The start of a new homeschool year is just around the corner and it’s time to get serious about homeschool planning. After all, no homeschooling parent wants to feel “behind” by November.
But if you’re new to homeschooling, you might be wondering how to get your first school year off to a good start. And if you’ve been homeschooling for years, you may want to get a better handle on covering your child’s objectives this year.
Whether you’re a homeschooling newbie or veteran, these ways to get your homeschool year started right can help make this upcoming school year your best yet!
Table of Contents
3 Ways to Get Your Homeschool Year Started Right
Simplify your approach.
Believe it or not, you really don’t need a lot of books, supplies, and curriculum to homeschool – even if you have multiple children to teach. I was a homeschooling hoarder for years, but I’ve started embracing minimalist homeschooling and it makes lesson planning so much easier!
Focus on the subjects you are required to teach first, and then branch out from there. You can always add more things later! But it’s difficult to simplify a schedule that’s already too crowded.
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Make a learning list.
Don’t worry about following your local area’s educational objectives to the letter. Instead, make a list of the topics or skills you’d like your child to master this year. (Make sure they’re age-appropriate.) Then decide how you’d like to go about teaching these topics.
Do you want to use the library’s resources? Will you be attending any local classes or taking any field trips? Do you want your child to play sports or participate in any hobbies? Add all of these things to the list as well. Then plan out how you want to fit them all into your schedule.
This is also a good way to see if you’re planning for too many activities. That way, you and your child can avoid burnout midway through the year.
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Get the kids involved in planning.
Most of all, get your children involved! Show them your learning list and then ask for their input. Let them add a few things or even take a few things away (within reason). Then challenge them to come up with their own daily schedule. They can even download a printable student planner to use. You might be surprised at how doing this helps them to take more responsibility for their lessons.
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Do you have any tried-and-true tips for planning your homeschooling year? Share them in the comments!
