After defining your purpose for roadschooling, the next step is to establish goals for the upcoming school year. Creating both short-term and long-term goals tailored to each child is crucial. These goals will provide a roadmap for selecting appropriate curriculum and determining the subjects you’ll be teaching your children.

If you’re new to homeschooling and feel a bit lost, don’t worry! A great starting point is to review state education requirements. Check out the Homeschool Legal Defense to get an idea of what should be covered. While not all states have specific requirements, it’s always a good idea to familiarize yourself with your local laws.

When setting goals, it’s advisable to make them SMART goals:

– Specific

– Measurable

– Attainable

– Relevant

– Time-Bound

For instance, let’s consider a third-grade math curriculum that covers multiplication. Your initial goal might be “The child will memorize their multiplication tables”. However, this goal is rather vague. Let’s make it more precise: “The child will memorize 80% of multiplication tables 1s to 6s by the end of the first semester.”

The revised goal is more specific, stating which multiplication tables will be memorized. It is measurable by assessing the child’s accuracy on a quiz covering tables 1 to 6 at the semester’s end.

Consider attainability when setting goals. This will vary depending on your child’s abilities. If the goal proves challenging, adjust the timeline accordingly. Also, ensure that the goal remains relevant. If your third-grader already has their multiplication tables memorized, this goal may need modification.

Setting a time limit makes a goal time-bound, adding a sense of urgency and motivation. An open-ended goal lacks the drive to complete it. “I’ll do it someday” doesn’t foster a proactive mindset like “I’ll do it now.”

In addition to academic achievements, set goals for the school day itself. For example, you might aim for 3 to 4 hours of schoolwork, five days a week. Determine how to divide that time amongst various subjects. This goal is crucial to consider when selecting educational materials, as some may include excessive “busy work” that extends lesson times beyond your target.

Clear goals for each child and subject are fundamental for success during the initial planning phase of road school. Without well-defined goals, you might inadvertently choose materials that, while fantastic, don’t align with your family’s needs.

I found a great software to help you with setting and keeping goals. You can check it out right here.

If you have any further thoughts or suggestions about goal setting, please leave a comment below. Your insights are greatly appreciated.

I hope you found this information helpful.

Rachel