Being out of your element. Unsure. Questioning your choices. Feeling like you’re the only one who doesn’t get it. It’s the worst!

 

Hey there, homeschool mom. I’m not sure what your story is, but if you clicked on this page I have an idea of how you feel. No one likes to feel lost and out of it. And the wilderness is not a fun place to be if you’ve wound up there accidentally. But ya know what? You don’t have to feel that way anymore about homeschool. It might only take a few backsteps to figure out what the problem is, and then get back on the trail in the company of many other hikers.

 

What do lost hikers have in common?

 

Did you know that in real life hiking, people get lost all the time? Many hikers start off thinking they know what to expect, only to get lost and in need of a rescue team. And do you know what these lost hikers often have in common?  They took off without a compass or a map.

 

Most casual hikers probably don’t think about getting lost, especially if they plan on following a designated trail. But when heading out to unknown territory, just a few missteps can cause that trail to disappear. Without a compass or a map, it can be very difficult to know which way to go.

 

It’s the same with homeschooling. We need a compass and a map to get us through the school year.

 

Huh?

 

A compass provides clarity

 

A compass gives a clue as to where you are and which direction you need to travel in order to reach your destination. A compass is a source of security and clarity. If you have a compass, you can figure out which way to go….that is, if you know where you’re trying to end up! A compass won’t be much help if you don’t have a specific destination.

 

In homeschooling, we need a specific destination, or goals. For our purposes, the compass represents the necessity of goals to work towards. If you have specific goals, they will be your “compass” as you travel along the school year trail.

 

If you are feeling lost in the boondocks, it might be because you’ve lost sight of your goals.

 

So let’s talk about goals:

• Have you set specific goals? (By subject, for each child, within a time limit)

• Have your goals changed since you first started?

• Have you forgotten about your goals?

 

Take a little time right now to rediscover your goals. And if you didn’t have goals to begin with, now’s the time to make some. Go dig up that notebook or folder or Google doc where you lined out your school year, way back when. Or find the instructor’s manual for your curriculum – whatever offers the most guidance on what you thought you wanted to do this year for school.

 

Get clear on your goals. This is the first step towards finding your way out of the wilderness.

 

A map provides structure

Now that you are clear on where you are trying to go, you will need a map to guide you to your destination. In homeschooling, your map is your curriculum, or course of study.

 

Your curriculum should bring structure to your school year and will show you what you should be doing. If you feel like you don’t know what you’re doing, there’s a good chance that there is a disconnect between you and your curriculum.

 

So let’s think about your current curriculum:

 

Do you have a set curriculum or plan of study? If you started the school year off with ideas but no set curriculum or plan of study (in other words, just winging it!) that could quickly turn into a situation where you literally don’t know what you are doing. If this is the case, now is the time to fix that. In order to reach a goal, you need a plan. If your plan is all in your head or up in the air, your success will be limited (or non existent).

 

Is it easy to follow? There are different types of curriculum. Many are very straightforward with weekly lesson plans, exact assignments, quizzes and tests built in. This type of curriculum goes a long way in keeping things on track. If you have this type of curriculum but feel like you are unsure of what you are supposed to do, perhaps it is lacking teacher support. Sometimes there are separate teacher manuals and you will probably need those in order to proceed successfully.

 

Does it have enough structure? Other types of curriculum may not be as structured: they still have a basic plan to follow but are more self-paced and leave room for extra explorations. This can be fun and interesting, but may not provide the stability that you need.

 

Little or no structure: Some plans of study are completely different from the above, providing little structure. For instance, if you are doing unit studies on your own, or taking an unschooling approach.

 

What about you?

 

Now is a good time to really think about yourself, your strengths and your family’s needs. Do you need the structure of a well-laid plan with schedules, tests and answer keys? Or do your children need something more flexible but you still need good teacher support (teacher guides and answer sheets)? Do you know where to find a curriculum which will suit your family?

 

If you feel like “you don’t know what you’re doing” it’s possible that you’ve chosen your current method of schooling because someone else said it was good.

 

There are all kinds of opinions on which curriculum is the best, which method is the most effective and under which conditions your children will thrive. But, there are all sorts of options. This is because we’re all different and what may work for one family will be a struggle for another family. Our household is not necessarily like that of our next door neighbor’s or fellow homeschoolers’. Every family has it’s own flavor and unique way of navigating life. So maybe your curriculum/plan of study choice won’t be the same one that your friends are using. What might be great for one family may not be so great for your family. The key is to find what works for you and your children so you can attain your goals.

 

What are you looking for?

 

So, my friend, now that we’ve talked about a compass (goals) and a map (curriculum) why is it that you’ve felt lost, like you don’t know what you’re doing? Is it lack of clarity? Lack of structure? Lack of helpful resources? Or something else?

 

If you have, for sure, decided to homeschool, I’m thinking you should be in good shape if you’ve clarified your goals and have found a curriculum that you understand and is doable.

 

But there is one more thing that might be missing: friends who are walking the trail with you.

 

These homeschool friends can be found in various ways: through a local homeschool group, in online homeschool communities (including the many, many Facebook groups), acquaintances from church or volunteer groups, neighbors or moms at the playground. Just as in hiking or almost anything else, homeschooling is more fun and less stressful when shared with a friend. Homeschool buddies can help clarify, offer suggestions and be a listening ear. Don’t be afraid to reach out, make a friend, and be yourself.

 

One last hint: you may feel like you’re the only one who is floundering, unsure of what you’re doing. But I assure you, most moms either feel like you do, have felt like you do or will feel like that in the future! It goes along with the territory. There are lots of hikers along this trail and we all stumble and feel alone at times. But help is always available for you and your children to make it safely to your homeschool destination.

 

I hope these ideas and the accompanying think sheet will help you find your way out of the wilderness.

 

Still have concerns? Feel free to send me an email:

Resa@LittleLostHomeschool.com