Last year we made the switch to schooling year round. Since we don’t technically have an end date, I still need to take the time at least once a year, if not twice, to assess how our schooling is going and make any necessary changes to our curriculum and/or our approach.
So let’s get right into it……
What’s NOT working:
- MOVING! MOVING! MOVING! Moving during our school year has not been beneficial. at. all. In the past year, we have moved two times and are gearing up for yet another move! I’m not saying that moving during your school year is a negative thing, because you can do it, and you can get through it, but 3 times?! Can I get a break here?
- Not having a regular routine/schedule. Add a baby to those two moves I just mentioned, and you have a recipe for ‘Tough to Stick to a Schedule.’ I’m trying to just take it in stride and have faith that God is in control and that this is just for a season. So this week, regardless of getting ready for another move, I am making it a priority to get back on track. This week will be Operation – Find a New ‘Normal.’
- Preschool! My poor little kids always get the short end of the stick when ‘life happens.’ Their school gets put on the back burner when life is just too crazy to fit it all in. I’m hoping this will change when Operation – Find a New ‘Normal’ is enforced.
- Electives! Those went out the window too with all the moving, packing, unpacking, re-packing, and birthing.
So, what IS working?
- Schooling year round. I’m so glad we decided to switch to year round schooling. It has really taken a lot of stress off of me to try and get all of our school crammed in to 36 weeks. This way just allows us so much more flexibility, and right now, we need flexibility.
- Having my older children do their independent work in the morning and have them work with me in the afternoon. I used to do it the other way around, but this way allows me to be more relaxed in the morning and to give my little ones attention first. The little ones seem more content with things this way and are not constantly under foot while I’m trying to do school with the older kids later because they’ve had mommy-time. Plus, a few of the little ones nap in the afternoons so that allows me to give the older kids my attention.
- Having a regular breakfast and lunch menu. We have the same thing for breakfast and lunch every Monday, Tuesday, and so on. For example, for lunch on Mondays we have peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, on Tuesdays we have hard-boiled eggs, yogurt, and crackers, on Wednesdays we have macaroni and cheese, and so on. And we do the same kind of thing for breakfast. This way I don’t have to think about what we will eat each morning, it makes my grocery shopping easier because I know exactly what we need and how much we need of it, and I don’t have several kids asking me what’s for breakfast or requesting several different things. We do switch up the menu seasonally so that we don’t get too bored with our meals.
- Once-a-month meal prep. This just makes the day go smoother. I don’t have to think or worry about what we will have for dinner, and I have extra time in our school day because I don’t have much meal prep each evening.
If you are interested in hearing about what curriculum worked for us and what curriculum was a flop, you will have to wait until I write a post about the curriculum we will be using for next year – whenever that may be………
So how was your school year? I’d love to hear what worked for you this year and what didn’t. Please share in the comments.
Sarah,
Thank you so much for sharing your lists! I so need to analyze our end of the year yet but I can tell you we will definitely think about implementing some of your “is working” ideas. Thanks! I’d love to have you link this to Titus 2 Tuesday this week on Cornerstone Confessions.. I hope to see you there.
I agree – moving is a schedule breaker! I too need to re-evaluate. WHAT’S WORKING: I dumped “summer holidays” because around here, the weather is horribly hot in the summers, but we can’t stay indoors in the spring & fall. We use our summers and winter to do the bulk of our work.
Moving is a general nightmare! I hate it! Moving with babies, that’s just insane. (I’ve done it, too. 😉 )
Moving three times!? You ARE SUPERWOMAN! I would love to learn more about your monthly meal prep. I really don’t enjoy cooking, especially if I leave preparing dinner to the end of the day. Please share your tips!
I agree moving is hard — we started the school year in WA then were in PA for a few months and then back to WA. While we were in PA we packed our house. We got the core done but the extras just went out the window. This summer we are taking off because of other things like a month of training in Asia and a month of field survey. I love schooling year round.
We started homeschooling year round as well and it works for us. I’ve been meaning to try the once a month meal plan thing. Good reminder!
Great list! We relaxed our schedule a bit this year too. 8 weeks on, 1 week off. And we are schooling through part of the summer. It really helps me not to have to stress about cramming, too! Thanks for posting! It’s encouraging to see what works for others as well : )
We school year round as well and I am SO thankful for that this year. The first trimester (and some of the beginning of my second) was so completely immersed in horrible, hard morning sickness and nausea that we took quite a bit of time “off.” If I’d had a May-June deadline, I’d be in trouble now!
We’ll have a new baby in the fall and I’m going to just relax and enjoy our new family member rather than stress over if we get school done or not.
I don’t do the same breakfast/lunch on the same day, but we do have a standard rotation of breakfasts. I know the same 5-6 types of meals we’ll eat there and so stocking up on the items needed to prepare them works well for us.
I appreciate the idea of having my older children save their work that is done with me for a specific time of day. Good tip.
I am not sure I would do well with a year round school year. We do a four day week and though our days are packed, I do enjoy the weekends off. We have been homeschooling for two years now, and I am considering mixing things up a bit next year and messing with our schedule might be just the revival we need.
Blessings!
I love your assessment. We also school year round and I’ve found it to be the best thing we could have done! We are coming up to the end of our regular schedule and will be starting our summer term where we school 1 week on and 1 week off (3 weeks on and 1 week off during the year). With a wedding coming up, I am really looking forward to the break!
Thanks for sharing.
A great post. I can’t imagine moving 3 times in one school year, though change is generally my middle name. Thanks for giving us a peek into your life.
We have been doing year round school and it does allow that flexibility when life happens. Plus, I feel it helps my oldest daughter stay busy and having fun. I’ve been struggling with finding some kind of routine that works for us, but it is hard with so many variables. Good luck and looking forward to your curriculum list!
Wow – new baby and moving? You are pretty amazing to get through all that AND school as well! I really liked the practical ideas you shared…thanks for taking the time to write them down!
It’s a wonder you got anything done this year with moving and a new baby! Once a month cooking and meal planning works so well for me when I actually do it. Lately, I have gotten together with a friend and done enough meals to tide me over for three months. It’s hard work for the two or three days but then it’s bliss!
I always like it when someone shares about their homeschooling. Thanks for linking up with WholeHearted Home.
Oh my word – I can’t imagine moving 3 times in a year….at all. Much less while homeschooling….and having a baby in the middle of it. But your ideas are so creative and perfect. I like your menu idea. I may steal that!