How many hours of school are your kids doing for high school?

[Plucky]

This is 9th grade for us. My ds is very studious and academic. He doesn't dawdle and does his work with a good attitude. It's after 5 p.m. and he's still working tonight. This morning he spent too much time on Health doing vocabulary I should've saved for another day. I pulled him out of it after 1 1/2 hours.

 

I want my ds to get a good education and take his studies seriously. I don't want him to burn out and I would hope normally that he'd be done by now. By the time he's done we'll have to leave for scouts, poor kid. He's not complaining though.

 

So how much time is reasonable for high school?

[Gwen in VA]

The answer to "how much time" is "It depends..."

 

It depends on your child, on you, on your expectations, on his goals and passions and desires.

 

1 credit is supposed to represent 120 - 180 hours, which is about 45-60 minutes per school day. So a full load probably will take 4 - 6 hours minimum.

 

One suggestion -- for a full week have him record exactly how many minutes he spends on each subject. That will help you to figure out if he is dawdling at all or if he is possible being given too much work! :-)

 

In our family we figured that a high school student should spend a rock-bottom minimum of an hour on each academic core subject. Often our kids spend more. My 9th grader is doing biology right now and he still has some reading for English and some algebra 2 to do. He will finish around 10pm -- but he did spend several hours volunteering this afternoon, and we played frisbee for 45 minutes or so after dinner. He has not been just doing school all day!

 

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to your question! Best wishes figuring out the answer for your family!

[Plucky]

We need to be logging class hours anyway. I will have him log his time. Thanks for the suggestion.

[FloridaLisa]

Elaine,

 

I would say on average that my 9th grader works well into the afternoon -- usually that means 3:30 - 4:00 easily. And she works pretty efficiently. It seems like a lot, but she usually has evenings free, time for hobbies and babysitting and church activities. So on the whole it seems balanced.

 

HTH,

Lisa

[pianoplayer]

My 9th grader's current schedule is 8:45-~4:15 plus homework and Algebra after supper with dh. Yes, it's tough, but it's highschool. So far, so good, and soooo tired (me, that is!).

[Kris]

My son starts between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. and is finished by 4:00 or 5:00.

[Jill- OK]

...from the 'lite' end responds, lol, I'll chime in with our schedule; about 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the latest.

 

And we only formally school four days a week.

 

As someone else said...it depends. It depends on your goals, the temperments of everyone involved (quite truthfully, this schedule is as much for me as it is for them), and other factors in your family dynamic.

 

I like encouraging my kids to pursue interests, try new things, have plenty of 'down time'...and this sort of schedule allows for that. (Not saying that others aren't accomplishing the same thing, just that I don't know that we would, without some leeway in our schedule). It also allows for us to abosrb appointments and times when we need to help my grandparents, without anyone getting frazzled or academic work becoming too much of a drag.

 

If you're accomplishing your goals, if you're okay with it all, and your son is okay with it...then, no biggie. Do what works. This works for us, it might not be the best thing for others.

 

But if you feel like something's not right...you can change it.

[Guest Katia]

 

But if you feel like something's not right...you can change it.

 

 

 

Thank you so much for reminding me of this. My dd is working very hard this year, but she also has some new outside commitments re: 2cc classes and a volunteer job, along with piano lessons and the practice time that entails.

 

I just feel like her entire day is spent on school, and it's frustrating for me that I spent soooo much time scheduling out all her classes, and now I am needing to re-think and (probably) reschedule as I see her having so little 'down' time. As and introvert (like me!) dd needs time to herself to recharge.

 

Thank you for giving me 'permission' to change since I am seeing things that are not right. :001_smile: It's easy to forget.

[gardenschooler]

We do about 6 1/2 -8 hours, but we do it early in the day.The higher estimate includes other things (activities).

 

Not much brain function is happening around here at 5 pm, I can tell you that.

[Guest Korillian]

We start at 9:00 a.m. and usually go until lunch at noon, and then maybe an hour after lunch. Four days a week for sure, with the fifth day our day out with the homeschool group. We do math, english, social studies, science and a language. My daughter usually has some work to do outside of our scheduled work time. Last week she had a history project to do that took several hours for several days.

 

It's really dependent on how easily the work goes for her. When she was having trouble with algebra last year she spent two hours a day on math. This bumped our total daily hours up a lot. When we can breeze through the lesson, like grammar, and then she can breeze through the exercises, that makes our day go more quickly.

 

The thing I keep in mind is that homeschooling is not supposed to be the same as B&M schooling. I honestly don't care how many hours they spend on things in the local high school. I care that my daughter is learning what she needs to learn to succeed in life. If she can do that in less time, more power to her!

[Lori D.]

9th & 10th gr. boys here, schooling about 5.5 to 6.0 hr/day (depending on PE or extracurricular activities). We school 9:15 or 9:30am till 3:30 or 4pm, with 45-60 min. for lunch. Most Fridays are half days so we can include homeschool group activities and a public speaking class. About 3 nights a week they do some of their reading (what I'd call "lite" reading -- the more enjoyable lit., or historical fiction), but otherwise no homework/evening work. I would estimate we spend no more than about 25 hours a week schooling.

 

I know others here are doing a lot more than we are, but this is all we can handle. Having time for family times, or to pursue personal interests, or to just have unscheduled "down time" is very important for all of us. We're really trying to resist the "tyranny of the urgent" and learn how to have balance in our lives so we can train our children into that, too. Still struggling on that one. ; ) BEST of luck in working into a schedule that works for your family! Warmly, Lori D.

[Pamela H in Texas]

I agree with "it depends." We have certain courses and have a certain amount of work to be done within them. Whether that takes 3 hours or 10 depends on the student's choice of scheduling at the high school level. Of course, ability and diligence plays a part also. I would guess 4-8 hours....again, depending.

[rhrice3]

I would say that they should be working well into the afternoon, nearly dinner. We work until 4:00P.M. when my son goes to swimming practice. However, he has been spending several hours per weekend on literature reading catch up or Spanish catch up, etc. He tends to go straight to bed after practice and eating so that is the decision he made about catching up. Actually, I like that he realizes that sometimes you have to get caught up or ahead on the weekend so you can keep up and do your extra stuff.

ReneeR

[abcmom]

I am glad you posted this problem. I have been having the same problem with my 15 yo daughter. It is not unusual for her to spend 10-12 hours a day on her school work and then still have things to do on the weekends. I am going to try having her log in her time spent on each subject also. I have been thinking about reducing the amount of work I expect each day because I want her to be able to have a little more downtime each day.

[Denise in NE]

Most days my 10th grade dd spends 8-10 hours on school (this includes work for her 5 classes at home, 2 classes taken at COOP, and 30-60 minutes at the piano).

 

She doesn't make the best use of her time though :)

 

I hope it is just a phase.

[sleepy]

My oldest just finished her 2nd day of 9th grade. Both days ran about 7 hours. :svengo:

[RoughCollie]

My two 9th graders spend 8 hours a day on schoolwork, plus 4 hours a day on Saturdays.

 

My 9th grader who goes to PS spends no more than 5.5 hours per day in class, and so far has spent a maximum of an hour a day doing homework.

[Veronica in VA]

Right now dd is logging about 5.5 hours a day. This doesn't include her electives, especially driver's ed, which for some reason, takes her forever.

She works very hard without a break, until she gets most of her work done. She usually just grabs lunch and eats while she works. She also is not taking science until the second semester since she will be taking chemistry at the local high school.

 

I want her to have some down time so she can pursue her own activities. She starts working a a new job next week though, so we'll see how that goes.

 

Veronica

[Quiver0f10]

My 10th grader schools from @ 8:30 till @ 3:30 this year with a small break for lunch.

[Chris in VA]

Ds has a hybrid of two CC classes and 3-4 classes at home. (We haven't started Bible yet this year.)

 

He works from approximately 9am to about 12 noon M and W, then goes to CC classes from 2pm-6:20pm. He has about two hours of homework after each class, but usually does it the next day (or on Thurs after the Weds classes). He also has to study, even if the homework is done, so add in another hour or so.

 

On T/R/F, he works from about 9am to 2 or 3 pm with an hour for lunch, then we discuss his work after dinner.

 

He also spends some time with his dad almost 5 nights a week doing math for about an hour--then homework for about 30 mins.

 

I know, this is confusing.

 

Maybe this is better--

 

M/W Has to do Environmental Science, Literature, Math homework all before 12ish, then has about 4 hours of CC classes (psychology and Spanish), then meets with Dad for an hour of math.

 

T/R/F Has to do Enviro, Lit, Math homework, Poetry and Gov't, then discusses with me for about an hour, then does math with Dad for an hour.

 

So, I'd say he works about 8 hours a day, give or take, lighter on T/R/F.

 

AND we have a Winner in the Clear as Mud contest!:lol:

[Peela]

...from the 'lite' end responds, lol, I'll chime in with our schedule; about 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the latest.

 

And we only formally school four days a week.

 

As someone else said...it depends. It depends on your goals, the temperments of everyone involved (quite truthfully, this schedule is as much for me as it is for them), and other factors in your family dynamic.

 

I like encouraging my kids to pursue interests, try new things, have plenty of 'down time'...and this sort of schedule allows for that. (Not saying that others aren't accomplishing the same thing, just that I don't know that we would, without some leeway in our schedule). It also allows for us to abosrb appointments and times when we need to help my grandparents, without anyone getting frazzled or academic work becoming too much of a drag.

 

If you're accomplishing your goals, if you're okay with it all, and your son is okay with it...then, no biggie. Do what works. This works for us, it might not be the best thing for others.

 

But if you feel like something's not right...you can change it.

 

:iagree:

Another response from the lighter end of the spectrum :001_smile:

My 9th grader spends around 23 hours a week on academics this year. That doesn't include sports, a drama class, Scouts (including all the leadership skills, paperwork and communication involved), watercolour classes and much spare time spent doing art, photography,piano and guitar practice, pure socialising with close friends, chores and responsiblities at home including many pets, her well paid part time bookkeeping job, her part time cooking/serving job with me, part time babysitting work, and time spent on the computer playing creative games, building her webpages or communicating with friends.

For this child, doing schoolwork all day would crush her spirit and I dont see her incapable of putting her heart into academics if she chooses a direction at any stage, but I dont want to shut out her passions to focus on academics too much, because it's our passions that feed us and often lead us in the direction our lives are to go. So, I do get her out of bed by 7am- she would rather sleep in- and get her into her schoolwork by 8.30am, and she is usually finished early afternoon. She does well academically- very, very well in some areas.

My ds12 will be similar, but with different interests. He is a communicator, a people person, a peacemaker, he wants to be a business man. I am working with him on his weak areas so that he can succeed- he has learning difficulties.

But that is what I do. I jsut think its important not to come from fear when homeschooling kids- fear that if you dont do it all, lots, everything, your child may not succeed in life, therefore more is always better. If you are following your heart and life is still looking good and you and the kids wake up each day happy and eagre for the day, I dont think anything can be wrong, whatever balance you have.

[mom42terrificgirls]

We take outside classes, which is about eight hours total a week. Their homework time takes between 10 and 15 hrs. per week.

[Moira in MA]

I have 2 extremes in my house.

 

my eldest -- a junior -- starts at 7:30 with 45 minutes of piano practice and finally done for the day (including reading) around 6:30. I'd say she takes a total of 2 hours in breaks -- 9 hours/weekday plus 6 hours on Saturday. She does not study on Sundays.

 

my younger -- a freshman -- starts at 8:30 and is done including reading by 3:30 most days. She'll have about an hour's break during that time -- 7hours/weekday plus 3 hours on Saturday. Like her sister, she doesn't study on Saturdays.

[Kanga]

I try to keep it under 6 hours a day of academics. If I use a preplanned curriculum (which I do for science, math, and vocabulary) I really look at each assignment and weed out the busy work and adapt the assignments to my dc's learning style.