This is a Homeschool Schedule Recommendation We Can Agree With

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Source: ISBE

Recommended Mind Activities

Reading – independent reading & listening to reading
Puzzles like word search
Write a story or in a journal
Count money (here is some printable play money for kids)
Draw a map of your neighborhood
Building with blocks or LEGO bricks
Listen to a podcast
Watch a documentary

Recommended Body Activities

Take a walk (make it even more fun by adding these chalk walk ideas)
Dance
Exercise
Gross & fine motor activities
Stretch or do yoga
Play a sport

Recommended Spirit Activities

Listen to music or sing
Play inside & play outside
Creative arts
Coloring or drawing
Imaginative play
Meditate
Do something you have avoided!

Recommended Environment Activities

Clean your room
Age-appropriate chores
Gardening
Fixing something that is broken
Take care of pets or plants
Cook or bake

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).

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

Play these 50 science games for kids
Coloring is fun! Especially with Easter coloring pages.
You won’t believe why parents are gluing pennies on shoes.
Rawr! Here are some of our favorite dinosaur crafts.
Let kids explore this virtual Hogwarts escape room!
Take your mind off dinner and use these easy dinner ideas.
Try these fun edible playdough recipes!
Make this homemade bubble solution.
Your kids will think these pranks for kids are hilarious.
My kids love these active indoor games.