In years past, we have always just done the next lesson in our curriculum, working steadily through each day, week, and month until we break for medical emergencies, pregnancies (morning sickness), or the birth and recovery of another baby.
I wanted things to be better planned this year. I wanted our breaks to be restful instead of stressful!
Year-round Homeschool Schedule
Trial and Error
I have been looking at year-round planners and trying to determine the best year-round homeschool schedule for us with our special needs. I thought I had it figured out, but then changed my mind!
I know that things may (and probably will) change as needed throughout the year ahead, but I feel better going into it with a plan. But, it had to be flexible.
The Original Plan
I tried blocking out our breaks for all major and minor holidays throughout the year, giving us a week or two off every several weeks. But, after thinking about it and considering our many doctor appointments, I felt like the breaks were too random and disorganized.
It was not looking good on the calendar! It was not helpful for scheduling doctor/therapy appointments. I needed a better plan.
Year-Round Homeschool Schedule Resources
Teaching from Rest: A Homeschooler’s Guide to Unshakable Peace
The Relaxed Art of Eclectic HomeschoolingThe Unhurried Homeschooler: A Simple, Mercifully Short Book on Homeschooling90 Days Homeschool Journal: Relaxed Method for Planning Your HomeschoolThink Outside the Classroom: A Practical Approach to Relaxed HomeschoolingPack of 2 Weekly Planner Pads – To Do List Pad – Weekly Planner Organizer – 52 Sheets Each, 6.2 x 8.2 Inches
The New Year-Round Homeschool Schedule
- First, I switched us to a 5-day school week plan instead of the 4-day week we have been doing the last couple of years (Tuesday-Friday). Though it seemed that having an extra day off in the week would be nice, it ended up being more stressful since I still wanted to complete a typical week worth of school work.
Not knowing when a medical emergency would come up, left me feeling like we needed to stay ahead of the schedule and get as much as possible done each week. We switched to a 5-day school week a few weeks ago and it has gone well.
Our formal school lessons take place Monday-Thursday with Friday as a catch-up or extracurricular/free day. Much better than taking Monday off and then making sure the work gets done in 4 days!
- Second, we are planning to take the last full week of each month off from school (at least formal, textbook, seat work type of school, but hoping to have some fun family field trips during that week). We took last week off so that I could plan our new homeschool year and then we started our new homeschool year today! We will take two weeks off at the end of December for Christmas and New Years.
These are not set in stone and will change if needed. But, knowing that the last full week of each month is our planned break, gives me a week to schedule our doctor appointments (if at all possible).
I am hoping that we can clump our doctor appointments together in that one week. It won’t be a completely stress-free week off (for me), but it will (hopefully) have a few days completely free from appointments, so I can prepare for another month of homeschool and get ahead with my online work (my blog, Lilla Rose, Norwex, Usborne, writing. etc.).
Meanwhile, it gives the kids something to look forward to. They spend that week creating, lounging, baking, reading, playing, etc.
The Details. Walk through the math with me.
We have 52 weeks in the year to work with. Taking 1 week off each month, and 2 off in December, we will have 13 weeks off from school. 52 minus 13 is 39.
We are planning 36 weeks (180 days) of formal schooling, so that leaves 3 weeks of wiggle room!
For a year-round homeschool schedule, and working with medical/special needs, this feels good! If we don’t have any medical emergencies or reasons to take extra breaks, then we will end up with a few extra weeks to use as our “summer break” in August before starting the next year.
How do you plan your homeschool year? Do you have a year-round homeschool schedule?
So many people think that flexibility means *not* planning, but you have to plan to be flexible! Our specific plans change from semester to semester, but we homeschool all year as well – the pattern that has been most consistent is a 4 day school week and 3 week winter and summer breaks.
Yes, love the flexibility to PLAN how we need to!
sounds like a good plan. May it work well for you.
we follow a four week on, one week off plan this year.
Thank you!
I always think a year round school year would be a good idea, but by the time summer comes I'm ready for a break and can't get myself to go through the summer! Good luck!
Thanks!
Thanks!
Clarissa,
My hat is off to you! I am so thankful that I came across your blog! To me it was a God thing!
We homeschool year round as well. This year i have done 6 weeks on and 1 week off. Both kids are on the spectrum and I, like you, have to schedule in dr and therapy appts. We can’t take weeks off at a time because of the disruption to their routine. We will take 2 weeks off the last of August. Our official new year is always the day after Labor Day. I take a week off for Christmas and will pull a couple days for fall.
Thank you for being here.
Betty