A Homeschooling Schedule We Can Agree With

One of the best things about homeschooling is that you get to set your own schedule and that looks very different for each family and even each child. Some homeschool families follow traditional school schedule rotating through each subject daily like a classroom might. Other homeschool families might approach one subject for an entire week or even month. When deciding what might be the best choice for your child, think about some of these things:
Depth over breadth: Focusing on fewer subjects each day allows your child to delve more deeply into each area. It also means you’re not constantly shifting gears, which can be particularly helpful for children who have a hard time with transitions. If your child is weak in a certain subject, you can spend more time in that area. Don’t be afraid to breeze through things that are picked up easily!
Block scheduling: Some homeschoolers use a model where they focus intensely on one or two subjects for a week or more at a time. For example, they might do a deep dive into history, reading historical novels, visiting museums, watching documentaries, and so forth, then switch to a focus on science. This works really well for field trips in the community, study with a homeschooling group or travel to area of study.
Child’s interests and energy levels: If your child is particularly interested in a subject, he/she might want to spend more time on it, or work on it more frequently. Similarly, you might schedule more demanding work for the times of day when your child tends to be more focused and energetic. We found in our homeschooling experience that my boys would breeze through things in the morning if they knew they could play more in the afternoon when they weren’t as focused anyway!
Integration across subjects: Many topics can be integrated across different subjects. For instance, reading a historical novel (literature) that provides information about a particular time period (history), may involve looking up places on a map (geography), or could inspire a related art project (art). Math can be taught through practical application like cooking (measurement), shopping (money and calculation), or even while learning about architecture (geometry).
Regulations and requirements: Make sure to check the regulations in your state or country, as some places have requirements for homeschooling that include covering certain subjects.

You absolutely can homeschool without buying a curriculum, but if you are just getting started I recommend starting with a framework that inspires you and then deviating from there. There are free online curriculums like Khan Academy and multiple YouTube channels that can guide you to develop your own plan.
I would also encourage you to join your local homeschool group. It may be a little overwhelming at first (homeschoolers are usually way more active than people expect), but you will find friends and other families who have learned a lot and are willing to share what they know.
There are other types of homeschooling which are not curriculum based that you might want to explore before choosing a homeschool curriculum:
Eclectic Homeschooling: This method involves pulling resources from a variety of places to tailor a program that fits your child’s unique needs. This might include online resources, library books, workbooks, and learning through practical experiences.
Unschooling: This is a type of homeschooling that advocates learner-chosen activities as a primary means for learning. Unschooling students learn through their natural life experiences including play, household responsibilities, personal interests and curiosity, internships and work experience, travel, books, elective classes, family, mentors, and social interaction.
Project-Based Learning: This is a student-centered pedagogy that involves a dynamic classroom approach in which students acquire a deeper knowledge through active exploration of real-world challenges and problems. The child chooses a project of interest to them and learns various subjects through the execution of the project.
World Schooling: In world schooling, the world is the inspiration for study. Some families will travel and then explore all the aspects of history, geography, science, culture, art within the places they visit. Other families might do their traveling virtually, yet explore through books, online resources, food, local resources and people they know from home.

There is a wide range of research that suggests homeschooled children can do very well in life, in many different respects. Here are a few ways that homeschooling can potentially benefit students:
Academic Performance: Multiple studies have shown that homeschooled students often perform as well as or better than their traditionally-schooled peers on standardized tests. They also typically have high graduation rates from high school and college. Check out Dr. Brian Ray of National Home Education Research Institute study, “Academic Achievement and Demographic Traits of Homeschool Students: A Nationwide Study.”
Socialization: While concerns about socialization are often raised in discussions about homeschooling, research suggests that homeschooled students often participate in a wide range of social activities outside the home and are typically well-adjusted socially. They usually have ample opportunities for interaction with people of different ages and backgrounds. (Medlin, R. G. “Homeschooling and the question of socialization.” Peabody Journal of Education 75/1-2 (2000): 107-123.)
Independence and Self-Motivation: Homeschooling can encourage self-directed learning, helping students to develop a strong sense of independence and motivation. This can serve them well in both higher education and the workforce, where self-discipline and initiative are highly valued. According to a study by Romanowski (2006), homeschooling fosters traits like self-reliance and self-motivation that can facilitate success in higher education and adult life.
Customized Learning: Homeschooled children often have more opportunities to learn at their own pace, explore their interests deeply, and to have their education tailored to their individual learning style. This can contribute to a love of learning and a deep understanding of their areas of interest. Check out this study by Cogan in 2010 for more information.
Success in College and Beyond: Many homeschooled students have been successful in gaining admission to colleges and universities and often perform well once there. Additionally, many have gone on to successful careers in a wide range of fields. In a study by Gloeckner and Jones (2004), it was found that homeschooled students were generally successful in college and were often involved in more extracurricular activities than their peers.
It’s important to note that while these are potential benefits of homeschooling, they are not guaranteed. The success of a homeschool education can depend on many factors, including the quality of instruction, the student’s engagement and motivation, the resources available, and the support the student receives.
On a personal note, all three of my boys were partially homeschooled and two of them are now in college. They both have said that college is “easy” compared to what they were learning and because they have been completely independent and responsible for their learning for years, studying on their own in college wasn’t even a transition. They got into the colleges they desired with scholarships and have done well with their studies so far.