From Reflection to New Beginnings : Planning Your Homeschool Year with Purpose

As the homeschool year comes to a close, it's a valuable opportunity for you as the parent to reflect on the past year's experiences and lessons. Taking the time to review and evaluate what worked well and what can be improved upon is an essential step in crafting a successful plan for the next year.

I am realizing the importance of taking a look back on the year before opening my planner to start planning out the next. We completed Year 1 of Ambleside Online, but it came with a few difficult uphill battles along the way. However, it also came with a lot of beautiful connections and growth for both me and my son. Please know that I had a baby right at the end of our school year so we did not get all our boxes checked.

But, I do want to take time to encourage you to reflect on the previous homeschool year before moving on to the next. Reflecting on the past homeschool year serves as a crucial foundation for future success. It allows me to assess our approach, curriculum choices, teaching methods, and the overall educational environment. By looking at our strengths and weaknesses of the previous year, then I can make informed decisions for the upcoming year, setting my child up for an even more enriching and fulfilling educational experience.

Spoiler: We LOVED this year home together.

Step One: PRAY

Prayer is a powerful tool in the reflection process. By seeking guidance and wisdom from God, I start to gain clarity and perspective. I will always take the time to pray for insight into my child's strengths, areas of improvement, and the best path forward. Including prayer in my reflection process not only brings peace and direction but also helps me to align my goals with my child's unique needs. I highly recommend you don’t skip this step.

Step 2: Journaling

Journaling is a remarkable way to document and process your homeschooling journey. It provides a space for introspection, allowing you to explore your thoughts, emotions, and experiences. Consider maintaining a homeschooling journal throughout the year (I wish I had done this), noting your observations, challenges, and victories. When it's time for reflection, this journal becomes a valuable resource, providing concrete insights into your child's progress, curriculum effectiveness, and personal growth.

This year I used Modern Classical Homeschool’s reflection guide. I will link that here not affiliated just love the guide. Click or tap here

Step 3: Involve your child

Including your child in the reflection process empowers them and fosters a sense of ownership over their education. Engage in open and honest conversations, allowing your child to express their thoughts, feelings, and suggestions regarding their homeschool experience. Encourage them to share their favorite subjects, projects they enjoyed, and areas where they struggled. By involving your child, you ensure that you can meet their individual needs and desires. This will help when planning for the upcoming homeschool year.

Example: Narration was very new for us this year. Looking back, I wish I had found more ways to engage conversation after each reading instead of saying, “ok, go ahead and narrate.” I am prayful this will go better next year.

Will you be taking the time to reflect on the previous year?