10 Really Helpful Homeschool Habits To Make Learning Go Smoothly

Homeschool comes with a unique set of challenges.

No two days are ever exactly the same, and you quickly learn that habits and routine are essential for an organized day at “school”.

If your classroom hours tend to get a little out-of-hand — and whose doesn’t, from time to time? — then these 10 homeschool habits may just help.

10 homeschool habits to better organize your child’s learning

Ready to take your homeschool teaching to the next level? These tips will help make homeschooling easy and more productive than ever.

1. Start and finish at the same time each day

Kids need routine. And while homeschool is a great opportunity to teach how and when you want, it’s important to lay out a timetable — and stick to it.

Set and agree times for waking up, eating breakfast, starting class, taking breaks, and wrapping up lessons. This degree of certainty keeps you all engaged and on-the-ball.

2. Use a daily checklist

Chances are, you’re already planning out your lessons by week or month. But what about your daily goals? Reviewing a learning ‘to do’ list at the start of each day will give your “student” a dose of motivation, while keeping you on track over the semester, too.

You can make a rolling checklist with things to do every day (silent reading time, active outdoor time, etc.) or make a fresh list each day with the tasks you plan to cover in your lesson.

As well as keeping you accountable, your checklist will serve as a good visual aid for kids to see what’s coming up next — plus they get the satisfaction of ticking items off once they’re completed!

3. Find a support group

Homeschool parents don’t have to do it alone. There are support groups all across the country — and the world! — for homeschool families to meet up, socialize, share resources, and go on field trips together.

Have a look on Facebook for a casual local group, or search Google for your state’s homeschool associations. It’s great for kids to meet up with other homeschool students their age, and you’ll find it helpful to chat with other parents sharing your experience.

Plan a meet up every fortnight, and you’ll always have something special to look forward to on the horizon!

4. Change the curriculum to suit your needs

Every student has their own unique learning style, and a major benefit of homeschooling is that you can tailor your lessons to specifically suit your child. Stick to the state-mandated subjects, of course, but don’t be afraid to change something that isn’t quite working for you.

You may just see their engagement and development soar as a result.

5. Keep it simple

You don’t need endless books, papers, and charts to run a successful homeschool. If your kid has to spend five minutes looking for a workbook, that’s five minutes that he/she’s not spending working.

At the end of each term or semester, take a moment to evaluate what you’ve used and what’s been integral to your child’s learning. While everyone has their own preferences and styles, an effective homeschool is one where learning is streamlined. It’s better to have one really good book, than three that are just okay.

What’s more, having a book clear out at the end of each year will help keep your homeschool space clean, decluttered, and perfect for learning.

6. Educate yourself

As your kids’ primary (or only) educator, you need to be constantly learning as well. After all, no one likes being put on the spot with a question they don’t know the answer to!

You could read memoirs based on the history topics in your curriculum, or watch a nature documentary to prepare for geography class. For bonus points, you can even attend conferences or classes for homeschooling parents in your local area!

7. Stay focused on your own family

Comparing your homeschool set-up with another family’s will only really end in angst. Everyone has a different learning and teaching style, so what works for them might not work for you.

The beauty of homeschooling is that you can shape your kids’ education to best serve them. Set that as your goal, and you’ll be laser-focused on developing your child — not competing against others.

8. Give yourself and your kids time to breathe

When parents first start homeschooling, the instinct is to pack your kids’ schedules with as many great activities, social outings, and fun learning opportunities as possible. Students in mainstream schools are there for seven hours, so homeschooling should be the same, right?

In reality, because homeschool lessons are one-on-one, you only need about four to five hours of schooling per day. You can fill the leftover hours with reading, outdoor education, and meet-ups with other homeschool families, but it shouldn’t be “go, go, go” eight hours a day.

It’s important to build downtime into your schedules as well. Some days they might just want to spend an afternoon lazing around, and that’s totally okay — rest is super important for progress!

9. Look after yourself

As the saying goes, you can’t pour from an empty cup. Homeschool parents have a lot on their plate, and self-care often ends up slipping to the bottom of your priority list.

But it’s impossible to give 100% as a teacher if you’re not healthy and happy. Tiredness takes you from one headspace and into another — you’ll be quick to irritation, and you’ll struggle to focus on the work at hand.

The solution? Protect some “me time” each week. Ask your partner and/or children to help out around the house, and put your feet up every now and then. Try to get a full 7-8 hours of sleep a night, too — though, as a parent, we know that’s often a lot easier said than done!

10. Persevere through your mistakes

It takes time to break free of bad habits, and the same goes for establishing good ones, too. Accept the setbacks and celebrate your wins, no matter how small. Making a mistake shouldn’t mean giving up.

And remember that you’re modeling good behavior for your kids. Use this as an opportunity to teach them that perseverance does pay off.