Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau

Educator, Coach, Life Strategist

Block scheduling

Block scheduling is a way to schedule everything that needs to be accomplished daily for every member of the family in your charge.  Though it may not work for everyone, some of the most productive and successful homeschooling families schedule in “blocks” — usually 30 – 60 minutes at a time.  See if it can work for you, too.

Block scheduling begins by making a list of everything that every member of the family should accomplish every day and then finding a way to squeeze it all into one giant scheduling puzzle.  It’s isn’t as hard as it sounds…here’s how to create one of your own:

For starters, with block scheduling, begin with the assumption that everything must be scheduled, using either 30- or 60-minute blocks of time from waking up in the morning until bedtime at night.  You’ll schedule homeschool subjects, outside activities, social events, and everything you and your children do during the week.  You’ll also schedule meals and snack times, outside time, nap time, chore time, reading blocks, TV or computer time, baths and showers, and everything else your family does, too.  Even babies and toddlers can be scheduled to some degree.

Next is to juggle all activities until they fit (eliminating any that don’t), and writing all activities on a giant grid, calendar, white-erase board, computer spreadsheet or other display that is posted prominently somewhere in the home. 

Finally, family members should be trained to follow the block schedule.  It may take some time, but eventually everyone in the family will know what is expected at any given time of day.  Never again should children question what to do, because every block of time is displayed — along with every childs’ assigned activity – during every time block on the schedule.  (Non-readers will need help with this part.)

When the chart is ready, look it over and see what a typical day for every family member looks like.  Look for places where children can work together, by charting the same activities at the same time.  Also look for places when children can spend time apart, to give every child quiet time of his own.  Think of what mom’s (or dad’s) day looks like, too, making sure that the primary homeschooling parent isn’t needed in too many places at once.  Be sure to give parents time to make phone calls, pay bills, plan meals, check email, and other things that are important to them, otherwise there won’t be time for these things on the chart, either.

Sound excessive?  Think of it this way:  If something isn’t on the schedule, how can it possible get done?  It’s that simple.

View a sample block schedule HERE.  Watch THIS VIDEO and THIS VIDEO to hear more tips and get a glimpse of how its done.

A checklist system for teaching

Most everyone has heard of checklists.  Checklists of chores. Checklists of bills to pay.  Checklists of everything from groceries to the lumber needed to build that new deck out in the back yard.

But what about a homeschool checklist — a list of everything you’d like your child to learn by graduation day?  That can work, too.

A checklist isn’t a lesson plan.  It isn’t a curriculum either.  A checklist is actually a detailed list of everything you hope to teach, or everything you want your child to learn, from preschool all the way through 12th grade or even beyond.

Checklists can be organized by age, by year, or by grade if you want them to be.  But they don’t have to.  In fact, a true homeschooling checklist is organized by subject, and items are checked off as they are mastered, no matter when and how that occurs.

Parents can make checklists for anything they’d like a child to learn in homeschool, from sewing complex garments suitable for wearing to mastering all of the ideas traditionally covered in high school chemistry.  If the educational goal can be put into words, and the individual objectives required to reach that goal can be put into writing, a checklist is born! 

Using pencil and paper works fine, but taking advantage of computer software or online list-making tools and free list-making web sites makes the process much easier. Checklists may also be purchased, such as the excellent example you’ll find HERE.

Household Binder

Just about every parent has a place, often in the kitchen or maybe somewhere else, where things tend to accumulate.  These little piles, usually consisting of calendars, notes, recipes, mail, and other reminders of things to do, can clutter even the tidiest of homes and cause additional chaos — not organization.

One way that busy moms (and some dads, but usually moms) stay neat and organized is by using a Household Binder.  This binder, usually kept where it is needed most, contains everything that even the busiest of moms could possibly need — right at her fingertips. 

Anything can go inside the binder; as a matter of fact, each will be slightly different depending on mom’s individual needs. Some of the pages in a typical binder are listed here — but don’t hesitate to add any other pages of your own, too.

Household Binders may include:

  • menu planning pages
  • cleaning schedules
  • the household budget
  • a weekly shopping list
  • school schedules
  • bills to pay
  • folders for every child
  • notes to self
  • a list of household repairs

But that’s not all.  Consider the binder your personal system of household organization.  Add anything inside that you usually need to access during a typical day, week or month.  See these free PRINTABLES for additional ideas. 

Used by moms everywhere, the household binder provides an attractive and efficient solution for keeping track of tasks and information in a very busy household.  Everything is always stored neatly in one place and ready when it is needed– which is much better than scribbled notes scattered all over the kitchen counter!

Yearly homeschool schedules

When does a homeschool year begin and end?  Most of the time, the choice is entirely yours.

Unless your state dictates the number of school days (a few do) or your children are enrolled in a type of program (virtual, private, or other) that has a specific begin/end date, families have much flexibility when scheduling a homeschooling year.

Did you know that some homeschoolers go from January until December?

Did you know that some homeschooling families school  all year round? 

Did you know that many homeschoolers do not follow a typical academic (September thru June) calendar?

In fact, you can school any day you like (yes, including weekends!) and take any holidays or vacation days off that you need.

Here is a list of just a few of the different ways that homeschoolers schedule the school year.  See if any of these ideas can work for you:

  • Follow the school calendar of your City or County
  • Begin in September approximately after Labor Day and continue through May or June
  • School all year round
  • School for three weeks each month, taking the fourth week off
  • School Monday through Thursday, taking Fridays off for outside activities, like classes and field trips
  • School according to mom’s or dad’s work schedule, taking days off when the family is all together at home
  • Take the entire month of December off to enjoy and prepare for the holidays, or take an entire month off any time you need it (new baby, traveling, out-of-town guests)
  • School for three months, taking the next month off
  • School during the winter months, taking summers off to enjoy the weather
  • School during the summer heat, taking winters off to enjoy the weather
  • School around sports season or around the travel schedule of a member of the family
  • School on weekends, taking two week days off instead
  • Any combination of the above, or any other configuration you can think of

Block Scheduling Tutorial: Part 2 (3:08)

In a follow-up to my previous video, I continue talking about block scheduling.  You’ll hear how to take a simple schedule designed for one child, and add another child to it.  Use these tips as you create a block schedule for one, two, three or more children in your homeschool. 

Disclaimer:  This series of stream-of-consciousness, amateur videos is meant to inform, explain and [sometimes] entertain.   Viewers are advised to take what they like from the videos, and leave the rest.  Nothing in these videos should be mistaken for legal advice.  When in doubt, consult the laws of your state.  To read more about the purpose of these videos, click HERE.  To read more about this project, click HERE.