Starting The Year Well

It's a new year!  And another wonderful opportunity to spend days learning with your children.  

Are you still in the season of summer vibes enjoying long balmy days? 

Are you frantically gathering your homeschool plan and resources? 

Or perhaps you have started your homeschool year already! 

Once school begins and we are in the 'thick of it' with programs, slogging away at workbooks and desperately trying to stay on track, let me share with you some ideas to weave in some precious habits for your school year ahead.

Here are my top 5 tips for 'Starting The Year Well':

1. Take Time to Connect with your Children

   Before jumping in to being their teacher, take the time to connect with each of your children as a parent first.  I find that when I am well connected to my child, the teaching is easier and the learning is deeper.

2. Make a habit of being out in nature with your children

It is easy to let bookwork, lessons and well meaning homeschool-mama-teacher diligence to get in the way of slowing down to connect with children in nature. Setting a regular daily, weekly or 'a few times a week' nature walk with your children can build a strong habit for the year ahead. Even a simple walk in the garden before breakfast, or a weekly trip to the beach. It doesn't have to be long, but can make a huge difference to your daily life.

3. Insist on Good Habits

Start the year with communicating clear expectations to your children in the habits you wish for them. What are they personally required to do each morning? Things like - making their beds, keeping their room tidy, getting dressed...

What habits do you want them to have as part of your family? Things like - helping out with the dishes (unstacking dishwasher/dish rack), watering plants, setting the table, emptying the bins etc. You may wish to use a chore chart or checklist.

Be sure that these tasks are age appropriate and that you have instructed and guided them through the task so they completely understand the expectation. Whatever method you use be consistent to insist on good habits. Setting this up at the start of the year will make your life SO MUCH easier! Trust me!

4. Ease into your School Year

   It is SO tempting to launch into a new school year with great enthusiasm, gusto and dedication for a full schedule. You have spent hours putting together and balancing many subjects, children and learning areas. But...before you, my best advice is to ease your way in. Start with ONE THING At A TIME! I will tell you why.

   The years I began the school year strong was a disaster! My children struggled with motivation, it was the biggest battle to get their co-operation and I was run off my feet and exhausted. I know it's a lot to juggle and you are itching to start.

   
   

   Instead, start slow and small. In the first week of starting school choose ONE THING to begin and do it well. Allow space and time for you and the children to get used to school again, time to play and time to connect. After a week or so you will find that everyone is comfortable with that one thing, it takes less time then when you first started and now you are ready to add in another element to your school day.

   If you want to read more on this, check out the blog post:

Easing In

5. Read Aloud Each Day

   No matter what your schedule is - a new school year or holidays, in seasons of visitors or sickness, protect time to read with your children. If you don't have the energy to read yourself or are on the go a lot, choose an audiobook to play and enjoy stories together. Reading aloud to your children is deeply connecting, so enjoyable and builds memories for a lifetime.

It hope you have been inspired and encouraged to take the time to set up some great foundations before launching into the more 'formal' schooling. Trust me; these things will make a big difference to your homeschool journey in the year ahead.

With blessing,

Penny