Welcome again to the world of home education. If you didn’t catch part one of this series, you can check that out here.
You should have these steps done in prayer and conversation with your spouse.
Write down your why
Know your state requirements
Pick your homeschool style(s)
Now you’re going to
4. Pick your curriculum
5. Set your schedule
6. Make your calendar
This is the part that is the hardest for many. You may feel the pull, for various reasons, to homeschool but then when it comes down to the day to day, you have no idea on what to buy, where to start, or what to do. Have no fear!
Let's start with some reassuring realities:
"Normal School" is 8 hours because parents work 8 hours, not because children need 8 hours to learn. Homeschooling doesn’t mean your day is consumed. Your "schooling" may be 30, 60, or 90 min depending on your ages.
There’s no pressure to have everything perfectly set. You can evolve as you go. Whereas it is nice to look far advance to plan out things, if you need to edit something as you go, you have that freedom. Curriculum can change, books repeated, locations flipped. I started with units (one per week) , flipped to daily subjects , did a summer of only reading, nocied fine motor writing skills needed help so we adjusted that, took a month off when I had a new baby, and so forth and so on. You have permission to change.
There are TONS of opportunities of "fun" for your family. There are co-ops (A group of homeschoolers that get together for social or educational purposes), team sports leagues, music classes, church plays, and so forth and so on. You may have to work a little harder (and maybe pay some fees that would be free with public school) but the options are there.
Curriculum
Depending on your homeschool style, your curriculum preference will fluctuate. The world of curriculum is RAPIDLY increasing, especially with the rise of homeschooling.
We I have not tested all of these but I have researched them all and have a least one friend who has loved every single company listed below.
For Preschool
1-2 pages of a workbook like Brain Quest, School Zone, or Highlights is a great start [Letters, Shapes, Numbers, etc]. You're looking at $12 at an Amazon or Costco.
A library card for a rotation of picture books. So many library’s have story times with a craft that are great for a social outing and some skill building.
LOTS of quality play.
That's really all you need for a strong educational start. Here’s a look into our PreK-K flow.
If you want more of a structure and script, The Busy Toddler has a play based curriculum called Playing Preschool that's lots of fun.
Also, Catie Classroom is a Youtube channel full of fun unit style learning. On the website there are lots of resources for follow up activities at home. For formal years - Kindergarten and Up here are some names to get your googling. I personally only get a math curriculum and use story books for everything else. But if you aren’t don’t a Charlotte Method style I would get
One Language Arts/Reading Book
One Math book
One Science elective (something nature related)
One Handwriting Book
My Top Overall Picks
Memorial Press - Structured Classical Model. (Great if spreadsheets + schedules make you happy)
The Good and The Beautiful - Open and Go format, great for beginner families wanting confidence. Grab the Language Arts, Math, and then one Science of your choices are you are set for the year Bonus! If you download the PDF it's free!
Sonlight Curriculum - Everything in one place. BEAUTIFUL selection of rich literature focused learning.
Classical Conversations - This is a curriculum and co-op together. One day a week is in person and the rest at home. The content is very comprehensive. We said no this year, but every year I circle around to jump in, and I have a feeling we may be a Classical Conversation family in the future.
School Zone Kits - Don't roll your eyes, but if you are truly wanting a basic open and go, start small and succeed, grab one of these kits. It very much feels like "school" but does the job well!
Classic OGs
My Father's World - an investment but very comprehensive
Horizons - Trusted name in the homeschool world
Abeka - I'm not familiar with newer content. My experience is it being a bit dated, but I believe they have hybrid workbook/video options. They have an accreditation process that brings a lot of piece to parental minds
Ambleside Online - ***This isn't really a curriculum so to speak, but a free resource to sculpt your schedule. Lots of book lists for you to go out and purchase on your own.
Digital
Miacademy - Video lectures and games
Power Home School - amazing amount of options for the price
Outschool - A fun resource for electives or elements you as a parent don't feel confident with.
Language Arts + Reading + Writing
Teach Your Child To Read in 100 Easy Lessons - in just 10 min a day, this script format book helps you teach confidently.
Bob Books - honestly a flop for me, but the amount of friends that SWEAR by this made me put it on the list. Every child is different, and this system works for so many.
Writing Without Tears - No fluff + no fuss penmanship and practice.
Math
Math U See - Famous for teaching the “why foundation” of math. Corresponding videos help as well.
Math With Confidence - This is the math pick in our home. I appreciate the mastery approach and my wiggle learners need a bit of “play” mixed in with math. You need to get both teacher workbook and student workbook with this.
Beast Academy [I'm told if you have a child advanced in math and or their brain leans math - this is the one to get.]
Bible
A story a day from a good picture Bible is great!
Big Thoughts For Little People : ABCs to help you grow by Kenneth N Taylor. GREAT for 2-4 year old. Mixes letter work with heart work. Also a good way to let your toddlers eager to “school” with siblings to start with you in homeschool by reading a page as a family, and then letting them scoot away to play while you school older children.
Theology is short, beautifully illustrated and theologically sound without being too much. Perhaps for 6+ years.
24 Family Ways by Clay Clarkson. This will grow with your family. Goes straight to heart habits.
Leading Little One’s To God by Marion M Schooland. A classic generations have used as a family devotional.
Guides
Instagram and Etsy are full of all kinds of “elective” or extra type guides. Usually unit based but lots of fun! From human body , to nature survival skills, to American History with the American Girl Doll series…. Truly there are SO many resources.
Curriculum Vocab
If you are really wanting to get in the know-how here are some buzz words for you
Scope and Sequence - This is your educational itinerary. The big picture of what you were learn and when.
Mastery Curriculum - This goes deep. Probably not the most fun curriculum, however it will forge patience. Not a ton of review typically but very good at setting strong foundations.
Spiral Curriculum - Constant blend of introducing new ideas while reviewing old concepts.
Open and Go - If you don't want a high maintenance homeschool experience, this is what you need to google. This means it's one book with everything provided.
Anything "gentle" means Charlotte Mason
Schedule
Because of our young aged learners, we have done a 3 day a week school schedule. That gives us a library/ co-op day, three "school days", and a day of "catch all" for appointments, field trips, home upkeep, etc. For us Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday are “School Days” and here’s our flow.
We structure things :
Bible + History + Science + Arts - Family Style. Not grade specific. We all learn the same thing together.
Reading + Math - Individual. Specific workbooks in grade levels.
7am Morning Start :
Wake
Breakfast
Play clothes
9am School (we (being my 5 year old, 3 year old, and me) start at 9 or when the baby takes her morning nap)
Morning Work - Calendar, Handwriting, Scripture, Manners/Character. I make these for my family. You can easily find a ton on pinterest or Etsy if you search “Morning Menu”. A great ramp into the day.
Group Learning - Unit Work or Group Read (Rotation of Subjects)
Individual Tutor Work - Mostly Math , Reading/Writing (Kindergartener) + Busy Boxes (Preschooler)
10am Snack + Read Aloud
Popcorn + Fruit + Dry Cereal (something for busy hands and busy mouths)
3 Picture Books or 1-3 Chapters
***I follow their lead. Sometimes we do 5 min, sometimes they want to keep going and the baby is napping well and we go an hour. 11am - Free Play
This is a part of their school day! I send them out to build/act/ create something about what they just learned. 12pm - Lunch
1:00pm - Quiet Time
3:00pm - Tea Time
"Honey tea" - warm milk with honey
Snack of sort
Connection Chat. Sometimes it's reading. Somethings it's talking big ideas. Sometimes it's talking family calendar. But a time to stop what we are doing to reset for the last of the day. Even though this is loose in structure I consider this a part of our home education sections.
I personally do better to to have a set time and place. So our dining room is our “school table”. I haven’t turned it into a school themed room decor wise, because I enjoy having it as a part of our home. But maybe one day it’ll get a functional makeover.
Calendars
Depending on your curriculum you may have 30- 36 weeks of suggested content.
So pull out your calendar and pick a method.
Follow a traditional school model of semesters with a few breaks.
Select a year round schedule. (We have done this. Term 1- Sept- November. Off December. Term 2 January-March. Off April. Term 3 - May-July. Off August
Custom create. Look at family needs, holidays, vacation options, and pick and choose.
There is so much freedom but I do suggest you select dates for paper. Give your home education a name! (We are Cirkles Academy) Set dates! (We start in September!) Get the family excited! (We’ll start the countdown a few days outs!) Then you can fluctuate as needed. But having a start, stop, and break schedule is great accountability for multiple personalities that come in a home.
There is so much more that could be said or added, but hopefully this gives you a jump start of ideas.
“Tips and tricks” was suppose to be in this blog, but due to the length of this content already, we will make this a three part series and cover it next week.
So this week :
Pick a curriculum
Create a daily schedule
Create a calendar schedule with start, finish and holiday break dates
YOU CAN DO THIS,
Abby
SPECIAL OFFER FOR BLOG READERS :
$30 for Virtual Homeschool Help
August 2024 only.
30 min (can be stacked or selected for multiple sessions)
Schedule a video consultant call, and I can help :
Point you to a good fit of curriculum
Set a schedule
Give tips for tough spots in your homeschool
Look over your plan and give you a second set of eyes and a good dose of confidence.
I appreciate you being here and I’m happy to help you flourish in your best family season yet.
Email me : abbycirkles@gmail.com to get your session set on the calendar.
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