Years ago at a homeschool conference, I heard a speaker refer to “my principal” and speak on the importance of including our principals in our homeschool. It was “homeschool-life” changing for me personally because at the time I didn’t unite with my husband about homeschooling or ever ask for his input. We weren’t at odds about homeschooling, but I had been compartmentalizing our roles as homeschool parents in the beginning.

How to Create an Annual Interview With Your Homeschool Principal

My husband was never against homeschooling when I say I didn’t unite with him, I mean we just weren’t on a team. I wanted to homeschool from the beginning of preschool days and he immediately agreed. My husband has always been on board and supported our homeschool 100%. But he has so much confidence in my ability, passions, and aptitude; that he just took a backseat knowing I would handle it all.

I began homeschooling for a few years before I heard the importance of including our principals, and I then realized the parallels of also allowing my husband to lead me biblically.

It hit me like a ton of bricks; he should be included in my decision making when it came to our homeschool. I should be consulting him about scheduling, curriculum, and other things that affected our HOMEschool.

In all honesty, when I began including him…it was refreshing. He had some fantastic suggestions, like scheduling something at a better time or how to make something happen when I couldn’t see how. We should be planning as a team, I should have an accountability partner, and we do everything else as a united front so why not our homeschool? He was my biggest supporter; I just wasn’t utilizing him.

I thought he worked too much, and that homeschooling was an in-home responsibility of mom. I am so thankful that I began to include him, he adds a positive perspective to many of the things I run by him for approval or suggestions.

So that’s my personal experience of how I got on the “I have a crush on my principal” bandwagon, but let’s talk about what that looks like for everyone.

Here are some ideas on how to include dad in the homeschool.

1. Annual Interview the Principal. Annually sit down with your husband and talk about expectations, plans for the next year or semester, and ideas. Meeting to chat about homeschool planning could be fun, you can plan dinner out or a whole weekend retreat to do this.
2. End of Year Review. Review each child together, discuss the praises and goals met by each child. Maybe plan rewards for achieving goals or completing the curriculum. Also consider the struggles, character training, or areas of issue that may need more attention for each child.
3. Budget. Plan what you can afford to spend for the next homeschool year and how to scale back if needed in any areas of homeschool spending.
4. Curriculum Choices. Does your husband have a preference towards any particular curriculum, and ask him to explain if you need to see why or maybe don’t fully understand what is driving his decision. Usually, good communication can help you both agree.
5. Involvement. Are there any subjects that dad might want to teach or be involved in for the upcoming year? Is there a subject you struggle with teaching that dad may excel at?
6. Scheduling. Can your husband shed any light on areas of planning that may be adversely affecting your homeschool schedule? Sometimes we moms can over do it in the commitment department, and we need our husbands to bring it to our attention. Or he may see where you can use your time more effectively elsewhere etc.
   
7. Communication. Ask for constructive criticism and try not to be offended. A good open line of communication and the right heart can expose areas we could work on. I know it’s easier said than done, but after I think about what my husband has shared with me, usually he’s right or has a point valid enough that I need to examine that area.
   

 

Here is a printable PDF I created for your Annual Interview with The Principal.

Download it, and you can use it as a conversation starter to kick off your new tradition. Or create your own list of intentional questions.

The best time of year to do this is usually as you are finishing up your homeschool year or curriculum. That way all your processes, scheduling, and curricula are still fresh in your head and it allows for you to easily sum up your year. It’s the perfect time to reflect on the past year and think about the future and any changes you may need to make.

I also recommend this planner if you like to assess each child and their academic and personal growth goals for each year, it has fantastic tools for that. It will also help you prayerfully prioritize your family’s lessons, assignments, and activities. Includes teaching helps, record-keeping, and pages to document God’s faithfulness throughout the year. Created by Deb Bell & Apologia!

 

Our principal is such a good sport, here he is participating in sewing and quilting with my oldest.

(She was teaching him! #lifeskills)

How do you include dad in your homeschool? I would love to know.