Setting Goals for the 2011-2012 Homeschool Year

The 2011-2012 homeschool year here at Semper Fidelis Academy is well under way.  We’ve already changed a few things since I posted our homeschool plans for the year.  One of the biggest changes is probably dropping the renewable energy study and beginning the horse study.  I need to do some more work on the renewable energy study to make it more independent study friendly for Munchkin.  I can’t say that she’s bummed to be starting the horse study sooner rather than later.  She was blessed with some excellent horse resource books from Grandma, so she’s happily reading and studying.

Our Latin study has become the surprise favorite subject (other than the horse study) of the year.  Who would have known?  She wants to excel at Latin which I think is wonderful.  I’ve been pleasantly surprised to see how studying Latin is helping her in her other studies.  It’s even helping her as she’s reading Jules Verne’s Journey to the Center of the Earth.  (She’s chosen to read that on her own after watching the movie.)

As we jump into the new year, we always like to set at least some goals to get us started.  We tend to add short term goals and sometimes a few long-term goals throughout the year as well.

Now that we’re getting ready to head into the teenage years, I’m sure our focus will shift at different points as we address issues that are more important than purely academic pursuits, but having some starter goals in place is a necessity.  I like to break our goals down into spiritual, academic, homemaking, physical, and misc. groupings.

Spiritual Goals:

• We will strive to strengthen our foundations in Christ.  As a family and as individuals, we will be seeking to have a deeper understanding of scripture as well as be able to give answers about the gospel of Christ.  We will be accomplishing this through family Bible studies, individual Bible studies, and lots of reading.
• We will strive to place the greatest focus on spiritual issues rather than other life issues.  Heart issues will be addressed as they come up and not be put on the back burner.

Academic Goals:

• Mom – I will be placing more emphasis on being prepared ahead of time instead of rushing around at the last minute to put things together.  While there will be times this will happen, I want it to be the exception and not the rule.  I will also be focusing on organization and better record keeping including grading in a timely manner.
• Munchkin –   I will be learning to work more independently and schedule my time to allow me to get things done on time.  I will strive to do my schoolwork with a good heart attitude and will try not to get flustered when I receive correction.

Homemaking Goals:

• Mom – I will attempt to be more organized when it comes to meals, so we will have a wider variety of meals each month.  I will set up more of a schedule for laundry and basic cleaning.
• Munchkin – I will strive to do my chores in a timely, efficient manner to the best of my ability.  I will prove that I am responsible by doing my chores without receiving multiple reminders from Mom and Dad.

Physical Goals:

• We will get back into a physical fitness routine and incorporate more veggies into our diet.  We will pay more attention to the snacks that we eat and make sure that we’re drinking plenty of water.
• We will try to adjust our schedules so we get more sleep.

Misc. Goals:

• We will continue to work on purging items in preparation for the move this summer.
• We will support each other when going through difficult times.
• We will look for ways to encourage others both in the home and outside the home.

The goals are fairly basic as we know our lives will be a little crazy over the next few months, but we know the Lord is in control.  As someone who likes to be in control, I guess one of my goals is to let go and let God.

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
~2 Peter 3:18~

This post is part of the TOS Homeschool Crew Blog Cruise.