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Homeschool learning happens all day long! Scheduling specific teaching times will hone skills and foster opportunities to learn new ones. Your daily teaching schedule will depend on the ages of your children and your education plan.

Homeschoolers actually keep several schedules. One is the yearly schedule. This establishes the goals for the year. You will determine before the start of each school year when your terms begin and end, how long your year lasts, what subjects will be taught, and when vacations and holidays will be taken. Next you will plan each term or quarter, establishing how much material will be covered in each subject. During your daily schedule, you must cover enough material to keep you on schedule to complete the coursework by the end of the year. Keep track of your calendar using a teacher planning book or computer software such as Homeschool Tracker.

Preparation for the school day begins the night before. Children learn best when they are rested and refreshed. Getting to bed early the night before and having a good breakfast helps children to be energized for their day. Avoid morning hassles by selecting clothes and laying them out the night before. Some families enjoy a time of prayer and Bible study to begin their day.

Moms must also be focused and ready to teach. If Mom is prepared for her day, she will be a better teacher. Flexibility is necessary to deal with interruptions and distractions. Good organization skills will aid in ensuring the day flows smoothly. Each child must be taught individually for their specific subjects and collectively on group projects. Plan a time on your daily schedule to grade each child's schoolwork. Timely feedback is important to identify comprehension problems.

Young children in the early grades, whose attention spans are short, will function better with short teaching times. Plan to spend no more than twenty minutes on each subject. In the early years, teaching will consist of learning to write, learning to read, and learning basic math skills. Include scheduled times for play and outdoor recreational activities during the morning and afternoon. Foster artistic skills by playing music, displaying art, and doing crafts. Read a story after lunch during a short rest time.

Older elementary children will probably spend forty-five minutes on each subject. It makes sense to tackle difficult subjects such as math and English at the beginning of the day. Begin by having them read assigned material aloud,

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