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Socialization – A Homeschool Hallucination?

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

Anybody that homeschools has probably faced homeschool socialization interrogations. Also, look at more tips on my page The Dynamics of How to Homeschool Easily and Smarter.

Today, I’m sharing about socialization in our homeschool world. Are we as isolated as some think?

First, I want you to hear my story.

Back in the covered wagon days like my kids think or at least LBK (life before kids), I worked with lawyers.

Socialization - A Homeschool Hallucination?

I worked as an assistant to prepare clients for upcoming trials.

See, I’ve always been in preparedness mode.

I took pride in preparing the lawyers for objections from the opposing side.

And I always tried to think outside of the box for one-liners and comebacks when they were needed.

When it comes to homeschool socialization, I feel the same way.

In many ways it is similar to a battle or drama that is always brewing.

Get Those Kids Out of the House

You know what I am talking about.

Maybe you have gotten similar statements  –  ”homeschoolers are a bunch of holy roly weirdos”, “they’re just weird” or “Mom, those kids are gonna have to get out of the house sometimes”. 

I’m sure you have some to add.

Looking back at my LBK days, I probably enjoyed the process of preparing for those far-fetched objections just as much as actually assisting in the courtroom.

Oh sure, once in a while I may have a quick comeback or I might shock astound folks with my quick wit (shock myself too).

But most of the time preparation is key to giving a good defense to the dreaded socialization issue.

It has been facing homeschoolers from the time they mouth the words: “I’m  homeschooling”.

First, comes the silent strong look from even complete strangers.

Grab My Book on How to Homeschool

Homeschooling 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers is a real eye-opener on homeschooling. It will alleviate a lot of the anxieties about getting started homeschooling.

They might as well just say what is on their mind.

It is written all over their face and then comes the blanket statement, which by the way is obvious that they have not researched this topic well.

Each year many new homeschoolers join the ranks with us in homeschooling.

And because we don’t want to be among the ones that are not well-researched,  we need to take the time to get a clear cut picture of the meaning or definition of socialization.

Too, it’s hard to be prepared for something that we are not clear on.

Socialization – A Homeschool Hallucination

Getting the full flavor of these words, I chose not to use a free definition found online.

Take a glance at these definitions that I took from The New Oxford American Dictionary- Second Edition, which is my dictionary here at my home.

Sociable –  willing to talk and engage in activities with other people: friendly

Socialize – 1. mix socially with others 2. make someone behave in a way that is acceptable to their society 3. organize according to the principles of socialism.

See a problem with the definitions? 

We certainly don’t want to defend something that we are against because we are not using society’s measure on education or values.

However, probably all of us want our children to be willing to engage in friendly activities with other people and be genuine, compassionate, and caring.

For the most part, we have to assume too that most people think we hide under rocks and come out only at night time and that normally is the thinking that we are defending.

From “Catty” to Congenial Comments

So in the spirit of preparation and not condemnation and because I always want to say “it looks like a prison to me” which is probably not the most gracious reply to someone in public school,  I have created a list of one-liners and comebacks.

Here is the question/statement: So why do you homeschool and what about socialization? You are sheltering your children.

  • I homeschool because I want my kids socialized.
  • I want my kids to get along with all kinds of people.
  • We choose to participate in activities with others because we want our kids to accept people of varying backgrounds and ages.
  • My proof is in the pudding- – would you like to see my lesson plans for the week?

How to Answer Others

Also, look at three more

  • I am seriously considering cutting back some activities because our week is bulging with social activities and I need time to be at home.
  • I want my children to be around people who model respect, are considerate and well-spoken. What is learned from an early age will be emulated when they are older and around others that are not respectful or considerate.
  • Yes, you are right.  I am sheltering my children. I won’t be able to do it forever, but I can do it as long as I can and help them to become strong in their faith and values. Seems like what any good parent would do.

And as you can see there is no shortage of ways to reply.

  • Yes, have you heard of the most recent (insert here: bullying charge, teacher misconduct, shooting or drug raid) at public school.
  • Sometimes I think we overthink this, what happened to the days when people just got kids together and they played without worrying if they were socialized or not?
  • Yes, we homeschool because faith matters and I think of this scripture (insert your favorite one here about “dealings with stupid or foolish people” or “training children”).

Homeschool Socialization Situations & Opportunities

  • Each family has to decide what is best for them because even within each family, children are very different.  I have one child that thrives with friends so I can plan sleep overs and lots of meet ups and parties. And I have one child that does not need his emotional tank filled with tons of friends so I can satisfy his need for quiet time and to be with less people.
  • Would you like to come and be a visitor at our school? (Of course this is meant for a well-meaning relative or close friend that you know.)
  • I prefer that my children’s learning time not be interrupted because others do not know how to behave.
  • We homeschool for medical reasons.

Do you see a few you can use?

If you were to ask me before I started homeschooling how much I worried about socialization,  my answer would be zero, zip and none.

The problem with this scenario is that I am not homeschooling somewhere on paradise island by myself.

And because we mix and mingle with other people, like you, I get my fair share of second-guessers, naysayers, and plain ole negative nellies.

Gradually folks like that can chip away at your armor and doubt can set in about your decision.

What you need now is concrete proof that we come out from under our rock and caves and that our children are actually very socially adapted.

Social Activities For Homeschoolers

Dare I say they are friendly and some of us actually like people.

Look at these opportunities for homeschool socialization and how we learned with others.

Socialization – A Homeschool Hallucination? You’ve homeschooled for any length of time either yourself or your friends have been posed with the BIG S question. How about socialization? And aren’t we just those homeschooling weirdos. Maybe so. Homeschooling certainly hasn’t been the easiest path, but I’m grateful I did jump on the bandwagon and since then I have since met many really amazing families and have seen the success they have had educating and raising healthy children.

Fall is a great time to be outside and to be with othes.

Socialization – A Homeschool Hallucination? You’ve homeschooled for any length of time either yourself or your friends have been posed with the BIG S question. How about socialization? And aren’t we just those homeschooling weirdos. Maybe so. Homeschooling certainly hasn’t been the easiest path, but I’m grateful I did jump on the bandwagon and since then I have since met many really amazing families and have seen the success they have had educating and raising healthy children.

Anytime is great for visiting your local police department.

Early Years – Fall Activities and Community Helpers

Socialization – A Homeschool Hallucination? You’ve homeschooled for any length of time either yourself or your friends have been posed with the BIG S question. How about socialization? And aren’t we just those homeschooling weirdos. Maybe so. Homeschooling certainly hasn’t been the easiest path, but I’m grateful I did jump on the bandwagon and since then I have since met many really amazing families and have seen the success they have had educating and raising healthy children.

And studying about Native Americans and making your own leather wear is so fun.

 Native Americans

Socialization – A Homeschool Hallucination? You’ve homeschooled for any length of time either yourself or your friends have been posed with the BIG S question. How about socialization? And aren’t we just those homeschooling weirdos. Maybe so. Homeschooling certainly hasn’t been the easiest path, but I’m grateful I did jump on the bandwagon and since then I have since met many really amazing families and have seen the success they have had educating and raising healthy children.

Of course some of the best times are when you can see other family’s pets.

Homeschool Socialization 

Amphibians and Reptiles

Socialization – A Homeschool Hallucination? You’ve homeschooled for any length of time either yourself or your friends have been posed with the BIG S question. How about socialization? And aren’t we just those homeschooling weirdos. Maybe so. Homeschooling certainly hasn’t been the easiest path, but I’m grateful I did jump on the bandwagon and since then I have since met many really amazing families and have seen the success they have had educating and raising healthy children.

Also, heading outdoors for a Westward Ho co-op is really fun with others.

Socialization – A Homeschool Hallucination? You’ve homeschooled for any length of time either yourself or your friends have been posed with the BIG S question. How about socialization? And aren’t we just those homeschooling weirdos. Maybe so. Homeschooling certainly hasn’t been the easiest path, but I’m grateful I did jump on the bandwagon and since then I have since met many really amazing families and have seen the success they have had educating and raising healthy children.

 Westward Hoooo

Socialization – A Homeschool Hallucination? You’ve homeschooled for any length of time either yourself or your friends have been posed with the BIG S question. How about socialization? And aren’t we just those homeschooling weirdos. Maybe so. Homeschooling certainly hasn’t been the easiest path, but I’m grateful I did jump on the bandwagon and since then I have since met many really amazing families and have seen the success they have had educating and raising healthy children.

Socialization – A Homeschool Hallucination? You’ve homeschooled for any length of time either yourself or your friends have been posed with the BIG S question. How about socialization? And aren’t we just those homeschooling weirdos. Maybe so. Homeschooling certainly hasn’t been the easiest path, but I’m grateful I did jump on the bandwagon and since then I have since met many really amazing families and have seen the success they have had educating and raising healthy children.

And a rainforest co-op is just no fun unless you have all the rainforest food.

Amazon Rain Forest

Socialization – A Homeschool Hallucination? You’ve homeschooled for any length of time either yourself or your friends have been posed with the BIG S question. How about socialization? And aren’t we just those homeschooling weirdos. Maybe so. Homeschooling certainly hasn’t been the easiest path, but I’m grateful I did jump on the bandwagon and since then I have since met many really amazing families and have seen the success they have had educating and raising healthy children.

Socialization – A Homeschool Hallucination? You’ve homeschooled for any length of time either yourself or your friends have been posed with the BIG S question. How about socialization? And aren’t we just those homeschooling weirdos. Maybe so. Homeschooling certainly hasn’t been the easiest path, but I’m grateful I did jump on the bandwagon and since then I have since met many really amazing families and have seen the success they have had educating and raising healthy children.

 The European Renaissance

Socialization – A Homeschool Hallucination? You’ve homeschooled for any length of time either yourself or your friends have been posed with the BIG S question. How about socialization? And aren’t we just those homeschooling weirdos. Maybe so. Homeschooling certainly hasn’t been the easiest path, but I’m grateful I did jump on the bandwagon and since then I have since met many really amazing families and have seen the success they have had educating and raising healthy children.

Homeschooling and Socialization

 Early American History

Socialization – A Homeschool Hallucination? You’ve homeschooled for any length of time either yourself or your friends have been posed with the BIG S question. How about socialization? And aren’t we just those homeschooling weirdos. Maybe so. Homeschooling certainly hasn’t been the easiest path, but I’m grateful I did jump on the bandwagon and since then I have since met many really amazing families and have seen the success they have had educating and raising healthy children.

 Ancient Empires/Civilizations

Too, I have never lacked for words when asked about our homeschool socialization opportunities.

However, I have not always been proud of my quick temper.

I know it stems from a place deep down in my heart because homeschooling is a work of the heart and it is hard work on top of that.

Now, I can revisit this post each year and will be armed with gracious speech.

I still miss the drama of the courtroom, but then again I now have homeschooling naysayers, skeptics and Debbie downers to prepare for.

I hope this helps you to be armed for this school year and that others will be astounded at your quick wit and preparation too.

MORE HOMESCHOOL SOCIALIZATION TIPS

Look at my other articles here and grab yourself some more one-liners, comebacks and gracious sayings

How do you handle your reply?

Socialization - A Homeschool Hallucination?

This blog hop is organized by iHomeschool Network.

Hugs and love ya,

Signature T

21 Fun Chemistry Homeschool Ideas for Kids

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

These 21 fun chemistry homeschool ideas show your kids how we use chemistry every day.

When I read an older book about chemistry, it mentioned every house which has a kitchen has a laboratory.

And it made the point that chemistry is about finding out about things. Finding out what things are made of and what changes they undergo. Everything!

21 Fun Chemistry Homeschool Ideas for Kids

Even nature is a huge laboratory and always undergoing changes.

So these homeschool chemistry ideas for kids of all ages will help your young chemists to learn the principles of chemistry.

Homeschool Chemistry

Besides, most chemistry experiments can be done at home. Look at this easy list of things you probably already have on hand or could find easily.

  • water glasses
  • small glass bowls
  • jars
  • bottles
  • cans and
  • funnels can get you started.

Then, you may like to have other laboratory equipment in your home.

Below are a few other pieces you may want to add to turn your kitchen to lab site.

More Chemistry Homeschool Ideas

And of course you will need a variety of common chemicals on hand depending on the activity your students want to do.

Sometimes, buying a kit may be easier. This Ooze Labs or Middle School Chemistry set will work.

In addition, I find it useful to teach my kids about the major branches of science like chemistry, biology, earth science and physics.

However, it’s important for them to know that there are probably hundreds of branches of science which fall under these broad categories.

For example, depending on which curriculum you use chemistry has 5 major branches.

They are organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry, biochemistry and analytical chemistry.

In addition, as much as we have learned there are still many subdivisions.

21 Fun Chemistry Homeschool Ideas for Kids

Beyond atoms and learning about chemical reactions, chemist study the properties of matter and so much more.

You’ll have no shortage of topics depending on which branch your child is interested in.

High School Chemistry Homeschool Curriculum

Then, if you’re looking for homeschool chemistry curriculum, look at my post 10 Popular High School Chemistry Homeschool Curriculum.

CHEMISTRY IDEAS

How To Start Homeschooling the Easy No Stress Way (Maybe)

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

Choosing how to start homeschooling can be easy or like me you may have to have a second chance to get it right. Also, you’ll love tips on my page The Dynamics of How to Homeschool Easily and Smarter.

Your whys that inspired you to start homeschooling are significant.

My mother homeschooled my youngest sister and you’d think I should have learned from her grit. I did – that is until it came time to actually start.

My second chance came over 20+ years ago and after I pulled out my first homeschooled son in Kindergarten, I came away determined to make homeschooling work this time.

Although tears were streaming down my cheeks, I was in fear of messing up my first kid and my younger kids for life.

How To Start Homeschooling the Easy No Stress Way (Maybe)

Turn 3 Homeschool Wrongs to Wins

I knew that having a second chance meant I could try things differently or repeat what I did wrong. Why do we keep repeating what is not working? (no need to answer that)

Look at these three homeschool wrongs you can win your first or second year IF you don’t do what I did:

ONE/

Wrong: I focused first on curriculum. Right: I needed techniques to conquer fear or at least manage it.

As much as I wanted fairy dust of seasoned homeschooling tips to shower down on me, the truth of it is I had to take time to read about homeschooling. I couldn’t just trust that it was the best decision ever for my mom.

I had to OWN it. I had to make it the BEST decision ever for MY family. I took a few months to start reading a whole list of homeschooling how-to books.

TWO/

Wrong: I focused first on friends or socialization for my kid. Right: Finding a support system for myself is the start point.

Another huge mistake was thinking I had to immediately find opportunities for my son to socialize. That has always been important to me.

What I didn’t fully appreciate was that I had my whole homeschool journey to meet my son’s needs. It didn’t have to be done all in the first year.

I needed to focus first on finding a support system for myself so that I could understand how the homeschool world works.

It reminds me of those demonstration you can still see sometimes right after you board a plane. They explain how to put the oxygen mask on yourself FIRST, then assist your kid.

Homeschool For Beginners

Homeschooling is the same way. We have the order reversed by focusing on our kids’ needs instead of the needs of the new homeschool educator.

THIRD/

Wrong: I focused first on homeschooling. Right: Understand what is deschooling, how to do it, and when to do it.

Buying curriculum, setting up a room that looked somewhat school-ish, and doing a workbook is what most new homeschoolers view as homeschooling.

What I learned was that we don’t have to sat at a desk with our nose in a book every day of the week. Deschooling is not just for new homeschoolers whose kids may have never been to public school, but it’s for the parents too.

We can bring our public school-ish ways home and try to mimic a system that we left and wasn’t working for us. We need to know how to step back from that mindset and dig deep to find our why to starting homeschooling.

Online New Homeschooler Boot Camp

After homeschooling over 20+ years and because I struggle so in the beginning, I wrote a program for new homeschoolers. Not only did I write a program, I led a workshop with newbees for years in Texas.

My online self-paced Kick Starter for s a two-pher for you. You not only get my personal experience with three homeschooled grads, but you get my experience in helping hundreds of new homeschoolers successfully navigate the homeschool waters.

The Homeschool KickStarter Taking First-Time Homeschoolers from Fear to Freedom is a 6 to 8 week online course where you view video workshops at your leisure while you receive personal coaching from me via a private facebook group. I know you’ll benefit from taking time first for the new homeschool educator.

How To Start Homeschooling the Easy No Stress Way (Maybe)

You’ll love these other tips to help you stay the homeschool course:

Hugs and love ya,

How to Start Homeschooling the Easy No Stress Way (Maybe)

Delightful Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum Which Promote a Love of Learning

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

Delightful kindergarten homeschool curriculum which promote a love of learning can be hard to find. Find my other tips for Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum on my page.

Not only will I share how to choose a delightful curriculum, but I’ll explain the essentials.

Besides, it’s hard to choose a curriculum if you don’t know what subjects to teach.

Another important part of a kindergarten homeschool curriculum is the hands-on part.

Kindergarten aged children learn best by playing, exploring, and discovering.

Delightful Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum Which Promote a Love of Learning

When a curriculum for kindergarten is overly focused on academics instead of promoting a love of learning, a child’s start can be stunted.

From the beginning, all children have a love of learning.

So, it’s important that whatever resource you use to teach your kindergartener that it will continue to nurture the love for learning.

First, what is a delightful kindergarten?

Appreciating how to sort curriculum begins with what you know and don’t know.

Back 20 years or so ago, it was much easier to choose a kindergarten homeschool curriculum because educators mostly agreed that children should play learn.

Now with a shift in education, there is a mindset that more lessons, earlier academic lessons, and a busier schedule works. It does not.

Instead, I’ve seen young adults push back at being what they perceived as over achieving or forced learning.

From the parents perspective, they thought they were conscientious educators.

What a horrible mistake to make.

Some of those families who started their homeschool journey when I did have a strained relationship with their young adult kids. How sad.

This may sound dramatic, but the truth of it is from kindergarten, their parents constantly pushed their children. Being overly ambitious bites.

As I mentioned briefly, defining what is delightful will help you to match curriculum with a child’s development.

What is Delight-Directed Study

And the BEST description of what is delight-directed learning still comes from Greg Harris which I read over 25 years ago.

A delight-directed study is like a wonderful fire in the mind of a student. It starts small, but as it grows, it begins to consume vast amounts of information until it bursts into a roaring blaze of insight, understanding, and creativity. It takes on a life of its own. — Gregg Harris

Can you see why what you choose from the beginning matters?

What Kindergarten Subjects to Teach

Now, learning what is foundational to teach and what part of a body of knowledge can wait or added in later matters.

From the meaning of delight-directed study, the essential kindergarten subjects are math and language arts.

Taking this a step further, the components of language arts change from kindergarten to high school.

For example, composition is a component of language arts, but that skill is not necessary until about fourth grade.

Before you can narrow down your choices for language arts, you need to know what is language arts.

Language arts includes all facets of English. Phonics, reading/literature, spelling/vocabulary, grammar, composition, penmanship, and even oral speaking are the components.

What are the Kindergarten Language Art Subjects

As you can see a kindergarten homeschool curriculum should not cover unnecessary language arts.

When a program does this, it takes away from the basics.

It is not nurturing lifelong learners by stuffing in academics.

The language arts components to a kindergarten curriculum for homeschool are phonics, reading, penmanship, and oral speaking.

Language arts is learning to both write and speak English.

Let’s not make this any more complicated than it must be.

Also, if you want a big picture of the subjects to teach, you’ll love my online self-paced course, Teaching the Stages of Homeschool.

Best Language Arts Curriculum for Kindergarten

With that being said, look at some of my favorite language arts programs for kindergarten.

I have listed both all-in-one which means all subjects are purchased together and separate components.

Moreover, I have listed a variety of the best language arts curriculum for kindergarten because you need to decide what are you needs this year.

For example, if you’re just teaching one or two children you can hand pick a phonics and reading program.

If you have a sweet handful of younger learners where you’re outnumbered, you may want to go with something put together already.

However, the best part of homeschooling Kindergarten is when you can hand pick each component.

There are so many wonderful resources now in the homeschool world which benefit your kids.

Best Language Art Separate Components

Learning through nature, hands-on games, and interactive content are some of my favorite ways.

All About Reading

Whether you’re teaching kindergartener handwriting (hopefully not too much) or you want to teach them to read, you’ll love these resources.

Moving on to math, it is the second important component of a kindergarten program.

Homeschool Math Kindergarten and Supplements

Too, math is best learned hands-on with math manipulatives.

Some programs push a child to give up the concrete for the abstract of ideas too soon.

  • Math U See Primer
  • Math U See Manipulatives Starter Set and Completer Set with Wooden Storage Boxes

I’m an advocate of keeping math hands-on as long as the child needs it not until a certain grade.

And some days you should skip formal math lessons in favor of a fun game. There is NOT a subject that can’t be taught through either a board game, card game, or a fun app.

Furthermore, the fun subjects are what keeps kindergarten fun.

Although language arts and math are the foundation, science, geography, history, art and nature are just as important.

However, remember to keep it a skinny lady in your teaching so that you stay clearly focused on what is important.

The skinny lady subjects are math and language arts.

So, when you become overwhelmed, focus on those two content areas.

History Curriculum for Kindergarten

Whether you’re looking for geography books for kindergarten, history books for kindergarten or history activities for kindergarten, you’ll love some of these resources.

And don’t forget I have these fun Westward Expansion Coloring sheets to engage your young historian.

Science Curriculum for Kindergarten

Finally, here are some fun kindergarten science homeschool curriculum resources.

Before you jump into choosing, you’ll need to decide if you want to use one which is Christian-based, secular, or faith-neutral.

I find that most resources I can tweak to my worldview or what is important to me.

In other words, just be aware but don’t get caught up in too much worldview at this age.

You have much time as your child grows to help him think critically. At this age, let him explore the world around him.

However, what I like more are science kits and games because science is about doing.

  • Magic School Bus science club through (The Young Scientist Club) has 12 kits with the program and each kit has a 12 page colorful manual. For ages 5 to 12 years old with younger kids needing some supervision.
Delightful Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum Which Promote a Love of Learning
Delightful Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum Which Promote a Love of Learning

Finally, remember that forced learning before a child is ready can not only hamper, but harm a child’s ability to love learning.

Kindergarten Curriculum

A child needs to explore in nature, have plenty of time indoors and outdoors to play, and not be rushed when he is intrigued.

It’s not hard to pique curiosity at this age. Follow your child’s lead in what interests him, and he’ll carry that same love of learning all the way to high school and into adulthood.

What do you think? See anything that can help you or do you have questions?

Look at these other posts:

Gorgeous 7 Step Free Homeschool Planner You Build

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

Build your gorgeous 7 step free homeschool planner for your homeschool planner. With 7 easy steps you’ll not only be organized, but have a unique hard working tool.

When you create a planner for your homeschool, you’re making it unique to your needs. Planners which are prepared for classroom use are not set up to use for a family.

Plus, when you purchase one giant put together planner, you’re not hand picking the forms you need this year.

For example, your needs change each year. You may have elementary aged students and high school students.

Your needs are different for each student.

So, having an unnecessary form in your planner hinders your organizational efforts. Worst are forms which have tons of useless blanks with no guidance.

My homeschool planner it built by you with my guidance.

Gorgeous 7 Step Free Homeschool Planner You Build Yourself

I’ve been creating and sharing how I put together my planner for 10 years. I can help get you on the road to organization. With my 7 Step DIY Homeschool Planner, I have OVER 600 free pages for you to go through.

However, I do not make it stressful for you. Instead, I guide you STEP BY STEP for each step. You decide what you need and don’t need this year.

After you set up your planner a few times, you can go through this process quickly.

7 Step DIY Free Homeschool Planner

First, look at the 7 steps. Then, I’ll share how to best to grab the homeschool forms you need at each step.

 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!

Next, I have over 30+ free front or back covers. The beauty of choosing the forms is that each year you create what you like.

I don’t encourage matchy-matchy pages. There is nothing striking about a planner where ALL the pages match. Nothing.

Our homeschool journey is a wild one and your finished project should reflect YOUR personality.

Another important section is the calendar section. I create 3 different types of calendars each year. Look at each type of calendar.

  1. One is a colorful reference calendar to place throughout your planner in several places
  2. The second calendar I prepare is a Scheduling or Planning calendar. Read my post How a Homeschool Planning Calendar is Superior to a Regular Calendar to use it.
  3. And the third one is a beautiful 2 page per month calendar which has ample room for writing your appointments.

Custom Homeschool Planner

The next step is 3 and you’ll want a variety of goal setting pages in your homeschool planner. Goals are the very foundation of your homeschool.

Whether you have general goals or specific goals, you’ll find a form on Step 3. Choose Goals/Objectives.

Also, when you can get to Step 4. Choose Lesson Planning Pages Right For You take your time. The lesson planning pages or templates are the largest part of your planner.

Be sure you’re printing both sides of your paper. I use regular all purpose bright white paper.

Do not print using cardstock. There is no way you can bind it because it will be too thick and big.

And I do not use any special printer. I’ve been using my favorite which is a mobile printer for years.

In addition, another section where you’ll spend most of your time is Step 5. You’ll notice I have 3 pages for Step 5.

There are numerous unique forms like attendance, student schedules, reading logs, field trips trackers, high school planning, and readiness checklist to name a very few of the forms.

DIY Homeschool Planner

Lastly, for Steps 6 and 7, I go over the best ways to add extra storage to your planner and how to bind it.

However, there are others solid reasons to build a diy homeschool planner.

  1. It is an undated planner. Dated planners can make you feel behind when you need to skip a day to take care of life. Using an undated planner you simply pick up where you left off and adjust to life. Make the school schedule fit your life.
  2. Another huge advantage is that it can be used for multiple ages. Instead of planners which contain numerous columns, it suits family with multiple kids.
  3. And I mentioned it before, but I’m mentioning it again. It is to be printed on both sides. Do not waste paper.
  4. Finally, one of the most important is to coil bind it. I do not encourage notebooks because the rings get in the way of writing. Too, something else I’ve learned along the way. Some homeschoolers want perfection in their planner.

An unorganized person is one who constantly wants to keep adding to a system instead of utilizing one that is close to what she needs.

Organization is about sticking to a system not constantly adding more work for yourself.

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