Today I decided to take a look back. I do this every year for several reasons, but namely, it makes me feel like we’re going somewhere. It’s really easy to get “stuck” when I look at the tiny steps my children take daily. It’s only when we look backwards, that we can see how far we’ve come and how all those little baby steps add up to one big leap.
I was going to post a blog on what I thought about my year and then I decided that you probably don’t care. Or if you do, you shouldn’t. You seeing where I’ve been isn’t as helpful as you looking at where you’ve been. So instead, here is a list of questions for you to contemplate as you look towards a new year of homeschooling. Go ahead, print this out. Take some time when no one is going to bother you and write the answers down. Keep them so that when we are at 2009 looking back, you can see where you’ve been and how far you’ve come.
The Good
1. Think about where your child’s strengths lie. Don’t think only in academic terms but think also in terms of learning styles, interests, and social skills. Choose the most prominent three and for each one, write down one thing you’re going to do this year to enhance that particular gift or ability.
2. Think about your child’s best academic subject. Which subject is easiest for him? Now write down one thing that you will do to enhance his study of that subject in 2008.
3. List one thing that you did particularly well this year. It can be how you ran the household, it can be a subject or even a personal goal like having more patience. (Don’t we all need more of that?) Now write down one way in which you’re going to do it even better next year.
4. Finish this sentence: The best moment of homeschooling in 2007 was. . .
The Bad
1. What is your child’s biggest area of weakness? Now be careful. Don’t just think about the academics, but think in terms of character as well. Remember that we’re educating a whole child. . .not just a brain. Don’t be tempted to list more than one thing. . .you’re only allowed to choose one. It’s easy to be critical but the greatest gains will be made when you focus on just one thing at a time. Now, as you probably guessed, write down how you’re going to improve it.
2. Think about what you did very badly this year. Either a subject you didn’t teach well, something in your character that affects your children’s lessons. . .and yes, write down what you’re going to do differently.
The Ugly
Just one question: what did you do this year that was hideously bad? It can be a curriculum choice, a decision in schooling. . . I don’t want you to write down how you’re going to do it better. . .but rather what led you there in the first place.
Related Articles:
What did you like to talk about in 2007? Check here to see the most commented blogs!
Resource Review: Dover Publishing
The Opportunity to Respond to Life