I don't like this time of year

[jenn-]

I really don't like this time of year. DD is finishing up her work for this year and now I have to reflect back to what worked and what didn't work. Then I have to decide what to do for next year. I love looking at the options but I usually find something or another I don't like about them (typically because they are bible based and we are secular homeschoolers). This year we did a mid year switch on math, totally dropped our history back in October, stuck out our spelling program but want to change for next year, think she retained nothing from her grammar book, and science seemed fluffy. Needless to say besides math (which I am still not confident with), I think we need a large overhaul. Decision making is not my strong suite. Add to that my decisions cost money and may affect my kids' future education, and my decision making skills get even worse. Does anyone else dread this time of year? :001_huh:

[kristinatucker]

Right there with you! I dont know that I would say that I dislike it - its exciting to me but at the same time I feel like my head may explode if I look at one more possibility!! haha

kristina

[Amy+2]

This is me before I decide which curricula to go with:banghead:

 

and this is me after I finally make my decision/choices and click the purchase button :hurray:

 

9 times out of 10, this is me, 2 months into the new curricula :banghead:

 

need I say more??!?

[jenn-]

This is me before I decide which curricula to go with:banghead:

 

and this is me after I finally make my decision/choices and click the purchase button :hurray:

 

9 times out of 10, this is me, 2 months into the new curricula :banghead:

 

need I say more??!?

 

That sounds eerily familiar.

[Peri]

I actually like this time of year. The days are longer and the outside is so beautiful. The house we just bought needs lots of work when it comes to gardening and planting and stuff like that. Most of our land is covered with trees and DH has had about half theland cleared so we have to work on planting grass and stuff like that. Its a little depressing for me to walk out side and just see a big dirt covered field. It desperatley needs some grass and plants and such. but usually this time of year puts me in a really good mood.

 

It is not a big deal for me to say that something didn't ork and I need to find something new. If it is too christian based I tell DD that it is just a story and nothing more. That's all there is to it. The planning, prepring, and revaluating doesn't bother me much at all.

[jenn-]

I actually like this time of year. The days are longer and the outside is so beautiful. The house we just bought needs lots of work when it comes to gardening and planting and stuff like that. Most of our land is covered with trees and DH has had about half theland cleared so we have to work on planting grass and stuff like that. Its a little depressing for me to walk out side and just see a big dirt covered field. It desperatley needs some grass and plants and such. but usually this time of year puts me in a really good mood.

 

It is not a big deal for me to say that something didn't ork and I need to find something new. If it is too christian based I tell DD that it is just a story and nothing more. That's all there is to it. The planning, prepring, and revaluating doesn't bother me much at all.

 

I guess I should have said I didn't like this time of year when it comes to school stuff. I love being able to throw my kids outside without having to worry about them freezing or roasting in matter of minutes. Some seeds are going into the garden on Sunday and I am definitely looking forward to reaping those rewards, as soon as I decide which type of carrots to try this year that is. :001_huh:

[Karen in CO]

I try not to alter next year's plans until after we are all done, and I've had time to reflect. I have a long-term plan that I constantly modify as I find things I'd do differently for the next child or things that projected into the future don't look as good as they once did, but I don't put the money to that until after the school year is done and I've looked at it all.

 

I also try to have clear and small goal for each year so that I can verify that I did actually accomplish something. This year, I wanted her to improve her handwriting, increase her writing output to x number of lines per day, be completely done with addition and subtraction including borrowing, carrying, large number, lots of numbers.....

 

We school mostly year round, but after our 180 days are done, we switch to just math, reading and copywork which give me time to breathe. I take a week or two off then look over what we have done. I evaluate what worked and what was an utter failure. I look at my long-term plans and see which ones scare me or make me think I must have been crazy when I made those plans. Then I start to plan, compare to my budget, and see what can be done with less money, time, and pain. Then I throw all of that away, decide I will do it all for free with resources from the library. Later I get some sleep and decide I will go all workbook. I usually end up pretty close to the plans I revised all year when I was traded resources that were failing for more hopeful ones.

 

So, if looking at it now spoils your spring, just don't do it.

Take spring to finish up. Take a homeschool mom mental break.

Then come back with fresh eyes after the pressure of finishing the year is over. It also helps avoid problems buying material for kids that make giant conceptual leaps over the summer. My dd went from Dr. Suess to advanced chapter books one summer and spoiled all of my plans for reading.

[jenn-]

I try not to alter next year's plans until after we are all done, and I've had time to reflect. I have a long-term plan that I constantly modify as I find things I'd do differently for the next child or things that projected into the future don't look as good as they once did, but I don't put the money to that until after the school year is done and I've looked at it all.

 

I also try to have clear and small goal for each year so that I can verify that I did actually accomplish something. This year, I wanted her to improve her handwriting, increase her writing output to x number of lines per day, be completely done with addition and subtraction including borrowing, carrying, large number, lots of numbers.....

 

We school mostly year round, but after our 180 days are done, we switch to just math, reading and copywork which give me time to breathe. I take a week or two off then look over what we have done. I evaluate what worked and what was an utter failure. I look at my long-term plans and see which ones scare me or make me think I must have been crazy when I made those plans. Then I start to plan, compare to my budget, and see what can be done with less money, time, and pain. Then I throw all of that away, decide I will do it all for free with resources from the library. Later I get some sleep and decide I will go all workbook. I usually end up pretty close to the plans I revised all year when I was traded resources that were failing for more hopeful ones.

 

So, if looking at it now spoils your spring, just don't do it.

Take spring to finish up. Take a homeschool mom mental break.

Then come back with fresh eyes after the pressure of finishing the year is over. It also helps avoid problems buying material for kids that make giant conceptual leaps over the summer. My dd went from Dr. Suess to advanced chapter books one summer and spoiled all of my plans for reading.

 

We also school year round and go to school "lite" during the summer, but this year I think I want to push her a little more during the summer. If I don't keep her busy she is constantly "bored" and wants to be on the computer 24/7 (not playing educational games). I think this year we are going to focus on math (which is a constant here) and learning how to write reports.