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.
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Does your child really only have two choices? To homeschool your way or to attend regular school? I keep reading this comment on social media when parents are looking for support for homeschooling resistant kids. In some kids? Sure. Do firm boundaries and limiting choices work for all kids? Not so much. Continue reading »
Cultivating connections and friendships while homeschooling is an often discussed topic. In fact, most homeschooling parents I hear from are looking to help their pre-teens and teens plug into other groups and communities. As our children get older, they naturally want (and need) solid and healthy peer groups. But how do we do this? Continue reading »
Is there anything you wished you would have known about homeschooling before you started? Maybe a few helpful or comforting real-life tips? Whether you're at the beginning of your journey or have been homeschooling for years, this list is sure to make you smile and feel a sense of relief. Continue reading »
Thinking about the end of this homeschool year and the beginning of the next homeschool year? Try this simple method to make the end of your school year benefit the beginning of your school year. Continue reading »
Being out of balance almost always leads to feelings of stress, which can limit our ability to absorb new information and engage with learning in a meaningful way. Share these six tips with your high school student to help them maintain a sense of balance and joy amidst the day-to-day stresses of high school. Continue reading »
Homeschooling your kids and taking good care of yourself are not mutually exclusive. Learn why you might not be taking care of yourself the way you need to and what you can do about it. Continue reading »
This "safety net" may actually be holding you back and keeping your family from benefiting from all that homeschooling has to offer. Continue reading »
At this stage, I'm quite happy with how we've approached homeschooling, given our family's various needs at one time or another. That said, I've had time to reflect on several things I would have done differently. As I reflect back, here are 5 things I would change. Continue reading »
I adopted my new rat terrier from a rescue organization that scooped him out of an animal shelter, which reported he’d had two homes in quick succession before he was surrendered. Hershey is in dire need of both stability and an education, so he can learn to be his best dog self. This list of ways my dog learns best is helping me remember: working with a rescue dog, even one who is a handful, is a lot like homeschooling. Continue reading »
On social media this time of year, there are a lot of incorrect comments about homeschool laws, and there are a lot of people who are talking about over complying with the law to show how great homeschooling is and how well their child is doing—or under complying because they don’t want to involve the government in family life. You can save yourself and your fellow homeschoolers a few headaches by heeding the advice I’m about to give. Continue reading »
Are you homeschooling a high-energy kiddo? If your child is energetic and doesn’t do well with traditional schooling methods, this post is for you. Check out these 15 strategies for homeschooling high-energy kids. Continue reading »
One thing that worried me about my non-traditional learner was creating a transcript that showcased his specialized education but would also be appropriate if he decided to attend a post-secondary educational institution. Here are ways we turned resources and experiences into credits. Continue reading »
Not that often, but sometimes, something comes along in general society that fits many homeschooling families really, really well. Wordle is one of those somethings. Continue reading »
When your child doesn’t take to something you love—especially if it has an academic angle like reading, math, history, or science—it's easy to internalize it with questions: Where did I go wrong? How can my child not be interested in reading? How can my child be behind in math? But kids aren’t necessarily good at the same kinds of things their parents are good at. Here's how to reframe our thoughts so they don't lead to disappointment. Continue reading »
On the one hand, having mentors, leaders, guides, organizations, philosophies, models, and curricula can be helpful. On the other hand, they can throttle the life out of your homeschool. How do you allow yourself to be influenced by all the good ideas and the wisdom of those who have homeschooled before you, without overdoing it and becoming engulfed in something that sucks the life out of you and your kids? Continue reading »
Moving is stressful. Even if you have months to plan and pack, it's still a huge change. Add in homeschooling to the mix and it could become quite overwhelming. And while I cannot promise a completely blissful moving while homeschooling experience, I can offer up some helpful tips that worked for our family. Continue reading »
Our family is homeschooling for — nearly! — free this year. I have four kids ranging in age from 5-12 and I’ve pulled all of their core curriculum from free websites, only supplementing with paid subscriptions and resources for some of the “extras”. Is it possible to homeschool a large-ish family on a shoestring budget? You betcha! Below, I’ll outline why we’ve chosen to go the free route and what resources I’m using with my kids (links included!). Continue reading »
I'm sharing four things we haven't done consistently in our homeschool. Why? Because I've wanted to write about this now that my kids are older and I've had ample time for reflection. Please note that we've homeschooled in Virginia and North Carolina. The laws are very homeschool-friendly and we do not have tons of boxes to check or rules to follow. If you're new to homeschooling, be certain to check out our helpful homeschooling guide for parents. Continue reading »
School doesn’t need to happen between the hours of 8am and 4pm. Your child doesn’t need to sit behind a desk. And you definitely don’t need to limit your learning to textbooks and worksheets. Streaming offers a great way to learn, and Netflix has a variety of shows you and your kids can watch together to learn about STEM topics—check out our list of 42 STEM shows on Netflix. Continue reading »
I wanted my homeschooled boys to have a chance at the strange traditions of Valentine’s Day. I wanted them to fiddle with the candy hearts, puzzle over what “Love, Angela” really means when scrawled on the back of a card, and agonize over whether to give out store bought Pokémon™ cards or homemade doily-and-construction-paper cards. Here's how I helped that to happen. Continue reading »
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