Spring for Homeschool Moms

Posted by Melissa | 0 comments

The traditions of springtime abound–spring cleaning, spring fever, spring break. We do them all to some degree at my house, usually more fever and break than cleaning, but after nine years of homeschooling, the biggest spring event for me is homeschool planning.

It began many years ago in preparation for my state’s homeschool convention which is always held in late April. It’s so ingrained in me now, that come springtime I automatically begin to evaluate our year and look ahead to the next. As sure as the snow melts, I can be found poring over homeschool catalogs and reading curriculum reviews. And by the time we wrap up one homeschool year, I’ve pretty much planned all our curricular choices for the next.

I’ve learned a lot over the years and made my share of mistakes. Yet each spring, I’m excited by the newness and the challenges of the coming school year. I feel like the gardener who plans the summer garden while the beds are still covered in snow. Hopeful for the harvest to come, but knowing the seeds have to get planted first. Here’s some pointers to help you through the homeschool planning days of spring.

Pray About It
Starting with prayer is critical. One year I went to our convention with the best, most organized plan ever. I placed all my orders and went home satisfied that we were all set for another great year of homeschooling. But I made one HUGE mistake–I neglected to pray about it beforehand. Within weeks of returning, the Lord changed our direction completely. This was a humbling experience, but a good one to remind me that I only think I’m in control. I need to submit all my decisions to Him and this is best done at the start of the planning phase. Proverbs 16:3 reminds us to “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” Canceling those orders was NOT fun!

Break It Down by Subjects
Determine how your curriculum is working for each subject, both for you and your child. Is your child progressing? Does it suit their learning style? Is it challenging enough or too challenging? Do you find it easy to implement? Are you using it to its fullest or just using a portion of it (but still paying for the whole thing)? I’ve always been an eclectic homeschooler using a variety of resources from different publishers, so it’s natural for me to consider subjects separately. But even if you use a box set of curricula from one company, you can still look at each subject individually. Don’t be afraid to stray from your ‘tried and true’ curriculum provider if there’s a subject or two that aren’t working in your homeschool.

Get Organized
I create an Excel spreadsheet with a box for each and every subject for all my children (with six children I can’t possibly keep it in my head). I’m also very visual, so getting things onto paper is an important part of the planning process. If something is working and I plan to use it next year, I write it down. If I need to choose something new, I leave it blank or jot down ideas to research. As the planning phase progresses, I finalize each box. This also gives me a ‘shopping list’ of sorts for what I need to buy.

I also start a file folder for all things ‘next year.’ When I come across a great book list or a catalog, I pop it in there. I also print out samples of curricula I’m considering, as well as table of contents for things like science and history. Having everything in one place makes the process of planning easier.

Set Goals for Each Subject
During the long days of winter, it usually becomes apparent to me what the major areas of struggle are for each child. So in looking at where they are and where I’d like them to be, I mentally set goals for the next year. Maybe it’s fluent reading or all the multiplication facts down pat. Perhaps it’s a broader goal, like working more independently. I keep these goals in mind as I make selections for each subject.

The 3 Rs
I’m not talking about reading, writing and arithmetic here, but rather a reminder to “read reviews and research!” There’s nothing like getting input from other homeschool moms. And this doesn’t mean just the ones you know in real life. Get active on a message board or homeschool group forum and ask questions. I’ve learned about curriculum I didn’t even know existed that later proved to be the perfect fit for us.

There are many websites devoted to reviews of curricula, like HomeschoolReviews.com, The Old Schoolhouse magazine, and Cathy Duffy.  It doesn’t guarantee something will work, but it will help you think critically about a resource.

Look at the Big Picture
As you look at each child and each subject, you also need to step back and look at your family as a whole. I have to consider how much time I’ll have to work with each child each day. I also consider what children I can teach together. Subjects like Bible, history and science aren’t as grade specific, so I teach my elementary aged kids together on these. I may require more in-depth work for the older ones, but it helps my budget, both of money and time, to be able to teach several together. Also, pay attention to the season of life you’re in. If you have lots of little ones or work a part-time job, don’t choose super teacher-intensive curricula. Take into account any extracurricular activities as you look at what the year can hold. Planning too much will frustrate you and your child. Be realistic!

If It’s Not Broke, Don’t Fix It
This age-old saying is true for homeschooling too. If something is working, then leave it alone. It can be tempting to change things up with the latest homeschool resources, but if what you are doing is working, then don’t mess with it. Put your energies elsewhere.

The Convention isn’t the End
I love heading to my state’s convention each year. It’s refreshing and helps me refocus my heart and energies for the next year. And while it’s also a great time to buy things, it isn’t d-day. All decisions don’t have to be made before the convention ends. While there are often savings if you buy during the convention, it’s better to wait than make a hasty decision.

Last year, I stood over a table of science curricula comparing the two books I was considering. I prayed and asked the Lord to show me which one I should choose. In my heart, I heard the Lord tell me that if I didn’t know that I should just wait. Well, impatient as I was, I thought I’d just wait right there. I should have walked away, but I stood there for 30 minutes and made a decision on what I thought was the best choice. That night, I had a dream that the science book I purchased was the older edition, because the photos were black and white, not color. I awoke, and ran to my bookshelf only to find that I had indeed purchased the older edition that I didn’t want. I returned it, but learned a valuable lesson that day. Patiently wait on the Lord.

Stay Flexible
If there’s anything I’ve learned since I began homeschooling it’s this: stay flexible. Each year is different. There are years where trials arise, babies are born, illness lingers, company comes and stays, challenges seem never ending. Don’t make things worse by forcing your plans to happen. Proverbs 19:21 says “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Walk with the Lord each and every day so you can stay tuned in to His purpose. Good plans are flexible. Sometimes we can’t know a good plan until it has passed. There are many times in my life when I look back at what seemed like a blundered mess only to realize it was all part of God’s plan. I can’t ask for a better plan than that.

(Download my FREE Homeschool Subject Planner on my blog to help in your spring planning.)

Melissa Morgner is a happy wife of 16 years to her college sweetheart and mother to six loud, but lovable children ranging in age from 12 down to two. After eight years of homeschooling and sampling way too much curriculum, she takes an eclectic approach in their little schoolroom, choosing resources that best suit the children and the teacher. Her busy household puts her gifts of juggling and winging it to the test each day. She steals moments here and there to write on her blog, Day In Day Out, about the lessons she’s learning from the Lord in the routine but privileged tasks of mothering and homeschooling.