Homeschool Planning Step One: Subjects and Goals

About: Planning for Beginners

The web pages in this section do not cover legal matters. The pages here describes the step-by-step process of getting started after legal matters are taken care of.

Step One: List the Subjects

The first step is very easy and perhaps you already know what subjects your child will study in homeschool. You should check your state laws to find out what sort subjects they require (if any).

Sample Subject Lists

The sample lists are not set in stone, please add or take away from them, but always include math, language arts, history (social studies), and science. The arts, religious studies, and state history are not mentioned in the sample lists and those subjects would be examples of subjects that could be added.

K

Phonics/Learn to Read
Handwriting
Math
Social Studies
Science
Health

1st & 2nd

Phonics/Reading
Handwriting
Reading
English
Spelling
Math
Social Studies
Science
Health

3rd Grade

Reading
English
Spelling
Math
Handwriting
Writing
History
Geography
Science

4th & 5th

Reading
English
Spelling
Math
Handwriting
Writing
History
Geography
Science
PE

The course of study for grades 6, 7, and 8 is like the course of study for 4th and 5th grades, however, handwriting can be dropped if the student is doing well with his penmanship. Spelling is also optional after grade 6. If your child needs to continue studying spelling, do so, I recommend Natural Speller.
The high school course of study is discussed in the High School section of donnayoung.org.

Make the List

What subjects will your child take this year, probably the usual, right? This part is not hard. If you haven;'t already, just make your list of subjects. You can use one of my forms or make the list on notebook paper or in your word processor. I usually make mine on a course of study form because making a course of study is step three.

Goals

I want to you to consider looking at a standards list. I have World Book's list linked on the right hand side of this page. I also have linked some books that cover standards in the right side bar on this page.

Goals Form
goals

Example of a filled goal planner

Donna's Goal Planners

Take some time and think about what your child should do in the coming year and write it down, that will make choosing curriculum easier. Trips to the library can be more fruitful with your goals list in hand and you will have a guide when you get forgetful.

Goals can be made for short and for long periods of time. The goals can be for things other than academics, such as character goals.

Standards Books

There are a few books that are about what to teach and when. You'll find them in homeschooling catalogs, libraries, and curriculum fairs. I have a few standards books linked in the right sidebar.

Do you need a standards book?

I can't answer that for you, some find them handy and some find them a comfort while others rely on their choice of curriculum to cover standards and they do not buy a standards book and some do not ever think about it. I used to wish I had one, especially after hearing a homeschool mom rave about hers, but I was always short on book funds and I made due with the World Book's standards and with public school standards books that I found at the library.

Make Goals

Optional, but consider making goals. They can be copied from standards lists and they can come from what you know about your child and what sort of things he needs to work on and accomplish. The more you homeschool, the easier this will be.

If you aim for nothing then nothing is what you will usually get.

Donna Young