What are you doing to liven things up this January?

[Another Lynn]

I think we need something to liven things up but I don't want to make wholesale changes. Anyone else feel this way? One year ds and I did a month long WWII unit study because we were getting bogged down in the Middle Ages.... maybe I need an annual January unit study? (I am so *not* a unit study person, LOL!)

I think I feel like when we keep skill subjects moving along at an appropriate pace, then we don't enjoy content subjects as much. Maybe we just need to slow down and bit and enjoy things more....

Thanks for listening to my sleep deprived, Christmas ramblings. (We really have had a fun morning here - I'm just indulging in some curricula obesession.... wondering why I'm dreading starting up again in a week or so.)

[dorothy]

That's because when I do hang out with a content subject for a long time, my dc LOVE it and ask to learn more. When I skip along, they follow, but are less enthusiastic. That said, they really want to get to WWI and WWII and park themselved on that for the rest of the year. So, I am moving us along quickly through the other chapters in SOTW so that we can spend a month + on these events (we did the same for the Civil War during October).

January will be busy with house guests, so we will fit in our skill work (math, LA, Latin) in everyday and just zip through. Come February, we will delve into WWI and March WWII, then hopefully wrap up the rest by May.

Next year, we go back to the Ancients and I am going to set us up like this:

One month each on Ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, Israel, China,Greece & Rome. I am going to get a pile of books on each plus projects, meals, etc., and jump in (in chronological order of course;)). I know the kids and I will enjoy this much more.

Merry Christmas!

[djbartch]

Lynn... from the ages you have, maybe you can try doing some units from Homeschool Share (http://www.homeschoolshare.com) to liven January up a bit. You could either do lapbooks on a subject you are already studying, or have the kids pick a subject or two and find a related unit at HSS. Although many of the units at HSS are full units like FIAR, you can just do one subject from the book. But they also have some great animal units and what not.

So maybe go easy in another subject and add something like this in would help break up the monotony. The unit studies at HSS are planned out well, and you can make them as long or short as you like. Maybe just doing a week or two (instead of the month) would help you be a little more of a 'unit study mom'.

[OhElizabeth]

Well we're going to take a week and play games. Does that count?

I like to do something way out of the box in May. I call it May Term, and I use the time to hit things we normally leave out (art, that sort of thing). We'll binge on something or do unit studies or just get way out of the box. In January, I'm usually starting some new things, and this year is no exception. In fact, I plan my year by semesters (fall semester, 2nd semester, May Term, summer), so I only buy enough to go through till Christmas. I find new stuff really invigorates me, so buying less early on gives me an excuse to buy some stuff now. And the rest of the ants, well I try to funnel that energy into beginning to plan next year, which for us starts in July anyway. Now when February and March hit, man are those long months... No word there except extreme devotion to the cause.

If you want a week, I say take a week. Do anything you want in that week, because a week of anything never hurt anybody, even pizza and donuts. But figure out where you're going after that and get back on track. The need for a break isn't the need for a complete overhaul. ;)

[Sahamamama]

bump:bigear:

[LoveBaby]

Well we're going to take a week and play games. Does that count?

I like to do something way out of the box in May. I call it May Term, and I use the time to hit things we normally leave out (art, that sort of thing). We'll binge on something or do unit studies or just get way out of the box. In January, I'm usually starting some new things, and this year is no exception. In fact, I plan my year by semesters (fall semester, 2nd semester, May Term, summer), so I only buy enough to go through till Christmas. I find new stuff really invigorates me, so buying less early on gives me an excuse to buy some stuff now. And the rest of the ants, well I try to funnel that energy into beginning to plan next year, which for us starts in July anyway. Now when February and March hit, man are those long months... No word there except extreme devotion to the cause.

This is brilliant! I've felt compelled to buy/plan/do for a full year at a time, but I get antsy, feel like I need to change things up and then feel very, very guilty. I love this idea of only planning/buying for about a semester. I know I'll have to have a big picture in mind, but as for little things and ways to keep it fresh for us it will be great. Now...why haven't I thought of that sooner?!

[OhElizabeth]

Actually, it was my husband's idea. He didn't want me buying stuff way far in advance and have it not work out. So what started out as economizing turned out to be a very good way to do things! :)