Year 3 as a Homeschool Mom of Six
We are officially in our third year of homeschooling, and I can confidently say that our homeschool structure now feels natural instead of experimental. The first year felt like survival. The second year felt like refinement. This third year feels structured.
Today Iām sharing exactly what our homeschool day looks like from wake-up to bedtime, including how we balance BJU Press Homeschool Online, small group instruction, preschool learning, and family life. If youāre looking for a realistic homeschool schedule for multiple kids, this is ours.
We do not run our home like a military camp, but we do value systems, structure, and predictability. Here is what a typical homeschool day looks like in our home.
Morning Routine: 6:00ā8:15 AM
6:00 AM ā Mom & Dad First
My husband and I wake up at 6:00 AM and head straight to our garage gym for a workout. Before I am a homeschool teacher, I am a wife, and before I pour into six children, I have to take care of my health. Exercising together keeps us grounded physically and mentally, and it sets the tone for the rest of our day. Homeschooling multiple children requires stamina, and I have learned that protecting my physical health is not optional. It is foundational.
7:00 AM ā Wake Up Call
At 7:00 AM, we call everyone downstairs to begin their morning routines. The kids eat breakfast, slowly wake up, and move through their responsibilities for the day. Between 7:00 and 8:15 AM, they shower, get dressed, brush their teeth, and make their beds. We do not start school in pajamas. That small boundary makes a big difference. Getting dressed and preparing for the day shifts their mindset from casual to focused, and it helps separate home life from school life even though both happen under the same roof.
Homeschool Core Hours: 8:15 AMā11:30 AM
8:15ā8:30 AM ā School Begins
At the very latest, our homeschool day begins by 8:30 AM. All five of my school-age children begin with the Bible using BJU Press Homeschool Online. Our setup is consistent each day. The three oldest children work independently at their individual workstations, while my Kindergarten and Preschooler sit at the central learning table in the middle of our homeschool room. I circulate between them, offering support and answering questions as needed.
One of the reasons I love BJU Press Homeschool Online is that each subject is taught by a different teacher. My children are exposed to multiple teaching styles across eight subjects, which mirrors the traditional classroom experience while still allowing me to stay fully involved in their learning.
Supporting My Kindergarten & Preschooler
About 30 minutes after the older kids begin their lessons, I intentionally sit down with my Kindergarten and Preschooler. We pause videos when needed, break concepts into smaller pieces, and use hands-on materials to reinforce what is being taught. If they are learning phonics, we might pull out letter tiles. If they are learning math, we use manipulatives to make the concept tangible.
This is where my background as a classroom teacher shows up most clearly. I do not simply press play and walk away. I teach alongside the video instruction to ensure comprehension and engagement. Especially in the early years, learning must be interactive.
10:00 AM ā Snack Break
Around 10:00 AM, everyone pauses for a fifteen-minute snack break. There are no screens and no lessons during this time. It is simply a mental reset. Homeschooling requires focus and stamina, and these short breaks help sustain attention throughout the morning.
Homeschooling requires stamina. Snack breaks matter.
Late Morning Academics: 10:15ā11:30 AM
After snack, the older kids continue progressing through their online lessons independently. Meanwhile, my Kindergarten and Preschooler transition into reinforcement activities. We focus on math practice, language arts support, and learning center activities that build foundational skills. By 11:30 AM, we begin preparing lunch together. Involving the kids in small tasks during meal prep builds responsibility while naturally winding down the academic portion of our morning.
Lunch & Recess: 12:00ā1:00 PM
We eat lunch together every day from 12:00 to 1:00 PM. This hour includes lunch, indoor or outdoor recess, and general downtime. I guard this hour carefully because it resets everyone before the afternoon stretch. It gives the kids a chance to move their bodies, laugh, and decompress before returning to structured learning.
Afternoon Learning Blocks: 1:00ā3:00 PM
1:00 PM ā Nap & Small Group
At 1:00 PM, my Kindergarten and Preschooler lay down for rest. They do not always fall asleep, but they rest their bodies and quiet their minds. This window allows me to shift into small group instruction with my older children.
Drawing from my years in the classroom, I incorporate small group skill drills just as I once did with my students. If two children are struggling with fractions, we isolate that skill and work through it together. If grammar needs reinforcement, we slow down and revisit the concept. BJU Press serves as our academic spine, but I enhance and reinforce when needed rather than abandoning structure.
What My Older Kids Work on in the Afternoon
Between 1:00 and 3:00 PM, my older children complete subjects such as science, heritage studies, spelling, and handwriting. Most days, they finish by 3:00 PM at the latest. One of the strengths of BJU Press Homeschool Online is how it builds independence. Through the Homeschool Hub platform, I can monitor grades, track completion, and view progress in real time, which allows me to stay informed without micromanaging.
Preschool & Kindergarten Reinforcement
When the little ones wake up from rest, they have another snack before transitioning into gentle reinforcement activities. We incorporate play-based learning, handwriting practice, daily worksheets, skill review games, and occasionally a craft.Ā
We loop skills they have already learned rather than constantly introducing new material. At this age, pacing matters more than speed, and I focus on building confidence through repetition and engagement.
End of the School Day
When formal learning ends, we clean up the homeschool room together. Materials go back in their proper places and screens are turned off. Having a dedicated homeschool room has been a gift because it prevents learning from spilling into every corner of our home. When we leave that room, school is done.
Occasionally, older kids return after dinner to review for a quiz or test, but most days formal academics are finished by mid-afternoon.
Field Trips & Flexibility
While we thrive on structure, we also prioritize flexibility. We participate in homeschool association field trips, skating parties, co-op gatherings, and spontaneous outings. Rhythm does not mean rigidity. It means having a strong foundation that allows room to bend when needed.
What Iāve Learned in Year Three
Three years into homeschooling, I have learned that consistency creates confidence both for the kids and me. Starting early anchors our day. Protecting health sustains energy. Building independence fosters growth. Reinforcing skills strengthens understanding. Maintaining structure provides stability. Allowing flexibility preserves joy.
Homeschooling multiple children requires intentional systems. It is not perfect, but it is purposeful. And three years in, our homeschool rhythm no longer feels like an experiment. It feels like home.
Gervase Ware is a homeschool mom of six, educator, and motherhood and lifestyle creator who shares real-life homeschool routines, curriculum reviews, family systems, and trusted resources for intentional living atĀ GervaseWare.com.
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