Winter Colds And Back From A Break- Homeschooling

So our planned one-week winter break turned into a three-week hiatus. And even though a year or two ago things like this use to rattle and stress me out, now I ride with God’s plan. My planner seems to only be for my sanity. Life is going to do what it decides, lol.

All the girls, unfortunately, got sick right after Christmas into the new year. I was trying my best not to get sick. I took loads of vitamin C and guzzled orange juice, to add some more. And what did I get? Sick. The worst that I had ever been from a cold. My hubby was so worried and kept mentioning how he had never seen me like that. It’s almost as if all the vitamins created a cozier environment for the virus to get comfortable. 

The kiddos are back to health, thank God. I am not a hundred percent yet, but up and running again. Oh, how sickness can make you re-appreciate your health!

The break is over

Yesterday we got back into the swing of things. But I was thinking about it, and even the girls were discussing among themselves. We ended up taking a break off of quite a lot more than our curriculum. Even though our extended break stemmed from us falling ill, I also realized we or should I say I needed a break. 

What we laid down for a minute

• We took a few weeks off from our library runs. Hoping to get some new books from the library this weekend.
• Night-time stories. I haven’t read to them nightly for more than a month. Which is long for us. It doesn’t mean I haven’t read here and there during the day. But our thing is night time stories. Besides all the holidays, mama needed a break. We restarted yesterday. I read a couple of the history stories from What Your Preschooler Needs To Know. Hey, simple stuff. But I do have a preschooler/kindergartener who is doing ‘school’ now.
• Our Just Dance time. We label this as homeschool PE, and rightfully so because we break quite a sweat. We only do a handpicked selection of songs mind you, that I see as appropriate enough to do with the kids. The kids look forward to our time together, where I am a mom and not a teacher also. But, even fun things can start to feel like a chore. So we took a two-week break.
• Other stuff at home that we usually do regularly. For example, we took three weeks off from making kombucha. Something hubby and I have been doing together every weekend for quite a while now. (Just in case you’re interested, this is what we used to get started.)

Getting back into the groove

• First and Maybe Second Day Review Time

When we have been off on a break, I try to do some sort of recap or review to ease both the kids and myself back into things. This review helps the kids (and I!) remember what we were on before our break. Usually, the first or even first two days back to school, depending on the days, we plan to do what subjects.

• Allow the kids to relax in their learning environment

We do most of our homeschool in our schoolroom. The kids all have their way of getting comfortable when they are trying to learn, though. For two of them, that means snuggling with their blankets. Yet for another, that means huddling under my desk. Even though this happens on a regular, the first week they can get comfortable, lol.

• Taking It Slow 

Fighting the urge to want to overwork us all on the first day to keep on schedule. From experience, it’s a sure way to make us all burnt out as soon as we start. So I am easing into the first week. 

• Break Up The Book Work

You can’t get away from the book work. But I made sure to add a video for the kids to watch after our history reading. And to get a game in as well, we played our money game after we did a gentle review for math. For us, I usually have to find the right balance of added videos and games to use as learning aids. That said, it does help break up the monotony of sitting and writing. It also helps to make learning a little less burdensome. Especially when you’re back into the school routine after a break. 

How We Eased Into Some of Our Subjects

Rejuvenated

A long break is relative. But with kids and a tired mama who needs re-motivating to do school as supposed to relax and do other fun things. That alone makes three weeks seem like a long time. That said, I am so grateful for the flexibility brought about by being able to homeschool. Now we’re all rejuvenated and can move forward with trying to learn new things. 

What specific things you and your little ones do soon after a break to get back into the homeschool routine?

Winter Colds And Back From A Break- Homeschooling