Finishing Strong, Listening to My Kids, and Shaping Next Year Together
As we step into the final weeks of our homeschool year, I can feel that unique mix of tired, thankful, and hopeful that always shows up around this time. The pencils are shorter, the workbooks are well-loved, and we are all ready for a little summer exhale, but we also want to finish what we started.
On the homeschool side, we are working hard to finish our year strong. The plan is for the kids to wrap up their coursework at the end of May, then take the Stanford 10 national standardized test. It feels like a big milestone year for us, not because anything dramatic has happened, but because the kids have stayed steady, even on the ordinary, not-so-exciting days that actually build most of our homeschool life. We are also counting down the days until the Texas Homeschool Convention!
Finishing the Year Strong
One of the things I have noticed this year is how much growth happens quietly. There are fewer “first day” photos and big announcements, and a lot more showing up on regular days. Watching the kids keep going when the work feels routine has reminded me that faithfulness in small things is where so much of learning really lives.
At this point in the year, I am especially grateful for our Homeschool Hub online platform. Being able to log in, see exactly where each child is, and monitor their progress in one place has been such a gift as we head toward the finish line. It helps me catch gaps early, celebrate wins, and make sure everyone is truly on track to close out the year well.
As we move toward testing, I am reminding them (and myself) that the goal is not perfection. The goal is to see progress, learn where we can grow, and celebrate how far we have come since August.
What We Are Reading Right Now
Right now, we are wrapping up our current read-aloud, Chico of the Andes by Christine Von Hagen. It has been such a sweet story to share together and has opened the door to conversations about culture, courage, and what it looks like to trust God in unfamiliar places. I love when a book gives us language for things we might not have said out loud otherwise.
As we close that chapter, we are getting ready to start a new classic: Anne of Green Gables. I may have gone a little overboard here, because I bought four different editions of the book so each child could choose the cover that felt most like “their” Anne. There is something fun about watching them flip through the different versions, compare the artwork, and pick the one that feels special to them. Letting them choose their own cover is a small way of inviting them deeper into the story.
We made a little outing of it and took a trip to Barnes & Noble to browse and grab a few extra titles. Bookstore trips in the middle of the school year always feel like a mini reset for us, no lesson plans, just time to wander the aisles and remember that reading is a gift, not just an assignment.
Gentle Test Prep That Still Feels Doable
With the Stanford 10 coming up at the end of May, we have been easing into some test prep using Spectrum’s 6th Grade Test Practice workbook. I like it because it gives the kids a chance to see the types of questions and formats they will encounter without turning every day into “test day.”
We are taking a little-at-a-time approach: a few pages, a few strategies, and then we move on with our regular work. My hope is that when they sit down for the actual test, it feels familiar instead of intimidating. Prepared, not pressured, that is the goal.
Electives, Credits, and Looking Toward Graduation
One of the biggest shifts this year has been watching my three oldest choose their electives for next year. I honestly had a moment where I thought, “How are we already talking about credits and graduation?” It feels both far away and right around the corner.
They each picked electives that line up with their interests, which makes me so excited for them. There is something powerful about saying, “Your interests matter, and we are going to build your education with that in mind.” It also gives me a clearer direction as I prepare for the upcoming homeschool convention.
Instead of walking the vendor hall feeling overwhelmed, I can go in with a list and a purpose, looking for resources, programs, and tools that support the specific paths they are starting to carve out. These elective choices help me be intentional instead of impulsive when it comes to curriculum shopping.
Our New Group Table and the Flow of Our Days
Another change this year that has made a big difference is our new IKEA dining table in the homeschool room. I had been eyeing this extendable table for a long time, and now that it is finally here, it has changed the vibe of our days in the best way.
The kids can now move between their independent workstations and our group table throughout the day. When they are working on personal assignments, they have their own spaces. When it is time for read-alouds, group work, or discussions, we all gather around the big table. It has given us room to spread out books, notebooks, and snacks, while still feeling together.
The simple ability to shift between “solo focus” and “family table” has made our homeschool feel more flexible, cozy, and connected.
Listening to My Kids as We Plan Ahead
As we work through our materials each homeschool day, we have been having many honest conversations about curriculum. I have been asking the kids what they liked, what felt confusing, what they would change, and what they hope next year looks like.
The older I get in this homeschool journey, the more I realize that my kids’ feedback is not optional; it is essential. Yes, I am the front-runner and the one ultimately responsible for the rhythm and cadence of our homeschool. But I also know that the best decisions I make are those shaped by real, thoughtful input from the people who use the books and systems every day.
So this year, I am leaning even more into that feedback. I want to make sure that as I choose curriculum, map out schedules, and set goals, those decisions are strategic and rooted in what is truly serving them, not just what looks good on paper. Their honesty helps me improve our homeschool environment year after year, and I am grateful for that.
Morning Menus and Simple Tweaks That Help
While the older kids are thinking about electives and credits, my younger two are having their own little glow-up in our routine. Tenor and Tru are in week two of using morning menus, and they are absolutely loving it.
Morning menus have given us a soft, structured start to the day. Inside, I rotate things like copywork, Bible verses, poetry, and a bit of extra review. It keeps our mornings anchored without feeling heavy. I love that they know exactly what to expect, and they love that it feels a bit like their “special workbook” that only comes out once a day.
It has been a reminder that sometimes the best changes are simple, repeatable tweaks that quietly shift the tone of the whole day.
Planning for Next Year (Already)
This is the time of year when I naturally start looking ahead. As we close out the 2025–2026 school year, my mind is already turning toward next year’s rhythm. I find myself asking:
- What worked really well that we want to protect and repeat?
- What felt heavy or clunky that we might simplify or release?
- Where can we add small things, like morning menus, better electives, or a new read-aloud habit, that will make our days feel more peaceful and purposeful?
The beauty of homeschooling is that each year offers a fresh chance to adjust. We do not have to rebuild everything from scratch, but we can tune and refine based on what we have learned about our kids, ourselves, and the season we are in.
As we move through this last month, I am trying to slow down enough to notice the evidence of growth that can be easy to miss in real time: a child reading more confidently, someone double-checking their own math, a teenager asking deeper questions during Bible time. Those small signs are what tell me the work is taking root.
If you are also in the final stretch, just know you are not alone. We are right there with you, finishing assignments, sharpening pencils one more time, and already dreaming about what God might do in our homes and homeschools next year.Gervase Ware is a homeschool mom of six, educator, and motherhood and lifestyle creator who shares real-life homeschool routines, curriculum reviews, family systems, and trusted resources for intentional living at GervaseWare.com.
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