Home View my profile Archives Email Me My Blog's RSS

Click here to check out the latest contests on the HSB Company Porch!!




Homeschooling Only One ~ The Homeschooling Doldrums

2:13 AM, Jan. 5, 2007

dol·drums (dôl'drəmz', dôl'-, dŏl'-)
pl.n. (used with a sing. or pl. verb)

    1. A period of stagnation or slump.
    2. A period of depression or unhappy listlessness.
Fron the term's origin (my emphasis in bold):
doldrums (dŏl'drəmz) or equatorial belt of calms, area around the earth centered slightly north of the equator between the two belts of trade winds. The large amount of solar radiation that arrives at the earth in this area causes intense heating of the land and ocean. This heating results in the rising of warm, moist air; low air pressure; cloudiness; high humidity; light, variable winds; and various forms of severe weather, such as thunderstorms and squalls. Hurricanes originate in this region. The doldrums are also noted for calms, periods when the winds disappear, trapping sailing vessels for days or weeks.
 
It seems that almost all homeschoolers hit the Doldrums at one point or another in the year, but the most common months seem to be January and February. It may be because after the excitement of the holidays, there is a normal "let down" or slight depression. It may be that after taking a long break for Christmas (and some take both the end of November all the way thru December), it's just hard to jump right back into a normal routine or schedule.

Last week I mentioned easing back into your homeschooling schedule, by starting with one or two subjects and then adding a few more gradually, over a period of a few weeks. One could also start with a full schedule but with drastically shorter lessons for a week or two. Anything to help you & your child ease back into homeschooling will be helpful.
 
Also, you can time it in such a way that you start receiving homeschool catalogs during this time. Even if you're not due to receive any right now, go online and request catalogs to be delivered as soon as possible. Just seeing what's new and available can breathe new life into your own plans. Perhaps you'll read about a method that you've not tried before which you can use the materials you have already, presenting them in a new and different way.
 
Some reading on one's own can be a boost for your homeschool, too. These can bring humor and helpful tips to you. The following are all three very good for this sort of reading. 
     
A Survivor's Guide to Homeschooling by Luanne Shackelford & Susan White
Beyond Survival:  A Guide to Abundant-Life Homeschooling by Diana Waring
Homeschooling:  A Patchwork of Days (Share a Day with 30 Homeschooling Families) by Nancy Lande
  
Getting involved in your homeschool group can especially shake you out of your Doldrums. Go on a field trip, meet at the library, get out of the house and bring the "outside world" into your homeschooling plans. Just talking to other homeschool moms can help. This will be helpful also for those who may have Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), as having a committment of going somewhere or doing something may help their outlook.
  
And sometimes with the Doldrums, it just means you get out the oars and physically row yourself out of the Calms and back into the wind or the currents. Make a decision to "do" school, and do it. For some this can be next to impossible and for others, this is a typical day any time of the year. There are times where we all have to take a big breath and just take the first step, and that leads us to the next step, and the next.
  
May you have smooth sailing and fair winds in your homeschooling sails this winter!
  

Donna Conner lives in Fort Worth, TX with her husband, Glenn, their son, Mike, and their dog, Lucia. Donna and Glenn have been homeschooling their son since the beginning of his education. Mike completes his homeschooling within the next two years. Donna is an artist and has always enjoyed writing. She wrote Homeschooling Only One three years ago, after discovering that there were many other families homeschooling only one child. Her website is devoted to those with only one student in their homeschool, with listings of online resources. You can visit her website at http://donnac.com and read her blog at: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/DonnaC

copyright © 2006 Donna Conner  ~~  All rights reserved. Content may not be reproduced in any form without written permission of author, except in the case of brief passages embodied in critical reviews and articles where the title and author are listed.




Comments

book recommendations

10:18 AM, Jan. 7, 2007, posted by berrymorin
Thanks for including the book recommendations. I will be checking with my local public library to see if they have them.
Great article.


Curious about The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine but not quite ready to commit to a subscription without seeing it first? Check it out for FREE! We're so certain you'll love our publication that we'll gladly send a FREE sample to anyone new to The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine - we even cover the shipping!

... Click here for more information ...


{ Last Page } { Page 1256 of 2562 } { Next Page }


About This Blog

Welcome to the HSB announcement blogboard from The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, LLC. We hope you will enjoy the articles posted here by the Porch Team. Please feel free to leave comments!
~ Tia Linschied, Senior Editor of HSB





The Old Schoolhouse Magazine Promotion



The Summer 2008 issue is
available!
Click here to Subscribe !



To see the current cover up close, click here



Homeschool Gold

Product of the Month

• Purposeful Planning - E-Book ($9.95)

This time-tested method of planning will give your family new direction for the future. Start today! Choose the dates for your planning weekend, read her book which has the entire “how to” included, and go for it!

Sell Your Items Now!


Come Shop With Us

Living Heritage UK



Homeschool Resources

Cosidering Homeschooling

Our HSB Blogger Babies!

HSB Baby Calendar

Recent Entries

  • Homeschooling Only One ~ “I COULD *NEVER* HOMESCHOOL!”
  • Communication Corner ~ Words Mean Things Part 2
  • Languishing in Languages? ~ One Step at a Time
  • Prayer Request ~ mamasmurf
  • Home Where They Belong ~ The State of Education: Two Views on Reading
  • Taming the Chaos ~ Just Do It
  • Learning from the Master ~ Hope in God
  • Going the Distance ~ Accelerated Distance Learning
  • Going the Distance ~ Accelerated Distance Learning
  • Homeschooling Only One ~ Excerpts from HOOville
  • Featured Blogger ~ kirstenjett
  • Prayer Request ~ Drewsfamilytx
  • Communication Corner ~ Words Mean Things, Don't They? Part One
  • Languishing in Languages? ~ Mixing Languages?
  • Blog Tip of the Month ~ It's a New School Year Open House!


    ** NOW OPEN! **

    FREE e-News!

    Our e-Newsletters give you wonderful, informative information about homeschooling, news bits, contests and PRIZES for homeschoolers, articles to encourage you, calls for writers, free unit studies and lesson plans, and just a lot of FUN. Bring the community to your inbox – and no worries, we never sell, trade or give your email or any other information out to anyone. Come join the homeschool party! The Homeschool Minute is our most popular newsletter, full of encouragement and support just for YOU! Subscribe to *FREE* newsletters offered by The Old Schoolhouse Magazine.


    Visit the Porch Team Writers and Features


    Tia Linschied, Senior Editor

    Monday - Friday! Homeschool Tip of the Day by Christina

    Monday
  • Learning from the Master Teacher
    by Jennifer Pepito
  • Craft Corner
    by Dianna Maxwell
  • Going the Distance
    by Amanda Suryan
  • Homeschool Nations Highlight
    by Tia Linschied

    Tuesday
  • Unit Study Adventures
    by In The Hands of a Child
  • Taming the Chaos
    by Dell
  • Kitchen Moments
    by Jennifer Dewing

    Wednesday
  • Home Where They Belong
    by the HWTB Team
  • Languishing in Languages?
    by Suzanne Gose
  • Homeschooling Through High School
    by Lori Lane

    Thursday
  • Homeschooling is Life
    by Nancy Baetz
  • Communicatino Corner
    by JoJo Tabares
  • Homeschool Hilarity!
    by Tia Linschied

    Friday
  • Homeschooling Only One
    by Donna Conner
  • Notebooking on the Porch
    by Lisa Golda
  • Blogger of the Week
    by Tia Linschied

    News Alerts

  • HSB Tech Help
  • What's Bloggin'
  • HSB News
  • TOS News
  • Contests
  • General Interest
  • Updates from Germany


    Archived Features

  • Adoption Options
  • The Busy Woman
  • Classical Education
  • Education Through Imagination
  • The Experimental Zone
  • Geography Activities
  • Jamin's Internet Academy
  • Knitting
  • Special Words for Special Needs



    Our New E-book ~
    On Sale NOW!


    Quick Links

  • The Old Schoolhouse Magazine
  • HSB Military Blog

    Growth of Blogs

    Sifry's Alerts - the blog of the owner of Technorati


    Homeschooling in the news
    provided by HomeSchoolBuzz.com



    Do you have the whole set of back issues from The Old Schoolhouse Magazine?

    Click here to view all back issues and read the themes - you will want to collect the ones you've missed!!


    In Memory

    Missey Gray
    Lorrie Gnos
    Peggy Barendregt

    TOS Staff & Associates

    Mari Almon
    Nancy Baetz
    Lisa Barthuly
    Nancy Carter
    Donna Conner
    Michelle Eichhorn
    Julie Forsythe
    Christi Gifford
    Jamin
    Kate Kessler
    Tia Linschied
    Amy Osborn
    Kris Price
    Susan Spann
    Deb Turner
    Sarah White
    Kim Wolf
    Dena Wood
    Deborah Wuehler


    Homeschool Nation Roll Call

    ** denotes a state needing a Coordinator - all states are needing several contributors each!

    Homeschool Nation blog
    Military Blog
    Alabama
    Alaska
    Arizona
    Arkansas
    California
    Colorado
    Connecticut
    Delaware
    Florida
    Georgia
    Hawaii
    Idaho**
    Illinois
    Indiana
    Iowa
    Kansas
    Kentucky
    Louisiana
    Maine
    Maryland
    Massachusetts
    Michigan
    Minnesota
    Mississippi**
    Missouri
    Montana
    Nebraska**
    Nevada
    New Hampshire
    New Jersey
    New Mexico
    New York
    North Carolina
    North Dakota
    Ohio
    Oklahoma
    Oregon
    Pennsylvania
    Rhode Island
    South Carolina
    South Dakota
    Tennessee
    Texas
    Utah
    Vermont **
    Virginia
    Washington
    West Virginia
    Wisconsin
    Wyoming
    Washington DC **
    Guam
    Puerto Rico**

    Alberta, Canada
    British Columbia, Canada
    Manitoba, Canada
    New Brunswick, Canada
    Newfoundland/Labrador, Canada
    NW Territories, Canada**
    Nova Scotia, Canada
    Nunavut, Canada**
    Ontario, Canada
    Prince Edward Island, Canada**
    Quebec, Canada
    Saskatchewan, Canada
    Yukon Territory, Canada**

    UK
    Australia
    Spain
    ** need contributors for each of the following areas: North England, Scotland, South England, London


    Front Porch BlogRoll

    - ... and his ministers a flame of fire
    - 21st Century Reformation
    - As for me and my house,
    - Aspiring PolyMathis
    - Back of the Envelope
    - Be Bold, Be Gentle
    - Bear Witness
    - Beyond The Rim...
    - Bird of Paradise
    - Blog for Books
    - Blogcorner preacher
    - Blogotional
    - Brandywine Books
    - Broken Masterpieces
    - Burkean Canuck
    - Captain's Log - IntellectualPrivateer.or
    - Carol's Storybook
    - Cerulean Sanctum
    - ChoosingHome Blog
    - Christian Home School Teachers
    - Christian quoter
    - Classical Education 4 Me
    - Classical Education in Paradise
    - Comment Me No Comments
    - Confessions of a Homeschool Dad
    - Crazies from the Crazy lady
    - Daddypundit
    - DaisyChain Farmstead
    - Damascus Road
    - DANDELION SEEDS - Scattering inspiration
    - Danny Carlton
    - Dan's Journey
    - Day By Day
    - Defiant Lamb
    - Dignan's 75 Year Plan
    - DOUBLE TOOTHPICKS
    - Dr. John Mark Reynolds
    - ESPRESSO ROAST
    - Exiled Preacher
    - Faith at the Front - Blog
    - Fellow Random One
    - Freedom of...
    - Gerald Yuen: Home
    - Gratuitous Advice
    - Grizzly Mama
    - Hard Starboard
    - Hatless in Hattiesburg
    - Holy Fool
    - Home Maker ~ Proverbs 14.1
    - Home Where They Belong
    - Homeschool Mom Blog
    - Hux
    - Isn't It Rich
    - Jack Of Clubs
    - Janne's Jabberwocky
    - jeffmcfadden.com
    - JivinJehoshaphat
    - Journal of a Domestic Athlete
    - Journeying...By Grace Alone
    - Julie's Life in Living Color
    - Junto Boyz
    - Kramjam Reiterates
    - Ladies in Training
    - Lessons Learned On the Farm
    - Light Along the Journey
    - Linda's Thoughts
    - Logicus bLogicus
    - Magic Statistics
    - manasclerk's The Power Struggle
    - me autem minui
    - MediaCulpa Blog
    - Midnight Hour | Do you not know there co
    - Mike Perrigoue
    - Monopedilos - having but one shoe
    - Neumatikos
    - Northern 'burbs blog
    - Off the top
    - Ogre's Politics & Views
    - Old Path, New Song
    - Our Little Homeschool Farm
    - Patricia Ann's Pollywog Creek
    - Paultastic Musings
    - Pete The Elder
    - Power of Change...
    - Principled Discovery
    - PRMAMA: Marketing to Go!
    - prosthesis - technology and science
    - Pruitt Communications
    - PR Ideas
    - Pseudo-Polymath
    - Quiet Life
    - Random Yak
    - RazorsKiss.net
    - Redirect
    - Reed's Blogged Arteries
    - Reformed Politics
    - Revenge of Mr Dumpling
    - RightFaith
    - Rooftop Blog
    - RootleWeb
    - Scotland Diaries
    - secundum Christum
    - Shades of Pink
    - South of the Gnat Line
    - Sprittibee
    - sprucegoose
    - Spunky Homeschool
    - Spurgeon Collection: Sermons and Writing
    - Stones Cry Out
    - such small hands
    - Sudan Watch
    - Sunny Side Up Academy
    - Susan Wise Bauer's blog
    - Tami's Blog
    - Texas Raisins
    - The (In)Scrutable Observer
    - THE CALVINIST POLICE GAZETTE
    - The Common Room
    - the evangelical outpost
    - The Greatest Pursuits
    - The Grey Shadow
    - The Official HSB Community Blog
    - The Prattling Pastor's Wife
    - The Rogue Angel
    - The Young Evangelical
    - Then Jesus told his disciples
    - This Little Light Of Mine
    - Through a Glass Darkly
    - Through It All
    - Through the eyes of HappyApple
    - Tim Thompson . . . Reflections
    - To Tell You The Truth
    - Trying is Bravery
    - Under The Sun
    - US Navy Retired
    - Vibrant Woman Writer
    - View From The Pew
    - Walking Circumspectly
    - Wesley Blog
    - Wired Wisdom
    - Wittingshire
    - wooQ: Theological Christian thoughts and
    - Writing's of an exceptional being
    - Raising Three Knights and a Princess


    free geoip
    hidden hit counter web page hit counter

    Education and Training Blogs - Blog Catalog Blog Directory Link to Podcast (RSS feed) for this blog

     Subscribe in a reader



    The title of this blog, "Company Porch," is credited to Jay Ryan ... thanks, Jay!