Ask any homeschooler what one of the biggest advantages of homeschooling is, and flexibility is sure to have made the cut. To a new or prospective homeschool parent, this notion may seem fanciful but is probably a bit vague, as well. Since it is always my hope to encourage “newbies,” I’ve compiled a list of…
20 Easy Ways to Use That Flexibility to Your Advantage
#1- Combining different age groups for multi-level learning
Just because schools separate ages doesn’t mean it’s the only way. Read-alouds and unit studies are wonderful ways to do this.
#2- Combining subject areas
Again, just because schools do things a certain way doesn’t mean it’s the best way. In fact, the idea of separating subjects really doesn’t make much sense at all. Just as we do not separate life into subjects, homeschooling does not have to, either. If your child is reading a biography of Thomas Edison and notebooking through it, that alone would cover science, history, and writing. Combining subjects is one of the biggest time savers you’ll find!
#3- Choosing not to classify activities as particular subjects at all
Taking #2 one step further, many homeschooling parents do not plan their lessons by subject at all. I’m one of them. If you would look in my planner for my elementary and middle school age kids, you won’t see one single heading for science, social studies, art, music, health, etc. Since we combine our activities with unit studies, we simply continue learning about the topic at hand. Does that mean we’re not covering those areas? Not at all. They’re actually covered abundantly. I’m just not stressing myself out over “fitting it all in.”
#4- Choosing what time of day to homeschool
Because school starts first thing in the morning, non-homeschoolers often assume that all homeschoolers do the same. Not so. A good many do, of course, but just as many homeschool throughout the day on a schedule that fits their lifestyles. If your child is a night owl, take advantage of it and let them learn when they are alert. My teenagers often do their work when I’m fast asleep. I have no problem with that as long as they’re getting it done.
#5- Choosing what part of the calendar year to homeschool
Homeschool isn’t confined to the traditional school calendar. As with everything else, it is entirely up to each individual family. In our house alone, we operate on two separate schedules- a year round schedule with my younger kids and a more traditional year with the teens. Click here for a great description of all the possibilities your homeschool year can look like.
#6- The opportunity for impromptu “days off”
Life happens- even for homeschoolers. One of the great things for us, however, is that learning doesn’t have to stop on the occasion that school is postponed for the day. Last week we took the day off so I could run my mom to the doctor. Did it mean they didn’t do anything? Only if you think reading, making paper dolls, painting, and making a board game aren’t educational. 🙂
#7- Unschooling days
Some days just seem to have so many other interesting things going on that nothing in the lesson plan ever gets accomplished. That’s okay, because learning and life are inseparable. If you feel like taking a walk and end up collecting leaves, only to bring them home and glue together a giant tree mural while drinking hot chocolate and baking pumpkin bread, that’s a great example of an unschooling day.
#8- Movie days
Movie days are one of our favorite treats. Every month we take one day off of school to watch the movie version of whatever read-aloud we finished. Last month we read Peter Pan and then watched the Disney version, which is very different from the book, but come on. Who can resist that crocodile? 🙂 Last Monday we watched Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone after finishing the book. What a great way to start the school week!
#9- Park days
Let’s face it, a great many homeschoolers completely avoid parks and playgrounds in the summer and take full advantage of them during the school year. And, yes, park days count as schools days, too!
#10- Choosing a curriculum
Judging by the masses that attend curriculum fairs, this is a big deal in the homeschool community, and rightly so. While traditional schools must use the curriculum chosen for them, homeschooling families can take into account their interests, their learning styles, and their beliefs when making this decision. And better, yet… they can also choose to drop it if it’s not working and move on.
#11- Choosing whether to use a curriculum at all
Using a curriculum is not mandatory when it come to educating at home. Countless families write their own, rely entirely on the library, or simply use whatever life throws at them. Ingenuity is an asset to homeschooling- and to your wallet!
#12- Library days
Library days are yet another great way to add some variety to your homeschool. We visit ours at least once a week, and remember, libraries aren’t just for finding books. They are one of the greatest tools in a homeschooler’s belt.
#13- Choosing where to homeschool
Pinterest boards may be swarming with beautiful photos of homeschool rooms, but I’m going to let you in on a little secret…we don’t all have one, and even if we do, we don’t all use them. Currently, our main homeschool room is our dining room, but even when we did have an actual room set aside for this purpose, we ended up doing almost everything in the dining room, anyway. Besides that, we homeschool in the living room, the kitchen, the backyard, the creek, the bedrooms, the library, the park,…well, you get the picture.
#14- Deciding how long to spend on homeschool activities
Although most homeschoolers consider everything we do a form of learning, we do still usually have certain things we do everyday as our actual “homeschool time.” Don’t be fooled by the six hours a day kids spend in schools- they’re not learning for most of that time, anyway. As such, the vast majority of homeschoolers spend far less than that on their scheduled lessons. Some people may spend as little as an hour or two while others may get close to that 6 hour mark. The point is, only you know what works best for your family.
#15- Following interests
Since most homeschoolers spend much less time on their school work than their peers, it only makes sense that they’ll have much more time to spend following their interests. Additionally, those interests can be easily integrated into their actual homeschool curriculum. It’s a win-win situation.
#16- Following rabbit trails or other “distractions”
As I mentioned before, life happens, but in homeschooling we can take full advantage of that. Last summer we had to postpone our lessons because the kids found a fledgling in the yard. They spent the day researching what to do, watching it, feeding it, and protecting it from the neighbor’s cat. 😉 Don’t get irritated with distractions- embrace them!
#17- Deciding whether to test and give grades
Believe it or not, not all homeschoolers are required to do this. My kids must be tested in 3rd, 5th, and 8th grades for the state. Other than that, the only “tests” we do are weekly spelling tests which we only do because the kids enjoy them. I also don’t give out grades. Other homeschoolers feel differently. Again, this choice is entirely up to us.
#18- Allowing children to develop at their own pace
This is a biggie. Schools have their reasons for expecting all children to be the same, but at home we can grant our kids the gift of letting them flourish at the rate they need to. The only timeline homeschooled children need to worry about is their own.
#19- Counting everyday as a school day
Most states have regulations regarding the days or hours homeschool students must spend “doing school,” and a lot of homeschoolers count their school days to the tee to comply, but really, if your child is awake they’re learning. Everyday is a school day. No counting necessary.
#20- Taking the day off for birthdays
What “holiday” is more important to a child than their own birthday? Forget the lessons for the day and watch some movies, pop some popcorn, and fit in a math lesson while you bake a cake. Homeschooling should be fun!
I’ve really just reached the tip of the iceberg here, but, seeing as this post is already really long, I’ll stop here. Taking advantage of the flexibility that accompanies the homeschool lifestyle is key in enjoying a peaceful and joyful journey.
How do you take advantage of the flexibility that comes with homeschooling?
I love the flexibility that comes with/because of homeschooling! It’s so nice not to be on the public school calendar and regulations. Just this week, we spent two days performing impromptu service. I didn’t have to worry about his absence going unexcused and he doesn’t have any make-up work to do! We will just pick up where we left off tomorrow.
LikeLiked by 1 person
When we first started homeschooling, I was still so stuck in how school did things that I used to make my kids make up missed work. I’m so glad I came to my senses!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great post. We love the fact that we do not need to stick to school days, times or terms. So if we need to take time off in the middle because the kiddies need a break we do.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, absolutely!
LikeLike
Movie days are the best. I like the TeachWithMovies.org movie-based curriculum. It’s helped solidify Science, Literature and History topics with my kiddos.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’ve never heard of that website. I’ll definitely check it out! Thanks. 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you! What a great site! I checked it out and already found a DVD of a title I wanted in my library. Do you have any other treasures, Nita?
LikeLiked by 1 person
You really need to be writing for a homeschooling magazine. Your points were all right on!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re sweet. Thank you, Lisa. I suspect you’d be great at that too, considering that you’ve already graduated several!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t think so. I think you have way more insights into homeschooling than I ever did. Your issues are well thought out and start good debates. I really enjoy seeing your posts come up.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, but I think you underestimate yourself. 🙂
LikeLike
I always showed the movie that related to our read-alouds in class and now I’ve just started doing it here with Gv, too. We finished Winnie the Pooh and watched the Disney version and now are about to watch Pippi Longstocking…
LikeLiked by 1 person
We’ve done it with so many movies, like A Wrinkle in Time, Percy Jackson, A Little Princess, etc. I love to read through a book with them and then watch it on the screen together. We’ve had some great discussions about the differences between the movie versions and the book versions (which are always better!)
LikeLike
My students would always argue that they just KNEW the movie would be better (based on their previous experiences), but by the end of the year, they’d been converted to “the book is always better” philosophy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
These are good tips and ones I know are much easier to do with the boys being so young. I hope to always see Reese kinds of reminders as the boys grow, in order to keep my perspective. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have to remind myself sometimes!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is a great list! Thank you for sharing. We just started homeschooling this past week.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! I hope you have a great homeschooling journey!
LikeLike
I love this! My husband is in the military so we are going to enjoy our flexibility by taking our school on the road while he has leave time 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Being on the road is one of the greatest learning opportunities. A few years ago when our son graduated from boot camp and AIT training, we packed up the kids and drove 1000 miles to MO for family day. I didn’t worry about missing lessons because there was so much to see and do along the way. Thank your husband for his service and thank you, too!
LikeLike
I adore the flexibility of homeschooling!
LikeLike
Such a great list of ideas! Going to be jotting them down in my planner as reminders:) Thanks!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m so honored my ideas have made it into your planner! 😉 Thanks for visiting!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great post! How I wish I would have discovered your blog so long ago when I attempted to homeschool! That’s a story for another time:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wish I would have known all this years ago when I sent my kids back to school for two years! 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks
I now have 4 kids
With a baby
A three year old
And 2 school age I need to be more flexable
Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was wondering if you can give some insight into high school and not giving grades. How does that work for you? I love the idea of not giving grades, but what about getting into college?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m going to leave you a link to a wonderful post written by another blogger in which she gets into how she did her transcripts without grades. Since my daughter is going to community college, we didn’t even need transcripts because she’ll be taking a placement test. I know that there are transcript templates which leave space for the number of credits, but grades aren’t listed. Anyway, here is the link to that post- https://unschoolrules.com/2017/04/unschooling-high-school-transcript/ I hope this helps!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much! Lots of great information.
LikeLiked by 1 person