7 Tried & Tested Tips.
Knowing when to skip ahead or stay longer on a homeschool subject can mean the difference between delight and drudgery when learning.
It is hard not to press the panic button when we hit a wall.
There are some basics to evaluating when to pole vault ahead or simmer on a homeschool subject.
There are a few guidelines that I have benefited from through the years and I’m sharing them today though each scenario may have very different circumstances.
- If your child is real young, basically up to 3rd grade, you are not wasting time by going back over such important topics like reading.
If you are new to homeschooling, you soon find out that it takes at least the first year to know what your child knows and doesn’t know.
- If purchasing a curriculum turns out to be more of a review than teaching new concepts, then move on just a little faster and skip lessons.
The advantages as the teacher is that you have started from the beginning. You can better evaluate where your child is academically. I had one new bee homeschooler tell me it’s like when you go to a medical specialist for a second opinion.
They don’t really care about your old test results. They start over so they are certain what they are dealing with (wise advice).
It is the same for you. It is not a waste of your time, but enriches your journey when you quickly cover what your child has been taught before. You now know for sure basic concepts have been mastered.
- It is very different for an older child.
When to Skip Ahead on a Homeschool Subject
A child that is reading well and past the basics of learning can easily become frustrated when they repeat content they may have done over and over in previous grades.
If you are not sure if it’s the curriculum, but detect resistance, cut back to half the lessons. Speaking to them and listening with your heart as your child tries to articulate the frustration goes a long way to smoothing over any rough spots. A budget may limit you switching curriculum.
- Because switching curriculum may not be the answer, learning in a different way may be the solution.
If it is math you are working on, can you do some of it orally? If the complaint is handwriting, can some of it be typed or better yet use their iPad? Turn a project into a creation.
- Give them a reprieve.
If your child knows that a subject they excel in or will enjoy follows one they struggle in, it makes struggling seem less.
Take a look at the order the subjects are being covered to be sure it fits your child’s personality and remember to give attention to the subject they struggle with the most when your child is at peak performance.
- Resist the urge to determine curriculum level based on their prior public school grade.
Most of the large curriculum vendors provide free downloadable tests to give you a better rule of thumb.
Don’t be embarrassed if your child is not where you think he should be. Just give them the 1:1 mentoring they deserve, build your confidence and know you are not alone.
- Finally, don’t be afraid to skip lesson plans or grade levels.
Jokingly, I had another new bee homeschooler tell me that when she started homeschooling she didn’t realize that most homeschool children are gifted.
Reckless or Worth it Risk?
While she was kidding, it is true in a way. It’s not because we push our children, it’s because we prepare them.
Nowadays children that receive an excellent education are viewed as gifted.
Make adjustments needed each year and don’t worry about skipping ahead or moving on. If you make either choice and it’s not right at the moment, you can start back over in the morning.
You’ll love these other tips:
- What Homeschool Subjects to Teach and When to Teach Them? Part 1 of 3
- Am I Doing Enough When Homeschooling
- Should we Give Grades to Our Middle and High School Homeschooled Kids
- Gauging Homeschool Progress – Masters of their Material?
Hugs and love ya,
Hi Tina!
Thanks a lot for this post. It helped a lot. My oldest daughter has 6½ years and wo do 1st grade Singapour math. I noticed that it seem veeery easy for her. But some pages, I say to myself that certain exercices are helplful. Finally, has you wrote in the post, this curriculum turns out to be more a review of what she learned in math in kindergarden than learning new concepts.
I said to myself: Ok! It gives me the chance to know what she really well know and it gives me the chance to know myself as a teacher and get familiar with this curriculum that I plan to use for a couple of years.
Past week I gave me the freedom to move on faster and skip lessons. When I read your post this morning… I thought: SUPER! If an experienced homeschool mom said it so, I’m right on track and it gives me much confidence. Thanks a lot.
Even for an another post on how too choose an history curriculum. You explained some tips and share your experience. It is what I had already came to see for my choice with history but… it tooked me 2 years (yes… I’ve started to think about that when my oldest was near 5 years old,..) and a looooooot of brain cells to decide it. and there, the answer was in a post that tooked a couple of minutes to read…. Again, it gives me confidence and the conviction that I should read your post regularly to save more brains cells and time 😉
With other of your past posts, I have come to realize that, for my real first hoemschool year (and a baby to come in november), I should focus on math, language art, bible and after history, science et building character. A little of of art (one project every two weeks… can’t find the time to do more!?!). And, we rush to do history and science a bit….
I feel a bit guilty not doing all the good enrichment subjects others homeschool mom seem to have time to tackle with…. I read Charlotte Mason and she suggest to do poetry, composer study, art study. foreign language, even at a very young age…. OUF! Where do I find time for that?! After I heard that I can do it all if I introduce morning time but, with the baby that comes end november,,, I feel that it s not the time for trying something new even is it seems a super idea… I remember your insights : Don’t push yourself too much for the first years!!!
I keep continuing to get familar with your website and read your post when I have time., You offer very pertinent stuff.
Awww Nancy,
I enjoyed your comment so much! So nice.
First, congrats on the baby. My oldest is a winter baby and I loved that time snuggling with him when he was born.
And you sound like you are RIGHT ON target.
YES, TRUST your instinct when to move on.
Here is the thing, IF you don’t make the wrong choice, you ALWAYS, ALWAYS have the chance to go back RIGHT then and repeat something or wait until later.
I say wait until later because there will be some years that your child will struggle with some concepts and may need some maturity before you try to explain them again.
Don’t beat your head against a wall, just relax, teach something different and then come back to it.
It’s just the normal ebb and flow of learning and you are starting so young that by the time she gets older, you will be a PRO.
Hang in there, sounds like you are right on cue and so GLAD to have you following!!