Organize Your Homeschool Day for Productivity
It can be hard to stay productive when homeschooling. In addition to school work, there always seems to be chores to do and meals to make that can distract and knock your day off schedule. But staying productive is the only way to make sure you complete all your school tasks and keep your house in order, allowing you some peace and sanity.
There are a few tricks to planning a highly productive homeschool day that will help you get it all done.
- Set a Schedule
The best way to set yourself up for success is to have a set schedule. It doesn’t have to be a strict schedule that you follow like clockwork daily, but creating a routine will help your child know what’s expected for the day. Here’s a sample schedule to help you get started:
9:00 – Discussion Time (reviewing the day’s agenda)
9:15 – Read Aloud
9:30 – Science Activity
10:00 – Snack & Break (a great time for throwing in a load of laundry or emptying the dishwasher)
10:30 – Math Activity
11:00 – Writing Activity
11:30 – Lunch and Play Time (another opportunity to get some chores done)
1:00 – Quiet Rest Time (a good time to prep dinner or get it in the slow cooker)
- Get Help
Giving your children assigned chores will not only help you get it all done, it will teach them responsibility and being part of a family team. Assign age appropriate chores like making their beds and picking up their toys, setting the table, watering plants, sweeping, and taking out the trash.
- Individual Activities
Allow time in each day for your child to do some school activities on their own. When you give them a project to work on by themselves, it opens up a little more time for you to get something done or take a much needed break.
- Go to YouTube
YouTube has a variety of channels for teaching your kids math and science skills as well as crafts. Find an educational video for them to watch a couple of times a week when you need to work on something else.
- Plan Ahead
Each night, take a look at the plan for the next day so you know what you need to do and can create your schedule in advance. Going into the day with a plan will help you to stay productive and organized.
Make your weekly plan at least a week in advance as well so if you know you will need special crafting supplies or books, you’ll have plenty of time to get them and won’t be running around at the last minute.
The same goes for chores and meals. Plan your meals at least a week in advance to avoid last minute trips to the store. Know what chores will need to get done each day for the upcoming week so you can plan your school schedule around them.
The more organized you can be, the productive you will be. And if things don’t go as planned one day, that’s okay. That’s life! Just get through it and pick up your schedule the next day and get back on track.
