How to Homeschool Through a Major Transition

Posted by Jimmie | 0 comments

Consider these scenarios:

1. Your husband got a promotion which requires a move to another state.
2. Your mother passed away suddenly.
3. Your child was injured in an accident that required a long hospital stay and follow-up therapy.
4. You just gave birth to a demanding bundle of joy.

The common factor? Transition.

Life is full of changes, some we initiate ourselves and others that are imposed upon us. Whether the changes are positive or negative, they all cause stress.

Every mom cares about her child’s emotional well-being through stressful transitions. But a homeschooling mom bears the additional burden of her child’s education. The reality is that homeschooling can be almost impossible to accomplish during times of major transition.

Through my own experiences, I’ve discovered two approaches to homeschooling during a major transition.

OPTION ONE:   Don’t

Just don’t homeschool. Don’t pretend to; don’t give it half-hearted advances that really go nowhere. Instead declare a homeschool sabbatical and focus on the life skills that go along with your particular situation.

For our family, the transitions always revolve around moving, and here are things my daughter learned how to do during those times:

• organize
• pack things to maximize space and to prevent breakage
• sort what should be kept and what should be given away
• say goodbye

Look at your own particular transition and take advantage of the opportunities to learn genuine life skills.

OPTION TWO: The 3 Rs in Portable Form

1.  READING

Reading is one of the easiest things you can do because it’s so easy to pop a novel or two into your bag. If you have a Kindle, it’s even easier.

(Remember that audio books still count as reading.)

Reading can also be a healthy distraction from the difficulties you are going through. Be careful to select living books that are sensitive to the transition you are facing and to your child’s particular emotional state.  While some children may appreciate a book that discusses grief or death so that they can talk about their feelings, others may need a light-hearted novel.

2.  WRITING

All you need is a lined notebook and some pencils. Give your child some writing prompts (PDF) or story starters (PDF).

If your transition is stressful, writing may serve as a good way to process some of the grief or frustration. Here are some ideas:

• write a letter to the relative who passed away
• tell your story of the transition
• imagine what the future will be like
• tell what you will miss/enjoy the most

3.  ’RITHMETIC

A deck of cards is small and versatile and provides a plethora of options for math games. Having fun with some easy math facts will provide a great stress release for both you and your children.

More Tips

Be emotionally available for your children throughout the transition. Take time to cry, dream, remember, imagine, hope, and pray.

When life is stable again, gently move back into homeschooling with partial days until a “new normal” is established.

Your Turn

What was your biggest transition and how did you homeschool through it? Or did you choose option one and forsake book work altogether?

Jimmie is a former public school teacher turned homeschooling stay-at-home-mom. A sense of humor, faith, and creativity keep her “pressing on” in her unique situation — living and traveling abroad with an only child in a bilingual environment. Visit her blog at Jimmie’s Collage.