As November is just around the corner and the stores and already filled with Christmas merchandise, the holidays are coming! That's a good thing for me as I just love Thanksgiving and Christmas and everything that goes along with it. But how do you homeschool during the holidays and survive? Well, in short, I hope you don't. Let me clarify what I mean by that statement. For the last 13 years, we have always taken several weeks off between Thanksgiving and New Years. In fact, I have been known to not "do school" from the Monday before Thanksgiving until Jan. 2nd or 3rd! 
And you know what, I managed to graduate one and she is doing great in college! We would compensate the large amount of days off by beginning school earlier in July. Remember we are homeschoolers and we can be flexible. That is one of the great benefits we enjoy.
What types of activities could you enjoy with your children during the holiday break? Teach them the true meaning of Christmas. Talk about Jesus' birth. Make gifts for family and friends, instead of purchasing items. My mom told me the other day that the gift our oldest made for them when she was 4 is still hanging on the wall. It was a simple popsicle stick type gift that my parents will cherish forever from their first grandchild. Have your children make gifts for Sunday School teachers, music teachers, etc. We've done this every year and I'm amazed how happy they are to get the simple gifts from my children. It's a great way to say thank you in a special way. Another great thing is to make baked goods and share with your neighbors. My children have given candy canes with the story about Jesus attached to them. Make a gingerbread house (this is one thing I have never done, but want to do). And the list goes on. It takes a little planning so do some planning ahead of time.
So now you can relax and assure your loved ones that the children will be fine.
Enjoy your time and make some great memories. 
Sometimes many homeschoolers actually spend more time away from home than they do at home. So many good things can actually lead to burnout. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about -- music lessons, sports, educational classes, dance, scouts, church activities, clubs, drama, co-ops, park days -- you get the picture. All the activities that I list are great extra-curricular activities that will benefit your child. But too many of these good things, might not be a good idea.
The key is to know your child and I mean really know them. Many times our children will tell us what they think we want to hear or do a certain activity to please us. Also, you may have a child that loves activities (a social butterfly), but you, the Mom, cannot handle all the activities. In this instance it might drive you crazy and activities will have to be limited because of Mom.
Whatever you decide, it really has to be right for the whole family. Activities might have to be limited for the sake of everyone. Consider choosing activities that involved the majority of your children. Therefore, everyone is participating together. Or if one child is particularly good at something, maybe that is the activity you should focus on.
We live in a fast paced world and we want our children to experience everything. But make sure you do all things in moderation. Too much of a good thing, might turn out to be a distaster. Don't forget why you started homeschooling, especially if it was to bring your family together.
Being at home is a good thing!
Some days just don't start off well. You might even try to re-start the day, but nothing works. Kids wake up cranky and mom is not at her best either. The tears are flowing and the frustration is mounting. You wonder why you are homeschooling? It's just not good.
So what do you do when your day begins a disaster? Take the day off from school! Yes, you heard me correctly. You have the right to take a day off every once in a while. After all you are the teacher and it will be good for the moral of the class to have some time to unwind and refresh. Pack a picnic lunch and go to the park or beach. Or have everyone get back into their jammies, snuggle in bed and read a good book outloud. Choose something seasonal and only done occasionally, which will make it a special day your children will never forget. More will be learned and enjoyed this day than would have been accomplished with school books and lessons. Your kids will think your the best teacher ever and appreciate your homeschool so much more. You, as the teacher, will also be able to enjoy the day by watching your children have a great time together!
Life is too short for frustration! Make the best of the time you have and make your homeschool a happy one!
If you have investigated homeschooling for any length of time, I'm sure you have come across the big question "What about Socialization?" It seems to be such a big concern for those not really familiar with homeschooling. You see, for those who have been homeschooing for any length of time, we don't see this as a problem at all. Honestly, I try not to laugh when the question is brought to my attention. My children are extremely social, even the shyest of them. It just really comes natural. I really don't know what the experts are talking about. Apparently they haven't been around homeschoolers that long.
My idea of proper socialiation is to have my children get along with with adults and children of all ages, not just a group of children their own age. Why would I want my child to act like their own peers? Don't they already know how to act like themself? Don't we want them to learn how to act properly and not just follow how other kids their own age act?
It's nice to talk to a homeschool child who can carry a conversation with you and is not afraid to look at you in the eye. So many children don't know how to do this. Just this accomplishment makes homeschooling worth doing!
Enjoy teaching your children socialization!
Choosing your curriculum can be a daunting task that brings many homeschool moms to tears! I haven't actually been brought to tears over curriculum, but I have been frustrated. I would do my homework by researching on the internet, asking other people about the curriculum (which includes homeschooling message boards too), even to looking at the curriculum at a homeschool convention; and then when I use it with my child, it just didn't work. I wonder what I did wrong. Afterall, I was dilligent in choosing the curriculum. But for whatever reason, it just didin't work. Most of the time it was because I'm a different learner than my child and what looked great to me wasn't so great to them. There have also been times when I sat down to read the teachers part and just couldn't understand how to use this. I thought it was just me, but after talking with a friend found out they had the same experiences.
Oh, so frustrating! But take heart! You do NOT have to complete the curriculum if it's just not working! This is so important to understand. Yes, we must be good stewards of our money. I am the first one to admit that, since I'm considered extremely "frugal" and dislike wasting money to the fifth degree! I have re-sold the curriculum and received about 80% of the purchase price. Many homeschool companies have a return policy for curriculum not written in (you pay return shipping and possibly a re-stocking fee). (Find out the return policy before ordering.) Believe me, from a person who doesn't waste money, my sanity is worth more than saving money. A bad year homeschooling because of curriculum can be avoided.
Okay, you are wondering, that's all good, but how to I find out what to actually use. I'm just starting and the hundreds of choices are driving me crazy. Plus I want to know if I've choosen the best curriculum to educate my child. And the questions just keep coming!
If this is your first year, and you are not familiar with your child's learning style, you will need to experiement. I did. In fact I've changed curriculum several times over the years. You might even call me the curriculum queen. There was a time if it was new and looked good I would buy it. My love for books and new curriculum is like some womens love for shoes! If there is something I've spent too much money on (since I'm frugal) it's curriculum. 
Does your child love workbooks? Some kids just like that and they learn well. They like reading textbooks and answering questions on paper. Well, if that's your child, choose Abeka, Bob Jones or Alpha-Omega.
Some children will be board with that approach and getting them to complete their assignments will be like pulling teeth. They like to work with their hands and see what they are learning. A Unit Study approach will be best for them (more work for you, but so much fun). Types of unit studies are KONOS, Weaver, Five in a Row and Beautiful Feet (to name a few). There are also free unit studies online that you can use. A unit study incorporates most of the subjects in one theme (Bible, writing, vocabulary, spelling, reading, history, science).
The Charlotte Mason method is a gentle approach to teaching young children. Short 15 minute lessons, notebooking and nature studies along with reading whole books (that basically means reading a complete classic or good book instead of sections of readings).
In the computer engrossed world we live in, some children may enjoy doing their work on the computer. Alpha-Omega's Switched on Schoolhouse (SOS) is an option for that child. Students who are in middle school and high school might enjoy Florida Virtual School.
I myself am considered an eclectic homeschooler which is one who uses a mix of everything (basically I can't make up my mind so I use a little of everything 
). No, I just have chosen certain things from every group and make it fit my family. So here's my list:
- KONOS - unit study - I have used this for 10 years. Sometimes we use it full force and others we do a lite approach.
- Math-U-See - hands on visual math approach that uses manipulatives, workbooks and short DVD instruction before each lesson
- Apologia Science - great Christian based science textbook written in a style that feels like the writer is speaking directly to do. Includes experiments, labs, questions and tests. Written for middle school and high school. They have recently come out with an elementary science program called Exploring Creation with (Botany, Flying Creatures 1 & 2 and Solar System. This uses the Charlotte Mason approach along with simple experiments. I've used this and like it.
- Learning Language Arts through Literature (LLATL) - Complete language arts program using narration, book studies, spelling, grammar, and other types of writing elements depending on level of the book. It has simple lessons and I use it when my younger ones begin grammar (4th or 5th grade).
- Sing, Spell, Read & Write - I really like the readers that go with this program. There are 17 readers that I think are the best (IMO). I don't do all the singing and activities that go along with this basically because my time is limited. I use more of the games and activities in the beginning stages and then once they are reading fairly well, we just read the books. One of my sons just finished the books this week and is now reading The Magic Treehouse chapter books with ease.
- Easy Grammar - Once we have completed the 5th grade level of LLATL, this is what I use. It's a workbook with explanation and my child does one page a day. It worked well with my oldest daugther (now in college) and now I'm using it with my oldest son. So far he is getting a grasp on grammar. The final grammar program that I will use for high school is Jensen's Grammar.
- Draw, Write, Now - I am using this with my artist son. He loves writing the copy work and then drawing the picture. Now with my oldest son, this did not work. Drawing was a waste of time. So we used Handwriting without Tears with him. He learned both manuscript and cursive with that program. I highly recommend that for anyone struggling with writing. It is what the title says.
- Greenleaf Study Guides - this is a type of unit study. Their guides begin with Old Testament (this one did not impress me), but I did like all the others beginning with Ancient Egypt. They can be used with elementary through middle school. My 7th grade son is using them to get a good framework of the ancient studies before doing it again in high school.
So that's my list and that's what it looks like to be eclectic.
So the bottom line is that choosing a curriculum is a process. There's not a magic one-size-fits-all curriculum. And what works with one child might not work with the next. After my oldest finished with something, I sold many of the books, thinking it wouldn't work for the others. Well, I've ended up buying the 3 books back. It turns out my oldest son has a similiar learning style as my daughter. They are 6 years apart and I didn't know this until last year! So be flexible and not afraid to change something if it doesn't work.
Happy Homeschooling!
How do I get everything done? Balancing homeschooling, family and housekeeping is not an easy job. It's taken me 13 years to get to where I am now. In the process, I have tried many types of schedules, read many different scheduling books and heard several seminars on time management and scheduling. I've come to the conclusion that there is not one schedule out there that is perfect for my family and I must come up with my own.
I bet you were hoping that I would give you the secret to a happy, well-balanced schedule, but alas, I can't. I have found parts of something and used it sucessfully in our home. I'll give you some ideas on how to make your family's schedule.
Back around 1996, I purchased the book Managers of Their Homes (MOTH) by Terri Maxwell. During the summer I remember devouring this book and happily making my schedule just like the book suggested. But when school started, I failed misserably. At that time I had an 8 year old, 3 year old a 1 year old. It was a hard time in my life and this type of schedule didn't work at all for me. One reason was because each day seemed to be different. It just wasn't the right time for me to have a schedule. I found that while I had babies, schedules didn't work.
Now I have to stay that I have taken what I liked about MOTH and intigrated into my schedule. My youngest is 6. My children like the block method of scheduling and we loosely use this. To find out more about the book I'm talking about, visit http://www.titus2.com/ I have just learned over the years, not the let the schedule control me. I'm a perfectionist and I would let it rule my life. If I didn't follow the schedule exactly, the day was ruined. Okay, I've mellowed immensly over the years.
For chores, I have used Choreorganizer successfully with my children. This method has cards with pictures and words so that the young children will know what they need to do. If they complete the chore, they received a mom or dad dollar. The dollars can be used however the parent decides. We have moved away from using cards and now have a basic morning routine for each child (get dressed, make bed, clean up room, brush teeth). Then in the afternoon, I have a chore for each one to complete and I rotate it. I have a certain area to clean each day and spend 15 minutes on each area. I have tried to do Flylady.com off and on throughout the years, only never to live up to my expectations. I now just take what I want from that program. I like the 15 minute chore and shining your sink before bed.
My house is definately more organized and neater than it was when I had so many little ones. I just have decided you just can't homeschool your children, take care of babies and feed them and also keep an immaculate house! If you are trying to do this, just stop! You will save yourself from feeling like a failure or maybe letting the idea of putting your kids in school cross your mind.
In conclusion, I alway think of that poem that I read years ago that helps me keep this in prespetive:
Babies Don't Keep
For children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep!
You might wonder what a homeschool day is like at our house. Well, when everyone cooperates and no unplanned surprises happen, this is how our day might happen. Now remember, this doesn't happen all the time.
I wake up between 6:30 am and 6:45 am. I am still struggling with this. I'm not a late sleeper, nor an early riser, but rather in the middle (7:30ish). I stagger into the kitchen to prepare my husband's lunch. He leaves for work at 7am. I then throw in a load of laundry to be washed. Then I have my quiet time. A hard thing to do when the kids are up, so waking early has it benefits.
I wake the kids at 8 am. They do their morning routine which includes making their beds, getting dressed, pick up their room and brush their teeth. The older ones have their quiet time. I put the laundry in the dryer. At 8:30 we sit down for breakfast and morning devotions. I read the Bible to them while they eat.
When our Bible time is over, we go right into our KONOS unit study. This is one thing that we all do together. I can spend up to an hour with this part of our day, depending on the activities for the day. Sometimes we might do some of the more involved activities in the afternoon.
By 10 am the kids are ready to do the 3 R's. My oldest son does his work in his room. I work with the other three at the kitchen table. The youngest does some type of ABC workbook (nothing hard). My middle son will do his writing. The I read with him and do his math. My daughter spends time on the computer doing her learning games. In between all of this I help my oldest when he needs me. After the younger boys are finished, I do math with the oldest. About 3 times a week, I try to do a craft with the younger boys and my daughter. They really enjoy that!
Just before noon, I'll prepare lunch. By noon everyone is finished with their individual work. I've spent individual time with each of them. The kids sit down for lunch while I read to them. Right now we are reading The Swiss Family Robinson. What a great book! We read until around 1pm.
If there is any KONOS activities to do, we will complete them now. If we are finished, the kids will have some outdoor time. While it's hot, they go in the pool. They spend about an hour outside (or in the pool).
When they come in, they will do their scheduled chores (which take about 15 min.). The house stays so much cleaner when we do a little each day. It's amazing what 15 minutes does to the house!
The older two boys practice piano. I am teaching them so on Mondays I give them a lesson.
Then when chores and piano are done, they are free to watch a video or play video games. I limit it to an hour a day. I take a much needed rest at this time.
That's about how our day goes. There are days when we have outside activities. On Mondays the kids have PE during the morning, and we will do some 3R's in the afternoons. Our KONOS co-op is Thursday mornings and that is our school for the day. And Friday afternoon is drama, which doesn't effect our morning.
So that's our basic schedule for the day. I will talk about scheduling on another post. But one word of advice is not to let the schedule control you!
Enjoy homeschooling!
Well, it’s that time of year again for most homeschoolers, to begin a new year of school. At our house, it’s a pretty exciting event with new books, new school supplies, a great breakfast and lunch and good attitudes. After that first day, mom is tired! I’ve managed to fit everything in for the day and wonder how I will do this for another 179 days! My schedule usually needs some tweaking, which is okay. For the first week, I tweak a lot, until it fits. There have been years I have completely eliminated something, as it would be impossible for me to do this year. (I’ll just save it for another.) You may even find that a particular curriculum isn’t working. Feel free to sell it. I’ve been known to do that too. You don’t want to use something that your child totally dislikes. It’s better to lose some money, than have your child lose their love for learning.
Our job as homeschool mom is very challenging, I won’t mislead you about that. To get them to learn and have fun, is a hard thing to accomplish, but it can be done. If you have just begun homeschooling, you may have to take some time to find your child’s learning style (how your child learns best). Once you find how they learn, teaching will become easier. You will also find, that you probably don’t have the same learning style as your child; therefore, you will have to teach totally out of your comfort zone. Don’t fret or panic. Just take your time and find out what works best. I will be talking more about learning styles, curriculum and give teaching tips in the future.
But for now, I’ll give you some very good advice. Make sure to enjoy your child! Let them know that you love teaching them and you wouldn’t want to do anything else. Time flies and they are so very precious! Another very important thing to do is praise them far more than correcting them. Find several things right with their work and only correct one item at a time (especially when young).
Enjoy being a homeschool mom! Our calling is a great and worthy career!
So what is it like to be a homeschooling family? After 13 years I can honestly say that it's been good, not just good, but one of the best decisions we have made as a family (accept for following Christ and serving Him). Our family is far from perfect, but homeschooling has made us a better family unit. We are closer to each other. We do have bickering like all families, but I don't think it's that bad.
One plus is during the teenage years. It's really not been as bad as I heard it was. I had always heard other people talking about how their teenager was driving them crazy and couldn't wait for them to leave. Well, I didn't want that in my home. I wanted to be able to enjoy my teens and have open communication with them. And I can say that with my oldest daughter (18), this has been the case. We did have some unpleasant times, but for the most part, it has been very good. I have enjoyed those years so much and now as they come to an end, I'm sad to see her leave. In two weeks we will be saying goodbye to her as she embarks on the new college journey. This will be the first time anyone else has taught her. I am confident that she will do a great job and be a student that the professors enjoy, just as I have. I will definately be praying for her every time I think of her. The new challenges won't be easy, but with God's help she will succeed.
So why would I do this? Simply because I love homeschooling and want to help others love it too!
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave a comment or e-mail me.