Homeschool Goals and Objectives – How to set them properly

Maybe you’re a seasoned homeschooler, maybe you’ve only started this year.

Either way, it’s safe to say: some days are easier than others.

When the sun is shining and the play-park is calling their name, or it’s thrashing down outside and they want to lie on the couch, motivating homeschool students is a challenge all of its own.

But there’s one thing you can do to make it easier: setting goals and objectives.

Just as we love crossing things off our to-do list at the end of the day, homeschool goals will keep your child focused and challenged. With this guide, we will give you some tips to help keep your child, and you, on schedule for success.

3 benefits of setting homeschool goals and objectives

Goal-setting is a skill in itself

As they grow, your little one’s going to need to know how to set their own goals. Set them too high, and they’ll always feel they’re falling short. Set them too low, and they might not develop at a motivating pace.

It’s important to get the right balance, and now’s the time to teach them!

Have your child write down a long-term learning goal, and show them how to break it down into smaller, more manageable weekly or daily steps. Suddenly, your child’s goal of getting their Maths grade up from a C to an A feels a lot less daunting!

Of course, as a parent you will have your own objectives for your kids, so write these down too. You can keep your daily homeschool goals written in an easy to see place — try the refrigerator door or side-by-side with your child’s — so you both get to cross it off at the end of the day!

Learning to work S.M.A.R.T

S.M.A.R.T working isn’t just a great acronym, it can really revolutionize your goal-setting in and out of homeschool. S.M.A.R.T goals must be:

• S: Specific – Define the goal in your own words.
• M: Measurable – Is it possible? Are you motivated by it?
• A: Achievable – Is this a goal that you have the resources to accomplish?
• R: Relevant – Will this help towards the long-term goal?
• T: Trackable – Can you achieve this in your time-frame? Can you see progress?

This will give you and your child a realistic image of how your short-term homeschooling goals and objectives will benefit the bigger picture.

Naturally, children like to think in vague terms such as ‘I want to go to college, so I need to improve my English grade.’ S.M.A.R.T goal-setting will allow them to achieve their goal and track their own progress in a really meaningful way, making them even more motivated.

Try it out!

Your child will feel more confident

You love the dizzy sense of achievement when finishing all your tasks at the end of the day, right? Well, it’s the same for kids, too!

Knowing that they’re capable of achieving what they set out to do will really help boost a child’s self-esteem. And don’t forget to praise and reward them regularly — everyone likes to hear when they’ve done a good job!

On the other hand, if your child doesn’t happen to reach his/her goal, make sure they know it’s okay and they can always try again. Goals and objectives are meant to be motivating, not stressful, so keep this in mind when setting your own goals for your child, too.

Examples of homeschool goals and objectives

The basics

The most important, but often the hardest, homeschool goal is keeping a schedule.

Treating homeschooling like a normal school day is vital for success. This means having the same wake-up time, school time, lunchtime and finish time. Setting up a designated school area in the home will help separate work and home life for your kids, and give them a sense of structure to boot.

But this can be tough, especially for those living in smaller spaces and/or with a hectic family life. So don’t be too hard on yourself — or your kids — when trying to get this right!

The bigger picture

When setting your homeschooling goals and objectives it is important to think long-term: What would you like your children to achieve, or improve on this academic year?

An example of this could be:

Overall goal: ‘I want my 5th grader to improve their reading skills.’

Process:

• Set aside special reading time and work with reading worksheets.
• Find opportunities for your child to read in everyday life — reading cooking instructions to you while you cook, for example.
• Have a family reading session once a week where everyone reads from their favorite book.

This method can work for any age group and any goal. And this clear cut way of organizing your goals may even inspire you to do the same!

It’s okay to have separate goals, too

One of the best things about homeschool is that you’re in control of the curriculum. But don’t put all the onus on yourself — let your student help design your syllabus, based on their own homeschool goals.

What do they want to do more of? What are they finding hard right now?

Sometimes your goals will be the same, sometimes they won’t be. But with the flexibility of homeschool, you can work to achieve anything and everything throughout the year.

What’s more, it’s important to set goals for yourself, too. Maybe you want to cook something super healthy and delicious 3 times a week, or you want to create more space for your child to work independently. Whatever it is, challenge yourself in your role as homeschool teacher — that’s key for your own development!

How to stick to your homeschool goals and objectives

Unfortunately, there’s no magic wand to wave here. Achieving your homeschool goals will require hard work, commitment, routine, and self-care.

Homeschool should be fun and rewarding! So if you’re worrying too much about ticking all the boxes, or your student is stressed out by their to-do list, then take a step back. You won’t get anything done if you’re running on empty.

Take it slow, break your tasks down, and keep smiling. You’ve got this!