Every spring, I send out an updated version of my simple Homeschool Planning Google Doc template. You can print the pages if that's your jam or go to file--> make a copy for your own digital copy.

Here is my exact planning process

I loosely start planning in the spring, but I usually don't finalize everything until later in the summer.

Step 1: Think and Pray

I will open a new empty phone note with 2026-2027 school year as the title. I'll a blank page in my planner or a notebook too. During Spring Break, I commit one morning of my prayer time to “kick off” my thinking & praying about the year. I sit there with my blank notebook page open. Then I just wait for the Lord to give me ideas.

I keep this “mental file folder” tab open in the back of my mind so that I can jot down ideas on the following topics:

• kids’ strengths/ areas for growth
• what do we want to “learn, do, love” next year?
• what non-school things in life will affect our schedule & capacity?

I focus on intentional & peaceful planning. Anytime anxiety & fear start to creep in about who is behind or ahead, what we didn't finish, if we’re doing enough, I pray more. I surrender all of it over and over until I’m able to plan peacefully.

Step 2: Core Subject Lists

We'll be going into our 10th year of homeschooling. (What!?) I generally have an idea of what resources I'll use for which children just because I mostly have my favorites by now and know where everyone is at.

Still, I don't put anything down in writing until I've spent a few weeks thinking, brain dumping, and praying.

Then, sometime around the end of the current school year, I'll print a copy of this page & jot down what I think we'll use.

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I'm working on compiling a more streamlined curriculum recommendations page, friends!! But I have linked many of our favorite resources over the years in this post.

Step 3: Family Subjects & Morning Time

A friend and I often plan some of the extras together... for years, our staples have been:

• Bible reading
• ​Musical Memory Cycle​
• Monthly hymn & folk song (lists of these coming soon, but here is a favorite hymn book & a favorite folk song book.)
• History time period - books, timeline, projects, videos
• A few science resources (books, videos, a few activities or demos) that coordinate with Musical Memory science topic.

Some years I have also added composer, art, Latin vocab, Shakespeare OR other random things that we want to learn, do, and love.

True education is about ordering affections, not covering everything on a government-imposed list of standards.

It's okay to lean into your family's unique culture & interests when choosing what to learn about!

Step 4: Purge, Lists, Orders

I purge our school materials and write down supplies I do and do not need to refresh. Honestly, every year, I buy less and less.

Here are a bunch of homeschool supplies we've used/ collected over the years & here are my top 12 essentials.

Once I’ve finalized curriculum plans, I try to do all my ordering in one week; otherwise I lose track of what I’ve ordered.

Don't Overdo It

Over the years, I’ve learned that less truly is often more.

When I lean towards less, we have time & space to follow rabbit trails. There is time for rest, boredom, creativity, reading, serving others, and relationships.

When I lean towards less, I’m less stressed about getting through everything. You can always buy more later if you need to.

xoxo,

Renee

p.s. Here is the link to a video explanation of how I get started with planning a PEACEFUL year. It covers:

• Setting a vision for your homeschool
• A super simple system for planning & budgeting for your kids' core curriculum
• How to put curriculum on autopilot
• How to plan the year without planning every day, week or month

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