After reading my posts and watching the videos on homeschooling 4 days a week, I was asked by a reader to share our exact 4 day a week homeschooling schedule so she could fashion her own week after ours.
Posts & Videos About 4 Day a Week Homeschooling
Is a 4 Day a Week Homeschooling Schedule Right for Your Family?
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How We Implement a 4 Day a Week Homeschooling Schedule
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You should also check out my Homeschooling Year Round Resource Page for more information and helpful ideas!
I started to draw up a nice, neat filled-in table with times and subjects, but quickly realized that notion runs entirely contrary to who I am and how this 4 day a week homeschooling thing works.
You see, I homeschool 4 days a week, year round in order to make my life simple. Our day is a routine, and it follows the same pattern – no need for charts and graphs and tables.
But, I understand that concept can still be a little hard to grasp unless you are living it. So, let me try to help you get started with a broad overview, and then a more filled-in view of a typical 4 day a week homeschooling day here…
Now, let me give you a typical 4 day a week, year round schedule for my 11 year old daughter so you can see exactly how this works…
- We start with Bible together – reading from either the Bible itself or a story Bible.
- My 11 year old gets her school texts and workbooks from her crate and sits down at the table.
- She starts with her workbooks first – Math & Copywork
- She then does Grammar and checks in with me so I can look over her work.
- She heads to another room to read her Science and Literature (usually assigned from history).
And that’s her morning.
In the afternoon, we gather at the table or couch to work on Tapestry of Grace. Some weeks we get a full 4 days in. Some weeks, we only get 2 days in. TOG includes History, Geography, Literature, and a smattering of other subjects all studied as part of a chronological timeline. Sometimes the 11 year old will have an individual project to work on for TOG, but most often we are working together.
The rest of the afternoon is hers to work on her own personal projects, plans, and ideas…or just play.
This is the schedule most everyone adheres to. Mornings are for subjects you need to consistently do in order to master them. Afternoons are for liberal arts that do not require you to do them every day, yet definitely can be done every day.
Hopefully, this helps to clarify our exact schedule. Feel free to ask more questions, though!
Evelyn says
This is great! I just realized that we were doing this without knowing it. Sometimes it is a 4 day or a 5 day week depending on my husband’s schedule. Our Science would be a liberal art though. 🙂
Amy says
That makes sense for a lot of people to have Science as one of those subjects. For us, it is mostly reading, so I have them do it every day. For the high schoolers, Science is pretty hefty and requires 4 days a week.
Andrea says
Can I come and live with you? That sounds like a really lovely day. You have such a good plan. Thank you for sharing this!
Amy says
Well, sure!
Joellen says
What do you use for your mastery subjects? We’re switching to Tapestry, but I’m getting a bit overwhelmed (and sometimes underwhelmed) with options.
Amy says
The Mastery subjects are listed in the post and on the graphic. 🙂
Joellen says
I’m trying to figure out what to do for science, math, and grammar. Our previous curriculum was all-inclusive. We’ll probably stick with Singapore math for the moment, though that may change. Science and grammar were kind of cobbled together, and the science was well below the level of my kids, so we’ve been kind of taking a delight-driven approach there. As my oldest is heading toward upper elementary age, that’s leaving gaps, though. A more methodical approach would be helpful.
Caroline @ The Modest Mom says
What do you use for copywork? This looks a lot like how we do things, but I tend to group all our reading together in the morning instead of afternoon.
Amy says
I’m using something called Character Italic. It is basically handwriting that utilizes copywork to get the job done.
Tara Mitchell says
Great post, Amy! I am planning to switch to a 4 day schedule next year after my public high schooler goes off to college. I’ll no longer be tied to his school schedule. Our 5th day will be co-op in the morning and homemaking/field trips in the afternoon. However, because of the co-op schedule, our day “off” will be on Wednesdays. I love the freedom and flexibility of homeschooling and the ability to tailor it to meet our family’s needs.
Melanie says
First, what are your Littles doing while the Olders are doing their Mastery Subjects?
Second, what are the Olders doing for the Mastery Subjects that they can do alone?
I’m drowning with a 5-month-old, a set of 2 1/2 year old twins, a 6-year-old and an 10-year-old. Every plan I make gets sidetracked, every new routine I try never works out. My house is always noisy until naptime, not a very good working environment for my Olders or me.
Any ideas, guidance, or suggestions would be appreciated.
Amy says
My olders are 15 and 18. My middles are 10 and 11. So, what you saw for my 11 year old would be the right age group. Could you wait to work on their Master subjects until naptime?
Melanie says
Naptime is when we’ve been doing Math, Science and History. I’ve been giving them worksheets for Grammar and teaching from those in the morning. The only subject they do alone is independent reading and classical reading is done alone occasionally.
I just keep thinking there has to be an easier way. There may not be, but I have to find out if others that have the same issues have a better way.
Tahira schmidt says
Google one-hour homeschool. The main website has LOTS of ideas to help homeschool on short time frames like nap time. Lots of other homeschool resources on this great website too.
Leah says
HI Amy. 🙂 You inspired me to begin a 4 day school week, and a Friday home blessing, and we love it!! Thank you for such wonderful advice and wisdom; you have no idea how much I appreciate it. I was wondering what you use for writing, and what you require of each age on a weekly basis. I’m just not sure I give enough (or too much) as far as writing for my kids sometimes. Their ages are 8, 10, 11, and 14. They do copywork through their spelling program, and I also use Spelling Wisdom for dictation from time to time. They do a workbook called WInning with Writing, and we also do our own creative writing, book reports, research papers, etc. They’ll often be interested in someone and ask me if they can write a paper on that person, and that is just fine with me, especially since they are so excited about it. My 14 year old, however gets bummed every time I assign him an essay now, even if he can choose the topic. I would love to hear how you do writing, and maybe how to motivate a reluctant writer . Thanks Amy!
Amy says
I don’t do a lot of formal writing until they are about 14. Everything before that is “fun.” Too many writing programs suck the life out of writing, and as an English major, that just isn’t acceptable in my world. Tapestry has a writing curriculum built in, but I am just now starting to use it. Prior to that, I’ve been teaching on my own how to build a short essay and then longer research papers. You can purchase TOG’s Writing Aids as a stand alone product if you like. I hope to have more on writing in the future here on Raising Arrows.
Michelle Salas says
I know your post is from a year ago. But I’ve seen some parents find a pen pal for their children’s to write to. Not only do you build a real relationship but you practice your writing. Just an idea. If you’re part of a fb homeschool group Im sure there’s plenty there willing to be your child’s pal.
Elisa says
Love this! We do almost the same schedule as you 🙂 Except Science would be a Liberal Art 🙂
Tara Vos says
I have never been able to rotate through many subjects at the same time. Maybe I am just to ADD but for the subjects that we all study together we rotate through whole units at a time. We will do a science unit, then a poetry unit, or a geography unit. I am not sure if it is a stage of life thing or a personality thing. So many homeschoolers I know are able to juggle many subjects at a time, but it is not yet a skill I possess! We also school 4 days a week and have co-op the 5th day. We also do 6 weeks on one week off. It is sanity saving!
Celina says
I just have my children pick a passage from Scripture of the length I designate for copy work. This works well. I school 4 days per week as well. There is just too much to do to have school 5 days per week. I’m still trying to figure out how to balance home duties and home school with a 9, 7, 6, 3, 2, and 4 mo. old. I have tried zones with the older ones but they just aren’t ready for that level of responsibility yet. Any suggestions?
Amy says
Have you tried the schedule I used when I had only littles? https://raisingarrows.net/2010/06/the-chore-board/ This is the way I did the cleaning for years.
Noel says
Amy, what resource do you like to use for grammar? (I think I’ve read that you like to wait to start grammar until 4th or 5th grade.)
Thank you!
Candice says
I am new to your blog but already love it. I have a 7,6 & 4 yr old. I want to homeschool year round but am have g trouble picking curriculum and what “needs” to be worked on daily. I want to keep it simple and need to get on a good schedule. We have unschooled 100%up to this point, and it’s biting me in my rear end? my kids are struggling to listen and abide with a schedule . I’m in high hopes to fix the damage and move forward though and pray the Lord give a us all patience and grace