10 Ways to Start your Homeschool Year with a Clean Slate

Ahh, the first day of school: the sharpened pencils and the clean desks, the new books and the eager children. Oh, that we could bottle some of it up and open it in January, when we have to fight the gray winter for control of our kids attitudes. 

Having goals as we begin the year is vital and healthy. It means we are striving to do our best at this exciting task God has allowed us to carry out. Going to public school, the first day was filled with newness. Usually, your new teacher didn’t know about your past successes and failures. You had a clean slate to start from.

We all need that once in awhile. You do, your kids do.

As you set your goals for the year and fill in your schedule, keep in mind that this year is new. It is your chance to rid your school of the things that didn’t work and fill it with things that do. You have a clean slate to work from.

Some tips:

1. Outline your “dream” school day. What time would you start, what subject is first? When would you finish? What other things would your day include? I realize this is a pipe dream. In reality, things will always happen that will interrupt your day or throw it off course. But if you don't have an ideal that you are shooting for - what are you aiming at?
2. Clean your desk. Seriously. Take out all things that don’t apply to this year. A clean desk has the magical power of making you feel like you are caught up. Stacks of papers and books have the opposite effect.
3. Clean off your bookshelves. Make a place for library books.  
4. Prepare an inviting place for everyone to work and an organized place to keep their supplies.
5. Evaluate each family member’s commitments.  Just because you have done something in the past, it doesn’t mean it’s a priority for your time now – life changes.
6. Ask your students, “What do you want to learn about this year?” Now you know what books to get from the library. If learning is relevant, it will be exciting. Make it relevant by incorporating their interests.
7. Plan for variety. Book learning, reading aloud, videos, inside, outside, at the library, putting on plays, fieldtrips, cooking, service projects, nature walks, and picnics. Try having a morning "opener" at their desk each morning. I have used logic puzzles, riddles, word searches, etc... Anything to fire their brain up and get them to their desk.
8. Ask yourself and your students, “What did you like about school last year?” Plan to do more of THAT this year.
9. Figure out WHY you like those things and incorporate those qualities into other areas of school. Was their favorite thing history lesson? Maybe it was because they love having someone read to them. That is something you can work into other subjects.
10. Guard your clean slate – don’t clutter it up with too much stuff. Having relaxed time as a family is a precious commodity. Remember, you are the calendar guardian. It is up to the parents to say when too much is too much. Guard your family time.