How to Schedule

There are loads of lessons, daily schedules, and guides to help you develop detailed schedules.  Do you need them?  One way to schedule is to start with the number of lessons or chapters are in the textbook you use.  Saxon usually has 120 lessons.  Let’s plan on 30 weeks of instruction, beginning after Labor Day and ending at the end of May.  Why 30 weeks?  Plan to miss school over the holidays, for illness, for family conflicts, etc.    Thirty five day weeks are 150 days.  Aim for a lesson each day and a test each week.  

How many chapters are in the history book?  If there are 15 chapters and you teach 150 days, plan on completing one chapter every ten days, test included.  I try to complete a chapter each week.  Some material just takes longer.  You have built in extra time.    

Do the same thing for the science and reading book.  Look to see how many chapters are in the book.  Divide 150 days by the number of chapters.  150 days divided by 19 chapters is 7.89 days.  Try to complete each chapter in seven or eight days.  

Are you worried about finishing?  Start school in August.  What happens if you do not finish the book?  Work over the summer.  Plan to work five hours each day, five days each week, for 150 days.  Don’t over think scheduling.