Prepare for the Finish Now!

Yes, now is the time to plan how you’ll finish the school year—not in May when there’s too much work left and not enough time to complete it.

Having counseled thousands of homeschooling families, I want to share practical tips to help you cross the finish line smoothly. Planning your school year’s end now will bring peace of mind and prevent frustration later.

Seton’s Flexibility

Seton does not require elementary students to complete every assignment for a final grade. Not having a final grade will not impact their progression to the next grade. Decide what matters most—mastering essential material or receiving a graded report card.

Elementary Grades

Option 1: Learn the Essentials

If your priority is ensuring your child learns key concepts, review what remains and set weekly goals based on your target end date. Keep your plan realistic, allowing flexibility for unexpected interruptions. Focus on quality learning rather than checking off assignments.

Option 2: Report Card Completion

If official records matter to you, here’s how to finish the year efficiently:

• Review course requirements: Check MySeton or quarter report forms to see which assignments must be submitted for grading. Remember, parent-graded assignments are optional.
• Prioritize Seton-graded work: Identify the required tests and assignments. For example, if a quarter test covers Chapters 6-8, focus on those sections.
• Test out when possible: For subjects such as spelling and math, if your child excels try giving the quarter test first. If they do well, additional exercises may not be necessary. If not, review weak areas before retesting.
• Tackle big projects first: Prioritize time-consuming assignments like the 8th-grade research paper or book reports before smaller tasks.

High School

High school courses must be completed to earn credit, so students working toward a Seton diploma must submit all Seton-graded assignments.

Prioritize and Strategize

• Finish “almost done” subjects first: Eliminating one course from your workload makes others feel more manageable.
• Check software deadlines: Programs like Rosetta Stone or Teaching Textbooks may have expiration dates. If a license is expiring soon, prioritize that subject to avoid extra costs.
• Focus on required assignments: Determine what must be turned in and break it into manageable steps. For literature, set daily reading goals and outline the book analysis.

Use Online Submissions

Submitting assignments online speeds up grading and prevents lost work. SetonOnline also structures high school coursework by week and day, making it easier to stay on track. If only a couple of courses remain, consider accelerating by completing multiple lessons at once.

Block Scheduling for Efficiency

Many families use block scheduling, focusing on one or two subjects per day instead of switching between multiple. For example:

• Complete a full week of English in one day.
• The next day, tackle Theology or History.
• Continue until each subject is complete.

However, math requires regular practice, so dedicate time to it daily before switching to other subjects.

About Laura J Clark

Laura Clark is a 28-year homeschooling veteran, mother of 8, and grandmother of 9. She was a stay-at-home mom until she began working at Seton as an elementary counselor in 2020. Laura volunteers at her parish by heading the homeschool support group and helping run the teen drama club. She loves directing musicals and watching soccer games – at least, she must since that’s what she does with her free time. She lives with her family in the Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia.