At this point in the year, it’s much more fun to create next year’s homeschool plan than to finish out the current one. I’m right there with you! So maybe what we need is a tool to help assess and celebrate the year. Let’s take the time to remind our kids of all their little and big accomplishments as we enjoy winding down before summer break.
Check out these key tips for evaluating your homeschool progress and then be sure to grab the Homeschool Summary Pages FREEBIE at the end of this post.
Take the time
- Carve out time to meet with each child individually about their year.
- Go through written assignments, projects, and other keepsakes from their year.
- Create a portfolio or scrapbook with your child and let them decide what to keep.
Acknowledge highs & lows
- Discuss their favorite subjects, books, and field trips. Ask them probing questions. What did they love about those things? Make a mental note to include more of what they love in your homeschool planning for next year.
- Discuss what was hard or frustrating about this year. Was it a particular subject or topic? Poor curriculum choice? Scheduling issues? Personality conflicts in the home? Plan ways to address these difficulties.
Name achievements
What did your child accomplish this year that you can celebrate together? It might be a public feat such as winning a sport or music competition. It could be finishing a 5K or learning how to cook a meal. Did they improve at their hobby? Learn to read? Maybe they mastered their multiplication tables this year! Talk about their achievements – big and small – and write them down. Sometimes you forget how much really is accomplished each year until you look back at where you started.
Set new goals
Now here is the best part of looking back – making goals and looking forward! Once you’ve identified strengths and weaknesses from this year, start to help your child set goals for himself for the coming year. What will this look like?
Well, it could be:
- Read one book per week
- Find a volunteer opportunity at church
- Memorize states & capitals
- Make their bed each day
- Earn an A in Geometry
- Get up and start schoolwork by 8:30 each day
- Write a short story
- Start a business
Grab some cute themed FREEBIE pages for helping your kids create an end of the year homeschool summary. You can find them at 4onemore.com
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Abby is a former public school teacher, now homeschooling her five children. She’s in the trenches just like you and knows it can be challenging to be home with your kids all day while you struggle to keep up with the housework and educate your kids (and maybe even work on the side!). She blogs over at www.4onemore.com and hosts the Homeschool with Moxie podcast.
