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Feeling Stuck? Let’s Recalibrate

Hey Reader

February has a way of sneaking up and revealing where we really are.

The excitement and momentum of a fresh start have faded and winter feels long. Energy is tapering off, and seasonal depression may be creeping up. Many homeschool parents begin to look at their days, especially math, with a growing sense of pressure and/or panic.

Are we doing enough?

Are we behind?

Do we need to change everything?

Instead of answering those questions with urgency, I want to invite you into something much more intentional and far more sustainable.

A midyear reset.

Not a restart. Not a complete overhaul. Simply a pause to reflect, recalibrate, and make small adjustments that serve the season you are actually in.

LIFE

Midyear resets are rooted in lived experience rather than idealism.

By February, you have gathered a great deal of information about your rhythms, your capacity, and your family’s needs. You know which parts of your days feel life-giving and which consistently drain your energy. You know what tends to get skipped, what causes tension, and what never quite fits, no matter how hard you try to make it work.

That awareness is not evidence of failure. It is clarity.

A reset acknowledges reality and responds with wisdom. It says, “Let’s stop striving for an ideal schedule and instead work with the season we are living in right now.”

This kind of reset does not demand more effort. It asks for discernment.

In real life, a reset might mean streamlining activities, resetting rhythms or boundaries that have been sliding for too long, or even making a small but intentional effort to sit down and eat dinner together a few times each week. Sometimes the most helpful question is simply this:

What would simplify our life right now?

HOMESCHOOL + MATH

When it comes to homeschooling, and math in particular, a midyear reset can be surprisingly simple. It begins with asking the right questions.

What is working well?

Is there a routine, format, or subject where your child feels capable and confident? Those elements are worth protecting. Confidence fuels learning, and we do not want to disrupt what is already serving your child well.

What consistently creates friction?

Is it lesson length, pacing, volume of work, or a concept that never fully solidified? Ongoing friction is often a signal that something needs adjustment, not increased pressure or a push to “just get through it.”

What could be simplified rather than fixed?

Simplification might look like fewer problems paired with richer discussion. It might mean slowing the pace to solidify understanding or intentionally revisiting concepts rather than constantly moving forward.

For example, you might take one lesson and break it into smaller parts, completing one section per day and adding extra discussion or practice along the way. This allows concepts time to settle and move into long-term memory. You might also add a weekly review day that focuses only on previously learned material, keeping everything fresh and connected.

Simplifying math is not the same as lowering expectations. In many cases, it is the most effective way to facilitate true understanding.

A midyear reset might involve doing less each day, but doing it more consistently. It might involve shifting focus from completion to mastery. It might require redefining progress so that comprehension matters more than keeping up with a predetermined timeline or feeling “ready” for a test.

All of these choices represent real, meaningful progress.

Is there anything that needs to change?

If you are really struggling with a subject, it's not too late to switch curriculum. The goal is learning. If your student is not learning, something needs to change. Switching midyear is not a failure; it is responding to your child’s needs, which is one of the greatest benefits of homeschooling.

“But what if I absolutely can’t switch?”

That’s okay! You can still pivot, adapt, and tailor the curriculum that you have to your student’s needs. If lessons are taking too long, you could cut part of it out, split it into multiple days, or only do certain sections. If your student is struggling with just one part of the curriculum, such as the writing is too involved or the chapter summaries are taking days to complete, then simplify that one part of the curriculum. Narrate the summary instead of write it. Copy only every other dictation sentence. Do half of your language arts verbally. Do half of your math work orally. You can get creative to make what you have work for you.

You do NOT have to follow any curriculum to the letter. You have the freedom to make it work for you, your family, and most especially your child, in this season. ❤️

GRACE

Just like always, there is grace for the middle of the journey and awkward, in-between season.

Scripture reminds us:

I feel like I say this every week, but this has truly been becoming a life verse for me. We may have had a vision for an entire year laid out neatly before us that is falling apart already, but God promises guidance one step at a time. We don’t need to see the whole path, we just have to take the next step. He asks us to walk faithfully in the present moment, not worry about the future. He says,

If life or homeschooling feels overwhelming right now, let this be your permission to pause without guilt. A reset does not indicate weakness or lack of discipline. It reflects humility and trust. We don’t need to force things to happen. God is walking with us, he is for us, and He will give us the peace we need to rest in the moment. All we have to do is ask for it. ❤️

WHAT’S COMING

Much of what I have been working on behind the scenes is shaped by this very philosophy. Slowing down, building strong foundations, and approaching math with clarity rather than pressure have been guiding my recent projects.

I’ve been teasing that I’ve been working on…should I share it? If you want to know what I’m working on, please reply to this email and let me know what you hope it is I’m working on!

I just might give away a free one of what it is if anyone guesses correctly. 👀🤭

If a midyear reset resonates with you, I would love to hear from you!

What is one thing you are choosing to keep this semester?

What is one thing you may be ready to adjust or release?

I love to get your replies! I read every message.

See you soon!

-Mrs. Holman

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