Dear THSC Friend,

Have you started up the spring semester yet? It seems like the longer the holiday break, the harder it is to get started again sometimes! Here are some tips to help get the semester started again with the least amount of friction.

🕰️Consider starting with a half-day first. Easing into things takes off the pressure on everyone to go from lounging around playing with new Christmas toys to doing a full load of schoolwork.

😄Decide to have a positive attitude! Your kids will tend to mirror your attitude. If they see you grumbling about getting started again, they will start grumbling, too. On the other hand, if you play happy music and start the day with a smile and a hug for everyone, they'll be joyful, too. 

🍽️Try to meal prep for the week. Having some freezer meals like these ready to go helps relieve some responsibility as you try to get into the swing of math and science lessons again!

🌟Try something new! Exploring a new skill - like some of the examples below - can help add motivation to your students as you start back in again. What sort of things are they interested in that you can pursue?

New Skills to Try:

Cake Decorating 101

This is a beginning lesson that even the most beginning-est beginners can enjoy!

Pixar in a Box

This is a 100% free, behind-the-scenes look at how Pixar artists do their jobs.

You will be able to use math and science to animate bouncing balls, build a swarm of robots, and make virtual fireworks explode.

Hour of Code

Hour of Code is a one-hour introduction to computer science, using fun tutorials to show that anybody can learn the basics.

I hope these ideas help you create an environment of joy in your home and in your homeschool overall.

Thank you for reading,

Jessica Lovett

THSC Lead Editor & Writer

P.S. Is there anything you'd like to see in upcoming Home Educator Express newsletters? Any homeschooling questions you'd like answered? Feel free to reply and let me know!

Your Ultimate Guide to Homeschool Planners

The new year is the perfect time to streamline your homeschool planning process. Read about strategies and get free printables!

There are lots of questions that pop up when you are considering college for your homeschooler, like...

• How can I best prepare my child for college?
• How do we select a college?
• What should a transcript look like?
• What’s a FAFSA?
• How can I find out about scholarships?
• What’s the difference between the PSAT, SAT, and ACT?
• And what about  CLEP tests and dual credit courses?

Get the answers to these and other critical college-prep questions at the HEART of Texas College Night – a special evening designed especially for homeschool families with college-bound students.

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