Homeschool Science Tip of the Month - Take time to ruminate over your plans for next year.

As homeschooling moms (and dads) we do a lot to make sure that our children get the education they deserve. And although we may currently be on a break from formal studies, my guess is that you are still thinking about homeschooling things from time to time.

That's why my tip for this month is to take to ruminate over your plans for next year. I typically have all my materials by the end of June, but I don't actually write out my quarterly plans until August. Here is what I like to do before I put pen to paper on my plans for next year:

#1 - Get real about how last year went.

I like to chat with my kids about what they liked and what they didn't like and about what they remember from the last year. I usually do this as we clean out and organize the previous year's materials.

#2 - Learn something new about homeschooling.

I listen to a podcast, read a blog, or pick out a new-to-me homeschooling book. The point here is that I want to learn something new about homeschooling, something that will help to shape what I want the next year to look like.

#3 - Get familiar with the materials I have chosen.

I pull out all the books I have and look them over. I read the introductions in the teacher guides to get an idea of how the weeks are laid out. In the past, I would also preread all our read-aloud books, but nowadays I don't have the time!

#4 - Ruminate, a.k.a., think deeply.

Then, I let it all settle in my mind. I think through the possibilities and write down the things that keep popping up in my mind - the things that I will most likely want to include for the next year.

Your process of rumination can look a whole lot different than mine, but the goal here is to get a good idea of how you want your homeschool to look like over the next year. With this in your mind, you will be ready to create a framework of plans for next year!

What some more tips?

Here are a few resources we offer to help you think through what you want science to look like in your homeschool:

• The Three Keys to Teaching Science
• The Homeschooler's Guide to Experiments
• The Tips for Homeschool Science Show {Podcast}
• 5 Free Workshops to Help you Plan Science in your Homeschool