How Will You School Your Kids Next Year?

In the academic world, planning a term ahead is common place. That means that springtime is the perfect time to start researching and figuring out plans for the next academic year. Waiting until the last minute can limit your options, or leave you feeling rushed and unprepared. Whether you send your children to public or private schools, home school, road school, unschool, or virtual school, or any combination there of, having a plan is key to their success.

Below, you’ll find some topics to think about and ideas of resources to help you decide what is best for your child. I also have a download for a FREE printable Academic Pre-Plan Sheet with some guided questions, if you aren’t sure where to start. This and other helpful resources are on our BOM Printables page.

A little background–I have a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and spent 17 years as a public school educator, both in brick and mortar and in the virtual world (before, during and after the pandemic), and have managed at home learning for our youngest for 5 years from pandemic, virtual and now unschooling (a Florida option). My oldest son graduated several years ago, completing all of his K-12 academics in public school, then for college did a blend of in-person and online learning, which he found worked really well for him. BJ also taught science and robotics for 5 years using his Engineering degree. You can still do this, even without a degree or formal teaching experience, because you are an expert on your children!

During the pandemic, we learned that our youngest did better being in control of his learning, and from 4th-8th grade, have slowly given him more control of his learning–going from structured classes online, to choosing his courses and scaffolding his learning to focus on 2 classes at a time since electives weren’t a middle school requirement in Florida, but accelerated (taking math and history together, then science and language arts the next term allowed him to go deeper in learning, but keep the brain balance” of skills has worked well for him.) As we prepare for high school in the fall, we will keep the same structure, but also added in a foreign language, and another elective in his interest area, following the graduation-required model for now.

I have always thought that every child needs and Individual Academic Plan, whether they have learning anomalies or not. Every child learns differently, has different interests, and has different skill sets and personality attributes that makes them unique, and planning for those is the secret to successfully educating ANY type of learner. For some, that learning style is adaptable to the public school model and standardized assessments, but others are not, so it’s important to think through it.

Let’s go over some guided questions to help you with your decision.

WHO will be in a learning environment this year? Think about which of your kids will need academic instruction this year, what level are they at, and what their individual needs, strengths and styles are.

WHAT content and method do they need to learn best? If they attend an existing school, this will be decided, with some options for electives. If you are taking charge of their learning, you have many options for curriculum to use, either pre-built, or you can piece together.

WHEN will you have your academic time, both for a “school term” and during your day. Some families follow school calendars, some create their own hybrid, and others just work year round. If you are structuring their day, thinking about your, and their, peak times is important–and realizing it won’t be as long a day as a typical “in-school” day either. Some do better in the morning or evening, some do better with certain subjects certain times of day. And not every day needs to be a structured school day, so you can be flexible.

WHERE will you do the learning? Some families create a designated place in their home, some use a multi-use area of the home, and others go outside of the home to co-ops or educational places and do their learning on site.

WHY are you looking at academic options for your child? Is it because you travel? Because they have specific academic needs? Because you’d prefer a more hands-on approach? Are you incorporating more of your family’s personal beliefs? Keeping this as your focus will help you choose a path best for you.

HOW will you manage your time for learning, record keeping, as well as other responsibilities you have? This may mean blocking off certain parts of your day for each learner, or certain days a week for learning and for other responsibilities. It’s okay if it changes weekly, or daily, though. Flexible learning can aid not only in their development, but also with your life. Just have some type of routine they can count on, or a plan board they, and you can see.

OTHER THINGS TO THINK ABOUT It is your decision, but I highly recommend including your children in the decision-making process, at some point. Whether you and your partner discuss and decide first to narrow options, then include them, or if you include them from the start, allowing them to be part of it will empower them, and help them learn about the process, and themselves.

Don’t worry if your kids are all different ages and levels! Blending them together can be just as successful as separating them by scaffolding their instruction time and using learning opportunities that allow for several levels of successful outcome.

Be sure to take pictures of their work and of their time together. This can help with assessing them, observations and records, and creating a yearbook of your own each year!

If you are planning to take charge of their learning, be sure you have a good record-keeping plan in place. Your school district’s home school group, local co-ops or community or online can be great resources for what to track and how to organize it, as well as for finding resources and organizing activities. If you travel often, or want to incorporate that into your learning platform, there are many online communities to work with, as well.

Just a reminder to get signed up for your summer camps, if you plan to attend–they are also planning ahead for staffing and supplies and waiting until summer may limit your choices.

Don’t forget to download your FREE printable Academic Pre-Plan Sheet you from our BOM Printables page to help get you started.