapter from the main reading book in the Sonlight Curriculum to the oldest two (currently “Doctor Dolittle” for my son and “Johnny Tremain” for my daughter – my husband enjoys this reading time as much as the kids) and a Bible story. Then it’s hugs and kisses and bed by 7:15 for the kindergartner, by 8 p.m. for my son and by 8:30 or 9 p.m. for my oldest daughter.
    8:30 or 9 p.m. to 10:30 Time for grownups to hang out, talk, read, watch a short DVD, etc. together.

  48. Cathy

    I forgot to mention that we set time aside in the afternoons on Mon-Thursday to devote to art, music and science.

  49. Kiasa

    I have LOVED all these comments. I have three babies (4yrs, 19mos & 1mo) and I\’m trying to figure out if/how we can homeschool my oldest this next year when she should start kindergarten. So many comments address so many of my concerns with juggling it all. Thank you!