By Angela Hansen
Founder & President, American Academy of Strategic Education
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So, you’re suddenly homeschooling and you need some help? Follow American Academy’s 5 Helpful Homeschooling Tips to make your day, and your child’s day go smoothly.
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1. Create a Daily Structure
Daily schedules should reflect your lifestyle and your educational philosophy—this is the template, or the “skeleton” of your day. Having a Daily Structure will reduce your child’s stress and anxiety because he/ she will generally know what to expect from day to day. Each family’s Daily Structure will look different.
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| 8:00-8:30 | Get Ready | 30 min |
| 8:30-8:45 | Morning Chores | 15 min |
| 8:45-9:00 | Morning Walk | 15 min |
| 9:00-9:45 | First Subject | 45 min |
| 9:45-10:15 | Silent Reading | 30 min |
| 10:15-10:30 | Break | 15 min |
| 10:30-11:15 | Second Subject | 45 min |
| 11:15-11:45 | Music | 30 min |
| 11:45-12:15 | Lunch Break | 30 min |
| 12:15-1:00 | Third Subject | 45 min |
| 1:00-1:30 | Student-directed learning | 30 min |
| 1:30-2:15 | Fourth Subject | 45 min |
2. Construct a Loop Schedule
Do you frequently run into days when you have more subjects on your to-do list than time in the day to complete the work? Do you wish there was an easier way to carry things over to the next day instead of trying to cram it all in one? Would you like to spread your curriculum out over a longer time period or run a lighter schedule on days that you’re just not feeling it? If so, loop scheduling might work for you.
When you begin your homeschool day, you start at the top of your list and move down, doing each subject in order. Whenever you stop for the day, you mark off the last subject you completed. When you resume lessons again the next day, you simply pick up where you left off. Eventually you will reach the end of the list and start again at the top.
| 1 | Art or Design |
| 2 | Math |
| 3 | Science |
| 4 | Elective #1 _______ |
| 5 | History |
| 6 | Language Arts Basics |
| 7 | Elective #2 _______ |
| 8 | Handwriting |
| 9 | Creative Writing |
| 10 | Elective #3 _______ |
3. Make Different Learning Stations
Children like to move around. They get antsy when they have to stay in one place for too long. You can create stations within one room or in various rooms around the house.
| 1 | Art or Design | Kitchen Table |
| 2 | Silent Reading Station | Family Room |
| 3 | Science | Kitchen Counter |
| 4 | Elective #1 _______ | Garage |
| 5 | History | Living Room |
| 6 | Language Arts Basics | Kitchen Table |
| 7 | Elective #2 _______ | Family Room |
| 8 | Handwriting | Kitchen Counter |
| 9 | Creative Writing | Patio Table |
| 10 | Elective #3 _______ | Living Room |
4. Give Breaks!
I’m a big fan of the Pomodoro Technique. We use it extensively at our learning academy. This popular time-management method helps students’ power through distractions, hyper-focus on the subject at-hand, and get things done in short bursts, while taking frequent breaks to come up for air and relax. Best of all, it’s easy.
5. Explore American Academy’s Programs by Joining a Virtual Meeting!
Join us to learn how American Academy’s commitment to providing a fun, safe, and innovative environment for students allows our students to flourish academically and socially. Sign up to attend our weekly virtual introductory meeting and Q&A session. Nelly Aguilar, our Academy Director is available online to answer enrollment questions for our in-person and remote programs.