This marks the last week of our homeschool’s fall semester. When my kids were younger, I did not think about January until January. Now that my two homeschoolers that are left are both high schoolers, I have a few things that I like to take care of before my mind goes on Christmas vacation:
- Print grades from the community college for my high school senior taking dual credit (just in case what gets transcribed in their system does not match what the teacher posted online)
- Enter all grades in gradebook and calculate semester grades
- Update high school transcripts (as a homeschool parent, I am also the principal and counselor, so I am responsible for official transcripts for scholarships and college applications). If you would like to learn more about dial credit or creating transcripts for your high schooler, check out the Homeschooling for College Credit website for tons of great info!
- Review what is working for us and what needs to be adjusted for spring
- Review the pacing of our curriculum and make plans to adjust where needed (Are we behind schedule and need to condense certain units? Will we finish early and need supplemental activities to finish the year?)
- Order any poetry/literature books needed in English for the spring semester
- Look ahead at extracurricular demands on our schedule. Is there room for field trips? If so, add tentative dates on the calendar for those destinations.
- I have a high school senior, so we need to select grad photos, order announcements and invitations, set a date for the graduation ceremony/party, and order the diploma. I am not planning on doing all that this week, but I do need to add the due dates for those items to my calendar.
What needs to be addressed in your classroom before the holiday break? Tackling those last few things will successfully seal the fall semester, allowing your brain to take a much-needed break. Wishing you the Merriest of Christmases, Happiest of Holidays, and a very Happy New Year!
-Jen
North Star Homeschool Resources 