At Homeschool Resource Finder, we love exploring the many different ways families approach education at home, from structured curriculum usage to flexible, child-led learning. Every family’s homeschool journey looks a little different, and that’s exactly what makes it so special.
So the question we are asking here is – does it really take a standard 30-hour school week to educate our children, or could it actually be done in just five hours a week?
So can we really homeschool in just five hours a week? Aaron and Kaleena believe it can most certainly be done. Their book, The Five Hour School Week, shares their family’s journey and philosophy around how less structure, more freedom, and deep family connection can lead to a truly rich education at home.
In this video, we dive deep into their approach, explore the key ideas behind their method, and reflect on what it means for homeschooling families who want to break free from traditional school structures.
This is a transcript of a video that can be viewed on the HRF YouTube Channel. If you would prefer to watch/listen click the video in the article below.
Breaking Down the Myth of the 30 Hour School Week
When we look closely at a typical school day, it’s clear that much of those six daily hours aren’t actually spent learning in a formal sense. There are breaks, assemblies, transitions, attendance, interruptions, and activities that pull children away from their books and desks.
When all of that is stripped away, students are often only getting 1.5 to 2 hours of true focused learning time each day, in a regular classroom setting. That’s a far cry from the supposed “30-hour school week.”
Aaron and Kaleena take this observation a step further by showing that focused bursts of learning, as little as an hour a day, can achieve just as much, if not more, than long, drawn-out lessons.
The Five Hour School Week Philosophy
The heart of The Five Hour School Week isn’t about doing less. It’s about doing what matters most.
Kaleena’s family dedicates one hour a day to structured academics, but their children’s education extends far beyond books. They learn through:
- Community involvement
- Travel and real-world experiences
- Documentaries, books, apps, and discussions
- Outdoor exploration and national park visits
Everyday life becomes their classroom, and curiosity becomes the teacher.
One of the most touching reflections from Kaleena is when she realises that during her children’s time in traditional school, they rarely had meaningful conversations together in the mornings, as life was simply too busy. Homeschooling changed all that.
When I think back to when my eldest was in school for that brief moment, I would agree, there’s a lot of rushing around and not a lot of time actually spent together, connecting.
Learning Through Connection, Not Exhaustion
Kaleena challenges the idea that school’s busy routines are “normal.” The exhaustion children feel after long school days isn’t resilience; it’s burnout.
She asks us to rethink why we’ve accepted that constant fatigue and stress are just part of growing up. Instead, she invites us to imagine an education built on presence, rest, and connection.
This was one of my early indicators that a school classroom may not have been the best place for such young children. My eldest changed dramatically upon starting school, always exhausted and completely overstimulated. I remember asking myself way back then why this was the case and why every parent accepted it as normal.
Nuggets of Wisdom from the Book
Throughout the pages, Kaleena shares insights that stop you in your tracks, like this one:
“As parents, we get so caught up in the supposed ‘shoulds’ of life, we’re supposed to go to college, we’re supposed to get married, we’re supposed to have children, and the kids are supposed to go to school, that we forget how important it is to simply be present in our children’s journey.”
She also reminds readers that homeschooling is not distance education; true homeschooling means freedom, creativity, and flexibility.
And when it comes to learning opportunities, Kaleena encourages parents to be intentional. Simply attending an educational outing isn’t enough. We need to build on experiences, reflect together, and extend those moments into a deeper understanding.
This is a key component of successful homeschooling. Opportunities abound for all manner of experiences, yet one isolated experience isn’t generally enough to solidify any learning; we need to build on those.
Balance for Both Parent and Child
A refreshing part of the book is the reminder that homeschooling isn’t just about the kids, it’s about the parents, too.
Kaleena urges homeschool parents not to lose themselves in the process, but to carve out time for their own interests and personal growth.
She also challenges parents to examine their children’s social worlds, asking, “Are you certain that your children’s social environment in school is a healthy one?”
It’s a thought-provoking question that makes readers pause and reflect on what “healthy socialisation” really means.
Parenting for Their World, Not Ours
Perhaps one of the most powerful ideas in The Five Hour School Week is the notion that we must parent our children for the world they’re growing up in, not the one we grew up in.
Kaleena points out how easy it is to fear modern technology, but the reality is, our children’s futures will be filled with it. Instead of restricting it, she suggests embracing it as a tool for creativity, communication, and learning.
Personally, I don’t disagree, whilst I feel we can hold off on technology use, we probably shouldn’t limit access to almost nothing. Our kids’ lives are very different to our own, and they are growing up in a world filled with technology. It’s about finding the right balance and ensuring that technology use is coupled with lots of outdoor play time, along with unstructured moments spent exploring the world
My Final Thoughts on the 5 Hour School Week
After 15 years of homeschooling (at the time of reviewing this book), I can wholeheartedly agree with the philosophy behind The Five Hour School Week. Our children don’t need endless hours of structured lessons — they need meaningful, focused learning paired with a rich and varied life.
While Kaleena and Aaron’s lifestyle might reflect a certain level of privilege and freedom, the message still stands strong for all families: education doesn’t have to look like school to be powerful.
Want to hear more?
You can watch the full video discussion, where I share more thoughts, reflections, and key takeaways from The Five Hour School Week.
