How to Pivot in Homeschool When You Feel Like Quitting

Audio By Carbonatix

By Tricia Goyer

If we are honest, January and February can be the hardest months in the homeschooling year. The shiny excitement of August has long since faded, the new books are dog-eared (or lost), and the finish line of May feels miles away.

We call this “The Slump.”

It’s that moment when you look at your planner, then look at your kids, and wonder if you’ve made a terrible mistake. But sweet friend, if you are feeling the weight of the slump today, don’t panic—pivot.

God didn’t call you to this journey to crush your spirit. He called you to disciple your children. Sometimes, the best way to move forward isn’t to push harder, but to pause and reset.

In The Homeschool Answer Book, I talk often about the importance of flexibility.

As Proverbs 16:9 reminds us: “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”

It is time to let the Lord establish some new steps for your semester. Use this Grace-Filled Mid-Year Reset Checklist to clear the clutter—both in your home and in your heart—and get back to what matters.

Step 1: The Heart Check (Start Here)

We often try to fix our schedules before we fix our hearts. But a perfectly color-coded calendar cannot fix a weary spirit.

• Stop and Pray.
  Before you touch a single book or scour Pinterest for solutions, stop. Ask God for wisdom.
  “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” (James 1:5 NIV)
  Ask Him: Lord, what do my children actually need this semester? What burden am I carrying that You never asked me to pick up?
• Identify the Stressors.
  What part of the day makes you want to cry? Is it long division? The morning rush? The toddler getting into the markers? Write it down. You can’t fix what you haven’t named.
• Celebrate the Wins.
  It is easy to focus on what we didn’t get done. Flip the script. Write down 3 things your kids learned this year that weren’t in a textbook. Did they learn kindness? How to bake bread? How to tie their shoes?
  Remember: Character formation is education.

Step 2: The Curriculum Audit

There is no biblical commandment that says you must finish every page of every workbook.

• The “Ditch It” Pile.
  Is there a workbook that brings tears every single time you open it? Ditch it. Life is too short for curriculum that kills the love of learning. There are a thousand ways to learn math or grammar; don’t let one book ruin the subject.
• The “Good Enough” Rule.
  Look at your lesson plans with fresh eyes. Do you really need to do every single problem in the math book, or will the evens suffice? Can you read the history chapter together on the couch but skip the complicated diorama?
  “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” (Colossians 3:23 NIV). Working with your “whole heart” doesn’t mean working until you burn out.
• Combine Subjects.
  Work smarter, not harder. Can you read a historical fiction novel aloud and count it as History and Literature? (Yes, you can!)

Step 3: The Environment Refresh

Our outer world often reflects our inner world. When the table is chaotic, our minds feel chaotic.

• Clear the visual noise.
  Take 15 minutes to clear off the school table. Throw away completed papers you don’t need for portfolios. Sharpen the pencils. Wipe down the crumbs.
  “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.” (1 Corinthians 14:33 NIV)
• Change the scenery.
  If you always do school at the kitchen table and everyone is grumpy, move! Try doing reading time on the living room floor with blankets and cocoa. A simple change in location can reset a bad attitude faster than a lecture.

Step 4: The Rhythm Reset

Notice I didn’t say “Schedule.” A schedule is rigid; a rhythm flows.

• Sleep In (Just a Little).
  If dragging everyone out of bed at 7:00 AM is causing a fight every morning, try starting at 8:00 AM. A well-rested child learns faster than a tired one.
• Add a “Soft Start.”
  Instead of jumping straight into the stress of Math, start the day with something lovely. Read a Bible verse, sing a worship song, or read a chapter of a fun book while they eat breakfast. Let them wake up to beauty before they wake up to duty.
• Schedule “Catch Up” Days.
  Mark one Friday a month as a “Catch Up or Chill Out” day. If you’re behind, use it. If you’re not, take the day off!

Bonus Step: Add Some Fun (Gameschooling!)

One of the fastest ways to break the tension and build relationships is to close the textbooks and open a board game. We call this “Gameschooling.” Here are three favorites to add some laughter back into your learning:

• 1. Ticket to Ride (Geography & Strategy):
  Ditch the map quizzes for a day and play this instead. It teaches geography, planning, and strategy without your kids even realizing they are learning. Plus, it’s fun for the parents, too!
• 2. Bananagrams (Spelling & Vocabulary):
  If spelling lists are causing tears, pull out this blue banana. It’s fast-paced, competitive, and great for multiple ages. It reinforces spelling and vocabulary without the pressure of a red pen.
• 3. Yahtzee (Math & Probability):
  Sometimes the classics are the best. This is perfect for mental math, addition, and learning probability. It’s quick to play and easy to take outside on a nice day.

Step 5: The Relationship Focus

This is the most important step. If we finish the curriculum but lose our children’s hearts, we have missed the point.

• Eye Contact.
  Make a goal to look your child in the eyes and smile before you correct their work. Remind them that they are loved more than their grades.
• One “Yes.”
  We say “no” so often as moms. “No, we don’t have time.” “No, not right now.” Find one thing they ask to do this week—Build a fort? Bake cookies? Paint?—and say “Yes.”

“The goal of homeschooling isn’t to replicate the classroom; it’s to cultivate a life.”

Mama, you are doing a good work. Don’t let the mid-year slump steal your joy. Take a breath, say a prayer, play a game, and reset. You are right where you need to be.

Resources for Your Journey

• For the “Am I Doing This Right?” moments: Check out my book Homeschool Basics — it’s like having two mentors in your back pocket for those panic moments.
• For finding your rhythm: Read Balanced: Finding Center as a Work-at-Home Mom to help juggle the chaos.