Comparisons of actual trivium mastery results to planned homeschool results are now complete, so let’s start to make adjustments. What changes do you need to make? Remember to keep the long-term vision in mind as you add and subtract from the updated semester plan. For instance, recall what you wrote when you completed the Classical Makeover steps for “Who is your child?” What are his gifts, talents, and abilities? What skills has he mastered?
What are your academic essentials? What are your priorities? What spiritual changes do you hope to foster in your child? What character qualities can be improved through academic work? How can you repurpose, maximize efficiency, and accomplish multiple skills mastery (2 for1) with one activity? Busy work is a no-no! What are your “yes – that worked” tasks, and what are your “no – that didn’t work” tasks?
To begin your discovery, complete the following “absorb, do, and connect” activities.
Absorb Activities:
Read DIY Curriculum Projects Can Be Lots of Fun- Need encouragement? Read Have Your Ambitious Homeschool Plans Fizzled?
- Watch Change is Good…You Go First! (3:24)
- Be creative, and take my advice: Don’t Be a Slave to Curriculum Lesson Plans
- Read 30 Ways to Supercharge Your Speech Curriculum
- Consider whether you are blocking progress in Ways Parents Provoke
Do Activities:
Read 9 Simple Tools to Keep You Organized- Read Facts + Real-Life = Better Retention
- Watch Theory U (2:11), open your mind, heart, and will to change
- Take the short list ( + or -) you created in Lesson 3.1, and decide which curriculum to toss or keep
- Consider this idea: Let Junior Write a One Week Curriculum Plan
- Go to your local co-op’s homeschool curriculum fair, and grab a few alternative texts
Connect Activities:
Plan an outing with your hubby and older kids to discuss progress and make adjustments- Complete an UPDATED Reading Skills Curriculum Plan (pdf)
- Complete an UPDATED Thinking Skills Curriculum Plan (pdf)
- Complete an UPDATED Speaking and Writing Skills Curriculum Plan (pdf)
- Rank priorities (academic, spiritual, physical, character) by A1, A2, A3, B1, B2, C
- Create a wishlist of future opportunities to explore (extracurricular, service, courses)
Well done! You’ve got the upcoming homeschool semester planned, and now it’s time to rejoice together over all that has been achieved. Regular gratitude breaks are good for reminding us all of how far we have come; they also give us a chance to look to the future with renewed anticipation and excitement. When you are happy with the latest semester plan, move on to the final lesson of your birth to tween Classical Makeover: How Will You Celebrate Accomplishments?
