In our first part of this series, we addressed some basic homeschool advice. Now, in part two, let's delve deeper into the goals and tactics you might consider when beginning your homeschool journey. Or, if you've been homeschooling already and are finding that things aren't working - you may consider these as well!
In order to help you get started on your homeschool journey, I’ve created a Homeschool 101 Planning Guide. Included are the most crucial variables to consider as you plan for the fall. You will want to contemplate these components for each of your children and for yourself. The homeschool parent is a crucial piece of the puzzle and dynamic. Please note that if you have a struggling student, the answers to these questions are absolutely essential for educational success.
Long term Goals
- What are your long-term goals for your child?
- What do you want for your child as an adult?
It is important to identify your ultimate goal for your child. Is the goal...
- To just pass a test but then forget it?
- Just to push through the material and check off a box?
- Long-term learning & the confidence to do so in the future?
- For your child to grow into a healthy, functioning member of society?
When we are clear about our ultimate goal, it makes it easier to create the roadmap to get there. This also helps us pivot and make adjustments when our child hits a wall with a particular teaching strategy. Mental health is a critical component of equipping the whole child. We often add unnecessary stress when we continue to use the same ineffective strategies. A stressed child does not learn efficiently or effectively.
Find Educational Gaps
- Which subject is your child struggling with the most?
- Does your child resist reading and writing?
- Does he hate math?
Think about this: When a child resists anything, there is a reason behind it. No kid wants to get in trouble resisting schoolwork. Patterns of school resistance are your clue that there is a gap in understanding. Behavior is information. Use it to your child’s academic advantage. Find the educational gaps.
If your child is struggling with 3-digit multiplication, spend a week just reviewing foundational math facts. Resist the urge to plow through a lesson when your child is in tears because you just want to “check it off”. This will never serve your child well and will repeatedly rear its ugly head as content progresses.
This is when you go back to your goals. Do I want my child to learn by taking the next step or just finish? Never hesitate to go backwards in order to move forward.
Academic Goals: What are your top two academic goals?
As with any new endeavor, plan to spend the first several weeks of your homeschool journey adjusting. I recommend focusing only on one or two subjects initially. Allow you and your children to get into a rhythm before adding extras. When in doubt, focus on the three Rs: Reading, writing and aRithmetic. Investing in these foundational skills will serve your child throughout their educational journey.
Do not spend time worried about making sure your kids get “all the subjects in.” These content areas do not matter one bit if reading, writing and math are not there. Ultimately, content subjects (science, history, etc) will be addressed when they “count.”: in high school.
Here is the caveat!!! If your resistant reader loves science, use that to your advantage and use science books to work on reading skills.
What are your child’s learning strengths?
- Auditory: Often, auditory learners need to doodle or fiddle with something in order to tune their brain’s attention to important auditory information. Use audiobooks to your advantage. Read aloud to them often. Read the benefits of reading aloud to your child.
- Kinesthetic: Does your child learn by doing? A child who cannot sit still is wired to move. Go with that. Practice math facts while jumping on a trampoline.
- Verbal processor: Do you have a child who talks incessantly? This child likely learns best through oral language. Have lots of discussions. Oral language through conversation is key to deeper learning, understanding, and is critical to improve reading comprehension skills.
Once you have teased through some of these questions for each of your children, circle back and do so for yourself. You are a huge component of the learning process. Set the family up for success by doing this prep work before making curriculum decisions.
Once you have this vital info, you are now armed with what you need to choose educational materials.
Choose Curriculum Slowly & Find Community
If your child has struggled in school or with traditional approaches, purchase materials cautiously. Check out Cathy Duffy’s homeschool curriculum website. This is an excellent website full of reviews of all the best homeschool materials. Once you have landed on a few that peak your interest, ask for insight from experienced homeschool moms. You can even get your hands on tons of homeschool materials by visiting the Homeschool Room in Matthews. This is a gem in the South Charlotte area.
Join us in A Heart For All Students Private Homeschool Community for more insight from moms who have been there.
Mom’s Capacity & Other Variables to Consider
Other variables you will need to consider when making your homeschooling plans include:
- Your personal time constraints
- Mental capacity
- Parent-child dynamics
Every human being has only so much physical, emotional and mental capacity. Keep that in mind when choosing materials. Different programs are set up with different teacher-student instruction requirements. Some are more student-driven and will allow you to work with one child while the other is working independently.
Also consider your parent-child dynamics.
If you have a child who is easily frustrated and this is challenging for you, take this into consideration. For example, you may choose an online curriculum for math. This allows your child to be “taught” by someone else. You are there for support only. You will then have parent-child bandwidth to take a more direct role in other subject areas.
Give yourself grace to recognize your own limitations. Ultimately, this will allow you more peace in your homeschool.
Homeschooling is Not One-Size-Fits-All
Ultimately, as with everything in life, there is no one-size-fits all. What works this year, may not work next year and that is ok and to be expected. The more you know about how each of your children tick, the better equipped you will be for long-term success.
If you are interested in more support as you transition to homeschool life, please reach out about homeschool coaching. I would be honored to walk alongside you as you equip your unique learners.
You can do this. We are all in this together.
Don’t forget to grab your Homeschool 101 Planning Guide here.
Lindsay Leiviska, MAT is a homeschooling coach and founder of A Heart For All Students, an organization with the mission to empower children who think and process the world differently by equipping the moms who raise them.
