Avoiding Burnout

Continuing the series on homeschool burnout this is the third in the series, visit the first post on energizing your day, and the second post focusing on fun!  This series is dedicated to avoiding the dreaded dark clouds of burnout.  Let these ideas inspire you to make some sunshine in your homeschool!

Changing the scenery can get everyone excited about a school day!

Here are some suggestions for finding a new study spot.

• Pick another room in the house to spend your day!  This is the easiest location because you have everything accessible to you at home for school work and entertainment for younger kids.  If you forget something just go get it and you are set for the day. 

• Head out to the public library.  Plan to check out books of interest in science or history based on what you've been studying in those subjects.  You can also bring your math books along and reward the kids with a book to check out when they finish their work.   Your little ones will enjoy having a story time session with you!

• Have you ever noticed how food courts in the mall have plenty of table space?  Get there early and find a corner spot.  When everyone needs a break use those coupons you’ve been saving for a snack or drink.   We’ve brought our own lunch to the mall and haven’t encountered any problems.  Since you are at the mall, you might get an errand done at the same time!  The bonus is it is totally stroller friendly and hi-chairs are available!

Note:  Expect the food court to get crowded during lunch time.

• If you live in an area that isn’t too cold out then take your school outdoors.  It could be your backyard or a nearby park.  You can use the outdoor setting for subjects such as science and nature, art, or geography.  Playground equipment will allow everyone to get some good physical education!  You can also learn at a park if you choose one with a memorial, or a specific dedicated theme.  We’ve been to rose gardens, Japanese tea gardens, and arboretums all with no cost for entry.   

Plan ahead the night before making sure you have the proper study materials, snacks, drinks, activities for younger kids, strollers, diaper bags and anything else that will make your outing pleasurable.

Who needs added stress?  NO ONE!  How often we are quick to add stress to our daily lives.  We do this by not planning properly, allowing enough time, or sometimes by simply not asking for help.

When you are using the www.MySchoolYear.com website and need help, simply ask!  We don't want you to add any stress to your day.  Simply contact us at support@myschoolyear.com  and we can step you through a situation that may have seemed hopeless, to a happy resolution. 

It is that easy and the best part is NO ADDED STRESS!  We are happy when we can help someone because that person took a step to find a solution rather than giving up and being dissatisfied when there was a better way. 

We are here to support you because Homeschooling is important to us all!

Avoiding Burnout

Continuing the series on homeschool burnout, visit the first post on energizing your day, this second post focuses on fun!  This series is dedicated to avoiding the dreaded dark clouds of burnout.  Let these ideas inspire you to make some sunshine in your homeschool!

  Fun School 

The kids came up with the name "Fun School" many years ago.  We did it at random times of the year, until one of my daughters made it a monthly day of Fun School.  She was given an assignment to write a persuasive paper.  I told her she could choose any topic and if it was well written with valid points that I would consider her request.  And that is how Fun School became a dedicated day we do each month!

What is Fun School?  Well it doesn't mean that the other days of school are not fun- I wanted the kids to be clear on that point.  It just means that we take a break from our standard curriculum and do the things we haven't had time to do, or the things that we really enjoy, or continue working on something we are really excited about at the time.

 Here are some examples of Fun School:

• School games - There is a game for just about every subject.
  
  
• Religion - Decorate your home with posters celebrating the faith, re-enact a Bible story, or cut out religious symbols (cross, dove, fish) and decorate them for display.  Think Vacation Bible School in your own home!
  
  
• History - We've built and burned the Tower of London, made viking boats, and cooked foods from other countries.
  
  
• Science - Science kits can be so much fun.  Most kids like watching science come alive with real experiments.  These can be very involved to simple, but either way they have a big impact.  Don't have a kit?  Check the internet or your science books for items around the house that you can use.
  
  
• Geography - Learn where places are in the world by doing geography puzzles!  Call out a country/river/capital and have the kids take turns locating it on a map.  You can do this with coordinates for longitude and latitude as well.
  
  
• Construction sets - The possibilities are endless and most come with instructions for building a few examples. 
  
  
• Writing poetry or stories - Some kids just like writing while others will choose something different.
  
  
• Craft projects - Rugs, paintings, dioramas, cross-stitch all have been made in our home and don't forget craft kits with all the supplies!
  
  
• Reading - Do a favorite read aloud book together or let the kids read on their own.  Act out a scene from a favorite book or play! 
  
  
• Videos - If you don't own any educational ones visit the library!  We have watched many of Shakespeare's plays, the ballet Swan Lake, and many science topics. 
  
  
• Audio - Play music from composers you have studied, enjoy music from other countries, or listen to songs that teach something new.
  
  
• Cooking - Baking with kids gives opportunities for learning measurements, following directions and understanding new vocabulary.  Also teaching a child to cook is easier when there isn't a dinner deadline and fun is the goal.  
  
  
• Computer - There are many educational websites with games that reinforce or teach new concepts.  Research the night before, and then you know the links are safe and work to your children's' interests and age levels.
  
  
• Kids - The kids will have their own ideas and they will be happy to apply their imaginations and talents when given the opportunity.  If your kids seem unmotivated then just get involved doing something and enjoying it. They will usually come around to see what all the excitement is all about that they are missing!

What makes Fun School fun?  You! 

Having a great attitude, even when the experiment didn't come out quite right, or the craft glue is all dried out will teach a lesson in itself!  No need to worry.  There isn't any pressure to complete the task perfectly or have all the right materials!  There are no grades or assignments that need to be sent in for evaluation. The kids don't have to be concerned about memorizing facts or being quizzed afterwords. It is just plain fun with no strings attached!  As a mom, it is great to see your kids discovering new things and enjoying learning!

The bonus is that you will see Fun School happening more often because your kids will be wanting to revisit these experiences and add new ones! 

They will be hurrying to get their school work done so that they can do the Fun stuff that isn't "school" in their eyes, but just having fun!

We've moved!  Now comes the unpacking and household set-up.  It is a lot of work and no matter how much we do it seems like there is still so much more!

No complaints here.  We are relishing in our new found space and enjoying having a spot to put things away.  My daughters were amazed that they could see their clothes in the closet! 

Now it's back to work!

Avoiding Burnout

As we approach the season of homeschool burnout, I though you might be looking for some clear skies.  This blog is the first in a series dedicated to avoiding the dreaded dark clouds of burnout.  Let these ideas inspire you to make some sunshine in your homeschool!

Energize Your Homeschool Day!

Ok what do I mean by this?  Simply do things differently and have fun!  Here are 10 ideas: 

1. Change the order of which you complete your school subjects.

2. Wear costumes or funny hats to school-go through the dress-up trunk or put something together that is just fun to wear!

3. Eat lunch for breakfast and eat breakfast for lunch.

4. Let the kids use colorful pens or pencil colors to complete their work.

5. Pick a different seat other than the usual spot.

6. Trade out the lined notebook paper for construction paper, stationary, or printer paper that has a decorative border.  Note: This may not work for every subject, so think about where it fits best.

7. Tell the kids to use the computer to type up anything they normally write out- a history outline or grammar questions for example.

8. Decorate your school area with streamers, banners, balloons, or leftover party theme props.

9. Turn out the overhead lights and use alternative lighting such as night lights, flashlights, or LED candlelights.

10. Have a "word of the day" and then do something silly every time it is said.  A silly thing could be jumping out of your seat and getting under the table.  Use a word that is likely to come up a few times like, "book" or "read".  You can even make it into a contest to see who responds the fastest or catches the word of the day the most.

Remember enthusiasm is contagious.  Starting the day with eagerness, even when you don't feel like it, will be the first step to brightening your homeschool.

Do you ever just go up to your kids and give them a hug?  I'm talking about a hug that is totally unexpected and unrelated to their behavior or an event.  A hug that says I'm glad you're in my life and I love you!  It makes everyone feel good and lets your kids know how special they are to you.  It shows them the total unconditional love you have for them just being who they are!

I try to remember to do this from time to time- a hug just out of the blue.  I always get a huge smile from the person I am hugging.  If you're not sure if you are doing enough hugging, here is a quick easy test.  After you give a hug if the recipient asks, "What was that for?" then you need to do it more often!

For advanced hugging, don't be the first to let go.  You'll be surprised at just how long your kids can hug you.  Try it, just give a hug and don't let go right away.  Enjoy it.  Allow them to let go first when they are ready.  You might be surprised that they hold on for longer than you expected. 

Don't forget to share your hugs with all your loved ones! 

We call it the library cart.  It was a birthday gift for me many years ago-a square rolling cart from the office supply store.  We take it with us to the library and fill it up with books.  Once we get home, we park our cart in the same spot in our foyer.  The books are then ready to be "checked in and checked out".  

We have one simple rule:  If you take a book out of the library cart, return it to the cart when you are done. 

It is our in-home library and it keeps our books from getting lost.  The kids have been very faithful about returning the books.  Why?  Because they know that keeping this rule in place allows for future checkouts, avoids paying late fees (from the kids' money), and makes it easy for us all to keep track of the library books.  The younger kids think its fun to "check in and check out" their books to the library cart.  I presented the process for using the cart in an exciting way.  Afterall it's their own library! They can help others and play the librarian as well. 

My older kids are allowed to bring their chapter library books into the van for reading or keep in their room until they are finished.  They have proven to be responsible with returning the books back to the cart.  The younger kids usually have someone read to them and can be reminded to return the book to the cart after the storytime.  Sometimes the younger kids get books out to look at and forget to return them to the cart.  If someone notices some library books left out, we remind the young readers to come get their books and return them to the cart.  We don't put the books back for them, but rather help them to develop the habit.

When the time comes to return the books back to the actual library, we count them up to confirm they are all there and then we wheel our cart back for a new batch of books.   Since the habit of returning books to our cart has been formed, if we are short a book it is usually found within a few minutes due to an older child still reading it in their room.

We use the library a lot in our family.  This simle rule and cart have enabled us to continue to use the library a lot without losing books.  The kids are motivated to use the cart because they are excited to get a fresh batch of books and I don't have to be concerned about hunting down library books in the house!

As everyone is getting organized, we are getting disorganized!  At least that is how it feels in our household.  We have boxes in every room, some are lined along the hallways, others are stacked up high.  We have outgrown our house and are getting ready to move in a few weeks.

We really did our best to stay in this home and function, but we are literally tripping over each other.  We have 2 tables that are pushed against one another for our dining.  It is a challenge to get around the table for anything once everyone is sitting down.

Our youngest son has been living out of a suitcase on our bedroom floor for the past 7 months, since there isn't any space for him to have bedroom furniture or a room to put it in.

So with a heavy heart, we are packing away, and swimming in a sea of boxes.  This house has been good to us and we have made so many memories here for the past 11 years.  We have great neighbors all around us, which really probably kept us here longer.  We knew we weren't fitting, but there were so many positives that we just kept postponing the move.  Does anyone else feel sad when they move too?
 

The other day we solved the mystery of the missing clothes. Every few days, one of the boys would say he was out of clothes. We couldn't understand it, but okay, I put a load to wash. Next day, the same thing. Okay, put another load to wash. Again, nothing to wear someone would proclaim. I thought, how can they be out of clothes? It just got washed, yesterday???

Well I've been busy with other stuff and just didn't have time to investigate. Honestly, it was easier just to do another load of laundry than to find out where the clothes were going. So, I decided to finally go into the boys' room and solve the mystery. Well we have 3 boys sharing a small closet that keeps all their summer and winter clothes. We live in a warm climate and you can never really put away your short sleeve stuff. We can have one day of 44 degree weather and the next day can be 74 degrees! Another topic completely.

I started pulling out clothes and found out that my oldest son's clothes were falling off the hangers in the back of the closet. They were accumulating into a nice pile of clean laundry. My second son's clothes were being shifted to the opposite side of the closet and getiing mixed up with his brothers'. Of course his brothers never mentioned or paid attention to that fact. He later said that he was wondering why every washing of his clothes resulted in less clothes.

The boys of course never bothered to really search their closet, it was much easier to announce being out of clothes. For me it was easier to just throw in another load than to search the closet. We were all shirking a job, hoping that someone else would get it figured out.  In the end, I'm not much different than my boys or should I say that they are not much different than their mom? Do you find that true for yourself?

This mystery reminded me about how I'm being an example to our kids even during the daily life stuff-when I don't even realize it.  It's a big task to be a good example to our kids, but it's an even bigger task to remember we're being an example all the time!  I have a lot of room for improvement, thankfully goofing up and making mistakes are great teachable moments.

A brand New Year is a fresh start! Whether your homeschool year is just beginning, in the middle, or towards the end, now is a great time to get organized. Set aside some time to catch up on the grading and reporting. Set aside some time to get ahead on lesson plans or create booklists. Let www.MySchoolYear.com handle all the "paperwork" neatly online and then set aside some time to enjoy the good feelings of knowing your homeschool is organized!