Has Compulsory Education Actually Harmed Us More Than It’s Helped?

I know that I’m entering into a sticky topic here, but I’ve got to get this off my chest…

Have you ever thought that institutionalized schooling has been bad for us, for our society?

Assuming that all of you are less than 150 years old ;), like me, you’ve grown up with the notion that school has always existed, that it’s the best way to learn, and that it’s necessary for a productive society.

But is this really true?

Ever think about what life was like before the government stepped in and took control over this portion of our lives? 

5 Practical Tips for Homeschooling Multiple Children

Of all the topics I write about, the one that generates the most interest is how to homeschool multiple children. I totally get it. If you apply the methods used by traditional schools to a home learning atmosphere, this could undoubtedly prove to be a stressful and hectic situation.

Fortunately, we homeschoolers are not bound by the routines held by compulsory schools. We have the freedom to tailor what we do to fit the indiviual needs of our own families.

Isn’t that awesome?

Today I would love for you to join me over at Busy Boys Brigade for the 20 Days of Homeschooling Encouragement Blog Party, where I’ll be tackling this very issue. While you’re there, take some time to read some of the other amazing posts in htis series. You’ll be sure to feel refreshed and energized to start your new homeschool year!

Hope to see you there!

Marie and Mr. Bee by Margaret Welwood

As a mom of many, I read children’s books quite a bit. Sometimes after reading story after story, it can get monotonous because every book starts to feel similar to the rest. Characters act or look alike, and plots really seem to get repetitive. I love to read to my children, yet I want to read stories that are not only compelling to both my children and myself, but I also want them to help instill the values that our important to our family. 

A Tale of Ten Homeschoolers-VBS- The Sequel

The end of the week is finally here, and I. am. exhausted. At the last minute (Sunday, actually), I decided to scrap homeschool activities for this week in order for my kids to participate in our church’s CaveQuest Vacation Bible School. For those of you who are familiar with my blog, you might remember that they just did VBS last month, and, although our church was a sponsor of that one, they weren’t the hosts. CaveQuest is the first VBS we’ve attended at this church, and I’m just blown away by it. 

10 Tips for Cleaning Up After a Big Family

Are you feeling frazzled over the undeniably daunting task of cleaning up after your big family? Does this seemingly endless chore make you a grumpy mom who’s no fun to be around?

Believe me, I’m right there with you sometimes.

Being a mom of 11 is one of the most joyful aspects of my life. My family is everything to me, and being a mom to a a ‘super-size’ family is a major part of my identity…I wouldn’t be the person I am today without my husband and children.

However… 

Homeschooling- not a part of life…a WAY of life

One of the funniest things to me while talking to someone unfamiliar with homeschooling is the look on their face when I tell them that our homeschooling only takes a few hours a day.

I totally get it. After growing up in a school system that mandates 6-7 hour-long days, it can be hard to understand how a child can learn in so small an amount of time.

But that’s just it…we homeschoolers don’t consider our lessons to be the only portion of our day that our kids are being educated. After being immersed in this lifestyle- yes, lifestyle- for a bit, it’s easy to see how natural a process learning actually is. 

Planning Your New Homeschool Year? I Have Just the Thing for You!

Planning a new homeschool year can be a fun, yet stressful, time. While most of my children adhere to a year round schedule, my high school age kids have opted for a schedule that more closely resembles a typical school year. One problem I always encounter with finding the right calendar is that the average calendar generally starts in January and ends in December, so I often end up having to use two separate calendars for one homeschool year.

I’m telling you, in a house as crazy as ours, it can be hard to keep track of one calendar, let alone two! 

A Tale of Ten Homeschoolers- Why Is School Taking So Long??

If there’s one thing I pride myself on as a homeschooler, it’s the fact that our school routine doesn’t take up a large part of the day. This is something that’s very important to me because I firmly believe that children need unscheduled time for free play and following their interests. This is a crucial part of learning.

So imagine my chagrin at the fact that our school day didn’t end until almost 5pm yesterday. 5pm!! And this wasn’t an isolated incident. Since we’ve begun our new school year, we’ve been finishing up around 4pm everyday. Last year the latest we ever ended was around 3, so I’m really trying to figure out what this is all about. 

How to Homeschool for Beginners- Everything You Need to Know

Are you interested in homeschooling but don’t know where to start? Are you concerned with questions about socialization? Are you just plain confused about the whole thing?

Believe me, I was right there with you all those years ago when we set out upon our learning adventure. I was nervous, frazzled, and just a little self-conscious about the whole thing.

As we enter into our eighth year of homeschooling now, I’ve learned so many things about this lifestyle- yes, it is a lifestyle- and it is my deepest desire to share these insights with anyone willing to listen. You see, what I know now about homeschooling didn’t come easily. It took years of trial and error, hard work, and, sometimes, heartache. 

10 Easy Ways to Use the Library in Your Homeschool

Confession time.

 I love the library. There, I said it. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve told the librarians at our public library that if they’d just get a snack bar, I’d move the whole family right in. And I’m serious about that. So many books, so little time.

On top of that, it is the backbone of our homeschool curriculum.

Without the library, our homeschool wouldn’t just be dull- although it certainly would be- but it would be expensive. Way too expensive for a one-income family of 12 to handle.

I know that when most people think of the library these days, they just picture a stuffy old building with crabby old women shooshing people.