You may be struggling right now because homeschooling is not looking like you imagined it would. You might even think you’re failing your kids. But here’s why your homeschooler is not behind. And better yet, here are solutions to try if you’re both struggling.
This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. I will receive a commission if you purchase from these links. Thank you.
Welcome to the show notes for Episode #83 of the Homeschool with Moxie podcast!
As a former classroom teacher, now homeschooling mom of five, I love to equip and encourage other homeschooling families.
Stick around to learn how to homeschool with moxie. It’s about embracing your journey and finding your groove.
Why Your Homeschooler Is Not Behind
If this podcast is an encouragement to you, become a supporter of the Homeschool with Moxie podcast with a small monthly donation! This will help sustain future episodes. Learn more HERE.
Why Being “Behind” Is Not a Problem
- Every child is unique
- No child is standard
- Kids develop at different speeds & at their own pace
Why Homeschooling is Crucial for a Child Who Is “Behind”
- One-on-one approach
- You can meet them where they are without the anxiety of the classroom
- They don’t need to be singled out as “special” or “dyslexic” or “learning challenged”
- You can take your time to set a strong foundation – in phonics, reading, math
- You can choose curriculum that is mastery-based (All About Spelling is an example)
What to do if your child is struggling
- Ask if the curriculum is working for you. If it’s clearly not a good fit, then switch it out.
- Don’t overdo it. Math is not worth it if after 30 minutes everyone is in tears. Do smaller chunks per day.
- Work on problem areas specifically and lighten up the expectations. For example – Having trouble with reading comprehension? Peel back and start with narration. Then move on to more specific questions.
- Keep your child’s passion to learn alive. Don’t school it out of them because you feel like you have to complete every worksheet in the curriculum. Check out my interview with Connor Boyack, author of Passion Driven Education and the Tuttle Twins series.
Progress is the Goal – HWM 267
Episode 267 of the Homeschool with Moxie Podcast is taken from IEW’s Arts of Language 2023 magazine.
In the article, Every Child Can Succeed: An interview with Andrew Pudewa, Jennifer Mauser asks an all-important question that many parents wonder about. Here’s that question:
“…for parents who worry that their children are behind their peers, what advice would you give them?”
Andrew’s answer is gold. It is exactly what every homeschool parent needs to hear. In a nutshell, he says that “progress is the goal.” Listen to episode 267 for the rest of his answer.
To the Homeschool Mom Who Feels Behind (HWM 352)
In this episode, we’re talking to the homeschool mom who feels behind and constantly caught in comparison. You’ll learn how to reset your perspective, redefine real progress, and take simple next steps to move forward without pressure or overwhelm.
Listen to episode 352 of the Homeschool with Moxie Podcast.
Feeling behind is incredibly common, but no one wants to admit it. This feeling often shows up through comparison. You think everyone else seems ahead or more organized or more successful in their homeschooling.
But comparison is distorting your perspective because you’re seeing curated snapshots instead of full realities. You’re not seeing their struggles. Every homeschool has different priorities and trade-offs. So measuring your homeschool against someone else’s timeline will always make you feel late.
You might be using the wrong standard. You feel behind compared to what? Traditional school? Or another family? Your own expectations? Many of these benchmarks were never meant to define your homeschool.
And we know that kids learn at different speeds and in different ways. There is no one-size-fits-all homeschool or homeschool kid. Slower doesn’t mean worse. Faster doesn’t always mean better.
You may need to redefine what progress means. Because progress can look like a struggling reader gaining confidence or a teen taking ownership. These things don’t necessary fit on a checklist.
What happens when you feel under pressure for “being behind?” This can lead to poor decisions like overloading curriculum, rushing the kids, or constantly switching curriculum or styles of homeschooling.
Remember that every homeschool has its own rhythm. Every family has natural seasons of growth, rest, catch-up and stretching. Because your children are in process. Growth is happening even if it doesn’t show up on a worksheet or checklist. You have to have a long-term vision. What does this look like 10 years into the future? Long-term outcomes matter more than short-term comparisons.
So what might a practical 3-step reset look like if you feel behind? Here’s a simple way to reset without overhauling everything.
- Get honest about what actually matters right now. Not everything needs equal attention. Figure out the 2-3 priorities for this season and let the rest loosen for now.
- Identify real gaps vs. perceived gaps. Not everything that feels behind actually is. Where are they truly struggle? Focus only on the real gaps. Where are they actually doing fine, but I’ve worried anyway?
- Simplify your next 2 weeks. Don’t plan the whole year, but for the next two weeks cut back to essentials. Focus on consistency.
Related Posts
Homeschool with Moxie Podcast #7: Most Likely to Succeed {Book Review}
Homeschool with Moxie Podcast #25: Apple Tree or Christmas Tree?
Leave a Reply