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Should you set learning goals for your homeschool? The answer depends on what your goal is for homeschooling. Here are some ideas to help you determine whether or not to set learning goals, and where you should begin with setting goals for your homeschool.
When I first began homeschooling I had big learning goals for my fresh faced five year old daughter. Suffice it to say those learning goals didn’t plan out. Since then my idea of learning goals has changed a lot.
So, today I’m talking to you about learning goals, in the form of a reader question. It comes from Rachael in my Joyfully Homeschooling Community on Facebook. She asks,
Do you set learning goals for your kids?
The answer to this is YES…. and No.
What Learning Goals Looks Like in our Homeschool
Each year, we have a set of learning goals we strive to meet. The goals are different from child to child. So, my learning goals for my current kindergartner aren’t the same as the goals were when my oldest was a kindergartner.
At the beginning of each homeschool year, I talk to my kids about what they want to accomplish during the homeschool year. I also think about what I want my kids to accomplish. This list of goals includes academic, character, and life skills.
So, how do I do this? For me, I look at how my children scored at the end of the year on their standardized test. Were they low in a certain area? If so, how can we improve that? I then look at their interests. What are they wanting to study? What do they want to learn more about? These become goals. I then take a look at life skills and character qualities. Where are they lacking? What do we need to focus on?
A Few Things to Consider When Setting Learning Goals
When setting the learning goals for our children it is important to remember a few things. The first is your child’s developmental level. As I said above, my current kindergartener is a lot different than when my girls were that age. His learning struggles are different, he learns differently, he has different needs and interests. His school is not going to look the same as his siblings, and that is okay.
It is important when we are setting goals for our homeschoolers that our goals are developmentally appropriate for each of our children. We don’t want our goals to become a stressor for us or our kids.
The next thing to remember is to avoid comparison. I think the biggest weakness I had when I first started homeschooling was the comparison trap. I based the goals I had for my children on the academic standards in the public school. In reality though my children, and your children aren’t cookie cutter students. The learning goals we set for our kids need to be customized for OUR kids. Not your neighbor’s kids, the kids in your child’s Sunday school class, or some state standard.
So, should you set learning goals for your kids? The answer is up to you! I do think setting goals, whether for life or academics is important. But, don’t model those learning goals after someone else’s homeschool. Create a customized plan for your homeschool.
Do you set learning goals? I’d love to hear them in the comments below!
Want to learn more about getting started homeschooling? Check out my book Homeschool 101!
