It’s back to school time!  At least back to homeschool time.  For us that means back to a more structured routine.  Getting up earlier, a regular time for breakfast, and back to the math books.

Even though we are ready to get back to our routine,  although my kids might disagree, it can still be a challenge.  I have 5 tips that I’m going to use to help us get back into the swing of things, I thought perhaps you would find them helpful as well.

1.  Go to Bed Early – Don’t wait until the night before school to get everyone back on a school year sleep schedule.  Even though we don’t have to be out the door to catch the bus, it still works better for our family to get early and get the day started.  Start several days before school starts and get to bed a little earlier each night.  It will make it easier to do my next tip too.

2.  Get Up Before Your Kids – Make it a habit and you will never regret it.  Have quiet time, exercise, plan the day, or eat your breakfast in silence.  Whatever you use your “by yourself time” for, your mental health will thank you.

3.  Plan the Weeks – Plan at least the first 4-6 weeks of the school year.  Purchase craft items, reserve books at the library, or just write your plans in a planner, but take the time to get a jump start on the year.  That way you can always be a couple of weeks ahead when life happens during the year.

4.  Plan Meals – Plan meals for a couple weeks in advance or ideally the first month.  If you do freezer cooking, get several meals in the freezer for those first weeks.  You won’t have to think about dinner, you can concentrate on getting into the flow of the school year.

5.  Go Slow – No where does it say you have to start every single subject you are doing on the first day.  Start with math and spelling and then add in subjects as the week goes along.  After a week or two you can be a full tilt.

Enjoy your new homeschooling year!

Article credit: thehomeschoolvillage.com