Do you use study sessions in your homeschool?
If not, you may be missing out on a powerful tool that encourages diligence and combats procrastination.
Today, I’d like to make the case for using a daily study timetable with your students—and explain how they work.
What Is a Daily Study Timetable?
It’s possible you’ve never heard the phrase “daily study timetable.”
Some people simply call it a study plan. It’s basically a way to schedule your student’s study time and make it part of their daily routine.
This type of timetable is usually a written (or typed) schedule that outlines time blocks for studying each day.
It gives your students a blueprint to follow throughout the week, ensuring they study enough to retain what they learn—without feeling like it takes “forever.”
Although your children may balk at being “scheduled,” a timetable can actually free up more time for fun and relaxation.
That’s because a concrete plan for studying minimizes procrastination and disorganization.
It also creates clean boundaries between work time and play time, so “study time” isn’t hanging over their heads.
I see it asked frequently … what is the perfect schedule?
The perfect timetable for students is one that works with their learning styles and circadian rhythms—aka their sleep-wake cycle.
It should be flexible enough to avoid that feeling of being “chained to a desk,” yet structured enough to complete study sessions without cramming.
How a Well-Structured Timetable Can Help Your Student Study Better
Without external structure, it may be tempting for your student to feel like she has all day (or week, month, you name it) to get her work done.
Then deadlines loom, and she’s forced to cram an overwhelming amount of work into tiny pockets of time.
Last-minute efforts like these often cause burnout and exhaustion, which then leads to procrastination.
Procrastinating results in more cramming, and so the vicious cycle continues.
Schoolwork becomes the most dreaded part of the week as the cycle waxes worse and worse.
A well-structured daily timetable for students demonstrates graphically to your children that they can work in chunks of time while building in intervals to play, rest, and socialize.
The periods between schoolwork become peaceful relaxation time instead of anxious dread-and-procrastination time.
They’ll be able to focus more, prioritize better, use more effective study habits, and feel empowered to master their time.
As they experience these benefits for themselves, they’ll be even more encouraged to stick to their schedule.
Ready to put a study plan in place?
We created a schedule template you can grab for free below:
Maximize Study Time with This Daily Schedule
Experience the power of time blocks for study sessions. This printable tool makes it easy!
Now let’s discuss ways to build the best timetable for your student so that daily study becomes a regular, low-stress part of the day.
Example of How to Make an Effective Study Plan Timetable
While there is no perfect timetable for all students, it’s not hard to customize one that suits your unique lifestyle.
You know your child’s most productive times of day and his or her learning style. You can use that knowledge to build a schedule that works well with his or her personality.
Of course, if you have older students, they can do this themselves with a little prompting from you.
Below, I’ve provided an example of what a daily study timetable for students at home may look like.
You may find that the best time of day to study is different for your own student, so feel free to adjust the timetable accordingly.
This example focuses on three subjects in one day, working for 45 minutes at a time.
On alternating days, you would focus on different subjects.
Also, some students work better with shorter work periods and shorter breaks.
If that’s the case with your children, you may want to consider Pomodoro-style sessions—25 minutes of work followed by 5-minute breaks.
We discuss such techniques in detail in Study Skills Guide if you’re interested.
Experiment a little, and work out a personalized plan.
The goal is structure—not rigidity.
Morning
9:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.
Start with a warm-up activity to wake up the brain.
9:15 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Study subject 1.
10:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Take a brief break—get a snack, talk to a friend, or take a walk.
10:15 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Study subject 2.
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Enjoy free time—work on a creative project, read, or do a fun physical activity.
Afternoon
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Lunch and free time
1:15 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Study subject 3.
2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Take a brief break.
2:15 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Work on a creative school project, read, or spend time outside.
3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Take a brief break.
3:15 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Study any subject that needs extra attention.
Evening
Evenings will probably be less structured.
I like to use evenings to review any notes and prep for the next day.
We all have our own way of doing things, but I’ve found that if I connect an evening “to do” item to something that occurs every night, it is far more likely to be accomplished.
For instance, if your son needs to gather and organize index cards to study the next day, have him do it immediately after finishing supper or just prior to brushing his teeth before bed.
Tips for Sticking to a Daily Timetable for Studying
It may take a few attempts and some tweaking to find the right daily timetable for your student.
You want to include plenty of time to study effectively but not so much that it overwhelms your child.
Here are a few points to consider as you map out your daily study plan.
1. Incorporate Breaks
A great way to keep your student engaged is to schedule breaks he or she can look forward to.
No matter how the prior study session went, make sure she gets a break as long as she worked during the scheduled time.
Try to avoid activities that make it difficult to transition back to schoolwork. If possible, schedule something that involves physical activity.
It increases blood flow to the brain and re-energizes the mind.
For older students, teach them to regulate themselves and manage their time wisely.
2. Track Your Progress (It’s Motivating!)
Gold stars may be something we joke about, but they are surprisingly motivating.
Actual star stickers may be too young for your students, depending on their age, but the goal is to simply track their progress and inspire excellence in schoolwork.
One way to do that is to set a goal for each study session.
For example, choose a specific number of pages to read or definitions to memorize in the time allotted.
When your student meets the goal, use some sort of tracker to celebrate his or her progress.
3. Tailor Your Plan to Your Learning Style
Every student has his or her own learning style. Some work best by tackling the most dreaded tasks first thing—“eating the frog” so to speak.
Your own child may work better by easing into harder work with more enjoyable activities first.
Moreover, some students are morning people while some work better in the afternoons or evenings.
Whatever the case may be, adjust the schedule to your child. There is no “right” or “wrong” way to do it.
You know your children best, so help them work out a plan that suits their needs and personalities.
4. Utilize Effective Study Tools, Habits, and Methods
Just by creating a study schedule, you’ve already introduced one fantastic habit—sticking to a healthy routine.
When your son follows his plan of action, he’s utilizing a valuable learning tool.
Likewise, it’s smart to incorporate other study tools and methods that work to ensure time isn’t wasted. (Here’s a list of ineffective study habits to avoid.)
Are you familiar with memory methods such as mnemonics or note-taking strategies like mind mapping?
The right methods can help your student study effectively. That’s exactly what Study Skills Guide teaches:
Study less. understand more. It’s possible with the right strategies:
Need a Study Timetable Template?
Speaking of effective tools, don’t miss out on the PDF printable study schedule provided below.
Along with the schedule template, you’ll also receive tips for planning study sessions strategically—as well as a quick-reference table for creating effective time blocks.
Ultimately, the best daily timetable for students is one that serves two purposes:
- It provides enough structure to develop good habits and routines.
- It provides the freedom to take advantage of special activities as they arise.
It’s important to stick to the scheduled times as though they are appointments, but life happens, so flexibility is important.
A productive daily study plan also takes the learning styles and needs of the student into account, as well as those of the family.
Likewise, effective daily schedules chunk the material into parts to ward off mental fatigue and include breaks and non-desk activities.
When used regularly, a daily study timetable can chart your student’s path to success. Try making one today!
