By JJ - The Otternative Educator
Let’s start with the obvious:
If you can’t even decide what’s for dinner (and you’ve Googled “can popcorn be a meal?” more than once), planning an entire homeschool week can feel like trying to solve a Rubik’s cube underwater… while holding a cat.
But you can do it.
Not like the Instagram mums with colour-coded bins and cheerful clipboards.
Like you. In bite-sized, semi-organised, ADHD-friendly chunks. Possibly with snacks.
So if your brain short-circuits at the sight of a traditional planner, grab a pen, a post-it (or five), and let’s make this doable.
🧩 1. Use the 3x3 Method (No, It’s Not a Math Problem… Kind Of)
You don’t need a full schedule with bells, whistles, and scheduled toilet breaks.
You need a simple scaffold. Try this:
3 core goals for the week (e.g., Finish Chapter 2 of English, Start Volcano Project, Read 3 library books).
3 focus areas per day (e.g., Reading, Hands-On Project, Outdoor Time).
3 wildcards you can throw in when the wheels fall off (documentary, field trip, spontaneous kitchen science).
This gives you structure without pressure. Like a skeleton made of marshmallows.
📅 2. Theme Days That Keep You (Vaguely) on Track
Themes = low-effort way to make the week feel organised, even if you’re winging it every morning.
Example:
Monday: Mind-Blown Monday (Science & Experiments)
Tuesday: Tidy Up & Tech (Digital learning + clean a surface... any surface)
Wednesday: Words Day (Reading & Writing stuff)
Thursday: Throwback Thursday (History, Culture, Old movies count)
Friday: Free Choice Friday (aka: “Yes, Roblox can be educational if you explain the economy again”)
Consistency helps kids. And you. Even if it’s chaos wrapped in structure-flavoured wrapping paper.
🖍️ 3. Visuals Over Words (Because Text is Just Too… Much)
ADHD brains don’t always love long to-do lists. Visual cues, though? Chef’s kiss.
Use whiteboards, colour-coded sticky notes, or a week-at-a-glance wall chart.
Draw it out. Scribble. Use emojis if you must.
Make it visible so your brain can’t pretend it doesn’t exist (because oh, it will try).
If it’s hidden in a notebook you lost on Tuesday, it never happened. That’s just ADHD math.
🧠 4. Build the Plan Backwards from Real Life
You know what derails planning? Real life.
So start there.
Appointments? Block ‘em first.
Work hours? Mark them.
Days you just know your brain will be mush? Schedule low-effort activities (audiobooks, movies, “nature walk” aka backyard pacing).
Once that’s laid out, plug in the school stuff. This way you won’t over-plan and under-function (which leads directly to guilt and rage-snacking).
🛠️ 5. Choose Your Weapons (I Mean, Tools)
Use tools that work for you — not ones that work for your second cousin’s Montessori spreadsheet system.
Here are some ADHD-parent-tested options:
Trello or Notion (if you want a digital board that feels like Pinterest-meets-productivity)
Paper planner with stickers (if tactile = motivation)
A giant wall calendar with dry-erase markers (because out of sight = out of brain)
Bonus: Assign your kid one “captain’s log” job per week. It gives them ownership, and you get one less thing to remember.
🛑 6. Let It Be Messy, But Intentional
Some weeks will look like a Pinterest fail.
Some days, math will not happen.
Some Fridays, you’ll just throw on “Bluey” and call it social studies.
That. Is. Fine.
You’re teaching your kids how to navigate real life. And sometimes real life includes frozen pizza and lessons from a YouTube video narrated by a British guy who’s way too excited about Roman toilets.
🍷 Final Thought from Your Favourite Hot-Mess Homeschooler
Planning doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful.
A few sticky notes, a vague theme, and a lot of grace will go a long way.
And hey—if all else fails, put “How to Plan a Homeschool Week” on the list of subjects.
Because if you’re teaching your kid how to adapt, improvise, and survive with humour?
You’ve already nailed the most important lesson.
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