Your Most Important Task This Summer

Did you like this article? If so, please help by sharing it!

Whether your mind is in vacation mode or you’re ready to start homeschool planning, this needs to be on your radar as your most important task this summer.

There are always exceptions to generalities, but it’s probably safe to say that the majority of homeschooling families (at least those in the northern hemisphere) are enjoying summer break right now. 

Most of us have wrapped up the school year and are on pause for a few weeks. While some are happily taking a break, others may be following their type-A tendencies and hopping right into planning mode for the next school year. 

I get it! Cracking the spine of that new homeschool catalog (okay, the vast majority of us probably shop and order online, but that doesn’t paint a beautiful word picture) and planning the “to order” list is so much fun! I’ve been fighting the urge to jump into planning the upcoming year, too.

But something keeps holding me back. Something that I feel is way more important than hurrying to get the next school year planned and ready.

See, this was not our best homeschool year ever. It was our ninth year, so I have already learned that not every year is a homeschool dream come true, and that is ok.

However, I think it would be a mistake to skim over the fact that it was not a great year and hop right into planning mode for the next one because even the not-so-great years can teach us something.

And I want to learn from this year.

My Most Important Task This Summer

Before I jump into planning mode for next year, I need to assess the one we just completed and evaluate my commitment to homeschooling.

To learn from this year, I need to ask myself some honest questions. There are ten that I’ve been pondering lately, and I think they’re valuable for any homeschooling parent, whether your year has been less than stellar or a smashing success.

What Is Working and What Isn’t?

I’m a list-maker. Seeing things in writing – whether it’s housework I need to complete or groceries I need to purchase – helps me process and plan more effectively. So, I want to make a list of all the things that are working in our homeschool and, perhaps more importantly, those that aren’t. 

This list may include scheduling, curriculum, extracurricular activities, planners, mealtimes – whatever it may be that is either a help or a hindrance to our homeschool day. As you know, that means our list may not be specifically school-related since our lives and our homeschool are intertwined. 

I’m considering this a fact-finding mission, and making a list of all the things that are making a distinctly positive or negative impact on our homeschool. I don’t have to figure out what to do with this information right now. I just have to make a note of it. 

Are All My Kids Happy At Home?

Happiness is a fleeting emotion with many influencing factors. What I’m looking at here is my kids’ overall well-being. Are each of them benefitting from what’s going on in our home and school? Are relationships and daily interactions generally positive? Is there anyone whose needs, for any reason, are not being met?

Consider assessing the well-being of your children by asking yourself these questions as your most important task this summer.

Is The Curriculum That I Love Really The Best Thing For My Kids?

This is a tough one because my teaching style and my kids’ learning style may not always mesh. Not to mention the fact that if you’re teaching more than one child, they will likely have different learning needs or style preferences. 

So I need to be willing to look at this objectively and answer the question honestly. And, the answers don’t necessarily mean that I need to chuck it all in favor of the kids’ preferences. Instead, it likely means finding a healthy balance between their preferences and mine.

Who’s Struggling And In Which Areas?

I need to think about each of my children and consider where they may be having difficulty. Is my teen having trouble with time management? Or maybe algebra is kicking her behind. 

Is the youngest struggling with reading or with staying on task when I’m working with the other kids? It is an utmost important task this summer to understand where your kids might be struggling scholastically.

Does Someone Need More “Outside The Home” Time?

The idea of time outside the home can take many forms. Maybe my high-energy kid needs more time outside in a literal sense – some time to soak up the sunshine and burn off some energy. Maybe my kid who is struggling with math needs a tutor who brings a different approach than I or her math curriculum can provide.

It could be that all of my kids could benefit from some time with another family or two, whether that’s an official co-op, a few families getting together for some group learning, or just a regular play date/social outing with friends. 

Do I Need More “Mama Time” Away From The Kids To Refuel?

As with outside-the-home time for the kiddos, mama time away from them can manifest in many ways. It may mean getting up earlier to have time for Bible study, exercise, or just a cup of coffee on the back porch before the chaos of the day begins.

Maybe, I need to meet with some other moms for a monthly mom’s night out (one of my favorites!) for the support and understanding of other homeschooling moms in the trenches. Sometimes, I like to take a community class (art, cake decorating, pottery) to learn a new skill, read a good book, invest in a hobby, and enjoy some adult company. 

Does Our Homeschool Space Still Work For Us?

Is our homeschool space the most effective or do we need to rearrange things? Sometimes, simple changes can make a world of difference. Is it time for new paint, rearranging the furniture, or adding a new bookshelf or rolling utility cart?

When my kids were little, we homeschooled in the basement. It was child-proofed so the littles could play without worry even when my focus was on helping an older sibling with schoolwork. Later, we moved up to the main living area of our home because it was a better fit for a different season of life.

Just because my homeschool space has been working doesn’t mean it will indefinitely, so I want to make some notes on the pros and cons of our current setup.

What Areas Am I Struggling In Right Now, And What Can I Do To Improve Them? 

This question for reflection definitely includes more than just homeschooling. If I have a particular area of struggle, it can (and usually does!) affect our home AND school. So, pinpointing those areas and improving them will, in turn, enhance our homeschool life.

Maybe I’ve been feeling sluggish and could benefit from more exercise or an earlier bedtime. Perhaps my husband and I haven’t had much time together and could use a regular date night. Seriously, perhaps your most important task this summer is just to get more rest or adopt a schedule that fits you and your kids better.

Do I Need Help In Certain Areas And I’m Too Prideful To Ask For It? 

This one is a little painful to the ego, but it deserves to be explored and answered honestly. Perhaps your most important task this summer is to ask yourself, “Do I need help in areas such as cooking, cleaning, or teaching a particular subject?”

I need to be honest with myself if I need to consider seeking a tutor for help with that tricky subject or a homeschooled teen or tween who could assist with household tasks or entertaining littles while I work with the bigs.

Do My Kids (Or Myself) Enjoy Homeschooling Or Are We Forcing This?

This is another tough, soul-searching question. And, if the answer isn’t an emphatic, “Yes, we love {most days} homeschooling,” it’s time to take a hard look at the reasons why. Everyone has difficult seasons and not every homeschooling day is going to be all rainbows and unicorns, but if it consistently feels like we’re forcing homeschooling, there is a problem. 

The source of that problem is likely to be found in the answers to the previous questions.  

These answers might not be the easiest to hear. But when we stop asking them, our homeschool begins to grow stagnant.

Refusing to change means refusing to grow.

Finding The Answers To Tough Questions And What To Do With The Answers

I’ve always been a journaler. I love writing in my journal and looking back months or years later to see how troubles have sorted out and circumstances have changed. It’s a good reminder that hard situations seldom stay that way.

So to chronicle these tough questions I want to start with my journal. It’s vital to track your thoughts and reflections on your most important task this summer and what possible solutions you might come up with.

Answering these questions might take several days, and it will definitely require some quiet and alone time, but that’s okay! Real solutions take time to figure out.

When I’ve taken a real and honest look at my list of answers, that’s when the homeschool planning can begin. I’ve assessed my school year and pinpointed the weak points. I did my most important task this summer.

And by weak points, I seldom mean academically. There’s so much more to homeschooling than just books.

This year, I can work out my homeschool plans for the upcoming school year with our shortcomings from the last year in mind. I can make adjustments to make this next year a little bit better than before. Sure, new problems will arise. Each year presents itself with a new set of challenges, but being aware of them is the first step to overcoming them.

I have found homeschooling parents to be some of the most parental-ly conscientious people I know. Just asking these questions means you care so much! This kind of introspection can only create room for improvement.

It’s planning season, homeschool friends! Our favorite! Ask the hard questions, plan with the answers in mind, and make this next year your best one yet!

What have been some of your areas of challenge this homeschool year?

If You Enjoyed “Your Most Important Task This Summer” You Might Also Like…

• 16+ Ways a Homeschool Homestead Provides the Ultimate Education
• Top 10 Ways to Schedule Your Homeschool Calendar
• 5 Vital Questions to Ask Before Planning Your Homeschool Year

Did you like this article? If so, please help by sharing it!