Do you know what the most important part of homeschooling is? I’ll give you a hint. It’s not: 

• the right curriculum
• a Pinterest-worthy room or set up
• the perfect homeschool method
• the coolest enrichment classes
• or even exceptionally smart kids

I know. I wish it were those things too. But the reality is that it’s something much simpler. The answer isn’t flashy. And often it’s hard. 

Consistency. 

Sigh. It makes me groan, too. And the Mama-guilt rears its ugly head. Being consistent matters, but like dusting, it’s something most people won’t notice unless you don’t do it.

One of the things many of us value about homeschooling is flexibility. And consistency doesn’t sound like flexibility. But here’s the trick–being consistent in our homeschool allows us to be flexible. If all we ever do is “be flexible,” we end up with chaos. When we have routine, we can break it for something fun or an emergency and then hop right back in. 

Let’s define consistency briefly. It’s not perfection, so don’t let that keep you from getting down to business. It does mean being predictable and regular. School happens every day. Maybe 20 minutes of reading instruction and 30 minutes of math are your non-negotiables. Science and history fill in the remaining time available that day or show up naturally as part of field trips, gardening, cooking, and life. 

When we consistently teach phonics and reading, our kids gain the skills to read their science lesson in the car so that we can spontaneously head to Apple Hill or the beach on a beautiful fall day. 

When we give daily math instruction, our children gain confidence and independence so that there are fewer fights and tears.

Regularly working on spelling and handwriting builds knowledge that our students will use for the rest of their lives. 

When our children know without asking that school will happen every day, we don’t have to deal with surprise and frustration. Instead, they will learn that taking care of business leads to freedom for them when it’s done. 

The best time to start being consistent? The beginning of the school year. The next best time? First thing tomorrow morning. Let your kids know what to expect, but then stay the course. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It doesn’t have to last for hours. But it needs to happen. As you strengthen your self-discipline in this area, your kids will know what to expect, they’ll push back less, and they will learn the valuable life lesson of doing important things even when you don’t feel like it.

You’ve got this. For more encouragement on this topic, listen to the Sequoia Breeze episode, Consistency: The Secret to Homeschool Success.