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.
Check out our popular homeschooling series features, get to know our blog contributors, read Jeanne's answers to questions in the Ask Jeanne feature, or browse all of our posts.
Are you trying to decide whether to homeschool again for the coming year? If you’ve only homeschooled a year or two, you may be concerned you and your kids will be isolated or lonely because you’re basing your decision on your experience of homeschooling during shut-downs. Here's how things will probably be different post shut-down. Continue reading »
You might have noticed many homeschooling families spend a lot of time outdoors, regardless of the season of the year. If you need to jumpstart your homeschooling, consider the potential benefits of going outside more. Continue reading »
This post was originally published as the introduction to an issue of TheHomeSchoolMom newsletter. Sign up here and get access to subscriber exclusive resources. I’m reading lots of frantic posts on social media requesting help finding the best homeschool curriuculum (or at least better-than-what-we’re-using-now curriculum). I’m seeing lots of concern over creating the perfect homeschool Continue reading »
Do you have a reluctant reader? If so, here’s how TV can help aid in the learning-to-read process. Even if your kids are bookworms, there are benefits to watching TV shows and movies together if it’s something your family enjoys. Continue reading »
If you want to liven up homeschool for your older kids as you start the new year, consider whether they might be ready for a mentor. Mentors can be powerful positive influences in the lives of homeschooled teens. Here are six ways mentors can help homeschooled teens. Continue reading »
Back-to-school is firmly established in the seasonal section of the big discount stores, and the mom and pop shops do their part to stock up on the awesome pens, backpacks and planners families need or want on hand to prepare for school. But what does your homeschooling family need? None of the above? All the things? Continue reading »
You might like to hear about what I’ve been seeing while in the thick of homeschool evaluation season in Virginia. I meet with families, and they tell me what they’ve been learning about and show me evidence of progress. I write a letter documenting that progress as one way of satisfying our state’s annual homeschool requirements. I've previously shared some of the things I have seen when I review homeschool learning. Here are more ways homeschoolers have shared their learning with me. Continue reading »
During 2020, many parents felt extra-justified and got less criticism for homeschooling because of school closings. You may feel like a target now, with school attendance returning as a default expectation in many communities. What can you do when people feel comfortable making negative comments about your choice to homeschool? Try one or more of these strategies. Continue reading »
Have you considered using a homeschool evaluator? Take a peek at some of the rich learning experiences that one homeschool evaluator has seen in her evaluations. Continue reading »
It can feel scary to homeschool a child with an ADHD diagnosis. Their learning needs are often different from those of a neurotypical child. The thing is...homeschooling gives you the opportunity to individualize your child’s education in order to meet their specific needs. For many families, the decision to homeschool ends up being a better choice than a one-size-fits-all public school classroom. Below, I’m going to share 10 tips for homeschooling a child with ADHD. Continue reading »
If your kids haven’t mastered everything you or your curriculum set out for the year, should you have them repeat the grade? If they scored as well as a much older child would on an end-of-year achievement test, can you have them skip a grade homeschooling? Should you? Continue reading »
Homeschooling teens, for me, has been challenging and refreshing and fun (most days). It can be easy to get bogged down in the day-to-day craziness of sibling bickering, mood swings, wondering where all the groceries went, driving to and from four different places, and finding time to fill up my own cup. So, what are my five favorite things about homeschooling teens right now? I'm sharing them all here and I hope they inspire you too. Continue reading »
Everyone can’t be a high achiever. If everyone were a high achiever, it would no longer be high. It would just be normal. Most of us, and most of our kids, are average. That’s kind of what average is. Public school kids are not one size fits all, so why would we expect homeschoolers to be? I'm not taking anything away from the amazing accomplishments of the graduates who have been posted, but I also want to share some encouragement for parents whose kids aren't graduating early or even "on time". Continue reading »
Audiobooks are exactly what you need to pass the time when the kids won’t stop asking, “Are we there yet???” These are our top picks broken down into three categories — audiobooks for families traveling with young kids, audiobooks for families traveling with older kids, and audiobooks for the whole family to enjoy together. Continue reading »
It’s hard to imagine, but someday your youngster may be a teen or young adult navigating pool parties, afternoons at the lake or river, and even boat rides with people you don’t know—and you won’t be there. Helping kids learn how to swim and some basic water safety rules when they are younger may make them safer for their future water activities, even when you’re not around. Here are some tips. Continue reading »
Now’s the time to make your summer bucket list or bingo card! Over some pancakes or smoothies, you and the kids can brainstorm experiences you don’t want to miss this summer. If you live in an area that has opened up, checking things off your bucket list will feel especially good. Here are some ideas to get your started. Continue reading »
Now more than ever, homeschoolers are looking to emerge from their homes and engage with the community around them. Whether you are new to an area, a temporary resident, or a lifelong inhabitant, learning about the place you live can lead to all sorts of new opportunities and adventures in learning. Here are 10 simple ways to start using your community to enliven your life and learning. Continue reading »
Taking science outside lets your child explore their environment and enjoy all sorts of messy play. Today, we’re sharing 9 outdoor science experiments for hands-on learning fun! Continue reading »
In much of the U.S., the spring and summer seasons also bring yard sale season. Where you live, it might be known as a garage sale, rummage sale, or tag sale, but whatever the name, buying used items from families who are ready to let them go can be a boon for your homeschool budget. Here are some great homeschool supplies to search for at yard sales. Continue reading »
The single most important thing you can do as a homeschooling parent is read to your kids every day. But what to read? Try consulting some high quality book lists and recommendations to learn about the books librarians, educators, book bloggers, and families have loved. Pin or print a book list that appeals to you, or mix and match suggestions from multiple lists. You can find book titles grouped into checklists, lists with descriptions, lists by year, lists by topic, and more. Continue reading »
Are you trying to decide whether to homeschool again for the coming year? If you’ve only homeschooled a year or two, you may be concerned you and your kids will be isolated or lonely because you’re basing your decision on your experience of homeschooling during shut-downs. Here's how things will probably be different post shut-down. Continue reading »
The education pendulum swings, and homeschoolers often swing along with the trends of public schools. I’m old enough to have heard the experts be sure of phonics then whole language then phonics again. I’ve been through arithmetic, new math, and Common Core math. Various approaches to education have experts in their corner, and the experts often draw the battle lines clearly. Their way is the way. You do it their way, or you are doing it the wrong way. At least that’s the perception. But that doesn’t have to be the case. Consider Both/And instead of Either/Or. Continue reading »
As featured on
