Embracing Daily Homeschool Rhythms

If your anything like me, then feeling like you have to stick to a structured schedule can quickly overwhelm you, but not having a schedule can make your day feel like a sloppy mess. Enter the idea of embracing rhythms to guide you and your children’s day. Daily rhythms have become the driving force that creates normalcy without rigidness in my home, and my hope is that this encourages you to create rhythms for your life and homeschool as well.

What is a homeschool rhythm?

A homeschool rhythm emphasizes flexibility and flow in your daily learning schedule. This will adapt to the natural rhythms of your family life. Meanwhile, a homeschool routine provides a structured, predictable timetable with fixed time slots for specific activities. I would love to encourage you today to ditch the idea of needing a strict routine and enjoy the benefits of how a daily rhythm can create a peaceful and enjoyable outline for your day. As always, every family is different, the point is to create a system that works for you.

What does our daily rhythm look like?

You might be thinking, “Sounds great, Elly! Now what?” So I’d like to start by sharing what our routine looks like below. This is what works for my family, and you’re welcome to adapt it to fit your family. I will add that I love structure, so that reflects in the way we do things. You don’t have to be an unschooling family to choose to do rhythms over routines. Our day is not dictated by the clock, and yet my  children know what to expect at certain parts of the day.

Starting the Day Right

Have a solid morning routine and flow means that you’re day isn’t thrown off even if your family wakes up a little late that day.  In the morning, my children wake up make their bed and get dressed before leaving the room ( unless they have to go potty of course!)  After that they come into the kitchen for a quick morning snack,  usually a banana.  Then it is off to do morning chores!

After morning chores are completed everyone gathers around the table for breakfast.  During the week this is easy quick meals like overnight oatmeal, steel cut oats, sourdough bread and hard boiled eggs, Sourdough Dutch baby. 

This is also the time that we start our morning “basket.”  At the time of writing this blog, our morning basket consists of  Bible time, History, and Science.

Navigating Core Subjects

As I mentioned in our starting the day right, we always and our morning routine with the beginning of our homeschool day.  This is flexible because it doesn’t matter the actual time of day but more of the flow and the rhythm of the day.  Most mornings my goal is to start our morning “basket”  between 8:30 and 9:00 a.m.  But some mornings, like the ones where I wake up late and work out during their morning chores  instead of before they wake up,  this can start as late as Between 9:00 and 9:30 a.m.

Since  I have such a wide range of school children, rhythms are my superpower!  After our morning basket we move into the Homeschool Room where my children start their independent subjects.

Creativity and Extracurriculars

One of the great things about embracing the flow of a rhythm is the ability for my children to have extracurricular time during our day.  This typically happens right after lunch (we will discuss meals a little further down.)  This is the time of day where my children can explore their own interests before the hustle and bustle of evening activities and dinner.  Typically during the afternoon you will find any number of my children playing the piano, painting, reading, playing with legos, riding their bikes, climbing trees, the list goes on. 

How We Work Meals Into Our Rhythm

I’ll be the first to admit that meal times can be a little difficult when having multiple children underfoot.  Even though my children know that snack time is typically around 10:30 (or  after the beginning of independent core subjects.)  They never cease  to ask me when snack is.  Even if they just had breakfast, haha!

The way that lunch happens in our family after I’m done teaching independent core subjects to my oldest two.  I have a break while the baby is napping to make lunch. This is going to be very different depending on your family in the ages of your children. I just want to stress that simple quick lunches are my go-to for this time of our day.

Adaptation and Flexibility

It is so important to recognize when something is not working and adjust accordingly to make it fit for your family.  Just because your friend or someone you see online has a certain schedule or Rhythm that appeals to you does not mean that it is a good fit for this season of life or for the way your family operates.  Don’t be afraid to try new things and don’t be afraid to adjust and tweak them to your liking. 

Homeschooling is a journey that is such a beautiful blessing. Protect your heart and your family by being very honest about the goals you have for your family and the way you want your children’s and your homeschool life to be.

Supportive Resources

Homeschooling families have access to a wealth of supportive resources to enhance their educational journey. For a full list of my most loved resources, check out this blog.

• Classical Conversations and local co-ops offer community-based learning experiences, allowing students to collaborate, engage in group activities, and benefit from specialized expertise.
• The Good and the Beautiful curriculum and BJU Homeschool curriculum provide comprehensive and high-quality educational materials, covering various subjects and grade levels.
• National Park Junior Rangers programs encourage hands-on learning and a deeper appreciation of nature and history.
• Online learning platforms like Khan Academy and Outschool offer a wide range of courses and resources to supplement homeschooling efforts, providing diverse and flexible options for families.

It’s easy to get lost in the desire for structure or feel overwhelmed by the absence of it. Daily rhythms offer that sweet spot between the two, where you can find harmony and flow. They are the guiding force that brings a sense of normalcy to our homeschooling journey without imposing rigid constraints.

Just as every family is unique, so should be your homeschooling rhythm. Embrace the freedom to craft a routine that resonates with your family’s values, priorities, and dynamics. You have the power to create a nurturing environment where curiosity thrives, creativity flourishes, and growth becomes a natural outcome.

Remember that flexibility isn’t a compromise; it’s a strength. Your homeschooling journey will ebb and flow, just like life itself. And that’s the beauty of it. Through daily rhythms, you can adapt, evolve, and find the equilibrium that suits your family’s needs.