
April Homeschool Update: I Made Changes to Finish Strong
As the school year winds down, many homeschoolers are looking for ways to finish strong. For some, this means making changes to their curriculum and approach. This April homeschool update will discuss some of the changes I made to my homeschool curriculum to help my children finish the year strong.
Sonlight
I have been using Sonlight for my homeschool curriculum for the past few years. Sonlight is a literature-based curriculum that focuses on reading and comprehension. This year, I decided to make a few changes to the Sonlight curriculum to help my children finish the year strong.
First, I added more challenging books to the curriculum. I wanted to make sure my children were being challenged and were able to read and comprehend more difficult material. I also added more hands-on activities to the curriculum. This allowed my children to engage with the material in a more interactive way.
Finally, I added more writing activities to the curriculum. This allowed my children to practice their writing skills and to express their thoughts and ideas in a more organized way.
Saxon
I also decided to make some changes to my Saxon math curriculum. Saxon is a traditional math curriculum that focuses on problem-solving and critical thinking. This year, I added more challenging problems to the curriculum. This allowed my children to practice their problem-solving skills and to think more critically about the material.
I also added more hands-on activities to the curriculum. This allowed my children to engage with the material in a more interactive way. Finally, I added more practice tests to the curriculum. This allowed my children to practice their test-taking skills and to become more comfortable with the material.
Logic of English
I also decided to make some changes to my Logic of English curriculum. Logic of English is a phonics-based curriculum that focuses on reading and spelling. This year, I added more challenging words to the curriculum. This allowed my children to practice their reading and spelling skills and to become more comfortable with more difficult words.
I also added more hands-on activities to the curriculum. This allowed my children to engage with the material in a more interactive way. Finally, I added more writing activities to the curriculum. This allowed my children to practice their writing skills and to express their thoughts and ideas in a more organized way.
Abeka
Finally, I decided to make some changes to my Abeka curriculum. Abeka is a traditional curriculum that focuses on reading, writing, and math. This year, I added more challenging material to the curriculum. This allowed my children to practice their reading, writing, and math skills and to become more comfortable with more difficult material.
I also added more hands-on activities to the curriculum. This allowed my children to engage with the material in a more interactive way. Finally, I added more practice tests to the curriculum. This allowed my children to practice their test-taking skills and to become more comfortable with the material.
FAQs
What changes did you make to your homeschool curriculum?
I made changes to my Sonlight, Saxon, Logic of English, and Abeka curriculums. I added more challenging material, more hands-on activities, and more practice tests to each curriculum.
Why did you make changes to your homeschool curriculum?
I made changes to my homeschool curriculum to help my children finish the year strong. I wanted to make sure my children were being challenged and were able to read, write, and comprehend more difficult material.
How did the changes help your children?
The changes helped my children by allowing them to practice their reading, writing, and math skills and to become more comfortable with more difficult material. The changes also allowed my children to engage with the material in a more interactive way.
I scaled back HBL C similarly to how you did. I’m just finishing the spine books, but not extra history. My daughter is going to read some of the read alouds on her own this Summer and we’ll read some aloud. But we have several that we haven’t gotten to. 😮 😊 Not worried. 😊
"Maybe not finish everything, but finish well." Love this!!!
Yes, please share your readers! 🙂
The reading milestones are my favorite thing! It is amazing to watch!
We have about a month left in our homeschool year for my twin 2nd graders and 1st grader. Phew!!! This was our first year of homeschooling and boy oh boy did we have some ups and downs🥴 We started off a tad shaky but we are finishing up well. I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroid in early January, so that's been tangent for me. Overall, the Lord has seen us through and we are finishing well. I do plan to do some light schooling during the summer, to sharpen skills and get to a few things we weren't able to during the school year. Take care and many blessings to you and your family. ❤
Thank you so much for sharing so openly about overwhelm in homeschool. It makes me feel less alone and gives me permission to pull back on certain things. Thank you! Thank you!
Same boat! It's been tough through April. Also been giving myself grace. Sometimes it takes 2 weeks to get through a week of sonlight but that's OK. Slow and steady wins the race
We have six weeks (5 if we really push it) left. I am excited to try lots of new things next year. Got our summer plans figured out over the weekend because I need to have some structure put in place or it won't be pretty.
Praying for renewed strength and joy ❤
Yes! I am so done, but we still have until the end of May as well.
Yes I am ready to be done and we are trying to finish strong
What do you use for standardized testing? I've been trying to decide which to use.
I totally know that having all math facts down before starting 54 is the best but my son is into lesson 75 and just finishing up his math fact memorization. So don't stress! We're going to work on reimforcing those facts over summer and keep slowly chugging through 54. You got this girl! Great update. Keep it simple.
Great update! I think you are so wise to stop and take your time with your son on math facts. Solid math facts knowledge will make math so much easier for him for the future!!
We’ve had many years where we have had to access the important things and scale back the others. I have found that having a few read alouds and a science or history a few times a week through summer isn’t a bad thing. After two weeks of a break at least one of my four are wanting some type of routine of school something. I think you’re doing great!
Usually I am itching to be done by this time of year as the new Currie is rolling in. We took a two week vacation which meant actually not doing school any of those days since we were gone and we all feel so refreshed. We’ve wrapped up all of this years curriculum and have started on next years math and language arts, plus a few extras. This is new ground for us lol we usually school year round, but would take at least a three week break before dining back in.
We have about 4 weeks left too and I'm feeling very tired and done. We're moving in 4 weeks so I'm trying to pack up our entire house, research where we're moving to and try to figure out our new life there, finish the homeschool year with my oldest 2 and keep my 3.5 year old twins out of trouble. So I'm right there with you! -Sarah
Our life is about to become super complicated. My husband has been trying for a promotion at his job since November… Well he got word today that he got it and starts his new position on the 15th of May. Yay! However, it is swing shift every 8 months. So with homeschooling 3 kids, 9 and under, I know it's going to be a true test of figuring out a new normal for our lives. I am just ready to be done for the year and get certain things in order, then add in the schooling. We still have 5 weeks left though.
I just received a confirmed diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis and we just moved. We haven't done school in 2 weeks but I know we have to finish. I just don't feel good so I totally get where you are! I also understand the meds I'm about to start will probably make me feel more tired. We will do the most important things for now. We can do this! 🫶🙏
Agreed! We have the month of May left and we are doing bare minimum to get through. So ready for summer break! 🙂