Parents often start off the year with lots of ideas, plans, and momentum, confident that they will keep that momentum through the year. But as the weeks pass by, parents may be finding themselves slipping into a rut, and they might find their child staring longingly out the window and letting out long sighs of boredom. If this is you, you are not alone! Many parents struggle to keep their children engaged as the routine starts to drag and the excitement from the beginning of the year drains away.

Take a deep breath and start with some of the following tips to help re-engage your child to learn while at home!

Deciding to homeschool is the first step in an amazing journey. Now that you’ve taken this step, you are probably wondering what legal requirements you have to fulfill so you can start educating your child at home. The important thing to keep in mind as you work through the legal requirements is that you have the right to make decisions about your child’s education. All states recognize, in one way or another, the right of parents to homeschool their children. However, the laws regulating homeschooling vary between states, and it is important for homeschooling families to read and understand these laws, to know their rights, and to ensure they are complying with the relevant regulations.

Sometimes, being a student athlete can feel like a mixed blessing. On the one hand, you have the opportunity to practice your God-given talent. On the other hand, the stress of coordinating your practices, competitions, and travels with the other parts of your life can be pretty intense.

In order to maintain a high level of athletic performance in any sphere of athletics (e.g., soccer, running, gymnastics, skateboarding, BMX, motocross, etc.), students need the flexibility to practice throughout the year, which involves lots of traveling, whether it be due to weather conditions or getting acclimated to a certain environment prior to the big event.

One of the advantages that homeschooling families have is the ability to design a learning space for their students in their own home. Social media sources like Pinterest and online blogs are full of ideas for homeschool organization. These sources often emphasize the importance of designing a learning space that fits the needs of your family.

Today, I would like to take this idea one step further and suggest that the ideal learning space may not be the same for each family member. What is seen as ideal by a parent may not in fact be ideal for a student. What qualifies as an ideal learning space may even differ from child to child.

Part 2: How to prepare for a successful online school year

I promised to return with some more things to keep in might throughout the new school year.

Colossians 3:23: “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.”

This Bible verse says it all. The most important thing to remember this school year is Who you are working for. Here are some helpful thoughts.

Part 1: How to prepare for a successful online school year

At the beginning of each school year many parents and students are asking many “how to”questions. How to get a good grade? How to write a good essay? How to prepare for a quiz or test? And the big one: how should I prepare for a successful online school year?

Instructions for how to prepare for the school year are often read then quickly forgotten. As the weeks go by the enthusiasm of starting a new school year fades in and out. This year will be the same, but I would like to emphasize some tips for preparing for a successful school year that are especially relevant to online students: 

The United States has a rich history of homeschooling K-12 students. Did you know that in 1840 almost half (45%) of all of the students in the U.S. were educated at home? Today, many parents are looking into a homeschool option for their child due to various reasons. The top reason for parents homeschooling is their growing concern about the traditional school environment.

Today, the nature of homeschooling looks a bit different with the introduction of K-12 online education. Here is a look at the journey of the past, present and future of homeschooling in the U.S.