Crossing the Finish Line
- Jun 25
- 5 min read
…He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion. Philippians 1:6 (ESV)
June is here, and homeschoolers are looking forward to wrapping up the 2024-2025 school year. This month is a great time to thank God for all the progress your children have made this year. It’s also an opportune time to evaluate how the school year went and celebrate your accomplishments! As you can see, there’s plenty to focus on this month!
Thanking God for the homeschooling year
As homeschoolers, we believe that parents have the primary responsibility for raising their children, which includes their education.
But right now you may feel weary. You’re at the end of a long academic school year, and maybe some of you have unfinished goals. May I suggest something to you?
Change your focus.
Take a moment to reflect on what God has done for you and your children throughout the school year. Focus on the benefits of homeschooling. Here are a few I came up with:
Homeschoolers. . .
grow up sharing quality time and learning family values
grow up learning biblical principles
grow up learning academics as well as essential life skills
grow closer to siblings
learn that flexibility is a skill worth learning or teaching
To read further benefits of homeschooling, check out this link: https://raisinglifelonglearners.com/reasons-to-homeschool/
God called you to homeschooling, or you probably wouldn’t be doing it! You can begin to look forward to what He will do next year. And then find peace in knowing that He is in control and He is the only One who will help you cross the finish line.
I applaud all of you homeschooling parents! Accepting the responsibility to homeschool your children is one of the greatest gifts (and challenges) you can give them.
Pause and Reflect
Reflection is a great way to highlight the insights you gained from the school year. Below are a few questions I have asked myself at the end of a homeschooling year.
Questions for Reflection
How did the kids grow and change due to homeschooling this year?
What accomplishments of my students am I most proud of?
What did I do well this school year in our homeschool?
Did I fulfill my homeschooling “Why” question that I established at the beginning of the school year?
What would I continue to do next year that I did this year? What would I change or toss?
Questions for Evaluation
What are a few things that went exceptionally well this year?
What are some things I need to change about scheduling?
What curriculum do I want to continue with? What do I want to change? Why?
Which activities added to our homeschooling year? Which ones should I reevaluate?
Portfolios/ End of the Year Record Keeping
As we approach the end of the school year, creating a portfolio is an excellent way to keep your child’s homeschooling records and accomplishments organized and in one place. Portfolios not only showcase your child’s yearly progress but also help reflect what they’ve learned. Some homeschoolers simply place schoolwork in a bin, indicating the date. However, highlighting your child’s best work and placing it in a three-ring binder saves space and is easy to view. Some parents prefer to use a digital format. Select the option that best suits you. Here are some tips for compiling an effective portfolio:
Know the homeschooling requirements for Washington State (Your teacher consultant will be able to answer your questions!)
Select the format you wish to use
Gather your records, such as the curriculum used, at least four samples of work in each subject area, progress reports (if you keep them), books the child has read, a field trip log, and a simple summary of what your child did that year.
Achievements such as awards, extracurricular activities such as sports, music, volunteering, and community service.
Assessments can include standardized test scores, grades from coursework, or a parent’s summary that details areas of growth and those needing further work.
Your child’s own assessment of how his/her school year went—what they liked, what they didn’t like.
If you have photos, add them!
For more information about portfolios and for a free homeschool portfolio checklist, visit this website: https://heartandsoulhomeschooling.com/homeschool-portfolio-checklist/
Life Skills
Learning doesn’t stop when the school bell rings in June. The summer months are a great time to focus on practical life skills. Consider incorporating the following activities into your summer schedule:
Laundry and Housekeeping: Teach your kids how to manage household chores. Create a chore wheel to divide tasks among family members.
For some fun ideas for chore wheels, visit this website: https://mysillysquirts.com/free-daily-fill-in-the-blank-chore-wheel
Budgeting Class: Introduce budgeting concepts using the envelope method. This hands-on approach helps kids understand money management while having fun.
For information on the Dave Ramsey envelope system go here: https://www.ramseysolutions.com/budgeting/envelope-system-explained
For more on the envelope system visit this website:
Grocery Store Visits: Take trips to the grocery store to teach shopping skills. Discuss budgeting, choosing healthy options, and understanding prices.
For more information on budgeting, check out this link: https://www.ramseysolutions.com/ramseyplus/smart-money-smart-kids#cookie-banner
For other life skill ideas to teach your homeschoolers, visit this website:
Celebrate the School Year
Celebrating the end of the school year not only highlights the events of your homeschool year but also brings closure to a job well done. Planning a special event can be with your nuclear family, but you could also include grandparents and other relatives. You may also want to include other homeschooling families. The more the merrier!
I know one homeschooling family who had their graduating kindergartners wear caps and gowns at their end-of-the-year celebration! The pictures are terrific, and the kids all loved it!
In my homeschool, the kids and I had fun decorating for these events. We often ordered banners to display and used plenty of balloons to add to the festivities. Of course, making your own banners is fun, too.
In our homeschool, we highlighted each student’s achievements from the school year and awarded certificates to winners of various competitions or those who had accomplished specific goals. These were typically included in the portfolio.
For free downloadable certificates, visit https://www.canva.com/certificates/templates/academic/
Later, we enjoyed a special reception which included finger foods and beverages.
There are many ways to celebrate the end of the school year. Visit this link for 50+ ways to cross the finish line while making memories along the way!
Final Note
As we head into summer, let’s finish this school year strong! By focusing on gratitude for our homeschooling year, creating portfolios, developing practical life skills, and celebrating our students’ achievements, June can be a fulfilling month for everyone in your homeschool. Embrace opportunities for learning and achievement, and enjoy the journey together!
Comments