Getting through the space between winter holiday breaks and spring is not for the faint of heart. One year we barely recovered from spring break. It took all of the fortitude I could muster to get us back into doing school again. I dragged my students reluctantly into May, resolved never again to take a spring break from homeschooling.
If you've had the joy of using World History, 1 of 2 (HBL G), you know all about the doldrums. Milo, the beloved hero of The Phantom Tollbooth gets stuck there, where "nothing ever happens and nothing ever changes."
Does that ever feel like your homeschool—especially in winter and especially in February? Nothing is happening; nothing is changing. Perhaps you're in a mid-winter rut and you don't like it.
Well, since your solution is bound to be different than Milo's, I have some encouragement for your February blahs.
February Homeschool Doldrums are Normal
First of all, know that this is normal. It seems that homeschoolers everywhere know about the mid-winter doldrums. For a myriad of reasons, this season can feel like a daily slog.
But if being caught in the doldrums at sea means there is no wind, no movement, then the way to get out of the homeschool doldrums is to change something up. So don't sit in the doldrums; give some movement to your homeschool. Do any of these ideas inspire you?
1. Change your music
Do you ever put music on while you do school? It can really change the mood in a room, especially during February homeschool doldrums. Try a classical music station, Gregorian chant, pure Mozart, or even a relaxing nature soundscape. When it's time to clean or make dinner, try jamming to your favorite music from high school. It might really lift your mood, and your kids will love laughing at you as you sing out loud to the old school music you once thought was cool.
2. Change your schedule
Could you switch up anything to make the day more fun? Maybe start a Read-Aloud at breakfast, after your Bible reading. Or add an extra break for a family game in the middle of the day. Or re-evaluate your entire schedule if it's just not working for you.
3. Change your electives
Have you always dreamed of introducing your children to art, music, computer coding, quilting, candy making, woodworking or anything else out of the ordinary? February homeschool doldrums could be the perfect time to start something new and fun, whether that involves new electives or enrichment or the tools you already have at home. You could even cut back on other academic work for a week to do this if you want.
4. Focus on relationships
If family relationships are causing background stress in your homeschool, you have the freedom to take a week off and focus on building those relationships. Go on dates with your children. Or let them choose fun activities throughout the day and join them in whatever they want to do. Take time to get down on their level, listen, and learn more about how they see the world right now.
5. Take a break
As you might catch from the previous two points, it's really okay to take a break if you need to. Can you swing a short road trip to a nearby city for a few days? Is there somewhere nearby you've always wanted to go? You can teach all sorts of things as you plan for the trip—about budgeting, research, food prep, maps, and more.
6. Change your breakfast
Seriously. Starting the day out with something different may help everyone feel more excited for the day. Find some smoothie recipes online, or take your kids to the store to pick out their favorite herbal tea to sip each morning as they start on their work (which will make them feel very grown up).
7. Change where you do school
Go to story time at the library and then stay afterward for a fun research project of your child's choice. Get outside whenever the weather could possibly allow it. Try new field trips. Take your schoolwork to a coffee shop. Schedule a homeschool play date with another homeschool family and break the day up between work and play. (And if you're already worn out from too many outings, then do the opposite and change things up by staying home more and giving everyone time to breathe.) Get creative and break up those February homeschool doldrums!
8. Change your downtime
If you feel stuck in the house with young children, head online to find some simple but fun activities to shake up those long days indoors. Here are two lists to get you started:
Let's be honest. Sometimes homeschooling is made harder because the teacher's attitude is off. If you find yourself getting unusually frustrated or angry at your kids, if you're truly exhausted, or if you're constantly daydreaming of an easier life that involves beaches and spas and freedom ... take time to talk with your spouse and God about what's going on. Can you think of something that could help you?
10. Change your family time
Would you like to start a new family tradition? Maybe you want to declare that every Friday night now means homemade pizza and a board game. Or maybe you'd like to sing a song together before dinner each night. Or start a volunteer project as a family. Just try to think of something that helps give shape to your days or weeks, and strengthens a sense of family.
I also believe that anything worth doing for the Kingdom is bound to encounter resistance from the enemy sometimes. And trust me, raising and educating our children to be equipped to do whatever God calls them to do ... that counts as something worth doing for the Kingdom. Satan would love to discourage you and tell you all sorts of lies to keep you from thriving in whatever God has called you to. So our first defense should be to pray, ask for God's help and remind ourselves of truth.
Easter is a time to reflect on the sorrow of Christ's death and the joy that comes with His Resurrection. As a homeschooler, you have the blessing of flexibility in your school schedule, and you may choose to set aside some time in your homeschool days to mark this holy season.
Here are a few ideas to start meaningful Lenten traditions for your family. Following the format that we use when we design a Sonlight Unit Study, these suggestions include literature, crafts, and cooking.
You’re toying with the idea of homeschooling. You’re beginning to imagine what it could look like to school at home instead of sending your kids back to public school.
You may be searching online for some school desks and chairs. You’re probably researching curriculum, and maybe you’ve even begun to map out what a day of school at home would look like.
Before you get too deep, let me give you some advice...
Your homeschool doesn’t have to look like a public schoolexperience.
In fact, it really doesn’t need to. You have to understand that many public schools are great at what they do, but they teach to the masses. You aren’t teaching to the masses. You have an audience of one...or maybe a few more, but nonetheless, your school won’t need to be a duplicate of public school.
Your child is probably thinking the same type of things. If you’ve talked to them about homeschooling, they are likely beginning to visualize what that might mean. Different children react differently to the news of an educational shift. Some may be overjoyed while others may be resistant to the upcoming changes.
So what should you do to prepare yourself and your child for your new homeschooling journey? Here are a few tips to help shift your mindset from public school to homeschool.
1. Deschool for a Time
Yes, it’s a real word! I looked it up in the dictionary.
Deschoolingis the process of phasing out of traditional schools and moving into alternative methods of education.
Deschooling can be very effective, and summertime is a great time devote to deschooling. During this time, you’ll want to allow your child free reign to explore what they want to explore. The goal is to let your child decompress from the stressors of school and just relax. This is particularly helpful for children who are uneasy or resistant about a switch to homeschooling.
You’ll want to focus on your relationship during this period of time, so your part during deschooling is to be sure to have lots of conversations, and spend plenty of time together relaxing and having fun.
You’ll probably be able to take your cues from your child as to when they are ready to begin formal learning again. This period of time lays a strong foundation for the parent-child relationship, and it prepares both of you for the task at hand.
Deschooling also helps you put some distance between you and your preconceived ideas of schooling, and it will help your child do the same. Your child is much less likely to say, “That’s not the way we do it at school,” when they have been out of school for a few months. Coming into homeschooling with an open mind will be beneficial to everyone.
2. Learn Your Child
I have always been a huge proponent of learning your child.
I believe that especially as homeschooling parents, we need to become students of our children.
We need to know what makes them tick, what inspires them, and what withers them. When we learn these things, we can develop a plan for teaching at home that is tailor-made for them.
Knowing what type of learner your child is will help you choose curriculum and schedule your day. For example, if your child is very active and has a short attention span, they would probably benefit from RightStart Math, which is a hands-on math curriculum involving shorter lessons, minimal paperwork, and plenty of tactile opportunities. On the contrary, if your child is more solitary and enjoys working independently and quietly, they will likely enjoy Horizons Math. If your child is very logical, they would probably be a good fit for the Singapore Math program.
Of course, don’t panic over these choices! Your biggest job now is to learn your child. Once you do that, you can call Sonlight Advisors to help you choose the curriculum that best fit your child. (Their advice is free.)
Are you wondering how to become a student of your child? Well, while I tend to go with more informal mental notes about my children, you may prefer list journaling. Your list journal may include things that make your child light up, things that make your child sad, and even a list of favorite books and activities will help you develop a good synthesis of your child.
You might even create a mind map including all that you learn about your child’s personality. These are just a few suggestions. The main idea is to study your child. Learn their personality and their likes and dislikes. This will help you make informed decisions on curriculum and schedules and will set you up for success from the start.
3. Develop a Plan for (and with) Your Child
In studying your child, did you learn that they love to read upside down, hanging off the couch? Maybe you learned that they like to draw curled up on the swing outside. If so, your child probably won’t do much of their work in a school desk. You’ll probably want to plan for flexible work areas. You’ll probably want to make a mobile caddy that holds supplies so they can do their lessons anywhere they like.
On the contrary, if your child loves working independently and having a set space to do their work, they may enjoy having a designated work area that looks more like a traditional desk set-up.
You may want to meet with your child and have them help you develop a daily routine for homeschooling. You might start the conversation like this:
Do you like doing the hardest things first or the easiest?
What would you like your school day to look like?
From these questions, you may discover that your child would rather work hard for a few hours and have the rest of the day to play, or you may discover that your child would prefer several breaks in the day. Equipped with this knowledge, you’ll be able to break out of the typical school schedule and create a flexible schedule that embraces your child’s strengths.
4. Break Out of the Worksheet Mindset
Most of us grew up with tons of worksheets and textbooks, and don’t get me wrong...I loved worksheets, but not everyone thrives with them.
Some public schools use a lot of worksheets and textbooks because it’s an effective way to teach a lot of children at one time. But you aren’t in the same position. You have a significantly smaller class size which will allow you to do much more oral discussion. You won’t need a worksheet or a book report to tell you if your child read the assignment. You’ll be able to talk about the book with them.
You CAN teach your kids at home! A well-planned curriculum makes it so easy, and you can trust that you are giving your kids all the academics they need.
Christmas Day has a wealth of wonderful, time-tested traditions. So many memory-filled activities have enriched our holidays throughout the years. But what about Christmas Eve? Do you have low-stress traditions?
Change can be hard. Even when we’re unhappy, our ruts of familiarity can keep us locked into less than ideal situations. Or maybe you’re fallen prey to the very common sunk cost fallacy. You’ve already invested half of a school year with a certain program or educational choice. It’s too late to change now, right?
