8th grade length of school day

[abrightmom]

In your opinion, what is the right number of hours an 8th grader should be spending on focused academics? I'm not counting extras that are chosen for interest/fun or outside time or sports. I'm truly thinking of skill/content based courses where the student is reading, writing, listening to a lecture, hands on labs, etc. Math, Writing, Grammar, History, Science, Literature, etc.

 

 

 

[Garga]

I'll try to answer, but it's hard to say because I wove his studies in with my 5th grader's studies. If my 8th grader had worked completely alone, then he would have probably worked faster. But we used the same text for Science, History, and Writing last year, so it's hard to tell how long the 8th grader would have worked alone.

 

Basically, each of his subjects was alotted 45-55 minutes per day, except for Algebra I which took up to 1.5 hours/day.

 

Some of that time was me teaching and some was him doing his independent work. He rarely had to work outside of those times to finish something up.

 

Grammar: 45

Writing: 45

Math: 1.5

Science: 55

History: 45

Reading: 30-55 (3 times a week)

Art/Music/Logic: 55 (Each subject was once a week)

 

I guess that roughly adds up to about 6 hours a day. When you add in the homeschool karate class twice a week and breaks and an hour lunchtime: we schooled from 8 in the morning until anywhere between 3 and 4:30 in the evening. Karate made our days longer and sometimes we all took long lunches.

 

And again, I had to do things a little slower because my 5th grader was also working with us. For example, in writing, my oldest could quickly write a couple of paragraphs and be done, but the "class" was still going while my 5th grader was working. My oldest would quietly entertain himself waiting for younger to be done before we all moved to the next subject together.

 

That will change this coming year where none of their subjects can be combined.

Edited August 5, 2016 by Garga

[regentrude]

In grade 8, I required 5 hours of academic work each day. Even for academically minded DD that was plenty of time to pursue a rigorous course of study, including her first college science course.

 

 

Edited August 5, 2016 by regentrude

[SparklyUnicorn]

I never really kept track.  I knew what I wanted to get done in a week and it took however long it took.  I'm guessing it was around 5 hours four days per week plus an outside class 2x per week with additional study time for that outside class.

 

 

[Ethel Mertz]

I don't know as if there's any "should" about it as every kid/family is different. My rising 8th grader will be working an average of 7 hours per day. Not counting extra-curricular activities, here is what his schedule looks like:

 

Tuesday

Morning Time - 1 hour

Algebra - 1 hour

Literature - 1 hour of reading

History/Science - alternated weekly, 1.5 hours

Composition - 45 minutes 

Latin - 1 hour

Spanish - 1 hour

Vocabulary - 15 minutes

 

Wednesday

Morning Time - 1 hour

Algebra - 1 hour

Literature - 1 hour of reading

History/Science - alternated weekly, 1.5 hours

Composition - 45 minutes

Latin - 1 hour

Spanish - 1 hour

Grammar - 15 minutes

Typing - 30 minutes

 

Thursday

Morning Time - 1 hour

Algebra - 1 hour

Literature - 1 hour discussion (probably less)

Composition - 45 minutes

Latin - 1 hour

Spanish - 1 hour

Grammar - 15 minutes

 

Friday

Morning Time - 1 hour

Algebra - 1 hour

Literature - 1 hour reading

Science/History - alternated weekly, 1 hour

Composition - 45 minutes

Latin - 1 hour

Spanish - 1 hour

Grammar - 15 minutes

Spelling - 15 minutes

Geography - 1 hour

 

Saturday

Algebra - 1 hour

Literature - 1 hour reading

Grammar - 15 minutes

Vocabulary - 15 minutes

Spelling - 15 minutes

Geography - 1 hour

Election Study - 45 minutes (Fall Semester)

Study Skills - 30 minutes (Fall Semester)

Typing - 30 minutes

[KeriJ]

I feel good about 4 1/2 to 5 hours a day Mon.-Thurs. with a lighter day (or not at all) on Fri.😊 (I have long since left HOD behind, but still follow much of the basic format)

[Chrysalis Academy]

Mine worked 5-6 hours a day Mon-Thurs and a couple of hours on Friday. With time-consuming extracurriculars (theater & horseback riding) almost every afternoon & evening.

[Melissa B]

We do seven hours.

[Ivey]

In 8th grade, my older boys spent 5-5.5 hours a day. Ds19 couldn't focus on school work for much more than 5 hours, and the others worked fairly quickly and got a lot done in that amount of time. 

 

Ds13 will be in 8th this year, and we're going to try to keep his day to under 5 hours. He has a very busy schedule of extracurriculars.

[RootAnn]

Because my kids have different interests and use different materials, I can't generalize.

 

One reads faster. One writes more and better. One will spend longer (per day or per year) on math because it takes her longer to get it. One had two languages going at high school level and the other doesn't. One goofs around during the day and the other wants to get the work done so she can do other things. One has extra time in her schedule for spelling and the other didn't take spelling in 8th. These things are so variable.

 

Dd#2 will work from 9 to 3:30 M-Th and part days on Fri to finish up. But she also might finish a year's worth of history and science in < 25 weeks instead of 30+ and then have that time free.

[Loesje22000]

In grade 8 I tried to move from a 28 hour to a 32 hour schoolweek.

We start with longer days on M/T and shorter days on T/F, wednesday is half a day schoolwork as is common in this country.

[SnMomof7]

We are doing around 3.5 this year. Intentionally lighter to focus on therapy needs for the family this year.

[Alice]

My rising 8th grader will probably average 5 hours. We have a slightly weird schedule so two days are longer and two are shorter and one is co-op. The long days will likely be more like 6-7 and the short days will be more like 3-4. 

 

I don't really worry too much about time, we go more by getting a certain amount done per week. The only thing I ask him to do by time is Math because it's AOPS and so it's hard for me to gauge how much time a certain amount of work will take. Also, he likes Math so will sometimes continue working on it but then not move on to other work that needs to be done. 

[Roadrunner]

In grade 8, I required 5 hours of academic work each day. Even for academically minded DD that was plenty of time to pursue a rigorous course of study, including her first college science course.

 

 

Can you break this down roughly? I am asking because I know your DD did AoPS, which is time consuming. I have failed to produce a reasonable schedule in this house. AoPS takes up to 2 hours a day. Usually 1.5 hours, but there are times he won't let go until something is solved. We will be taking online science, which is suppose to be about 45 minutes daily. Once I throw in a foreign language, we are up to almost 4 hours, leaving us just over an hour to do writing, reading, history, or any other language arts. 

Edited August 6, 2016 by Roadrunner

[Saddlemomma]

I've scheduled DD for 7 hrs/day, but I always start out scheduling heavy. However, it never takes as long as I schedule, so I think it will be more like 6 or 6 1/2 hrs.

[abrightmom]

Can you break this down roughly? I am asking because I know your DD did AoPS, which is time consuming. I have failed to produce a reasonable schedule in this house. AoPS takes up to 2 hours a day. Usually 1.5 hours, but there are times he won't let go until something is solved. We will be taking online science, which is suppose to be about 45 minutes daily. Once I throw in a foreign language, we are up to almost 4 hours, leaving us just over an hour to do writing, reading, history, or any other language arts. 

Listening in. The time gets used up so quickly. 

[Alte Veste Academy]

My 8th grader will do 6 hours (8-12, lunch from 12-1, then 1-3). This is a kid who loves to live by a schedule.

[....]

We're trying for 5-6 hours a day, but we're not getting everything done in that time (we're on our 3rd week).  We're already behind.    :glare:

Edited August 6, 2016 by Evanthe

[foxbridgeacademy]

I try to keep it under 4 hours, there's so much more learning to be done that doesn't happen in the pages of a book.  

 

 

[Farrar]

This is interesting and good to know. My 7th graders will do - roughly, because we're not schedule people - about 5-6 hours most days this year, but I feel like when tell people this, I often get shocked looks. But we need that much time. I don't know how else to do it. I'm glad to see everyone's 8th grade times and feel like we're on track, at least among the WTM'ers.

[deerforest]

This is interesting and good to know. My 7th graders will do - roughly, because we're not schedule people - about 5-6 hours most days this year, but I feel like when tell people this, I often get shocked looks. But we need that much time. I don't know how else to do it. I'm glad to see everyone's 8th grade times and feel like we're on track, at least among the WTM'ers.

 

Us too. I could do the bare necessities in 3 hours but I want to do above and beyond, and that takes more time. I'm struggling for us to find it as I still work full time, and DD has a lot of extracurricular activities. This year will be our most scheduled ever out of necessity. DD is oddly excited about that.

[Alte Veste Academy]

When my kids were younger, we were easily done in the morning (sometimes in just an hour or two), leaving the rest of the day for play and personal interests. But starting around 6th and definitely by 8th, I can't fathom getting everything done in such a short period. How are people doing that and still finishing materials?

[Meriwether]

I do not see how other people get done so quickly. I just don't. Next year will be either 8th or 9th for Dd13. I am anticipating the following amount of work for next year:

Math: 5-8 hours/week (Jacobs Geometry with Algebra review)
Science: 5-7hours/week (Aplogia, finishing Physical Science and starting Biology)

Latin: 6-8 hours/week (Lukeion 1)
Spanish: 4-5 hours/week (Breaking the Barrier 1 plus Duolingo)

Tolkien study including LLfLotR: 5-8 hours/week
TOG Year 2: 10+ hours/week

So that would be anywhere from 35-46+ hours per week. She is a smart enough kid and a decent worker. How do kids get their work done in 5 hours?

She has CAP one evening per week and attends 2 jiu jitsu classes and 5 or 6 TKD classes per week, so she needs to be finished by 4:30 most days. She will often do some of her reading at bedtime.

ETA: Forgot piano and guitar, so she also has some music practice and two music lessons/week.

 

Edited August 6, 2016 by Meriwether

[Farrar]

When my kids were younger, we were easily done in the morning (sometimes in just an hour or two), leaving the rest of the day for play and personal interests. But starting around 6th and definitely by 8th, I can't fathom getting everything done in such a short period. How are people doing that and still finishing materials?

 

I have no idea. I think they're not. Finishing things, that is. In some cases, I know the disparity in my perception is because my kids aren't fast workers overall and never will be. But sometimes people describe their kids finishing work in such a short time that I don't really believe it.

[abrightmom]

I do not see how other people get done so quickly. I just don't. Next year will be either 8th or 9th for Dd13. I am anticipating the following amount of work for next year:

 

Math: 5-8 hours/week (Jacobs Geometry with Algebra review)

Science: 5-7hours/week (Aplogia, finishing Physical Science and starting Biology)

Latin: 6-8 hours/week (Lukeion 1)

Spanish: 4-5 hours/week (Breaking the Barrier 1 plus Duolingo)

Tolkien study including LLfLotR: 5-8 hours/week

TOG Year 2: 10+ hours/week

 

So that would be anywhere from 35-46+ hours per week. She is a smart enough kid and a decent worker. How do kids get their work done in 5 hours?

 

She has CAP one evening per week and attends 2 jiu jitsu classes and 5 or 6 TKD classes per week, so she needs to be finished by 4:30 most days. She will often do some of her reading at bedtime.

Well, I can tell you one way 5 hours might be doable. NO languages! :) If you're studying TWO languages that seriously then it's going to really up the time commitment.  :thumbup1:

 

I wonder if Science should take 7 hours? I'm planning on 1 hour per day TOPS for Apologia Biology and allowing it to flow out longer into summer if I find that too little. 

 

 

 

It is my desire to limit my son to one hour blocks for most subjects, if possible. With what I am thinking is a pretty trim schedule his school days will take 6-7 hours with no dawdling. And that is with no foreign language. I don't see how we can do a 5 hour school day (I was dreaming of this :) ).

 

Math 1 hour

Writing 1 hour (more on class days)

Science 1 hour

History 1 hour (this may be high; it's a streamlined program we're doing)

Other LA 1 hour (trim back on class days; I'm not counting literature reading here)

Bible/Morning Meeting 30m/30m (may do Morning Meeting 3x a week only on non-writing class days) 

 

I think that is a long day and I've not included long blocks for reading or for any extras. I can see that 7 hours of school work is a more realistic number if we're doing Algebra and Biology and a full writing course. I may need to re-think a few things.  :smash:

[JadeOrchidSong]

Dp

Edited August 6, 2016 by JadeOrchidSong

[JadeOrchidSong]

What do you use for study skill and election study, Ethel mertz?

Edited August 6, 2016 by JadeOrchidSong

[JadeOrchidSong]

In your opinion, what is the right number of hours an 8th grader should be spending on focused academics? I'm not counting extras that are chosen for interest/fun or outside time or sports. I'm truly thinking of skill/content based courses where the student is reading, writing, listening to a lecture, hands on labs, etc. Math, Writing, Grammar, History, Science, Literature, etc.

Do you do a foreign language?

I am afraid ds13 will need to work 6 hours a day.

He will also be doing CLE American history. Does your literature synchronize with your history? I would love to see an 8th grader American literature list if someone is doing it. I need to purchase CLE 8th grade history. I also have America the Beautiful that ds11.5 will use. I wonder if I should let them both do CLE 8th for American history.

[abrightmom]

Do you do a foreign language?

I am afraid ds13 will need to work 6 hours a day.

He will also be doing CLE American history. Does your literature synchronize with your history? I would love to see an 8th grader American literature list if someone is doing it. I need to purchase CLE 8th grade history. I also have America the Beautiful that ds11.5 will use. I wonder if I should let them both do CLE 8th for American history.

No foreign language. He'd like to study Latin but it isn't feasible time wise as far as I can tell. If my times are off for other subjects I'd let him study it. It's impossible to say for sure. I will likely LIMIT him time wise too and allow classes to run more weeks if needed (except for the outsourced writing course). It is my intention to say that he has ONE HOUR to work on science; close book; start there tomorrow. We'll streamline all we can because I want him to have free time and down time and plenty of time to exercise and read. 

 

I haven't made a literature list yet but I will include classics, biographies and historical fiction to fit with his studies. It will be trim. He reads plenty on his own and he reads everything. I don't have any intention of even giving him a reading schedule. I'll stack the books and he'll tear through them faster than I'd like him to :). 

 

I'm tentatively planning to use Notgrass ATB with my 5th and 6th grader. :) Oh, there isn't map work with Changing Frontiers so you may consider adding that in if it is important to you. I'm using Map Trek U.S. 

[RootAnn]

I haven't made a literature list yet but I will include classics, biographies and historical fiction to fit with his studies. It will be trim. He reads plenty on his own and he reads everything. I don't have any intention of even giving him a reading schedule. I'll stack the books and he'll tear through them faster than I'd like him to :). 

 

Don't forget that there is lit. in FOEW. I'm only adding one book to DD#2's history schedule this year. She listens to audiobooks (while drawing) and reads good stuff on her own when she's not drawing, so I'm not worried about her not reading enough.

 

Mine is doing

Math 5 days x 60 min each + 30 min x 1 day (extra work alone w/Mom)

History 4 days X 45 min each

Science 4 days x 45 min each

Religion 4 days x 30 min each

Writing 2 days x 90 min (online FOEW) + 2 days x 60 min + however much to finish up assignments

Latin 4 days x 30 min each

Spelling 3 days x 30 min each

Grammar 3 days x 15 min each

Intro to French 4 days x 15 min each

 

You can see that we are very much on a 4 day schedule w/Friday being the light day as she has art (outsourced) that day & needs her downtime. 

[regentrude]

Can you break this down roughly? I am asking because I know your DD did AoPS, which is time consuming. I have failed to produce a reasonable schedule in this house. AoPS takes up to 2 hours a day. Usually 1.5 hours, but there are times he won't let go until something is solved. We will be taking online science, which is suppose to be about 45 minutes daily. Once I throw in a foreign language, we are up to almost 4 hours, leaving us just over an hour to do writing, reading, history, or any other language arts. 

 

We have never followed a prescribed schedule and did not work on every subject every day. My kids are free to choose how much time they spend on which subject.

DD worked in binges on math: 3 hours one day, none the next, half an hour the day after.

DS, who also used AoPS, could not concentrate for long stretches and usually did one hour each day.

 

I have cumulative times for the core subjects.

In 8th grade, DD spent:

178 hours on math

210 hours on physics

290 hours on literature and history combined

117 hours on French

That is 795 hours over the course of 35 weeks, 23 hours per week, about 4.5 hours per day.

The remaining time was spent on electives.

 

For DS, in 8th grade year, I have:

217 hours on math

140 hours on science

304 hours on literature and history combined

50 hours on government

50 hours on Italian

761 hours, 22 hours per week, 4.5 hours/day.

Rest of time used for electives.

[Ethel Mertz]

What do you use for study skill and election study, Ethel mertz?

 

I won't know exactly until the end of this coming week as I'm still compiling resources! I'll start a thread on each when I've got it figured out! And then maybe folks will have additional ideas and I'll re-make my plans all over again...

[JadeOrchidSong]

Sounds great, EM! Thanks! I would like dc to do election study in the fall and introductory logic in the spring.

[Lang Syne Boardie]

I have no idea. I think they're not. Finishing things, that is. In some cases, I know the disparity in my perception is because my kids aren't fast workers overall and never will be. But sometimes people describe their kids finishing work in such a short time that I don't really believe it.

 

Same here.

 

I just flat do not believe that the kids who get done in three hours are studying as much (nor carefully illustrating every single assignment, as my kid insists on doing, which is one reason why he's homeschooled). And that's fine. Not everybody needs or wants Latin and Greek, or history and science every day, or a super challenging math program. But let's not compare Ace paces or lifepacs or whatever they're called, or Easy Peasy, to a WTM-style approach. It's apples and oranges.

 

I don't say that to brag on the rigorous/vigorous classical schoolers but to be fair to us, because we're the ones who feel like we're doing it wrong when we learn that our homeschool friends' child is done by 10 am every morning. We can remind each other that we have different goals and our children are (hopefully) thriving.

 

My child is not a fast worker, but he likes what he's doing and feels challenged. He had a great deal of input on curriculum and methods this year; he had complaints about some subjects being "too easy" last year. He works better when he knows he's learning, and does not want to zip through it. And real learning, for him, takes serious time.

Edited August 6, 2016 by Tibbie Dunbar

[Soror]

We have never followed a prescribed schedule and did not work on every subject every day. My kids are free to choose how much time they spend on which subject.

DD worked in binges on math: 3 hours one day, none the next, half an hour the day after.

DS, who also used AoPS, could not concentrate for long stretches and usually did one hour each day.

 

I have cumulative times for the core subjects.

In 8th grade, DD spent:

178 hours on math

210 hours on physics

290 hours on literature and history combined

117 hours on French

That is 795 hours over the course of 35 weeks, 23 hours per week, about 4.5 hours per day.

The remaining time was spent on electives.

 

For DS, in 8th grade year, I have:

217 hours on math

140 hours on science

304 hours on literature and history combined

50 hours on government

50 hours on Italian

761 hours, 22 hours per week, 4.5 hours/day.

Rest of time used for electives.

IIRC you guys did writing across curriculum? So that is in with the science and history numbers?

[JadeOrchidSong]

Sorry for the side track

RootAnn,

What is your goal for French and Latin for your second child and third child? I would love for my dc to have two foreign languages. In fact, for a few years, they did Latin, Chinese, and Spanish every day. Now they only want to do one language. I seriously think that Latin is too hard for ds13; however, he doesn't want to change to another language. Ds11 wants Spanish. I wonder how La Clase Divertida will go for him. He is really good with Henle Latin, but he hates it and doesn't want to continue anymore.

[Arcadia]

My 7th graders will do - roughly, because we're not schedule people - about 5-6 hours most days this year, but I feel like when tell people this, I often get shocked looks.

My 7th grader will need around that much time too.

 

Math - 5hrs/wk

Science- 3hrs reading 2hrs lab /wk

Literature - 3hrs/wk

German - 5hrs/wk or more

Chinese - 5hrs/wk

History, Music Theory, Art - approx 5hrs /wk but on a loop, so not weekly

IT - 2hrs/wk or more

 

We are skipping formal Language Arts.

 

AoPS takes up to 2 hours a day. Usually 1.5 hours, but there are times he won't let go until something is solved.

Math is the last academic subject of the day. AoPS takes an hour, then tea break. If kids want to spend their play time or insomnia (night owl DS11) time on AoPS, so be it. At least no subjects are neglected due to math. My night owl got out of bed and read his AoPS book because he couldn't sleep last night. He eventually felt sleepy enough to sleep. Edited August 7, 2016 by Arcadia

[RootAnn]

Sorry for the side track

RootAnn,

What is your goal for French and Latin for your second child and third child? I would love for my dc to have two foreign languages. In fact, for a few years, they did Latin, Chinese, and Spanish every day. Now they only want to do one language. I seriously think that Latin is too hard for ds13; however, he doesn't want to change to another language. Ds11 wants Spanish. I wonder how La Clase Divertida will go for him. He is really good with Henle Latin, but he hates it and doesn't want to continue anymore.

 

This year is to offer them a taste of French while they continue their Latin studies. They will get to choose for themselves -- continue one or both languages. It is too hard to FORCE a language at the higher levels if the child has no interest. Both have asked to learn French (vs. older sister's Spanish choice). If they prefer French and want to discontinue Latin, that's fine. If they want to do both, that's fine. If they want to just continue Latin, that's fine.

[Chrysalis Academy]

Yep,it's a question, isn't it? How do you get it all done in 5-6 hours a day, or whatever amount of time makes sense in your own situation. In ours, it needs to be no longer than that in order to accommodate things we value, like plenty of sleep and engaging extracurriculars and privately pursued passions.  It's all about choices, and remembering that not every subject will be done with the same depth/rigor/time.  You can't do every subject in the most deep and rigorous way and stay sane.  At least, we can't.

 

For sure,not all subjects take an hour.  My kid is just doing one language and she doesn't spend an hour a day on it.  She does work on it every day, but rarely for more than half an hour a day. Definitely if you are studying languages really seriously, or doing more than one, that is going to be a real time sink

 

Math also doesn't have to take as long as some people choose to spend on it.  AoPs, sure. But we're now doing a combo of Videotext and Khan/Alcumus and it never takes more than an hour a day.  My kid likes math and does well with it, but it's not her passion and she's not a STEM kid, so it really doesn't make sense to have her spend more time on it than she needs to master the topics and stay on track to finish her course during the year.

 

Writing instruction/exercises don't take an hour a day, not even close.  Some days she spends a long time writing, but that time is often part of another class - an elective, or English/Lit or History.  

 

Science has a combination of long lab/fieldwork days and shorter days with just reading. But usually not more than 5 hours a week unless we have a long field trip or lab day.

 

She spends way more than 5 hours a week on creative writing, so we turned that into an elective credit and it is counted as part of her school day.

 

Her time consuming EC activities are theater and horseback riding.  Horseback riding is 5-6 hours a week, pretty constantly.  Theater ranges from 0-20 hours a week. So we do longer school days/more hours when that's at zero, and shorter days when it's a higher number.  

 

All this is why I've shifted to counting hours instead of days for high school - I want the credits I award to be legit, but our days & weeks vary so much it would be hard to tell if I was counting in any other way. Or not counting.  I did not bother doing that before 9th grade.  But tracking actual time spent has been most enlightening - it might actually be worth doing as an exercise for a couple of weeks, just to understand how time is being spent, if you're having a hard time figuring out how to fit it all in.  And maybe you won't be able to, I've definitely had to let go of a lot of things in order to create a sane schedule and make room for interests and passions.

[KeriJ]

Same here.

 

I just flat do not believe that the kids who get done in three hours are studying as much (nor carefully illustrating every single assignment, as my kid insists on doing, which is one reason why he's homeschooled). And that's fine. Not everybody needs or wants Latin and Greek, or history and science every day, or a super challenging math program. But let's not compare Ace paces or lifepacs or whatever they're called, or Easy Peasy, to a WTM-style approach. It's apples and oranges.

 

I don't say that to brag on the rigorous/vigorous classical schoolers but to be fair to us, because we're the ones who feel like we're doing it wrong when we learn that our homeschool friends' child is done by 10 am every morning. We can remind each other that we have different goals and our children are (hopefully) thriving.

 

My child is not a fast worker, but he likes what he's doing and feels challenged. He had a great deal of input on curriculum and methods this year; he had complaints about some subjects being "too easy" last year. He works better when he knows he's learning, and does not want to zip through it. And real learning, for him, takes serious time.

I disagree that a student who spends less time than yours is not "studying as much" or is not rigorous enough. (I was waiting for that comparison to be thrown out there😊) It's possible they have different goals or may have just made different choices, much like Rose described.

[regentrude]

IIRC you guys did writing across curriculum? So that is in with the science and history numbers?

 

We do integrated literature and history, so writing is in there as well.

For DS in 8th, still a bit of writing in science; DD's College Physics course in 8th had no writing, just problem solving.

[Lang Syne Boardie]

I disagree that a student who spends less time than yours is not "studying as much" or is not rigorous enough. (I was waiting for that comparison to be thrown out there😊) It's possible they have different goals or may have just made different choices, much like Rose described.

 

I thought I'd specified that I think it's fine for homeschooling families (and students) to have different goals and different choices. I certainly meant to! I also fondly believed I was showing that I was defining "rigorous" as "challenging for the individual student." Which is why I don't think a child who only studies for 2-3 hours in eighth grade is as likely to be enjoying coursework that is challenging ("rigorous") *for him* as a child who necessarily takes a bit longer to work through math, Latin, history, literature, science, logic, grammar and composition at the level right before rhetoric.

 

As regentrude pointed out, a very solid program can be achieved in 5 hours per day. That doesn't mean the same amount and level can be achieved in half that time. It means the family is going lighter or easier somewhere, in order to prioritize something else in the child's studies or life in general. Which power to make such decisions is, of course, why we all homeschool.

[Chrysalis Academy]

Agreed, Tibbie. Mine couldn't have pulled off a solid high school prep 8th grade year in 2-3 hours a day. We don't spend as long as some people do, but I do feel like there is a minimum amount of time required to cover everything that you need to prepare a kid to succeed in high school. And there is probably a maximum amount that it's possible for a kid to do and still be productively using his/her time. And that the min and the max may be different from kid to kid.  

 

I know that for me, reading about productivity and focused work - things like Deep Work and Flow and A Mind for Numbers- and working as a consultant who bills by the hour helped me to take a look at my own productivity and work patterns. I know that I can't do focused, productive work for much more than ~5 hours in a day.  I can work for longer, but on lighter/fluffier things.  So I know that for me there is a point of diminishing return, after which simply clocking more hours doesn't actually add value. It's true for my kid, too, and probably for most kids, although like I said, the exact amount of time will be different for different individuals.

Edited August 7, 2016 by Chrysalis Academy

[hollyhock]

I'm not sure there is a "right" number of hours because things vary so much between individuals. Last year, my 8th grade son spent about 3.5 hours on school every day. His math was tough for him (TT Algebra), science was more time consuming than it had been before (Apologia physical), but history was light and somewhat interest-led. He also did School Composition, Vocabulary Cartoons, The Fallacy Detective/Thinking Toolbox combo and Figuratively Speaking. 

 

I know that's not enough for some people. I did not have him do a foreign language or a formal literature course. He probably should have done grammar but for various reasons did not, so those things all cut down the time.

 

Everyone has different goals. I know that I'm not nearly the most rigorous homeschooler. You have to figure out what's right for you and your kids and not worry too much about what everyone is doing, but I know that's hard.

Edited August 7, 2016 by hollyhock

[J&JMom]

I like long school days.  Our day is growing by 30 minutes this year to fit it all in with minimal 'homework' because we love the almost an hour read aloud time over our previous 30 minutes.  Our day is now 7.5 hours long.  We break it up with Project Weeks every quarter (no textbooks, just fun projects, documentaries, and field trips) and average 20 field trips every year. 

 

  :50  Joint Read Aloud (with 6th grade brother)

1:20 Literature Class and independent reading (30 min each), and independent work time (20 min)

  :40  Joint Grammar and Writing Class

1:00  Math Class and independent work (30 min each)

  :30  Lunch

  :20  Novel Study (2x week) and Study Skills/Logic Class (2x week)

  :40  Spanish Class and independent work (20 min each)

  :40  Science Class  and independent work (20 min each)

  :40  Social Studies Class and independent work (20 min each)

  :20  Joint Technology Class

  :30  Joint CNN Student News and 'Special' (Mythology, Scholastic Magazine, Art History, Music Theory, Health)

 

Fridays offer 1 hour sessions for nonfiction read alouds and documentaries/projects with shorter content subject times. 

 

[lisabees]

My 8th grader will be changing her schedule this year - to spend time at the barn, working and taking lessons.  

 

Typically, she spends about 6 hours a day on school work, many days including a "documentary" hour.

[SilverMoon]

.

Edited September 6, 2023 by SilverMoon

[lisabees]

PA requires at least 990 hours per year in 7th grade and up.  I believe that is 5 hours a day? 

 

Just a guideline, of sorts.

[Momto6inIN]

Last year my 8th grader put in 5-6 hours/day 4 days/week, not including piano practice and lessons (about an additional half an hour every day). On Fridays he did 2-3 hours and either PE or drama. My goal was to work towards a more high school level amount of work.

 

Here's the breakdown:
Algebra 1 hr 5x/week

Fig Speaking .5 hr 1x/week

Art 1 hr 1x/week

Science 2 hr 2x/week

History/Geography 1 hr 4x/week

Writing 2 hr 2/week

Lit 1 hr 4x/week

Logic .5 hr 1x/week

Study Skills/Career Exploration .5 hr 1x/week

Programming .5 hr 1x/week

Vocab .5 hr 1x/week

[TracyP]

Oops. Wasn't ready yet.

Edited August 8, 2016 by TracyP