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What Homeschool Subjects to Teach and When to Teach Them? Part 1 of 3

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

What homeschool subjects to teach and when to teach them is a huge fear factor for any new homeschooler or those struggling with the how tos of homeschooling. Too, sometimes as veteran homeschoolers, we just need the reminders.

What Homeschool Subjects to Teach and When to Teach Them? Part 1 of 3

Without prior teaching experience, it’s easy enough to figure out the 3 R’s. But beyond that, making sure I covered homeschool subjects well and knowing when to move on was uncharted territory for me.

Homeschool Subjects

Then, the second half to my struggle was wondering just when do I teach homeschool subjects.

At what age should I introduce certain subjects?

Questions like when to teach spelling and what grade to continue it through were equally baffling to me. How about phonics, that is just teaching letter sounds right?

I didn’t even think about dividing my year into semesters when planning.

For example, should my year look the same way from beginning to end? Can I just teach one subject for one semester and a completely different one or two for another semester?

TO BOLDLY GO WHERE OTHERS HAVE BEEN BEFORE (okay, okay)

How do I plan and get all these subjects in? How much is enough of one subject?

I hope over the next three articles to relieve some of your fear and stress as to what homeschool subjects to teach and when.

Also, providing help so you plan your year and for you to think like an educator is another goal I have in this three part series.

As far as the very basic and essential subjects of any rigorous program, math and language arts will be your spine all the way from pre-k to high school.

In the next post, I will tackle language arts for you. Breaking it down to individual pieces as far as explaining what subjects make up language arts, which will give you a more clearer picture of it.

So let me throw out these subjects and give you an idea of when to begin to teach subjects, grade wise.

One last heads up for you and that is I am not wanting to set up compulsory education.

We both know, you and I left that kind of thinking to have the flexibility of homeschooling. But what I do want to do is to give you specifics and a place to start.

Many articles tout generalities and that never really helped me much because I was just as confused or more so before I started reading the article.

What is Your Twelve Year Plan for Homeschool?

If I had specifics, a guideline or rule of thumb, then I could make the right choices for my family within some guidelines or a rule of thumb. I hope you do the same for your precious family.

Two Step Homeschool Planning

Look at this list below and try to reason out why certain subjects can wait for certain grades. I won’t leave you hanging long because I will explain the reason behind some of this in the next two articles.

For now, just wrap your mind around your 12 year homeschool plan.

  • Math – Prek to 12th
  • Penmanship – Prek to 4th
  • Phonics – Prek to 3rd
  • Composition – 3rd to 4th
  • Grammar – 3rd to 12th
  • Spelling – 3rd to 8th
  • Teaching Reading – Prek to 4th
  • Literature – 5th to 12th
  • Vocabulary 4th to 12th
  • Bible – Infancy to adult
  • History- 3rd to 12th
  • Geography – 3rd to 12th
  • Science – 3rd to 12th

The very basic first step in your planning along with looking over the homeschool subjects is to know what is required by law in the state or country you live in.

The second step is to B R O A D E N your view of what is homeschool curriculum and that is where I help you out in the form below.

Have you grabbed my curriculum planning sheet where I make it easy for you by providing a map? Grab it below and simmer on my broadened definition of what is curriculum.

Fill out the top part about what is the required curriculum and look below at the visual where I explain the differences in subjects.

Above the pink line are essential subjects and though subjects below the line are important, if you are overwhelmed, have a limited budget or are new to homeschooling, those subjects can simmer for a bit.

Curriculum Planning Sheet - Add requirements @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus and New Bee Homeschooler

Curriculum Planning Sheet – Add requirements @ Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool Plus and New Bee Homeschooler

Does this list help you?

Any guesses why some of these subjects can wait and some you want to start right away?

Be in the know, read my other two posts here:

What Homeschool Subjects to Teach and When to Teach Them? Part 1 of 3

You’ll also love these other tips:

Hugs and love ya,

What Homeschool Subjects to Teach And Does It Matter When I Teach Them @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus
What Homeschool Subjects to Teach and When to Teach Them? Part 1 of 3
What Homeschool Subjects to Teach and When to Teach Them? Part 1 of 3

When the Homeschooling Honeymoon is Over

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

My wedding ring was frozen in an ice cube and the ice cube was floating in a glass of champagne when the Mr. proposed to me.  And then there were the soft petals of my favorite rose strewn all over the walk way and into our room.

I have so many fond memories of my honeymoon, but quickly realized after marriage that a successful marriage requires a lot of hard work.

A Fresh Start in Homeschool?

It could not be one prolonged honeymoon.

Doing laundry, making a living, cooking meals, setting up a budget, questions like how to raise children that would come along and where we would live were decisions that as partners we had to make.

The scope of the work that was now involved was not easy, no matter how much I prepared my mind and heart.

Truly, the honeymoon was over.

When the Homeschooling Honeymoon Is Over @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Homeschooling is similar in a lot of ways.

We may have had some romantic notions that everything would work out and nothing would go wrong.

Too, we may not have realized the amount of work that is involved in homeschooling.

Perhaps we thought we would pick up where public school left off, but realize now we have to go over information that should have been previously mastered.

When a new bee begins to homeschool, I often think about the period of a couple’s honeymoon.

Before marriage, we can so conveniently overlook the faults of our mates. Whatever bad traits our mates have though can’t be hidden during the honeymoon period.

Though I do feel homeschooling is a perfect solution for the majority of families and there are no hidden faults, there are ones we create or foster because of our lack of experience.

For example, about three months or so into homeschooling, a new homeschooler may now start to question the choice to homeschool or the curriculum that she is using.

How to Go From Thinking to Doing

We may not be as in love with the idea of homeschooling because the day to day grind of reality sets in.

What can be done?

Like a marriage, homeschooling should not be based on idealistic infatuations but on genuine love, caring, devotion and facts.

Loyalty too is a virtue that is missing in so many marriages.

It mean sticking to something even in the face of tough times. Instead of looking at the negative attitudes your children may have developed while away from you, focus on what you want from your children.

Are you loyal to your children and the decision to homeschool?

Do not allow whatever disappointments you may have now in your family or children to keep you from going forward in what you desire your family to be. Work at it. Who is afraid of hard work anyway?

If you need to go back over some material not previously understood by your child, then that is where you are. Begin there and go forward.

Realize too that not every decision you made in the beginning when you started was a bad one also helps to maintain balance.

For example, if you feel like it’s your curricula that is not working out, give it another month instead of pitching that curricula and starting another. Check out Stop Switching Your Curriculum, Switch Your Course of Study.

Don’t start your journey off curriculum hopping. It’s hard to get off that path once you start down it.

It takes at least 3 months to know whether or not a curriculum is working. Remember, it could be something else that is not working right like a schedule or lack of teacher experience.

Give it time and reflect on what brought you to homeschooling.

The same blessings you want to receive are still there. They have to be accomplished with hard work now and not a drawn out honeymoon period.

Time is a precious commodity no matter the age of our child.

It requires time to have a friendship with our children if they are teenagers.

If they are younger, our time is needed to teach them to read, how to hold a pencil and how to pick up after themselves. How your child best learns and processes information may now be more clear to you.

Comparing and contrasting homeschooling approaches like Classical, Unit Studies, Charlotte Mason and Unschooling is enough to make the head spin of any new homeschooling parent. Check out my articles on understanding the different homeschool approaches.

It all requires tedious work and time but successfully homeschooling IS a reachable goal.

Homeschooling, like a well established and loving marriage is built upon every tiny act of love and kindness.

I am glad that my honeymoon has been over for many, many years. Then, I could see the precious beauty of my husband’s inner person and the one very vital element to both a good marriage and successfully homeschooling – commitment!

You can do it!

Hugs and you know I love ya,

Tina Signature 2015c

Check Out My Top Reads for New Homeschoolers

Objectives at a Glance – Free Homeschool Planning Form

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I had a problem. I didn’t like any of the objectives at a glance that I had on my 7 step homeschool planner because they were all too comprehensive.

I can’t believe I am saying that because I have spent years refining them, using them and benefiting from them.

This year, I knew it was going to be different homeschooling just one kid now.  And I needed a form that would allow me to jot down objectives generally instead of so specific.

Curriculum Pages for Planner

Too, I loved the layout of the free Year at a Glance form I shared earlier because it allowed me to plan with wider strokes and not so detailed.

It was the exact same thing I was wanting to put in my new Glam It Up planner package.

So guess what? I made another Objectives at a Glance to match my free Year at a Glance form that is basic but practical.

Free Objectives at a Glance Form @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Of course, I loved the fact that it blended nicely with my glam it up package.

Objectives at a Glance in Broad Strokes

Not only listing objectives by month will be easier to look at, but I am finding out managing one child is going to bring on some whole new forms as I plod along.

Whether you have one child or homeschooling multiple children this year and are wanting to plan less detailed and more basic, this two page spread will be perfect for you.

It has a box for each month to allow you to track objectives by month and the best part is you can see them at a glance.

You know I love ya and have held this form back for you, my loyal follower. I am ever so grateful that you loyally follow and I will always have a special place for you to download it.

I luv my followers and make it special for them here when I can.

This freebie is a subscriber only freebie!

I would love for you to follow me and give me the opportunity to help you along in your homeschool journey.

Important: IF you are already an email reader, please read this below instead of emailing me right away.

Though I love your emails, it can take a while for me to answer you.

Please find the link to the current follower only freebies at the BOTTOM of the most current newsletter to get this freebie.

Hugs and you know I luv ya,

Start building your free homeschool planner by following step by step as I take you through the process. Many options per step so that you can have a perfect AND awesome planner. Not another one like this one.

7 Easy Steps – “Tons of Options & Pretty Color and FREE too”

Step 1. Choose a Pretty Front/Back Cover

Step. 2. Choose Calendars/Appointment Keepers

Step 3. Choose Goals/Objectives

Step 4. Choose Lesson Planning Pages Right For You!

Step 5a. Choose Unique forms JUST for You!

Step 5b. Choose MORE Unique Forms JUST for You!

Step 5c. Choose MORE MORE Unique Forms Just for You!

Step 6. Personalize It

Step 7. Bind it! Love it!

Save

Ultimate Homeschool Planner – It’s HERE! Glam It Up Package

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Glam It Up Homeschool Planner. Beautiful color pages, awesome detailed and timeless! Scoot by to grab it @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Planner

I can’t believe my newest baby is finally here. For months and months I have been working on the ultimate homeschool planner.

I know it’s a shameless plug calling it the ultimate homeschool planner, but I am absolutely in love with my newest planning pages.

ULTIMATE HOMESCHOOL PLANNER – SHAMELESS!

Creating it took me longer than I wanted to, but that is all my own fault.

First, I have never been good with accepting *just okay* and I know I do it to myself when I want it perfect working perfectly.

Mostly, though my heart has to be in my planners. This year my heart has seen some major changes like the move of Mr. Senior 2013 to New York and Mr. Awesome 2015 graduating.

I am not so tough to tell you that I have had many tears, though they have been happy ones, it is still quite an adjustment for me this year.

It took me a while to feel sorry for myself adjust to my new year.

Putting my heart back into my planners, I got excited about the new year by creating this brand spanking new and beautiful homeschool planner. I can’t wait to use it this year.

First, this is something different than what I have now. It is a package.

No, not complete package like most people might think because I don’t believe in boring planners with tons of matchy matchy pages and given to you in one huge download.

My purpose in making this Glam It Up package is to give you just a few pages that are matching and that will jump start you to create the perfect planner.

It is not my intention to make every page you may want because then the power to create what you need each year leaves you.

The strongest feature of the 7 Step Homeschool Planner is to empower you to choose exactly what you need and to avoid one download of only match-y match-y pages that are both boring and possibly useless.

Like me, you want your planner to stay unique and to build it with the needs of your children in mind each year.

With a basic framework, like the Glam It Up package, you can still add both free pages and forms you purchase at each step to create an awesome planner.  Be sure to grab one of the 2 page per month awesome calendars.

Ultimate Homeschool Planner is a 190 page download and includes:

  • 1 Unique Cover
  • 1 Inside Title Page
  • 4 Tab Top Dividers
  • 2 Attendance Forms (one with semesters and one without semesters labeled)
  • and 180 Lesson Planning Pages with the subjects filled in & 8 Photo Pages

All pages are in full color and undated.

Guess what? You can get it today for just $4.99.

Look at my Main Shop Page for pictures of each form too and a more detailed description if you need it. (I know you want to see lots of pictures of it.)

Important: READ THIS FIRST.
Before you email me asking where your download link is or tell me that it is not working, read this to ensure that you get your pretties timely and that you don’t pay for something and not get it.
• All my products are digital. You will not receive a physical product for anything in my store. A digital physical year calendar does not mean a physical product or calendar.
• Downloads are INSTANT. When you pay, you will receive an email with a download link INSTANTLY. Depending on your internet connection, the email could be just 30 seconds or so, or a bit longer. The point is it will be soon, not a week later,etc.
• The email with the download link will go to the email you used for paypal. If you used your husband’s paypal, your downloads will go to that email. Please check that email and your spam before emailing me telling me you can’t find it.
• Please put my email tina @ tinasdynamichomeschoolplus dot com in your address/contact list so that your product does not go to spam.
MY GUARANTEE: To treat you like I want to be treated which means I know at times technical problems may cause glitches, so I will do everything possible to make your experience here pleasant. I value your business and value you as a follower. I stand behind my products because they are actual products I use and benefit from too. Though I cannot refund purchases after you have been given access to them, I will do what I can to be sure you are a pleased customer.

7 Step Homeschool PlannerGlam It Up Homeschool Lesson Planning Pages @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

My lesson planning pages are my signature style and I wanted to share these things that changed on it.

  • It will all now be in color. Oh yes, yippee.
  • I have spaced the writing lines more evenly.
  • Too, I have added columns to the content area in case you want to break down and jot your notes for each subject in a more organized way.
  • I left a space at the bottom for notes in case you wanted to expand on one subject or if you just wanted to jot down some comments.
  • At the top right, I added 4 boxes that can be used for a quick list or for a to-do column. In addition, if you live in a place that requires more stringent record keeping, the columns allow for you to track by weeks.
  • At the far right at the top, I kept the lesson number but made them bigger.
    Also, every 5 lesson plans, I changed the color of the Lesson Plan Numbers so that you could easily see when you covered a typical school week of 5 days.
  • Under Lesson Plan, I put a space for the date if you want to pen it in.

A few things I did not change because they have worked timelessly over the years are:

  • It is still ONE lesson per PAGE planner. I do not care for weekly planners that take up one or two pages when I need more room to write. Weekly planners have their place, but in homeschooling, I find we need more room.
  • It is still undated. This means it will be a ONE time purchase.
  • Too, you are never behind on an undated planner because you school the days that fit your family. Just fill in the dates as you go.
  • It still has a space to use with 3 kids. Again, not because I only like three kids, but that seems to fit the space best. Remember, if you have younger children, you can easily divide off the sections to include them. The workload will vary with the ages of your children, so two children could easily share one space.
  • The basic subjects that are the same year after year are filled in too.

What do you think? Have you made your homeschool planner yet?

Hugs and love ya and hope you love this planner as much as I already do.

After you grab the glam it up package, grab other forms you need this year:

7 Easy Steps – “Tons of Options & Pretty Color” AND FREE

Step 1. Choose a Pretty Front/Back Cover

Step. 2. Choose Calendars/Appointment Keepers

Step 3. Choose Goals/Objectives

Step 4. Choose Lesson Planning Pages Right For You!

Step 5a. Choose Unique forms JUST for You! Not a kazillion other people

Step 5b. Choose MORE Unique Forms JUST for You!

Step 5c. Choose MORE MORE Unique Forms Just for You!

Step 6. Personalize It

Step 7. Bind it! Love it!

 

Dear New Homeschooler – Are You Making this BIG Mistake? (I Was)

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

When I first started homeschooling, it took me a long time to learn a tiny two letter word – NO.

To this day, I still ask myself if I know how to say No.

Do You Struggle to Find Time to Homeschool?

Dear New Homeschooler - Are You Making this BIG Mistake @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

What do I try to say no to each year?

  • No to over extending myself in activities outside the home.
  • No to unrealistic expectations of myself, my husband and my children as I start off the new year.
  • No to leading more co-ops, groups or field trips than I can do.
  • No to being “the mom” that always needs to be included in hosting every baby shower and wedding shower. (This is a hard one for me because I love to plan.)
  • No to filling our schedule up with so many extracurricular activities.

Homeschooling moms by nature tend to be overachievers. What is our strength can be a potential negative if we don’t keep it in check.

Trying to right all the wrongs of public school, I did plan every minute of our day when I started homeschool.

I didn’t know how to say no to friends popping in at my house unplanned or who interrupted my homeschooling day. Quality time with my kids suffered and I had learned a valuable lesson quickly.

Finding balance was not easy because then I went to extreme lengths by isolating myself from my non-homeschooling friends.

It took another year or so before I learned to graciously just say the tiny two letter  NO and find my center.

The ability to not limit what you physically, emotionally and mentally can do in the homeschooling lifestyle could be a potential pitfall in your journey.

As new homeschoolers, who want to prove how successful they are, we aim too high or over reach by setting unrealistic expectations of what can be done in any given year.

The time will come when you will have smooth sailing and can give back to others. However, that time is not when you are new or struggling.

If we want to avoid pitfalls or traps of homeschooling busyness, we need to remember something very basic – say No.

What have you said no to this year?

Be sure to read my FREE 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers

Grab some more courage to say NO!