As we start the last First Day of our semester I am overcome with emotion. I am watching our firstborn diligently work, and I cannot believe we are here. As we near the end of our homeschool journey with our oldest I wanted to take a moment and write a letter to you. First, you … Continue reading Dear Homeschooling,
How do you get it all done? Dishes, laundry, meals (both prepping and planning), vacuuming the incessant dog hair, keeping surfaces clean and dust-free, making the beds, chauffeuring kids to activities, AND homeschooling? The truth is, it CAN’T all be done. Unfortunately, things that get done are quickly undone by other persons residing with you. … Continue reading Managing a Home in a State of Flux
Mid-year breaks are a great time to evaluate whether that shiny product you bought in August is still working in your homeschool. Remember when you bought it? You were sure that this was the thing that was going to help your kid get it. But now it’s not proving the test of time (or the … Continue reading Is Your Curriculum working for your family?
I think this question has been the most often asked of me through the years by homeschooling mamas striving to teach younger and older students. It was MY number one question during that season as well. The quick answer: “You ARE teaching them!” It is amazing what those little ears pick up and what those … Continue reading Entertaining the Littles while Schooling the Bigs
One of the advantages of homeschooling is flexibility in your school schedule. However, I always had a schedule that needed to be followed and did not always appreciate the flexibility that homeschooling offered, but rainy days always called to me to stop and just enjoy that we weren’t running from here to there. Rainy days … Continue reading Rainy Day Fun
Field trips can be a rich source for actual education; I mean REAL learning. My family visited a military history museum in Broken Arrow recently, and the guys who work there are all military veterans who want to tell you about the wars they were in and their personal experiences. It was enlightening! There’s no … Continue reading How to Plan a Field Trip
“So…where do your kids go to school?” “Oh! We are homeschooling for now.” For now. Back in 1997, when Bill Clinton was committing to another four years in office, the Hale-Bopp comet was doing a fly-by, and The Lion King opened on Broadway, our little family of four embarked on the adventure of home education. … Continue reading Homeschooling… for now
Much of the mystery and mayhem associated with the raging hormones of the middle school years can be mitigated by choosing to homeschool. While many of us remember the drama, tears, and embarrassment of attending public school in junior high, we can offer our own children a safe haven of support and understanding during these … Continue reading Managing Middle School Mayhem
Ah, those upper elementary years! They’re not chubby-fingered cherubs any more, but they’re not yet ready to learn on their own. This is the age of emerging skills. Most students are still mastering the basics of reading, writing, and math, and schoolwork can seem incredibly tedious. Here are a few things to keep in mind … Continue reading Teaching Older Elementary Students
Last week, I spent a few days in a cabin up in the mountains. To say that I was excited to spend some quiet time with friends and family would be an understatement. As we drove up to our cabin, we were treated with the beautiful view and a hint that fall was on the … Continue reading Fall is Here!
