Spread the word!

We take an extended Christmas Break in our homeschool because there is so much chaos around the season. Of course there are all of the holidays, but since we are a split family, we also have to deal with a chaotic visitation schedule that throws school off course. We decided to take off from Thanksgiving to New Years this year, so now I’m using these 5 Simple Steps to Ease Back into Homeschooling After Holidays.

5 Simple Steps to Ease Back into Homeschooling After Holidays

Start Fun Homeschool Activities Before “Starting”

We have chosen to take a long time off of school, but that doesn’t mean that we are taking a long time off of learning! We have been learning things a lot more organically lately, and that’s just fine. But the last few days before our homeschool days officially “start”, we’re pulling out a few activities to get us ready for the real book learning. For us, that means pulling out our flashcards to practice our math facts. On

For us, that means pulling out our flashcards to practice our math facts. On family game night we might pull out our Super Why ABC Letter Game to review phonics and reading. Starting early with activities that your child particularly enjoys is going to make things much easier on you as you’re working to get your homeschool back on track!

Plan and Organize

I’m definitely a type-A personality. I feel much better when things are organized and planned exactly how I like them. You do not want to put this all off to the last minute. When you get your homeschool back on track, you are going to want to know exactly where your books and pencils are and what lessons you need to cover each day, trust me! For planning I am a bit obsessed with my Well Planned Day Homeschool Planner.

Now, don’t get obsessed with this step. If you’re anything like me and you wait until everything is planned perfectly, you’ll never start. I try to plan out the parts that I know for sure will happen. We do one math lesson each day, so that’s easy to plan. We get through one handwriting lesson a week, so that goes in. Our history and science is pretty up in the air, and depends a lot on how Mr. C is doing that particular day, so that does not go in. It definitely does not go in pen!

Start Small

This one is seriously so important. If you think that you will go from the fun craziness of the holidays to immediately picking up every subject with full lessons from day one, you might be a bit crazy. Don’t feel bad, I’ve totally tried that and failed. Learn from my mistake!

This year we’re starting small. Handwriting, reading, and math. That is all the academic subjects that we’re doing for our first week. We may watch some Magic School Bus or Sid the Science Kid, but we won’t be touching our history or science curriculum for at least the first week, but more likely the first few weeks.

My kids are still young and this helps to get back into a routine. Plus, let’s be honest, I need a bit of time to get myself back on track as well. I’ve been spoiled with the extra time to rest and play [not to mention the free time to write]. Getting back into a routine will be an adjustment for all of us. Which brings us to our final point..

Have Grace

Have grace. For you, for your children, for any expectations you may have. Getting your homeschool back on track is never easy. There will likely be days where you get one lesson done and give up on the rest. There might even be one day where you watch a Magic School Bus marathon and call it a “school day”. [Just me?] There will be days where the dishes pile in the sink and the laundry is overflowing. Unfortunately, there may be days where your spouse comes home from work and asks what you did all day.

Have some grace for yourself, your kids, and your family during this adjustment period. Order some pizza and have a family movie night one evening. If your kids really aren’t feeling it, maybe take a day to just play together and call it “socialization practice” because you know, homeschoolers need that! [read: sarcasm] Take it easy on yourself and you will find your homeschool groove soon!

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About Kaylene

Kaylene George is an autistic self-advocate, author, and mother of five, including one autistic child. She realized her own autism as an adult shortly after her son received his initial diagnosis. Suddenly the parts of her that seemed so “weird” to society had an answer. Since then, Kaylene has passionately shared about her experiences with autism from both sides of the great divide between parents and autistic self-advocates on AutisticMama.com.