Rachael Dean

Part 2: Homeschool Planning Resources and Methods

Click here to read Part 1

Now that you have decided what your family’s and individual children’s needs are for this school year let’s talk about planning! Over the years I have used many different systems, and some have worked best for different seasons. Here are three different methods to help plan your homeschool year.

Paper planner- I’m a sucker for a cute planner! In the early years of homeschooling, I used a paper planner to plan our school year. I loved that I could keep all of my plans in one place. Here is the planner I used- The Ultimate Homeschool Planner 

Pros- 

1. Everything is in one place. (Some planners even include a meal and budget planner!)
2.  Easy to transport: You can take it everywhere you go!
3. Helpful for new homeschoolers: It can be a great planning guide.

Cons- 

1. Use a pencil! For even the most intentional planner, life happens. Or you may not have time to get to everything you planned and have to move it to the following day. Erasing and rewriting can be a tedious task. 
2. Spilled coffee (which can be found on most homeschool moms’ tables) can be treacherous for your beautiful planner. One year I almost cried when I spilled my coffee all over my open planner! 
3. It can be bit bulky.

Spiral notebook method- This worked great when my kids were able to read. With this method, each student had their own spiral notebook where I wrote their weekly assignments, usually on Sunday evening. I appreciated it because it helped them to be a little more independent in their schooling. For in-depth information visit- The Spiral Notebook Method 

Pros- 

1. This is the most cost-effective option!
2. Promotes independence and personal responsibility. 
3. It is easy to carry around.

Cons- 

1. It can be time-consuming to write out for each student each day, especially if you have multiple children. 

Digital planner- This is my current and absolute favorite way to plan our school year! This may not be as beneficial with younger learners, but now that my kids are older (9, 12, 15, 17) and have access to a computer this has been the easiest way to plan by far! To check out my favorite digital planner click here Homeschool Manager 

Pros-

1.  NO WRITING!
2. If plans change it’s easy to update. 
3. It is easy to copy and paste. 
4. Each student can easily access their individually planned assignments for the day on their own page. 
5. The system will track grades and even create a report card and transcript for you! 

Cons- 

1. You will need to have internet access.
2. It does take a little while to learn how to use the program.
3. It works best if your child has access to a computer. 

Planning your homeschool year doesn't have to be an overwhelming task! Breaking it down into smaller tasks and having the right tools can make all of the difference. I hope I have been able to encourage you as you begin planning your homeschool year.

We would love to help you in person at our upcoming Ask A Homeschool Mom: A Panel Q&A 

Rachael Dean

Part 1: Getting Started

As the new school year approaches, here are some practical tips to successfully plan your homeschool year from beginning to end.

Identify Your Goals for the Current Homeschool Year

It is important to know what your goals are so that you have a clear direction as to where you are going. Your goals might change from year to year.

List Your Goals for Each Individual Child

This is a great opportunity to assess areas of character growth in addition to academic goals. You might like to see different areas of growth for each child.

Reflect on What You Want to Learn Together

In our family, we usually group some learning to lighten the teaching load, and some things are best learned together! We have found subjects like Bible, History, and Science are great subjects to learn as a family!

Assess How Much Time You Have to Devote to School

Different seasons have different needs. For example, when we had babies in the home, much of our schooling needed to be done during nap time. Now that our kids are older, we have more flexibility and time to devote to school.

Decide How Much Money You Are Able to Spend on School

You may prefer to buy a box curriculum such as Sonlight - but you may not be able to afford it in this season. Having a budget in mind will help you to homeschool without breaking the bank. Remember, you can homeschool on a budget!

Plan Your Curriculum

Each child will have their own individual needs for the school year. Taking time to assess each child’s needs will help prepare for the year ahead. Start with the 3 R’s: reading, writing, and arithmetic. Once you have decided on which resource will best fit you and your child, add the other topics you have chosen to focus on for the year: science, history, computer science, foreign language, or music.

Purchase Your Curriculum

Having these questions answered will give you a great framework to choose your curriculum. Working on a budget? You don’t need to buy new curriculum! Used curriculum is a great option for the budget-minded homeschooler!

1. Before you buy, look through your personal library to see what you already have. For those who have been homeschooling for a while, you likely have built a library of homeschool material that you have already purchased. After 12 years of homeschooling, I am surprised at how much I have accumulated through the years and am thankful for the many resources I no longer need to purchase.
2. There are often local used curriculum sales posted on social media. Facebook resale groups or eBay can also be a treasure trove of affordable resources.
3. Reach out to your local homeschool community before you buy! Are you part of a co-op? Are you a member of a local homeschool Facebook group? Post your needs there! You may be able to borrow or purchase from a friend.

I hope these tips will be helpful to you as you plan your homeschool year! Click Here to read Part 2 

Part 2

Socialization Beyond the Home

Click here to read part 1 of this post, Socialization Begins at Home

I’m so happy to be able to share some encouragement with you again! Grab a cup of tea or coffee, and let’s continue talking about how you can incorporate aspects of relationship and social awareness outside your home. 

First, your example of how you live and work is an important resource to your children when they are interacting with the world around them. Trips to the grocery store, Grandma and Grandpa’s house, and the bank all show your child how they should behave and introduce them to the types of things they will someday be expected to do. These are valuable life lessons, which they will get to take part in more often when you homeschool. You can utilize this time to let them be involved in daily activities in an age-appropriate way as much as possible. They are learning in increments! Observation is a fabulous teacher. Just ask a young person how many things they have learned by watching YouTube videos! 

In addition to daily life skills, you might want to use some of your time to let your children delve into their gifts and interests. These activities help your children learn a skill, gain some independence, and make important friendships. There are so many opportunities available today to seek out what we may call “extra-curricular” activities. 

Some of these activities include:

• Volunteer Activities in your Church, Kids Ministry, or Youth Group
• Food Banks and Food Pantries
• Scouts/Royal Rangers/Trail Life/American Heritage Girls/Missionettes
• Team Sports
• Music Lessons/Band/Orchestra/Choir
• Online Classes
• 4-H
• Playdates and Meetups
• Nature Walks
• Theatre
• Dance
• Studio Art or Crafts Classes
• Gymnastics
• Martial Arts
• Co-ops and Homeschool Support Groups

Most of the time, simple internet searches or asking around your community can give you ideas to supplement your chosen area of learning. 

One thing you should keep in mind while you are looking for extra activities is to reflect on your season of life. Remember what the most important things are to your family. If you haven’t already, make a list of your “why” in homeschooling, and make a realistic budget of where your weekly time priorities should lie. It can be very easy to over-extend yourself and your family by saying “yes” to every opportunity that comes your way or to compare yourself with what another family is able to do. For our family, dinners together are important. We try not to be rushing around when it’s that time of day. When my kids were younger, we chose one church involvement group and one outside involvement activity for all the kids. Now each child is able to pick one area of interest they would like to pursue. Your family is different from any other family, and will impact the world in an unique way. Think about how you are special, and enjoy this time of growth and exploration!