Oh no! You got the wrong curriculum. One month into the school year, all your excitement is gone. Those hopes you had for engaging your learners have evaporated with the tears you tried to hide. Homeschool parenting is not for the faint of heart!
Hey friends, I’m checking in to see how your new school year is going. I remember discouragement hitting me soon after starting back up. Had I just wasted our money? Had I failed to understand my teacher’s guide? Usually, the solution is less dramatic than it seems in the moment.
Here are a few strategies to try when the materials you are ordered seem useless:
- Begin with prayer! Give your kids an afternoon off and spread your materials before God. Involve your spouse and ask the Lord for wisdom. James 1:3 says God will give guidance generously if we come to Him. Think about why you purchased these materials. What were your hopes? Submit these visions to Him and ask our wise Father for help.
2. As you remember why you ordered this curriculum, think about what, if anything, is working. Maybe it’s been a hard week, but could there be more growth than you notice? Stepping back and looking at the big picture can help you persevere.
3. No curriculum will be a perfect fit for your family. It is a tool, not your boss. Planning materials are as useful as you make them, but don’t let a publisher become your supervisor. You are the teacher. You make the decisions. Only use the parts of the package that help your student to thrive.
4. Give it some time. Don’t toss out the new materials too soon. Maybe there is an adjustment period. Stick with it for at least two months unless you are both miserable!
5. Don’t be afraid to admit a mistake. In the final analysis, there are curricula that don’t fit your teaching style or your students’ learning needs. Be a scientist and learn something from this. Ask friends to share other options. Consider the used curriculum community to recoup some of your funds. Above all, consider this a win, not a fail. You are learning about what works in your homeschool classroom. This is a good thing!
I hope this perspective helps you persevere. Through many trials and errors, we grow alongside our students. Homeschooling is not easy, but it is a very good work. Hang in there and know your Father sees and is pleased. Colossians 3:23: “with all of your heart as unto the LORD.”
Blessings,
Miss Anna
Homeschool tutor, counselor, and evaluator
mrsgibson@me.com
