How to Homeschool an Elementary Schooler / 5th Grader

Homeschooling can feel scary and intimidating at first, especially as your child moves up into the older elementary grades. When homeschooling a 5th grader, they need to be taught reading, writing, geography, history, art, music, math, and science. Every state has different homeschool laws and requirements, and you're required to follow them. Learning your child's learning style and which homeschool method works best for your family takes some time — and that's okay. Here are the questions and answers that pointed me in the right direction.

What are the most popular homeschool curriculums?

There are seventeen curriculums that come up again and again as the most popular:

My Father's World
A Beka
Sonlight
Bob Jones (BJU Press)
K12
Khan Academy
Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool
Alpha Omega
Time4Learning
Classical Academic Press
Acellus Power Homeschool
Memoria Press
Oak Meadow
Veritas Press
Timberdoodle
Calvert Education
The Good and the Beautiful

That's a lot of options — don't let it overwhelm you. My family uses My Father's World, and it's served us well from the start.

What subjects should be taught in 5th grade?

Fifth graders need to be taught the following subjects: reading, writing, geography, history, art, music, math, and science.

What do 5th graders learn in math?

In 5th grade, children should be learning the following in math:

Fractions
Least common multiple and greatest common factor
Ratios
Decimals and percentages
Diameter, radius, and circumference of circles
Identifying and measuring angles
Solving basic equations using variables
Mean, median, and mode
Understanding probability

How long should a 5th grader read each day?

When I researched how long a 5th grader should read each day, I came across articles with different times — the range was 30 to 45 minutes per day. Reading longer is always better. Personally, I've always used the "10 minutes" scale: my children read for 10 minutes per grade, not going over an hour. For a reading list, GoodReads.com, GreatSchools.org, and Scholastic.com are a great place to start.

How long should I homeschool my 5th grader each day?

The answer depends on your homeschool curriculum, your child's learning ability, and of course interruptions from the younger children. When I'm homeschooling my 5th grader using My Father's World, Saxon Math, and Growing with Grammar, it usually takes 3 to 4 hours per day — and that doesn't count his reading time at night.

There are so many options for homeschool children to socialize these days. Here are just some examples:

Homeschool groups and co-ops
Library events and activities
Church events and activities
Volunteering
Sports and field trips
Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts
American Heritage Girls and Trail Life USA
Homeschool skate days and bowling days
Local children's theater

Every state has different laws, every child learns differently, and every family finds its own rhythm. Give yourself time to learn all three — you don't have to have it figured out on day one.

Frequently asked questions

What subjects does a homeschooled 5th grader need?

Reading, writing, geography, history, art, music, math, and science.

How many hours a day should I homeschool a 5th grader?

Around 3 to 4 hours per day is typical, depending on your curriculum and your child — plus independent reading time. It varies day to day, especially with younger siblings around.

How much should a 5th grader read each day?

Roughly 30 to 45 minutes a day. One simple approach is 10 minutes of reading per grade level, capped at about an hour.

One step at a time

Homeschooling an older elementary child is very doable once you know the subjects, pick a curriculum you trust, and give socialization a place in your week. If you're still choosing what to use, my tried-and-true picks are on the resources page, and you can find your child's best-fit method with the free homeschool style quiz. Grab the starter checklist below to keep your year on track.