In a blog post I wrote about winding down the school year, I mentioned what a productive year I thought it has been and that for the first time ever I did not have the Jan/Feb homeschool burnout that I know a lot of homeschool moms experience. Some moms experience this at different times of the year, it just so happens that mine would hit Jan/Feb and then again in May. I love homeschooling my children but those times of year are very hard to get through. So what was different this year, and how can you conquer homeschool burnout?
One of the biggest changes for me this year was curriculum choice. Since I have been homeschooling, I have changed curriculum several times, many times using curriculum that other people had given to me. While it started out being free, it came with a price. The main curriculum I was using was very teacher intensive, sorted by grade level, and I did not enjoy teaching it. By the time Jan/Feb rolled around I was tired and ready to be finished with all of it! This year, I started looking at different curriculum and buying things that we could use as a family, or was student led, or open and go type teaching. We started using Mystery of History, which I love and we can pick and choose how much or little we want to do on each topic. We switched to Apolgia Science which the boys can do altogether and Chelsea can teach herself. We started using All About Reading/Spelling which are open and go programs that I enjoy teaching and I don't have to prepare daily for. Everything that Chelsea is working on she can do on her own with little guidance from the teacher. Switching her to Math U See is one of the best decisions I made and will be switching all the children to it for next year.
Working on a 4 day a week schedule has been a huge blessing to me. We use that 5th day to go to Art Class, visit with friends, run errands we can't get to during the week, and do some straightening up we don't get to. If I tried to do schoolwork on Fridays with all those other things I would go crazy!
Taking small breaks throughout the year helps me to avoid burnout. We take time off in November, December, and March. We also try to take some days off for educational/fun field trips. This help gives a little variety to our year.
Limit outside activities/obligations. If you know me in real life you are probably laughing at this one because I do not do a very good job of this. I have a hard time saying no, which is how we end up leading all of the various activities we are involved in. But, the year I suffered from the worst homeschool burnout was the year that in addition to all the other things we do I taught a Wednesday afternoon class at our church. There was just something about having to squeeze everything into the morning, wake up the little ones from their naps head into town to teach a class full of preschoolers for 2 hours, load my children back up, and take them home to feed them that just pushed me over the edge. It was like VBS stress all year long!! I realized I was not doing anyone a favor (least of all my husband and children) and I just had to say no. Homeschooling life got much better after that. You need to be able to just say no to things that are causing you a ton of extra stress. Your home (school) and family need to come first.
If there is something you and your children really don't like, don't be afraid to change it. On the flip side, if there is a schedule/curriculum you love and it's working great, don't feel like you need to change it because somebody else tells you its the "wrong" curriculum or you think you aren't spending as much time on school as your friend down the street.
Get outside and get some fresh air!! I don't think its any coincidence that most people get that burn out feeling during the winter months. You and your children are cooped up more than usual and the weather is dreary. Enjoy the sunshine and get outside when you can. Take a day off from your regular work and go take a Nature Walk or other outdoor activity. You will feel much better!
When you are going through major life changes, give yourself a break and take a little break. A few years ago, we made a major move in January after living in temporary housing for 3 months, and just coming back from a Disney World vacation. Oh yeah, and I was almost 6 months pregnant!! I was trying to unpack and adjust to all of the changes for me and the children while being pregnant and keeping to our regular school schedule. It was a big mistake! I should have gave myself and the children a few weeks off to settle in and ease into our school work.
I don't have all of the answers, but I do know that these are some of the things that have helped me. I am so blessed to have my children home with me and to be able to homeschool, and I want to enjoy every minute of it. Teaching curriculum I love, having realistic expectations, and letting go of very stressful outside activities all have helped me to enjoy all of my homeschooling adventure.
* the above links to AAR and MOH are my affiliate links and any I receive a small commission from purchases made through those links
Our Family
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Homeschool Art Class 5/4/2012
I only took 4 pictures at Art Class yesterday (which by the way this is the last time I will have to use that camera I got my Mother's Day present early.) The children really enjoyed making a painting that looked like fireworks by blowing through a straw and then using chalks around it. Then they did a drawing and learned about shading. The children also did another coloring page for today's Peach Blossom Festival and added a page to their Art Books.
Chelsea is almost finished with her Artistic Pursuits Art Book. So she took her sketch book, art book, and drawing pencils to class and our art teacher helped her out with some more supplies and some shading techniques. She asked me not to take her picture while she was working.
Chelsea is almost finished with her Artistic Pursuits Art Book. So she took her sketch book, art book, and drawing pencils to class and our art teacher helped her out with some more supplies and some shading techniques. She asked me not to take her picture while she was working.
Review: 6 Ways to Keep the Good in Your Boys by Dannah Gresh
About the author:
Dannah Gresh has long been at the forefront of the movement to encourage tweens and teens to be modest and to pursue purity. Her books include Six Ways to Keep the “Little” in Your Girl, And the Bride Wore White, and Lies Young Women Believe, co-authored with Nancy Leigh DeMoss. Gresh has appeared numerous times in national media and is the creator of Secret Keeper Girl, a line of mom/ daughter connecting resources and live events. She and her husband, Bob, have an adult son, Rob, and two teen daughters, Lexi and Autumn. Learn more at www.dannahgresh.com.
About the book:
It’s perhaps no surprise that today’s media, retail, and fashion industries press girls to grow up too fast, but what about the boys? Remarkably, the exact opposite. In a culture that often churns out selfish, emasculated, irresponsible men, boys are encouraged to live in a perpetual state of childhood, often too busy playing Call of Duty to actually follow a real life call of duty. A boy’s relationship with his mom during the formative age between 8 and 12 is vital to his future well-being. So how can moms teach sons to be honest, confident, and respectful when the world and situations encourage them to make bad decisions? Dannah Gresh’s practical experience and research, along with advice from her husband, Bob Gresh, provide a mom with six proactive ways to help her son, including honoring his body in a healthy way, getting outside to play unplugged, and living out his faith.
There are two parts to the book. Part One has 6 chapters on Becoming A Connecting Mom: Is There A Mouse in that Cookie Box, A Mom's Greatest Fears, Becoming a Connecting Mom, Why Connecting Matters, How Connecting Forms Values, and Warning: Male Brain on Testosterone Ahead. The second part 6 Ways to Keep the Good in Your Boy has the following chapters: Way #1 Get Him Outside to Play. Way #2 Give Him Books S He Can Discover a Real Call of Duty, Way #3 Host Wing Nites and Fantasy Football Parties, Way #4 Celebrate His Entrance Into Manhood, Way #5 Unplug Him From a Plugged In World, Way #6 Let Him Open the Car Door For You. The book also includes a conclusion and a bonus section titled Seeing the Gift of ADD and ADHD
The issues that are tackled in this book are definitely challenges that are facing families and boys today. In her book, Ms. Gresh speaks candidly and in a very friendly conversational tone about issues boys are facing in our culture today and ways we as parents can combat those issues from a Biblical perspective. She also explains why boys are more susceptible to dealing with these types of issues and what we should be encouraging our boys to do. For moms that are in the position of raising boys on their own, there are many tips/suggestions for what to do and how to handle raising boys on your own. The fact that the book is written by a female author is a plus for the mamas reading it, and it is also very helpful to have the male perspective as well.
The book is not written from a homeschooling perspective. That may not matter to some people but it may to some of my homeschooling readers. I was shocked at the suggested ages for having specific conversations with your sons. Then as I thought about it, those people with children in the public school system and a lot of outside influences will need to approach these topics at younger ages. I personally believe that each family needs to prayerfully seek the Lord's wisdom and guidance for when these topics are approached and not broach subjects that are not yet necessary because an author of a book says to discuss it by age 7. I also took offense to the comment on it being more true for SAHM/ homeschooling moms spending too much time engaged in media and that their hearts are in the right place but their noses aren't (even though the author then says she's not pointing fingers just reporting what they learned by doing research.) While I think there was a lot of good information in 6 Ways to Keep the Good in Your Boys, I don't think that any of her 6 ways was not already something I didn't know.
I received a complimentary copy of 6 Ways to Keep the Good in Your Boys for the purpose of writing a fair and honest review. I received no other compensation.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
TOS Review: Homeschool Library Builder
"Homeschool Library Builder is co-owned by two veteran homeschool families dedicated to Christ-centered education. Our desire is to help homeschool families affordably collect books for their literary-based educational needs. We stock both new and used books found in popular literature-based homeschool curricula, as well as select titles to supplement your unit studies. Whether you're looking for educational or leisure, inspirational or reference, self-help, activity, or classic reading, we are committed to providing wholesome materials that will enrich the entire family."
Homeschool Library Builder strives to help homeschoolers fill their bookshelves without stretching their wallet. They offer new and used books organized by category and age level at amazingly low prices. You also can search by curricula such as Five In A Row, Sonlight, Heart of Dakota, Beautiful Feet, Tapestry of Grace and Ambleside.
Homeschool Library Builder offers free membership and with your membership you receive:
Monthly newsletters featuring sales and promotions
Book reward points for books you by and for people you refer and promote HSLB through your blog
Hard to find book searches at no extra cost
Free advertising on the HSLB marketplace for homeschooling products or services
Purchases through Helping Hand category goes to support a child from Compassion International
See all the membership benefits by clicking here.
Become a member today!
May Special at Homeschool Library Builder is 25% off all items!
I honestly had never heard of HSLB before this review. I found their website very easy to navigate and their prices very reasonable. They have a very large selection to choose from. I became a member and am looking forward to many happy book buying purchases.
To see what other crew mates had to say click here.
Disclaimer: As a member of the TOS Crew I am spreading the word about HSLB and their May special.
People that choose to sign up as a member and that The Happy Homeschool Mom sent you will earn me book rewards that I can use towards future purchases.
Winding Down the School Year
There are only 13 days left in our "school year!" Wow! The year went so fast. I think we have had a really good year and made a lot of progress in different areas. This is also the first year I can remember that I did not get my usual Jan/Feb homeschool burnout and desperate need for a break. I really enjoyed all the curriculum we used this year and we were so blessed with some awesome review products.
We have already finished Science. We will finish Apologia's Who Am I today. There are 13 lessons left in All About Reading Level One. Chelsea finished her Math yesterday and the boys will keep plugging along in their books. Since we have finished Science, we are working on History every day and will finish on time. We do have a little Writing and Latin to finish up. We also have some great review products we are working on, so watch for my reviews!
We will be doing a little school this summer. Chelsea will be doing Math all summer. The TOS Crew is not ending in June as it usually does and is instead continuing through November, so we will have Crew products to review all summer long. I am also working on some ideas for a reading incentive program for the children. My oldest two love to read and read all the time, but I want to keep Alex and Anthony reading this summer so they don't forget all they have learned and keep them in the habit of reading aloud.
I am in the process of deciding what to sell or keep for next year. That is so hard for me sometimes. There is a 5 year age difference between Nick and Chelsea so I struggle with the idea of keeping her curriculum that long for him to use. I hate to keep something that I could sell if I won't use it again, but I also hate to sell something that I could have kept. I also don't want to use my storage space for things I won't use when I need to make room for new things. Sigh. I need to make some more decisions today.
I am excited about finishing up our regularly scheduled school year and looking forward to a fun summer., buying next year's supplies, and starting up the next school year.
We have already finished Science. We will finish Apologia's Who Am I today. There are 13 lessons left in All About Reading Level One. Chelsea finished her Math yesterday and the boys will keep plugging along in their books. Since we have finished Science, we are working on History every day and will finish on time. We do have a little Writing and Latin to finish up. We also have some great review products we are working on, so watch for my reviews!
We will be doing a little school this summer. Chelsea will be doing Math all summer. The TOS Crew is not ending in June as it usually does and is instead continuing through November, so we will have Crew products to review all summer long. I am also working on some ideas for a reading incentive program for the children. My oldest two love to read and read all the time, but I want to keep Alex and Anthony reading this summer so they don't forget all they have learned and keep them in the habit of reading aloud.
I am in the process of deciding what to sell or keep for next year. That is so hard for me sometimes. There is a 5 year age difference between Nick and Chelsea so I struggle with the idea of keeping her curriculum that long for him to use. I hate to keep something that I could sell if I won't use it again, but I also hate to sell something that I could have kept. I also don't want to use my storage space for things I won't use when I need to make room for new things. Sigh. I need to make some more decisions today.
I am excited about finishing up our regularly scheduled school year and looking forward to a fun summer., buying next year's supplies, and starting up the next school year.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Foods of the World Homeschool Co-op
A couple of years ago, our small homeschool group did a once a month co-op. Every month we did fun hands on activities or went on a field trip. Each family was in charge of planning one activity/field trip for the year. When it was my turn to plan, I came up with the idea of a Foods of the World Cooking Co-op (although I am sure I didn't come up with it on my own. I probably read about it somewhere.) For this co-op each family would choose a country and prepare food from that country. They also could present a talk about the country or do any kind of presentation about the country. We had one family bring a craft for all the children to do and another family did music from their country. Some families only did food. After the presentations, we got to sample the foods from each country. It was a lot of fun and very educational! We tried to plan it again the next two years but it just didn't work out. Even though we do not get together once a month anymore, we still try to do some activities from time to time. Yesterday we finally had the chance to do the Foods of the World Co-op again.
We had 5 families participating with a total of 21 children!!! Some of the children were babies of course. My family did Italy and did a small presentation on Italy and made Fettucini Alfredo and Chocolate Gelato. We also learned about Israel, Germany, Japan, and the United States. The children learned some interesting information and we got to eat some great food. In addition to the food from Italy we had German Chocolate Cake, Rice, Cucumber Salad,Paki (not sure if I spelled that right it's like a Japanese candy), Pitas with turkey, lettuce, roast beef, and pastrami, pickles, bread with chocolate spread, and American sack lunches with chips, juice, dingdongs, BBQ sandwiches and beans. We all had a great time and it was wonderful to be able to get together with friends.
As usual, my pictures did not turn out that great. I am so disappointed in this camera (it really is the camera not the operator.) Rumor has it I may be getting a new one for Mother's Day.
We had 5 families participating with a total of 21 children!!! Some of the children were babies of course. My family did Italy and did a small presentation on Italy and made Fettucini Alfredo and Chocolate Gelato. We also learned about Israel, Germany, Japan, and the United States. The children learned some interesting information and we got to eat some great food. In addition to the food from Italy we had German Chocolate Cake, Rice, Cucumber Salad,Paki (not sure if I spelled that right it's like a Japanese candy), Pitas with turkey, lettuce, roast beef, and pastrami, pickles, bread with chocolate spread, and American sack lunches with chips, juice, dingdongs, BBQ sandwiches and beans. We all had a great time and it was wonderful to be able to get together with friends.
As usual, my pictures did not turn out that great. I am so disappointed in this camera (it really is the camera not the operator.) Rumor has it I may be getting a new one for Mother's Day.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Review: God Helps Me Bible
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| 104 pages $12.99 |
God Helps Me Bible written by Juliet David and illustrated by Clare Caddy is a 104 page book designed with ages 1-3 in mind. The 25 Bible stories that are included use words and language designed to captivate the youngest reader and teach them how God helps and loves His world and people. Each one of the Bible stories including: Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Joseph, Moses, Esther, Daniel, Jesus, Paul and more ends with the words God helped.....The book is spiral bound that allows it to lay flat so little hands can point to the illustrations and turn the pages on their own.
I love the illustrations in the God Helps Me Bible. The stories are definitely written for younger ages and my 1 year old and 3 year old enjoyed me reading them. I like that each story points out what God did to help each person in the story.
At first I thought the spiral binding was a great idea. It was easy for my 3 year old to carry around and read on her own. It is a hard cover book and seemed to be very sturdy. But, within a couple of weeks, the binding opened up and some of the pages started to fall out of the book.
I received a complimentary copy of God Helps Me Bible from Kregel Publications for the purpose of writing a fair and honest review. I received no other compensation.
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