No Content Left Behind: Managing Expectations for Grade Level Standards

“No troll left behind!” That’s probably my favorite part of the Trolls movie. It’s hilarious with the “behind.” You want to know what’s not funny? It’s the struggle we homeschoolers face, from within and from others, about grade-level content being left behind, producing an educational gap. The pressure is real!

We’re here to tell you…don’t worry about it! Yes, state standards are helpful and necessary for our society’s traditional school in it’s current state. But, state standards were developed for all children in the traditional school setting in order to progress the masses toward the same targets, the same goals, the same output, and to be measured by the same instruments. It’s an assembly line for all children. I could spend way more time on this - that “all children” are grouped together for a single set of standards…but I’m just going to look at our little niche. The homeschooled child. And, in my opinion, state standards are not meant for the homeschooled child…at least not as a requirement or a necessity.

Educational Gaps

So if we do not follow the standards, will our homeschooled children not succeed? Will they miss out on necessary information if the content is not presented at the grade level the government deems appropriate? The government utilized multiple teachers’ associations, curriculum experts, etc., to write the standards, but the foundational mindset was standardizing a 13 year long learning progression highway. But I have always felt, even as a traditionally schooled student, that this highway speed is too high. Do you remember much from your traditional education? For me, there was A LOT of textbook memorizing and regurgitating with no memory of any of it after the test. There was just too much linear progression and not enough of depth.

The world is full of interesting and crazy beautiful topics and ideas, and there is no way all of it can be learned by your child by the time she flies the coop. No matter what school approach you choose (traditional, delight-driven, Charlotte Mason, etc.), there will be content left behind. There will absolutely be educational gaps. The best news? As a homeschool parent, you get to decide what those gaps will be. (Check out our podcast Episode 40: Educational Gaps where we dive into this further and provide a variety of resources in the show notes.)

State Standards as a Guide

Standards can be a helpful guide to the homeschool parent. They offer benchmarks for every core subject and typical grade level content to progress your child’s knowledge along a specific path. If you care about that path, or if your child will be entering the traditional school arena at some point, then your state’s standards are a good fit for you. They are a free resource and are typically available at your state’s Department of Education website, or school district’s site. (For additional helpful guides, visit our Homeschool Hub page.)

Make Space for Deep Dives

If you are using the standards as a guide, get creative in leaving space or providing opportunities for your child to explore in more depth if a topic piques his curiosity. As long as you have a long view of your child’s education (being 70-80 years of life), you won’t feel pressured to move on quickly. Be willing to pause linear progress if you notice an opportunity to dive deeper into your child’s organic interests.

Tap Into Your Life Lens

While state standards are useful in benchmarking what your child can and cannot do, the reason your child is learning is not included in the standards. Keep your homeschooling mission statement front and center and remember that the reason your child is learning is not to pass some standardized test. Your child is learning because it’s her God-given right to delight in the world she lives in and more. Aim to see education as “sunshine in my pocket” that makes you all “dance, dance, dance” (another Trolls reference).

Standards can be helpful, but they are not the Bible for what your child should be learning. Let’s make sure state standards do not drown out the true music, the true colors of your unique child, who has unique interests, with a unique purpose in this world. As Poppy in Trolls sings, “I see your true colors shining through…and that’s why I love you. So don’t be afraid to let them show.” And there is nothing standard about that.