#1 - Reflect on the pace of the guide. Is the child able to do work at the pace asked of them, or are they spending far too long each day, and is it not improving? If days are too, long, do some research. Keep track of what is being done and how long each thing is taking by writing it down on a piece of paper for a day or even for a week.
Be specific and use a timer. Be mindful of what YOU are doing as well. 
Are certain things taking twice as long as the alloted time, and if so, why? Have some bad habits formed, where dc are doing non-HOD related things during school? Or are you distracted from your teaching by Internet use, chatting on the phone too long, etc.? Have you come to the realization that the pace is too fast for your child? Were you going half-speed and is your child now ready for more? Consider whether half-speed or full-speed is a better pacing right now. #2 - Reflect on the placement. Did you place your child accurately, or should the child have been placed up or down a guide in HOD? Did you combine a pair of dc and find one of the dc needs something harder or easier? Do some research by looking carefully at each guide to see if a change is necessary. Consider moving to half-speed and doing some one on one training with a child if skills are needing to be strengthened to do a guide well. Consider separating if you are finding a child is not being served well by being combined.
#3 - Reflect on your start time. Is it realistic? Does it need to be changed, or does a change need to be made in habits so it works well each day?
#4 - Reflect on the chores in the house. Are they getting done enough so you can start school strong each day? If not, what can be done so that you can start school prepared each day? If you're not a morning person but still wish to have a pretty early start to the day, consider moving some morning chores to evening, the night before, so you can just wake up and start. If you are "in a mess of chores alone", consider who you could train to help. Dc - even little ones - long to do meaningful work well and contribute to the household. Who could be trained to do what?
#5 - Reflect on meals. Are they going well, or do you need to switch something around, so they are not a stressful "oh no, what are we going to eat now" kind of time.
#6 - Reflect on your schedule or routine. Could it be tweaked or moved around somehow to result in a better day? Here's an example of a schedule change I made partway into the year...
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=8140&p=59181#p59181
#7 - Reflect on how your dc are doing with the time allotments for the boxes. Are they going very long on certain things or at certain times of the day, and if so why? Consider using the timer again to help dc learn better work habits. Here's a post where I reflected on this...
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=10506&p=76332#p76332
#8 - Reflect on attitudes. Does someone's need improvement? Have a talk with that person and pray about it. Have a talk with yourself if it's you!
I have before. If it is your attitude, chances are it may have less to do with homeschooling than you think. For example, upon reflection I've found I've been discouraged because my dh is traveling a lot... I am not having any time to spend with my friends... I need some time alone... I don't have time to run errands or go to appointments... I need more sleep... I need vitamins... I need to exercise... I need to clean the house... I need to get back to doing my Bible Quiet Time routinely... I need to finish a house project that is weighing me down... I need to resolve something with someone... I need to drop an activity... I need to add an activity that is more just for me... I need to find a way to get groceries without all 3 dc along... I need quicker and easier meals to make... I need help keeping the house clean... I don't have clothes that fit me right... and the list could go on. Identifying needs is the first step to making changes for improvements. Often times, this has little to do with our actual homeschooling, and more to do with a lifestyle change. #9 - Reflect on how encouraging you are as a teacher, and how encouraging your dc are with each other. Make any needed changes. Here's a post where I realized I could encourage my dc in a simple way by what I wrote...
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=10410&p=75642#p75642
Here's a post where I mentioned some comments I was trying to make in regard to narrations...
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=7792&p=56808
#10 - Reflect on how things may have changed since you started the year. Have you added things to the day that are not part of HOD, causing the day to go longer? If so, is it worth it? Have your dc started extra activities that take their time, and is it interfering with their school work? If so, what can be done to make school a priority? Does someone have health concerns now - you, a parent, a child - and does something need to change in the schedule - maybe going half-speed? Here are some half-speed schedules to consider...
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=5600&p=41029#p41029
#11 - Reflect on how much school you are getting done. Are you on pace to finish what you wanted to? If not, what can be done to improve this?
#12 - Reflect on the quality of work you are expecting from your dc. Is it realistic? Have you let too many things slide? Are you being too much of a perfectionist and expecting too much from your dc?
#13 - Reflect on the organization of the school area. How is it going? Can dc get to their books and supplies easily? Are things able to be stored neatly? Is the environment conducive to learning? It is cheerful? Is there a part of your home that could be put to use to help with schooling, or an organizational tool that would help keep things neat? Maybe a different shelf, totes, plastic drawer sets, a cleaned out kitchen cupboard, etc.? Make any changed needed.
#14 - Reflect on how the little one's day is going. Do they need a change? Do you need to change out their toys, art supplies, educational computer games, etc.? If they play with older siblings, how is that going? Did your toddler drop from 2 naps to 1 nap? Is your baby sleeping less? What changes could make that go better?
#15 - Reflect on the amount of time any substitutions you used for HOD's resources are taking. If they are taking much more than the alloted time for HOD's resources, consider switching to the resources HOD suggests.
#16 - Reflect on the check-ups you are doing with your older dc. Are you keeping tabs on their work and making sure they are doing what they are supposed to be doing? Are you making time for all of the follow-up questions, activities, teaching planned in the guide for you to do? Do you need to add in a check-in time where you go through things they've done more independently within the school day? What can be done to improve dc's work at this point, and what is to be celebrated?
#17 - Reflect on the progress each of your dc has made, and let them know you've noticed how much they've improved in certain areas - that you are proud of them! Share with your dh the gains each child has made - and if possible - do so within the hearing of the dc.
#18 - Reflect on your thoughts about homeschooling and remind yourself why you are homeschooling. This is a high calling, ladies, with few compliments along the way! But the rewards are plentiful if we remain purposeful about our teaching.
Here's a great thread on this topic...Why are you homeschooling? Knowing your goals:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=10632&p=78391#p78391
#19 - Reflect on how you could remind yourself of the progress each of your dc have made, and the joys of homeschooling. Consider participating in the HOD Weekly Check-In and sharing your days with other HOD moms here on the board. Here's a link to it...
viewforum.php?f=14
Here are few weekly check-ins that brought me joy...
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=6100&p=44667
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=10853&p=79019#p79019
Snap pics of your dc's projects and put them on a digital photoframe to be enjoyed by all, and to remind yourself of all you and your dc have accomplished. Hang your dc's work on the fridge with a big magnetic clip, or in frames on the wall. Pull out your dc's past HOD binders for a day, and thumb through them to remember past fun in homeschooling, and to see how far they have come to today. Write a post on the HOD board sharing something your dc did in HOD that brought you delight - or share progress your dc have made in a certain skill - or share a schedule change that made your day run more smoothly. When we encourage others, we are often encouraged ourselves!
Celebrate your homeschooling! Check out this inspiring thread...viewtopic.php?f=6&t=8268&p=60839#p60839
#20 - Reflect on what you are doing with the "stuff" that accumulates from homeschooling. If you can't dig yourself out of the clutter, here are some ideas to help...
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1945&p=15020
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1711&p=13322
#21 - Need some encouragement? Spend some time reading the HOD Board. These ladies are very encouraging! Here's a post to get you started...
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=4929
#22 - Reflect on your time with the Lord. If it's lacking, endeavor to spend time with Him - spend some time in the Word, in prayer, and in turning to Him for help, for joy, for wisdom.
HTH!
In Christ,
Julie
