Jennifer Lambert

A Sacred Balance

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You are here: Home / Homeschool / Relaxed Homeschool Schedule

Relaxed Homeschool Schedule

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August 30, 2021 By Jennifer Lambert 15 Comments

When I began homeschooling my eldest back in 2005, I thought we needed lots of structure, routine, and a strict schedule. We were coming out of a school mindset and it took a while to learn how to relax and plan and live the homeschool life.

We’ve shifted our schedule so many ways over the years with babies, toddlers, moving across the country and world. There were years when I tutored to make some extra money. I’ve provided my kids with reading lists, daily and weekly checklists, worksheets. We have homeschooled year round most years and other years, taken a long summer break. Some years, we only have a few weeks of a summer break or just a very short, vague transition into a new history cycle.

We have probably done everything in the name of productivity.

I’m more about prioritizing rest and being stress-free these days. I don’t want my kids to be anxious over school work, tests, jobs, or anything else that society claims is more important than rest, physical and mental health.

Now that we’ve been educating at home for over sixteen years, it’s pretty streamlined and more comfortable. I do love having big kids and teens who are more independent. My children have a voice in their schedule and education and life and we want to help them budget their time wisely.

Alas, the days when our academics were done before lunch are long gone. Nowadays, we do blocks of academic work with several breaks – in the mornings, before and after lunch, before and after dinner. I’m more interested in flow and the kids having free time to relax and create.

We don’t limit screens. We offer a huge variety of activities and options in our home for creativity, hobbies, and more.

Relaxed Homeschool Schedule

This year, we are focusing on Year 2 in our history cycle.

Morning

I don’t set alarms unless we have appointments. I try not to make appointments in the mornings.

The kids and I wake up whenever we do so naturally.

I provide a hot breakfast every weekday morning. Dad does weekend duty. I have a pot of Yorkshire Gold tea.

I give the cats their little snack inside little mouse toys. I refill the bird feeders. I check the garden. I unload the dishwasher and start laundry.

After everyone is awake and fed, I do read alouds. I usually have a stack of history, literature, living books that I read for each unit of our curriculum.

Depending on how late it is, I have instituted “science time before lunch” to ensure it gets done. They’re each doing a different science, so they have to work more independently and ask for help as needed. If they need to eat first, they know they need to do their science right after lunch. Sometimes, they have questions for Dad later.

We’re flexible.

Afternoon

The kids usually have leftovers or organic semi-homemade ramen for lunch. I usually have a protein smoothie. The kids watch a show or play video games during lunchtime.

I encourage the kids to rest during and after lunch, but not for too long.

Language time is early afternoon. Latin, Greek, Russian, whatever is interesting.

I do have individual reading and writing assignments that the kids are responsible for in history and literature and they have to fit those in how and when they can. I help them budget their time and some weeks, we work through weekends or finish up later or take two weeks if we need it.

The kids have lately asked to do chores for pay and even created little charts for themselves. My son just wants his pay direct to the Pokemon app. The middle kids want theirs direct deposited monthly into their accounts. I love that they’re helping more and learning about money.

The kids have some extracurriculars in late afternoons/early evenings: art class, aerial arts, baseball practice. Saturdays, one takes ice skating lessons. I usually drop the kids off and use that hour to run errands or even get in a quick workout at a nearby park outside. Sometimes, I just sit in the minivan and read.

Evening

Dad usually works on math and some science with the kids when he gets home from work.

I try to have a nice homecooked dinner for the family every night. Some nights are getting difficult with baseball and extracurricular classes. I still make something in the slow cooker or a casserole so everyone can eat when they can.

Friday nights are for homemade pizza and movies.

I like to walk around our neighborhood pond in the evenings. It’s a great way to unwind and I love seeing the birds and bunnies, and sometimes deer.

Bedtime is around ten and all devices are plugged in away from bedrooms and WiFi is turned off by midnight so we sleep better.

I still read to my son a story each night.

Our Schedule Through the Years

  • Toddler Chore Charts
  • A Snapshot of our Day 2011
  • A Day in Our Life 2012
  • School Day Worksheet
  • Our Typical Day 2013
  • New Routine 2014
  • Homeschool High School Schedule
  • A Day in Our Life 2015
  • Easy Summer Schedule
  • What Do We Do All Day? 2016
  • Homeschool Schedule with Teens 2019
  • Realistic Homeschool Schedule 2020

What’s your schedule look like?

Linking up: Pam’s Party, Pieced Pastimes, Create with Joy, Stroll Thru Life, Jenerally Informed, Shelbee on the Edge, OMHG, Suburbia, InstaEncouragements, LouLou Girls, Across the Blvd, Pinch of Joy, House on Silverado, Anita Ojeda, April Harris, Mostly Blogging, Ducks in a Row, Fluster Buster, Ginger Snap, Random Musings, Eclectic Red Barn, Anchored Abode, Soaring with Him, Thistle Key Lane, Embracing Unexpected, Debbie Kitterman, CWJ, Imparted Grace, Mummpreneur, Hubbard Home, Penny’s Passion, Cottage Market, Wordsmith, Answer is Choco, Momfessionals, Life Beyond the Kitchen, Slices of Life, Anchored Abode, Moment with Franca, Pam’s Party, Ridge Haven Homestead, Artful Mom, Grammy’s Grid,

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Filed Under: Homeschool Tagged With: back to school, homeschool, schedule

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Comments

  1. Theresa Boedeker says

    August 30, 2021 at 11:45 am

    Building in rest breaks during the day for my child and I was key to a successful homeschool day. So was this: letting my child have “a voice in their schedule and education and life.” The goal is to help them become independent, make good choices, learn to work and plan their work on their own. I have not homeschooled for a few years, but it was so much fun. Your schedule sounds similar.

    Reply
  2. Karen Friday says

    August 30, 2021 at 7:24 pm

    Jennifer, I like this more relaxed schedule. The academic blocks and being more about rest and not causing stress or anxiety for the kids makes a whole lot of sense.

    Reply
  3. mireille says

    August 31, 2021 at 12:01 pm

    While my kids are not homeschool, I really enjoy reading about people’s homeschool routines and how what they do works for them.
    http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com

    Reply
  4. Mariel Davenport says

    September 2, 2021 at 2:32 pm

    As a newly “graduated” homeschool mama, this just about made me sob with joy! I love your heart, it is so similar to how I ran our homeschool! What a sweet and hard joy it is to educate and disciple our own children! Much love to you as you pursue this high calling. xo

    Reply
  5. Michele Morin says

    September 3, 2021 at 9:31 am

    Cheering for you! I always said that I was homeschooling for the flexibility it allowed, but had to guard against putting myself in a scheduling straight jacket!

    Reply
  6. Karen, the next best thing to mummy says

    September 5, 2021 at 4:56 am

    I have often wandered how home schooloing works, now I know more#kcacols@_karendennis

    Reply
  7. Helen Copson says

    September 5, 2021 at 7:19 am

    I’m going to remember all of these tips, for if we’re sent into lockdown again. I’m dreading how I’d cope having to do all three boys now, as my twins start school this week! #KCACOLS

    Reply
  8. Karren Haller says

    September 6, 2021 at 7:57 pm

    I love your more relaxed way of homeschooling and admire your dedication to homeschooling.

    Reply
  9. Becky, Cuddle Fairy says

    September 7, 2021 at 6:45 am

    Finding the right schedule for your family is really important. I am moving into my second year of homeschooling and we are still finding our feet. I don’t have a formal schedule but am considering making one if it would help me to manage my time better, still up in the air! #KCACOLS

    Reply
  10. Jerri says

    September 9, 2021 at 3:10 pm

    Love your post! I’m homeschooling my son; we’re currently still in preschool! He wakes up late and our “schedule” starts way later than most homeschool families! I have to sometimes remind myself that we need to do what is best for us, not what everyone else seems to be doing. Thanks for sharing at Friday Favorites. I’m featuring you this week.

    Reply
  11. Jeremy-Thirstydaddy says

    September 10, 2021 at 8:14 am

    it’s not the same as actual home schooling but during our year of school from home I kept it pretty relaxed to. We would get up whenever, have a leisurely breakfast and then jump into the work. After every subject we took a break and took walks often. There were days when we weren’t finishing up until after dinner but I thought that not stressing and enjoying our extra time together was more important than any artificial deadline. By the end of the day we’d done all we were supposed to #KCACOLS

    Reply
  12. Jade Page says

    September 12, 2021 at 11:07 am

    So interesting to see how your day works and I love that you can be flexible and wake up naturally. Sounds like you are doing a great job. Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS

    Reply
  13. Malin SenLearningwPenguin says

    September 15, 2021 at 9:50 pm

    Love this! We have a relaxed homeschooling schedule too, and I like that, although at the moment I feel like or rhythm is in need of some adjustments. Thanks you for sharing this post with us at #KCACOLS! x

    Reply
  14. Sam says

    September 12, 2021 at 2:47 pm

    Homework for me is so frustrating but you sound like you know what works well x #kcacols

    Reply

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  1. Friday Favorites - Busy Being Jennifer says:
    September 9, 2021 at 11:01 pm

    […] Relaxed Homeschool Schedule from Jennifer Lambert A Sacred Balance […]

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