You have worked hard this year, homeschool mom! You are winding down or maybe even finished for this year, finally. Great job! It’s time to take stock and objectively evaluate your homeschooling year.
If you homeschooled for the first time, you may be feeling a little… well, inadequate.
You aren’t alone. Most homeschooling moms feel that way! I’m afraid it comes with the territory.
You might be disappointed that you didn’t finish all you wanted to do. Homeschooling probably was harder than you thought it would be. You might have felt you weren’t up to the task.
But PLEASE don’t beat yourself up. Homeschooling truly gets easier as you learn more about how to do it and how your kids learn. Most moms will “settle in” between years two and three — so don’t feel bad about it! You are learning as you go, and that is okay!
Evaluate your homeschool year
Use the summer, or your next break, if you homeschool year-round, to relax and regroup. Once you have had a chance to rest, carve out some time to yourself to evaluate your homeschool year.
Grab something cold to drink and something to write or type on to capture your answers and ideas as you respond to the following questions:
- What did you do this last year that went well?
- Alternatively, what didn’t go so well?
- What habits do you need to brush up on during this break — of yours?
- Of your children’s?
- Did your curriculum work well for you this year?
- Did it inspire your kids, or were they unengaged and bored?
- Do you need to investigate alternatives for next year?
- Do you need to review or create a mission statement to help you get through the tougher times?
- What did you not have time for that you would like to include next year? Picture study for your younger students? Picture study for your older ones? Hymn study? Music study?
Meditate on these wise words from Elisabeth Elliot:
After you’ve had a chance to evaluate your homeschool year, review your homeschooling goals and decide what you want to change or tweak for next year.
Give yourself plenty of time to look at options and make a plan for the following year. Once you’ve had a chance to rest. Schedule time through your break so you don’t wait till the week or two before you want to start the next year and then panic!
Don’t forget to plan academic things for your kids to do, as well. I’m talking about daily reading and math and regular writing. They can choose their reading if that would help. Statistically, math is where children lose the most ground in the summer, so make sure you finish up your curriculum from last year, do some regular math review with practice problems. Or you can even start next year’s math, but at a slower pace if that’s more appealing.
You can do it! I have faith in you! Believe me, if I could do it, you can, too. =D
