Gel Pen Learning

Every homeschooling parent in New York knows the drill: the quarterly reports roll around, and suddenly you’re staring down deadlines, attendance logs, and the creeping sense that you probably should’ve started this three weeks ago.

But here’s the thing: the quarterly report isn’t just a hoop to jump through. It’s one of the few built-in pauses the state forces you to take; if you use it right, it can actually make your homeschooling easier.

This is your chance to look at what’s working, what’s dragging everyone down, and where your energy’s best spent. Maybe math got ahead of schedule while writing stalled out. Maybe that beautiful curriculum you bought in May that you were “influenced” to buy is collecting dust by Halloween. The quarterly report gives you the excuse, no the permission, to pivot.

Instead of treating it like paperwork, think of it like a quarterly business review for your homeschool. You’re the CEO, the teacher, and the parent all in one. The report is just your meeting notes: a record of what’s working, what needs attention, and what you’re ditching for sanity’s sake.

How to Tell What’s Working (and what’s not)

Start with your energy.

If a subject, routine, or tool is draining everyone every single day, it’s not working. Even if it looks perfect on paper. You can tell by the vibe in your house: dread before lessons, constant arguments, or if you find yourself hiding in the bathroom doomscrolling instead of teaching. That’s all you need to know.

Then look at engagement.

Are your kids actually learning, or just performing. A lot of parents mistake completion for comprehension. That’s not the same thing. If they can recite the answers but can’t explain the concept, then the curriculum could be teaching surface, but not depth.

Next, consider alignment.

Does what you’re doing match your family’s values and goals for this season? Maybe you wanted a structured academic feel in September but now everyone is craving a more project-based or hands-on learning. Adjust accordingly.

Finally, review evidence of progress.

Progress isn’t’ always measurable in neat grade percentages. It’s seeing more independence, better problem-solving, curiosity, and even resilience when something’s hard. That’s growth! Document this too.

Adjusting within New York’s Rules

New York’s regulations require that you teach the curriculum you listed on your IHIP, but they don’t control how you teach it. You have more flexibility than most parents realize, especially when something isn’t working.

1. You can supplement.

If the instruction or wording in the curriculum is confusing, you can absolutely paraphrase it, simplify it, or reinforce it with outside materials.

• If the textbook’s explanation falls flat, summarize it in your own words an show a video to make a concept really click.
• If a math problem’s teaching style doesn’t land, take time to learn the concept yourself, then re-teach it in a way that your child understands, and complete the assigned work afterword.

Supplements aren’t replacements; they’re supplements. You don’t need permission to add clarity or extra instruction.

2. You can adjust.

Sometimes the pacing or sequence of a curriculum just doesn’t fit your child. We’ve had writing programs, for example, that dragged simple concepts across too many lessons and by midweek, it was torture. Instead, I rearranged the assignments so that they build on each other more logically, allowing my daughter to see steady progress daily instead of just more busywork.

Reorganizing or condensing lessons don’t violate the rules. You’re still using approved curriculum, just in a way that’s pedagogically sound.

3. You can replace.

This one sounds scarier than it is. The regulations don’t specify how to handle curriculum changes, and in my experience, districts are far less rigid than people think. When something truly isn’t working, I’ve simply noted in the next quarterly report:

“We will no longer be using [Old Curriculum] and have transitioned to [New Curriculum].”

I’ve never had an issue with this approach. The key is to demonstrate that you’re continuing instruction in the same subject area. The state doesn’t require loyalty to a publisher. They just expect to see progress and growth toward the learning objectives you set.

At The End of the Day

Homeschooling in New York comes with more paperwork than most states, but the flexibility is still yours. Your homeschool is a living and breathing thing that requires constant care and attention. Whether you supplement to make your lesson plans click, adjust to keep pacing realistic, or replace when something truly doesn’t work, you’re doing what any effective educator does: adapting instruction to meet the student.

Your quarterly report is simply the paper trail that shows you’re paying attention. You don’t need to apologize for using your judgement. That is the job.