When it comes time to plan your coming school year it is easy to spin your wheels. Here are some simple steps to follow when you are ready to plan.
Prayer is an essential first step. As you begin planning your homeschool year, it is good to get the bigger picture. Have you considered what your homeschool looks like from God’s point of view? List some of your biggest concerns and bring them before the Lord. Praise Him too, for bringing your family to this point. Ask God for direction in your planning and He will guide your path.
Evaluate. Where are your children academically and spiritually? Where do you want them to be at this time next year? Where will you homeschool and have you optimized your space? What can you do to organize your space and material better without purchasing anything? Can you budget for a future purchase that will simplify your life? Do you have significant unmet physical needs such as a printer, a bookshelf, or a computer? Have you prayed about these? As you evaluate make lists for future reference.
Identify your Values and Set Goals. A value is a broad area of importance, such as diligence and logic. A goal is more specific: “I want Caleb to learn to read.” is a goal.
Choose Your Curriculum. Now that you have defined your values and goals, your curriculum choices need to line up. If you value teaching Creation science you probably shouldn’t choose a main science curriculum that doesn’t support this value. If you want to teach your children to love reading, your curriculum should support that. This final lens can be a great help in finalizing your curriculum.
Approximate a Schedule. Can you fit all of the curriculum you’ve chosen into the days God has provided? Will you still have time to eat, do chores, and play? If you want a very specific schedule, now is the time to make one. Managers of Their Homes is a great resource for that. I prefer a very loose schedule. We have an approximate start time. Each child has a list of subjects they need to work on each day with an assigned number of pages or lessons in each. As they need my input they bring work to me for one-on-one. We have a “recess” at the same time each day and it serves as a great motivator for all of us to get work done. This method works very well for us and allows for guilt-free field trips and sick days.
Seek Wise Council. My husband usually talks through some of the planning with me as I go, but he doesn’t usually have the time to be involved in every step. When I think I have finished we sit down together and he provides a fresh perspective on what I’ve come up with. We usually tweak a few things and he usually asks me to cut back. I have come to value his council greatly through experience. He doesn’t change much about my plan, but when he does suggest or make changes he is always right!
Back-To-Homeschool Giveaway Extravaganza!
We are giving away 18 products to one lucky winner!!! This huge prize package is worth over $700 and will make one homeschool Mama very happy. Here are just a few of the featured giveaway items for today.
Well-Planned Day Planner Set. Our lucky grand-prize winner will receive one full size Mom planner, and one pocket planner. These beautiful planners will help you keep your days and weeks on track.
Homeschool ABC’s. This e-course is a fantastic overview of homeschool methods, curriculums, and planning. When you sign up you will receive one course session for each letter of the alphabet and each session is jam-packed with information and freebies! I love this set and I went through the course after having homeschooled for several years. I still learned so much. Our lucky grand-prize winner will receive this e-course for free!
Purposeful Planning. If you are looking for more specific direction in planning your homeschool year, this book is where to find what you need! Our lucky winner will win a free copy of this ebook.
Organized Ramblings. I already have the winner’s copy of this book in my possession just waiting to drop it in the mail to you! You will enjoy learning from this Mom’s journey through 15 years of homeschooling.
Educate the Home Educator Crash Course — over 300 pages of information and forms to help you get started or rejuvenate your homeschool. You are going to love this book. Our lucky winner will receive a digital copy of this book perfect for printing all those forms!
[...] Planning is one of over 18 products we are giving away to one lucky winner!!! This huge prize package is worth over $700 and will make one homeschool Mama very [...]
[...] of H.O.P.E. Homeschool Consulting has generously donated a copy of this e-book to the winner of our $700 Back-To-Homeschool Giveaway. Go [...]
[...] Giveaway: Catherine Jaime has contributed one copy of her book Organized Ramblings for our Back-To-Homeschool giveaway which has a total value of $700. Be sure to [...]
[...] Bonus: Zane Education is offering my readers a free 30 a Silver membership AND a free copy of the ebook Christian Home Learning Guide (through August 20, 2012). Please see this post for instructions. Zane is also offering one of my lucky winners a free Gold Membership in this $700 grand prize giveaway. [...]
We are very eclectic because each child has a different learning style for each subject.
I try to find things that are interesting to each individual child. I find that it helps them retain the information better.