Helpful Habit: Just the Basics

Right now, in these few days before our school year kicks off, I am taking every bit of advice from my friend Cassandra in Rest, Mama. She encourages us mothers to rest.

“…Most of the advantage you could gain by resting is found here, in the last week or two of summer break, if you know how to use it…”

Don’t miss her guest post on Habits for a Happy Home: Rest, Mama

Over this summer, off and on and in spurts, I made my lists. I’ve been refining them as the Lord brings plans to mind. The master list is kept in my handy Evernote app. Do you know about Evernote? Oh boy. I keep all sorts of things there. Our Hodgepodge Curricula is there as well. It’s been handy to go to the list and see what needs to be ordered next.

This school year we will have 8th, 7th, and 4th graders plus a kindergartener and a preschooler. Bit of an age range.

Careful planning puts you ahead in the long run; hurry and scurry puts you further behind. Proverbs 21:5  The Message

The habit of starting in July with just the basics. Now, in past years we have started school the last week of July. Before you either roll your eyes and sigh or clap your hands in glee, here are the reasons:

• the first week we only concentrate on our Before 8:45 and Math then we go to the pool. We feel accomplished! We keep up this habit even after everyone else starts school. We wave to the school bus from the pool    🙂
• It’s hot. Might as well stay in the cool indoors and get some things done.
• mosquitoes abound
• we might start putting together our Tapestry of Grace student notebooks
• we go to the beach in the fall!! We take off when everyone else is in school. The rates are down and the beaches are all our own. Can you hear the countdown in the background?
• we take all of December off, enjoy our Drama Troupe production and many advent activities in anticipation of Christmas!

Then in the weeks ahead we ramp it up. Start with just the basics, let the back to school and learning excitement sink in and ramp it up full force.

Still, I tend to get a little overwhelmed with all that needs to be planned and accomplished this next year. The eldest in 8th grade, transitioning into high school since she is turning 14 in just a couple of months. Driver’s education looming. Learning to keep credits. Middle children that need to be busy since they love hands-on activities and little children needing to learn to write, learn large and small motor skills. That just names a few that come to mind. But just these past two weeks I have learned from Ravi Zacharias’ The Cries of the Heart:

“Every time we set our eyes on the size of the battle, we will shrink from the task. Every time we look to Him, we leave in peace with the assurance that the battle is the Lord’s.”

(The battle being my overwhelm at the task. Of course, I can’t do it. This next school year can only be accomplished through Him. The End.)

“We should make plans – counting on God to direct us.” Proverbs 16:9

One way we all accomplish much is with Tapestry of Grace. Covering eight subjects for all ages. This curriculum is so rich, if we even just touch the surface each week, we have learned much.

I’ve created a page for our curricula – all in one spot. It is there so I can update it as needed according to our needs. The page includes life skills I’ve thought of as well as just daily sorts of jobs in our home.

You can find it here: Hodgepodge Curricula 2011-2012

“Seek God in your homeschool. His burden is easy. His yoke is light.” ~ Wisdom’s Way of Learning by Marilyn Howshall

Join other homeschoolers sharing their curriculum with a link up hosted by Kris at Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers. Plus, I have lots of camera phone photos from a fun week. And some excited news to share. Watch for Camera Phone Friday later today or early tomorrow.

All the other helpful habits I’ve shared on Fridays can be found here. Thanks for allowing me this little homeschool pep talk. Now, I want to know…

(I’m joining in the blog hop hosted by Heart of the Matter. Fellow homeschoolers are sharing school rooms, curriculum, school photos and a ‘day in the life’ during the month of August)

How about you? Do you have one foot in summer and one foot stepping forward too?