February may be the shortest month of the year, but it’s packed with presidential history! It’s the month of Abraham Lincoln’s birthday (February 12, 1809) and the season when many families and schools observe Presidents’ Day. That makes it the perfect time to step into the life of a man whose journey stretched from a dirt-floor cabin…all the way to the White House!
With the holiday season fast approaching, we look forward to a break from our typical busy routines, and to time spent together with family and friends. Hopefully this means MORE cozy mornings and LESS rushed evenings. More time around the table or fireplace – steeped in conversation or playing games together. Sounds perfect, doesn’t it? But somehow it feels like you just “blink” on Thanksgiving, and suddenly – it’s the middle of January! A little planning now can help us make the most of the time – nurturing relationships, creating memories, and all the while, boosting brain skills!
It happens every year. Somewhere between mid-October and mid-November, that homeschool energy we started the year with becomes… well, seriously depleted! The excitement of new books, fresh routines, and those color-coded bins that were definitely going to change everything has faded. The kids’ notebooks are already looking rough; the glue sticks lost their caps long ago. Yes—there’s peanut butter smeared across the pages of your planner. Schoolwork is getting harder, too, as the days are getting shorter. And with the current time change, 6pm is feeling suspiciously like midnight! Now, the holiday season twinkling on the horizon is a bit of a (glittering!) distraction. The good news? This is completely normal. A mid-semester slump doesn’t mean something has gone wrong. It means it’s time for a gentle reset. Here are some ideas to help you finish the semester strong!
Ever given your child a simple job like “Clean your room” or “Go get your math done,” and they respond as if you just asked them to climb Mt. Everest? Many kids (and adults!) today struggle with weak executive functioning skills, making it difficult to get organized, stay focused, and even know where to begin a task. The good news is that you can help them develop these skills, starting with one important strategy: teaching them to break big tasks down into manageable steps.
It’s that time of the school year again! As we enter the home stretch, many parents have a sinking feeling. Instead of crossing the finish line triumphant, hands high in the air, they are weary and limping, hoping to crawl across the line and pull the kids with. If you’re running on empty, not sure how much farther you can go, you are not alone! You just need a fresh wind to come along and put a spring in your step!
You can feel the summer days slipping away, but how can you make the most of what’s left? It may be easier than you think! Here are some ideas for carving out more of those moments that matter, while ending the summer rested and refreshed.
