The First Six Weeks of a New School Year
By Melissa Ferguson
For about a decade, I've leaned on the wisdom of a local friend who is a few years ahead of me in raising and educating our children. I even keep a note in my phone of wise things she's said over the years! Her children are now in college and beyond and mine are in high school, but one piece of her advice comes back to me every year around this time.
Several years ago, I was struggling at the start of the school year. Our schedule felt overloaded, and I wasn't sure several of our courses and books were the right fit for my students. Her advice?
Don't change anything for six weeks.
She explained that the first six weeks of any "new big thing" are often hard, whether it's going to the gym, starting a new job, or learning a new skill. Those early weeks aren't the time to decide whether to make changes. We had already made the decision to start, and that was enough. Then, at the six-week mark, it's time to sit down and reflect.
She assured me that if we kept faithfully trying, many of the early problems would iron themselves out by week six. The ones that remained deserved a closer look, whether that meant lightening the schedule, dropping a course, or switching a book. Over the years, I've found her advice to ring true for our family.
As you reach your own six-week mark, reflect on your year so far (perhaps with our Reflective Practice book in hand). What has settled into a good rhythm? What still feels like a struggle? What would you change, and what would you keep exactly as it is? Then, while those answers are fresh, please share them with us in our fall member survey. Just as your family is taking stock of the year so far, we're doing the same, and your honest reflections help us serve you better in the months and years ahead.
As a nonprofit with finite resources, we rely on your responses to find areas that need improvement and to decide where to focus our work in the coming year. Past surveys have led to improvements in lesson plan format and pacing, the addition of Syllabird, and new course offerings.
Take the survey here. It takes about 15 minutes, and we'll be thanking one member per week with an Amazon gift card.
SPOTLIGHT: You use Alveary in your home each week, and we want your experience to help shape what comes next. Take our 10–15 minute Member Survey and tell us what's working, where you need more support, and what you'd like to see in the future. Complete it this week for your first chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card. You'll also stay entered in each remaining October drawing, so the earlier you respond, the more chances you have to win.
NOTES:
- Save the Date: What if helping your children do more of the work of learning could help create a more peaceful, sustainable homeschool? Join us November 5 as we talk about growing independence in lessons, what belongs to the teacher, and what we can increasingly hand over to our children. RSVP in the Hive.
- Real vs. Reel: A Free Live Conversation: Two familiar faces from the CMI and Alveary community are joining Real vs. Reel on October 6! Min Hwang, CMI board member, and Lillian Kim, Alveary member, will join Beth Howard and Ana Willis for an honest conversation about the gap between Charlotte Mason homeschooling on social media and what it actually looks like at home, including the parts nobody photographs. Register here.
- From the Hive: Did you know you can add your own courses to Syllabird alongside your Alveary courses? One member asked about adding music lessons, and the conversation quickly filled with ideas, including a daily “Today’s Agenda” course for teens. See how other members are making Syllabird work for their families in the Hive.
Have a wonderful weekend!
