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Confession time: I’ve by no means been an important housekeeper. However years in the past I found FlyLady. She taught me that perfectionism and having a messy home typically go hand-in-hand. I do know that sounds counterintuitive, but it surely’s straightforward to get caught in an all-or-nothing mentality that claims, “If I can’t do it proper, if I can’t do it completely, I’ll simply keep away from doing it in any respect.”
With FlyLady you be taught to let go of the perfectionistic mindset and arrange routines and habits to maintain your own home so as. (And keep away from cramming weeks of cleansing into at some point once you hear your in-laws are coming in for a go to!)
However what does FlyLady need to do with homeschool consistency?
I imagine after we hand over that “all-or-nothing” mindset and put an affordable framework in place, we are able to be taught to be constant in our homeschools, too.
It actually doesn’t matter what your homeschool philosophy is, what strategies you select to make use of, or what homeschooling model you determine with. Whenever you arrange a S.I.M.P.L.E. framework, you will discover that illusive “consistency” you’ve been looking for.
A S.I.M.P.L.E. Framework for Homeschool Consistency
Framework refers back to the preliminary construction of a constructing. If you happen to ever needed to stroll by means of partitions, you will get your likelihood when a brand new home has simply the framework performed, as a result of the home could have partitions with openings for home windows and doorways however no plaster or siding.
From the literal which means of framework — the preliminary construction of a constructing — English added figurative meanings. The noun framework, for instance, will be any underlying construction one thing is constructed on, so you will notice examples like: a framework for fixing the issue, a framework for the pc program, and a framework for a brand new relationship. (vocabulary.com)
Our homeschools, similar to our properties start with placing a framework in place earlier than we add the rest.
S—Saturate
Saturate your self in God’s Phrase. If you’re going to do that homeschooling factor as a Christian mother, you possibly can’t neglect your coronary heart. Image a sponge. Whenever you put it in a bucket of water, it begins to soak up that water till it may well’t maintain any extra. Whenever you pull it out, it’s dripping. It overflows with the water it has been soaking in.
And once you squeeze or twist that very same sponge, water pours out. However it then has much less water and as soon as once more wants to absorb extra.
Your coronary heart is a lot like that sponge. And homeschooling will typically squeeze and twist your coronary heart. However we now have life-giving water accessible to us. Soak it up, Pricey Mother!
I—Individualize
Individualize the training you give your kids. Although we regularly discuss giving kids an individualized training, I’m truly referring to your homeschool as an entire right here. The way you homeschool doesn’t need to appear like how your good friend does it, or how the specialists say you must. Sure, these are nice assets to get concepts, however your kids and your self. It’s a must to maintain each in thoughts as you arrange your homeschool.
Embrace the liberty of homeschooling and discover what works for your household.
M—Minimize
Decrease within the different areas of your life as a homeschool mother. One in every of FlyLady’s mantras is “You possibly can’t clear muddle.” That’s true whether or not its our hearts, {our relationships}, or our homeschools. Much less issues in your own home to deal with means extra time to do the belongings you love. Much less “dietary supplements” to your curriculum means extra time to do the curriculum you have already got properly. Much less “coronary heart points” means extra time having fun with each other.
I feel you get the concept
P—Prioritize
Prioritize your non-negotiables. Ask your self:
- What topics must be taught each day?
- Are there topics that we are able to group collectively?
- How usually do we have to do _____________?
I are inclined to to consider the talent topics resembling studying, writing, math as those that had been our non-negotiables. Different information topics, like historical past and science, had been usually studied two to a few occasions per week in the course of the elementary years. Whenever you begin together with your prime topics, you’ll know that it doesn’t matter what occurs later within the day you’ve performed crucial issues.
L—Limit
Restrict exterior commitments. It’s simpler to homeschool when you’re house greater than you’re gone. We discovered exterior lessons, sports activities, golf equipment, and our co-op to be a useful a part of our homeschool expertise. However we needed to decide and select over time, limiting what we’d decide to at anybody time.
A whole lot of good issues can find yourself not being good in any respect, and some good issues will be extremely useful. You’ll have to discover the correct steadiness for YOUR household.
E—Equip
Equip your kids to know the right way to be taught. So many homeschooling mothers fear that their kids could have gaps of their studying, and the reality is they’ll! There may be completely no approach we are able to train every part. It doesn’t matter if a toddler goes to public, personal, or homeschool—there will probably be “gaps” in sure areas.
Since we are able to’t train every part, we have to concentrate on instructing the talents that can put together them to be life-long learners. As my good friend Debbie Strayer, creator of the Path Information to Studying sequence, would say, we have to train them “how to be taught, not simply what to be taught.”
After you have this framework in place, you possibly can construct habits on it that can enable you to with homeschool consistency. Be part of the Coronary heart-to-Coronary heart Homeschooling group and get a FREE useful resource on how one can set your day up for fulfillment with a number of easy habits.