We are in our third year of homeschooling. I almost can’t believe it’s been that long, but here we are. When I began homeschooling, I thought I had my children’s educational road mapped out. I then began to grasp I actually knew very little about education specifically looking at the child as a whole. I have read books, listened to podcasts, lived experiences, heard others testimonies, and reviewed curriculum. I feel that the following scripture applies to every area of our life, which would include homeschooling for me.
While I am still learning, I do feel that I have gained a foundation that allowed me to launch into a more peaceful school year as a third year homeschooling family despite some obstacles in the first month.
I sat down and created a list of important values for the 2025-2026 school year that I wanted to include in my lesson planning. We have been in school for roughly a month now. This year has proven to be exceptionally challenging with a death in the family occurring during August and homeschooling with a toddler in tow. While I’ve not perfected everything on my list, I am realizing that we are making strides in the direction my heart has been set on.
So here it is- my 26 for the 2025-2026 school year:
- Read aloud books as a family.
- Whole foods to fuel our minds and bodies.
- Flexibility in our rhythms and routines for spontaneous learning.
- Seeking out free or cost effective field trips through local businesses, museums, and our state parks.
- Investing into our local homeschool group.
- Family style learning for science and social studies.
- Bible time with prayer before our school day begins.
- Consistency in our rhythms and routines for efficient learning.
- Purpose in my planning for the days and months.
- Allowing space for learning during the errands and grocery store runs.
- Inclusion in the kitchen for meal preparation.
- A weekly playground meet up with other families.
- Immersion in nature frequently.
- Morning work for independent learning.
- Praise, praise, praise, and more praise!! (for my children’s progress and to the Lord who gives us daily strength!)
- Clear expectations.
- Weekly library trips.
- Time for music during the day.
- Rest & resent time after lunch
- Always welcoming boredom!
- Reducing screentime.
- Declining comparison between our school day to a social media account, co-op, brick and mortar school, online school, or another homeschooling family.
- Celebrating holidays or milestones with intentionality.
- Incorporate volunteering outside the home as a family.
- Enjoy and embrace the process of learning myself to better serve my children.
- Waking up before the kids to take on the day!
What is something you are incorporating into your homeschool year with intentionality? I would love to hear your own values that you have set for your family too!
– Jennie