Homeschool Daily Schedule for: Starting Mid-Year on Zero Budget

A mother can easily switch to old fashioned education, even if its mid-year and even if you have no time to lesson plan and even if you have zero budget. You can do it, and easily. Here's how in 3 simple steps + a free printable modified schedule.

Before I share my Charlotte Mason-Inspired Homeschool Schedule for Starting Mid-year on a $0 Budget, you might want to read my introduction and license agreement to see how things work.

​You might also want to learn about how to set-up the homeschool space and read about one mom's journey to OFE mid-year and how she did it on $0 in the Parent's Review. Now, onward!

Step 1: Start With A Doable Time-Table (Schedule)

It's important to start with a doable schedule. If I can give you one piece of advice, this is it! A doable schedule is one that that you can actually accomplish in the morning - with one or more children - and still maintain a sense of sanity! No, I mean have peace in your home or heart.

Charlotte Mason taught us to keep our children's attention (to avoid boredom and restlessness) through short and varied lessons. That is at the heart of our time-table, but we also focus on an orderly and balanced schedule. We already planned out the time-table, so you don't have to.

All you have to do is print this free modified homeschool schedule and post it in your homeschool space.

Step 2: Choose 1 Book to Study Per Time Slot.

Next, for each time slot on the schedule, choose 1 book to study using these booklists: Program 1, Program 2, Program 3 (per grade-level). There is room on the schedule to write down the books (on the second page).

I already planned Program 1 books to give you an idea. You fill in the rest. 

Note!  Since you are starting mid-year, you don't have to read all the books on each booklist. Just choose 1 book per time slot. Try to choose books that all your children will enjoy (if possible). See levels at the bottom of our website.

Step 3: Start Learning Together With Your Children.

Now you are ready to learn together.  During the allotted time (keep this flexible), just open the chosen books and read for free online.  Follow our lesson pattern of read-talk-write-recite.

It is very important that you look over how to teach a lesson following this pattern in the introduction. This is where the real learning takes place. If you find yourself struggling with teaching the lesson, you may want to invest in the teacher guides.​

Don't Forget Your Student Supplies.

There will be a small cost to start-up, as you will need just a few student supplies.  Here are a few suggestions to get you started:

• pencils & eraser (per student)
• crayons, colored pencils, watercolors (per family)
• safety scissors, glue stick (per family)
• handwriting workbook of choice (1 per student)
• 1-2 journals (per student), use for book of mottoes & nature notebook

Choose 1 for notes:

• 3-Ring Binder with Notepaper (per student) or
• 3 Composition Notebooks (per student), use 1 per program and
• 1 Book of Centuries (per family or per student)

Most of these items can be found for $1 at either the dollar tree, dollar general, or walmart. Place the supplies in an empty can or frozen juice container and ask the children to decorate a paper that is glued to the outside. 

Final Thoughts!

You can do it!  Seriously, you can and you will.  Homeschooling your children is such a blessing when you sit together and fall in love with learning together. With living books learning comes to life!  If a book isn't working, change it up.  If you need advice, don't hesitate to ask here or here!

Do less, not more, until you feel peace!  As you look over your schedule and plan in each time slot, if you feel overwhelmed with a class, do less!  Perhaps you aren't ready to start Latin or French. Perhaps you want to only study World History. That's okay! Pair it down until you feel peace with the plan.

Have grace with yourself.  It takes time to find the rhythm that works for your family. It might take time for your children to adjust to narrations. You might need to put a coloring page in front of the younger child while reading history to keep attention. You might need to add in a hands-on activity. You might need to change the schedules order as I suggest here.   

Remember, it's not about perfection, it's about just getting started and enjoying the blessing of learning together with your children. They're pretty amazing, and they will begin to discover their interests as you go along, and, that too, will be part of your guide.