Homeschool Lesson Plans - the Easy Way

There are benefits to having homeschool lesson plans. We all need them. We need to plan on how we are going to present the information so that our children will learn. Sometimes our plans will be simple. Other times we need to make our plan more detailed. Lesson plans are pretty easy to write when we use a simple form.

Benefits of Having Homeschool Lesson Plans

Homeschool lesson plans give an overview of what we plan to teach. If we are using a unit study, we can use a lesson plan to keep track of library books and supplies that we need. I would look at my weekly plan sheet to determine if I needed anything from the library or store. My written plans help to keep me organized.

Lesson plans help make children independent. When you give your child your plan he knows what is expected of him. If your children can read they can do most of the assignment themselves. When your older children are working independently you can teach your younger children.

How to Make a Plan

Lesson plans are pretty easy to write. There are different ways to make a plan.

Some people make their lesson plans at the beginning of the year. If you make a yearly plan you will want to review your plan at least every six months. Children change. Some lessons your child will learn easily and others will take more time. So you will need to make changes in your plan.

Other people plan throughout the year. If you plan throughout the year you will need to think about the lesson two weeks before you will teach it. The two week time will allow you to gather the supplies that you will need.

How ever you plan you will need to look over your lesson before you teach it. Then you will be able to gather supplies and review what the subject is about.

To start planning, gather your curriculum and lesson plans. If you are a Christian you will want to start your planning session with prayer. Then choose a subject. For each subject you will want to determine a lesson goal, how you will present the information, and what reference materials you will need. Write your ideas on your lesson plan.

An Example

Lesson plans look something like a day planner. Here is an example:

Date:

	Bible	Social Studies	Science	Language Arts	Math
Passage or Page to cover
Lesson goal
Activity
Books needed

A textbook Plan

If you are using textbooks you would simply list the pages to be covered. If there is a hands-on activity or field trip make a note on your plan sheet. If you want to supplement your lesson with other books, write the books down. Also make a note if you need to go to the library for the book.

A unit Study Plan

If you are doing a unit study your plan will be more detailed. Under language arts write down the daily writing assignment. List the week's spelling and vocabulary words. Make a note of the grammar rules that you plan to cover.

For Bible can include passages to read and verses to memorize.

Under history and science list the pages of reference books that you want your children to look at. Make a note of any hands-on projects that you plan to do. List the supplies for the projects.

Also on your lesson plan write down how you will evaluate your child. Textbooks usually have tests. If you are not using textbooks you will need to have some way of knowing that your child understood the material. It can be as simple as having your child telling you what he learned orally. Another way is for him to write an essay. Or you could make up a test.

Some Considerations

When you are making homeschool lesson plans focus on your child. Think about what he already knows. If he already knows something you do not have to teach it again just because it is in the curriculum. Focus on the lessons that he has difficulty with or has not yet learned. Also don't make the lesson too hard or too easy for him.

Lesson plans are a just a guide. They can be changed and modified. You should review your plan throughout the year. Maybe one unit is interesting to your child and should be studied longer than you had planned. In another subject your child learned the material quickly and does not need to do all of the review questions. Modify the lesson plans to fit your child.

Remember to plan for interruptions. During the school year there are times when we or our children are ill. Other times we hear of an educational or service opportunity. Remember not to make your plan so rigid that you do not have time to do what God had planned for you to do. Don't plan every 15 minutes of every hour. That kind of plan works in the school setting but not at home. Being a homeschool family there are so many unplanned learning experiences that can benefit our children and others.

Buying

I have to admit that I do not like to make my own homeschool lesson plans. Planning does take a lot of time. So when I saw that the Weaver had a lesson plan I bought it. I have been using it ever sense.

Look to see if your curriculum has lesson plans that you can buy. They save a lot of time and are worth the money.

This year make or buy some homeschool lesson plans to keep you organized and focused.

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