(Taken from my book, “Homeschooling With Encouragement”)
At the end (or beginning) of each school year, use this checklist (or make your own) to evaluate what went well and what you would like to improve for the next year. Remember, we all have different styles in teaching and this may not apply to some families. However, this is a great way to get an overall view of how you think you did and how your students feel they did. This is best to do at the end of the year while things are fresh in your mind. You might want to discuss these items as a family and/or do a private interview with each member to get a complete picture.
Be sure to include your husband and each child for their individual perspectives. You will need to adapt the questions for each one (e.g., Dad: Do you know what our children learned this year? What would you have liked them to learn that they did not learn?). Please do not let this evaluation discourage you! Rejoice and thank the Lord for what went well and learn from weak areas so that you do even better next year.
——————— Evaluation Checklist ——————–
General (students)
[ ] What did you like best about our homeschool this year?
[ ] What did you like least about our homeschool this year?
[ ] What did you learn?
[ ] What did you not learn that you would have liked to?
Academics
[ ] Were basic foundation skills of reading, language, and math improved, mastered, reviewed and practiced enough?
[ ] Were specific facts connected to the big picture of overall knowledge through the use of a globe, maps, timelines, charts, and related information?
[ ] Did we use a variety of teaching methods and materials, (e.g., textbooks, workbooks, unit studies, hands-on activities, library or Internet research, reports)?
[ ] Were thinking skills taught and encouraged by the types of discussions we had (e.g., comprehension, knowledge, analysis, synthesis, application, and evaluation)?
[_] Was there enough good supplemental reading done as a family or independently?
[_] Was there time, resources, and encouragement available to pursue individual interests
Spiritual
[_] Did your family read God’s Word and pray together daily?
[_] Was Bible knowledge and Bible study skills increased?
[_] Were Bible reading and memorization given as much importance as academics?
[_] Were subjects taught from a Christian worldview?
Character Development (parent/teacher)
[_] Was character development an important part of our school (e.g., honor and obedience to mother as the teacher and parent; kindness to siblings; diligence; truthfulness; and attention to details in studies)?
[_] Was child discipline maintained in a simple, straightforward, and kind manner?
[_] Were the rules and consequences clear and consistently carried out?
[_] Were there enough positive motivations and negative consequences?
Life Skills
[_] Were life skills included in your training and related to academic subjects (budgeting, cooking, shopping, driving, cleaning, organizing, scheduling, repairing, maintaining a house, yard, and car, voting, supervised Internet use)?
Logistics (parent/teacher)
[_] Was the schedule realistic and easy to keep? Too strict or too lax? Was doing schoolwork a regular, daily habit (along with chores and personal grooming)?
[_] Did we have a good balance between group and independent study?
[_] Were the classes we did as a group interesting, and did they allow each student to learn?
[_] Was mother available for help when needed? Was there a need for alternative activities or procedures when she was unavailable?
[_] Did we care for our toddlers and babies in the best way for them and for our studies?
[_] Were the settings for our studies appropriate and conducive to learning (e.g., dining room table, couch, individual desks)?
[_] Did we have enough, not enough, or too much independent study? Was there enough time, space, supervision, and help available for these studies?
[_] What got bogged down that could have gone more quickly?
[_] Was there enough organization and planning for space, materials, schedule, and chores?
[_] Were there enough varied experiences or too many outside activities? Were our supplemental and outside activities worth the time and effort?
[_] Was the atmosphere of our home warm, loving, and supportive?
Bottom Line (parent/teacher, student)
[_] What do you want to do the same or differently next year?
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Save this evaluation and use it for next year and the year after. It will help build your confidence by showing you how far you have come in your homeschooling journey.
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“The biggest surprise to a new homeschooling parent is the realization of how short the school day is compared to a traditional brick and mortar building. Because of the one-on-one teaching you are giving your child, the typical school day hours are cut in half.“
support. Whether you live in the city or in a rural country house, there IS support available. Of course, the obvious groups consist of libraries and church groups, but now parents are finding it easy using the Internet to connect with others via Facebook, Yahoo, and Google – children can also become each others support through snail-mail penpal clubs, Internet chat classes, and local area play groups. Please seek out a group to belong to. Step out and make friends. Sometimes a little encouragement is all you need to get through those rough days.
