Sounds strange, right? It is technically recording rather than planning, but I think you can recognize how similar the two things are to each other. If you love lesson planning and hate keeping records, then this may not be your cup of tea. But, if you are anything like me, you would far rather record progress than plan it and risk the discouragement of failed plans! This is not to say that there is no planning at all.

Lesson planning in reverse is also a method that works well for the early years, but it does not work as well for children in higher grades. Thankfully, usually by the later grades, lesson planning isn’t as much of an issue. Unless, you are beginning homeschooling later, by the upper grades hopefully you are in a groove that works.

I am so very thankful that I learned this method from the beginning of homeschooling my children. I can’t remember where or who I learned this method from, but I am very thankful to know and share this way to lesson plan in reverse.

I likely was taught this method from the wonderful women who ran the homeschool co-op in my church when I first started homeschooling. In the state that I was living in at the time, I was required to either participate in state testing or make a portfolio of my child’s work. I chose to make a portfolio, and, in addition to that, the co-op that I participated in had an oversight program that required weekly lesson plans.

The more experienced homeschool moms made recording lesson plans a piece of cake. We did not need to record our lesson plans until after we did our lessons. So, at the end of each week, we simply recorded what we had taught. Each day, after each lesson, I recorded what was accomplished, and, by the end of the week, I had a completed lesson plan.

I use a weekly grid that lists the days and has blocks for each subject. This grid was (and is) very helpful, because it made it easier to learn organically. I could fill in the blocks of subjects that were learned naturally every day and easily see if there were any obvious holes. Then I could provide tools for filling in the holes!

For example: you might have the subjects of math, science, history, English, and art. You have a busy week with whatever current emergency or drama that you have in your life. You observe that your little one is enjoying number and letter puzzles. Math, check. English, check. They have been doing lots of coloring on the easel. Art, check. Hmm. There are holes in science and history. Make an effort to choose a bedtime story that covers history. History, check. Now all you need is a science song or a science video. Science, check! On a calmer week (If you are blessed with one of those!), you might use some of the expensive curriculum that you invested in!

Lesson planning in reverse may take a huge weight off your shoulders, or it may not be for you. It has been a great help to my family, and a relief to some homeschool newbies that I’ve met. Please share any questions or ideas that you have about homeschool lesson planning.