I’ve had a number of calls and emails over the past couple of months asking about how to set up a Student Learning Plan. I’d like to lay out some simple steps that will help you to plan your year in a stress-free way.

Quick Start SLP – short and sweet. This includes the main subjects plus CAPP, PE, Fine Arts and any planned electives (for older students). It will outline a goal, resources you plan to use, and will include a photocopy of the Table of Contents for any curriculum you will be using. This is all you really need to forward to your teacher at the beginning of the year.

For Main Subjects (Bible, Math, Language Arts, Social Studies, Science)

1. Start with a subject you’re comfortable with.
2. State your goal for progress in that subject over the year.
3. List the resources you’re planning on using for the upcoming year.
4. Photocopy the Table of Contents for your main curriculum resources.
5. Wait for a phone call from your teacher to discuss learning strategies and timelines.

Example:

Math

Goals: To master basic multiplication and division facts. To master grade 4 level math concepts.

Resources: Flashcards, Quarter Mile Math (computer software for drill), Singapore Math 4A/4B.

For CAPP, PE, Fine Arts and other electives:

1. State your goal for the year. What progress would you like to see and how will you know when progress has been made?

2. List all of the activities or resources that will contribute to meeting that goal.

Example:

PE

Goal: To try three new physical activities and to be physically active on a regular basis. Physical activity will be noted on our calendar.

Resources: Homeschool Co-op (where he’ll try basket-ball and soccer), Taekwon-do Class (for regular physical activity, twice a week), badminton net and rackets (for regular activity in our yard and to try something new).

If you’d like to go further with your SLP you can begin to work on Learning Strategies and Timelines.

Learning Strategies

List all of the ways in which you plan to approach each subject.

For example:

Math

Learning Strategies:

Workbook (for independent seatwork), manipulatives (for hands-on learning), games (for drill, hands-on learning, and fun), and real life (for practical application of word problems).

Timelines

Timelines will simply set out your plan for how each subject will be accomplished. In the earlier years this is usually very simple as most subjects are studied from September to June. You may want to break up the lessons in your curriculum to plan how much you’d like to accomplish in each portfolio period or you may just want to take it day by day at your student’s pace.

I hope you enjoy working on your SLP’s. If you have any questions at all please email me at: sbennett@onlineschool.ca