Moms need to be confident in homeschool plans for the new year. This is important. Lately, I have been second guessing my planning and how we have been homeschooling. Is there any other moms that have done this to themselves? I don’t want to over work my kids, or underwork them. My goal in homeschooling is for them to truly learn what I am teaching them.
Each New Year my doubts kick in, and I question what I have been doing. I question if I need to tweek or do anything differently. Reviewing my previous notes and curriculum I look to reassure myself. Instead of questioning all the work I put into planning, my planning needs to be confirmation and keep me be confident.
Completing curriculum doesn’t mean that the kids are learning, it can mean that only if when we review they have complete understanding. Review time is test time for us. I’m trying to instill an education in my children and not just mark off a subject on my list as done.
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Know Your Homeschool Style
The decision to homeschool as I look back now and know that I should have been very fixed on which style worked well for the kids. Purchasing curriculum and researching styles later has been one area that I feel would have made me more confident if it had been the other way around. Now that I have learned we are more Classical/Charlotte Mason instead of eclectic and textbook learners our curriculum matches.
We do use textbooks, I don’t like to not be hands on and allow the kids to explore their interests.
Have Curriculum Confidence
Curriculum is expensive and purchasing the right one the first time around is important. Families don’t have time to waste…..or money.
Research, Research, Research. On my list this would be number one. Hindsight is 20/20 and this is an important decision. Not to be taken lightly. Major appliances take research and reviews, so should curriculum,
Attending a conference now, if the sales associate is getting my money, they need to educate me. Taking the time to look at the book selection then processing before buying is a good idea.
One area that I look at strongly is “does this curriculum allow me to teach my children”. I’m not trying to develop self learners yet, that will come in time. Part of the reason that I homeschool is so I can be involved in their education.
Review Previous Curriculum
Having a map of where you have been will help know where you are going. On a long trip I don’t leave without my google maps. That would be silly. Reaching my destination would never be possible and my kids would not be confident in my decisions.
The same with homeschooling. Build confidence building a map. Use the map to review and glean. Glean what they learned best, write it down in the book. I take notes on what they learn, how quick they learn, and if we need to do something different next time.
Note taking for each child is important. Each one is different.
Confident moms create confident homeschool kids. Sometimes it is tough, but planning the correct direction and style is important.
*******The most beautiful thing you can wear is confidence. (Blake Lively) *******
Cheers,
Michelle
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