Spring is the perfect time of year to refresh your homeschool.
Everything in nature begins to bloom and blossom as the outdoor surroundings awaken from winter’s rest.
And you can create that same refreshing feeling inside your homeschool.
Your homeschool decor could probably use a little sprucing up this time of year.
Daily homeschool routines could also probably use some adjusting.
And the kids (and us homeschooling parents) are more than likely craving more sunshine and outdoor time.
Refreshing your homeschooling environment can also bring you front and center with some of the main reasons you started homeschooling in the first place.
Sometimes, the cares of life and responsibilities can drain us more than we’d like to admit as homeschooling parents.
But, a refreshed homeschool space is not only beautiful but helps us jumpstart and reset the journey to creating beautiful memories with your child in homeschool.
13 Ideas To Refresh Your Homeschool This Spring.
As you think of ways to declutter closets and touch-up paint in your living space, don’t neglect to refresh your homeschool this spring.
Here are 12 ideas to help get you started:
- Prioritize engaging in hands-on learning. With warmer weather and longer days finally here, you can use this as an opportunity to become more creative with learning opportunities for your child.
- Remember that homeschooling is more than academics. But, you are building life-long relationships with your children. Try adjusting some activities, book discussions, time around the table together, etc., to develop and foster relationships.
- Get outdoors. A weekly homeschool hike, a daily morning walk, or afternoon time at the park are great ways to spend more time outdoors.
- Study nature. With blooming happening all around, there are endless science and nature studies to explore during this time of year.
- Revisit your homeschool curriculum. Spring is an excellent time to review your curriculum plans for the remainder of the year and get a jump-start on your curriculum reviews and homeschool planning for the upcoming year.
- Declutter & reorganize your homeschool space. Now is the time to toss, sell or give away any homeschool materials that are crowding your space or no longer working.
- Deep-clean. Once you have decluttered and reorganized, take it another step further and deep-clean. Give a good cleaning to windowsills, bookshelves, and rugs. Get rid of broken toys, puzzles, and games with missing pieces, or minimize your homeschool altogether.
- Ditch the curriculum (at least for a while). Experiment with un-schooling to allow fresh ideas and inspiration in your homeschool. You may love the un-schooling method and continue to incorporate some form of unschooling.
- Allow your child to learn a new craft. Spring is great for trying new sports, skills, or interests for the first time.
- Take an unplugged official spring or Easter break. Taking a step back from your homeschool will allow you to have fresh insight and a renewed perspective on the vision of your homeschool.
- Allow the kids to help you plan summer fun activities for the family. As the weather warms up, the kids’ minds are more on things to do outdoors. So take time to prepare for ways to enjoy beautiful weathered days together.
- Celebrate the children’s accomplishments thus far in this current homeschool year. A simple celebration is great to reinvigorate your and your children’s excitement about homeschooling and all possible potential.
- Stop the comparison trap. As you begin to reimage your homeschool, try hard not to compare yourself with other homeschooling families. Remember, your homeschool plans should be customized for your family.
What Does Homeschooling Involve?
If you’re still relatively new to homeschooling, keeping a clear vision of what should be included in your homeschool is always helpful.
Nailing down the basics is foundational, then incorporating additional ideas will make sure you cover what matters most in your homeschool.
When planning your homeschooling, always remember to refer to your state’s homeschool regulations to make sure you are legally completing your homeschool academic requirements.
Your state will lay out what’s required while you, as the parent, decide how the lessons will be taught.
Typically required homeschool subjects include:
- Math
- English
- Social Studies / History
- Science
- Art
- Music
- Health
- Physical Education
Choosing a curriculum, preparing your home, and deciding what extra-curricular activities / outside classes or support services such as tutoring will be included in your homeschool are decisions you make as the parent.
Besides the academic requirements for your homeschool, meeting your child’s needs is critical to successful homeschooling.
Popular and fancy frills are not as important as figuring out how your child learns best and creating an educational space to support their needs.
How Long Should Homeschooling Take Each Day?
Most homeschool parents find that they can effectively homeschool their children for around 2-3 hours each day for 3-5 days each week.
But, as with anything related to homeschooling, it depends on your child and your home-life situation.
Also, 2-3 hours could mainly consist of actively working with your child.
There may be additional time for independent reading, hobbies, interests, study skills, life skills, and much more throughout the day.
When considering how much time you want to plan for your homeschool, think about the time that involves you and when your child is working, playing, and exploring without you.
How Can I Make Homeschooling Less Boring?
For example, If you’ve been homeschooling for any time, you know there are some days when homeschooling does not go as planned.
The kids are complaining about being bored. Or, you’re just starting to feel that you need to switch things up in your homeschool.
Whatever the reason, finding ideas to help make your homeschool less boring and feel more put together are a breath of fresh air most homeschoolers gladly welcome.
Here are some ideas to help add joy back to your homeschooling.
- Cut out any unnecessary tasks and activities and choose to focus on work that matters.
- It’s okay for you or your child to take breaks between lessons.
- Switch up your teaching style and turn some lessons into learning games.
- Allow your child to move around and change learning locations.
- Try to start your homeschooling day promptly so that there’s plenty of time in the day for fun once work is completed.
- Bring the kids to the kitchen with you. There is so much to learn in the kitchen, and cooking and baking are essential real-life skills.
- Allow time in your homeschool for children to create, imagine, and try new things.
- Join at least one external group, class, or co-op.
- Communicate to children that everything in homeschool is not always fun. However, there are some assignments, as in life, that must be done even if we don’t enjoy them.
- Ask your child what topics they are interested in learning.
- Try creating special days of the week such as fun Friday, Movie Monday, or Tasty Tuesday. To name a few!
- Make sure you are exuding a positive attitude. The parent’s attitude toward homeschooling is highly contagious.
- Plan more field trips.
PIN IT FOR LATER:
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