How to Homeschool Your Kids in Under 2 Hours Per Day

Yes, it's possible. Yes, you can do it.

Many of the misconceptions of homeschooling come from assumptions about public schooling. We don’t think education can be anything but what we have experienced, so we look at the typical day of public school and think about transplanting that experience into our own homes.

And it looks like a nightmare. It looks impossible.

But that’s like pulling the engine out of a diesel truck and trying to cram it into the body of a Honda Civic.

1. It won’t fit

2. Even if it did fit, it wouldn’t make the car run

3. Why are you trying to do it anyway?

People build up this impossible, monumental task in their heads and then throw up their hands in despair. Or they scoff at the picture and refuse to look closer.

Let’s start by killing these assumptions.

Along the way, we’ll build up a realistic picture of homeschooling that is appealing, functional, and within anyone’s grasp to accomplish.

I’m not going to lie to you and say that it's easy. Some days are harder than others. 

But it’s less complicated than you think.

Buckle up, because this is a long, comprehensive guide. Here’s what we’ll cover.

1. Public School Confusions and Distortions

2. A Few Days in the Life of a Homeschool

3. How to Get Started

4. Sample Itinerary

5. Multiple Kids

6. Personalization and Flexibility

7. Accountability

8. Co-ops

9. Online Classes

10. Curriculum

11. Preschool/Kindergarten

12. A Word About Socialization

13. A Special Note to Fathers

14. Additional Reading

Public School Confusions and Distortions

Compulsory public school is relatively new, yet most people think it's the only way to do education for K-12. But it isn’t the way education has been done for most of human history.

Here are some attributes of public school:

• 6+ hours per day in a classroom (then 2 more hours of homework)

• Regimented schedule

• Separation by age and grade level

• Lots of work to grade along with lots of recordkeeping

• Professionally trained teachers

• Standardized curriculum and testing

A lot of this has evolved because teachers need to manage a classroom full of students with different levels of drive, discipline, and aptitude. Once you realize how much time public schooling spends on busywork or “classroom management,” you realize how much time they waste.

But none of this is required for homeschooling.