August 13, 2025 • 22 mins
She wanted the perfect first day of homeschool. But she burnt out before Labor Day.
In this practical and encouraging episode, Christy-Faith shares her three-step “survival guide” for starting the homeschool year with confidence, connection, and calm. If you’ve ever sprinted into the school year with high expectations and ended up exhausted, overwhelmed, and second-guessing yourself, this is your reset.
From setting realistic expectations, to slowly layering in subjects, to making the first week memorable (and yes, fun!), Christy offers simple strategies to help you build a year that’s sustainable and joyful for you and your kids.
Because your homeschool shouldn’t fizzle out by October. It should last and thrive all year long.
The Christy-Faith Show | Ep. 78
🛠️ LINKS & RESOURCES
Free Homeschooling Resources
Find everything you need to simplify and strengthen your homeschool journey:
👉 https://christy-faith.com/links
Thrive Homeschool Community
Join Christy-Faith’s online community for mentorship, encouragement, and real friendships that last:
👉 https://christy-faith.com/thrive
Christy-Faith’s List
A curated directory of homeschool-friendly service providers, businesses, and colleges:
👉 https://christy-faiths-list.com
Christy-Faith’s Book: Homeschool Rising
📖 Encouragement and strategy for starting strong or starting over:
👉 https://christy-faith.com/book-homeschool-rising
References Mentioned in Episode
🔗 Thrive Member’s Episode
🔗 Five Books Will Change Your Parenting and Homeschool Game Episode
🔗 Self Driven Child
🔗 Article: Effect of emotions on learning, memory, and disorders associated with the changes in expression levels: A narrative review
🎙️ SHOW SPONSORS
BJU Press Homeschool
✔ Flexible structure with a biblical worldview
✔ Built-in critical thinking and hands-on learning
👉 https://www.bjupresshomeschool.com/christy
CTC Math
✔ Online, self-paced K–12 math curriculum
✔ 50% off plus a free trial for Christy-Faith listeners
👉 https://ctcmath.com/how-it-works/home-school?tr_id=CF
Lovevery – The Reading Skill Set
✔ Game-based, science-backed reading program
✔ 98% of kids improved in just 6 weeks
💰 https://lovevery.com/christyfaith (code CHRISTY10)
True North Academy
✔ Flexible Learning Options for Grades 6-12: Live, online classes or self-paced courses
✔ Future-Ready Programs: Dual Degree and Tech & Trades Diplomas
✔ Faith-Friendly Excellence: Small class sizes, real-world skills, and teachers who share your values.
📅 Classes are starting soon!
👉 Visit https://truenorthhomeschool.academy to explore courses and enroll today!
🎧 SHOW RECAP
The start of a new homeschool year is full of possibility—but without the right approach, it can also lead straight to burnout. In this episode, Christy-Faith unpacks three powerful steps to help you start strong and stay the course:
✅ How to set “limbo-low” expectations that prevent frustration and foster success
✅ Why scaffolding your subjects leads to a stronger, more sustainable rhythm
✅ Ways to make the first week special so your kids (and you!) start the year with joy
✅ How fun and connection actually boost learning and memory retention
✅ Why pacing yourself now means still loving homeschool in week six and beyond
If you want your homeschool to feel less like a sprint and more like a joyful, steady marathon, this episode is your guide.
📌 Be sure to like, subscribe, and share this episode with a homeschool friend who’s gearing up for the new year.
💬 What’s your favorite first-day-of-homeschool tradition? Share it in the comments—we’d love to hear your ideas.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Christy-Faith (00:00):
It's the most magical time of year for
(00:02):
homeschool moms. The smell offresh notebooks, the of the
laminator, and the thrill ofbrand new curriculum. It's like
Christmas morning, but withlesson plans. And if you're
anything like me, you're readyto dive in head first. Color
coded chore charts, poetry teetimes at the ready, and a
perfectly planned schedule byday two.
(00:23):
Today's show is a conversationabout how to start the school
year feeling confident, calm,and connected with your kids,
not overwhelmed, burnt out, andwondering why everything feels
so hard by week two. In thisepisode, we're gonna cover three
simple but powerful strategiesto help you kick off your school
year with intention and joy.Because I don't want you to risk
(00:45):
turning your dream homeschoolinto a chaotic mess before you
even get started. And, yes, evenif your kids need structure,
yes, even if you're burstingwith excitement, And, yes, even
if you're the type a mama likemyself whose heart is already
twitching. Let's talk about howto start your school year off
right.
(01:17):
Before we get into this, hi. I'mChristy, author of Homeschool
Rising, speaker and founder ofThrive Homeschool Community.
Thrive Homeschool Community is aplace I created because I saw so
many of you guys out therehomeschooling by trial and
error. And it broke my heartbecause doom scrolling and
internet searching is not aneducational plan. So what do I
(01:37):
do in there?
I help you build out ahomeschool program for your
family that is giving your kidsthe education they deserve.
Enrollment for Thrive right nowis open, but it will be closing
soon. So hit that link in thebio if you want access to our
proven system to set up all ofyour homeschool logistics, get
access to world class expertsboth on live Zooms and in master
(02:00):
classes, and save tons and tonsof money. Yes. Money.
I've said this before, and Iwill say it again. This
membership not only pays foritself in the headaches and the
time it will save you, but itwill also save you thousands of
dollars on curriculum buyingmistakes. Please don't
homeschool by reinventing thewheel. You don't need to. We've
(02:20):
made all the mistakes, so youdon't have to, and we've taken
the guesswork out ofhomeschooling.
So give us a shot, and we willtransform you in ways that no
Instagram influencer or coffeechat with a friend can because
we're experts. I'll put a linkin the show notes for you to
check it out. Okay. Now let'sget on with the show. We're
covering three things today, solet's dive into the first right
(02:40):
now, and that is expectationsetting.
I know I know this part doesn'tsound very fun, but please give
me a hot minute for a sec here.I know no one's handing out gold
stars for expectation setting.Well, I take that back. I will.
Because here's the thing.
I want you to go into the schoolyear realizing that things will
not go as planned. And when thishappens, I want you to know that
(03:02):
it's not because you're failingor you're doing something wrong.
It's because your kids areactually human, and so are you.
I wish we were robots, but we'renot. We gotta give our family
time to let our summer braindefrost.
Setting realistic expectationsnow will save you from
frustration later. So let's talkabout how to do it in a way that
will work for you and yourfamily. Even if you're using the
(03:24):
same curriculum as last year,it's expected to feel a little
clunky at first. Your childforgot how to hold a pencil?
Totally normal.
You forgot how to pronounce thatancient Mesopotamian word from
that history read aloud? Jointhe club. When we start our
homeschooling year, the goalisn't to have everything running
at full speed by day three. Thegoal is to gently rebuild your
(03:45):
rhythm. Because after a longbreak, everyone is a little
rusty, including you.
And the point is for us to lovethis life. Right? So let's make
sure we do. We know from childpsychology and research that
kids thrive on rhythm andpredictability, not on
overpacked days and parentalpanic. So if you are a mama,
even if you're so excited, maybeyou're kinda new at this and you
(04:06):
have really high expectationsfor your first day of school or
your first week of school,please don't expect perfection
right out of the gate.
Take it from this imperfect momhere. I have set myself up for
failure. I have had panicattacks on the first day of
school more times than I like toadmit. Please don't set yourself
up for frustration. Think abouthow long something might take.
(04:27):
Expect that someone will cry inweek two, and that person might
be you. Give yourself margin.Build in that buffer time. Like
I said earlier, double how longyou think it will take to do a
certain task. If you think it'lltake you three weeks to ease
into full school days, double itand give yourself six, and then
add a snack.
Because the real win is when youstart slow and keep your
(04:49):
expectations realistic, yourhomeschool year becomes
something that's sustainable.You're not sprinting. You're
pacing for a marathon, and yourfuture self around October will
want to high five you for notlosing your ever loving mind
trying to do all of the subjectsin the first week. And let me
tell you, there's a reason whyin the winter, we have these
(05:09):
burnout refresh homeschoolconferences. So set realistic
expectations like limbo lowexpectations, and anything you
accomplish beyond that will thenbe a victory.
The goal is to still want to behomeschooling on week six. Okay.
So now that we've talked abouthow to give yourself and your
kids some room to breathe, let'stalk about how to build your
(05:30):
school year without piling oneverything at once. Because
nothing says a bad idea likelaunching seven subjects before
Labor Day, and we'll get intothat right after this word from
our sponsors. As a homeschoolmom who values a family together
approach and leans towards theclassical and Charlotte Mason
styles, I often struggle tobring my educational vision to
life with my kids' diverse agesand learning needs.
(05:52):
With all our interests and superpacked schedule, bridging that
gap between the dreamyhomeschool I want and reality, I
gotta be honest. It's achallenge. Now, yes, I know
perfection isn't the goal. Butif you're listening and could
use a little easing of yourmental load in your day to day,
I found a resource that hasbecome the quiet hero of our
routine and it could be a reallygreat option for you too. BJU
(06:13):
Press homeschool curriculum.
Now many think that BJU Presshomeschool is solely an all in
one option, and though it doesexcel in that role, did you know
you can also opt for specificcourses and tailor them to fit
your family's needs just as Ihave? BJU Press Homeschool
provides the perfect balance ofstructure and flexibility and
easily complements my family'smixed age family together on the
(06:36):
couch learning style. They aresecond to none in integrating a
biblical worldview, stimulatingcritical thinking, and offering
tons of hands on activities inthe lessons. To find out how BJU
Press Homeschool can comealongside you in your
homeschooling goals too. Visitbjupresshomeschool.com or click
the link in the show notes.
Think homeschooling means doingit all yourself? Let me stop you
(06:57):
right there. If you're lookingfor a partner you can trust, one
I trust with my own kids, checkout True North Homeschool
Academy. They're Cogniaaccredited and offer live online
classes and flexible self pacedoptions for grades six through
12. Your teen can pursue a dualdegree track or a tech and
trades diploma all with teacherswho share your family values.
(07:18):
Small classes, college readyrigor, real world skills, and it
all fits your schedule in afaith friendly environment.
Ready to learn more? Head totruenorthhomeschool.academy or
click the link in the show notesto explore courses and get
started today. So here's thedeal. Just because your
curriculum has a 180 lessonsdoesn't mean that you need to
(07:39):
look at those 180 lessons andplan backwards and put your kids
on a militant schedule for theschool year so that you complete
all 180 of those lessons by theend of the school year.
That's how people end up curledin fetal position whispering, I
regret everything by September.And it's also how to make your
kids hate learning. Look. I usedto write curriculum, and the
(08:00):
worst thing you can do when youare writing curriculum is to
underwrite curriculum. In fact,the best curriculum is
overwritten.
Right? You don't want acurriculum to not be enough and
then have a homeschool momgoogling at night trying to add
to what you've written thatshe's paid for. Right? Also,
curriculum writers need to writefor all different kids'
abilities. So please take thoselessons by a grain of salt.
(08:24):
Let me tell you something that Idid last year. We are in a
pretty rigorous writing program,and we were losing steam by the
end of the year. And what I didis I looked at the table of
contents, and I looked at thelast five weeks in that
curriculum. I looked if therewas anything really important
that we needed to cover that wehadn't covered previously. The
answer was no.
And I looked at my twins and Isaid, guess what? We're done.
Great job, girls. You didfantastic. Remember, the
(08:46):
curriculum is not our master.
The curriculum is our tool. Andif your kids are progressing and
learning and growing, that isthe goal. And that means you're
doing a great job. I like to usethe analogy of thinking about
our homeschools like we'rebuilding a house. Right?
We don't start with thewallpaper, and we don't start
with the furnishings. We startwith the foundation. And in
homeschooling, when we'restarting our school year, that
(09:09):
means slowly layering in oursubjects instead of dumping all
the subjects on our kids all atonce like some chaotic potluck.
So here's some tangible ideasthat you can do, and then I'm
gonna tell you how I'm startingmy school year in a couple of
days here. Number one, somethingyou can consider is just
starting with your core.
Maybe just reading and math thefirst week, and that's it.
(09:31):
Master the rhythm of those. Thenmaybe in week two or maybe in
week three, you can add inscience or history. Week four or
five is when you can add in someelectives like arts, writing, or
something fancy if you feel boldand caffeinated. There is a
fancy word for this slow build,and it's called scaffolding.
And it's not just a cutemetaphor. It's an actual
(09:51):
teaching strategy rooted ineducational psychology. And the
idea is simple. It gives yourkids time to adjust to new
routines and new concepts whilealso giving your brain time to
remember where you hid thepencil sharpener. Research shows
that kids thrive when they feela sense of control and
competence.
These two feelings are like thesecret sauce for motivation and
(10:12):
learning. But when you toss yourkids into a full subject load on
day one with zero warm up, youkinda short circuit those
feelings, and that's when youget resistance, frustration, and
tears. So starting slow isn'tjust about easing into your
routines. It's about giving yourkids the space that they need to
feel capable and in control. Andsomething you can do is talk to
(10:34):
your kids, tell them this plan,like, over the next five to six
weeks, and then after a coupleof days, you can ask them if
they think they're ready to addin a new subject.
It's so good to involve ourchildren in the conversations
about their own education. Soeasing into the school year and
layering in your subjects, itreally helps your kids feel more
confident. It helps awaken allthose motor skills and those
(10:57):
thinking skills and helps all ofyou settle into a really solid
rhythm. And let's be honest,this approach isn't just for
them. It's for you too.
Starting slow gives you time toadjust. It gives you time to
troubleshoot, to rework theschedule, and find your groove
without feeling like you'redrowning in lesson plans. It
gives you time to figure out ifyour math program is still gonna
(11:19):
make sense, if your toddler willbe able to cooperate this year
during read alouds, if you gottafigure out another plan. And
let's be honest, if your coffeepot can be legally classified as
life support. And the answer isyes.
You should see how strong I makemy pour over. Oh, man. Rocket
fuel. It can't be healthy. Do weneed an intervention?
Okay. Remember, you are notfalling behind. You're laying a
(11:40):
solid foundation. Startingeverything all at once is like
trying to train for a marathonby running 26 miles on the very
first day. No.
Thank you. You want to still beupright this fall. So instead of
just jumping right intoeverything and then just seeing
what causes a meltdown, tryscaffolding. It's not slacking.
(12:01):
It's strategic.
And it's not soft. It's smart.Right? We don't wanna do things
like the system. That's why wedon't have our kids there.
And it's how you build ahomeschool year that actually
lasts longer than a pack ofsidewalk chalk. Seriously,
though, how do we run out ofsidewalk chalk so fast? I think
I'm on my fifth pack thissummer. Hey. It's way cheaper
than a summer camp.
And if you're still sitting herethinking, okay, Christy, this
(12:24):
all sounds great, but how do Ieven figure out what I'm gonna
do this year? Christy, I don'teven have curriculum picked out.
I get it. Planning a homeschoolyear is really overwhelming.
That's exactly why I created theeight module fail safe
homeschool setup only availablein Thrive Homeschool Community.
It's a $350 value that you getinstantly when you join the
(12:45):
membership. And not only do youget instant access to that, but
you get instant access to myeight step homeschool success
framework because not only do Iwanna teach you how to
homeschool, but I also wannadeschool you and get you loving
this life and for you to knowyour why because that's gonna
get you through the hard days.And I often say Thrive
Homeschool Community coverseverything you need to know to
build a successful homeschool.It literally does. It puts you
(13:08):
on a path so you don't have tohomeschool anymore with
guesswork or trial and error ordoom scrolling on the Internet.
We are experts. We give you apath, and we make sure your
homeschool is successful becausewe care about you and we care
about your kids. But listen. IfThrive feels too big of a step
right now, that's totally okaytoo. We don't need to get
married on the first date,especially if this is your first
(13:30):
time listening to me.
Totally okay. If you're stillkinda dipping your toes in the
idea of homeschooling, I havetons of freebies for you on my
website. I have a how tohomeschool guide. I have a five
minute homeschool style finder.I even have sample homeschooling
schedules so you can get an ideaof what your day will look like.
All that is free, and it's on mywebsite. No pressure, just
(13:51):
options. And keep listening tothis show too. Alright. Now
let's shift gears and talk aboutour last item of business,
something just as important asyour curriculum and your
schedule.
And I've saved the best forlast, and this is the secret
sauce to how cool homeschoolingcan be, and I can't wait to talk
about it right after the break.Before we continue, I wanna
share with you a program that'sbeen a game changer for our
(14:12):
homeschool. At our center, weinstructed and helped kids
through pretty much every mathprogram on the market and know
firsthand just how important asolid math foundation is for our
kids' futures. As a careereducator with high standards,
finding the right program thatchecked all the boxes felt like
too tall of an order until oneday I tried CTC Math. CTC Math
(14:32):
is an online math curriculum fork to 12 students with motivating
interactive lessons that allowkids to learn at their own pace.
It does all the teaching andgrading so you don't have to and
their adaptive lessons adjust soyour child is progressing
confidently. With CTC Math, yourchild is getting a top notch
education and you just made yourhomeschool life easier. Visit
ctcmath.com to start your freetrial today or click the link in
(14:55):
the show notes. I've got somenews. There's a new reading
curriculum that ditchesworkbooks and drills for fun and
games.
If you're thinking fun and gamessounds a little too good to be
true, it's not. Ninety eightpercent of children improved
their reading test scores injust six weeks with the reading
skill set by Love Every. It's aphonics based program that
(15:16):
follows a science of reading,but makes learning to read fun,
motivating, and confidenceboosting because it happens by
playing games and thenpracticing with just right skill
level books. Kids love it andparent educators love it, and it
works. Visitlovevery.com/christyfaith today
and use code Christy 10 to get10% off your purchase of the
(15:38):
reading skill set by Lovevery.
That'slovevery.com/christyfaith. Look.
Several years back, I didn'twant my kids to dread the first
day of school. I wanted them tobe excited about it because this
homeschooling life is prettyamazing. And I thought, well, I
could start the school year witha dry workbook and some grumpy
(15:59):
children, or I could kick thingsoff with cinnamon rolls, silly
signs, and a totally unnecessarybut emotionally vital trip to
get ice cream on the first dayof school, of course.
That's a lot of sugar on thefirst day. Now, no, we don't do
that much sugar on the firstday. We always do one thing of
sugar on the first day too, butlet me tell you what we're doing
this year. Our first day ofschool is coming up next week,
(16:20):
and we are waking up. We'regonna dabble in our math.
We're gonna make some schoolsupply lists so that the kids
feel honored, and they tell mewhat they want for this school
year in terms of schoolsupplies. We're gonna take some
cute pictures. Every August inThrive Homeschool Community, we
make a brand new set of back toschool signs so you can take
adorable pictures with yourfamily. And then guess what
we're doing? We're going to awater park.
(16:42):
Oh, yeah. We are. Do you knowhow excited my kids are right
now for their first day ofschool? I'm excited for the
first day of school. Now itdoesn't have to be big and
elaborate.
I've had years where it was justone subject, back to school
pictures, and then a trip toseize candy. I've done something
that simple, but the point isplease make sure it's not a full
school day. Please make sure youhave fun. Please take those
(17:04):
adorable pictures of your cutiepies. Bonus points if you tag me
on social media.
Oh my goodness. I love seeingthose. And have a blast. Maybe
have conversations with yourkids about what they wanna
accomplish this year, the thingsthat they wanna learn,
activities that they wanna beinvolved in. Dream a little bit
with your kids.
I have been homeschooling a verylong time, and I coach hundreds
(17:26):
of women in Thrive HomeschoolCommunity. Please have fun for
the first several weeks ofschool. Get in your rhythm, get
organized, get your scheduleset, and have a good time. Maybe
it's special pancakes when theywake up or a back to school
breakfast bash with everyone'sfavorite cereal. Maybe it's
letting your kids wear funnyhats to class, taking ridiculous
(17:47):
first day silly photos.
It really doesn't matter. Infact, I'd love to hear your
ideas of the crazy things andthe fun things that you do on
the first day of school to makeit special for your Whatever it
is though, the goal is simple.Make it magical. Make it feel
like something worthremembering. Make it so the kids
call the grandparents and say,guess what I did on my first day
(18:09):
of school?
My kids have been tellingeverybody in the neighborhood
that on their first day ofschool, they're going to a water
park. Talk about a flex. I thinkwe can all agree that
intentionally buildingconnection and joy into our
routines will more than likelyhelp us avoid burnout and stay
the course for the long term.Magical memories and bonding
moments matter just as much aslesson plans. Our kids grow up
(18:32):
so fast.
I want each and every one ofyour kids to look back on their
childhoods and feel like it wasmagical. And that doesn't mean
sacrificing rigorous learning.It just means taking a hot
minute to stop and say, hey. Howcan I really enjoy this life?
Because it really is neat andfun.
Are we sacrificing theireducation for this? Absolutely
not. I'm an academicallyrigorous homeschooler myself.
(18:55):
You know what? I still wannahave some fun.
I want my kids to love theirchildhood. Also, brain science
says that positive emotionalexperiences increase memory
retention. So basically, thatmeans that ice cream equals
academic success. Now, don'tquote me on that, but also maybe
you should. And here's thesecret.
Those simple rituals androutines and the sparkle that
(19:18):
you add, they don't just makeyour kids feel seen and excited.
They remind you why you chosethis life in the first place. I
don't want you to be thatfrazzled homeschool mom just
trying to figure out curriculumand stressing all the time. I
want you to build a lifetogether. I want your kids to
have a magical childhood and agreat education, and it is
possible.
So don't hesitate for one secondto add a little bit of
(19:41):
intentional sparkle to yourdays. Okay. So to recap our
survival guide for starting yourhomeschool year off right.
Number one, set yourexpectations low, and I'm
talking really low. That way,you'll be pleasantly surprised
when things go well.
Number two, scaffold yoursubjects like a wise builder,
not a demolition crew. If youtreat homeschooling like a race,
(20:03):
you're gonna burn out. Isn'tthere a famous parable on this?
Right? The tortoise and thehare?
It definitely applies tobeginning your homeschool year.
And most importantly, numberthree, make the first week
special because those memoriesare the glue that hold it all
together. In fact, this is soimportant that when I go to
conferences and I teach myhomeschool one zero one class,
(20:24):
one of the things I tell thosebrand new moms is please
whatever you do, if you hearnothing else, do one fun thing a
week. And I do that because Iknow they're stressing out so
much, but I want them to lovethis life. Homeschooling isn't a
sprint or a race to the finishline.
It's a marathon of patience,laughter, and sometimes a really
(20:45):
good cry in the pantry. And thebest way to win is to pace
yourself, keep it fun, andremember why you started this
wild adventure in the firstplace. And, hey, really
important, a quick favor beforeyou go. If this episode made you
laugh, think, or even just nodalong while folding your
laundry, would you mind hittinglike and subscribe? I love
(21:07):
delivering you guys amazingcontent every single week.
And those little clicks, they'renot just virtual high fives to
me. They tell those littlerobots behind the algorithm to
push this show out to more momslike you. It is a free way that
you can help other moms take theleap into their homeschooling
journey, remain steadfast ifthey already are homeschooling,
(21:29):
and revitalize their purpose. Itonly takes thirty seconds for
you to engage in the show onwhatever platform you're on,
whether it's making a quickcomment, hitting that like or
subscribe, the heart button,whatever it is, I would very
much appreciate it. And, hey, ifyou have a favorite first day
tradition, I wanna hear aboutit.
I'm always looking for freshideas for my own homeschool.
(21:50):
Drop those traditions in thecomments and send me a message.
Thanks for joining me today.Here's to a homeschool that's
fun, flexible, and totallymanageable. You can do this, and
you can make it fantastic.
I'll see you next time.
It's the most magical time of year for
(00:02):
homeschool moms. The smell offresh notebooks, the of the
laminator, and the thrill ofbrand new curriculum. It's like
Christmas morning, but withlesson plans. And if you're
anything like me, you're readyto dive in head first. Color
coded chore charts, poetry teetimes at the ready, and a
perfectly planned schedule byday two.
(00:23):
Today's show is a conversationabout how to start the school
year feeling confident, calm,and connected with your kids,
not overwhelmed, burnt out, andwondering why everything feels
so hard by week two. In thisepisode, we're gonna cover three
simple but powerful strategiesto help you kick off your school
year with intention and joy.Because I don't want you to risk
(00:45):
turning your dream homeschoolinto a chaotic mess before you
even get started. And, yes, evenif your kids need structure,
yes, even if you're burstingwith excitement, And, yes, even
if you're the type a mama likemyself whose heart is already
twitching. Let's talk about howto start your school year off
right.
(01:17):
Before we get into this, hi. I'mChristy, author of Homeschool
Rising, speaker and founder ofThrive Homeschool Community.
Thrive Homeschool Community is aplace I created because I saw so
many of you guys out therehomeschooling by trial and
error. And it broke my heartbecause doom scrolling and
internet searching is not aneducational plan. So what do I
(01:37):
do in there?
I help you build out ahomeschool program for your
family that is giving your kidsthe education they deserve.
Enrollment for Thrive right nowis open, but it will be closing
soon. So hit that link in thebio if you want access to our
proven system to set up all ofyour homeschool logistics, get
access to world class expertsboth on live Zooms and in master
(02:00):
classes, and save tons and tonsof money. Yes. Money.
I've said this before, and Iwill say it again. This
membership not only pays foritself in the headaches and the
time it will save you, but itwill also save you thousands of
dollars on curriculum buyingmistakes. Please don't
homeschool by reinventing thewheel. You don't need to. We've
(02:20):
made all the mistakes, so youdon't have to, and we've taken
the guesswork out ofhomeschooling.
So give us a shot, and we willtransform you in ways that no
Instagram influencer or coffeechat with a friend can because
we're experts. I'll put a linkin the show notes for you to
check it out. Okay. Now let'sget on with the show. We're
covering three things today, solet's dive into the first right
(02:40):
now, and that is expectationsetting.
I know I know this part doesn'tsound very fun, but please give
me a hot minute for a sec here.I know no one's handing out gold
stars for expectation setting.Well, I take that back. I will.
Because here's the thing.
I want you to go into the schoolyear realizing that things will
not go as planned. And when thishappens, I want you to know that
(03:02):
it's not because you're failingor you're doing something wrong.
It's because your kids areactually human, and so are you.
I wish we were robots, but we'renot. We gotta give our family
time to let our summer braindefrost.
Setting realistic expectationsnow will save you from
frustration later. So let's talkabout how to do it in a way that
will work for you and yourfamily. Even if you're using the
(03:24):
same curriculum as last year,it's expected to feel a little
clunky at first. Your childforgot how to hold a pencil?
Totally normal.
You forgot how to pronounce thatancient Mesopotamian word from
that history read aloud? Jointhe club. When we start our
homeschooling year, the goalisn't to have everything running
at full speed by day three. Thegoal is to gently rebuild your
(03:45):
rhythm. Because after a longbreak, everyone is a little
rusty, including you.
And the point is for us to lovethis life. Right? So let's make
sure we do. We know from childpsychology and research that
kids thrive on rhythm andpredictability, not on
overpacked days and parentalpanic. So if you are a mama,
even if you're so excited, maybeyou're kinda new at this and you
(04:06):
have really high expectationsfor your first day of school or
your first week of school,please don't expect perfection
right out of the gate.
Take it from this imperfect momhere. I have set myself up for
failure. I have had panicattacks on the first day of
school more times than I like toadmit. Please don't set yourself
up for frustration. Think abouthow long something might take.
(04:27):
Expect that someone will cry inweek two, and that person might
be you. Give yourself margin.Build in that buffer time. Like
I said earlier, double how longyou think it will take to do a
certain task. If you think it'lltake you three weeks to ease
into full school days, double itand give yourself six, and then
add a snack.
Because the real win is when youstart slow and keep your
(04:49):
expectations realistic, yourhomeschool year becomes
something that's sustainable.You're not sprinting. You're
pacing for a marathon, and yourfuture self around October will
want to high five you for notlosing your ever loving mind
trying to do all of the subjectsin the first week. And let me
tell you, there's a reason whyin the winter, we have these
(05:09):
burnout refresh homeschoolconferences. So set realistic
expectations like limbo lowexpectations, and anything you
accomplish beyond that will thenbe a victory.
The goal is to still want to behomeschooling on week six. Okay.
So now that we've talked abouthow to give yourself and your
kids some room to breathe, let'stalk about how to build your
(05:30):
school year without piling oneverything at once. Because
nothing says a bad idea likelaunching seven subjects before
Labor Day, and we'll get intothat right after this word from
our sponsors. As a homeschoolmom who values a family together
approach and leans towards theclassical and Charlotte Mason
styles, I often struggle tobring my educational vision to
life with my kids' diverse agesand learning needs.
(05:52):
With all our interests and superpacked schedule, bridging that
gap between the dreamyhomeschool I want and reality, I
gotta be honest. It's achallenge. Now, yes, I know
perfection isn't the goal. Butif you're listening and could
use a little easing of yourmental load in your day to day,
I found a resource that hasbecome the quiet hero of our
routine and it could be a reallygreat option for you too. BJU
(06:13):
Press homeschool curriculum.
Now many think that BJU Presshomeschool is solely an all in
one option, and though it doesexcel in that role, did you know
you can also opt for specificcourses and tailor them to fit
your family's needs just as Ihave? BJU Press Homeschool
provides the perfect balance ofstructure and flexibility and
easily complements my family'smixed age family together on the
(06:36):
couch learning style. They aresecond to none in integrating a
biblical worldview, stimulatingcritical thinking, and offering
tons of hands on activities inthe lessons. To find out how BJU
Press Homeschool can comealongside you in your
homeschooling goals too. Visitbjupresshomeschool.com or click
the link in the show notes.
Think homeschooling means doingit all yourself? Let me stop you
(06:57):
right there. If you're lookingfor a partner you can trust, one
I trust with my own kids, checkout True North Homeschool
Academy. They're Cogniaaccredited and offer live online
classes and flexible self pacedoptions for grades six through
12. Your teen can pursue a dualdegree track or a tech and
trades diploma all with teacherswho share your family values.
(07:18):
Small classes, college readyrigor, real world skills, and it
all fits your schedule in afaith friendly environment.
Ready to learn more? Head totruenorthhomeschool.academy or
click the link in the show notesto explore courses and get
started today. So here's thedeal. Just because your
curriculum has a 180 lessonsdoesn't mean that you need to
(07:39):
look at those 180 lessons andplan backwards and put your kids
on a militant schedule for theschool year so that you complete
all 180 of those lessons by theend of the school year.
That's how people end up curledin fetal position whispering, I
regret everything by September.And it's also how to make your
kids hate learning. Look. I usedto write curriculum, and the
(08:00):
worst thing you can do when youare writing curriculum is to
underwrite curriculum. In fact,the best curriculum is
overwritten.
Right? You don't want acurriculum to not be enough and
then have a homeschool momgoogling at night trying to add
to what you've written thatshe's paid for. Right? Also,
curriculum writers need to writefor all different kids'
abilities. So please take thoselessons by a grain of salt.
(08:24):
Let me tell you something that Idid last year. We are in a
pretty rigorous writing program,and we were losing steam by the
end of the year. And what I didis I looked at the table of
contents, and I looked at thelast five weeks in that
curriculum. I looked if therewas anything really important
that we needed to cover that wehadn't covered previously. The
answer was no.
And I looked at my twins and Isaid, guess what? We're done.
Great job, girls. You didfantastic. Remember, the
(08:46):
curriculum is not our master.
The curriculum is our tool. Andif your kids are progressing and
learning and growing, that isthe goal. And that means you're
doing a great job. I like to usethe analogy of thinking about
our homeschools like we'rebuilding a house. Right?
We don't start with thewallpaper, and we don't start
with the furnishings. We startwith the foundation. And in
homeschooling, when we'restarting our school year, that
(09:09):
means slowly layering in oursubjects instead of dumping all
the subjects on our kids all atonce like some chaotic potluck.
So here's some tangible ideasthat you can do, and then I'm
gonna tell you how I'm startingmy school year in a couple of
days here. Number one, somethingyou can consider is just
starting with your core.
Maybe just reading and math thefirst week, and that's it.
(09:31):
Master the rhythm of those. Thenmaybe in week two or maybe in
week three, you can add inscience or history. Week four or
five is when you can add in someelectives like arts, writing, or
something fancy if you feel boldand caffeinated. There is a
fancy word for this slow build,and it's called scaffolding.
And it's not just a cutemetaphor. It's an actual
(09:51):
teaching strategy rooted ineducational psychology. And the
idea is simple. It gives yourkids time to adjust to new
routines and new concepts whilealso giving your brain time to
remember where you hid thepencil sharpener. Research shows
that kids thrive when they feela sense of control and
competence.
These two feelings are like thesecret sauce for motivation and
(10:12):
learning. But when you toss yourkids into a full subject load on
day one with zero warm up, youkinda short circuit those
feelings, and that's when youget resistance, frustration, and
tears. So starting slow isn'tjust about easing into your
routines. It's about giving yourkids the space that they need to
feel capable and in control. Andsomething you can do is talk to
(10:34):
your kids, tell them this plan,like, over the next five to six
weeks, and then after a coupleof days, you can ask them if
they think they're ready to addin a new subject.
It's so good to involve ourchildren in the conversations
about their own education. Soeasing into the school year and
layering in your subjects, itreally helps your kids feel more
confident. It helps awaken allthose motor skills and those
(10:57):
thinking skills and helps all ofyou settle into a really solid
rhythm. And let's be honest,this approach isn't just for
them. It's for you too.
Starting slow gives you time toadjust. It gives you time to
troubleshoot, to rework theschedule, and find your groove
without feeling like you'redrowning in lesson plans. It
gives you time to figure out ifyour math program is still gonna
(11:19):
make sense, if your toddler willbe able to cooperate this year
during read alouds, if you gottafigure out another plan. And
let's be honest, if your coffeepot can be legally classified as
life support. And the answer isyes.
You should see how strong I makemy pour over. Oh, man. Rocket
fuel. It can't be healthy. Do weneed an intervention?
Okay. Remember, you are notfalling behind. You're laying a
(11:40):
solid foundation. Startingeverything all at once is like
trying to train for a marathonby running 26 miles on the very
first day. No.
Thank you. You want to still beupright this fall. So instead of
just jumping right intoeverything and then just seeing
what causes a meltdown, tryscaffolding. It's not slacking.
(12:01):
It's strategic.
And it's not soft. It's smart.Right? We don't wanna do things
like the system. That's why wedon't have our kids there.
And it's how you build ahomeschool year that actually
lasts longer than a pack ofsidewalk chalk. Seriously,
though, how do we run out ofsidewalk chalk so fast? I think
I'm on my fifth pack thissummer. Hey. It's way cheaper
than a summer camp.
And if you're still sitting herethinking, okay, Christy, this
(12:24):
all sounds great, but how do Ieven figure out what I'm gonna
do this year? Christy, I don'teven have curriculum picked out.
I get it. Planning a homeschoolyear is really overwhelming.
That's exactly why I created theeight module fail safe
homeschool setup only availablein Thrive Homeschool Community.
It's a $350 value that you getinstantly when you join the
(12:45):
membership. And not only do youget instant access to that, but
you get instant access to myeight step homeschool success
framework because not only do Iwanna teach you how to
homeschool, but I also wannadeschool you and get you loving
this life and for you to knowyour why because that's gonna
get you through the hard days.And I often say Thrive
Homeschool Community coverseverything you need to know to
build a successful homeschool.It literally does. It puts you
(13:08):
on a path so you don't have tohomeschool anymore with
guesswork or trial and error ordoom scrolling on the Internet.
We are experts. We give you apath, and we make sure your
homeschool is successful becausewe care about you and we care
about your kids. But listen. IfThrive feels too big of a step
right now, that's totally okaytoo. We don't need to get
married on the first date,especially if this is your first
(13:30):
time listening to me.
Totally okay. If you're stillkinda dipping your toes in the
idea of homeschooling, I havetons of freebies for you on my
website. I have a how tohomeschool guide. I have a five
minute homeschool style finder.I even have sample homeschooling
schedules so you can get an ideaof what your day will look like.
All that is free, and it's on mywebsite. No pressure, just
(13:51):
options. And keep listening tothis show too. Alright. Now
let's shift gears and talk aboutour last item of business,
something just as important asyour curriculum and your
schedule.
And I've saved the best forlast, and this is the secret
sauce to how cool homeschoolingcan be, and I can't wait to talk
about it right after the break.Before we continue, I wanna
share with you a program that'sbeen a game changer for our
(14:12):
homeschool. At our center, weinstructed and helped kids
through pretty much every mathprogram on the market and know
firsthand just how important asolid math foundation is for our
kids' futures. As a careereducator with high standards,
finding the right program thatchecked all the boxes felt like
too tall of an order until oneday I tried CTC Math. CTC Math
(14:32):
is an online math curriculum fork to 12 students with motivating
interactive lessons that allowkids to learn at their own pace.
It does all the teaching andgrading so you don't have to and
their adaptive lessons adjust soyour child is progressing
confidently. With CTC Math, yourchild is getting a top notch
education and you just made yourhomeschool life easier. Visit
ctcmath.com to start your freetrial today or click the link in
(14:55):
the show notes. I've got somenews. There's a new reading
curriculum that ditchesworkbooks and drills for fun and
games.
If you're thinking fun and gamessounds a little too good to be
true, it's not. Ninety eightpercent of children improved
their reading test scores injust six weeks with the reading
skill set by Love Every. It's aphonics based program that
(15:16):
follows a science of reading,but makes learning to read fun,
motivating, and confidenceboosting because it happens by
playing games and thenpracticing with just right skill
level books. Kids love it andparent educators love it, and it
works. Visitlovevery.com/christyfaith today
and use code Christy 10 to get10% off your purchase of the
(15:38):
reading skill set by Lovevery.
That'slovevery.com/christyfaith. Look.
Several years back, I didn'twant my kids to dread the first
day of school. I wanted them tobe excited about it because this
homeschooling life is prettyamazing. And I thought, well, I
could start the school year witha dry workbook and some grumpy
(15:59):
children, or I could kick thingsoff with cinnamon rolls, silly
signs, and a totally unnecessarybut emotionally vital trip to
get ice cream on the first dayof school, of course.
That's a lot of sugar on thefirst day. Now, no, we don't do
that much sugar on the firstday. We always do one thing of
sugar on the first day too, butlet me tell you what we're doing
this year. Our first day ofschool is coming up next week,
(16:20):
and we are waking up. We'regonna dabble in our math.
We're gonna make some schoolsupply lists so that the kids
feel honored, and they tell mewhat they want for this school
year in terms of schoolsupplies. We're gonna take some
cute pictures. Every August inThrive Homeschool Community, we
make a brand new set of back toschool signs so you can take
adorable pictures with yourfamily. And then guess what
we're doing? We're going to awater park.
(16:42):
Oh, yeah. We are. Do you knowhow excited my kids are right
now for their first day ofschool? I'm excited for the
first day of school. Now itdoesn't have to be big and
elaborate.
I've had years where it was justone subject, back to school
pictures, and then a trip toseize candy. I've done something
that simple, but the point isplease make sure it's not a full
school day. Please make sure youhave fun. Please take those
(17:04):
adorable pictures of your cutiepies. Bonus points if you tag me
on social media.
Oh my goodness. I love seeingthose. And have a blast. Maybe
have conversations with yourkids about what they wanna
accomplish this year, the thingsthat they wanna learn,
activities that they wanna beinvolved in. Dream a little bit
with your kids.
I have been homeschooling a verylong time, and I coach hundreds
(17:26):
of women in Thrive HomeschoolCommunity. Please have fun for
the first several weeks ofschool. Get in your rhythm, get
organized, get your scheduleset, and have a good time. Maybe
it's special pancakes when theywake up or a back to school
breakfast bash with everyone'sfavorite cereal. Maybe it's
letting your kids wear funnyhats to class, taking ridiculous
(17:47):
first day silly photos.
It really doesn't matter. Infact, I'd love to hear your
ideas of the crazy things andthe fun things that you do on
the first day of school to makeit special for your Whatever it
is though, the goal is simple.Make it magical. Make it feel
like something worthremembering. Make it so the kids
call the grandparents and say,guess what I did on my first day
(18:09):
of school?
My kids have been tellingeverybody in the neighborhood
that on their first day ofschool, they're going to a water
park. Talk about a flex. I thinkwe can all agree that
intentionally buildingconnection and joy into our
routines will more than likelyhelp us avoid burnout and stay
the course for the long term.Magical memories and bonding
moments matter just as much aslesson plans. Our kids grow up
(18:32):
so fast.
I want each and every one ofyour kids to look back on their
childhoods and feel like it wasmagical. And that doesn't mean
sacrificing rigorous learning.It just means taking a hot
minute to stop and say, hey. Howcan I really enjoy this life?
Because it really is neat andfun.
Are we sacrificing theireducation for this? Absolutely
not. I'm an academicallyrigorous homeschooler myself.
(18:55):
You know what? I still wannahave some fun.
I want my kids to love theirchildhood. Also, brain science
says that positive emotionalexperiences increase memory
retention. So basically, thatmeans that ice cream equals
academic success. Now, don'tquote me on that, but also maybe
you should. And here's thesecret.
Those simple rituals androutines and the sparkle that
(19:18):
you add, they don't just makeyour kids feel seen and excited.
They remind you why you chosethis life in the first place. I
don't want you to be thatfrazzled homeschool mom just
trying to figure out curriculumand stressing all the time. I
want you to build a lifetogether. I want your kids to
have a magical childhood and agreat education, and it is
possible.
So don't hesitate for one secondto add a little bit of
(19:41):
intentional sparkle to yourdays. Okay. So to recap our
survival guide for starting yourhomeschool year off right.
Number one, set yourexpectations low, and I'm
talking really low. That way,you'll be pleasantly surprised
when things go well.
Number two, scaffold yoursubjects like a wise builder,
not a demolition crew. If youtreat homeschooling like a race,
(20:03):
you're gonna burn out. Isn'tthere a famous parable on this?
Right? The tortoise and thehare?
It definitely applies tobeginning your homeschool year.
And most importantly, numberthree, make the first week
special because those memoriesare the glue that hold it all
together. In fact, this is soimportant that when I go to
conferences and I teach myhomeschool one zero one class,
(20:24):
one of the things I tell thosebrand new moms is please
whatever you do, if you hearnothing else, do one fun thing a
week. And I do that because Iknow they're stressing out so
much, but I want them to lovethis life. Homeschooling isn't a
sprint or a race to the finishline.
It's a marathon of patience,laughter, and sometimes a really
(20:45):
good cry in the pantry. And thebest way to win is to pace
yourself, keep it fun, andremember why you started this
wild adventure in the firstplace. And, hey, really
important, a quick favor beforeyou go. If this episode made you
laugh, think, or even just nodalong while folding your
laundry, would you mind hittinglike and subscribe? I love
(21:07):
delivering you guys amazingcontent every single week.
And those little clicks, they'renot just virtual high fives to
me. They tell those littlerobots behind the algorithm to
push this show out to more momslike you. It is a free way that
you can help other moms take theleap into their homeschooling
journey, remain steadfast ifthey already are homeschooling,
(21:29):
and revitalize their purpose. Itonly takes thirty seconds for
you to engage in the show onwhatever platform you're on,
whether it's making a quickcomment, hitting that like or
subscribe, the heart button,whatever it is, I would very
much appreciate it. And, hey, ifyou have a favorite first day
tradition, I wanna hear aboutit.
I'm always looking for freshideas for my own homeschool.
(21:50):
Drop those traditions in thecomments and send me a message.
Thanks for joining me today.Here's to a homeschool that's
fun, flexible, and totallymanageable. You can do this, and
you can make it fantastic.
I'll see you next time.
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