Homeschooling your Elementary & Middle School Students

Check out our NEW Elementary/Middle School Planning Sheets!

Course Recommendations

A minimum of 4 courses is recommended.
  • English Language Arts (Reading and Writing)
  • Math
  • Plus two additional courses* of your choice.
  • Middle school students typically take more than four courses.

Science, Social Studies, Art, Music, P.E., Bible, or other courses not listed.
 
Keep in mind that these additional courses can be things you do every day that you may not think of as “school work.” See examples.
  • Science – simple experiments, nature walks, regular discussions about the things that go on around them.
  • P.E. – this can include playtime every day or playgroups, etc.
  • Bible – this can include Sunday School, Awanas, or other programs that meet regularly.
Younger students are so curious and WANT to learn new things. Take advantage of every opportunity.
This is the time when you have the most flexibility to teach those things that most interest the student. These additional areas of study should be based on the student’s passions and interests.
 
Spiritual development is also a vital part of training but is not an academic requirement with HLA. Families are welcome to give a grade for Bible if you desire.

 

Parents may use a formal or informal method of schooling.
 

 

Everything counts, such as gardening, field trips, nature hunts, bird watching, journaling, story writing, etc.; you just may not be giving a grade for it. Life provides learning opportunities. Look for ways to teach your child as you go about your day. With this method, the child learns all day, every day.
 
We suggest letting your child’s interest be your guide. They are more likely to love learning and remember what they learned if they can learn about things that interest them. Think about how to help your child love learning. Einstein once said, “A Man’s true education is what remains after he has forgotten everything he learned in school.”
 
Homeschooling allows for so many extracurricular activities, don’t be afraid to make all-of-life part of their education.
  • If you bake cookies together, practice measuring, count the number of eggs needed to double the recipe, etc. This counts!
  • Suppose you go to the grocery store and talk about where eggs, milk, cheese, and bananas come. Older students can help with menu planning, grocery budget, and cost comparisons. If your child is learning, it counts!!
  • When a child discovers new things that interested them, learning becomes enjoyable, and they are more likely to remember.
  • Read aloud to your child every day. Both parents reading to the child is even better.
  • Have your child memorize poems, and then let him recite them to a friend, neighbor, relative.
  • Let your child copy Bible verses, make cards for relatives, write Thank You notes, write stories, etc.
  • Go to the library, get exciting but straightforward books. A solid beginning with strong reading is essential for long-term enjoyment and a successful relationship with education.
  • Play games, do puppet shows, put on plays and role play, play store, do kitchen chemistry, and go on lots of field trips.
  • Go outside and learn about God’s creation.
  • With all of the beautiful curricula out there, consistent yet straightforward is the best way to start.
  • It is lovely to have a schedule, but just as wonderful to decide, this day is just not working out well…”Let’s go outside and see what we can learn outside.”
Think about how your child learns. Does he/she learn better by seeing or by doing? Does your child seem to remember everything he/she hears or everything he/she sees? Many young students learn best by using all of their senses (hands-on activities, sight, sound, etc). .The older the child gets, his/her learning style will become more specific and defined. Knowing how your child learns will help you best determine what type of activities and resources to use to help maximize learning and make it fun. Click here to read about Learning Styles and take a Learning Styles Quiz.
 
WHAT IS YOUR CHILD’S PASSION? Start there and then branch out as you continue. Help your child develop a genuine love for learning.

HLA does not require testing. HLA feels it is up to the discretion of individual families to determine if, when, and how often to test their children. Families living in TN, FL, AL, and CO who register with HLA will not be required to test. Families living in other states must abide by the requirements of their state.
 
For more information about testing, visit our Standardized Testing page.