Whether you’ve been back to school for a while or just started, it is important to start strong! We usually have the most energy when we begin—and it is key for our students’ success that we show as much (or more) excitement for their new curriculum, co-op classes, and activities as they do. As parents, we are their biggest cheerleaders!
Here are a few of my favorite tips for starting a new school year off strong. (Even if you don’t start a new school year in the late summer/early fall, these tips are still a wonderful tool to use as a refresh whenever your “school year” commences!)
- Refresh Your Vision
Remember why you chose to homeschool, and the end goal of your children’s education! For me, my vision is twofold: to give my children an excellent education, and to raise them in the wisdom and instruction of the Lord. Whether your reasons for homeschooling are faith-based, a desire for a flexible lifestyle, a child with specific needs, or something else—refresh your “why” and get excited! Knowing the purpose for your homeschool will give you the energy and ability to work through those hard days.
- Find a Schedule that Works for You
Remember, homeschooling is not doing “school at home”. You have the freedom to dictate your own schedule, subjects, and activities (within the bounds of your state’s law, of course). Homeschool doesn’t have to start promptly at 8:30am and go until 3:00pm, although if that works for you then go for it!
Also, remember that your schedule doesn’t have to look the same year to year, or even month to month! Be flexible as seasons change, activities differ, and your family’s rhythms vary. The beauty of homeschooling is that your children are learning alongside you in whatever you do, from walks (lots of science!) to the grocery store (math and finances) to all the books you read during free time.
- Set Goals for the Year
Having a target gives you somewhere to aim and a direction to strive for! This may look different for different families or even vary by children, depending on their personality. Some students may love the goal “finish your math book”, while that may be overwhelming to others. “Teach Johnny to read” or “teach Rachel to write a research paper” or “have Isaiah cook dinner independently” are other examples of goals that are more mastery focused. Some kids thrive off deadlines, others feel intimidated by them but love conceptual thinking. Do what works best for your kids but give them a goal to work towards (and maybe match it with incentives to add some excitement!).
- Get Organized!
Refreshing the school area or room is always helpful as you get ready to begin a new year. Make sure you have the resources you need at hand, and that everything is optimally arranged to serve yourself and your students well. Go shopping together for any new supplies needed and let them help pick things out!
- Refresh Your Morning Basket
One of my favorite things, especially for younger learners, is to utilize a morning basket—a basket full of books that stays by our table. I usually finish eating before my kids, and I use the rest of that time to read from several books pertaining to different subjects as we are gathered around the table for the day.
Subjects vary by family, but common ones include literature, science, poetry, Bible, music, and art. (Again, figure out what works for your family!)
Our current rotation includes reading from a kid’s Bible, reading a selection from The Ology, doing a short reading and activity page from Apologia’s preschool science book, and a poem from The Child’s Book of Poems. We close our time out by singing our “hymn of the month” that the kids are learning (I love this resource to learn the stories behind the song!). While there are many other wonderful subjects, this takes up all the attention my little kids have. We do like to read several selections of literature over lunchtime!
Side note: If you’re interested in purchasing any of those books, HSLDA members get a discount on Christianbook.com!
- Plan A “Back to Homeschool” Celebration
This is one of my favorite things that my mom did when she homeschooled me, and certainly something I am carrying on with my own family! In the week leading up to beginning school, each of us got to pick a day where we chose a fun activity for the family.
This ranged from wandering around Cabelas and getting kettle corn, to packing a picnic and going on a hike in the mountains, to swimming and ice skating at our local rec center. The week culminated on Monday morning, when my mom cooked a big breakfast (waffles, berries, cinnamon rolls, mmmmm. . .) as a kickoff to our first school day!
Even if you formally started school a month ago, you could always throw a small “one month down” party to reinvigorate your kiddos!
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Whatever you do as you begin a new school year, I hope this is a blessed year for your family!
Elyssa works part-time as an editor for HSLDA. She loves Jesus, her husband Kevin, and her two sweet little boys. She graduated from Patrick Henry College, obtained her MBA, and now stays at home and seeks to love her family well. She also serves on her state homeschool board and helps run her church’s co-op.
