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Day 20 Homeschool Lesson Planning And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

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

Homeschooling at the beginning is not about stressing about homeschool lesson planning but learning how to lesson plan if you want to. Today is Day 20 homeschool lesson planning of the 31 Day Free Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers. 

There is a big difference.

Just as you would not expect your child to know how to read this year until you start together, you need to cut yourself some slack in how to lesson plan.

Day 20 Homeschool Lesson Planning And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

Each new homeschooler’s background makes a difference if he or she feels qualified or not to teach their children.

Do not stress over the fact that you do not know how to lesson plan.

Struggling homeschoolers and even seasoned veterans are constantly scrutinizing their lesson plans versus how much time they have in the day to school.

Homeschool Lesson Planning Tips

Lesson Planning is Just As Much Lesson Journaling.

This may sound like another oxymoron but in the beginning, it is better to journal what you accomplished at the end of the day. This is a huge benefit for several reasons. One reason is because you can realistically see what you can achieve for the day.

This will fast forward your learning curve because you will plan closer to what your children can realistically finish for the day. Avoiding wasting valuable years being stressed out over unrealistic lesson planning will add joy to your journey.

Many organizing planning mommas have been misled thinking they have more hours in their days than the rest of us.

By seeing what was accomplished versus what was planned gives you a more realistic feel for lesson planning.

Write it All Down.

Paper planner, online planner, app or great big oversized calendar in your kitchen, it does not matter. Keeping track of what you do is all that matters.

Yes, I love my curriculum planner and I have found that many times anytime I tried something online, I came back to paper planners.

They work for me because I have it sitting writing there beside me and no need to boot up. However, that is just me. You may prefer and may do better with something else. It does not have to be elaborate, simple works best.

Launch A Lesson Plan.

Whether you are using a boxed curriculum or choosing each subject yourself, you will one day want to substitute a lesson plan.

Maybe you want to plan how to complete a book. Again, my suggestion is that because you want to learn how to lesson plan your first or second year, start right away. Jump into lesson planning now and test the waters.

Look at this example below of how to cover a grammar book for the school year.

Study each step as I have thoughts and questions that you need to ask yourself. It is an easy way to learn the beginnings of lesson planning because you have a resource.

Later on. as you become more skilled, you can make lesson plans from practically any resource.

Day 20: Lesson Plan or Lesson Journal? {31 Day Boot Camp For New Homeschoolers on My Blog}

7 Steps for Planning a Homeschool Lesson

  1. Determine the total days in your school year or time for the curriculum. Note: Typical days in a school year are 180. I will use that number too.
  2. . Decide how to divide the book/curriculum. Dividing by chapters is an easy way.
  3. Weed out chapters/content that you don’t want/need to cover. I started with 32 chapters and whittled it down to 30 that I feel we may need this year.
  4. Determine chapters you want to cover. I will cover 30 chapters over the course of a school year.
  5. Simple Division. Divide 30 chapters by 180 day equals about 6 days per chapter to cover it for the time I have allowed.
  6. Ask: Do I want to include special projects or testing ? Then adjust the number of days up or down depending on what type of projects.
  7. Can some of it be covered orally so that there is not so much writing?

A plan has to be adjusted to your needs and to your household and not copy what you see seasoned veterans doing.

It is hard to not compare yourself to seasoned veterans because you may have set real high expectations this year.

You may feel their success and confidence might be absorbed through some type of osmosis if you copy exactly what they are doing.

The problem with this is that you don’t lead their lives and vice versa.

Lesson planning and tweaking curriculum are learned arts. Give yourself some time and in the meantime take advantage of laid out or boxed curriculums if you want to.

New to Homeschooling Start with the Basics

1 – 7 Start with the Homeschool Basics

8-14 Homeschool Organization 101 for Beginners

15 – 21 Best tips for New Homeschoolers Choosing Curriculum

Day 20 Homeschool Lesson Planning And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp
Day 20: Lesson Plan or Lesson Journal? {31 Day Boot Camp For New Homeschoolers on My Blog}

How to Plan Your First Homeschool Year When You Don’t Know How To Start

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

I’m sharing 4 tried and true ways how to plan your first homeschool year when you don’t know how to start. And having the right homeschool planner for your first-year matters.

You’ve left traditional school and your planning should now reflect your new homeschool life you’ve adopted.

However, your first year of homeschooling can be daunting for many reasons.

At the top of the list of concerns are how to find curriculum and how to plan.

How to Plan Your First Homeschool Year When You Don't Know How To Start

Also, knowing what is important now to plan your new homeschool year and what can wait matters.

In addition, you’ll want to make changes throughout your first year.

Why? Now that you’re 1:1 tutoring you will have an excellent grasp on what your children truly know and don’t know.

Homeschool Planning

First, this is the BEST piece of advice although some do not want to hear it.

How to Plan Your First Homeschool Year When You Don't Know How To Start

Do not buy curriculum – yet.

Not only do I want you to have an incredible start, but want to help you save hundreds if not thousands of dollars too.

So before you can choose curriculum, you need to understand where to find it and how to choose it.

The point I’m making is that it’s just as important to know what not to do.

So, don’t let doubts, fears, and misconceptions keep you from making your first homeschool year memorable for the right reasons.

Too, it will take time to not only learn where homeschoolers hang out at, but to understand the new lingo.

After you grab the lingo to understand terms in the homeschool world, look at these 4 best ways to begin your year.

4 BEST Ways to Plan Your First Homeschool Year

First, know your local law, but also know how to meet it.

It’s one thing to read it but quite another thing to homeschool with the nuts and bolts of it each day.

Too, some homeschool laws are very relaxed and a first-time homeschooler may want more details.

However, know that with relaxed laws comes much homeschool freedom.

1. Know Your Local Law AND How to Meet It.

On the other hand, some states have very strict laws. Again, be familiar first with your local state law.

You can find out your state law in two ways;

  1. Find your state’s laws on this page with HSLDA and/or
  2. ask me right here or email me at tinahomeschools at gmail dot com. I’ve helped HUNDREDS get on the road to homeschooling and stay on it. I can help you too.

Next, it won’t take long to understand what is deschooling.

I know you’re eager to get started, but taking just a few days to make your foundation strong will benefit you your whole journey.

How to Plan Your First Homeschool Year When You Don't Know How To Start

Not only do I have a wonderful video for you, but I have this post

2. Don’t Set Up Your Home Like a Public School Classroom. Deschool Next.

Taking your kids out of public school one day and begin homeschooling the next day is a common rookie mistake.

At this point, take time to change to a relaxed mindset and clearly understand how a homeschool method is VERY different from a traditional public school approach.

If you don’t want to repeat the same mistakes at home that weren’t working in public school, you need to know how to deschool.

Thereafter, you want to move quickly to understand how homeschool curriculum is organized.

3. Save yourself HUNDREDS of dollars by knowing how curriculum is organized in the homeschool world.

Having a basic grasp of the top 5 approaches, new homeschoolers can conquer overwhelm and tame the curriculum beast.

And my post Top 5 Homeschool Approaches New Homeschoolers Need to Know will help you get started.

Also, look at my online self-paced course Teaching the Stages of Homeschool. You’ll learn From PreK to High School, Learn at a Bird’s-Eye View of What Subjects to Teach & When to Teach Them

Finally, the best way to begin with choosing curriculum is to begin with free to inexpensive curriculum.

4. Begin teaching your children with inexpensive curriculum until you know how your children learn best.

As I mentioned the outset, you’ll have a better pulse on how your children learn best, but until you tutor you don’t know their strengths and weaknesses.

Also, I have my first time homeschooler kickstarter course.

Moreover, here are more posts t0 help you.

How to Plan Your First Homeschool Year When You Don't Know How To Start

Resources in How to Plan Your First Homeschool Year

How to Create A Homeschool Lesson Plan in 7 Easy Steps

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

Learning how to create a homeschool lesson plan goes hand in hand with choosing a homeschool planner. Besides, how to plan homeschool lessons gives you a strong edge over other homeschoolers who may not take time to learn.

Too, homeschooling means customizing the learning experience.

Learning how to create lesson plan can mean the difference between whining or winning for your kids.

So, whether you create multiple individualized lesson plans or you create only one you’ll be glad you have this skill set.

How to Create A Homeschool Lesson Plan in 7 Easy Steps

Additionally, how to make homeschool lesson plans can become drudgery. I want you to avoid that while teaching you how to quickly create a lesson plan.

7 Easy Steps to Create a Homeschool Lesson Plan

Look at this example below; I’m using this book we love Air is Not Oxygen.

I’m using it as an example because although it has less pages than other curriculum, it’s full of hands-on ideas.

I want to show you how to incorporate them into your lesson planning.

Study each step as I have thoughts and questions which you need to ask yourself.

It is an easy way to learn the beginnings of lesson planning.

Take a look at these 7 easy steps in how to create a homeschool lesson plan.

Step 1. Determine the total days in your school year or the time period you’ll be using the curriculum.

Note: Typical days in a school year are 180. I will use that number too.

This first step is important because it aligns with your scheduled year.

Even if you use laid out curriculum, it may only have 130 or 160 lesson plans or days.

If you’re adding the resource you’re lesson planning for as a supplement, you’ll want to be finished the same time as the rest of your curriculum.

Then, one last more heads up and that is to don’t forget your local law. If they determine the number of days you homeschool, that is your starting point here in Step 1.

Step 2. Decide how to divide the resource.

Step 2 is deciding how to divide your resource.

I find dividing by chapters is one way. And dividing it by pages is even easier. My book has 124 pages. I’m using the pages since it will give me the time I need each day.

So, one question you need to ask yourself here is how many days does the curriculum cover.

Because we had not really done a lot of science the year before I used Air is Not Oxygen, I knew we wanted to do something each day.

Additionally, I know the lessons would not be long.

Step 3. Weed out chapters/content that you don’t want to cover.

In this next step, this shows the true strength of an individualized lesson plan.

Take time to weed out content which your children already know or have covered.

Also, I look at my resource closely to be sure the minimal amount of review is included.

This way, I can cover exactly what interests my children or cover what is my goal.

Step 4. Determine the content that you will cover, skim, reduce, or take longer on.

Now that you’ve deleted lessons, reviews, or test that you don’t want to include you have a different total number.

However, this may not your final number of lessons. Why? Because like my resource I’m using, it has 2 bonus hands-on activity for every concept I was introducing.

Time to include both activities needs to be added. Right away I can tell that at least 2 days per page is the pace I needed.

This gives us time to do a quick oral lesson and include both hands-on activities or choose one. But the pace is exactly what my children needed that year.

Step 5. Do simple math. Divide, multiple, and regroup to get your final number of lessons.

Finally, here at Step 5 you need to do your first simple division to give you an idea of your pace.

For instance, my resource has 124 pages. And I know I want at least two days per lesson.

I can plan several ways. First, I can double the pages in my resource so my pages doubled are 248.

Remember, I said I was following a 180 day. Right away, I can see that 2 days per 1 lesson won’t work.

So my solution at this point is to start with my plan of 2 days per 1 lesson even though I know my year will run out before my lessons – maybe.

Why? Because I know some lessons we may skip although I couldn’t find any right now. I just won’t know that until I jump in.

Moreover, some lessons we may do 2 for 1 day. It will probably even out through the year.

You may ask, “Why Do the Math?” Because math doesn’t lie. And it’s not fluff meaning you get a realistic view of what you can actually cover.

So, even if it’s easy to figure out how many pages you need to cover, still go through this process. Making mental picture of this process in your mind keeps it cemented there the whole year.

Step 6. Ask: Do You Want to Include Special Projects or Testing?

Next, this is the step where you want to include additional days for special projects.

Too, testing may be required in your state. You need to plan in extra days for those tests.

Step 7. Glance over the material to determine which parts can be covered orally.

In conclusion, keep in mind many lesson plans can be covered orally. They don’t all have to be reduced to writing.

How to Create A Homeschool Lesson Plan in 7 Easy Steps

This is a good way to cover material when your child needs to work on recall. Also, if your children are working on recall, oral lessons are fantastic.

Look at these other homeschool planner products that I know you’ll love!

What do you think, does this give you a great start to making an easy lesson plan?

Look at these other homeschool planner posts:

12 Great Options of High School Literature Curriculum

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

Next to math, deciding high school literature curriculum for my first high school teen was scary for me. Today, I will share practical pointers in choosing high school literature curriculum. Also, look at How to Homeschool High School for more ideas.

Looking back after three homeschooled grads, I’ve learned you need to be absolutely clear of your goal.

Choosing curriculum versus stand alone components was confusing as well.

So, I want to help you make a better choice.

12 Great Options of High School Literature Curriculum

First, confusing to me in the beginning was what to teach from high school literature.

Also, how to transition from teaching your child reading to literature wasn’t clear.

Quickly, I learned there is a shift in high school to not just reading a variety of literature, but to analyzing it.

What to Teach With High School Literature

As you can see, the elements you look for in a high school literature curriculum will vary depending on your goals.

If your teen is on a college track, analyzing literature is a basic requirement for most colleges.

However, if your child is on a career track, you decide if analyzing literature will benefit your teen.

That was the part that confused me. My English teacher in high school taught me like I was in an AP Lit class. I was not, but her love for literature was obvious.

The very basic reason why you teach high school literature is to move your child beyond the reading is fun stage. Appreciating why literature moves us, how to be involved in the great conversation, and how to analyze literature is one goal.

Another goal is to help your child appreciate the variety of genre. Think about it.

You have doing this all along as you taught your child to read.

Teaching a love of reading doesn’t stop in high school, but you want your child to now dig into the literature.

In addition, one more thing to be aware of before choosing curriculum is to decide if you need the other components of language arts.

Besides literature, grammar, vocabulary, composition, and writing are other components of language arts.

Teens are normally all over the place on each component of language arts, I encourage you to try to choose just literature curriculum.

High School Literature Curriculum Goals

One huge advantage to choosing just high school literature curriculum which is not tied together with the other components is to save time.

I don’t think teens should get bogged down with the other components when focusing on beautiful pieces of literature.

However, some options I share below is curriculum which does not make deep dives into analyzing.

That too has been a great option some quarters in high school when your teen needs a change of pace from analyzing in depth.

Covering all the components together may be your goal.

The point is your teen, your choices, and your goals should stay front and center when poring over options.

Furthermore, tying literature to history is another fun way to bring both subjects to life.

This is a slant that many teens enjoy.

On top of that, some choices will be more faith-based and others with a secular focus.

Keep all those facts in mind as you compare curriculum below.

12 High School Literature Curriculum

Finally, look at these twelve high school literature curriculum.

  • Progeny Press is another favorite because of how many activities they have and ease of use.
  • Learning Language Arts Through Literature is not as well know today as it used to be. I love it because it’s gentle and has a Charlotte Mason flair. Some years, we just needed light language arts and literature. So, I’m listing it as option. There is both American and British literature options. It’s just a beautiful option
  • Sonlight has been around for years. Started by a homeschool family like some of other companies, it too has a comprehensive language arts program.
  • Total Language Plus is just what it says. All the components of language arts when you want to cover them at one time. We love this curriculum as well.
  • The Art of Poetry is a resource we just absolutely loved. If your teen is wanting to dive deeper into poetry, you’ll love this resource. In addition, this resource can be used for middle school kids too.

These are not all the resources available for you, but they are ones I know will work.

They give your teen guidance; And the best part is they create a love of literature and push your teen out of his comfort zone.

Which ones have you tried?

12 Great Options of High School Literature Curriculum

Look at some more posts which will help you:

How to Build Elementary Homeschool Curriculum Directly From Amazon

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

How to build elementary homeschool curriculum directly from Amazon is easier than you think.

Whether you’ve homeschooled from the beginning or suddenly have been thrown into homeschooling, you’ll love the flexibility of being able to choose from Amazon.

I love supporting vendors who sell homeschool curriculum, but in person conventions did not happen everywhere this year because of the pandemic.

How to Build Elementary Homeschool Curriculum Directly From Amazon

Having an option to build your elementary homeschool curriculum is vital and I made this easy for you by creating lists in my Amazon store.

Also, I have options for middle and high school. Click here for How to Build High School Curriculum Directly From Amazon and here for How to Build Middle School Curriculum Directly From Amazon.

Elementary Homeschool Curriculum Directly From Amazon

First, the essential subjects that you want to teach in the elementary years are language arts, math, history and science.

Of course this doesn’t mean these are the only ones, but those four are the basis for a solid foundation.

Too, in the elementary years one-to-one tutoring does not take as long as the academic load that homeschooled kids in the upper grades carry. While it’s true a younger child may need more breaks, the workload is still pretty flexible in the elementary years and you have time to add other subjects for enrichment.

Now that you understand the 4 BIG ones as I call them, you also need to know how to break down language arts components.

Here are the components of language arts and based on your child’s age, ability, or level, you need to decide which ones he will need to do.

  • Reading. This includes reading aloud.
  • Phonics. Normally you want to do this until about 4th grade.
  • Spelling. Phonics is the precursor to spelling. Don’t be so quick to teach formal spelling because a child needs input first which phonics does.
  • Penmanship (no this is not composition). This is just what it means, learning how to write. It’s done in the early grades.
  • Composition comes after penmanship and it is about teaching a child how to compose his thoughts.
  • Grammar. Normally you start this in the second or third grade.

Language Arts Curriculum from Amazon

Keep in mind the subjects you cover in the elementary grades are just a rule of thumb.

Because kids can be all over the place on levels, I am giving you the big picture so you know how to choose.

It’s worrisome to not know which subjects to introduce and when to introduce them. I want you to be in the know.

So look at the subjects below based on grade level.

  • If your child is at grades 1 or 2, you want to choose a reading program, a phonics program, and a writing program.
  • If you child is at grades 3 to 4, you want to choose a reading program, a phonics program, a spelling program, a writing program or composition program and a grammar program.
  • If your child is at grades 5 to 6, you want to choose a reading program, a composition program, a spelling program, and a grammar program.
  • Science and history can be as easy as reading a book in the earlier grades and then progress to taking more time like from 3rd grade on.

Curriculum from Amazon

Also, to be sure you’ve covered the bases for subjects, use my checklist for curriculum resources below

You can download an editable copy over at STEP 5A of my free 7 Step Homeschool Planner.

Additionally, I have this super helpful post How to Know What A Homeschooled Child Should Learn Yearly.

Now, look at lists I’ve created for you to give you choices on the different variety of curriculum.

By using the guideline above where I explain what to choose in each grade, you’ll be sure you won’t miss any vital curriculum for a grade.

Homeschool History and Science from Amazon

In addition, history and science are considered core subjects in some states.

Here is the Elementary – History & Geography List and here is the Elementary – Science List.

After you add the Big Four core subjects, you can add other subjects. By starting with the Big Four, you know that you have the essentials covered.

If you have many learners under the age of 7 or 8, then covering the Big Four for the day is solid. As your little ones get older and as you have time, you can add other subjects which interest your kids.

Sometimes lesson plans can be too lofty for the elementary ages, but remember play is still a huge part of the learning day too. There is no need to fill your day with too many subjects.

How to Build Elementary Homeschool Curriculum Directly From Amazon

The Big Four subjects a.k.a. language arts, math, science and history are the same ones all the way to High School. There is a lot of years to cover those subjects so include plenty of hands-on activities too.

Elementary Homeschool Curriculum

Look at these other tips I have for you:

How to Build Elementary Homeschool Curriculum Directly From Amazon

The beauty of choosing curriculum directly from Amazon is that you not only can meet your kids’ needs, but also meet state guidelines if you have them.

You’re off to a great start this year!