How to Structure a Homeschool Year

Many families have found that homeschooling their children allows them to better cater to the individual needs of their children, providing an environment in which many children thrive academically. By considering the needs of both you and your children, you can structure a home-school year that is the most efficient use of everyone's time.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Research the laws in your state concerning homeschooling. You may find that there are regulations that dictate how you have to structure your school year, such as mimicking a traditional school year. This affects the number of days required each month that a child needs to "attend" school.
2. Consider your lifestyle. Following a schedule similar to regular school can mean that you will have summers free. This type of schedule could also mean that your children are able to play with neighborhood children who are on break. One drawback of this type of schedule is that it is stricter concerning things like a child being sick and other causes for missed days. It is much less flexible than a year-round schedule. Following a year round schedule generally means that you could have a 4-day school week, thus a 3-day weekend.
3. Think about the child's personality and gifts. If he has a short attention span, he may not thrive with a 5-day a week school schedule. If the child thrives in a certain area, such as music, you may consider teaching your child in relation to that gift. Many find that teaching subjects such as math and science by applying it to a topic like music (or whatever gift your child has) can enhance their ability to comprehend the information. Field trips can be incorporated if the child is more of a visual or experiential learner. If you plan to do creative teaching methods, you may find that the flexibility of the year round schedule is more conducive to that.
4. Decide if they will go to "group" classes. One of the great perks of homeschooling is that children also have the option of joining in with other home schoolers for certain classes or extracurricular activities. By connecting with fellow home schoolers, they can build their social skills and make friends with similar values and interests. Usually, a year-round schedule is more conducive for attending group classes and activities.