Your First Week of Homeschool: What to Expect and How to Survive It
Day one is tomorrow. The curriculum is stacked. The pencils are sharpened. You've read the blog posts, made the schedule, and told everyone you're doing this. You're ready. You're terrified. Both things are true.
Here's what no one tells you about the first week: It will probably be messier than you imagined, and that's completely normal. The schedule will need adjusting. Someone will cry (possibly you). At least one subject won't go as planned. This isn't failure—it's the unavoidable reality of starting something new. Every homeschool family you admire went through their own messy first week.
The goal for week one isn't perfection. It's learning—not just for your kids, but for you. You're gathering data about what works, what doesn't, and who your children are as learners. That information is more valuable than a flawless first day.
What Your First Week Will Actually Look Like
Day One
Excitement is high. Everyone's on their best behavior. You might think, "This is going well!" You might also think, "This is a disaster." Both reactions are premature. Day one data is unreliable.
Common day one experiences:
- Everything takes longer than planned
- Kids who were excited become resistant once actual work begins
- You can't find something you need
- The curriculum doesn't work exactly like you expected
- Someone (maybe everyone) gets tired earlier than anticipated
Days Two and Three
The novelty has worn off. This is where reality sets in. Resistance often peaks here as kids realize this is actually happening every day. This is normal. Push through gently.
Days Four and Five
Patterns start emerging. You're beginning to see what times of day work best. Which subjects flow easily. Where the friction points are. Pay attention—this is useful information.
End of Week One
You've survived. Things probably didn't go as planned. You've already learned more about homeschooling your kids than months of research could teach you. That's the actual win.
Strategies for a Successful First Week
Start Slower Than You Think
Do not attempt your full curriculum load on day one. If you've planned five subjects daily, start with two or three. Add subjects gradually over the first few weeks.
Why? You need wins early. Completing a manageable day feels good. Failing to finish an ambitious day feels defeating. Build confidence first, then build complexity.
Prioritize Relationship Over Academics
Your long-term homeschool success depends more on your relationship with your children than on any curriculum. If week one involves power struggles, resentment, and tears over every assignment, you're setting a damaging foundation—even if the academics technically happened.
When conflict arises, ask: Is this worth damaging our relationship? Sometimes the answer is yes—boundaries matter. But often, the answer is to back off, try a different approach, or table the issue for tomorrow.
Focus on Routine, Not Content
The most important thing your first week establishes isn't what you learn—it's how your homeschool day flows. Getting comfortable with the rhythm matters more than covering content.
If your kids are learning the routine—when we start, what comes first, where supplies are, when we take breaks—the first week is successful, even if you only did math and read-alouds.
Build in Easy Wins
Include at least one activity daily that your child will enjoy and succeed at. A read-aloud of a favorite book. An art project. An easy review lesson. The first week should include pleasure, not just work.
End Before Anyone Melts Down
Watch for signs of fatigue, frustration, or overload—and stop before they become meltdowns. A shorter day that ends well is better than a longer day that ends in tears. You can always add more time later. You can't un-do a terrible ending that makes everyone dread tomorrow.
Debrief Each Day
Spend five minutes after school time reflecting (write notes if it helps):
- What went well?
- What was harder than expected?
- What will I try differently tomorrow?
- How was everyone's mood/energy?
This daily reflection helps you adjust in real-time rather than waiting until frustration builds.
First Week Struggles (And What to Do)
"My child is resisting everything."
Expected, especially with transitions from school. Resistance is often fear, adjustment, or testing boundaries. Stay calm, stay consistent, and keep expectations manageable. Don't engage in power struggles. If everything is a battle, reduce the workload and focus on one non-negotiable.
If you pulled your child from school, remember: they may need deschooling time before formal academics work well. (See Post 2.4.)
"The curriculum isn't working like I expected."
Give it more time before panicking. There's a learning curve to any new material—for you and your child. That said, if something is clearly misaligned (too easy, too hard, wrong learning style), note it and plan to adjust after a few weeks. Don't overhaul everything mid-week unless it's truly broken.
"We're not finishing everything."
You probably planned too much. Most new homeschoolers do. Cut back. Prioritize your non-negotiables. Drop or postpone the rest without guilt. "Not finishing everything" isn't failure if "everything" was unrealistic to begin with.
"My child says they're bored."
Boredom in week one often means adjustment, not inadequate curriculum. Kids used to constant stimulation and peer distraction may find focused learning "boring" simply because it's different. Acknowledge the feeling without immediately changing everything. Often, boredom fades as the new normal settles in.
That said, if a curriculum is genuinely too easy, note it for future adjustment.
"I'm exhausted and we've only done three days."
First-week exhaustion is universal. You're learning a new job. You're using mental energy in unfamiliar ways. You're managing emotions (yours and theirs). It gets easier as routines become automatic. For now: lower expectations, prioritize rest, and remember that this level of effort isn't sustainable or necessary long-term.
Common Questions
What if day one is a complete disaster?
Then day two is a fresh start. One bad day doesn't define your homeschool. Analyze what went wrong. Adjust what you can. Let go of what you can't control. Show up tomorrow anyway. Some of the most successful homeschool families have day-one disaster stories they now laugh about.
Should I tell my kids we're "doing school" or frame it differently?
This depends on your child. Some kids feel validated by "doing school"—it feels important and grown-up. Others have negative associations with school that make the term counterproductive. Experiment with language: "learning time," "our work," or just using subject names without labeling the overall activity. Watch how your child responds and adjust.
How do I handle family members asking how it's going when it's not going well?
You don't owe anyone a detailed report. "We're settling into our routine" is honest and sufficient. If pushed, "It's an adjustment, but we're figuring it out" works too. You can share struggles with supportive people, but skeptical relatives don't need ammunition. Wait until you've found your footing before offering detailed updates to critics.
Your Next Move
For your first week, commit to these three things:
- Start with only 2-3 subjects (you can add more next week)
- End each day before anyone melts down
- Write a brief reflection each evening (what worked, what didn't)
That's it. Everything else is details. Show up, pay attention, and adjust as you go.
Once you've survived week one, you'll need to think about documentation—keeping records of what you're doing, both for legal compliance and for your own tracking. The final post in this roadmap covers simple record-keeping systems that won't add hours to your week.