Our Homeschool Habits: What’s Working and What We’re Still Growing Into

Good daily habits have become the backbone of our homeschool days. Some of our habits feel like second nature now, while others are still a work in progress as we try to grow together as a family.

In this post, I share what’s currently working well for us, as well as a few habits I’m still working to build, both personally and in our home. My hope is that it encourages you that little habits can really make a huge difference!

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Early Morning Habits

Waking up early has been a game-changer for me. I recently read the book, Habits of the Household by Justin Whitmel Earley, which inspired me to begin my day with prayer before turning on my phone. I usually just pray for a few minutes, but it helps me center my heart on God before everything else starts pulling at my attention.

After praying, I tackle a few quick chores. I load the washer with any dirty laundry and run it. I also put away any clean clothes, placing the kids’ clothes outside their doors. This takes about 5–10 minutes and keeps our laundry routine manageable.

Next, I head to the kitchen. I fill a quart-sized water bottle with lemon and sea salt to begin hydrating. While sipping, I unload the dishwasher or put away any dishes left to dry overnight. I also feed my sourdough starter and strain kefir grains if needed. The habit of making a kefir smoothie daily has really helped my gut! I love listening to a podcast or audiobook during this time. Some of my current favorite podcasts are:

• At Home With Sally (Sally Clarkson)
• The Homegrown Podcast (Liz Haselmayer)
• Blessings and Motherhood (Delise Germond and Ginny Tran)
• Famous At Home (Josh + Christi Straub)
• Mom to Mom Podcast (Kate Battistelli, September McCarthy, Jamie Erickson)
• Simple Farmhouse Life (Lisa Bass)
• The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast (Ginny Yurich)
• The Dr. Josh Axe Show (Dr. Josh Axe)
• This Devoted Life (James and Shanda)
• Wise Traditions (Weston A. Price Foundation)

Exercise is a top priority for me, so next I do a 30-minute workout—either a run outside or a routine in the basement, depending on the weather. This energizes me and helps me be a better mom and wife.

Breakfast and Devotions

By around 6:30 AM, I heat up some homemade broth for a protein-rich start to my breakfast. Then, I enjoy some quiet time reading my Bible, journaling prayers, and reflecting with a devotional from Sally Clarkson’s Mom Heart Moments.

As my oldest child wakes up, I invite her to join me quietly. I love having some quiet time alone, but I also want my daughter to witness what I’m doing. We use a Hatch sound machine to signal when it’s okay for her to come out of her room. She reads or colors while I finish my devotional time.

This early morning routine allows me to care for myself and our home before the busyness begins.

Breakfast and Bible Time

After my quiet time and when my other two children wake up, we head upstairs to finish getting ready for the day. We’ve gotten into a solid habit of getting dressed, brushing teeth, and making sure bedrooms are picked up before we go downstairs for breakfast. This simple routine saves us from having to go back upstairs later and keeps the morning flowing smoothly.

During breakfast, I love reading from The Complete Illustrated Children’s Bible. (TCICB) to my kids. This Bible has BEAUTIFUL illustrations and is very accurate to the truth of the actual Bible.  My kids are still little and their attention spans aren’t long, but I’ve found they listen really well while they’re eating. We pray together, sing a few hymns from My First Hymnal by Karyn Henley, and sometimes I read a kids devotion to them from My ABC Bible Verses: Hiding God’s Word In Little Hearts by Susan Hunt.

After this, I usually give them something to color while I clean up from breakfast. Sometimes they color a page from their 24 Family Ways coloring book or one of the activity pages from the Foundations of the Bible study activity book. Right now, they’re working on their African Countries workbook I made, and I’m in the process of creating a Scripture memory coloring book we’ll use this summer—so stay tuned for that!

I also love having music on in the background, either Bible songs (Steve Green’s CDs) or songs that go with the memory work we’re focusing on. Music always brings joy to our family!

Educational Activities and Playtime

After breakfast, while my kids are still at the table, we move into a little bit of schoolwork. Right now, that looks like light math and handwriting practice. We’re keeping it simple, but establishing this habit early has been helpful. It’s something I know we can build on as my kids get older.

This year my six-year-old is working through The Good and The Beautiful Level 1 math curriculum. Read here why I decided to switch from Saxon math to The Good and The Beautiful (TGATB). TGATB is very open and go and a good mix of lessons and activities. It’s beautiful too! I use their Preschool Curriculum with my four-year-old.

I also have this Handwriting without Tears for my oldest daughter and the first level for my younger daughter. We don’t do math and language arts every morning, but I’m instilling the habit and plan to continue doing this at least a few mornings a week throughout the summer.

After our structured activities, it’s time for play. The kids enjoy free play either outside or in the basement, depending on the weather. This is one reason I love homeschooling because unstructured time is crucial for their creativity and social development. Sometimes, we also schedule playdates with friends or go on nature walks.

Afternoon Quiet Time Habit

After a full morning of learning and play, our afternoons are anchored by a cherished routine: quiet time. This period offers a much-needed pause for everyone, allowing us to recharge and prepare for the rest of the day.

During quiet time, my youngest takes a nap while the older children engage in calm, independent activities in their rooms. They might look through books, draw, or listen to audiobooks on their toniebox (the best toy we ever bought). This practice not only fosters their ability to enjoy solitude but also encourages creativity and self-directed learning.

For me, this is an opportunity to rest and reset. I might read a book, enjoy a cup of iced coffee, do some work, or go on a walk. I have found this downtime to be essential, helping me to be more present and patient for the remainder of the day.

One-on-One Time

One of the sweetest parts of our afternoon routine is the intentional one-on-one time I spend with each of my children. Even just 15 minutes of focused attention—reading a book, playing a game, or simply chatting—makes such a difference in strengthening our bond.

This is a habit I’ve recently started making a daily priority. Honestly, it’s not always easy—most days, I’d rather dive straight into my own quiet time—but every time I choose to pause and connect, I’m so thankful I did.

Evening Cleaning & Dinner Prep

One habit that’s been working really well for us is doing a quick home reset before dinner. After quiet time, the girls are responsible for picking up their rooms, and then we all team up to tidy up any other areas that need attention. I also try to make sure the kitchen is cleaned up before I start prepping dinner. It’s not perfect, but having a mostly clean space helps the evening feel less chaotic and much more peaceful.

That said, dinner time is still an area I’m really working to grow in. Cooking from scratch takes time, and with hungry toddlers underfoot, it can feel overwhelming some nights. One simple thing that has helped a lot is setting out a plate of healthy appetizers—like nuts, cheese, cut-up veggies, and fruit—so little tummies have something to snack on while I finish dinner.

I also try to do as much meal prep earlier in the day as possible, which definitely takes some of the pressure off in the evening.

My bigger goal is to make dinner time not just a meal, but a sacred time for our family. I like to play soft music, light a candle, and have everyone share their “rose and thorn” from the day—something that was sweet and something that was hard.

I’ll be honest: it’s not always easy to stay joyful and patient in the midst of the dinnertime rush. But slowly, with these small habits, we’re working to make dinner a meaningful anchor in our family’s day.

Ending the Day Well

Another habit I’m working on is lingering a little longer in my girls’ rooms at bedtime. My husband usually handles their bedtime routine, getting them ready and reading to them, while I finish cleaning up after dinner. But lately, I’ve been trying not to just pop in for a quick goodnight and rush out.

Even though I’m often exhausted by that point, I’m learning to slow down, offer a blessing over each of them, and sometimes even read one more book together. It doesn’t take long, but it leaves us ending the day feeling more connected. It’s a small way to show them that they are worth my time and attention, even when I’m tired.

Habit of Reading

Another habit I’m trying to build is reading a little bit before bed myself. I set a simple goal to read at least 10 pages each night. Even though I don’t always make it that far before my eyes start to close, it’s helped me actually make steady progress through books. Ending the day reading helps me sleep better and makes a difference in how I wake up the next day.

Here are some books I have read and strongly recommend. Some of them are homeschool related, while others are more about spiritual growth. Most of these books I’ve read multiple times because they are so good and valuable!

• Teaching From Rest by Sarah Mackenzie.
• Own Your Life by Sally Clarkson.
• Mission of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson.
• Heartfelt Discipline by Clay Clarkson.
• The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer.
• The Ministry of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson.
• The Lifegiving Home by Sally & Sarah Clarkson.
• Awaking Wonder by Sally Clarkson.
• Unseen by Sara Hagerty.
• Memory Making Mom by Jessica Smartt
• Giving Your Words by Sally and Clay Clarkson.
• Seasons of a Mother’s Heart by Sally Clarkson.
• The Life Giving Parent by Clay & Sally Clarkson.

Reflecting on our daily rhythms, I’m reminded that homeschooling is much more about nurturing hearts than it is about imparting knowledge. The habits we’ve cultivated serve as anchors in our day and bring structure and peace.

Yet, there are areas where I definitely desire growth. The evening time can be challenging for me because I’m tired and have been with my kids all day. I’m thankful for God’s grace and patience with me as I desire to grow and mature.

Are there habits that are working well for your family currently? Please comment below and share! I would love to hear about what’s working or any habits you’re hoping to cultivate in your family.