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TheHomeSchoolMom

Homeschooling help and encouragement from experienced homeschoolers - find out how homeschooling works and how to start, get tips & ideas for when things need adjusting, read curriculum reviews before buying, learn how online schools work, gain confidence about homeschooling high school, and more.

The Home School Mom The Home School Mom The Home School Mom

Vanessa Wright

Vanessa Wright

Vanessa is a homeschooling mama to three inquisitive, creative and often loud kids ages 15, 13, and 13. She is married to Jason and they live in the Raleigh, North Carolina area. Vanessa is a self-professed eco-beauty junkie, avid reader, yogi-wannabe, tea drinker and a chocolate snob. You can find her on Instagram at @vanessawrightwrites and on Facebook at Wright at Homeschool where she’s keeping the REAL in homeschool reality.

homeschooling a non-traditional learner - 10th grade plan

Our 10th Grade Plan for a Non-Traditional Learner

by Vanessa Wright

Our 10th grade non-traditional learner stated that he wanted to tackle more challenging content, more in-person classes with homework and projects, and wanted to be in charge of his schedule. I got to work researching local classes, online classes, curricula, and more. We had long conversations, lots of texting back and forth, and finally came up with a plan that worked for him, for me and his dad, and for our budget and schedule. Continue reading »

girl dressed as superhero with text 9 helpful resources for homeschooling differently wired kids

My Top 9 Resources for Homeschooling Differently Wired Kids

by Vanessa Wright

The concept of kids being differently wired sparked my interest and had me nodding my head as I researched the idea. I knew one of my kids fit this description and I had been at a loss, even after evaluations, recommendations, and hours of researching. Each differently wired child is different in their own special way. These are the materials that I’ve found helpful for homeschooling and parenting differently wired kids. Continue reading »

blackboard with formulas written in chalk and text overlay Survival tips for getting started homeschooling your middle schooler - thehomeschoolmom.com

My Top 4 Tips for Getting Started Homeschooling Your Middle Schooler

by Vanessa Wright

Homeschooling middle school can be a great thing because all the peer pressure, negativity, drama, etc. that comes along with these years can be lessened by choosing to home educate. I’m sharing my top four tips to help make your transition into homeschooling middle school manageable—whether you’re brand new to homeschooling or you’ve been homeschooling from the beginning. Continue reading »

planning supplies with text 5 steps to simple homeschool planning for non-planners

5 Steps to Simple Homeschool Planning for Non-Planners

by Vanessa Wright

I really wish I liked homeschool planning. I’ve tried. Trust me. We are nearly a decade into this homeschooling journey and I’ve taken multiple planning courses, have purchased five different types of homeschool planners, spent countless hours planning and planning and buying and buying and organizing all the things. By the time I get around to actually homeschooling, I’m tired. Continue reading »

Image of paint on paint brushes with text What our Interest-Led Homeschool Looks Like with Teens - TheHomeSchoolMom

What Our Interest-Led Homeschool Looks Like with Teens

by Vanessa Wright

Early on in our homeschooling journey, we tried many methods and styles of homeschooling. As my kids got older, I had to step back and evaluate what type of learning environment I wanted to create in our home. I had one vision, and it included all of us still sitting around doing as much together as possible because it was easier for me and because I thought that I had to do that in order to be ticking off the boxes for homeschooling the right way. However, my kids had other ideas. And, because it’s their education, I really needed to listen. This felt good and scary. Continue reading »

Image of yarn balls with text How to Find a Hobby that Energizes and Refreshes You - TheHomeSchoolMom

Dear Homeschool Parent: You Need a Hobby!

by Vanessa Wright

Dear Homeschool Parent, I say this in the nicest possible way with my sweetest voice: YOU NEED A HOBBY! You need an interest outside of homeschooling. You need time away from planning and teaching and making crafts and blowing up things in your kitchen. You need to rest your voice from all the reading. You need something that is not pre-algebra equations. You need to plan a field trip for yourself and not another one to the zoo. Stay with me… Continue reading »

Image of hand holding a remote with text 20 YouTube Channels for Homeschooling - TheHomeSchoolMom.com

20 YouTube Channels for Homeschooling

by Vanessa Wright

I don’t know about you, but we love to use YouTube videos to complement various subjects and interests in our homeschool. I’ve polled my kids and some of my trusted homeschooling friends to put together a list of 20 YouTube channels to add fun and learning to your homeschool. There’s something for everyone: art, baking, music, science, engineering, and random facts (our favorite). Continue reading »

Teenage girl inside studying with text A Day in the Life Homeschooling Teens - Homebound Edition - TheHomeSchoolMom

A Day in the Life Homeschooling 3 Teens: Homebound Edition

by Vanessa Wright

Recently, I shared a day in the life of our homeschool with three teens. It was a particularly busy day, but a pretty typical one for our family. You see, even though we homeschool, we’re rarely at home. Recently, life has changed due to statewide “stay home” orders. We are in our home. All the time. Our life is vastly different. This is a day in the life of our homeschool while we are homebound for comparison. Continue reading »

Overhead view of table at a cafe with people holding phones and coffee cups and text The 5 Friends Every Homeschool Parent Needs

The 5 Friends Every Homeschooling Parent Needs

by Vanessa Wright

Cultivating friendships during your homeschool journey is crucial. Yes, even for introverts! Connecting with others, sharing stories, asking for advice, giving advice, laughing, crying, and supporting one another makes your days so much sweeter. Here are the 5 types of friends that every homeschool parent should have.
Continue reading »

Image of coffee cup and phone on picnic table and hand writing in journal with text 8 things that are working in our homeschool right now - TheHomeSchoolMom.com

8 Things That Are Working in Our Homeschool Right Now

by Vanessa Wright

During certain times of the year, I can be a “Debbie Downer” when it comes to homeschooling. Everything looks and feels difficult. Or wrong. Or annoying. Changing my perspective and focusing on the positives and the positively awesome helps me feel anchored. Here are a few of the things that I’m focusing on right now. Do any of them resonate for you? Continue reading »

Overhead view of a blackboard backgroundwith pencils, ipad, and ruler on top with text Where to turn when you have questions about homeschooling: How a homeschool consultant helped me - TheHomeSchoolMom

Where To Turn When You Have Questions About Homeschooling

by Vanessa Wright

I don’t know everything about homeschooling. I don’t always know what to do with my gaggle of kids. I don’t always know if I’m pushing too hard or not enough or if we should just throw in the towel. I need expert guidance for this homeschooling journey, especially during the high school years. I needed someone who’d been down this path with a teen similar to mine and could listen and offer suggestions. Continue reading »

3 Simple Steps to Successful (and Fun) Homeschool Parent/Teacher Conferences

by Vanessa Wright

If you attended traditional schools growing up, then your teachers usually held parent-teacher conferences and had teacher “in-service” days. That meant no school for the students and a day for teachers to review, plan, and prep lesson plans. They meet with parents to discuss students’ work and progress and answer questions. Well, what about us homeschooling parents? We’re parents and teachers. How does this work? Continue reading »

Overhead view of a tablet and headphones on a white wood plank surface with text 36 educational podcasts for homeschoolers with teens thehomeschoolmom

36 Educational Podcasts for Homeschoolers with Teens

by Vanessa Wright

Do you use educational podcasts for homeschooling? If not, you should! Podcasts are a great way for homeschoolers to explore a variety of topics and current events. Podcasts can be easily integrated into nearly all subject areas. Depending on the podcast platform you’re using, you can search for topics, people, events, etc. We’ve recently had some great conversations about the Loch Ness Monster, Amelia Earhart, and King Arthur. Continue reading »

Faded background of a report card with text Homeschooling High School - 9th grade plan

Our 9th Grade Plan for a Non-Traditional Learner

by Vanessa Wright

Since it can be helpful to read about what other homeschoolers are doing for high school, I’ve detailed out our plan for our first year of homeschooling high school with a non-traditional learner. I’m not an expert by any means—my teen is my guinea pig and I definitely needed some guidelines on how I could build an experience for him and not just school. My kid thrives on experiences. The more the better. Continue reading »

5 Simple Steps to Get Back to Your Homeschooling Routine

by Vanessa Wright

Even if you are the kind of person who plans out the entire year,  life still happens and vacation-mode-mama (or dad) brain can derail your best efforts. How do we set ourselves up for a smooth transition back into our homeschool rhythm and routine after a holiday or vacation break? Check out these 5 simple steps to get back into your homeschooling routine without losing your mind, losing your cool, or losing all your chocolate stash at once. Continue reading »

Family opening Christmas gifts with a Christmas tree in the background and text Fun & Educational Holiday Gifts for Homeschoolers

100+ Educational Gifts for Kids That Bring Fun to Learning

by Vanessa Wright

Gift-giving doesn’t have to be stressful! With our list of over 100 educational gift ideas for kids, you can cross off your gift list with educational gifts that are fun and promote learning and creativity. It might seem challenging to find fun and educational gifts that are not all technology-related. Now, I don’t have anything against technology, we use it every single day in our lives and homeschool. That said, I do try to find items and gifts that get them moving, creating or building and exploring. Continue reading »

When Homeschooling Gets Tough, the Tough Make Biscuits

by Vanessa Wright

Maybe you’re frazzled. Maybe it’s been a long morning, long month or a long year. Maybe you feel like you just need a biscuit. So, you honor that feeling. You grab the ingredients for your favorite biscuits. You carefully measure the ingredients and add them to the last clean mixing bowl. You stir slowly and simply focus on the art of making biscuits. Maybe you smile to yourself because instead of thinking that making biscuits on Monday in the middle of the day is a bad idea, you made them because YOU want them. And that is enough. Because maybe you’re in the middle of a really hard season of life right now. Continue reading »

TheHomeSchoolMom: 5 Non-Homeschooling Books that make homeschool life easier

5 Non-Homeschooling Books that Make Homeschool Life Easier

by Vanessa Wright

I previously wrote about my favorite homeschool-related books, which I encourage you to check out if you haven’t already. I gather so much goodness and inspiration from these titles and their authors. Homeschooling is a marathon, not a sprint, and reading encouraging words is something I rely on year after year. As an avid reader and book junkie, I’ve also curated a list of five non-homeschooling books that are making a difference in our current homeschooling journey and our day-to-day lives. Homeschooling is about more than teaching subjects and cultivating a love of learning in our kids. I’ve selected a book from each of the following areas: Parenting, Home Decorating, Health and Wellness, Cooking/Meal Planning, Self-help/Spiritual Guidance. Continue reading »

As featured on

US News & World Report, Forbes, KQED, HuffPost, AL.com, Money, Healthline Parenthood, Family Education, Parents, Scholastic

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