How to Prepare for a Homeschool Moderator Meeting: Writing a Report (includes downloads!)
One of the most helpful things you can do to prepare for a homeschool moderator meeting is to take photos throughout the year, plus write yourself notes of all the activities your child has done, all the places you’ve visited, and any programs you’ve used.
You’ll be surprised how much you’ve done that you forget about!
Then before the annual moderator meeting, I like to write a simple report, listing everything my kids have done for each subject, and making sure I’ve got proof of my child’s work from throughout the year.
I then go through it all with the moderator at the meeting.
Please note that in Western Australia it's NOT compulsory for you to write a report for your moderator meeting. The reason I write one is for my own benefit. For me, it takes a lot of stress and overwhelm out of the meeting if I know I'm prepared.
Along with helping the meeting go smoothly, I find that writing a report allows me to keep track of our homeschooling plan, plus it gives me the opportunity to see if there are any gaps in our program before our meeting and gives me time to rectify this. I also like to use the report to make notes regarding things which worked well and I'd like to continue with, and also things I'd like to change in our program for the following year.
I've created some example reports below, which you can view if you'd like to see the sorts of things that can be included in a home education report.
I've created one report for a High School level student named Alberta Einstein. A fictitious year 9 home educated student.
And I've created one report for her sister - a Primary School level student named Nicole Tesla. A fictitious year 3 home educated student.
As you can see from these example reports, these sisters each used a program or workbook for each subject as a base (this also helps you to know if you're covering the curriculum - taking some of the overwhelm out of your planning).
However, they also learnt just as much from other things they experienced in that year. Things such as going on excursions and tours, visiting local museums and parks, following their interests, joining in local events, attending workshops, natural learning at home, and joining other homeschooling events in their community - all of these things can be included to create a well rounded homeschooling program. Many of these can also be used to cover aspects of multiple subjects, creating cross-curricular learning.
The great thing about homeschooling is that you can create your program to suit your family.
Do you have a hands on learner? Great! Base your program around that! Fill your days with science experiments, vegetable gardens, sports, DIY kits, and excursions!
Does your child love to read? Great! Fill your home with as many books as possible, and watch as they absorb all that information without it ever feeling like a lesson.
Does your child love to play games? Great! There are so many fantastic games to choose from these days. There are maths games, spelling games, and themed games for every subject. Incorporate as many games as possible into your homeschooling program and enjoy!
Does your child like to methodically work their way through a program or workbook? Great! Pick some relevant workbooks for each subject, and just add things as needed!
All these things can be included in your home education report for your moderator.
As for our example reports below - don't just follow what I've included in the examples. I've included some great resources for each subject which you can use as inspiration on where to start if you like. However, the students in those reports are fictitious characters, and their report is not your world.
Your kids are unique and have their own way of learning. Feel free to get some inspiration from these examples, or use them to see how a report can be laid out, but then download the blank template below and create your own homeschooling program which is beautifully and uniquely yours.
We hope these downloads help to remove some of the overwhelm you may be feeling about your moderator meeting so you can instead focus on enjoying the incredible journey that is homeschooling.
If you're looking for homeschool resources for your home education program, Brain Spice has a wonderful selection of workbooks, games, activities, toys, science kits, wooden and metal models, puzzles, posters, maths manipulatives, and so much more! Click here to check out our range of Homeschool Resources.
Janelle is a Mum of four daughters. She spends her days homeschooling her girls, while also managing the Brain Spice webstore. Janelle's belief about education is that the best way to learn, is to live your best life, enjoying the journey, and following and nurturing your natural curiosity, wonder, and sense of fun!