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Introduction
If you haven’t done so, I encourage you to go through the first two levels of the C.M.E. Homeschool Planning Framework. Level 1 showcases the importance of knowing and understanding your worldview and the values you hold as a family. From there, you can move on to level 2 to craft a mission statement based on specific goals you’ve established with your family. Pinpointing your values and goals will help guide your decisions on all the elements, or essential components, found in level 3 of the planning framework.
Again, when many families begin homeschooling, they immediately jump to finding the right curriculum, which becomes the main focus of their planning. However, the curriculum is just one part of several elements parents need to consider when planning their homeschool. Below is a list of 7 essential elements of homeschool planning parents should consider to ensure the student is understood and the environment is conducive to meaningful learning.
The Elements List
The list below represents essential elements of academic instruction and student learning.
I. Understanding How Students Learn
II. Managing Behavior
III. Choosing Curriculum
IV. Planning Schedules and Lessons
V. Organizing and Designing Learning Spaces
VI. Participating in Community
VII. Parent Education and Continued Learning
Before we go into each element, please note the information provided and any ideas suggested for you to implement in your home are precisely that – mere suggestions for you to consider based on your family’s needs. Again, this is a condensed version of what’s provided in the full, in-depth C.M.E. Homeschool Planning and Family. Available for purchase soon.
I. Understanding How Students Learn
Children are great, natural learners as they explore the world around them. Starting from birth, they absorb and process information so quickly that they can learn and speak a new language within a couple of years! Most adults can’t learn a language so fluently in that short amount of time. They are extremely curious and adventurous, willing to try new things without hesitation or embarrassment of failure. They begin asking, “Why?” by the time they’re are three years old!
Every day, they desire to accumulate more knowledge without any incentive other than to know. Learning is a part of human nature, and we have the opportunity to nurture that desire in our children.
Sadly, we all have seen students (and may have been those students at one point) who enter school and end up dreading and even hating the process of learning.
So how do we prevent this?
NINE EDUCATIONAL FACTORS THAT SUPPORT LEARNING
Research has shown that there are educational factors teachers should consider to help create a meaningful environment for students. These educational factors easily translate into the home context as explained below.
1.) NONTHREATENING: Building a learning environment that feels safe and comfortable
2.) NURTURING: Offering genuine support and encouragement to strengthen the teacher-student relationship
3.) MOVEMENT: Incorporating physical activities in daily lessons
4.) COLLABORATION: Creating opportunities to experience teamwork
5) MEANINGFUL CONTENT: Ensuring subject matter is presented in a way students can meaningfully connect and or apply new information
6) CHOICE: Giving students a sense of control with their education by offering options
7) ENRICHED ENVIRONMENT: Constructing a classroom that offers resources and inviting space to learn
8) ADEQUATE TIME: Allotting sufficient time for students to learn information and finish assignments
9) MASTERY: Having a full grasp of the content to move forward and build upon concepts
STUDENT LEARNING PROCESSES
Extensive reserve in education, brain, psychology, and child development have helped educators understand better how children process information and the conditions to help support their learning. Below are just a few of those, and how that should translate in your homeschool.
1.) MOTIVATION: Keeping students engaged and actively learning
How to implement in your homeschool –
- Consider student interests when lesson planning
- Create inviting spaces in the home where students are inspired to learn
- Change the environment, taking the student to a new place to study for further inspiration (e.g., café, library, park, museum, etc.)
- Encourage independent learning through student checklists and giving options in various tasks
- Praise students for their efforts and hard work
2.) ATTENTION SPANS: Setting up lessons that consider the child’s ability to focus on a task
How to implement in your homeschool –
Average appropriate attention spans (Brain Balance Achievement Center, 2019):
- 2 years old: 4 to 6 minutes
- 4 years old: 8 to 12 minutes
- 6 years old: 12 to 18 minutes
- 8 years old: 16 to 24 minutes
- 10 years old: 20 to 30 minutes
- 12 years old: 24 to 36 minutes
- 14 years old: 28 to 42 minutes
- 16 years old: 32 to 48 minutes
Attention can be increased through :
- Practicing and adjusting tasks
- Teaching delayed gratification
- Eliminating distractions
- Taking frequent breaks between subjects
3.) BRAIN BREAKS: Pausing lessons to allow students to refresh themselves and regain focus
How to implement in your homeschool –
- Games
- Exercise
- Songs
- Snack time
- Outside time
More information on student learning process are available in the C.M.E. Homeschool Planning and Family Guide eBook for purchase soon.
II. Managing Behavior
Managing behavior is one of the most challenging parts of homeschooling and parenting in general. Disruptions and meltdowns are inevitable. There are many unforeseen challenges parents cannot control. However, parents can prepare a positive learning environment before academic instruction begins! Three areas to consider to help manage behavior include 1) prevention, 2) cultivating good habits, 3) establishing clear guidelines, and 4) redemptive disciplining.
1.) PREVENTION
- Modeling good habits and proper behavior
- Maintaining open dialogue about expectations and consequences
- Ensuring needs are met before lessons (e.g., physical needs such as feeding students before lessons; emotional needs such as settling any prior conflict between you and your child)
- Having a plan of action to accommodate unexpected situations
2.) CULTIVATING GOOD HABITS
- Paying attention
- Having specific manners during lesson time
- Putting back toys after being played with and before moving on to the next activity
- Learning self-control when siblings take toys away
- Doing morning responsibilities without being prompted
- Knowing where to place belongings upon entering the home
- Washing hands after playing outside and before meals
BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CHILDREN ON HABITS:
BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ADULTS & FAMILIES ON HABITS:
3.) ESTABLISHING CLEAR RULES & GUIDELINES
Along with cultivating good habits, parents also need to provide clear expectations and guidelines. This prevents uncertainty and confusion in the child. Be clear of what you expect your children to do in all settings. Remind them to remember their manners when visiting friends – say hello to the hosts before entering the home, make sure to clean up after yourself, etc. During lessons, you plan to read a storybook for only a set amount of time, and you expect them to quietly color as you read. All these expectations correlate directly with cultivating good habits. The more clear and consistent your expectations are, the easier playdates, lessons, and other activities will be because 1) they know what’s expected of them, and 2) they’ve had many opportunities to practice it.
Also, consider two very important guiding Biblical principles to share with your kids, and when establishing rules and expectations:
- The Greatest Commandment is: Love God and love others (Matthew 22:36-40)
- The Golden Rule: Do to others as you would have them do to you (Matthew 7:12)
4.)redemptive disciplining
There are numerous methods and opinions on the topic of discipline. Scripture lays out a clear picture of God disciplining the Israelites as he brings order to a chaotic world and ultimately delivers redemption. In his article, The Need for Redemptive Discipline in the Christian School, Chris Taylor emphasizes the goal of redemptive discipline is not to “conform behaviorally but rather for students to be ‘conformed into the image of Christ’ (Romans 8:29, English Standard Version).”
Taylor continues on to say that redemptive discipline is…
- Gospel-centered: Rules and consequences are guided by the Gospel message of salvation
- Scripturally-based: Word of God is the basis for correction and reproof; focus is on sanctification process of the student through the Holy Spirit
- Positionally-focused: Students are fallen image-bearers of God, and only through the Holy Spirit can their hearts regenerate
- Grace-oriented: Teachers use disciplinary situations to remind students of their need of Jesus to be their Savior
It also means that…
- Teachers do not use authority to force compliance
- Accountability and responsibility are given to students in order true forgiveness can occur
- Learning environment emphasizes “community, cooperating, and serving one another” (from Teaching Redemptively: Bringing Grace and Truth into the Classroom by Donovan Graham)
III. Choosing Curriculum
Choosing the proper curriculum is a big task parents must not take lightly. However, now that you have a Biblical worldview (level 1), and a mission statement (level 2) to guide your decision-making, the curriculum choices should now have narrowed a little bit to accomplish the goals you have for your family.
Here are some factors to help guide your curriculum search:
- STATE REQUIREMENTS: Find out if state requires specific subjects students need to take, then move forward from them.
- STUDENT LEARNING STYLE: Understand your student’s learning needs first and foremost. However, don’t tailor instruction based on one specific learning style. Provide various styles to created well-rounded learning environments.
- HANDS-ON vs. HANDS-OFF MATERIALS: Each curriculum offers different levels of parent involvement, with some providing general lesson plans while others offering detailed script and reinforcement activities to do. Decide what level of support you might need in order to provide effective instruction.
- INTERESTING SUBJECTS: Add subjects based on family and student interests.
- ALL-INCLUSIVE CURRICULUM: All-inclusive curriculums provide most if not all subjects for the year, detailed schedules, and the supplies needed to teach lessons.
- CUSTOMIZED CURRICULUM: Customize your own curriculum through researching lessons based on subjects, borrowing books from the library, workbooks, planning activities, and free lesson plans online (this takes a more proactive approach).
- RESEARCH REVIEWS: Spend time researching the curriculum to ensure it will work for your family. Use Cathy Duffy’s reviews for detailed summaries of curriculum, ask trust friends for their experiences, and read online reviews.
- BUDGET: Curriculum costs range from free to hundreds of dollars. Consider your budget when purchasing these items, but also consider the amount of time it may take to put together curriculum yourself. Sometimes spending a little bit more money can save much time and effort.
IV. Planning Schedules & Routines
Planning is critical to guiding academic instruction and reducing stress. Scheduling lessons do not need to be restrained but instead acts as a guide to keep everyone on track even when unexpected events occur (illnesses, guests, travel, etc.). When interruptions occur, having a schedule for upcoming lessons and activities will help you get back on track.
Questions to consider for scheduling:
- Are you required to have a certain number of school days by your state? If so, your schedule should consider that.
- Do you plan to homeschool year-round, monthly breaks in between semesters, or maybe take three months of in the summer?
- Do you plan to follow the public school schedule, or do you plan to start school in January instead of September?
- Do you have curriculum that provides you with a schedule? If so, try it and see if it works for you. You can always go at your own pace, and develop a more realistic schedule that fits with your family’s lifestyle.
- Are you going to do school 5 or 4 or 3 days a week?
SCHEDULE FORMATS
There are many scheduling formats parents can apply in their homeschool planning. Some common types of schooling include: year-round, traditional, calendar, and Sabbath. Consider lifestyle, working-parent schedules, and goals you’d like to accomplish throughout the year.
subject/lesson formats
Three common ways to schedule subjects for a weekly and daily basis include 1) block, 2) routine, and 3) loop scheduling.
1.) BLOCK SCHEDULE: Defined, scheduled times for each activity/subject.
Block Schedule Example:
8-8:45 a.m. MATH
(15 minute break)
9-9:45 a.m.: LANGUAGE ARTS
(15 minute break)
10-11 a.m.: HISTORY/GEOGRAPHY
2.) ROUTINE SCHEDULE: Habitual set of procedures scheduled for certain parts of the days. Times are not set, but rather, the day is broken up for accomplishing various subjects.
Routine Schedule Example:
MORNING TIME (8-12 p.m.)
Breakfast & Scripture Reading
Math
Language Arts
History/Geography Loop
AFTERNOOON (12-3 p.m.)
Lunch and Family Read Aloud
Arts Loop
Free Time
3.) LOOP SCHEDULE: A list of subjects not assigned on a particular day, but looped, or rotated, and worked on. The PURPOSE of looping subjects is to be able to accomplish various subjects that may only need to be done once or twice a week, so they’re put on a rotation list done in the same sequence to ensure it is completed.
Loop Schedule Example:
HISTORY/GEOGRAPHY LOOP* is scheduled daily except on Fridays.
*History/Geography Subjects to be looped:
Ancient History
Ancient Geography
American History
American Geography
The list of subjects above is assigned in the same sequence on days you assign History/Geography Loop: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. However, there may be days between Monday and Thursday you skip this loop. So, for example:
The last lesson you completed in the History/Geography Loop is American Geography on a Wednesday. However, you miss History/Geography Loop on Thursday and Monday. But on Tuesday, you have time for the History/Geography Loop and begin the next lesson in Ancient History.
**LOOP TIP: If you want to spend MORE TIME on a specific subject, such as American History, then you would add American History to the loop a second time in the following manner:
- Ancient History
- Ancient Geography
- American History
- American Geography
- [add] AMERICAN HISTORY
V. Organizing & Designing Learning Spaces
An organized AND beautiful home keeps students focused on assigned tasks. Take a look online for examples that inspire creative designs, decorations, and layouts for your homeschool. Your space and design will depend on location, family’s needs, size, budget, and schooling method. However, please remember a substantial decorating budget isn’t needed to make a space beautiful! Sometimes, simple and minimal is what children need best since it will be less distracting and overwhelming. Use the following suggestions to plan out the learning spaces throughout your home.
- Create designated areas in your home (e.g., reading corners, parent command center or work desk, morning time gathering place, etc.)
- Consider environmental factors in your home (e.g., light, temperature, air quality, sound, color, stimulation, etc.)
- Organize each student’s curriculum and materials in designated space (e.g., personal basket, shelving, etc.)
- Bring life to your space (e.g., add comfortable rugs with padding, plants, paint walls in relaxing colors to encourage focus, etc.)
- Keep spaces tidy (e.g., create a habit of students putting away supplies before moving on to the next activity; block time out to do chores at the end of the day)
VI. Participating in Community
From the beginning of time, God created man to be relational. He walked and fellowshipped with Adam in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:8). He made Eve so Adam wouldn’t be alone (Genesis 2:18). So, make time for connecting with other like-minded families. Homeschooling provides flexibility for seeking mentorship, serving locally, traveling, and pursuing personal interests and passions with others – this is both for students AND parents!
Some ways to pursue meaningful connections for children:
- Co-ops/meet-ups
- Churches, youth group, Bible studies
- Local libraries
- 4-H
- Extracurricular activities: jiujitsu, ballet, chess club, etc.
- Sports teams
- Part-time instruction in co-op, public school, or community college
- Volunteer opportunities with local organizations or churches
More ways to pursue meaningful connections for parents:
- Parents’ night out
- Weekly bible studies
- Book clubs
- Hobby clubs
VII. Parent Education & Continued Learning
Homeschooling is a vocation, and like any vocation, you need to spend time trying to hone your skills through continued education. That doesn’t necessarily mean going back to college to get a degree. Instead, it means taking time to research various topics to better equip yourself such as learning how students learn best, understanding various methods to instruct effectively, watching a video on handwriting lessons, or reading the parent handbook on a new curriculum.
As you probably have already seen, there are plenty of resources to help equip you to succeed in your homeschool journeys. It will take intentionality, time, commitment, and much effort. However, the fruit will be worth it knowing you’ve done your best to be ready to teach your children in meaningful and purposeful ways and have the confidence to do so!
Other ways to equip yourself to better teach and guide your children:
- Take online teaching courses on specific subjects
- Read education and child development literature
- Prepare and understand lessons ahead of time
- Learn from seasoned homeschool veterans
- Listen to podcasts on education, parenting, theology, etc.
CONCLUSION
As you’ve read throughout the C.M.E. Homeschool Planning Framework and Family Guide, there are many details in preparing to home educate our children.
Level 1, you established your worldview and values by aligning them with Biblical principles.
Level 2, you crafted a mission statement that states your overall big-picture view of why you’re homeschooling and what you’re trying to accomplish through it.
Level 3, you looked at essential elements and details of home education such as student learning, managing behavior, and what to consider when designing learning spaces in your home.
God created the home as a unique and special place for families to grow and learn together. We are called to “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6).
The idea of training requires time, effort, and consistency. The process will have challenges, but with perseverance, the proper attitude, and the right support of like-minded people, the results can be significant growth for the entire family. Planning your homeschool with purpose and direction can lead to a beautiful space and environment for genuine connections and meaningful learning.
A NOTE FROM THE NIKKI:
I hope this guide has been proven helpful and is a blessing to your family! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at nikki@livingandlearningcoramdeo.com. Best wishes on your homeschooling journey!
IN-DEPTH C.M.E. PDF Guide Available for purchase {APRIL 2022!}
The information above is a condensed version of the full C.M.E. Homeschool Planning Framework and Family Guide that comes in an easy-to-read eHandbook version. It offers more research-based strategies, resources, and practical advice to implement in your home. It will be available for purchase by April 2022. Subscribe and stay updated. Visit the C.M.E. Framework page for more information.
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