Easing Back to School

Taken from The Homeschool Minute
Written by ~ Debbie Strayer, Homeschool Consultant and guest columnist

Going back to homeschooling after the holidays is like starting a car after it has sat for a while in cold temperatures. You can do it the easy way, or you can do it the hard way (which may damage the car or not even work). As a veteran homeschooling mom, I recommend the easy way.

First, take warm water out to defrost the windshield. Pouring that water over the windshield a time or two definitely speeds up the process of being able to see where you are going. The homeschooling parallel is to bathe your return to school with prayer. Pray for grace for all involved, and then be sure to give grace to those you are around.

Next, start the car and allow it to warm up. The homeschooling equivalent is to start by reviewing work done before you stopped schooling. Again, mercy is the byword here. Gradually review each topic by looking over notes, activities, or texts, and play a few educational games. We usually took at least the first week to review and get our brains going--mine was rusty as well!

And last, turn on the heat. Warm up the inside of the car by speaking encouraging words to your children. We would often recount the successes we achieved before the break to remember that the Lord was with us then, that He still had a plan for us, and that He had not left us to do it on our own now. Resist the urge to start schooling in a rush. Remember, we reap what we sow, so start back to school by sowing grace, mercy, and encouragement. The harvest will be bountiful!