Visual Homeschool Schedule

When we first started our homeschool journey my girls always wanted to know what was next. I should've known better since they always ask what's next. Why would homeschool be any different?

Enter the visual schedule!

I needed something that would be cheap, durable and easy to keep up with. Three years later and we're still using the same system.

As they say, if it ain't broke, don't fix it!

How to Make It

If you want to make your own all you need is

• construction paper
• cardstock
• laminating sheets and laminator
• velcro
• scissors
• small bin
• Microsoft Word

I used a couple of sheets of construction paper taped together to make a long strip, placed my girls' names on top and ran it through the laminator. Then I placed a strip of velcro down the middle, done.

For the scheduling pieces, I had access to Boardmaker which is an awesome product for non-verbal and visually inclined kids. Alternatively, you can use Microsoft Word and pictures from clipart or create your own if you're so artistically inclined. My squares are about 1"x 1". Run them through the laminator and pop velcro (the opposite side you used on the strip) on the back of them, done.

For the bin, I grabbed a couple up from my favorite dollar spot! This is where I keep all the scheduling pieces. As we've added new subjects over time I created new pieces on Boardmaker or Microsoft Word.

How to Use It

Every night or in the morning before school I set up the schedule for the day. The girls are so happy knowing exactly what they are doing every day and they LOVE ripping off a completed assignment and triumphantly putting it in the bin (not exaggerating, sometimes they squeal with delight).

It helps me out too! I don't have to keep going over to my planner to see what's next. I just glance over at the chart or ask one of my girls to tell me what's next.

It's really been a sanity saver, and who couldn't use more of that?

Other Ways to Use This Schedule

You could also use this chart with a morning time routine, bedtime routine, or chore chart.

Play with the orientation of the chart. Make it horizontal or zigzag or round if you're feeling fancy. Make the chart work for you.

You can be as creative and fancy as you like. I went the no fuss, just-get-it-done route 3 years ago and it works great.


How do you keep your daily routine flowing? Do your kids need visuals or are they cool with moving on the next activity?

A Day in the Life 2018-2019

This post does NOT contain affiliate links

Last year, life got really difficult just a few weeks into the school year. Having a plan of what to do was helpful in getting going again, but this year I wanted things to be even simpler. The longer I homeschool the more relaxed I become.

The girls wake up (read: are not allowed to leave their room) at 7:30. They have a Good Morning board that helps them keep on track in the mornings. We don't start school til around 9am and go until 2 if we get stuck down a rabbit hole. Some days we're done by noon.

This year I wanted to have a rhythm to our days with some loose structure. Having a rigid schedule doesn't work for us. My girls would lose interest after 20 mins of sitting in the same spot. I wanted to bust through everything and get it done, but my girls were dragging their feet. I couldn't figure out why. Didn't they want to hurry up and finish?

Then my girl Charlotte Mason gave me the answer. I needed to vary the subjects so different areas of the brain were being used. Thanks, Charlotte.

Keeping this in mind, I created a kind of loop that created variety, breathing room, and kept us moving:

• reading time
• table top
• computer work

And then added the subjects that fit into the loop and moved us around our home so we wouldn't sit in the same place for two lessons in a row. Monday to Thursday look something like this:

• Family worship
• Spelling
• Math (on the computer)
• Read Aloud
• Grammar
• Handwriting
• Lunch
• Quiet reading
• History/Geography/Science
• Brave Writer

Keeping lessons short and simple, no more than 20 mins and no extra busy work, is key for us. Our days go by quickly with variety and moving to different areas of our home. My children have been enjoying school this year and are sometimes surprised when I say we're done for the day. 

Friday is a more relaxed day. We get creative with art, do some light table work like handwriting, snuggle up for our read aloud, and go for a nature walk. This will change when we head back to Florida and we join our co-op again. We miss them so!

How do your days look? Do they change every year? Every semester? Or do you fly by the seat of your pants?