Setting Homeschool Goals: Strategies for Establishing Clear Objectives for the Year
Setting homeschool goals can help your child progress. Read on to learn the ins and outs of setting homeschool goals.
Why Set Homeschool Goals
You want your child to progress during the school year. No doubt you want them to master specific skills and hit certain milestones.
Goals give you both a target and a yardstick to measure your child’s progress.
Knowing the goals can motivate you and your child.
These guidelines will help you set homeschool goals correctly to achieve academic and personal success.
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Setting Effective Homeschool Goals
These tips will help your homeschool goals be clear and effective.
Identify Learning Targets
At the end of this school year, what do you want your child to know how to do? What knowledge do you want him to have?
Make a list of your learning priorities for the year.
Consider your child’s interests and abilities, and identify areas that need the most growth.
Make the Goals S.M.A.R.T.
If you have never heard of S.M.A.R.T. goals, read this first.
S.M.A.R.T. is an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
Specific
The goals should be clear. Don’t list “Improve reading skills.” Instead, list something specific, like “Read 20 books at or above reading level.”
Measurable
The best goals are quantifiable, so you know when you reach that goal. In the above example, there is a target number of books.
Achievable
Set a goal that challenges your child but does not overwhelm them. Be realistic about what progress your child can make in a year.
Relevant
Make sure the goal relates to the child’s age, grade level, and ability.
Time-bound
Have a timetable in place for achieving that goal, such as 3 months, 6 months, or a school year
Break Down Goals into Smaller Steps
Large goals can be overwhelming. Provide scaffolding to help the child achieve the goal.
For instance, if your goal is for your child to learn the multiplication tables from 0 to 12 by the end of the year, break it up into steps.
Learn 2 sets of times tables every month (like the 5s and 6s) until your child knows them all.
Involve Your Child in the Process
The most successful homeschool goals are ones that your child also want to achieve.
Get them involved in the process! Have a discussion with them about their interests, aspirations, and where they want to improve.
Check out these tips on Goal Setting with Kids.
Consider Adding Personal Development Goals
While homeschool goals often lean toward the academic, you can also set personal goals for your child.
These may be social-emotional goals, like “Make one new friend.”
They may relate to executive functioning, like “Divvy up your schoolwork for the week.”
Personal goals may also include life skills, such as “Open a bank account” or “Learn how to cook five dinners.”
Keep Goals Visible
Your homeschool goals for the year should not be a secret from your child.
Post them in a visible location, like on a bulletin board or in the front of their planner.
Regularly Assess Progress
Don’t set a goal in the beginning of the year and only check in at the end of the year.
Have regular check-ins where you evaluate the progress toward that goal.
Ask, “What are you doing well?” and “What is one thing you’d like to improve/do differently next month?”
Celebrate Progress
Keep your child motivated by celebrating progress toward their goals.
Don’t wait until your child reads 20 books. Have mini-celebrations at 5, 10, and 15.
Even small celebrations, like a sticker chart, a special snack, or an outing help keep spirits high and kids on track.
Homeschool Goal Setting
A goal is a destination. Once you know where you want to go, you can chart a course to get there.
Homeschool goals help inspire and motivate your child to reach his potential, personally and academically.
Follow these guidelines to make the most of your homeschool goals.
