Why We Homeschool- A Mom of 11 Speaks Up

Since public school will be starting in our district next week, I thought now would be a good time to talk about why my kids won’t be there and haven’t been for years.

First, let me start by saying that deciding whether or not to homeschool is a personal decision that is up to each individual family. I won’t deny the fact that I am pro-homeschooling, or I wouldn’t be doing it, but what’s right for my family may not be right for yours.

With that being said… 

How Do I Know If Our Homeschool Is Enough?

Have you ever had one of those days- or entire seasons- when doubt seems to have taken over your homeschool? As time goes on, you begin to realize that there is no way you’re going to cover everything you think you need to, or at least what your curriculum says you should.

The clock is ticking, and you find yourself comparing your kids and your homeschool to other families. Eventually, panic sets in as you realize the enormity of the task before you. 

Enough with the Excuses! Do You Want to Homeschool or Not?

Well, it’s been a while now since I’ve written any posts that will push people’s buttons, so I think it’s about time for another. It was good while it lasted, right?

If you are familiar with me at all, you’ll know that I am unapologetically pro-homeschooling, and the heart of this blog is really about encouraging people on their journey.

So while what I’m going to say today might offend some people, I’m going to say upfront that it isn’t intended that way. I’m just fully aware that there are some people (myself included) who sometimes simply refuse to do something they know they should unless someone prods them along. 

10 Things You Need to Avoid for a Better Homeschool

The new homeschool year is upon us. If you haven’t started your home education routine already, chances are you’re busy preparing for it.

What better time can there be to share a few reminders about what not to do in your homeschool than today, right? I mean, let’s face it. There are just some things you don’t want to make a habit of in your homeschool.

Here are 10 of them. 

How to Simplify and Save with All-in-One Homeschool Curriculum

As a mom of 11, there are two things that allow me the sanity and the finances to homeschool- simplicity and frugality.

Now I don’t claim to have all the answers, but after spending about nine years in this homeschool life, I’ve come across some fantastic resources that fulfill those two requirements when it comes to curriculum.

Whether you’re a traditional homeschooler, prefer unit studies, or like to gather things as you go, having access to a quality website that offers great customer service, a variety of resources, and competitive prices will enable you to not only homeschool, but to homeschool well. 

Our Simple Homeschool Just Got Even Simpler with The Homeschool Printing Company!

People think I must be crazy for homeschooling nine kids. I can’t say I blame them. A decade ago, I would’ve thought the same thing.

Let’s face it. Not only can it be just a tad chaotic trying to keep a slew of extremely active children under control, but the preparation for a large-family homeschool can be time consuming. Really time consuming.

As much as we love to use notebooking in our routine, printing out all of those pages feels like it takes forever. And the fact that my printer is horribly slow doesn’t help things along. 

Supplement the 3 Rs in Your Homeschool with Nessy Learning!

Of all the things we homeschool parents teach our children, there is nothing that will make or break their future quite like the 3 Rs. 

Sure, it’s helpful for them to have the ability to locate their city on a map and to know the difference between solids, liquids, and gases, but when it comes down to it, reading, writing, and arithmetic really are the foundation that all other learning is based upon. Without these three skills, learning just about anything else would be practically impossible. 

The Biggest Mistake You Can Make as a New Homeschooler

I have made a lot of mistakes as a homeschool mom. A lot. And while I now neither claim to be perfect at this job or have everything figured out, there is one thing I can assure you I am 100% confident of:

Out of all the traps you can fall into as a new homeschooler, there is one that stands out above all the rest as potentially the most destructive and the most joy-draining mistake you can make.

Before I get into what that is, don’t lose heart if you discover you’ve been doing this all along. I think most of us are guilty of having done this to some extent in our homeschools- I know I have.

Ready for the big disclosure? Okay. The biggest no-no you can run into as a new homeschooler is… 

10 Reasons Why You Should Use Notebooking in Your Homeschool

Have you ever wondered how some people can seem just so. darn. excited. about their homeschool? I mean, really. Let’s be honest. While there are lots of great ideas floating around out there, is there really anything that is worth absolutely gushing over?

I’m going to say yes.

Last year, I encountered a homeschool trick that not only changed our homeschool, but also completely changed my children’s attitudes towards doing their school work every day: 

Stop, Rewind, Start Over: When Homeschool Moms Mess Up

 

Did you ever have one of those days? You wake up in the morning filled with excitement about what your homeschool will look like, and everything goes wrong. 

First, the cat throws up all over the steps, and you step in it. You enter the kitchen and find that your energetic children have taken it upon themselves to make their own play dough. You don’t know this because you actually see the play dough. The tell-tale sign is the flour that is caked onto everything. The table, cabinets, walls, and floor are absolutely covered with a substance that used to be a powdery flour but is now similar to a hardened paste since the children tried to clean it up with a wet rag.