How are things going with your HOME plan?

How is your HOME plan working? 

On the Homeschooling Saints Podcast, we mentioned to listeners that they might want to revisit their plans and tweak as needed and that planning should be flexible, so let’s look at what that might look like.  In the latest podcast we did just that. This Blog has the highlights of that discussion and also includes a free PDF that readers/ listeners may find a useful tool in this process.

Click here for the FREE PDF !!! ☺

Hours-

Some questions to reflect on:

 How is your hourly schedule working?

Would blocks of time be better than an hourly breakdown?

Are you using lists to track assignments?

If yes, are you able to get most of your list items done, most days?

Do you need to allow more time for some subjects and less for others?

Have you been able to find a good start time?

Do you have too many activities (probably not an issue this year with Co-vid, but always something to consider)?

How about moving between subjects and students, if you have multiple students?

Do you need more time for one student than you had planned? 

Are your kids able to find time to read daily?

Is there anything in your schedule that should be adjusted?

Can you make some adjustments based on your responses to the above questions?

Objectives-

Now that you have been doing school for a few weeks, or more, you may see that your child has trouble with math facts, or capitalization, for example.

Now is a great time to consider if there are a few skills that you might want to focus a little extra attention on. Just pick a few very specific areas to focus on at a time. 

You can share this list with another friend who is homeschooling and share ideas. Some home-school programs offer additional support through consultants who will help you revisit your plans throughout the year. Many home-school support groups have veteran moms who are also happy to chat about these things. If you are looking for more ideas feel free to post your questions on the blog too and I will try to answer them.

Below are a few questions that can help you think about some specific objectives. Remember you can set some objectives for yourself too!

Have you found a good method for keeping records as needed for your state requirements? 

Is record keeping an area you might want to improve in this semester?

What subject is going really well for everyone and why?

What is your favorite subject to teach and why?

Do you children have favorite subjects?

If your children are doing memory work as part of school (such as Poetry, B.C., Geography facts and terms, Latin vocabulary and so on…) especially if this is a new subject area for them, how is that going?

Are you finding time to read aloud with your children?

Is there a subject that one, or more, of your children are struggling with?

If yes, what is that area of struggle and are there any changes you can make in this area? 

Is there a virtue you want to focus on as a family, or with one child?

Materials-

Are you finding you have the materials you need?

Start a wish list of items (and watch for sales both new and used)

Which items on your wish list would actually make great birthday or Christmas gifts?  (a beautiful set of paints, a globe, or teaching time clock, and of course books!)

How is your child doing with their Math program?

Note:

Usually you will not want to make any major changes to materials or curriculum at the time, but if you are using a new Math, or Reading program for example, you will want to think about how that is going.

Is your child understanding the concepts in Math?

Does your child know the Math facts and terms that are appropriate to their level of Math?

Is your child making progress in Reading skills?

Does your child enjoy reading (if they are able to read independently)?

What work that your child has been doing will you keep? 

What is your plan for saving work or pictures or work and how is that going?

Note: 

Take pictures or art work, and videos or pictures of special projects or field trips. 

Be intentional about what you save. 

Environment- 

Lastly, consider the environment.

Is the space you selected to do school working well?

Is the layout working?

If your kids are taking some online classes, is the area set up for that working?

Do your kids have a favorite reading spot?  

Are you allowing enough opportunities for movement in the day?

 Do you go outside often enough?

Are there any changes, or additions to the school space, you want to try?