Whether you’re new to homeschooling or a seasoned expert, enthusiasm and perseverence at this time of year can wax and wane. So if you’re in waning mode, (or maybe it’s waxing:) hop on board and get pumped up to press on and run the race ready to sprint past the finish line with energy to spare!! I’ve included a free printable as well as some books I have found helpful at the bottom so you can finish your homeschool year with a smile on your face!
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Table of Contents
Having short range and long range goals
I’ve been thinking more about goals lately and writing them in my new bullet journal. Everybody wants good things for themselves and their kids; including finishing a school year, breathing a happy sigh and doing that happy dance! It’s important to have a short range view (this school year), and a long range goal (graduation and onto adulthood).
When I think about homeschooling, I can’t help but reflect on Philippians 3:14–Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
I don’t think the Lord had homeschooling in mind with this verse, but I love, “forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal.”
Forgetting what is behind
If you’re feeling the pressure of finishing and having a summer break, you’re not alone. You can’t go back and change anything, so forget any previous missed deadlines or happenings that make you feel guilty! That’s not healthy for anyone and it’s not coming from the Lord, so let it go. Focus instead on straining toward what is ahead . . .
Pressing on toward the goal
Goals for our kids go far beyond just finishing the academics through high school. We want well rounded, healthy adults that contribute to society, love the Lord with all their heart and love others. So that’s why it’s always important to keep the long range view in mind. Raising kids that turn into Godly adults. It will calm you down when the “urgency of today” starts to make you panic. With the long and short range view in mind, here are a few tips to run the race and finish well.
1) Review your plan and evaluate what it’ll take to finish.
Go back through the books and syllabi and calculate how many school days are left and how many assignments are left. Then make adjustments. Can you combine assignments? Are there any books that just aren’t working that can be let go? We had a few of these over the years. A Latin course is one that really stands out. Do you have any subjects that overlap that could count for two different subjects? Is the curriculum you’re using accomplishing the goals you have for your kids? If not, make adjustments so that it’s working better for you. Or give yourself permission to switch to something else. You own the curriculum. The curriculum doesn’t own you!
2) Map it out for the remaining weeks.
After making decisions on any changes that need to be made, make revisions in the schedule for the remaining weeks with your end date in mind. This is a good place to get your kiddos involved. This greatly affects their day-to-day life, so getting them invested will have them take ownership of the goals that you have for them. I wrote a helpful post on bullet journaling that your kids can do. It helps them not only be organized for success, but it teaches them life skills. I also have a free printable down at the bottom that you can download to help you with scheduling. While you’re reviewing and tweaking, are you and your children spending enough time in prayer and study of God’s Word? This is where the long range view of Godly adults can’t be overlooked.
3) Be willing to be flexible.
You may have to let some things go that aren’t working. It’s okay. There were quite a few curriculums that we tried for math, in particular, that just didn’t work for the learning style of my kids. Teaching reading to my youngest was a huge struggle until I realized that she just wasn’t ready and I wasn’t using the right teaching style and curriculum. So, if it isn’t working, take a step back and be willing to let it go. Pray and let the Lord lead you in a new direction.
4) Plan some fun along the way.
Staying at home and grinding away makes for an unhappy child, and mama!! Go to a museum or get outside and look at what’s happening out there. Be intentional about scheduling in some fun learning activities or just fun in general. Get together with another family or join a homeschool group. You having time with another homeschool mom is invaluable for your spirits and the kids will also enjoy time with peers. After you have a day or even half a day with some peers you will be refreshed and it will make such a difference for the days ahead.
5) Reward yourself and your kids for milestones along the way.
Unless you’re going into homeschooling thinking you’re only in it for a year, it’s a marathon, not a sprint! As you’re planning in some fun activities for your family, have in mind some rewards for milestones. They don’t have to be huge milestones or huge rewards. It can be as simple as “when we get through ten more lessons of math, we’re going for ice cream!” Take time to provide rewards as encouragement for a job well done for your kids, and you!!
When life gets messy . . .
It’s so encouraging to hear from other homeschool mom’s or dad’s on how they were able to overcome some really tough life situations. Life isn’t always smooth and simple, so I want to share just one.
Homeschooling for 18 years had me crossing paths with many other families through good times and tough ones. One family in particular had a really tough year when their grandmother who was battling cancer moved in with them for the last year of her life. While mom was busy taking care of grandma and grieving, not much schooling was ever accomplished. At the end of the school year, mom was pretty nervous about having her kids take the required standardized tests. She was sure they wouldn’t do very well considering how little time they spent actually working on school. But, God in His grace and mercy, proved faithful as He always does. Each of her kiddos were actually a full grade ahead despite little academics. And I’m certain they learned a lot of life lessons in the past year that were far greater in value!
There is such great value and blessing in homeschooling (I’ll save that for another post)! Even when it’s tough, keep the long range view, press on towards the goal and keep going. Stay connected to your homeschooling community and most importantly to the Lord.
These homeschool resources are SO helpful to have!
Here’s a few books that I’ve found helpful or added fun into our homeschool. I pray they do the same for you!
These are both books written a while back, but the studies by experts done on how children learn is valuable information. It gave me much insight especially when my youngest took a long time to learn to read.
This book also helped me incorporate more home style learning with a more relaxed approach.
Handbook of Nature Study is an amazing THICK book packed full of anything and everything you would ever need to know about insects, soil, plants and more. When my kids would catch some little caterpillar or frog, we would look up in this book on what type of food they ate and their habitat. Fascinating book!
Just as the title suggests–lots of ideas here!
I hope this gives you encouragement in your homeschool. Remember–educating your child is a marathon, not a sprint. Keep your focus on the long range and don’t lose heart in the day to day.
Keep on keeping on and may the Lord bless your homeschool as you faithfully bring up your children!
Numbers 6:24-26“The Lord bless you and keep you;the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”
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