Monday, October 3, 2011

Our Homeschool Goals for 2011-12

BlogCruiseButton The Homeschool Crew is back in full swing, so it’s time to resume our Blog Cruise.  The Blog Cruise is a bi-weekly meme, where members of the Crew share their answers to homeschool questions, thoughts on homeschool-related topics, or personal experiences with homeschooling.

We’re got a great line-up of topics for this year. I’m looking forward to participating.  You’ll be able to see the full list of links for the Blog Cruise on the Crew’s blog.

This week’s question is:

What are your homeschool-related goals for the year?

This year, my oldest daughter, Ashley, is a senior!  I’m not sure where the time and years have gone, but our main goal for the year is getting her through to graduation!  Actually, we probably could have graduated her (credit-wise) last year; but there was still so much that she wanted to learn.  So, we picked more curriculum and here we are.  That’s one of the neat things about homeschooling.  In fact, I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if she doesn’t do a class or two yet next year (college isn’t in her plans at the moment).

Gracie is in 7th grade this year.  Again, I’m not sure how that happened (except that, in our defense, she did start kindergarten right after her 4th birthday).  One of our goals where her school year is concerned is to become more active with our science studies – in the past, we’ve definitely learned science (reading books, studying nature and birds, etc.) – but this year I want to get more serious with the textbook!

She has added orchestra to her already busy music  schedule of piano and violin lessons; and she got first violin (which is quite an accomplishment for a 2nd year violin student, but will require quite a bit of practice too!) In any case, music is definitely an area where she excels.  I’ve been reading Educating the Wholehearted Child by Clay & Sally Clarkson – and a personal goal of mine is to learn not to be so uptight with my schedule.  Some things are more important than the texbooks, and I need to learn to relax.

Speaking of learning to relax . . . Ian is doing kindergarten this year!  He’s SO different from my girls.  While I thought I had exactly what we needed to do school with him this year, I quickly learned that sitting him at the table or a desk with some workbooks doesn’t really work. In so many other ways, he’s taught me to be a different kind of mom; and schooling is apparently no different.  I’m definitely learning to lighten up a bit; and I’m learning to teach him through games and hands-on sources.  He’s such an absorbent sponge – it’s so fun watching him soaking up things!

A personal goal for me is to start getting up earlier (I’ve been having some sleep issues since my friend Sue passed away, and I really want to overcome  them!) and get a few hours of work done before the kids get up so that I can focus more clearly on school (without being distracted  by e-mails, etc.)  Setting work hours and actually sticking with them is a goal I have every year and have not been successful at accomplishing!  I’m determined though!

What are your  goals for this school year (or year in general)?  I’d love to hear them.  Please share by leaving me a comment.

6 comments:

Our Peculiar Lives said...

wow, your kids sound so busy and it sounds like you have a great year planned!

Our Homeschool Reviews said...

I try to get up early too and get at least an hour of cleaning or computer time in before my dd wakes up. And congrats to both Ashley and Gracie on their accomplishments!

Jodi said...

I love your goals - and I'm so with you on the work hours. I've decided to do the same as you. We really need to concentrate on school this year after the crazy year we had last year! LOL

beth said...

Lots of planning.....your kids are quite lucky!

Mary Prather said...

I can relate to what you said about trying to not be so uptight. Reading Educating The Wholehearted Child is really changing my outlook on so many things, but this is one of them!

I enjoyed reading your goals.... they don't really go and graduate, do they?!?! :-(

Mary said...

Great goals! I too need to relax more.

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