How I Plan Our Homeschool Year: My 4-Step Process and Checklist

Samantha Stephenson shares her top planning and productivity tips for homeschooling families. 

As a homeschooling mother of four, planning our homeschool year is a blend of prayer, research, and organization. Here’s a glimpse into my process: 

Step 1: Prayer 

Before diving into the logistics, I start with prayer. I ask for guidance and wisdom to choose the best resources and activities for my children. 

Step 2: Choosing Curriculum 

Selecting the right curriculum is crucial. I spend time watching videos, trying out samples, and watching lots of flip-throughs on YouTube. This helps me get a feel for the materials and see if they align with our family’s needs and values. 

Step 3: Selecting Extracurriculars 

To protect our calendar, I choose extracurricular activities that multiple children can attend. This not only saves time but also fosters a sense of community and shared experiences among my kids. 

Step 4: Planning Week 

I take an entire week mid-summer to sit down and finalize all the details, order whatever’s left on the list and/or supplies that need refreshing, and to organize all the printables and materials we will need for the weeks ahead. 

Planning Week Checklist 

Highlight and Count School Days

Using my Mardel homeschooling planner (an absolute MUST I could never live without), I highlight and count school days in green. I mark my husband’s days off and planned trips in purple.  

We usually plan for a 4-day week, in addition to taking all of Advent off (starting Thanksgiving week) to focus on Advent activities and studying Christmas around the world. We also take a week off in March to plant our spring garden and aim to wrap up by early May to enjoy the summer weather before starting back in August when it’s too hot to be outside. 

Create New Chore Charts

I create new chore charts for the year, setting out our new rhythm to account for changes in age development and curriculum for our four kiddos. This helps maintain a structured yet flexible routine. We are using these sliding daily checklist charts this year, which are pretty cheap but effective (and I like being able to customize). I added magnets to the back to stick them to the fridge.  

Schedule Curriculum

I look over and roughly schedule out the curriculum subject by subject. Some subjects, like Math with Confidence and The Good and the Beautiful Language Arts, are truly open-and-go or low-prep. Others, like our new Bible and Noeo Science programs, require a bit of forethought, which is very worth it. I prefer a general overview and a quick Sunday re-check.  

I also make a list of read-alouds, hymns, and prayers, taking the time we need with each one and not rushing to stick to a strict schedule. I keep copies on hand and store them in order by subject in a crate folder system, along with my roadmap for that subject. 

Seasonal Books and Activities

I make a list of seasonal books to buy or order from the library and have activities on hand for those (coloring pages or little crafts from Hobby Lobby or Oriental Trading). This includes our first day of school traditions, which add a special touch to our homeschooling journey. 

By following these steps, I ensure our homeschool year is well-organized, flexible, and filled with meaningful learning experiences.  

How do you plan your homeschool year?

I’d love to hear your tips and tricks! 

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Copyright 2025 Samantha Stephenson
Images: Canva

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