Getting kids ready to go back to school can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. You have collected your curriculum and you know your children, now you just have to help them ease into a formal schedule again. With these helpful tips you will be able to get them all set up for the new school year.
1. Have an open discussion about what is expected of your students.
Establish clear expectations with your children so they know what they need to work on and where their focus should be during the next few months. It is important for them to know where they are heading and what they need to do in order to meet their end goal.
On the flipside, be sure you know what your kids expect from homeschooling. Let them share their thoughts and ideas with you about how they would like their homeschooling days to be arranged and weigh in on options that might work best for all of you.
2. Make a homeschooling plan and a homeschooling calendar.
Having a plan and seeing how this plan fits in a calendar helps your children understand what they will be doing at certain times of the year. Are there milestones throughout the year they will be working towards? Consider your school year to be a large project that must be broken down into smaller pieces in order to keep focused and keep the motivation up.
Make sure that whatever is on your list is something that feels manageable for both you and your children. Do not overwhelm your schedule!
3. Familiarize yourself with the materials your children will be using.
Spending time getting to know how the books work may save you some unexpected surprises or problem areas down the road. Also, it is much easier for students if their parents present a subject with confidence and excitement themselves.
4. Create a space for studying.
Even though doing school on the kitchen table provides a workable solution, it is much more effective to create a study space where your student can focus and get their work done without unnecessary distractions.
It is important for homeschoolers, just as it is for any student, to treat their schoolwork with respect and perform to the best of their ability. In a school environment, the child is surrounded with outside pressure to study and achieve good grades. In contrast, at home it can be more difficult for parents to motivate their children without this same external motivation from peers or teachers. Creating a special space for studying helps students to consider their work as more important.
5. Start off with fewer and less intense subjects to ease your homeschoolers back into the routine.
Getting back into the school books after a longer break can be difficult for both a homeschooling parent and homeschooler alike. The first two weeks should be focused on getting back into the “rhythm” of homeschooling. It is best to start off with just a few subjects for a couple hours a day, slowly adding more as children feel comfortable.
6. Keep homeschool friends nearby.
Do not underestimate your need for homeschool friends. Not only will they be able to help out with any curriculum issues but also provide encouragement and support throughout this journey together. They will also make it easier for you to return back to school as they share the same journey.
7. Enjoy the journey.
Do not stress yourself out. Homeschooling can overwhelm a parent, but keep in mind that it is important to keep your days and learning enjoyable for both you and your students. Remember that everything has to start somewhere, and the first day back is always the most difficult. Take breaks as needed and enjoy yourself!
If you’re looking for more information about homeschooling or just have a question, don’t hesitate to reach out! We would love to hear from you if there is anything we can do to help make the experience of being a homeschool family easier.
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