We’ve started back to school and it’s been the best thing ever.
I’ve heard of other moms starting school slowly here too and struggling.
I’ve heard of even more other moms dragging their feet to start school (which I totally get because it’s HOT and it’s still summer which is fun season).
And I’ve heard mostly from parents who are feeling excited but overwhelmed with the school year.
No matter what camp you’re pitching your tent in or what you’re feeling these days, you’re not wrong. There isn’t a rulebook for homeschooling correctly, and that’s because homeschooling is the gift of escaping rigid systems.
If you’re finding yourself in comparison mode, feeling like everyone’s thriving while you’re just making it day-by-day, know this — you’re doing it right just by loving your kids, listening to their needs, listening to your needs, and leaning into what works for your family!
Let’s hit the skating rink together, shall we?
If we were to awkwardly grab hands and step foot onto the cement of the skating rink, laughing while we looked like shaky zebras as we tried to make our way around without getting in the way of the kid rollerbladers who only know the speed fast, I’d tell you this — homeschooling is about what supports your children best.
There’s no set way to show up properly. *Puts pinky finger delicately out while sipping a fifth cup of coffee and smoothing down the million flyaways I rock these days*
Still, it’s helpful to hear how others approach homeschooling so you’re not left to guess how to do it for your family. In that vein, here’s our messy approach, which has actually made schooling feel way more fun in our house.
We’re choosing to do 4-day school weeks with a fifth day for catch-up, fun, field trips, park playdates, you name it.
Monday through Thursday, the only non-negotiables are devotionals, math, and language arts. Our kids have loved the days we “slam” through school to get to something fun. I love those days too because it gives them motivation to focus on what’s in front of them.
The expectation has been set. They’re learning. I’m teaching. And they can’t give up on themselves!
Science and social studies usually juggle days. Typically, we do social studies on Mondays and Wednesdays, and science on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
We’re also doing a short but fun survival course, a homesteading class, and a few other extracurricular activities sprinkled in (workouts, CrunchLabs builds boxes, cooking boxes, jiu-jitsu, and more) based solely on our kids’ interests.
In a few weeks, we’ll be starting co-op days with our co-op, where parents will help teach kids about a variety of subjects. It’ll be fantastic!
The goal of establishing this general routine is to eliminate the guesswork for us as a family. The kids know what’s waiting for them so that they can balance their time (helloooooo time management skills!) and I don’t break my brain every Sunday night planning the week.
With all of that routine talk up above, I’m not ashamed to admit that some things got thrown out of whack when my husband was off work mid-week with us, and a friend invited us for an impromptu playdate.
I deliberately decided what to shuffle around for us, and it was science and social studies.
Today’s a free day with nothing on the calendar, so I’ve declared it MESSY SCHOOL DAY!
That’s because our science involved a nice, messy project (papier-mache jellyfish for our marine biology study) and our social studies involved baking cookies from colonial times. Both will be FUN. Both will leave trails of paint and flour dust in their wake. I’m here for it! And the boys are excited for MESSY SCHOOL DAY!
It’s all in how it’s presented, right?
Our youngest has gotten into making snacks for the family every day. His current favorite snack to make is FRUIT! All the fruit.
He chooses a few pieces of fruit to chop up for us. He puts them in a bowl and sometimes pours a little bit of raw milk (the best milk) over the top. Other times he’ll put on some cinnamon. And often times he does a little bit of everything.
It’s surprisingly refreshing. He loves helping out the family. I love the refreshing treats in this crazy Arizona heat. Everyone wins.
I teased this a few weeks ago, but now I get to share it with you here!
I’m thrilled to have just launched a local newsletter for families in Southern Arizona. More specifically, I’m focusing on Vail, Benson, and Sonoita families (city names that’ll make sense if you’re from this part of town).
It’s been a blast to pull together, and it’s given our kids a way to help out just by traveling to some of these fun spots or talking about what’s in our town.
If you’re a local, read the newsletter here.
And whether you’re a local or not, stay close to our ATM section. I’m working on some ideas for how I can better support you, so you can earn money while homeschooling without feeling insanely overwhelmed (just slightly overwhelmed, but that’s normal no matter what you do because #life).
Yesterday I restacked this post from Raise Them Up. It’s a perfect one to read from a seasoned homeschooling mom as we start a new school year.
I’ve had the gift of getting to know Brittany Stewart in real life through our co-op too. She KNOWS HER STUFF. Go give this post a read and follow her for more homeschooling ideas and insights.
Now let’s go have some FUN today!
~ Kimberly