This is a Homeschool Schedule Recommendation We Can Agree With

ByLiz Hall Updated on

As parents, it’s really easy to get overwhelmed right now. Between work, homeschool eLearning, and everything in between, it can feel like we’re falling behind and not “doing enough” for our kids.

But there’s some good news, and we think it’ll help parents take some pressure off of themselves. 

Homeschool Schedule recommended by the Illinois Board of Education

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) published a document sharing recommendations on how to engage kids while they learn at home and virtually.

The document is directed toward teachers, educators, and parents alike. Because what we’re doing right now at home?

It’s not traditional homeschooling. It’s also not traditional classroom learning. This “homeschool” experience is something completely different. 

virtual learning schedule for parents and kids

Recommended Study Times for Remote Learning

The biggest takeaway for parents in these virtual education guidelines? 

Your kids don’t need to sit at a computer all day to learn and complete their schoolwork.

The ISBE shared a nifty little chart that helped me breath a sigh of relief. It shows “suggested minimum and maximum times of engagement by each student in remote learning activities.”

Download & print the ISBE schedule — the information discussed in this article is on pages 18 & 19.

At-home learning
Source: Oops & Daisies

Illinois State Board of Education Home School Schedule

These recommended times — which are broken down by grade level — are something I think a lot of parents can get behind. It also shares the typical attention span of the students, based on age/grade level. 

eLearning chart
Source: ISBE

PreK Home Schedule

These are the recommendations for Pre-Kindergarten students studying at home:

  • Minimum daily learning time: 20 minutes
  • Maximum daily learning time: 60 minutes
  • Recommended Length of Sustained Attention: 3-5 minutes

Kindergarten Home Schedule

These are the recommendations for K students studying at home:

  • Minimum daily learning time: 30 minutes
  • Maximum daily learning time: 90 minutes
  • Recommended Length of Sustained Attention: 3-5 minutes

Grades 1 & 2 Home Schedule

These are the recommendations for first grade & second grade students studying at home:

  • Minimum daily learning time: 45 minutes
  • Maximum daily learning time: 90 minutes
  • Recommended Length of Sustained Attention: 5-10 minutes

Grades 3, 4 & 5 Home Schedule

These are the recommendations for third, fourth & fifth grade students studying at home:

  • Minimum daily learning time: 60 minutes
  • Maximum daily learning time: 120 minutes
  • Recommended Length of Sustained Attention: 10-15 minutes

Grades 6, 7 & 8 Home Schedule

These are the recommendations for sixth, seventh & eighth grade students studying at home:

  • Minimum daily learning time: each class = 15 minutes; total = 90 minutes
  • Maximum daily learning time: each class = 30 minutes; total = 180 minutes
  • Recommended Length of Sustained Attention: 1 class

High School Home Schedule

These are the recommendations for 9th-12th grade students studying at home:

  • Minimum daily learning time: each class = 20 minutes; total = 120 minutes
  • Maximum daily learning time: each class = 45 minutes; total = 270 minutes
  • Recommended Length of Sustained Attention: 1 class

Additional Activity Recommendations 

To supplement remote virtual learning, the ISBE also shares some “enrichment” activities. These activity recommendations are primarily targeted toward preschool and elementary-aged students.

These are homeschool experiences without the use of a device. 

ISBE
Source: ISBE

Recommended Mind Activities

Recommended Body Activities

Recommended Spirit Activities

Recommended Environment Activities

Recommended Family Activities

The Illinois’s Board of Education recognizes that we’re living in an “unprecedented moment.”

Now, for the time being, kids need to learn in a different way than what they’re used to.

Technology and virtual education can help kids learn (plus, they’re great for keeping connected to teachers, classmates and friends). 

play time

But as these guidelines show, eLearning is far from the only way to support our kid’s education right now. Kids can learn through independent play, through exploring. through making art, through building blocks and forts, and spending time outdoors.

And yes, life skills — like cleaning their room — count as learning experiences too. 

While guidelines from other states may vary, hopefully these recommendations from the ISBE can help parents take some pressure off of themselves.

We’re all just doing the best we can! 

More Distance Learning Schedule Information

Here at Kids Activities Blog we are trying to find as many resources as possible to make being “stuck at home” a memorable experience for the whole family…in a good way.

We interviewed over a dozen moms and each shared how they are keeping sane with a schedule for school at home.

We update our stuck at home resources for parents & teachers multiple times a day.  Check out all the help and fun.

Additional Recommended Activities

Liz SanFilippo Hall is a freelance writer/editor and work-at-home mama who writes about everything from food and travel to parenting, self care, and books. Some of her work can be found on CBSLocal.com and SelfSufficientKids.com. She also talks about all the ups and downs of parenting and life on her blog Oops & Daisies. .

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