Homeschooling Middle School: What’s The Same vs. What’s Different

Homeschooling Middle School: What’s The Same vs. What’s Different ~
Written by Jessica Waldock of The Waldock Way

At first, homeschooling middle school feels like a big challenge. Suddenly, you’re facing new emotions and a new level of independence. Most of the things your child used to think were fun are “boring” and “lame” now.

Fortunately, there’s a lot about homeschooling during the middle school years that stays the same. Middle school kids still want to have fun and have a strong connection with you, even if they think your jokes aren’t funny anymore. 

Keep reading to get the scoop on what’s the same and what’s different about homeschooling middle school. Plus, get some tips from a mom who’s made the transition to help you face the challenges of homeschooling middle school this year. 

Transitioning To Middle School In Your Homeschool

In a lot of small ways, homeschooling has changed, but there are lots of ways it’s still the same too. It’s crazy to think about how much older Emily is getting and what that means for our homeschool. At first, I thought transitioning to middle school would be a challenge and I wasn’t sure if I was ready to meet it. 

Gradually, I’ve come to discover that we can keep doing the same things with just a bit of revision. 

Homeschooling Middle School: What Has Changed

Homeschooling in middle school can be intimidating. I won’t say that it’s the same because a lot has changed since we started diving into the middle school years. We still play lots of games, prioritize our family connection, and focus on Emily’s passions and interests. 

However, there’s a lot that has changed in our homeschool too! 

It’s Harder to Have Fun

Homeschooling middle school sometimes means that having fun is a bit more challenging. Remember kindergarten when a game of Candy Land and writing letters in the sandbox was a great homeschool day? Well, middle school is different. 

Sometimes middle schoolers feel stuck between trying to be cool and still enjoying the things they did when they were little. Even if they’d still like to play Candy Land, they’ll never admit it. That means homeschooling parents may have to get creative with school assignments and curriculum choices.

There aren’t always fun activities and games built into every middle school curriculum. I have to put forth extra effort to keep things fun while meeting our middle school learning goals. Fortunately, with a little extra effort, having fun while homeschooling middle school is still possible.

New Emotions

Middle schoolers come with all kinds of new emotions that can throw a curve ball in your homeschool plans. They’re dealing with lots of big changes. Sometimes we get blindsided by big emotions or emotional outbursts we weren’t expecting. 

Sometimes these new emotions mean we have to switch up our plans for the day or that academics need to take a backseat. I stay focused on prioritizing a strong connection with Emily and teaching her that emotional health is important. Teaching our middle schoolers skills, like how to have a growth mindset and how to use mindfulness tools can be just as important as learning about algebra or history.

New Independence

Another thing that’s changed about homeschooling middle school is Emily’s level of independence. She’s able to complete lessons and face academic challenges without my help. That’s a bittersweet change for me. 

Suddenly, she’s capable of doing so much on her own and wants to do it alone too. It is challenging to step back after years of being a very hands-on homeschool parent! 

At the same time, middle schoolers are caught between that newfound independence and their dependence on us. That means we have to make challenging decisions about what they’re ready for and what they might not be able to do independently right now. 

Sometimes, your middle schooler might even surprise you by asking for your help with something you know they can do on their own. It’s okay to say yes sometimes when that happens. After all, fostering connection is still important for homeschooling middle school.

Homeschooling Middle School: Most Is The Same!

Fortunately, homeschooling middle school is mostly the same. We kept the same priorities: interest-led learning, strengthening our family relationships, and having fun homeschooling.

Strewing

We’re still doing many of the things that worked well last year in our homeschool For example, strewing. Strewing has been an important part of our homeschool routine for years. 

Now that we’re in the middle school years, strewing is often about books, games, and tech resources as opposed to crafts and building materials. We are big fans of strewing single-player games too.

Morning Baskets

We are still enjoying our morning basket time together while homeschooling middle school. Morning baskets for middle schoolers can still have lots of fun activities and opportunities for connection. The challenge is that the materials are often very different from what used to be in our morning baskets.

Now, morning baskets begin our day with themed poetry, stories, and games. They have also become an easy way for me to squeeze in subjects like poetry or foreign languages that sometimes fall through the cracks.

Homeschooling middle school can be a challenge in the beginning, but I think you’ll find that not everything has changed. Even though some things are different, it’s a good difference.

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