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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

Homeschooling Blog

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.

brain illustration with text Resources for Right-brained Learning What to use instead of curriculum - homeschooling blog series Make the most of Homeschool Conventions - Homeschooling Blog Series

Can You Start Homeschooling in the Middle of the Year?

Woman leaning over elementary age girl helping with school work and text Can you start homeschooling mid-year?

You may have never thought you would consider homeschooling, or maybe you were thinking about starting in the fall, but circumstances are forcing you to consider bringing your child home mid-year. Perhaps it is bullying, a negative school environment, an illness, school anxiety, a stressful family situation, or some other unexpected circumstance causing you to consider pulling your child out before the end of the school year. Regardless of the motivation, your first question is likely, “Can I start homeschooling mid-year?” Continue reading »

Mid-Year Homeschooling: Connection, Not Curriculum

Mother and playing with daughter on a sofa with text Mid-Year Homeschooling: Connection Not Curriculum - TheHomeSchoolMom.com

Did you or someone you know just start homeschooling “after the holidays” – right in the middle of the school year? “What curriculum should I use?” Even among experienced homeschoolers, January ruminations run toward assessing the curriculum and whether it is working. I know you don’t want to hear this – but your homeschool priority should be connection, not curriculum. Continue reading »

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

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

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

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 »
group of teens lying on the grass with books and other items with text Homeschooling a Non-Traditional Learner for High School

Homeschooling a Non-Traditional Learner for High School

My oldest child started high school at home this year.  He’s a very non-traditional learner, which can present a challenge when mom is the opposite. I never intended to homeschool and I really couldn’t imagine homeschooling high school. But here we are, and here’s how we are preparing a high school plan that works for us. Continue reading »

5 Simple Steps to Get Back to Your Homeschooling Routine

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 »
Woman leaning over elementary age girl helping with school work and text Can you start homeschooling mid-year?

Can You Start Homeschooling in the Middle of the Year?

You may have never thought you would consider homeschooling, or maybe you were thinking about starting in the fall, but circumstances are forcing you to consider bringing your child home mid-year. Perhaps it is bullying, a negative school environment, an illness, school anxiety, a stressful family situation, or some other unexpected circumstance causing you to consider pulling your child out before the end of the school year. Regardless of the motivation, your first question is likely, “Can I start homeschooling mid-year?” Continue reading »
Young girls opening a package with text fun & educational gifts for homeschoolers

100+ Educational Gifts for Kids (Updated for 2021)

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

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

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 »
Background image of Scrabble board game pieces with text 15 Educational Games for Homeschoolers thehomeschoolmom.com

15 Educational Games for Homeschoolers

Games have been a staple in our home(school) ever since my oldest received Candy Land at age three. While our stash of games has changed over the years, our love of playing games continues to flourish. I’ve compiled a list of classic, educational, and online games/apps that we’re enjoying with a house full of teens and tweens.  Continue reading »
Smiling diverse group of teenagers with text 9 ways to add hands-on learning for your older homeschoolers

9 Hands-On Learning Ideas for Teens

One thing that has remained consistent into the teen years for my kids is their need for hands-on learning. We’ve just updated and tweaked what that looks like these days compared with when they were younger. With some creativity, planning, partnership, and imagination, hands-on learning can be explored in a variety of ways. I’ve got nine ways you can cultivate hands-on learning for your older homeschooled kids. Grab your pen and planner, and let’s chat! Continue reading »
Ask Jeanne (thehomeschoolmom.com) Q. I am a homeschooling mom. I heard some families get paid to homeschool. Is this true?

Ask Jeanne: Money for Homeschooling My Kids?

“I am a homeschooling mom from Minnesota. My brother-in-law told me that he knows of homeschool families in North Dakota who get paid $1500.00 a month to homeschool. Is this true?” Get paid for homeschooling? Sounds good, right? Find out more about the circumstances in which there might (or might not) be money for homeschooling. Continue reading »
Sideview of open notebook on wood table outside with hand holding a pen prepared to write and text What is Distance Learning - TheHomeSchoolMom.com

What Is Distance Learning?

One of the greatest things about homeschooling is having the freedom to experience education in a way that works best for your student and family. Often, this means enjoying educational models or philosophies that are uniquely designed to fit your family’s needs. One such model is distance learning. Continue reading »
Overhead view of an iphone with ear plugs and text Homeschooling & Parenting Podcasts I'm Loving Right Now TheHomeSchoolMom.com

My Favorite Homeschooling and Parenting Podcasts

Are you a podcast junkie like me? If you’re a busy homeschooling mom (and I know you are), podcasts are a perfect way to learn, laugh and, let’s be honest, block out the 237 questions about food choices and screen time. I’ve curated a list of my current favorite homeschooling and parenting podcasts. These are my go-to podcasts for encouragement, ideas, and connection. Grab your earbuds and let’s get listening! Continue reading »
Groups of smiling teens and tweens with their arms out and raised with text My Three Key Insights About Homeschooling Middle School

The Magic, Mayhem, and Mostly Awesomeness of Middle School Homeschooling

When I decided to tackle a blog post about our 7th grade plans for my twins, I had to pause and catch my breath. How are they already in 7th grade? Why are they taller than me? Will they notice if we do Five In A Row again for old time’s sake? My oldest, a rising high schooler, made his way through middle school homeschool. Sometimes, his learning looked super structured, but often it looked more unschool-ish than I had anticipated. Here are my three key insights about homeschooling middle school . . . Continue reading »
Three smiling children hugging each other and facing the camera with text Why my homeschooling kids need breaks from each other & how we do it

Why My Homeschooling Kids Need Breaks from Each Other and How We Do It

If your homeschooling clan is content to be with each other 24 hours a day with no breaks from each other, then feel free to skip to another blog post. I have nothing but love and high-fives for you because I think it’s amazing when families can do what works for them. If you’re feeling like maybe your homeschooling kids might need some built-in breaks from each other (and you), then read on while I share what’s working for us right now with three adolescents. Continue reading »
laughing kids making faces while lying on the grass in summer clothes and sunglasses with text How we do homeschool summer break

A Homeschool Summer Break that Brings Fun, Sun, and Rest for All!

How are you prepping for summer? Do you take a FULL STOP 3-month break with a “See you in September” attitude? Are you year-round homeschoolers? Do you fall somewhere in between? Do you have everything planned for summer and your next school year? Do you fly by the seat of your super cute swimsuit? Guess what?  It’s all great! No matter how you “do” summer in your home and homeschool—it’s just perfect. Popsicles, pool days, and playing—sign me up! Summer for our family is a bit different this year. My kids are older now and this means a few things… Continue reading »
Image of woman flexing biceps with text Embracing Your Strengths When homeschooling TheHomeSchoolMom

How Embracing My Strengths Has Made for a Better Homeschool FLOW

Do you ever get hit in the face with your own weaknesses as a homeschool mom? Here’s my truth: I’m not a huge fan of holidays. If I’m being honest, I’m not great at creating mind-blowing celebrations, whether it be for Valentine’s Day, birthdays, Pi Day or Halloween. So, when I woke up last Valentine’s Day morning, I thought: Uh-oh. It’s Valentine’s day. And I’ve got nothing. Continue reading »

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