There is a graphic that floats around online about the phases of the school year for new teachers. There is so much truth in it and I wish I had seen it when I was a first year teacher. After observing homeschoolers and being a homeschooler for a number of years, I’ve come to the conclusion that many of the same phases occur not just for new homeschoolers but almost all homeschoolers every single year.
There are real phases of the homeschool year that are fairly easy to predict. Part of that is due to the fact that every year of homeschooling is different. Teachers often stay at the same grade level so there is some sense of continuity. For homeschoolers, it’s different grades and different needs every year.
Real Phases of the Homeschool Year
I decided to create The Real Phases of the Homeschool Year and then put it into a pretty printable.
I hope you will download the free PDF at the end of the post and put it in your homeschool materials where you will see it again. When you are hitting the low points of the year that inevitably come, pull it out and realize what you are experiencing is not unique to you.
You are not a failure. You are not some odd mom who can’t make it work. Homeschooling can be a series of invigorating highs and numbing lows.
Just seeing the upward sweep will help you know that it will get better. You will get through the dark days of the winter. Your children are learning. The spring will come and you’ll be ready to do it again!
Free Homeschool Encouragement Printables
The printable above is included in the free lovely printable pack that accompanies this homeschool encouragement series. Each page in the pack coordinates with one of the posts in this series. Keep them in your planning notebook or somewhere else to remind you of the truth about the homeschooling journey.
This is part of my 10 Days of Homeschool Encouragement series.
10 Days of Homeschool Encouragement Series
Interesting. But yes, each year of homeschool is different as my kids grow/change each year. Great printable. Thanks for creating it!
LOL! This is so true! I love how accurate the chart is. Thanks for this. A great reminder. Someone told me in my first year “if you aren’t burned out in February, you’re doing something wrong!” It’s how it goes when we’re giving our all.
Sallie, your graphic is so beautiful, thoughtful, and encouraging. I love the sweeping motion of it…reminds me of how sometimes our emotions can fluctuate with the same up and down, unexpected momentum. I’m definitely sharing this post! ❣
This is so true! It’s a great reminder that there is light at the end of the tunnel when the days seem so hard. Thanks for the encouragement! Glad I found you on Pinterest!
Even though my children are grown, I still love the graphic, especially the defense of homeschooling over the holidays! LOL! Having finished the course with our four, I’ve finally stopped looking for a new lesson planner at the end of June, but I do get a little melancholy this time of year. I just want to encourage everyone persevere. It’s worth it.
Hi Cheryl,
I was looking at that printable again before I shared it and thought about how I might change it now. Judging by the date of this post, I created it in July 2016. A LOT has changed in the homeschool world in the past six years, especially the past two.
The graphic is definitely still true overall, but I don’t think people have to defend their decision to homeschool now like they did even six years ago.
Sallie
You’re probably right about that. I finished homeschooling in the Spring of 2018, and a lot has changed since then. I have to admit that I am tempted to say “I told you so ” to a few of our family members. 🙂