Back to Homeschool: Starting September Strong
September always feels like a fresh start, even when you homeschool year-round. For us, it’s less about matching up with public school schedules and more about resetting our own rhythm. After a busy summer, I’m leaning into simple routines, fresh activity bins, and giving myself the grace to ease back in.
Resetting the Routine
One of the biggest ways I set us up for success is by planning out our calendar for the month. With everyone’s schedules written down, I can see where we may need to take days off school, or plan for quick, ready-to-eat meals. Over the summer I honestly fell behind on this, but September feels like the perfect time to get back on track.
Another thing I’m starting fresh this month is our activity bins. I plan to reset them at the beginning of each month so the kids have something new and engaging to dive into. It keeps things exciting without me constantly having to come up with fresh ideas on the fly. (Stay tuned — I’ll be sharing another post soon with ideas for morning activities to keep littles busy while mama gets ready for the day!)
Pre-K Learning (4-Year-Old)
With my little guy in Pre-K, we go with the flow. He already knows his basic shapes and colors, so now I mix in some of the “weird” shapes to keep him interested and engaged. Most of our days include free play, short activities, and simple lessons I plan out at the start of the month.
Having a lesson plan makes such a difference because I’m not constantly scrambling for ideas. The Good and the Beautiful has been a huge help here — it takes so much of the guesswork out of planning and keeps things light and doable.
Level 1 Learning (8-Year-Old)
My daughter is in Level 1, but since we homeschool year-round she’s already halfway through the curriculum. I also started her later, when she was truly ready to learn, and it made the whole process so much smoother. I’ve found that waiting until she was ready has been such a gift — it keeps learning joyful instead of a battle.
Honestly, I’m not too worried about her progress. Just the other day she put together a 9+ Lego set with over 1,000 pieces in less than a day total time. That’s problem-solving, patience, and focus all rolled into one.
She has had struggles, like spelling numbers, but The Good and the Beautiful app and songs made such a difference. In less than an hour she went from struggling to confidently spelling them out. Those little tools feel like a godsend on the hard days.
Here’s the thing: don’t compare yourself to others. Every child learns at their own pace, and that’s not only okay — it’s the beauty of homeschooling. Stop listening to the negative Nancies on TikTok or Instagram telling you you’re failing your kids. You’re not failing them. You’re creating an individualized learning program that respects your child’s timing, not forcing them into a societal standard that never should have been there in the first place.
Give yourself grace. Keep it simple. And remember, homeschooling doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s.
This month, I’m celebrating all the wins — big or small. Whether it’s finishing a lesson without tears, discovering a new favorite book, or watching my kids explore the world around them, it all counts.
I’d love to hear how you’re starting September in your homeschool. Come share your wins with me over on Instagram!