The following is a guest post from contributing writer Stef.
Many of us love the idea of changing up our homeschool so it fits our families better, but often times we are scared to make the changes that are needed.
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| Educating Laytons – reading time |
Do you need to incorporate more quality time, science experiments, art, character training, scheduled time, exercise, positive reinforcements, etc. Do you need to remove unstructured free time, a certain workbook, noise, Wii, distractions, or a bad attitude? You might consider asking your homeschooler what they would like to start doing / stop doing. (let them know up front ditching Math is not an option)
Once you decide what needs to be added or needs to get kicked out – make a plan. How are you going to incorporate what is needed? What things do you need to rearrange? Do you need to purchase something to make it all happen? Do you need to re-examine your schedule?
Get your ducks in a row and then be sure to announce it to your homeschooler! Everyone likes to know when there is a change in the program “next week we’re going to start science experiments” or “from now on we’re going to spend more time reading together after lunch”. Let your homeschooler know the change and what you expect from them because of it.
I’ve had to add more art to our daily work in practically every assignment. I purchased a drawing pad and the boy goes to town filling it up. I’ve had to add more chapter books because he was reading them too fast. We now stock up at the library. I’ve had to add one science experiment weekly because we were I was skipping them. I purchased a Science Kit (for dummies).
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| Educating Laytons – blood experiment |
Once you pinpoint what you’d love to change – do it. You are not a failure for change – you are simply setting up your homeschool for success! Good luck!
Stef is wife to Thad and mom to energetic superheroes in Florida! Stef is the author of Educating Laytons and co-founder of The Homeschool Village.
About Stef
For those who are new-er to homeschooling, it bears stating explicitly that we do need to stick with something we’ve implemented long enough to know if it’s working or not. How long is that? becomes to the question. I think the answer is different for every family – that’s why Divine leading is so valuable. However, the “after 20 lessons” statement regarding the Spelling change is a really good suggestion… unless, of course, it’s only 1 lesson per week… then it might be more like 6-10 weeks to know. Or something similar. We can’t throw in the towel too early because, as with most adults, children don’t enjoy change – including starting school back up after a break of any length. So, it might just be the sticking point before the smooth road we’re dealing with rather than the absolute need to change. Just wanted to share my two cents on that.
Good post and I love this blog. I’m usually a lurker. 
Change can be scary, but usually is for the better. We are in the process of changing spelling programs. I stick with the old one a bit too long because I had been using it for so long. It had worked for all my older kids! Though it was hard to make the change, I now feel so much more peace with this new decision. Thanks for the post–sometimes we all need a nudge to do what must be done.
Thanks for the reminder…Just what I needed this morning.
I detest change, but know it is necessary at times/ Having 6 children with several different learning style makes it imperative. After all, isn’t that one of the beauties of homeschooling? The ability to make a change if needed!
Great post!
WONDERFUL Post.thanks for share.. more wait .. …
I use and love a curriculum for teaching children to read. For a couple of years several parents came to me saying they not only taught their children to read with it, but were teaching foreign languages, spelling, vocabulary, root words, prefixes, suffixes, and much more with this curriculum/ game.
I kept saying I was going to try using it for my older kids, but did not do it until just a few days ago. I only wish I had done it sooner. It made teaching them so much easier, and more fun too.