10 Sample Homeschool Schedules You Can Copy

How do I create a daily homeschool schedule? How do I organize myself for homeschooling? I know your pain.

Even parents who don’t do regular homeschooling have asked themselves these questions, especially during the COVID Pandemic.

At that time I had to create two schedules for my daughters. One for preschool and one for 1st grade. Additionally, I made multiple schedules to help other parents. 

So if you’re new to homeschooling and don’t know where to start, or if you feel overwhelmed or unorganized, please, don’t despair—I’m here to help!  

I invite you to look at these homeschool schedules from preschool to senior high. 

Keep reading to get your planning solidified! 

Homeschool Schedule vs School Schedule

It’s vital that you remember that a typical homeschool schedule is always shorter than the school schedule. Your child will finish earlier than they would in a regular school. 

Why is that? For starters, you don’t need to go somewhere. So, less time commuting. Also, homeschooling makes the day shorter for so many other reasons.

First, your child or children are the only students in class. In school, the teacher’s attention and time are divided among many students. 

Second, administrative issues such as taking the roll, checking homework, and prepping materials can be discarded.

Third, you won’t lose time moving from one classroom to another.

Last but not least, when your child finishes their work, they can simply move to another activity or have a break sooner, instead of waiting for other children.

A shorter school day is a pure advantage. 

You’ll have time for extracurricular activities, playing board games, or simply enjoying family time.

Different Types of Homeschool Schedules

There are four common types of schedules you may use to keep your homeschooling day organized:

• Block Schedule
• Relaxed schedule
• Loop Homeschool Schedule
• Checklist

The block schedule is similar to the adult work calendar. With this type of schedule, everything is structured and planned at a specific time every day. 

For example, on Tuesdays, you can start at 8 am with math, geography is right after snack time at 11:15, and you’ll finish after the history class that ends at 2 pm.

The relaxed schedule simply lists what should be done every weekday in the morning and afternoon. This works for families who don’t like tight schedules and prefer more freedom. With this schedule, you can do activities for longer if your child likes them a lot or needs more time to complete the task. 

If your child is in kindergarten, for example, you can have them read, practice handwriting and typing, and do arts in the morning. Then move on to math in the early afternoon. 

The loop schedule is even more relaxed. It works great if you have children of different ages and you need to teach them separately. 

To do this, you first create a list of all the subjects and how many times you want to cover them in a week. For example: Math 5x, History 2x, Spelling 5x, etc. 

Then you create a specific list for each child with the subjects in a specific order. If your children are of different ages, you’ll put the subjects in a different order to ensure you can assist them with their needs. Then, the children follow their lists from top to bottom. 

When they finish, they simply start again. 

The Loop Schedule Example

This schedule does not indicate how much time should be spent on each activity. But it gives lots of flexibility, and interruptions are not an issue.

The checklist is somewhere in between the previous schedules I’ve mentioned. 

You create a checklist with subjects for each day, and children decide which order they do them in the day and how much time they want to spend on each one. 

It’s most recommended for older children who are better at time management.

Sample Homeschool Schedules

Now we’re getting somewhere!

I want to show you some sample block homeschool schedules that worked for my friends and me. I divided them by grade, covering the essential skills and subjects that should be there at every stage.

Of course, feel free to adapt them to your specific needs. You can add, take off, and organize them the way it best suits you and your family.

PRO TIP! Make sure you don’t start your day in pajamas! It’s easier to get sloppy and procrastinate. By getting ready and dressing up, you mark the beginning of the homeschooling schedule and prepare your children for the real world. 

Kindergarten Sample Schedule

If you’re new to homeschooling and starting with a child in kindergarten, you’re lucky. There’s not much to cover in kindergarten, and flexibility is crucial. 

At this point, you’ll just need to teach phonics, handwriting, and some math. I recommend you dedicate the rest of your time to arts and physical activity—it can be something simple, like a visit to the local playground.

Remember that the attention span of a 5-year-old child is about 15 minutes, so activities shouldn’t be long! 

Younger children tend to get up early, so don’t be afraid to start at 7:30 or even earlier if it works for your family.

• 7:30 am – Get dressed and have breakfast
• 8:30 am – Math: counting, basic addition and subtraction 
• 8:45 am – Break (free play)
• 9:00 am – Reading: phonics
• 9:15 am – Break (free play)
• 9:30 am – Handwriting
• 9:45 am – Snack time
• 10:00 am – Physical activity (a walk in the park, a visit to a playground, etc.)
• 11:30 am – Free play and learning apps
• 12:30 pm – Lunch
• 1:30 pm – Read aloud time 
• 1:45 pm – Arts and Crafts (coloring, beading, play dough), or singing songs

The last activity could be extended as much as your child wants.

1st Grade Daily Schedule

Take it from me, don’t overload your first grader! 

You can keep it as simple as in kindergarten, while adding a couple more subjects and perhaps start learning a new language. 

If you don’t speak another language, there are plenty of online educational sources that can complement your homeschooling schedule. 

See: 9 Places to Learn Any Language for Free

If you’re hoping your child will learn Spanish, try a free trial Spanish class with us at Homeschool Spanish Academy to see if your child likes it! Our 5-star program was voted Best Overall Online Spanish Class for Kids and we’d love for you to join us. 

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Note! For first grade students, frequent breaks are still necessary.

• 7:30 am – Get dressed and have breakfast
• 8:30 am – Math (addition, subtraction, tell time, basic fractions, measuring, etc.)
• 8:45 am – Break (free play)
• 9:00 am – Spelling
• 9:15 am – Break (free play)
• 9:30 am – Reading (look for leveled books, you can find some here or here) 
• 9:45 am – Snack time
• 10:00 am – Physical activity (a walk in the park, a visit to a playground, etc.)
• 11:00 am – Handwriting
• 12:30 pm – Lunch
• 1:30 pm – Social Sciences (History, Geography) or Sciences—alternate each day
• 1:45 pm – Arts and Crafts/Constructive Play/Music/Read aloud time/Second language —alternate each day

You can sign your child up for sports or other extracurricular activities in the afternoon. 

But I highly recommend that you leave some afternoons free for family time!  

Handpicked for you:

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2nd Grade Homeschool Schedule

You can extend your second grader schedule (compared to kindergarten and first grade) and shorten some breaks. 

By now, you already know your child’s preference, allowing you to choose either more music classes or art. You can also add another hour of the second language they’re learning.

Don’t be afraid to start using educational apps—they will help your child become more independent in their learning. Plus, gamifying content is very motivating for children this age! 

I recommend Splashlearn or Khan Academy for math, Epic for reading, and Typing Club for early computer skills. 

Depending on the second language you choose, numerous fun apps are available online.

See: 20 Best Apps to Learn Spanish on Your Own in 2022

The average attention span of an 8-year-old is between 16 to 24 minutes, so don’t make the lessons too long!

• 7:30 am – Get dressed and have breakfast
• 8:30 am – Math
• 8:50 am – Break 
• 9:00 am – Spelling/Punctuation (Alternate)
• 9:20 am – Break 
• 9:30 am – Grammar and Literacy 
• 9:50 am – Snack time
• 10:00 am – Physical activity 
• 11:00 am – Handwriting/Typing (Alternate)
• 11:20 pm – Break
• 11:30 am  – Grammar and literacy
• 11:50 am – Break
• 12:00 am – Lunch
• 1:00 pm – Second Language /Independent Reading/Reading Lesson
• 1:20 pm – Break
• 1:30 pm – Social Sciences (History, Geography) or Sciences—alternate each day
• 1:50 pm – Break
• 2:00 pm – Arts and Crafts/Constructive Play/Music

The first lesson after lunch could be extended to half an hour, especially if you’re having online second language classes, as your child will be rested.

Use some afternoons for extracurricular activities and social interactions such as playdates with other children.

3rd Grade Homeschool Schedule

You can give your third graders more independent work and start working on writing assignments. Still, keep the lessons short. 

You can also add some chores in the morning or after lunch time, such as making the bed, taking the dishes out of the dishwasher, or folding and putting away clothes)

• 7:30 am – Get dressed and have breakfast
• 8:10 am – Morning chores 
• 8:20 am – Break
• 8:30 am – Math (You can assist your child with new topics and give independent work for practicing and reviewing)
• 8:50 am – Break 
• 9:00 am – Spelling/Punctuation (Alternate)
• 9:20 am – Break 
• 9:30 am – Grammar and Literacy 
• 9:50 am – Snack time
• 10:00 am – Physical activity 
• 11:00 am – Typing
• 11:20 pm – Break
• 11:30 am  – Writing assignment
• 11:50 am – Break
• 12:00 am – Lunch
• 12:40 pm – Afternoon chores
• 12:50 pm – Break
• 1:00 pm – Second Language/Independent Reading
• 1:20 pm – Break
• 1:30 pm – Social Sciences (History, Geography) or Sciences—alternate each day
• 1:50 pm – Break
• 2:00 pm – Arts/Music

4th Grade Homeschool Schedule

You can extend the classes to 30 minutes, and shorten some breaks. 

Your child is becoming more independent and does not need your constant assistance. You can dedicate this time to smaller children you may have.

You might also want to start a bit later, as your child surely goes to bed later than their younger siblings! 

• 8:00 am – Get dressed and have breakfast
• 8:40 am – Morning chores 
• 8:50 am – Break
• 9:00 am – Math (You can assist your child with new topics and give independent work for practicing and reviewing)
• 9:30 am – Break 
• 9:35 am – Typing/Independent Reading (alternate)
• 10:05 am – Snack Time 
• 10:20 am – Grammar and Literacy 
• 10:50 am – Break
• 10:55 am – Physical activity 
• 11:55 am – ICT and Internet Safety 
• 11:25 pm – Break
• 11:30 am  – Writing assignment/Language Arts (alternate)
• 12:00 am – Lunch
• 12:40 pm – Afternoon chores
• 12:50 pm – Break
• 1:00 pm – Second Language /Independent Reading
• 1:30 pm – Break
• 1:35 pm – Social Sciences (History, Geography) or Sciences—alternate each day
• 2:05 pm – Break
• 2:05 pm – Arts/Music

5th Grade Homeschool Schedule

In 5th grade, I suggest you keep the lessons to 30 minutes. 

Additionally, you can concentrate on more demanding activities before lunch and save the freeform learning classes for the afternoon periods.

You can teach a second language every day but alternate between online classes, language apps, and reading in the second language.

• 8:00 am – Get dressed and have breakfast
• 8:40 am – Morning chores 
• 8:50 am – Break
• 9:00 am – Math (You can assist your child with new topics and give independent work for practicing and reviewing)
• 9:30 am – Break 
• 9:35 am – Social Sciences (History, Geography) or Sciences—alternate each day 
• 10:05 am – Snack Time 
• 10:20 am – Grammar and Literacy 
• 10:50 am – Break
• 10:55 am – Second Language 
• 11:25 am – Break
• 11:30 am – Writing assignment/Language Arts (alternate)
• 11:25 pm – Break
• 11:30 am  – ICT and Internet Safety 
• 12:00 am – Lunch
• 12:40 pm – Afternoon chores
• 12:50 pm – Break
• 1:00 pm –  Physical activity 
• 2:00 pm – Independent Reading 
• 2:35 pm – Break
• 2:40 pm – Arts/Music

Elementary School Weekly Schedule for Multiple Grades

If you prefer a less strict routine you can try a relaxed schedule that works for multiple grades. Keep in mind the attention span for each grade and how much independence you can give according to grade.

You could concentrate on school subjects from Monday to Thursday and dedicate Fridays to Field trips, Arts and Crafts and Music classes, and playdates.

I would keep PE classes every day since physical activity not only builds healthy bodies but healthy brains, too!

Middle School Daily Homeschool Schedule (Junior High)

In middle school, lessons could last up to 40 minutes, and you could add one more foreign language if you’d like. 

You can take the PE classes off the homeschooling schedule if your child has afternoon sports activities. 

You should also teach Sciences and Social Sciences separately, and dedicate more time to individual subjects.

• 8:00 am – Get dressed and have breakfast
• 8:40 am – Math (Geometry, Algebra, Precalculus)
• 9:20 am – Break
• 9:25 am – English
• 9:45 am – Snack Time 
• 10:00 am – Social Sciences (History/Geography/Economics) 
• 10:40 am – Foreign Language(s)
• 11:20 am – Break
• 11:30 am – Sciences (Biology/Chemistry/Physics)
• 12:10 am – Lunch 
• 1:10 am – Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
• 1:50 pm – Writing assignment
• 2:30 pm – Break
• 2:40 pm  – Visual Arts/Design/Music/PE (add or take off depending on afternoon activities)
• 3:20 pm – Independent Reading

Middle School Weekly Homeschool Schedule

At this stage, your child is more independent and you can give them more freedom by using the relaxed schedule, loop schedule or checklist. 

On Fridays, you can add some volunteering and leave the afternoon free for your child to socialize.

High School Weekly Schedule 

I highly recommend you use a checklist schedule with a high school student. 

Give them time to decide how much time they want to dedicate to each subject. You can save Friday afternoons for reflection and Monday mornings for objectives.

Leave afternoons for extracurricular activities and volunteering.

Do You Feel Ready for Homeschooling?

While nothing is written in stone and each child is different, I do hope these options help you to think about your homeschooling objectives and inspire you to choose the type of schedule that works best for you and your child! 

The best homeschool schedule for you will likely be different from the sample schedules I’ve provided above. If you need more help on this, check out 3 Tips to Make Homeschool Customized to Each Child.

After you’ve had a look at these sample homeschool schedules for specific grades, you may want to start planning your next move.

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Olga Put

Freelance Writer at Homeschool Spanish Academy

I'm a Spanish philologist, teacher, and freelance writer with a Master's degree in Humanities from Madrid. I speak Polish, Spanish, and English fluently, and want to get better in Portuguese and German. A lover of literature, and Mexican spicy cuisine, I've lived in Poland, Spain, and Mexico and I'm currently living and teaching in Madeira, Portugal.

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