Planning Our Next Homeschool Year...

With our Annual Homeschool Assessment done, I'm shifting gears in planning mode for next year.  Though officially I'm homeschooling 2, I will be focusing on my five year old as well.

These past couple years we have done our Bible Study and the 3 R's (Reading, Writing, Arithmetic) daily and all other subjects twice a week with a Ruth Beechick feel to applying BPA.  This has worked OK for us-but, I always feel rushed in our studies.  I'm never really satified with the amount or quality of projects we incorporate with our studies.

So, I'm thinking this year, I'd like to try to do a quarterly cycle on subjects like History/Geography, Science, Art & Music Appreciation.  My thinking is as an adult, I don't pursue a study on several interests all at once.  I focus on the necessities daily (Bible, Home Management, find Gluten free recipes). But, study other interests (photography, painting, quilting, etc.) one at a time, till I feel satisfied with what I have learned.  Then I move to another interest. I know standard education doesn't work this way. But, outside of the standard education-educating oneself does.

For me, it allows me time to focus, ruminate, and reflect on what I'm studying.  Couldn't it do the same for my children?  And possibly, make it more enjoyable?  And allow me more time to plan a project and feel like we've accomplished some quality learning?  I don't know.  It sounds good.

So, I think I'm going to try it.

Now, I have to come up with our Study Goals and draft up our Schedule.  Plus, I want to research more on Charlotte Mason to see if and how I can integrate that method into our studies.  Ambleside Online is a great online resource for learning Charlotte Mason. I'll keep you posted. 

What does your homeschooling schedule look like?  What's worked or not worked for you?  Feel free to share!

Homeschool Assessments

OK...so, I can't quite relax just yet.  I have to prepare our End of the Year Assessments.

Here in Ohio, homeschoolers have one of three options to show educational progress.

1. Standardize Testing
2. Teacher (certified/liscensed) Assessment
3. Mutual Agreed Alternative between parent and superitendent

We do the Teacher Assessment.  I like them due to there is less pressure to perform for my children and it shows their progression in learning.  It also gives the evaluator an opportunity to converse with the children and get a feel for their character.

My oldest would not do well on a standardized test right now-He doesn't like to be timed.  Sometimes I'll do an on-line placement exam with him and he goes into "deer and the head lights" syndrome.  He goes completely blank.

But when we do the assessment, he enjoys it.  He gets show what he's done and talk about what books he has read or show pictures we've taken to document our work.  It's like a story book of his school year.  I like it; because, the evaluator can show me where our gaps are and give me helpful tips and information to implement for the next year or possibly work on over the summer.

So far, it's worked very well for us.

If you're new to homeschooling and would like more information on what your state requires visit HSLDA , click on my state under quick  "Quick Navigation", and click on your state for their homeschool laws.

If you've been homeschooling for a while or this is your first year-Wha did you opt to do? Does your state require testing? Or do you have other options?  Maybe you aren't required to do anything...feel free to share.

Hope you're enjoying the ride!
Brook