I confess: we had a bad day in our homeschool today. It was a tough one and I don’t ever wish this hardship on anyone. But there are ways to turn it around! I took some time to think about our day and how it could’ve gone better.
Let’s get real for a minute here and discuss how to help kids destroy a negative attitude during homeschooling. It can be done, but it has to be done right!
How to help kids destroy a negative attitude during homeschooling
See, in hindsight, I could’ve predicted a bad day because of some obvious reasons that I will share here shortly. But these aren’t always the reasons for is having a bad homeschool day. Thankfully, they are far in-between, but we do have them, for various reasons.
Keep in mind that I am not excusing poor behavior or saying that it is ok to be negative regularly. Kids will have a rebellious attitude or be rude for no reason at times. Discipline when necessary.
Let’s talk about some of the avoidable reasons to have a negative attitude during your homeschool day and ways to turn your day around.
Homeschooling Books for Parents
Have you read some of the best names in homeschooling, like John Holt or Leigh Bortins? If not, then you have to take a look at this list!
The Unhurried Homeschooler: A Short Book on Homeschooling
Minimalist Homeschooling:maximize learning and minimize stressTeaching from Rest: Homeschooler’s Guide to Unshakable PeaceTeach Your Own: The John Holt Book Of HomeschoolingThe Core: Teaching Your Child the Foundations of Classical EducationThe Joy of Relationship Homeschooling
Homeschooling made Easy takes Planning
When you homeschool several kids, any one or multiple ones can be the culprit. You can be the culprit. The schoolwork can be the culprit. And the list goes on. Take a look at this list of the top 10 reasons and how to fix them.
Part 1
1. Tiredness or lack of sleep: Bedtime routines (including a set bedtime) are always the best way to give kids enough sleep. A good night’s sleep will definitely help with student learning (and better attitudes).
2. A change in schedule: Whether you have a preschooler or a kid doing high school, this always throws kids off, so try to keep your homeschooling schedule set as much as possible, even though we know that life happens.
3. Hunger: Need I say more?! Well, I will anyway. Be sure to have kids eats something right before starting your day, especially if you have time blocks of 2 hours or longer. Public schools don’t do this, but that is the beauty of homeschooling, right?
4. A change in the environment: Is dad home that day? Do you have visitors or did a serviceman show up that morning? Is it a day off in school and the neighbors want to play? Homeschooling parents need to keep these kinds of things in mind because they can be giving your kids the sense that they are missing out on something.
5. Boredom or dislike of a subject or activity: Typical. In traditional homeschooling, you do one subject until you are done and then move on to the next subject. But if you are the creative homeschool mom that you are, then you will make so your lesson plans are broken up into shorter blocks for those undesirable subjects.
Whatever homeschool method you follow, many homeschooled students need this to get through they and to keep their moms sane. I have to do this with my daughter in Math. She will do one row of addition and then do her English Grammar work. Then she will complete another row of addition and then read one of her living books and so on.
Part 2
6. Mom isn’t prepared for class: Kids can sense disorganization or lack of planning and they act accordingly. Maybe the lesson isn’t being presented in an interesting way. Classical homeschooling is very straight-forward, but it does offer a lot of rigor and flexibility (if that even makes sense).
And eclectic homeschooling is a smorgasbord of different methods. Regardless, being unprepared happens to the best of us. Maybe that day is the perfect day to make crafts or watch documentaries on the couch.
7: Did I say hunger? Some kids need a short break mid-morning. Have a small snack for them then. Food can do wonders for kids and the lack of it can destroy nations. Ok, maybe it isn’t that bad, but it can get ugly.
8. Upcoming plans: Are you going on vacation soon? Is there something special going on later that day or in the upcoming days? Many times, kids are so excited and focused on these that they can hardly focus on anything else!
9. Siblings: Some days, some people just get on your nerves and can’t stand them. Imagine your kids, not only living with their siblings, but also learning with them. This can get a bit tiring, especially if dome of their personalities don’t mix well naturally.
10. Burnout: Maybe it’s time to take a break for a day or two. This can be a last resort, of course, but maybe you need a break, too! Go outside (if the weather is nice) and go to the part. Go for a hike or an impromptu field trip.
Different Types of Homeschooling
If you prefer classical education and its accompanying grammar stage and rhetoric stage or if you prefer the Charlotte Mason method, your homeschool curriculum is very important because it can make or break your homeschool.
In my post, Different Homeschooling Methods & Free Homeschool Styles QUIZ, you can read more about 8 homeschooling methods. You can also take a quiz to find out which method fits your homeschool best.
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