Homeschool Planning: 4 Important Reasons to Start NOW
Homeschool Planning begins in the spring! This is why your planning should start before the school year is over:
- It will give you inspiration to finish the school year strong.
- Everything about the current year is fresh in your mind.
- You deserve a summer break, too.
- You will be able to take advantage of homeschooling sales.
You might be weary from this year. I know that I am ready to start wrapping up the year so I release my kids back into the wild outdoors. It’s hard to stay motivated each day in home education and mothering, and it’s very easy to question yourself and your ability to home educate. Homeschooling is literally and emotionally messy; you are not alone.
Beginning early in the second semester, I always start planning for the next year. You might love planning or hate it, but as a home educator it is something that you take into your hands.
Homeschool planning is a great privilege. I decide what my loves will learn each year. It is a gift, to live and love and learn together!
I plan my homeschool in the spring for these reasons:
Inspiration to Finish Strong
By this time, we are tired of all of our books. Some of the covers are missing for being dropped so many times. Notebooks and copybooks are filled with handwriting- some beautiful, some illegible. We are getting close to the end and we start to feel weary of our regular schedule and long for the warmth and freedom of summer.
How do I stay motivated to keep my kids going? I plan my homeschool for next year.
Something about picking math courses, history cycles, a science curriculum, deciding on family subjects, etc. helps me to get through the last few months. I think it looks so beautiful in my head, just like that family vacation we are taking this summer.
Everything is Fresh
Right now, I know where all of my kids are at: who is writing well, who still can’t spell, who needs handwriting practice, who needs more challenge in science.
When summer begins and I drift back into just being “mom,” and not teacher-mom, I forget all the details of the year.
So it is best for me to plan right now, so that I can meet each of my kids where they are at in each subject.
Time to Research
This time of year, my kids are more independent than any other time of the year. They can do a lot of their work by themselves, with minimal help from me. They have been doing these subjects since August, and have it figured out.
That gives me a little time to research different curriculum and make choices for each of my kids.
I Want a Summer
The biggest motivator to plan my homeschooling now is so that I can truly enjoy my summer, just being mom. I want to spend at least 6 weeks not thinking about anything for the fall. I want to read what I want to read, and work on my own projects, while knowing that I already have a plan in place, and maybe even curriculum bought, for the following school year.
Take Advantages of Discounts
It is financially responsible to start planning your homeschool in the spring. Many homeschool curricula providers offer BIG spring sales. If you are buying used curricula from websites like Ebay or Thriftbooks, you will find a better selection of books now. Don’t wait until the books are picked over late in the summer.
Homeschool Planning Help
I have been asked many times to help others plan their homeschool year. It is something that I enjoy, and something that I am good at.
When I plan a homeschool year I am thinking of these things:
- Strengths and Weaknesses of Each Child
- Learning Style of Each Child
- Family Matters- will our family experience a big change in the following school year?
- Mom’s Teaching Style and Preferences
- Specific Academic Goals for Each Child
- Reflections on WHY we are homeschooling
- What Subjects we will do as a family
- How to evaluate or grade progress in the coming year
For a short time, I want to help all subscribers of Homeschool Hobbies plan their homeschool. I have create 3 page workbook to guide you through planning your homeschool year.
The homeschool planning workbook comes in an editable PDF format, and you will be able to instantly download it onto your computer. You can complete a workbook for each of your students to help you plan the best homeschool year yet.
Please sign up on the form below to get your FREE HOMESCHOOL PLANNING GUIDE today.
For more homeschool helps:
How to Teach Reading: The Best Homeschool Resources
An Easy Large Family Homeschool Schedule
