How to Get it All Done: Our Homeschool Schedule with Five Kids
We are having a blast this year, y’all!
We have loved Montessori Christian Homeschooling for the primary years, but when we got to the elementary years, I didn’t have the time to create and curate a Christian Montessori elementary education at home for my children. That may be a project for the future me… After looking at many options, I happily (and gratefully) chose My Father’s World!
This is the fourth year we have used My Father’s World in some fashion. We are using Exploring Countries and Cultures for our 10 and 7 year olds.
Our Homeschool Schedule with Five Kids
NOTE: We have Montessori shelf work out for our younger children, but the morning times have been focused on giving them lessons from My Father’s World Animal Train and God’s Creation from A to Z. I’ll update on how this is working together, but for now - just know, I’m trying it! This helps keep things streamlined for our Synergy Group (Homeschool group that uses My Father’s World), and the kids love it.
Here is our schedule, and it’s going really well!
If you want to use this template to make your own schedule, here is the Canva Template. Just make a copy and edit it to work for your family!
Some notes on our schedule…
I try to get up as early as possible. It used to be 4:00 am, but lately it has been 5:00 or 5:30 am. I am a much gentler and sweeter mommy when I have time alone with God in the morning. Our youngest was born in January of 2025, and that first year of sleeping is always a little rough! I try to give myself grace but also strive to do better. It’s a balance!
The kids get up at 6:00 am or so. They know to immediately start on their “Morning Routine” (see bottom left of schedule.) They usually eat a simple breakfast they can make themselves of cereal, bagels, toast, egg muffins, yogurt, or something like that. When my husband is home, he makes a delicious hot second breakfast that we eat when we sit down for Bible at 8:00.
The oldest two children have extra time in the morning, because they do not start until 8:00 am.
Why a schedule and not a “routine”?
This is a tough one. I have done both, and even when I do make a schedule, sometimes it dissolves into a routine. I have read and listened to probably too much advice about homeschool schedules and routines. People have very strong opinions on this topic, and mamas seem to hold their ground and justify whatever “camp” in which they are planted.
1. I want to be done by noon or 1pm.
I chose a time schedule this year for many reasons. First of all, if a mom of five can send her kids to school, run her household, work at home or outside the home, and keep up with appointments - why can’t I? Why can’t I have the kids dressed and ready by 7:00 to make our life run more smoothly and predictably? I bet I would get the kids to the bus stop at 7:00 if I had to for their education. I have the privilege of teaching them at home, but I also have standards and goals.
All that being said, here is my real motivator: I want to be done as close to noon as possible - with all five kids!
2. I don’t want to skip anything from their designer education.
It may be selfish, but I run out of steam in the afternoon for lessons. I have come to rely on productive free time, play time, social activities, and rest time in the afternoons as time to revive, reset, and let the children use their imaginations.
I also don’t want to skip anything due to running out of time. I am literally designing a custom education for my children, picking and choosing curriculum and lessons, Bible studies, read alouds, handcrafts, art projects, and YouTube playlists - all to point them to Jesus. I can’t justify not delivering that custom education, because I was not disciplined enough to start our homeschool day on time.
3. Kids thrive with a schedule.
Kids thrive with a schedule. They want to know what is ahead, what has been accomplished, and when they can get back to their knitting project! We have a clock above our school table, the schedule posted on the wall near the clock, and the kids have timers they are encouraged to use to keep track of lesson time.
4. The schedule keeps me accountable.
I don’t always want to teach my kids, and my kids always don’t want to do their lessons. Instead of giving in and battling decision fatigue… What do you want to do first? Should we go ahead and start now? or even… I’m not feeling it today, let’s skip school today.
Flexibility is a huge draw for homeschooling, but I have found, as children get older, and as we have a larger family now, flexibility does NOT equal fun. Predictability, routine, and schedules are actually fun - because it is way less stressful, and we actually get to the FUN things!
If you have children like mine, you, mom, will be reminded by THEM that it is 8:00 and homeschool is starting RIGHT NOW! Let your ‘yes’ be ‘yes’ and your ‘no’ be ‘no.’ See Matthew 5:37.
5. The schedule keeps us on track when we get interrupted.
This works in a couple of ways. If the baby or younger children need me while I am working with the older children, I am free to actually step away from the homeschool table and tend to the need of the moment without derailing the entire day. The children working know that Spelling will start at 8:30 with or without me. They can read a clock, and they each have individual timers going for each subject block so we are all on the same page, moving forward, no matter the hiccup.
Sometimes my children will get “stuck” without me, and here is where I have had to train them in a backup plan. Here’s what usually works:
Skip the question and move on to the next one. (This used to waste so much time!)
Put the assignment away and pull out something you know you can do independently. (Handwriting, math drill, spelling, grammar, writing, etc.)
Pick up a book basket book.
Take your break now, but you’ll have to work during break time later.
Usually, #1 is our go-to, but occasionally, we resort to another solution. I find as the school year progresses, my children get stuck less often, and when they do get stuck, it is not a huge upset. I also don’t leave them unless I TRULY have to. School time is sacred, and laundry, cooking, chatting with a family member, and so on - waits until we are finished.
6. The schedule makes sure my younger children have their buckets filled first.
As my oldest children have gotten older, the “seriousness” of homeschooling has weighed more heavily on me. There have been many days where we start first thing in the morning and just keep going - and that means unhappy little ones vying for my attention all day.
It’s so easy to look back and pinpoint the reason for all of the tantrums, arguing, and downright objectiveness. In the moment - or during the whole day that we are “in” it - it is so hard to see. I have had moments and long stretches of time where I have thought the only option was to send the younger children to preschool. We actually did send the younger children to preschool one year! I thought it was the only way. That is a story for another day, but I won’t do that again.
Once I decided that preschool outside the home wasn’t an option for us any longer, I went full steam ahead as a homeschooling mom who homeschools with all my children at home - from babies to preschoolers and beyond. I have an amazing preschool curriculum that serves the hearts, minds, bodies, and souls of my little ones - and I started to actually use it with my younger children. They became the best little kids, almost overnight! Yes, there are normal demands for my attention, normal sibling squabbles, and normal life things that happen each day, but I dare say, my kids are normalized to being at home!
The secret? Work with the youngest children first. There are many ways to do this, but I thrive on a structured curriculum, so that’s what I use. Like I mentioned earlier, we are using MFW along with the Montessori Christian Homeschool Curriculum that I wrote! I do one or the other in the morning early!
Once those little love buckets are filled, the younger children spend the rest of the morning playing until lunchtime!
7. The schedule ensures we take breaks.
I like to plow ahead. I like to just keep going until everything is done. But this creates fatigue and frustration - for both the kids and myself. The timed breaks (yes, we use actual timers) refresh ALL of us! The kids run off, usually outside, and let off some steam or grab a snack.
I breathe, shuffle papers, get ready for the next set of lessons, and check on the other children and the home. I may use the restroom, grab a caffeinated beverage and some water, and pick up some toys alongside the younger children. I take a breather, take care of my needs, and check on everyone else. It’s fabulous.
What keeps you on track with homeschooling? I’d love to know in the comments!