Here are some things you should remember as you dive back into your homeschooling year.
A: Attitude. Having a great attitude is important to the success of your school day. And we aren't just talking kids’ attitudes here. Grumpy teachers make grumpy students.
B: Break time! Remember, we all need breaks. Be sure to schedule them each day!
C: Chat with your children about what's working and what's not. You'd be surprised what your children will tell you when you allow them the opportunity to speak freely.
D: Don't compare yourself to other homeschoolers, public schoolers, or even families. Every family is different!
E: Extra Credit. Give yourself and your kids extra credit for thinking outside the box.
F: Flexibility. Be willing to be flexible as you start your homeschool day.
G: Get going! Hit the road and take a field trip, visit museums, camp, swim, hike, enjoy the place you live, and be intrigued about places you've never seen.
H: Hoarders. Watch that show and.....well dang, everything looks better. Oh, and don’t hoard homeschool craft supplies; use them with reckless abandonment!
I: Internet. Utilize it! Use it for researching deeper into topics and looking at pictures of the things you are studying. Pulling up Easter Island pictures when you are talking about it makes an amazing difference to your child’s learning!
J: Join a homeschool support group! This will help you keep your sanity.
K: Know how your kids learn. Visual? Audio? Kinesthetic ? If you figure it out, you will make everyone’s lives easier!
L: Listen to the cues in your heart. If you think you need to switch something up, try it out!
M: Many different ways to homeschool. No one has the perfect or only way.
N: Nature! Take a hike or walk and learn about the world around you!
O: Open the box of your homeschooling. Try new things and have fun!
P: Preposterous amounts of people you and your kids will encounter this school year! At field trips, the park, the library, downtown, or just around the block! People make homeschooling a blast!
Q: Quizzes. Quizzes?! You’re the teacher… you decide.
R: Read everything you can about homeschooling and continue to broaden your own horizons!
S: Socializing and School Time. There can be a balance between the two. The biggest complaint for most homeschooling families is the lack of time they have to do school because they are always socializing with other homeschoolers during field trips, science labs, writing labs, geography bees, park days, and the list doesn’t end. And that’s only the weekly list! Find your balance and be sure to get both into your week!
T: Talk to your spouse about goals for your kids. Keep family in the loop so homeschooling doesn't seem mysterious.
U: Unlock the wonders of serving in your community. Your children gain a positive world view and will do their best to help make a change.
V: Vocalize to other homeschoolers about your successes as well as your failures. People like to know they are not alone in this adventure. But make sure you balance the good with the bad. If all that comes out of your mouth is negativity about your children and their education, what will that tell people? At the same time, while your fellow homeschoolers want to hear your triumphs, they also want to share your struggles!
W: Wait for the right time to start your school year. There is no law that says your school year must start on THIS DAY. It just says you need to homeschool a certain number of days and hours. Pick the day you start with care, don’t rush it, and make it great!
X. eXamine things you enjoy. Introduce them to your children, and do a unit study if they seem interested.
Y: You and your children are what matters most!
Z. Zoo trips...gotta study life science!
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More articles by this author
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Homeschool Burnout
Homeschooling and Socializing
