How and Why to Write Syllabus for Homeschool Courses

Here’s how and why to write syllabus for homeschool courses.

How and Why to Write Syllabus for Homeschool Courses

I sometimes get questions about the purpose of a syllabus for homeschool courses and why a homeschool mom might need to create one for her high schooler. A syllabus is a chronological summary of a course that the student uses as a guide to help organize his/her studies.

Here’s how and why to write syllabus for homeschool courses:

First why create a syllabus?

• Syllabi use is an important study skill for college-bound homeschool high schoolers
• Syllabi use helps students develop independent learning skills
• Syllabi are great “proofs” that a student had a good curriculum in case they transfer to a traditional school or in case a college advisor wants to know what was studied

How do you create a syllabus?

Of course, there’s not ONE right way to create a syllabus, but there are a few basic guidelines. A good syllabus will detail the topics to be covered in a course and when they will be covered. The syllabus often includes:

• Name of text (often including author, publisher, edition and isbn if applicable)
• Other materials that will be used
• Brief summary of the purpose and goals of the course
• Grading scale
• Due dates of key projects
• Test dates and topics (or chapters) to be covered
• Homework assignments
• Often the syllabus is broken down week-by-week or day-by-day to show what topics will be covered and accompanying assignments

Here is an example of a syllabus I created when I taught 7Sisters Advanced Creative Writing courses (Poetry and Myth-Fantasy Short Story) at our local homeschool umbrella school.
Creative Writing Class 11th and 12th Grade Syllabus

Texts:

Advanced Guide to High School Poetry Writing by Vicki Tillman 7Sisters Homeschool

Advanced Guide to High School Story Writing: Myth-Fantasy by Vicki Tillman 7Sisters Homeschool

Grading:

• Attendance 10%
• Class Participation 40% (this includes passing around homework- so you must keep homework current to get a good participation grade)
• Homework 50%
• Homework must be neatly done, stapled together, and handed in weekly.
• Poetry lessons should be completed directly in the work text. Narrative story will be completed in work text except for the complete story. (This will be handed in typed on separate paper.)

Teach your teen to become an independent learner – using a syllabus. Click here to read more.

Click here to read more about the importance of teaching high school students to use a syllabus.

How and Why to Write Syllabus for Homeschool Courses

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How and Why to Write Syllabus for Homeschool Courses

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