Jump Start Your Homeschooling Day!Often, we can help our homeschooling days run a little more smoothly with just a few changes here and there. Are you looking for a fresh new start? Have things become a bit chaotic? Are you feeling nonproductive? Try some of these ideas to “jump start” your routine and smooth out the rough edges along the way!
Be the example…set the tone! YOU mom, are the most influential person in the home that will “set the tone” of the homeschool day. When you greet your family in a joyful manner, ready to work, and willing to serve…chances are, they will follow suit! Let’s face it: There is no room for lukewarm attitudes or laziness on the part of a homeschooling mom. Certainly, we all enter a slump from time to time…but what matters most is that you pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and TRY AGAIN!
This is probably the SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO to bring about good changes in your homeschooling day! Give yourself time to wash, dress, sip a cup of something nice…and most importantly, PRAY! If you’re really driven, you could even sneak in a few sit-ups or jumping jacks at this time! Allowing yourself this time to get ready will boost your energy, as well as show the kids that you are eager to start the day with them! Think about it: If you were attending an important meeting and the chairperson of that meeting greeted you slumped over, in pajamas, with uncombed hair and a frown, what would you think? Most likely, you would not get the impression that this person was taking the meeting as seriously as you were! Our outward appearance reflects our inward spirit! Show the kids that you are serious about your studies and that you are looking forward to teaching them each day.
BE JOYFUL If we greet our children looking already-fatigued and stressed, they will pick up on those cues and it will greatly affect their attitudes and their studies. Remember that we are BLESSED to teach our children at home…they, as students, have a right to a kind, and JOYFUL teacher!
Just as we expect our children to be “ready to work” when the school day begins…so too, must we come prepared to teach! If you find that you are wasting precious time looking for supplies, finding missing papers, or stopping to print out lessons and activities that you could have printed out the night before…then this is a sign that you need to be more organized and prepared for class. What things need printed? What supplies will be needed for crafts or activities? What you have written in the lesson plans? Putting forth this little extra effort a day ahead of time will go a long way in helping your homeschooling days to run more smoothly! If YOU are ready to teach, THEY will be more ready to learn!
Nothing is worse than sitting in a classroom before a teacher that is “dry”. This will crush the spirit quickly and will prevent your students from developing a natural “love of learning”. No one likes EVERY subject, but try to maintain a positive attitude about the subject matter, even if it’s not one of your favorites. This will build your family's morale and help hold your students' attention during your homeschooling day.
PITCH IN AND HELP CLEAN Are you rushing off to prepare meals, or do laundry or make phone calls, while expecting the kids to stay behind and clean up the mess from the school day? Try staying there and working along-side them! You’ll see that it actually frees up MORE time for you in the long run. Save the time outside of school to focus on your children’s abilities to do chores independently. During your school day, work as a team! Show them that you are willing to “lead by serving”. Sing a little song while you wipe the table or put away the colored pencils…chat and laugh together about the moments you shared during lessons that day…nothing major here…the point is, if they see YOU appreciating your school and being WILLING to help care for it…they will do the same.
Organizational skills are very beneficial when it comes to creating a productive, efficient, and enjoyable homeschooling environment! The site below has some great articles to help you get organized and stay organized! Visit today! Your clutter will thank you!
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