Typically, around this time of year, we are THICK in planning mode, discussing priorities, enjoying special summer deep dives, and looking to what our rhythm will be for the fall. But this year, I just have ONE student. And she's a senior. And she's a self-starter, easy learner, author, linguist, and disciplined human.... in short, she's a dream. So she already has everything all planned out, and I get to just watch, be along for the ride and bask in this last transition year, which I know will go WAY too fast for me!
So - let's look BACK to a time when the task of adding a new subject in was quite a different animal.
Our second year in co-op.... I had a WONDERFUL co-op lead by truly grace-filled mothers who had a heart for striving and potential, but also a huge, healthy amount of grace, and a love for my children that everyone could see. I, myself, was balled up in striving for perfection in every area that was visible - decorated home, clean at all times, lovely, polite, well spoken children, and making sure my pants size didn't ever go up. I was a mess.
The five children were ages 9 and under, and though I *thought* I followed a simple method, I really made things difficult for myself, expecting the top three to be schooled and learn all the same, even though my experience of teaching private Spanish classes already for 8 years, and before that being a cog in the public school machine...had taught me otherwise. Literally shaking my head right now. I digress.
This particular year, we were adding in a formal Bible study with one of the co-op teachers. The 9 year old read really well, the 7 year old was GREAT at comprehension and retention, and even discussion (though not reading) and the 6 year old was eager to show up her big brothers in any way that she could, so though she wasn't exactly pure-hearted, she was easy to teach because of her competitive nature, lol.
We got the study books, we LOVED them. And I put the time on the routine. And we forgot... again and again and again. It was a good six weeks of shame for my kids to show up to their Bible class without having their lesson read or completed. My mentor was SO kind, she helped them during class, was gracious and loving, and I stammered I was so sorry for likely slowing down the others in the class, since I had ThREE of them ill-prepared. She smiled kindly and said, we add in things as we add them in. It's a rocky path. You'll get it next week.
And we did.
So! What WORKED for me to ADD in this tiny 15 minute lesson that had simply not been a part of our routine?
TIP #1: START with the thing you often forget. We began our day with Bible Study. It was lovely. It typically was a very short lesson, and the two toddlers could easily play or eat breakfast while the three "bigs" colored, or copied, or underlined different portions of their Bible work books. If you're having a hard time working Spanish into your day, START with it.
TIP #2: DELEGATE authority. I found putting a kid - no necessarily the oldest, either! - in charge of our lesson that we were trying to add in made SURE that we got it done! They LOVED being in charge... Of course, after a while, authority becomes responsibility and then a burden, so we often would switch it each day. The novelty of being the one who gets to set out the books, or choose the location, or push play on the audio really motivated us all, and kept it interesting! Giving as much ownership to all subjects turned into a very natural way to grow in leadership as well, and helped the more head strong ones learn to follow graciously.
TIP #3 ADD A TRIGGER. Trigger has a negative connotation these days, but just think of it as a reminder. For us, it was "We don't do math until we've done.... XYZ" - whatever the new subject was that we were constantly, unintentionally skipping. We NEVER skipped math. So, that was a great trigger to gather us all back together from the yard or wherever, and accomplish the goal we WANTED to d, but just hadn't formed that habit yet. Other triggers can be a meal time, a location, or any scheduled event that you KNOW you won't skip.
Those three tips are usually the most effective at creating a new habit in your daily routine, but I do want to add in a secret, bonus tip... this one really doesn't sound fun, but works in a pinch.
BONUS TIP: Add an alarm to your phone. Name it appropriately. Hit snooze again and again and again until you actually accomplish your new goal. It'll be easier tomorrow. I promise.
REWARDS: Once you accomplish the new task, reward yourself! Post a chart, make a progress picture to color in, and watch your new habit become easier and easier to accomplish!