Mike Smith:
When you reach the end of the fall semester, what’s the first thing you do? Throw the books on a shelf, stick the papers in a notebook, and get ready for Christmas? What about pausing to evaluate how the past few months went? True, it’s hard to look back in the midst of pushing forward. But carefully reviewing what you’ve just accomplished can help you plan and carry out your next semester more effectively.

Plan to evaluate the fall semester after gaining at least a week’s distance from it. Then ask the following questions:

Did we achieve the goals we set for ourselves in our homeschool? If not, what could we have done differently to meet these goals?

What did we unexpectedly enjoy this semester? How can we incorporate it into our next year’s plans?

Did any of my children’s particular strengths or weaknesses come to the forefront? How can we address these in the next semester?

Did I plan any assignments that did not contribute to our goals? How can I make sure that every assignment fits into the overall goal in a streamlined way?

Should we consider changing our curriculum? (My wife Elizabeth likes to say, “If it’s boring to you, it will be boring to your children as well.”)

By pausing to evaluate your homeschool partway through the year, you’ll be able to solve the problems and maximize your success.

And until next time, I’m Mike Smith.