The Beginning Of The Homeschool Year

Planning, it's the most important task on the list of things to do when homeschooling. Especially if you're like me, and you create your own lesson plans. I had Janya signed up with an online program that allows her to practice subjects and take small quizes, however all lessons are planned by me.

I go about homeschool as I would if I was a teacher in a school setting. At the start of the year I create a packet that describes the subjects, what's expected, and a schedule for classes.

Homeschooling does not have to be as lengthy as regular school. I have found that Janya can learn and better absorb information one subject at a time. There is no need to bombard her with 6-7 classes in a day for hours at a time. We can cover a subject in 30 minutes, and have mini practice lessons throughout the week so she doesn't forget what she has learned before the next day approaches for that particular subject.

For example, I may have English lessons on Thursday, but that does not mean that she will not learn anything else on that subject until the following Thursday. I randomly ask questions throughout the week about each subject to to test her knowledge. Janya is at an age where she should be able to take charge and learn/study on her own, without me telling her to. As a teacher and her mother, it is my job to provide her with the tools she needs to assist her in learning how to learn, if that makes sense.

She has to learn how to research, she has to learn how to find information, she has to learn how to take the information she finds and apply it to her life if necessary. I can teach, but she is in charge of what she does with the information provided.