As we begin our 2026 homeschool year, I decided early on that this year will be perfectly curated. It was important to me as the principal educator of our now 10-year-old daughter that our year be filled with academia, athletics, community, and most important, joy.
If your new here my name if Liv Muller, I am a wife, mom, and passionate about our family. I love all things good, true, and beautiful! We decided to homeschool five years ago and have never looked back.
Today, I am going to share how we schedule and how I laid out for fifth grade. If your child is not in the fifth grade you may still find some if this information useful; it has taken me five years to land here.
Have you ever heard of that phrase that says, “Follow the rules until you can break them?” Up until this year I have followed the rules and ultimately it has worked out. I have followed the Ambleside schedule and book list. They are a Charlotte Mason based philosophy curriculum. This year, I have decided to take a step back and listen to the prompting that is telling me to scale it down.
Prior to this year I was building our daughters compacity to learn. The curriculum we use has a tall order of books per year alongside the enrichment teachings. Let’s just say the schedule is packed! Packed with wonderful books! However, I felt like we were always behind or rushed.
I do not think our days should be Easy-Peasy but I do think it’s important to slow things down and make the day count.
Since I have scaled things down this year and only added what is important, I have noticed our daughter is processing what she is learning. I also see it her creating! She has time to create, build, color, draw, pick up books on her own and ask wonderful questions.
If we focus on the compacity, how much can they learn? It is like the brain shuts down. It’s truly overload.
There will always be more to learn, and more to do; I don’t think we will ever feel like we have prepared our kiddos enough. We are their parents and want the best for them but the good news is God loves them more! Our job is to guide them and teach them daily. Every day is a learning opportunity.
Here is how I scheduled fifth grade:
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- I keep a log book – I write each day the night before, I use the Ambleside Online annual three term schedule as a guide! I implement looping method by Sarah MacKenzie, ensuring I hit each subject equally.
- I selected the books for three terms each term is twelve weeks. One book for each subject. I have two for history but I might pull one, we will see how it goes. Depending on the book the number of pages we read can vary; it depends on how challenging the book is. If we don’t finish the book in term one, I will push it to term two.
- The Bible, Shakespeare, and Plutarch’s Lives we will keep as a constant; these stores are meant to be read and reread. We always start our day with the Bible, as it is the most important subject. We read it and talk about what we read. I also have a commentary Bible in case there is something I want to understand better. We do not have any added fluff; the Word is enough.
- Community is important. I count church as part of that. One day a week we attend church and serve. On Fridays we are part of a homeschool group. Two days a week our daughter plays sports. One is recreational, the second is organized. Both are important. Lots of teaching in developing a discipline.
- Music – piano class once a week and practice at home 4-5 days a week. I don’t set a time limit to practice; I just make sure she practices.
- House choirs – a tidy home, cooking, hygiene all of this is important. Dignity.
This may seem like a lot to some or a little to others but ultimately it is a good pace for our daughter. The best schedule it the one that works, that helps your children grow and learn at a healthy pace.