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Summer is the perfect time to slow down, soak up the sunshine, and take a break from the hustle of daily homeschool life. But while everything feels more relaxed, it’s also a great season to quietly prep for the next school year without feeling all the pressure. Here are a few things I like to do to get ready for a new homeschool year during the summer.
1. Reflect on the Past Year
Before buying any new curriculum or make any plans, I try to reflect a little:
- What worked?
- What didn’t?
- What did we enjoy?
I’ll jot a few notes down in my planner or phone. It really helps me figure out what to change or keep the same for next year.
2. Pray and Set Your Intentions
I like to take time to pray and ask God for direction for the year ahead. Every homeschool year looks a little different, and I don’t want to just rush into things. I usually write out a few simple goals like:
- More time outside
- Slower mornings
- Building better habits
- Prioritizing character over checkboxes
- More reading
Writing down these goals helps guide the rest of my planning.
3. Start looking at curriculum
I typically have already done my research and know what we will be using in the fall. Summertime is when I start ordering curriculum. Lots of companies have summer sales going on, so it’s a great time to shop.
related posts: 2025-2026 curriculum Choices
4. Clean and reset our homeschool space
Although our main homeschool space is our dining table, I still take the time to:
- Throw out dried markers and random paper
- Restock supplies
- Make the space feel fresh and cozy
5.Make a loose plan
I don’t like making strict schedules or plans but I do like to have an idea of what our year will look like by:
- Printing a yearly calendar to mark holidays, breaks and important events. Once planned I mark all these dates in my homeschool planner.
- Deciding on a start and end date
- Thinking about a weekly rhythm
6. stock up on supplies
For the most part, I’m always pretty stocked up on supplies but I do take advantage of the back to school sales. I like to stock up on things like:
- Notebooks
- Pencils
- Printer ink (my favorite printer here)
- Arts and craft stuff
7. Set up a few simple systems
I don’t overdo it here but having a few things done ahead of the school year gives me enough structure to keep things running smoothly at the beginning of the year.
- Chore charts
- Morning checklists
- Meal plans
- Homeschool planner for attendance, records and planning
8. Ease in the new homeschool year
We usually start the year by slowly building up. Every Monday we add in an extra subject or two until we’ve gotten a good handle on juggling everything we want to add in.
9. Enjoy what’s left of summer
Most importantly, I try my hardest not to stress. There’s still time for late bedtimes, pool days, nature walks, and popsicles on the porch. Summer prep isnt about doing it all, but doing just enough to help the new homeschool year start off a little smoother.
That’s it! A little summer prep goes a long way come the Fall. If you’re starting to plan for the new homeschool year this summer, remember to take it a day at a time and pray about it as your planning!
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