Anybody else get mid-year motivation blahs?

[Ravin]

I am not even remotely motivated to jump back into lessons. This is the beautiful-weather-for-playing-outside time of year for us. I decided at the beginning of January to extend our winter break until after Estrella War, but as the event rapidly approaches I find myself not particularly motivated to jump back into doing lessons with DD.

Any suggestions for how to get myself motivated (because I guarantee DD won't be if I'm not!)?

[phathui5]

I get winter blahs in general, more so since moving to NY. When I get behind on the kids' homeschooling because of it, I just have to suck it up and schedule it in. I know I don't have any profound advice, but what gets me back into doing it is, well, doing it.

[Geerbabe]

Perhaps a change of pace? Try a unit study if you usually follow a specific curriculum, or spend a week reading your way through a big pile of books from the library. If it's gorgeous weather, take a few weeks to focus on nature study and some physical activities outside. I think you are better off working with the cycles of the year instead of trying to fight against them. Good luck!

[ocelotmom]

A few days ago, I would have said no, but today was absolutely horrible.

I'm hoping it's just because the kids have been cooped up inside a lot lately due to the weather. Hopefully DS will get back to his normal functional self with a little more outdoor play/social time.

[MyLittleWonders]

I have had mid-year blahs the last couple weeks. Then, I decided to incorporate some ideas from the Workbox System (though I don't do boxes) and revamped our schedule by reading the Latin Centered Curriculum. Usually reading a hs'ing book and/or bringing something new in helps me. For the Workbox System, I spent the weekend laminating 7"x2" strips of colored paper, a bunch of little 1.5" x 1.5" picture cards of our various school subjects, and applying velcro dots to it all. So, now the boys have a visual "schedule" of their school day - as they work on a subject, their velcro'd subject card gets put on a laminated, velcro'd "progress chart" on the wall. Each strip holds 4 "subject" (I split math, for instance, into two "subject cards" - skill page and lesson), and when those four cards are done, they get a break. We are still doing the same work, but for some reason, it helps our motivation and is enough of something new to get rid of the blahs.