It’s that time of year! Time to get back into the swing of homeschooling. Yes, we live a lifestyle of learning and we’re always learning, but we’re getting back to formal studies, homeschool co-op classes, music lessons, etc. – depending on your unique family.
Here is a checklist to get your year off to a good start.
- Set Goals for the Upcoming Year
- Gather Supplies/ Organize Homeschool Areas
- Make Lesson Plans
- Create a Flexible Schedule
- Pray with Family for Year Ahead
- Kick Off Your Homeschool Year with a Celebration
Set Goals for the Upcoming Year
Prayerfully set goals for your family. I would set educational, spiritual, and practical goals.
Here’s an example.
Joe, 10th grade. Educational Goals: complete courses with excellence, strengthen writing skills, find opportunities to use his love of photography as opportunities arise. Spiritual Goals: continue daily quiet times and ministry with church sound team. Begin mentoring with Dad. Practical Goals: do chores without me reminding him, strengthen relationships with siblings, learn to make home repairs as needs arise.
Sarah, 5th grade, Educational Goals: complete courses with excellence, strengthen reading comprehension with one-on-one book club with mom, Try history labs with the family to help Sarah start to like history. Spiritual Goals: start having a daily Quiet Time on her own. Practical Goals: start caring for dog – food, walks, and weekly bath; homemaking day with Mom on Fridays – learn to sew, bake, and cook.
Communicate goals to your family in a way that is encouraging and affirming. Get your kids on board!
Gather Supplies
Make sure you have everything you need before the year begins. Feel free to use my Back-to-School Supplies Cheat Sheet.
Organize Homeschool Areas
It took a long time to organize everything in my homeschool room, but it was worth it! Here are my secrets organization tools revealed in my blog post, How to Organize the Homeschool Room.
Make Lessons Plans
You can make lesson plans week-by-week or make lesson plans for the entire year – that’s what I do. Read my blog post Lesson Planning for the Entire Year in One Week.
Create a Flexible Schedule
A realistic schedule makes all the difference in the world if you want a peaceful, successful year. Use block scheduling to keep it flexible enough to work. Read my blog post Flexible Scheduling Can Work for You.
Pray with Family for Year Ahead
Gather your family together and pray for the year ahead. Commit your home school to the Lord and wait to see what blessings await.
Kick Off Your Homeschool Year with a Celebration
A great way to kick off the homeschool year is with a celebration.
- Special breakfast – waffle bar, fancy meal
- Out to lunch, dinner, or coffee
- Hike in the woods, by the lake, or on the beach with a picnic lunch
- Craft & Movie Day
Until next time, Happy Homeschooling!
Warmly,
Meredith Curtis
