avoid homeschool burn out

10 Ways to avoid homeschool burn out

February 20, 2012 By Stef

Let’s all try to avoid homeschool burn out this year!

As homeschoolers we have this great kick off to our school year followed by a fun fall with lots of great new seasonal projects! Then we rush into a GREAT BIG build up to an exciting winter & Christmas season (parties, crafts, presents, trips, JESUS !!).

After the new year most of us take that winter break but a few of us homeschoolers do not … and slowly start to burn out by mid-February. By March we’re on a first-wave basis with the bus driver wondering when we’ll get those immunization forms filled out for next year public school.

ok, too dramatic? We all know and live this truth … homeschooling gets tough after winter.

Some homeschools celebrate the 100th day of school … this is great and fun, but I think there should be 2 “fresh” and “new” days to celebrate and get excited about – the 1st day of the school year and the day back from “winter break”. Making this 2nd part of the school year a kick off for fun things to come helps eliminate the monotony homeschool can bring.

My top 10 ways to avoid homeschool burn out

1. start something new (new curriculum, new subject, new elective, something you have never ever ever ever done at all up until this point). Consider this for next year when buying curriculum so you can set aside your I’m gonna kill myself if we don’t do something new workbook.
2. buy some new board games – we just picked up 4 new “educational” games and we’re putting up the books for a bit.
3. reverse your schedule – so many homeschoolers think math has to happen at 9am or 2-2 no longer = 0 Who cares what time you do what? Flip flop your subjects for something fresh and new. Work backwards!
4. add a new “supplement” – try a dvd, audio book, new flash cards, Mad Libs, magazine, etc.
5. rearrange your school room, supplies, decorations, etc. (if you don’t decorate hang up a new photo).
6. get a fish – turtle – lizard – or some desk top friendly excitement (betas are super cheap and easy to maintain).
7. play some music while children are working, or dance in between subjects to “get the wiggles out”.
8. get a spring-is-coming-plant or flower to brighten up a dark house.
9. get outside – right now, turn off your computer and get outside. If it’s just too cold and you’re stuck inside – create a “beach” retreat in your living room and have some learning fun on beach towels ! Serve up lemon aid or ice pops. Get out play doh or blocks and make a sand castle. (just do something different) Read a book about sea animals or ocean layers.
10. freshen up supplies – there is nothing more fun than a new box of crayons, new colored pencils, new ruler, new notebook – all these things you can get cheap at the $ store. It’s fun to work with some new supplies!

Most important friends — mom’s attitude usually sets the tone. If you’re not excited – they’re not excited. If you’re dragging to the table in bath robe and scowl … what do you expect from them? Put on a smile and be energized for your day.

Avoid homeschool burn out!!

A dragging mom = a dragging homeschool !

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Filed Under: Tips Tagged With: top ten

26 comments on “10 Ways to avoid homeschool burn out”

Julie H on February 20, 2012 at 10:18 pm said:

Yes and Amen! We pulled out a new geography workbook and my son loves it! I also saved a new puzzle {bought last fall} to use today for President’s Day plus a new educational DVD. All those things definitely help b/c Mom gets bored of the curriculum too.

I like the idea of a “class pet”…hmmm…may have to go out and get a fish for our room.

Stef on February 22, 2012 at 3:20 pm said:

Julie – your homeschool definitely sounds fun! I am so bored of diagramming sentences I let the boy write his own chapter book instead!

Kelly on February 20, 2012 at 10:20 pm said:

Thank you so much for linking up to the blog hop!! Wishing you all the best in your bloggy endeavors.

Kelly
http://www.livelaughrowe.com

Angie @ Many Little Blessings on February 21, 2012 at 1:02 am said:

We’re definitely struggling with this, so this was very timely. I also shared it on The Homeschool Classroom’s FB page.

Tanna on February 21, 2012 at 8:43 am said:

That’s where I found this article! Thanks for posting, I needed this!
Stef on February 22, 2012 at 3:20 pm said:

Thanks Angie for sharing the post – I hope it blesses many !

Annette on February 21, 2012 at 6:09 pm said:

Yes! It’s so easy to get burnt out because of same old curriculum, cold weather, etc. then add a little cold and flu season in and you want to pull your hair out! We are setting up our aquariums this week! Great post!

Stef on February 22, 2012 at 3:21 pm said:

oh Annette – I completely forgot about flu season (which is funny since we’re home sick today from going up to see manatees at the state park)

Rhen @Yes, they are all mine on February 21, 2012 at 6:21 pm said:

So true! We rearrange our schoolroom and switch things up a bit. It definitely helps to refresh our attitudes.

Stef on February 22, 2012 at 3:22 pm said:

there is something about a rearranged room that gives this “new” feeling! I don’t like to start a new project until I rearrange something (even if it’s changing the books on the book shelf).

Stacey on February 21, 2012 at 7:33 pm said:

I feel refreshed just reading your list and knowing I am not alone!!! I think this time of year is the hardest.

To get excited for a new semester my girls get 2 weeks in January for J-Term – they study whatever they want to. This year we had astronomy, dolphins and knitting. They love it!

Stef on February 22, 2012 at 3:23 pm said:

I love the idea of J-Term .. girl, it’s hard with traveling husbands ! I’m always trying to be intentional about switching things up ! (hugs)

Christine on February 21, 2012 at 8:23 pm said:

Thank you for the tips. We are needing them over here. We took the day off on Monday and played history games. it was fun and it was something different than the regular schedule. I appreciate these emails!

Stef on February 22, 2012 at 3:23 pm said:

what – wha, which history games — share !! =)

Mama Jenn on February 21, 2012 at 11:59 pm said:

Thank you for the tips. I was thinking of doing a switch-up once we finish a section/book. I think unit studies are in order. I also just recently found the “BrainQuest Board Game” (did you know they had one?! I didn’t!), and we are playing it every chance we get!

Stef on February 22, 2012 at 3:24 pm said:

I didn’t know about the board game – I gotta check that out! (we just found Angry Boards board game – although that’s not educational – yet). Rather than unit studies – we do a lapbook here and there to change it up !

Homeschool on the Croft on February 22, 2012 at 3:54 am said:

Yes! I’ve decided to use educational videos / Geography game with my 8yr old more frequently. It’s great having someone else do the talking! (For him and for me )

Stef on February 22, 2012 at 3:25 pm said:

you are SO not kidding! I like to zone out to the videos myself. We’re watching all the documentaries on Netflix lately ! It is a nice break! Thanks for stopping by!!