Homeschooling is fast becoming a popular option for parents who want to offer their children a more personal form of education and more control over the content and duration of their child’s learning experience. With home schooling, you are responsible for the pacing, duration, and structure of each and every lesson.
But, have you ever wondered how long each homeschool lesson should be? In this article, I will provide an overview of the best practices when it comes to the length of homeschooling lessons.
Why Homeschooling Is Unique
One of the great aspects of homeschooling over traditional schooling is that you have complete control over each and every lesson. You decide how long or short each lesson is and how much time needs to be devoted to each topic or subject.
That means you can take your time on certain concepts or move quickly through others depending on your child’s grasp of the material. The best part is that you get to take your child’s unique learning style and needs into account instead of worrying about adhering to a strict curriculum or predetermined timeline.
Additionally, you can break up one subject or topic into multiple lessons in one day or you can completely devote an entire day or week to one area.
The sky is the limit when it comes to homeschooling and so it’s up to you to decide what works best for your specific family situation. However, it’s still important to remember that when it comes to lesson length, there are some guiding practices that can help make sure your homeschool experience is as enjoyable and successful as possible.
How Long Should a Homeschool Lesson Be?
There is no simple answer to this question since the length of each homeschool lesson will vary depending on the age of the student, the level of difficulty, the type of subject matter being studied, and the learning objectives for the lesson. Additionally, different homeschoolers may have different ideas about the optimal length for each lesson, so it’s important to think through the pedagogical and practical considerations to find what works best for you and your child.
On the whole, homeschooling is known for its flexibility and so it’s usually best to adapt your lesson length to whatever works best for your student. For some, that may mean shorter, less structured lessons that are designed for the student to independently explore and engage with the material. For others, longer, more traditional lessons may be needed.
Age can often play a factor in this determined since younger students may need shorter lessons that focus on one subject while older students may benefit from longer lessons as they tackle more complex topics.
In terms of a general guideline, most experts cite one to two hours per day, per subject, to be the average lesson length for homeschooling students, depending on their focus, level of comprehension, and overall enthusiasm.
Some students will naturally want to spend longer or shorter amounts of time on a particular topic, so tailor your lesson lengths to these preferences if possible. It’s also important to remember to incorporate plenty of breaks and outdoor time into your daily routine as well, so your child doesn’t become overwhelmed with the material or lose motivation.
Structuring Lessons for Homeschoolers
When it comes to the type of lesson you create for each subject, it’s important to keep student engagement and motivation in mind. People learn best when they are actively engaged in solving a problem or exploring a topic, so structure your lessons around hands-on activities and physical exploration.
Incorporate games, experiments, books, videos, virtual experiences, or field trips into your daily routine to keep your student engaged and ensure that they are able to get the most out of the material.
Additionally, try to paint the big picture and real-world implications of whatever you happen to be teaching. This way, your student will have a clearer understanding of why certain concepts matter and why studying history or mathematics can be fun and intriguing.
It’s also important to remember to modify each lesson and make adjustments as needed. If a particular topic or concept is being difficult, don’t force it too much — take a step back and tackle the problem from a different angle or switch to another topic altogether.
Remember that flexibility is key when it comes to homeschooling, so don’t be afraid to shift the focus or modify a lesson plan as needed.
Life happens and so you may need to adjust the length or focus of lessons to accommodate changes in availability or students’ needs — don’t be afraid to move on or discontinue a particular topic if it’s not engaging or meaningful to your student.
Conclusion
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of how long homeschool lessons should be; it all depends on the age of the student, the level of difficulty, and the subject being studied. Ultimately, each homeschooling family must determine what works best for them and find a balance between structure and flexibility.
Try to keep lessons engaging and exciting and make sure to incorporate plenty of breaks, outdoor time, and hands-on activities. With a little bit of thought and creativity, you’ll be sure to have a successful homeschooling experience.