There is just something about January that makes me want to start all things new.
Maybe it is tied to New Year’s resolutions, or just looking at a fresh calendar and all that white space just begging to be filled, but nothing is safe in our house come January – including my well thought out homeschool plan hatched last August!
You know, the one you spent hours on. Pouring over calendars, reading reviews, talking to other homeschool moms, ordering from several catalogs to get the best price. And if you are one of the brave ones, you even put your plan in ink in a fancy planner, or worse, online for all to see! 😉
But, well, it is January, and things look a bit differently now. Is it just me?
Some of those books are just too boring. Some of those workbooks are just too hard. And who knew that your child was a visual learner rather than an auditory learner, right?
Thankfully for homeschool moms everywhere, January is Clean Slate month.
Ok, I made that up, but you CAN start with a clean slate! Here’s why.
Nowhere does it say you cannot start fresh, no matter what month. It is one of the glories of homeschooling. You pick what you want to use and you pick to choose to change when said choice is no longer working.
YOU know your child best! So if you know they are miserable doing XYZ program, you can change. Now!
There is a wealth of curriculum out there. Each year more and more amazing educational-aimed companies are producing even more amazing educational products. There is so much to choose from that there is no reason to use something you do not like.
Kids’ interests change. And that is ok. If doing a unit study was great one semester, then a more traditional approach may be better the second semester. You are free to choose something new.
After almost 17 years of homeschooling I have found that just changing things up a bit renews our passion for school. Starting with a different subject each day, letting the child choose a new subject to study, or just a bright new notebook and some stickers for your younger kids can jump start your new semester. Let’s face it, January can be difficult for everyone. The holidays are over, the days are short, and fatigue has set in, for kids and parents alike.
I would encourage you to take a minute to re-evaluate your curriculum as you begin the new semester. See what is working and change what is not. Add some spark to your day by making school fun. After all, we are just not trying to do school at home. We are trying to make learning come alive!
