Do you need to know what a scope and sequence is when you homeschool? Also, look at my page The Dynamics of How to Homeschool Easily and Smarter for more tips!
No term seems as daunting to grasp to a new homeschooler than a scope and sequence.
You don’t have to have a teaching degree to understand new terms.
Too, sometimes there is just too much hype in trying to understand new terms and I feel scope and sequence can fall into one of those types of things.
I don’t want to minimize the importance of understanding the term.
But it’s not necessary to completely understand all the details of a scope and sequence before you embark on your new career as home educator.
A simplified definition of scope and sequence is this:
Scope means the range of knowledge in an area or subject that will be covered and sequence means the order in which that area will be covered. That’s it, simple enough.
If you choose something that is laid out lesson by lesson, which is called a boxed curriculum in the homeschool world, then the publisher has already determined what will be covered in that grade level and when or what days it will be covered.
I would prefer that you focus on how advanced or how much help your child needs instead of worrying right now at which grade level to cover which subjects.
You will have plenty of time to be educated about all the education-ese.
For example, look at the scope and sequence of each grade.
And then determine which grade your child fits into and not determine your child’s grade first and then buy that level.
There is a huge difference here.
Are You Making this First-Timer Mistake
The first way of selecting a grade level will set you up for a course that will make your first year more successful and the second way may set you up for a more stressful year.
Assuming your child is ready for the scope and sequence in a grade level because that is his grade level is a common first year mistake I want you to avoid like no other.
Let me say it again and that is don’t buy curriculum based on your child’s current grade level.
There is a time when a scope and sequence will weigh in heavier on your choices for curriculum.
That time is when you decide to play a larger role in lesson planning.
Then, it becomes more important to understand how extensive a subject should be taught in a grade and in what order it should be introduced or mastered by your child.
I encourage you for your summer reading to study and become somewhat familiar with both free online scopes and sequences.
Too become familiar some books that I will share with you at the bottom of this post.
Hear my heart on this.
Key to not getting overwhelmed is to not study all 12 grades.
What insane crazy person does that? I did.
FOURTH GRADE HOMESCHOOL CURRICULUM ACTIVITIES
- 35 Simple But Powerful US History Homeschool Curriculum Resources K to 12
- The Best Fourth Grade Homeschool Curriculum | Tips and Recommendations
- Easy Hands-On Science: Label the Atom Playdough Activity for fourth grade
- 5 FREE and FUN Hands-on Science Activities for Homeschooled Kids. Free Science Guides.
- Do Homeschoolers Need to Know What is a Scope and Sequence 4th Grade
- The Dos and Don’ts of Homeschool Objectives – fourth grade writing objectives
I almost gave up homeschooling in the beginning because I put myself under too much pressure.
Study the grade level your child will be in, the one above and the one below it.
That is enough for now.
That will give you a bigger picture skill wise, to see where your child’s level is compared to a scope and sequence.
I assure you instead of stressing you out, getting familiar with the set of skills a child is generally introduced to in each grade level will do quite the opposite for you in the long run.
It will empower you to be a teacher that is a cut above those that don’t take time to understand the learning process.
Do You Need to Know What a Scope and Sequence Is When You Homeschool
Look at my list below and one last reminder before you jump into some of this not so light reading is that this is just a “map” designed by curriculum providers.
What I don’t want you to take away from the reading is that your child has to cover x in x grade.
Eventually, I will share some posts about some significant milestones to look for in certain grades which is of far more importance than keeping up with each grade level.
Each child, barring any developmental issues will reach each educational milestone at their own time.
Look at these free online scope and sequences:
- Christian Light Education. You can view them as free .pdfs. Both elementary and high school.
- A Beka Scope and Sequence
- Bob Jones Scope and Sequence
- Worldbook has been used for homeschoolers for years to get a general starting point and direction.
- Montessori Scope and Sequence. Infant to Age 12.
- Houghton Mifflin Grades K to 5 and 6 to 8th.
- Virginia state standards too. Click on an area like English and you will go to another screen for grade level.
Books to read that I think help through your whole homeschooling journey:
The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home Even though you may or may not follow this homeschool approach, she has great tips for valuable resources in all areas.
Pick and choose what works for you. For example, I used her reading suggestions when teaching my sons to read and write.
Home Learning Year by Year: How to Design a Homeschool Curriculum from Preschool Through High School
Again look at some of the resources instead of honing in on exactly all that needs to be covered.
What Your Preschooler Needs to Know: Get Ready for Kindergarten (Core Knowledge Series)
What Your Kindergartner Needs to Know
What Your Fifth Grader Needs to Know (Core Knowledge Series)
What Your Sixth Grader Needs to Know (Revised) (Core Knowledge Series)
Books to Build On: A Grade-by-Grade Resource Guide for Parents and Teachers (Core Knowledge Series)
Slow and Steady Get Me Ready I used this book for my boys when they were babies and again, didn’t get stressed out if my boys were behind some of these things or some of them were easy.
It gave me a heads up about what to expect at each age.
When is Knowledge Power
Too, this series below is the set of books I much more preferred to use along with the ones written above by other homeschoolers.
I did glance at the Core Knowledge Series above and use some from those books.
But I loved the fact that the books below had ideas of how to teach concepts and it also came with an envelope in the back of the book that had a test I could give.
I know, I know, I couldn’t help myself about testing.
I was worried and had to test for a year or two, but after that I realized I was on track.
You will too. So if it gives you comfort, it’s okay to test, just don’t stress over them in the younger years.
How Is My First Grader Doing in School? What to Expect and How to Help
How Is My Second Grader Doing In School? What to Expect and How to HelpHow Is My Third Grader Doing in School? What to Expect and How to Help
. . . . My Fourth Grader Doing in School?: What to Expect and How to Help
. . . Is My Fifth Grader Doing in School?: What to Expect and How to Help
How Is My Sixth Grader Doing in School?: What to Expect and How to Help
Try to remember that as you join with the other thousands of homeschoolers who have been down the road for several years now that we too have expressed some of the same feelings of not wanting our child to get behind or wanting to do this “right”.
So instead of following a scope and sequence, just use it as a guide to enlighten yourself about the general educational needs of all children.
But focus on how unique your children are and know that what you will eventually be teaching them through all the years won’t be able to be contained in any set of scope and sequences.
What do you think? Do you feel a little more empowerment from this foundation of knowledge?
Look at these other helps:
- Resources I’ve Used for K to 12
- A to Z List: Middle and High School Homeschool Electives
- Big Ol’ List of All-In-One Homeschool Curriculum (a.k.a Boxed)
Hugs and love ya,
I like how you pointed out uniquness. I have one child who can divide befoe she could subtract.
It’s crazy how kids develop. We can just step back and watch and follow their lead sometimes..