Homeschool Planning Tips For A Happy Homeschool

Are you considering homeschooling your child, but feeling overwhelmed by the thought of planning and organizing your family’s homeschool day? Fear not, because we’ve got you covered with these 10 helpful tips to make your homeschooling journey a success no matter where you are in your homeschool year! By following these homeschool planning tips and utilizing the resources available, you can set yourself up for a successful homeschooling experience that will benefit both you and your child… and you’ll save a lot of time so that you can refocus on the most important thing – your family. Happy homeschooling!

Tip #1: Understand Your Homeschool Style or Method.

There are different ways to teach your child at home. Each homeschool style will provide opportunities to explore the positive (and possibly negative) aspects of each specific method. It’s important to explore the different styles before choosing your homeschool curriculum and think about what will work best for your family dynamics and your child. Here’s a brief summary of each of the best-known homeschool styles.

• Some might say the Traditional/Textbook Homeschool Method is like going to school at home. You have textbooks and lesson plans to follow for core subjects, just like in a regular school. It can be a good method for kids who like to have a homeschool schedule and do their work on their own, so may be best suited for high school students.
• The classical education method has three stages of learning called the Trivium. In the first stage, kids learn words, facts, and ideas basic concepts. The second stage of learning is more focused on exploring, thinking, and discussing ideas and concepts in greater detail. In the Trivium’s last stage, they use what they learned to write essays, talk about important topics, and even debate complex ideas.
• The Charlotte Mason Homeschool Method is a way of learning that focuses on observing nature, memorizing poetry, writing in a journal, listening to classical music, and reciting scripture or poetry. With the backdrop being ample time outside to explore, deep-dive into nature study, and experience the ideas they are learning about through living books. The goal is to not only learn new things but also to become a better person by building strong character.
• The Montessori Method is a special way of learning that started in Italy. It helps children focus and learn better by using hands-on activities with real objects. This makes learning more fun and helps kids understand things better. This method is proving to be quite good with kids with ADH and various learning differences.
• Unschooling is a way of homeschooling where kids get to learn at their own pace and follow their interests. There is no strict daily or weekly schedule or materials to follow, and parents let the kids take the lead in their learning.  Homeschool Planet partners well with unschooling families wanting to have good record keeping of their children’s achievements. 
• The Eclectic Homeschool Method is when parents choose different techniques to teach their kids at home. They pick the best topics and products to help their children learn in the way that works best for them. Families often find that variety in the learning keeps subjects exciting and students engaged.  
• The Unit Study method is a fun way to learn different subjects all together. Instead of studying them one by one, students learn about a specific topic and explore how it relates to different subjects like reading, math, and science. With Unit studies, there often is extra reading and projects to help families learn even more throughout the entire year.

In homeschooling, families can choose different ways of learning that work best for everyone. The important thing is to be flexible and focus on what the child is interested in to help achieve academic goals and state or country requirements.

Tip #2: Plan For Life’s Interruptions 

It’s no surprise that homeschool moms are busy. There always seem to be lots of things on the to-do list like cooking, teaching, taking care of sick kids, and so much more. Sometimes moms need a break too. Here are some tips to help moms rest and feel better while still homeschooling.

If you get sick or have one of life’s inevitable interruptions that affect your homeschool routine, it’s important to be prepared. You can have a file with worksheets and activities ready for kids to do. You may also want to have a list of movies and documentaries for kids to watch and printables for them to work on. If you are uber-organized, put together busy boxes with art supplies and games, and provide writing prompts and math puzzles. Depending on the situation, it may be wise to ask a family member or friend to help out for the day. Planning ahead helps everyone get through difficult days with greater ease.

Tip #3: Catch The Big Picture For Your Homeschool Year

Homeschooling is like painting a rainbow. You start by thinking about what’s important to you and what you want to learn. Then you work towards your goals, like reaching the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. It’s about achieving what you set out to do from the beginning.  Keeping track of goals and outcomes fosters confidence and acknowledges the hard work and success of everyone involved.

Tip #4: Plan & Organize Like A Pro… Even If Uou Are Not-So-Organized

I think moms perform amazing juggling acts daily. They have to balance so many things at once, like taking care of the house, the kids, and maybe even working from home. It can be overwhelming sometimes, but we do the best we can, don’t we? The one thing that would give every mom Marie Kando-like superpowers is to have everything organized in one place.

Homeschool Planet is a helpful tool that can make homeschool and family life easier and more organized with a clear plan – even for crazy days. You don’t have to be super organized to use it. It can help you set goals, make to-do lists, and be flexible with your schedule. It’s a great way to save time and help you focus on what’s important – family.

Tip #5: Consider Your Child’s Learning Needs

Learning differences are common in children, with some sources saying 1 in 5 kids have challenges like ADHD or Dyslexia. As homeschool parents, our job is to help our children succeed. Sometimes, kids need extra support like clear schedules or flexible learning. Homeschool Planet is a great tool that can help kids with learning differences become more independent as they grow.

Tip #6: Add Some Fun With Educational Trips

Homeschooling is great because we can be flexible and go on fun field trips to learn in different places. We can get discounts and special access with a homeschool ID card. It helps us learn in hands-on ways and explore new things outside of the classroom. So block out some time to close the books turn off the laptop and head out for a day of learning away from home. 

Tip #7: Plan For Independent Learning With Subject Kids Love

To help your kids learn on their own takes time and patience. They need to know the basics really well first and typically have an established routine. Every kid is different, so they might be ready at different times. In essence, independent learning is all about teaching your kids how to learn. You can start by teaching them the basics in English, math, social studies, and science using learning styles that work best for them. Let them try things on their own a little at a time. You may find using a timer to see how long they need is helpful for you and maybe even for them.

An online, digital planner is often the perfect student planner for many middle school and high school students. Others may prefer a paper planner.  The good news is that Homeschool Planet has both. So the right planner for everyone in your family can be accessed or created all in one place. It’s faxl=ibility makes it the perfect homeschool lesson planner family’s to use for the many years of homeschooling

Independent Learning  Activities To Include In Your Weekly Planner 

• Art & Music: You can incorporate music and art in many ways when you homeschool. Your children can take private lessons, go to group classes, or focus on what your child likes. Sometimes homeschool groups offer music and art classes too. There are lots of ways to learn and have fun with music and art when you homeschool!
• STEM: Summer is a great time to do fun science activities outside! You can learn about nature, write about your experiments, and have a blast getting dirty. This helps you keep learning during the summer so you don’t forget things before school starts again. So, let’s have fun and learn new things using STEM during the summer or any time of year.
• Clubs & Sports: Using Homeschool Planet’s special online calendar to keep track of appointments, game days, and daily routines for yourself and the entire family. It helps you stay organized and involved in everyone’s learning and activity schedules. You can also see their grades and attendance easily. It makes life easier. You’ll love using it!
• Electives: High school electives are classes that help students get ready for college or their future job. They also make their college applications look good. Choosing electives that are exciting and enriching is a big step toward fulfilling high school transcript requirements. If you need help choosing electives, Homeschool Planet has some great suggestions. Enjoy this journey with your high school student!

Tip #8: Keep Plans & Schedules All In One Place

Use Homeschool Planet to help you keep track of everyone’s schedules and assignments. It even helps you communicate and share information with each other. Each child can get reminders by email or text to help them stay on track with their learning. You can also send reminders to your kids or other members of the family for chores or things to get from the store through Homeschool Planet. It helps our family stay organized and on top of things, it can help your family too!

Tip #9: Invest In Lesson plans & Curriculum For The Entire Family 

Do you ever feel unsure about homeschooling your kids? Maybe your family or friends don’t support your decision. Perhaps you simply feel the need to change your homeschool routine. Ready Made School can help you find the right curriculum and make lesson planning easier. Making the best curriculum choices for your family can help make homeschooling simpler for you and fun for the kids.

Tip #10: Use Homeschool Planet for homeschool & life management

Homeschool Planet is a helpful tool that helps parents organize their children’s chores, schedules, and homeschool lessons. It makes it easy to keep track of what your child needs to do each day and can also help with homeschool record-keeping. It has features like customizable grading categories, report cards, and lesson plans to make things easier for parents. It’s a great way to keep everything organized and make homeschooling simpler for families.  

Simply put, Homeschool Planet helps you calm the chaos and stay on top of record-keeping while enjoying time investing in what is important – family.  

The Rewards of Homeschool Planning

Homeschooling can be an incredibly rewarding experience for everyone involved. By following these ten homeschool planning tips, you can set yourself up for success and make the most of your homeschooling journey. By implementing these tips and strategies, you can create a successful and fulfilling homeschooling experience for you and your family. Remember, homeschooling is a journey, and it’s okay to make adjustments along the way. Stay flexible, stay positive, and enjoy the incredible opportunity to educate your children in a way that works best for your family. Happy homeschooling!