If you are like most homeschool moms, you envision a perfect day enjoying your children and their accomplishments. You might plan your lessons a week at a time and in your mind you see each of your children dutifully working on the lessons you have for them while you sip your morning coffee and grade completed assignments. Once completed, the books will be put away, chores will be done and the rest of the day is just waiting to be seized. Oh, but then reality sets in, and you realize that you may have raised your voice more than you intended, you are a few chapters behind where you want to be, and dinnertime is creeping up and you once again don’t have a plan. Is this just my day or can you relate?
There is a better way and here are some tried and true tips for improving your homeschool day...I know that when I follow them they sure do help mine.
Get up before the kids...like way before
For many moms this statement alone will elicit a groan but wait, there is a reason. Before the chaos of the day begins you can get a hot shower, a cup of coffee (or tea if that is your poison), and take some time to start your day with a devotion and a prayer. When I do this my day is infinitely sweeter. I feel more organized and less frazzled than on the days when instead of my alarm it is the pounding of little feet that wakes me because I didn’t beat the little ones in waking.
Bullet Journal first thing in the a.m.
If you aren’t familiar with bullet journaling now is the time to start. You basically make a quick list of thoughts, plans, accomplishments, etc. For this purpose, you can jot down 3 things you want to accomplish in your homeschool today, a few things that you need to do as a homemaker for the day, and whatever else you need to write down. Personally, I feel a sense of gratification when I can check things off that list and revisit it at the end of the day feeling accomplished.
Plan dinner before lunch
This just eases the stress of the day and may garner you some free time when the school day is over, it will definitely save you money if you are prone to wait until the last minute and then panic and order out.
Stay off your smartphone
Our kids know when we are distracted and they will be too so don’t sneak a peek at your facebook notifications or instagram. It is wise to let friends and family know that aside from something urgent, you won’t be taking calls during your homeschool day either, it is too easy to get off task that way. Set a specific time during the day when you have time to do this, I call it a “bookend” the beginning and ending of the day when you can set time aside to check digital media, return calls and respond to emails.
Say no and stay home
One of the really cool things about homeschooling is that there are opportunities to do so many educational things. There are art events, literature clubs, sports, co-ops, the list goes on and on. However, if we run here and there we can quite literally spread ourselves too thin and wind up feeling scattered and spent. A wise mom once told me that it is called “homeschooling” for a reason, the majority of it shouldn’t be spent running to and fro if you want to get things completed and not feel so frazzled. Brilliant advice.
I have to admit that far too often I need to heed my own advice. I have good days and not so good ones when homeschooling, anyone on this journey would be lying if they said all the days were good. These 5 simple tricks do help, now if I too could only stick to them, every day would be a great homeschool day.
Get up before the kids...like way before
For many moms this statement alone will elicit a groan but wait, there is a reason. Before the chaos of the day begins you can get a hot shower, a cup of coffee (or tea if that is your poison), and take some time to start your day with a devotion and a prayer. When I do this my day is infinitely sweeter. I feel more organized and less frazzled than on the days when instead of my alarm it is the pounding of little feet that wakes me because I didn’t beat the little ones in waking.
Bullet Journal first thing in the a.m.
If you aren’t familiar with bullet journaling now is the time to start. You basically make a quick list of thoughts, plans, accomplishments, etc. For this purpose, you can jot down 3 things you want to accomplish in your homeschool today, a few things that you need to do as a homemaker for the day, and whatever else you need to write down. Personally, I feel a sense of gratification when I can check things off that list and revisit it at the end of the day feeling accomplished.
Plan dinner before lunch
This just eases the stress of the day and may garner you some free time when the school day is over, it will definitely save you money if you are prone to wait until the last minute and then panic and order out.
Stay off your smartphone
Our kids know when we are distracted and they will be too so don’t sneak a peek at your facebook notifications or instagram. It is wise to let friends and family know that aside from something urgent, you won’t be taking calls during your homeschool day either, it is too easy to get off task that way. Set a specific time during the day when you have time to do this, I call it a “bookend” the beginning and ending of the day when you can set time aside to check digital media, return calls and respond to emails.
Say no and stay home
One of the really cool things about homeschooling is that there are opportunities to do so many educational things. There are art events, literature clubs, sports, co-ops, the list goes on and on. However, if we run here and there we can quite literally spread ourselves too thin and wind up feeling scattered and spent. A wise mom once told me that it is called “homeschooling” for a reason, the majority of it shouldn’t be spent running to and fro if you want to get things completed and not feel so frazzled. Brilliant advice.
I have to admit that far too often I need to heed my own advice. I have good days and not so good ones when homeschooling, anyone on this journey would be lying if they said all the days were good. These 5 simple tricks do help, now if I too could only stick to them, every day would be a great homeschool day.
