Homeschool Daily Checklist + FREE Printable for Your Kids
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Balancing homeschooling, housekeeping and running a business is challenging. One thing that helps me stay organized is a good homeschooling checklist! Today I’m going to share with you my homeschool daily checklist (and yes – there’s a free printable at the end of the post!).
Everyone is different, but I personally love to have a routine to follow in our homeschool. When I first began homeschooling, I scheduled everything out to the hour each day, thinking that if I could just have the perfect plan and schedule, my homeschool would run smoothly.
Those of you with multiple little ones can empathize with me on how that actually turned out! That schedule was out the door after the first month (I really tried for a few weeks!).
Don’t get me wrong – schedules can be great. I used to teach high school math, so it’s no wonder I tried to run my homeschool in a similar fashion, schedule-wise. But at this time in our lives, a loose routine and a homeschool daily checklist is working much better!
I use a homeschooling checklist to not only keep me on track with what we have to accomplish each day, but to help teach my kids to manage their time well.
Not only does it help them learn how self-regulate, but having a checklist helps them take ownership about moving through their school day without me nagging them every step of the way (who wants that?). Plus, it’s satisfying to check off all those little boxes and see what you’ve accomplished that day!
Using Our Homeschool Checklists
I’m often asked what our homeschool routine looks like, so I wanted to share that first so you can see how we use our checklists.
Note: the one thing I do not put on our homeschool daily checklist is a list of specific chores. I created separate chore charts to use for that, as we use a zone cleaning method with our kids in our home. You can read more about that here!
So once the kids wake up, they have breakfast and get ready for the day (get dressed, brush teeth and hair). I used to include those tasks on our charts, but since my kids are a little bigger now, they are more habits than anything.
Most days we’ll then together to pray or do our bible lesson before separating into individual school work.
This year we are using BJU Press Homeschool for most of our curriculum, and it has been a blessing in this season! My older kids (3rd, 2nd, and 2nd grade) have gotten a chance to be more self-directed in their school work while I chase the toddler around. The mixture of independent and parent-led learning has been a good balance for us.
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On their checklists, I write down each thing they need to finish daily. This varies per child, but for example, my son’s checklist typically reads:
- Math
- Reading
- English
- Heritage Studies/Science
- Spelling
- Handwriting
- 15 Minutes Piano
- AWANAS work
- 30 minutes of silent reading
- Chores (listed on here as a reminder to finish them!)
So mostly I list out the subjects he needs to complete, along with anything else that week that needs to get done.
The great thing about a homeschool checklist is that it isn’t tied to a strict time, but gives my kids a guideline of what is expected of them.
It’s also very helpful for me, since I have kids at different levels and I am not working with all of them at once all the time…it helps me keep track of who has done what!
I also jokingly call our checklists the “Can I have electronics?” form, because before we started using them, that’s inevitably what I would get asked all day. Now my kids know that if they want to have the privilege of using their electronics, they need to show me that their charts are completed.
Most days my kids get through their entire list, but if they don’t, they know they have to do a little bit extra the next day or on the weekend (we will discuss these expectations together depending on the circumstances).
Filling Out Your Homeschool Checklist Printable
I hope these checklists will also be a super easy way for you to help your kids keep track of their daily tasks!
There are 10 different designs I have created; let your student pick out their favorite one (might make it a little more fun to complete). You can print one out for each week and put it in the front of a binder or planner. Another great option is to laminate it or stick it in a page protector and use a dry-erase marker!
The Daily Task list and Weekly Habit sections are editable, so if you are going to print them weekly, you can easily edit them on your computer first.
(The blue editable fields will print clear when you print the homeschool checklists!)
Simply list out the tasks you would like your kids to complete each day in your homeschool. Most likely this will be school work or subjects, but if you don’t have chore charts, you might also include chores (really anything that needs to be completed each day).
It’s best to be specific with your tasks when applicable! For example, writing “30 minutes violin practice” is better than just “practice violin”, so your child has a boundary to follow.
Homeschool Habit Tracker Checklist
Use the “Weekly Habits” space at the bottom to track things that might not get done every day, but you still want your kids to get into a good habit of doing them!
For us, I included music practice and silent reading on our checklist as things I want done every day, but you could include them in the habit section instead. Bible study or devotion time might be good to write in if your kids are working on that habit.
If your kids are working on personal care habits like brushing their teeth, daily bathing, brushing their hair, or picking up their rooms, those could go in the habits section.
Talk with your kids and let them help you come up with good habits they want to work on! Then look over their lists each week to see if they are meeting their goals. After a few weeks of creating the habits, take them off the checklist and see how they do keeping it up.
Teaching Your Kids to Use the Homeschool Daily Checklist
If this is the first time you have used a homeschool daily checklist, it may take time for your kids to be able to use them independently. They may need practice, and for you to guide them through it a bit at first.
Soon, they will begin to appreciate the direction having a checklist gives them as they work through their day.
As you teach them the skills they need to use a checklist, you will love to see them become more independent and able to move from task to task unprompted.
- When you first start, add tasks that are manageable for your kids, so they can feel that sense of accomplishment when they complete everything. Keep time in mind too – you don’t want to add too many things that it becomes impossible to complete within your day.
- A good idea is to sit down and have your kids talk you through the checklist – let them explain to you what they will have to do to check off each item. This lets you know that they understand the expectations, and that the tasks you wrote are clear!
- Help your kids set goals, and maybe even a reward for finishing their homeschool daily checklist. Like I said, screen time/electronics is a big motivator for us, but it might be something different in your home.
Finally, make sure YOU take time each day to go over the checklist and actually check it! Make sure to hold your kids accountable to finishing their tasks; if they don’t think someone will check it, they will be tempted to cut corners (or not even use the tool).
Get your FREE Homeschool Daily Checklist
I hope that you will enjoy using a homeschool daily checklist! I created 10 different designs, so your kids can choose their favorite one to use.
The ability to work through a checklist independently is a great skill to teach your kids, and I hope this helps them stay focused and on task in your homeschool!
Drop a comment below – let me know if you have tried the checklists! Which design do your kids love the most?
Related Posts
- 6 Ways to Help Your Kids Create Good Habits
- Effortlessly Create and Organize a Homeschool Portfolio
- The Best Chore Charts for Kids (You’ll LOVE this System!)
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Thank you for this amazing resource! Such an amazing way to use a checklist for homeschooling. Pinned to save!
Hi,
We’ve been using your checklist this year and my children love it! I can’t find where I downloaded it to, and I have tried several times to complete your email signup to get the files again but haven’t received them. We appreciate the time you spent on the cute graphics and would love to keep using these! Thank you for your help.
Liz
Just sent you a link via email – thanks Liz!
Fun checklist! I’m sure my kids would love the designs, but I’m looking for a checklist that includes Saturday and Sunday. We don’t always follow the M-F workweek in our homeschool!
Thanks Alison! I have a 7-day version as well; just emailed it to you!
I haven’t received the checklists via email although I’ve signed up a couple of times. Any help you can send my way? Thanks
Absolutely – just emailed!
I also have tried signing up several times and am not receiving the checklist. I would really like to try them! I did receive one email titled checklists but it was on a different topic with no checklists. Could you please send them to me? Thanks!
Yes! Sent! So sorry, no idea why it’s not working <3
My first year of homeschooling. A little nervous but I won’t give up as I know this is what’s best for my babies.1 kindergartener, 2 first graders, and 1 second grader! Really need all the help I can get with checklist, chore chart, and really anything to help ease my mind! Thank you for helping mommas out!!
You can do this!! Two first-graders…fellow twin mama? Are you going to use a particular curriculum this year?
Hi Sara, I’ve tried with two different emails to get the download for the checklist but I’m not having success. Are you able to send via email?
Yes! Just sent it to you 🙂
I have tried twice to out in my email to receive these Checklists, but hve still not received them (athough I have received other emails from you). Can you please send them to me again?
P.S. I absolutely love your Youtube channel and so glad to now see your blog, as well! 🙂