If every homeschool is different, shouldn’t your lesson plans be unique, too? HSLDA Early Years Coordinator Vicki Bentley joins President Mike Smith for some specific suggestions for making a plan that fits you—today on Home School Heartbeat.
Mike Smith:
Vicki, this week we’ve been talking about some important considerations for moms making lesson plans. But the beauty of homeschooling is the freedom to do what works for your family! Would you share how lesson planning might look differently for various moms?
Vicki Bentley:
Sure, Mike. Of course, families will want to take into consideration any specific statutory record keeping or subject requirements for their states, but let’s look at lesson planning in general. I used a lesson planning book, or you can make your own sheets on the computer, or use index cards, or a white board, or a spiral notebook, or even a computer to-do list. The point is, to have a framework in writing that will help you feel accountable, if only to yourself, and to give you a standard to measure against as the year progresses, so you’re measuring against the goals that God has given you, not your neighbor’s kids or the support group leader's kids.
Some people are most comfortable writing their plans out in detail. For example, “BJU text, page 93, prepositional phrases exercises 1-12.” Others might put under English, “page 93, 1-12.” Still others, may just do what’s next in the book, and then just log it afterward, journal style. Some moms even have their older kids log what they did.
And for more ideas on just how differently families approach their days, check out “A Day in Our Homeschool”: www.hslda.org/earlyyears.
Mike:
Vicki, thanks so much for being with us this week. And thanks for sharing with our listeners about how to do lesson plans! And until next time, I’m Mike Smith.
