One of the first questions a new homeschooler asks is how to pack in all the subjects plus extracurricular items and activities in the school year. It can feel overwhelming to plan out all the subjects for one child much less several. However, once you take a deep breath and plan out each one individually you will find it becomes easier. The more subjects you can share between your children the easier time you will have as well. Here is an example of my middle school student’s outline of the year. The outline is sparse but it is the skeleton by which all other things will be hung.
Middle School Student:
English: English includes literature, grammar, spelling, copywork, narration and dictation. English is held daily. English starts out with copywork, then literature followed by narration and finally grammar and spelling. Dictation is sprinkled in but not required daily. While this may seem like a lot to do for one subject it really only takes less than an hour for copywork, literature and narration. She then works for another 30-40 minutes on grammar and spelling.
History: History is infused with English whereby literature books, reports, and narrations are focused on the time period we are studying. So, as she is completing English she is also completing some history. History occurs three times a week.
Math: She studies math for 40-50 minutes a day.
Science: Science is held twice a week. We try to integrate history and science. How? By assigning literature or readings on the science of the time period we are studying. In addition, we use vocabulary from science as a English study. We do traditional lab work and experiments.
Logic: Logic is studied on Fridays.
Latin: We will spend about 20 minutes on this subject daily.
Piano: One 45 formal private lesson a week and practices for about 30-60 minutes about four to five days a week. There is no need to practice that long. Her teacher suggests about 20 minutes but my daughter loves it.
Art: An hour once a week through a homeschool co-op.
Volleyball: She practices for two hours twice a week.
It just so happens that art and volleyball share a day which takes up a huge chunk of our time. To make up for this I schedule only core subjects on that day. I also allow her to work ahead so she can take the day for just art and volleyball.
Fridays are the day we sprinkle in Shakespeare, poetry and take quizzes and tests. Our days are busy like most homeschoolers but with careful planning you can get it all in without overload. Overload is never necessary. We are here for an education not a mad dash to the schooling finish line.