January 2021 Newsletter - Tips For Winter
Happy New Year!
When my kids were little and got new toys around the holidays, I remember noticing, at times, the new toys would sit unused. They didn't know how to play with them. You might think playing comes naturally to kids, but not necessarily.
If you gave someone a few paintbrushes, paints, and a canvas, they might intuitively know what to do. However, a brief 45-minute lesson on mixing paint, preparing the canvas, various brush strokes, and color theory might give that same person the foundation to make something beautiful, or at least the confidence to try.
My husband and I discovered it was worth our time to sit down with our kids and play with them, to open the door to possibilities of HOW to play with their new things. Then they (and we!) could better enjoy hours of play on their own.
It's something to keep in mind while homeschooling. You are giving your kids tools for learning.
Long-standing homeschoolers will tell you that January and February can be tough months. You might be tempted to rethink everything. Change your math curriculum. Start planning for next year because this year feels like a wash. Question if homeschooling really was the best option. Stay steady and make some short-term goals instead. You can do this!
Maybe add some snow science (links here or here) to your icy days? Or maybe pick a few fun books to cozy up and read aloud? (For younger kids, I love whimsical books such as Mrs. Piggle Wiggle, Dr. Doolittle, or Homer Price.) Maybe now is the time to add some kitchen skills and new recipes to your homeschool? Or use Netflix, YouTube, or another streaming service to travel the world (or take my travel classes on Outschool!) You could ask your kids where they have always wanted to visit. Then let them research and give a presentation to the family about that place. Kiddle is a great kid-friendly visual search engine. For older kids, maybe a STEM unit on bridges (or see this link) or some creative writing with these winter writing prompts.
A lot of you have asked about year-end evaluations. I will send a notice in late February or early March when I open up scheduling. You will receive many reminders after that, so please don't worry about not getting a spot. I will offer more instruction about e-portfolios for those of you who feel you need some guidance. I will send out a separate email about this soon.
I continue to offer a writing class, Writing Workshop, via zoom on Wednesdays from 1:30-2:30. It currently has a few students in grades 7-8, so I gear the material to this age group. I record the sessions, so if you would like your student to take the class on their own time, but still submit assignments to me for feedback, this is also an option. You will need a google account for this class.
As always, if you have questions or concerns about your homeschool, please reach out to me. I hope all the best for your family as you stay the course this winter!