How to Create a Homeschool Routine

We are entering our 10th year of homeschooling! It is all our kids and family have ever known. Our kids have never attended "building school" (their name for traditional school). Over the years we have tried many different routines and schedules in our homeschool; all in different seasons of life. The routine we are using this year is one that we have used in a few other seasons of life and it has worked really well in the past. We are a family of neurodivergent humans and like to change things up from time to time; we need to change things up from time to time.

In this season of homeschooling and motherhood, I am going to have a ton of time with the kids. I am working a lot less and we have cut way back on activities. We are going to dive deep into so many exciting subjects and learning. This year we are doing a Loop Schedule.

How Does Our Loop Schedule Work?

I have printed, laminated, and cut out each of the kids' subjects of study/curriculum for the year. On the back of each is a small magnet so I could add them all to our dry erase board in our homeschool room for them to easily see. Each subject/curriculum with a bee sticker is something they need to do each school day. We will start our school day each morning at 8am. We will get through all of their "bee work" and then they can start on their loop. They can choose a subject/curriculum to complete/work on. They have the freedom to work on that subject or curriculum for as long as they'd like until our school day will be complete at 2pm each day. At the end of the day, all the subjects they worked on (without bee stickers) will go into the small container I have at the bottom of the board. The next day they will start with their "bee work" again and then continue going through the subjects remaining on the board. Once all of their loop subjects have been completed and added to the bin, I add them all back to the board for their loop to start again.

Example Week for Lucy (8 y.o.)

Monday:

Horizons Math

Book Explorer

Explode the Code

Reading

Spelling

Handwriting

Speech Practice

American Girl History

Play & Learn

Bible

Tuesday:

Horizons Math

Book Explorer

Explode the Code

Reading

Spelling

Handwriting

Speech Practice

Muzology

WriteShop

Typing

ASL

Wednesday:

Horizons Math

Book Explorer

Explode the Code

Reading

Spelling

Handwriting

Speech Practice

Baking & Pastry Arts

Thursday:

Horizons Math

Book Explorer

Explode the Code

Reading

Spelling

Handwriting

Speech Practice

Science

Around the World

Piano

*Loop complete so she gets to reset the board.

Friday:

Horizons Math

Book Explorer

Explode the Code

Reading

Spelling

Handwriting

Speech Practice

American Girl History**

Baking & Pastry Arts**

**Got to do twice in the week since she finished everything in her loop by Thursday.

This is just an example and will change as our school year goes on. For example, I don't have bee stickers on Piano yet because we don't have a keyboard yet. Once it gets here, they'll practice piano as a "Bee Work".

This helps me to be able to dive into fun subjects with each of them and make sure they are getting a well-rounded education without feeling like we have to fit it all in each day; that's impossible with three kids. That would be impossible with one child!

I hope this is helpful for you and that you and your family have a magical school year together!

Love,

Chelsea