Special Words for Special Needs ~ Stop Burnout Before You Even Start the Year!
11:33 AM, Sep. 4, 2009
Here we are the first days of September. We are getting back into the swing of the fall schedule. I find that while I have already mapped out where and what we are using for the year. The first few weeks can be an eye opener as to where I must adjust. Do you get frustrated at a "lost" skill? Do you ever feel daunted at the massive amount of material you need to cover to "catch up to grade level"? These feelings are the fast track to burnout. If you start discouraged than when the bumps in the road come, which they will, you have no cushion. So let's brainstorm some ways to stop burn out and discouragement now!
Persistent Patience!!
You can move a mountain with a spoon, one spoonful at a time. Do not attempt to force march your way through a grade and a half just to catch up. If you child can move at that pace wonderful! But be aware that if you push that hard the joy of learning may be pushed out, and it may become harder and harder to homeschool happily.
Schedule
Form a schedule that is a structure to your days and weeks ahead. Try to leave enough room that the schedule is a helpful tool instead of a task master causing guilt.
Use your principle wisely This year, with more responsibilities weighing on me and a large trip mid school year, I knew I would need some accountability other than the end of the year testing. I asked my husband who has always been supportive but quiet with our homeschooling to take an active role. He has stepped in as a principle. Every weekend each child sits down with dad and shows him everything they did over the week. This takes some of the heavy burden from my shoulders and I am grateful. This also lets the children know that they are responsible to the family as a whole not just mom.
Choose your sounding boards wisely Choose who you talk to about your homeschooling, especially your struggles, wisely. Sadly many do not understand your desire to homeschool a special needs child. After all the easiest route would be to send them to someone else for hours a day. I praise you for not choosing that route!
Take some time now while you are energetic and have the big picture in mind. If you have structure then the winds of change can come and your homeschool will withstand it. Set up a solid reliable support system. Then take one step at a time. If you are persistent you will be pleasantly pleased how fast and how far you can go in a steady upward course!
May the Lord bless your year and may your homeschooling be fruitful!
Heather lives in West Virginia. She and her husband have been homeschooling their 5 children for 8 years. Due to a genetic disorder their children have multiple special needs. Living life to the fullest for the glory of God is their goal! Visit Heather's page at www.homeschoolblogger.com/gfcfmomofmany/ or at Special Needs Homeschooling.
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!
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
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.
