Ready or not, here it comes—the second half of the school year is on the horizon. In my homeschool, from now until spring, we’ll be focused on making the most of the remaining school year and finishing strong.

But finding success in the second half of the homeschool year can be challenging. The winter blahs, lack of energy, and impending deadlines can discourage us. In spite of these obstacles, it is possible to find second half success. If we adopt a pleasant and purposeful mindset, we can brighten our outlook and make a fresh start during the second half of the homeschool year. If you’re wondering how to do this, here are five suggestions.

Don’t Hang Onto the Past

It’s hard to move forward while looking back, so we shouldn’t waste time lamenting over the past. If we’ve experienced disappointments or taken a few missteps last semester, we mustn’t allow these experiences to become stumbling blocks in the new semester. We must choose to release the past and look to the future by planning and executing great lessons and activities during the second half of the year.

Maintain a Positive Attitude

The homeschool year flows much more smoothly when the homeschool teacher is positive and encouraging. Let’s not miss an opportunity to smile and speak words of encouragement. Our positive attitude makes learning more fun for our children and helps ensure they develop a love of learning.

Give Yourself Grace

Throughout the second half of the school year, we’ll likely hit a few bumps along the homeschool road. We can make sure we’re not thrown off course by deciding not too be hard on ourselves. Refrain from negative self-talk and flee comparison. Both have the potential to sabotage second half success.

Pace Yourself

At the start of each school year, many of us set educational goals for our children and we seek to achieve those goals by completing curriculum. Though there is nothing wrong with trying to meet such goals, it is never a good idea to rush through teaching. We can opt for a stress free approach by setting an appropriate pace that works for our children and for us.

Enjoy Your Children

Whether we’re reading a story to our four year old, teaching two-step equations to our sixth grader, or helping our high school junior craft an essay, we need to be sure to enjoy the time we spend teaching our children. Homeschooling gives us the opportunity to spend great amounts of quality time with our children, so let’s pledge to make the most of these moments in the new semester.

Success in the second half of the school year is not out of our reach. If we’re purposeful, positive, and patient, we won’t run out of steam or succumb to frustration. Each one of us can end the year on a high note!