When I first started homeschooling, I’ll admit—I was overwhelmed. I spent hours researching, planning, printing, and second-guessing everything. I had this vision of a perfectly organized homeschool room, kids sitting attentively at the table, and a magical first week filled with creativity, structure, and excitement. Reality? It looked nothing like that.
If you're new to homeschooling and feeling nervous about planning your first week, I want to tell you something I wish someone told me back then: you don’t have to do it all at once. Your first week is not about perfection—it's about connection, rhythm, and slowly easing into your new routine.
So, whether you're diving into homeschooling for the first time or just want a smoother way to kick off the year, here’s how I plan our first week of homeschool—without the stress.
1. Start With Your "Why"
Before you plan any lessons or activities, take a few minutes to remind yourself why you're homeschooling. Is it to spend more time together as a family? To give your kids a more customized learning experience? To provide flexibility?
Write it down and keep it visible. This little reminder will help guide your choices, especially when you feel overwhelmed or uncertain.
2. Ease Into It—You Don’t Need to Do Every Subject
One of the biggest mistakes I made during our first homeschool year was trying to do everything all at once—math, reading, science, history, art, PE… all on day one.
Now, I ease us in by focusing on just 2–3 core subjects the first week, usually reading, math, and something fun, like art or nature walks. This gives us time to get used to a new rhythm and build confidence.
You can slowly layer in more subjects in the following weeks.
3. Set a Simple Daily Schedule or Routine
Your homeschool schedule doesn’t need to look like a traditional school day. In fact, it probably shouldn’t! We start around 9:00 a.m. and usually wrap up formal learning by lunchtime. Afternoons are for outdoor play, crafts, audiobooks, or free time.
Here’s a basic routine I use during our first week:
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9:00 – Morning time (calendar, read-aloud, discussion)
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9:30 – Language Arts (reading together or independent)
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10:00 – Break/Snack
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10:30 – Math
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11:00 – Fun activity (art, science experiment, nature walk)
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12:00 – Lunch + Free time
This gentle structure keeps things flowing while allowing space to adjust as needed.
4. Plan Activities That Build Connection
Instead of jumping straight into heavy academics, focus the first week on activities that help you connect with your kids and build excitement for learning.
Here are a few things we like to do:
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Make a vision board of things we want to learn this year
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Decorate our homeschool space together
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Create personalized student binders or portfolios
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Read a special back-to-school book together
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Go on a “back to homeschool” field trip (zoo, museum, park)
These kinds of activities ease anxiety—for both of you—and set a joyful tone for the year.
5. Keep Your Lesson Plans Light and Flexible
For the first week, I don’t create detailed lesson plans. Instead, I jot down a simple weekly overview. Something like this:
Reading: Finish 1–2 chapters of our read-aloud + independent reading time
Math: Lessons 1–3 in our math curriculum
Writing: Journal prompts or copywork
Extras: Art project on Thursday, park day on Friday
Having a loose plan keeps me organized but also leaves plenty of room for flexibility. If a lesson runs long, or someone’s having a tough day, I can pivot easily without guilt.
6. Prep Your Materials in Advance (But Not Everything!)
You don’t need to have the entire year printed and organized before the first week. Trust me—I tried that, and all it did was lead to burnout.
Instead, prep just what you need for the week ahead:
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Print the week’s worksheets or activities and store them in folders
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Gather your books and supplies in a basket or shelf
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Check your printer ink (learned that one the hard way!)
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Set out any manipulatives, craft supplies, or notebooks you’ll use
Spending a little time Sunday evening to get things ready makes our week flow so much smoother.
7. Use the First Week to Observe and Adjust
This first week is a great opportunity to observe your kids—what excites them, what frustrates them, when they’re most focused, and what kind of activities they enjoy. Don’t stress if something you planned doesn’t work out. That’s part of the process!
Take notes, reflect, and tweak your approach as needed. Homeschooling is all about flexibility and learning together.
8. Celebrate the First Week!
At the end of the week, do something to celebrate! You made it through your first week of homeschooling—how amazing is that?
We usually do something simple but special:
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Make a fun treat together
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Have a movie afternoon with popcorn
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Go out for ice cream or a nature walk
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Let the kids share their favorite part of the week
These little traditions make the start of the homeschool year something your kids will look forward to year after year.
Final Thoughts: You’ve Got This
Planning your first week of homeschool doesn’t have to be stressful or overwhelming. Keep things simple. Focus on connection, rhythm, and joy. There’s no perfect way to start—but there is your way. And that’s the beauty of homeschooling.
You’ll learn so much about your kids—and yourself—this year. It won’t be perfect, but it will be meaningful. So take a deep breath, smile, and enjoy the journey.
Want More Tips for a Strong Start?
Check out my other posts:
Have you started planning your first week yet? Let me know in the comments what you’re most excited (or nervous) about—I’d love to cheer you on!
Thank you for reading my blog! Stay tuned for more tips, resources, and printable materials to help make your homeschooling experience enjoyable and effective. Check out my store for a variety of educational products and printables to assist you on your homeschooling journey.
Nancy at Cleverly Kindred ❤️
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