Have you ever had one of those homeschooling days where you felt like nothing got done? Sure you made it through your checklist, but it was exhausting! Ever stop and think “There has GOT to be a better way!”?
Well, luckily there are some easy steps that you can take that will not only improve your homeschool, but make the day go by much more smoothly as well.
I remember my first year of homeschooling. I was just moving from one day to the next just hoping that it would magically get easier. It never really did until I found some super easy tricks that made life easier. I was in a better mood, my kiddo was in a better mood, and a lot more got done!
Ready to learn some super easy tricks to improve your homeschool?? Let’s get to it!
#1 Bedtime routine. I’ve mentioned this before and it deserves to be mentioned again. Before you go to bed create a short 5-minute routine that will set you up for the next homeschool day. This includes clearing off the space where you homeschool, emptying the garbage, cleaning up any paint or glue spills from the day, and of course, setting out the next day’s lesson. Having everything out and ready to go will give you a sense of control over your day.
#2 Have a backup plan for smaller kids. This is so important. It can be hard to concentrate on helping the older children to get through their lessons when you have a toddler on your hip. This where busy bags come into play! There are so many busy bag ideas out there that you shouldn’t run out of ideas. They quick, easy, and affordable to make. Just search Pinterest for “Busy bags”, create a few, and you’re good to go!
#3 Schedule regular breaks. It might seem counterproductive, but giving breaks every 30 minutes can relieve a lot of stress for both kiddo’s and parents. All it takes is a quick 5-minute break to recharge. Let the kids grab a quick snack while you a quick breather.
#4 Reading corner. Having a designated reading area helps to promote literacy. Before or after your homeschool lessons, allow your children to go to the reading area and pick any book they want. If your kids are to young to read then let them pick a book and read to them.
#5 Routines! Routines are so incredibly important. Children love routines and they actually do better when they know what is about to come up. Try to keep your homeschool routine the same each and every day. I know that isn’t always possible, but it really does help cut back on misbehaviors and arguments. It might sounds a bit to easy to be true, but give it a try!
These simple little tricks have helped us to improve our homeschool greatly. What do you do to keep your homeschool day productive? Please let us know in comments!
