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Are you a new homeschooler wondering how long does it take to homeschool each day?
I’ve been homeschooling for 15 years and one of the most common questions I encounter is, “How long does it take to homeschool each day?”
The answer to this question varies depending on factors such as grade level, curriculum, teaching style, and individual student needs.
Every homeschool family will look a bit different but I’ll go over some general guidelines. Things like different grade levels, homeschool laws, kids learning styles will determine how your family’s day will run.
Many families looking to homeschool think they are taking on “school at home” and it seems overwhelming.
The public school system has hours of downtime built into each day just waiting in line, time in between classes, study hall, lunchtime, and extra time after the teacher explains the lesson.
After stripping away all of that extra time, most students only do a few hours of bookwork each day in public school.
The time your child is actually learning in traditional school and doing school work is very small.
How Long Does It Take To Homeschool Each Day?
I’ve got some VERY GENERAL time guidelines if you are a new homeschooler and need a foundation of where to start. These times will vary so much depending on the type of curriculum you are using, your goals for your children, legal requirements, and your kid’s ages.
The timeframes mentioned below are recommended times of actual bookwork at a table or desk, not chores, playtime, and extracurricular activities.
There are so many other ways for homeschoolers to learn including field trips, documentaries, hands-on projects, co-op classes, extracurricular classes and activities, and just everyday living.
Using a Unit Study style of school can combine ages and grades making the day run much smoother so the “school time” really does depend on the type of curriculum you choose.
Homeschooling Pre-K: 20 Minutes a Day
Pre-K are those ages roughly 3-5 where playtime is vital. Your preschooler is busy learning about life and won’t do much “bookwork” if any at all.
Important Pre-K activities include things like:
- Getting dressed by themselves
- Brushing their teeth
- Helping mom fold laundry
- Properly holding crayons and markers
- Tying shoes and zipping zippers
Most of a preschooler’s time will be playing and that doesn’t mean they aren’t learning.
Preschoolers learn by building blocks, playing with playdough, exploring the backyard for bugs, collecting leaves, playing house, and other pretend play.
Structured learning could include:
- Alphabet puzzles
- Numbers puzzles
- Playdough placemats of letters and numbers
- Coloring pages
- Listening to read-aloud stories
- Counting objects
- Recognizing colors and shapes
You really don’t NEED a curriculum for this age but it might be helpful to have some playdough or coloring pages around while the bigger kids “do school” so they can feel like they are participating too.
Homeschooling Kindergarten to 1st Grade: 30-90 minutes a day
In the early years, young learners have shorter attention spans. Focus on foundational skills such as reading, math, and hands-on activities. Keep lessons engaging and interactive to make the most of their learning time.
Most K curriculums focus on letter sounds reading beginner CVC words, and basic math skills. 20 minutes for each of those subjects is usually a good amount of time.
Take as many breaks as you need to so they can get those wiggles out.
Learning to read will be your main focus with Kindergarten and if you don’t know where to start I’ve got some of the best learn-to-read curriculums!
Homeschooling Grades 2-4: 1-2 Hours a Day
As students enter the elementary years, you can gradually increase the time spent on subjects like science, history, and writing. Encourage independent reading if they are able. Reading is such a fundamental skill that bleeds over into every subject.
Roughly 20-30 minutes per subject is a good guide for this age and remember to take lots of breaks. These elementary years are the perfect time to add in fun projects and
HomeScienceTools has so many hands-on kits to choose from.
Homeschooling Grades 5-8: 2-3 Hours a Day
Middle school and early high school students require more in-depth study. Incorporate critical thinking, research skills, and project-based learning. This stage is crucial for building a solid academic foundation.
The bookwork time can still vary based on the child’s attention span. Those with ADHD will need more breaks in their schedule.
Most core subjects at this stage will take 30-45 minutes a day depending on the curriculum. You can always adjust this so your students are spending more time on those subjects they need help with and less time on what they find easy.
This is a good age to get a foundation in piano, sports, and other extracurricular activities.
Homeschooling Grades 9-12: 4-6 Hours a Day
High schoolers preparing for college or other post-graduation paths may need more time for advanced coursework, test preparation, and extracurricular activities. Flexibility and individualized plans are essential.
At least 45 minutes most days for the core subjects and add time for extracurricular subjects and projects. Sure they will have lighter days here and there depending on curriculum.
Independent learning is important for this age, keeping track of their own schedule, using a planner, learning to drive, and possibly getting a job. Just like life skills were important for preschool, life skills are vital to any high schooler.
This is really a time for them to shine individually and gear their studies toward what they want to do after school. Each student is different in the path they choose but a high school diploma might just be the start of their higher education.
School time hours will always be dependent on state laws but dual credit is a wonderful option for most high schoolers.
Most states allow homeschoolers to take college classes for credits as high schoolers. Dual credit classes will count as high school credit and college credit at the same time.
Homeschool Laws and Keeping Track of Hours
Homeschooling regulations vary by state and country. It’s essential to familiarize yourself with the laws in your jurisdiction.
Most places require parents to send in a notice of intent and maintain records of their homeschooling activities, including the number of hours spent on instruction.
Know Your State Laws
Investigate the homeschooling laws in your area to ensure compliance using the HSLDA website.
Some states have specific homeschool hours requirements, while others focus on educational goals. Understanding the legal framework will help you plan your homeschooling journey confidently.
We are in Texas, for example, and Texas doesn’t require a certain number of hours but we still school roughly 180 days a year to ensure a quality education for our children.
Keep Good Records
Keeping detailed records is important regardless of what state you live in. Create a homeschool portfolio that includes lesson plans, work samples, progress reports, and a log of hours spent on each subject.
It sounds difficult but really a binder with examples of their work can be a portfolio.
Some states require you to keep previous years work while others don’t.
You can quickly turn any paper into a PDF and store it in a folder with your smartphone instead of keeping tons of last year’s notebooks.
Scheduling and Attendance
Homeschooling offers the flexibility to adjust your schedule based on your family’s needs. As long as you are getting the required school time in each year, the schedule is up to you. You can school wherever you want!
It’s smart to have a planner so you can keep track of attendance, field trips, books you are reading, and other fun projects.
Homeschool Planners for your family.
Quality over Quantity
Remember, the focus should always be on the quality of learning rather than adhering strictly to a set number of hours. Tailor your approach to your child’s learning style and pace.
You don’t want to fill your day with busy work just for the sake of doing a worksheet.
Projects, field trips, co-op classes, and really any learning can count toward school it’s not just bookwork.
Homeschooling allows for a personalized educational experience tailored to each child’s needs. The amount of time it takes to homeschool each day varies across grade levels, with an average range from 1 to 6 hours.
Understanding homeschool laws and maintaining accurate records are essential aspects of the homeschooling journey.
Embrace the flexibility that homeschooling offers and create a nurturing learning environment that fosters curiosity, creativity, and academic growth.
It’s not going to look like “school at home” and every family will run things differently.
