Q&A: How do I set goals?
"I'm a new homeschooler and I need a way to organize my school year - any help would be great! Thanks!!"
Answer: There are a lot of different ways to set up schedules and goals for your homeschoolers. It all depends on what works for you. When I started homeschooling my oldest child at the age of five, I created a set of goals for the entire year...
| Curriculum & Learning Goals for the Pre-School/Kindergarten "School" Year |
|---|
| Math Goals | Approach: 1 | Approach: 2 | Approach: 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recognize & Write numbers to 100 | Use age-appropriate computer software | Base crafts on numbers | Use the flashcards I got at the thrift store |
| Introduce Basic Addition | Use age-appropriate computer software | Use the marker board | Use buttons or toys to help him add with something he can hold |
| Introduce Basic Subtraction | Use age-appropriate computer software | Use the marker board | Use buttons to help him subtract with something he can hold |
| Science Goals | Approach: 1 | Approach: 2 | Approach: 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insects | Check some good books out from the Library | Go to the insect center at the local Zoo | Get a little cage and net that we can use to catch bugs |
| Introduce the Planets, Moon, Sun, & Stars | Talk about the stars, moon, sun, and planets | Get some books & videos from the library | Take a trip to the observatory and take a tour |
| Weight: some things are heavier than others | Start by getting a little cheap old fashion scale and put toys on it | Let him guess what's heavier than other things and reward him when he's right | Use a good book to help him see things in comparison to each other, i.e.: School bus vs. Whale |
| Reading Goals | Approach: 1 | Approach: 2 | Approach: 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduce the Library | Take him to check out a book once a week as a family trip on Sundays | Go to the Library's children's hours on Tuesdays | Have him invite one friend a week to come with us to the library on Fridays |
| Phonics | Use age-appropriate computer software | Use the great flash cards I got at the thrift store | Look for a good video that helps work on phonics |
| Help him to foster a love for books | Have a reading time during the day | Let him be aware of Mom & Dad's love of books | He can help Dad build his very own bookcase |
| Writing Goals | Approach: 1 | Approach: 2 | Approach: 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduce the Letters | Start with lettered blocks & magnets & his Leap Pad | Do crafts with letters | Have a weekly letter and base games and activities on it |
| Write A-Z | Use the letters that we made with construction paper and start putting the alphabet up in his room | Sing the ABC song all the time and use his Leap Pad | Use age-appropriate computer software |
| Write his name | Use age-appropriate computer software | Encourage name recognition by putting it up around the house | Try writing it every other day |
| The Basics Goals | Approach: 1 | Approach: 2 | Approach: 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduce and Recognize Colors | Use age-appropriate computer software | Point out the colors of things several times a day | Use paints and crafts to emphasize colors |
| Introduce Personal Hygiene | Emphasize Hand washing and talk about why - germ book | Learn to wash his own hair | Learn to pick up after himself throughout the house |
| Introduce the Calendar | Make a Calendar Together - Mark every day that goes by | Sing songs with him that have the days and months | Talk about events in their sequence: "Today is Monday and on Wednesday we'll go to the park." |
| Character Goals | Approach: 1 | Approach: 2 | Approach: 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduce Different Positive Characteristics | Use the Character Trait Cards | Talk about his favorite characters and their traits | Have him choose or create a role model |
| Manners | Read his books that talk about manners | Encourage: please, thank you, you are welcome, etc by having all adults be sure to be polite | Use Manner Cards - like Character trait cards and reward him when he remembers to be polite |
| Show him the Importance of Giving | Let him donate some of his things to the local boy's home | Read him books and show videos that encourage giving | Do some type of charity work to raise money for a cause he helps to pick |
| Physical Goals | Approach: 1 | Approach: 2 | Approach: 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Focus on small vs. large motor skills | Put his first puzzle together | Build a model with his Dad | Transition to the little legos instead of the big ones. |
| Teach him to swim with confidence | Go to the pool 3 times a week and practice swimming | Set a date as a goal to have him swimming | Sign him up for a swimming class through the local YMCA |
| Teach him to bike ride with confidence | Get the next size up bike for him plus new helmet | Start to actually bike to the park. Make it a family adventure | Show him the safety rules and be sure he knows the boundary lines |
Download a blank goals sheet for your own use.
Everything Changes
Many of these things were already a part of my son's everyday life; however, outlining them like this really helped me to focus and feel confident about homeschooling. I had a plan! Now, every time I'm at a loss for what to do, I look at our goals list and choose something we haven’t worked on in awhile. With three different approaches for accomplishing each goal, I just keep trying different things until he gets it. You can revise your list whenever you want to and don't be discouraged by unmet goals. All of your goals will be met in time. My list had and will continue to have goals that we work on year after year.
Once you’ve completed writing your goals list, you'll be very pleased to know that you have just completed a simple curriculum plan. Yes, unknowingly, you've actually taken on the always-feared subject of CURRICULLUM! Maybe I'm being dramatic, but I know that it’s not uncommon to feel the same way I did! This list is not only a goals sheet, it’s also an outline for Kindergarten curriculum. You could now feasibly decide not to buy a complete curriculum and just buy resources that you want and need in order to meet the goals you’ve written down for the year. I believe that parents and children benefit most from having some kind of guidance in order to stay focused. In some cases, using small amounts of bought curriculum and defined goals to stay on track is what works; however, sometimes a complete curriculum is very necessary. Every homeschooler is different, and you know what your family needs better than anyone else. Look at our Curriculum Resources to find the perfect curriculum for your family.
Good Luck & Happy Homeschooling!