Are you planning your first year of homeschool?
The very first step as a new homeschooler, or before you start a new year is to identify your family values and vision.
In the coming weeks I'll share tips on creating home systems so you can keep things running as smoothly as possible, and I'll also give you tips for homeschooling each subject, but before you get to practical steps it's important to know why you are doing this in the first place.
I love homeschooling, I love being with my children, but it is work.
And if you choose to read out loud to your children instead of sitting them all down in front of workbooks, it takes an extra sacrifice of time (but you get rewarded with more connection)
If you jump in, you will have to be a little bit more organized with meals and have a little bit less alone time, so knowing why you are doing this and having a clearly defined vision will be a huge blessing when you do encounter a difficult day.
So start this week with just writing down a few reasons why you want to do this.
Do you want more time with your kids?
Do you want to preserve childhood and innocence and creativity for them?
Do you want to better prepare them for college or life?
Do you want to travel? When you know your why it will help you weather the rough days and stay consistent with your vision.
VISION WORKSHOP
One helpful resource for knowing your why and developing a vision is the Peaceful Life Workshop. We include an amazing workbook for evaluating your vision, goals, and routines, as well as a workshop replay in which I walk you through filling it out. It's a great, simple step to take as you get started homeschooling.
BETTER HABITS
The other resource that can empower you to have a successful homeschool is the Restoration Home Community.
Each week, you get a fun new lesson to do with your preschooler or kindergarten students and access to our encouraging private group. We've been working through the books such as Habits for a Sacred Home and Habits of the Household together, which are excellent resources for developing basic good habits. As we work together on these habits, we are creating healthy rhythms for a happy, holy home.
If you have these basic rhythms in place, adding homeschool work will be easy, so join today and have your best school year ever! We open just four times a year so stay tuned for opening announcements in January, April, July, and September.
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