Homeschool Week: Practical Tips for Homeschooling the Distractible Child

Homeschool Week
April 23 through April 28

Yesterday I stressed the importance of building relationship with our distractible children.  Today I will present to you some practical tips you can consider to (hopefully) make your day run more smoothly.

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Start with him first. Make him the priority.

Let your child choose a subject to start the day. Then you choose the next subject and keep alternating throughout the day.

Do shorter lessons.  You may have to do half of the child’s math in the morning and half in the afternoon. 

Be prepared to spend a good portion of time sitting by him.  You may have to “hold his hand”a bit.  He will not be so independent.

Create goals and rewards as incentives.  If the child wants to do something, require a certain subject{s} to be finished first.

Take breaks often.

Encourage physical activity and outdoor play.

Vary the subjects between difficult or less-engaging and more interesting subjects, i.e. math, science, english, writing, piano, spelling, geography.

Incorporate hands-on activities when possible.

Make time for their creativity and desires. 

Create realistic goals for the day.  Don’t expect to cruise through the curriculum all of the time or do *every* problem.  Your goal is for your child to progress and learn, not to get “x" amount of pages done.

Give yourself freedom to change curriculum, even during the middle of the year.  Your distractible child may need different curriculum than the rest of your children, especially for the more meticulous subjects like math.

Work towards creating a positive environment.  We must be patient, loving, and encouraging.  A distractible child will not do well in a tense, frustrated environment.  Who will?

Learn to be flexible.  This is not always easy.  We like our routines, our order, and our control.  We have to learn to let go somewhat.

You can do this!

God gave you your children
and is in the business of shaping all of you!

Homeschool Week: Homeschooling the Distractible Child

Homeschool Week
April 23 through April 28

Last week I went to the Cincinatti Homeschool Convention.  When I was there, I attended a session about Homeschooling the Distractible Child by Susan Kemmerer of Schoolhouse Publishing.  It was reassuring to hear a lot of the concepts God had already been working in my heart and home. 

Distractible children tend to be easily distracted, yes.  Some of the poor character traits I have seen in my own home are:  messiness, laziness (when they are “bored”), procrastination, a lack of willingness, and the great ability to be poky.

Perhaps you can relate?

Distractible children have the innate ability to test our character very well!  When we are in a “let’s get this done!” mode, they are dreaming about the sunshine, wondering about that person they met yesterday, and thinking about the next picture they can create.  Questions seem to flood their minds as quickly as our “to do” lists flood ours! 

It seems like it takes a lot of effort to get this child moving and finishing, at times!

Before I get into some practical tips about homeschooling distractible children, I have to stress something that God has been working on my heart for months.

The most important thing to focus on with a distractible child is your relationship!

If we focus on the child’s negative traits, we will become angry, irritable, and impatient.  Our relationship will start to degrade.  We will see this child through not-so-rose-colored glasses and create an image we do not like.

In order to protect our relationship with our child, we must do two things:

1. See the positive character traits in this child.  Distractible children can be very frustrating, but they also tend to be creative, inquisitive, and adventuresome. We must look past their inevitable weaknesses and see the strengths God has placed within them.  Susan Kemmerer said, “God does not define us by our shortcomings.  He rejoices over us.”  (see Zephaniah 3:17)
2. Pray and strive to become the people God wants US to be.
   We need God’s mind and heart in the matter!  We need Him to make us more like Him!  The fruit of the Spirit is “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”  Are we exhibiting these traits with our distractible children?

If you have a distractible child, make it your priority to have a pleasant relationship with him. 

Tomorrow, I will share some practical tips for schooling a distractible child.

Homeschool Week: Dealing with Burnout

Homeschool Week
April 23 through April 28

Yesterday I talked about taking care of yourself. It is so very important.  Truly, it is essential.  It is not an option because…

Your homeschool starts with you!

The quality of your being produces the quality of your homeschool!

Are you burnt out?
Are your kids crabby?
Is your home life negative and lacking joy?
Are you losing vision?
Do you feel like quitting?
Are you physically exhausted and mentally worn?

If you answer “yes” to most of these questions, you may be experiencing burnout.

Here is how Merriam Webster defines burnout:  exhaustion of physical or emotional strength or motivation usually as a result of prolonged stress or frustration.

That is the key about burnout. It happens when you are continually bombarded and drained by the various demands on your life.

If you do not take time to recharge,
you will most likely experience the valley.

Here are some helpful tips for dealing with burnout:

It took you a while to get here.  It will take a while to get out.
Dealing with burnout is like paying off a large amount of debt.  You are in debt to yourself.  Your well-being is “in the red”.  Take baby steps of goodness each day, every moment.  Make good payments into your emotional bank account!  Your faithfulness will reward you!

Give yourself grace.
You may not be able to live up to everyone else’s expectations or even your own desired expectations for a while.  Simplify and accept it.

Quiet times are very important.
Constant noise and challenges do not allow our souls to regroup.  We need time with the Lord…. time by ourselves… time for rest… time for sleep… time to renew our minds. 

Do things that bring you joy!
It is a proven fact that laughter and joy bring good results!  Do your best to enjoy life.  Enjoy your spouse.  Enjoy your children.  Enjoy your friends. 
Proverbs 17:22 – A merry heart doeth good like medicine.

Keep working towards a positive attitude.
When we are down and out, it is so easy to become negative in our thinking. These thoughts only dig a deeper pit for us, though. 

Renew your homeschooling vision.
Talk with friends who are currently homeschooling.  Get support from veteran homeschoolers.  Read books.  Have a heart-to-heart talk with your hubby.  Do whatever it takes to renew your vision!

Keep praying.  Keep trusting.  God is there!
Remember that God is with you!  He cares for you very, very much!  He will get you through your trial.

As a side note, I recently checked out a book from my library – Help for the Harried Homeschooler by Christine Field.  It has some great tips about avoiding burnout along with many other valuable tips!  Check it out!

Tomorrow’s post:  “Homeschooling the Distractible Child”

Homeschool Week: Take Care of Yourself!

Homeschool Week
April 23 through April 28

Welcome to “Homeschool Week”!

I am excited about the week!  I am excited to share what is on my heart – what God is teaching me and doing in my life – and am hoping it will bring encouragement to many.

To start the week, I want to talk about taking care of you.

This is a subject that has become very dear to my heart because I see how much it has affected my life.  My negligence in taking care of myself leads to problems.

I don’t have as much physical energy.

I get impatient and emotional.

I feel more pessimistic and discouraged.

My vision becomes clouded.

Little by little, my vigor chips away until eventually burnout results.

Let me remind you of a few things:

Homeschooling your children takes a lot of energy!  It is a full-time job.  You are training your children to become godly, well-educated, successful people.  That is no easy task!  Of course, we must trust God with this important job, but we should also take our part seriously.  We must build ourselves up so we may serve our children well.

A small cup can not pour out
a bucket of water.

You will give as much as you are able.  Sure you can still keep plodding along, trying to s-q-u-e-e-z-e every droplet out of your being to do what needs to be done.  That is a necessary part of life sometimes.  However, to live in this condition continually produces emptiness and weariness.

You are the only one who can take care of yourself!  For the most part, you are the one who controls your thoughts, orders your schedule, spends your time, puts the food on your plate and into your mouth, and puts your head on the pillow.  Your husband, friends, pastor, and family members will not do that for you!  You must have a vision to take care of yourself!

When I wrote my post for the New Year, I asked you to evaluate yourself in the following areas:

Time with God	Exercise
Sleep and Rest	Vitamins
Healthy Eating	Positive Attitude

How are you doing now?

Are your habits and attitudes strengthening you and bringing peace to your life or are they tearing you down?

Here are some practical exercises for you:

First, sit down with a pen, a sheet of paper, and a prayerful heart in a moment of quiet.  Ask God how you can tackle these (or other) areas of your life to refresh your being.  Make some (or ONE) goals for yourself.

Second, create two columns:  a list of things that ZAP your energy and a list of things that GIVE you energy.  Oftentimes we give ourselves to activities that we *think* will help us or give us the break we need when they actually zap us (wasting time on the internet is a good example).  Recognize where you might be wasting time and how you could use your time more wisely.

Third, you may want to list some areas of concern/stress.  Pray specifically about those areas and tackle these with intensity and priority! 

Quiet, restful breaks are a must!
Make sure you are scheduling them into your days.

Take care of yourself!
It is the good way to take care of your family!

Tomorrow I will address the issue of burnout.  See you then!

Good Ol’ American Food–Burgers and Fries!

Just a reminder:  Tomorrow starts Homeschool Week here.  I’ll be covering various topics about you, your curriculum, and your children.  I hope you will join me!  If you have a blog geared towards homeschooling, grab a button on my sidebar and share the news!

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Sometimes I get a hankering for a good burger and some fries.  When you make them at home, you feel better about it – as with most things.  You can choose the ingredients and make the dishes according to your preferences.

With grill season around the corner, I thought I would share the recipes I used recently to whip up some yummy American fare for my family one night.

Mel’s Kitchen Café’s “Perfect Grilled Burgers” are just about that – perfect.  Add a little bit of seasoned salt, A-1 sauce, pepper, and water to create a delicious burger that grills nicely and tastes good!

When I ran across this recipe for Skinny Texas Cheese Fries, I knew I had to try them!  I did not have all of the delectable ingredients she uses, like bacon, green onions, and jalapenos nor did I make the buttermilk ranch dressing that I will have to try!  Nonetheless, this simpler version still went over quite well in our home!

Cheese Fries
printable version

• 8 medium potatoes yukon gold or russet, washed and dried (skin on)
• 2 1/2 T olive oil
• 1 T paprika
• 1 tsp chili powder (I use 1/2 t because my chili powder is spicy)
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp cumin
• salt and pepper
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• Bacon Bits

Preheat the oven to 400°. Line baking sheet with foil for easy clean-up and lightly coat with cooking spray.  I used a half sheet baking pan.

Cut each potato lengthwise into 1/4 inch thin slices; then cut each slice into 1/4 inch fries.

In a large bowl, combine cut potatoes and oil; toss well. Add seasoning and toss to coat.

Place potatoes in a single layer on your lightly-greased baking sheet.

Bake uncovered for about 25 minutes or until tender crisp, turning once half way through.

Remove from oven.  Top with cheddar cheese and Bacon Bits and put in oven for a couple more minutes until the cheese is melted.

Enjoy!

Comparison Robs; Contentment Revives!

I remember hearing a sermon years ago where the pastor mentioned flipping through “Better Homes and Gardens” magazine.  He realized he was becoming discontent as he browsed through its pages.  Why?  It was because the magazine showed “better homes” and “better gardens” – of course – and whose were they better than?  HIS!

Yes, it’s true.  There are many influences in our modern day world that keep us on our comparison toes – Facebook, Pinterest, blogs, magazines, and other sorts of media.  These tools can be used well if they are used properly – in moderation and for inspiration.  Otherwise, they can zap time and energy as we strive to “keep up with the Joneses”. 

In addition, we have our own battles in our hearts and minds with regard to people we see and know.

Our thoughts go something like this…

Jane’s husband is better than mine.
Her children are more well-behaved.
Her house is cleaner.
She is prettier than I am.
She is so talented and crafty.
She is an expert seamstress.
Her home is decorated to the T!
She is such a good cook!

and the list goes on and on and on and on…

IMAGINE, though, if we could just be content.

…if we could just be thankful for what we have.

…if we could work with all of our might with the strengths God has given us.

… if we could rejoice with those who rejoice and be happy for what others have, even when we lack in that area.

That type of life, my friends, brings revival to our bodies and spirits!

1 Thess. 4:11 says -
“that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands”

Are you aspiring to lead a quiet life – free from the distractions and energy-zappers?

Are you minding your own business or wasting too much time on the internet and other places?

Are you working with your own hands with all diligence?

Let us strive to be content with what God has given us and to be lost in His will for our lives.

Homeschool Week here at “The Cozy Nook”, starting Monday, April 23!

I am super blessed to be able to attend a homeschooling conference later this week!  I am excited to get some renewed vision and support!

To celebrate, it’s going to be homeschool week here at “The Cozy Nook” next week (starting Monday, April 23).

I am going to cover topics that have been on my heart, like:

Dealing with Burnout
Education and Curriculum
Taking Care of You!

and also hope to share what I glean at the conference this week!

Join me next week and feel free to spread the word!

Grab my button, in the sidebar, and encourage others to join us!