3 Amazing Apps for Preschoolers That You Won’t Feel Guilty About
Often I get asked how I keep my littles (4 year old twins) busy while I’m homeschooling my daughter in high school and first grade son. (Honestly, it sounds harder than it actually is…twins have a way of entertaining each other!) But even if you’re not a homeschool mom, I’m guessing sometimes you could use…
3 Simple Christmas Traditions
The Holidays. Why is it that those two words can stir two completely opposite emotions: Joy and Stress? Oh how I want to grab all the joy and leave all the stress behind. As kids–the holidays were all joy. It was cousins and cookies and toy catalogs and Christmas carols. As adults–I think…
The Wise Men Journey — A New Advent Tradition
Hi Sweet Friends! You know when God puts someone on your path and they just ooze Jesus–and you are flat out humbled and amazed by the whole thing to your core? Well that is exactly what happened to me when I met Lynette Meintjes while waiting around for my kids at dance class! She is amazing…
Homeschool Sick Days
Well, Sweet Friends—cold and flu season is having a party over at my house. I’m currently drowning in a sea of Kleenex…Besides me, five of my six kids have also succumbed to this yuck. And if a houseful of sick people doesn’t derail homeschool plans, I just don’t know what does. It’s easy to get…
FlyLady Routines — Bless Your Home and Family!
Here’s the truth. I’m a very messy person at heart. I was the kid in elementary school who stuffed bent folders, stubby pencils, broken crayons, and crumpled notes into her desk. Oh how I envied my friends who kept their desks meticulous–shiny folders all in a row, neat pencil boxes (actually filled with pencils and…
Homeschool 9th Grade Curriculum Picks!
Though I’ve homeschooled for 15 years–this is my first time homeschooling 9th grade! My two oldest children opted for public high school, but this 3rd child of mine–she’s all in! She loves the freedom and independence homeschooling allows…and has no interest in the dramatic antics she’s heard all about from her older siblings. So here…
My Homeschool Curriculum 1st Grade Choices
I’m so excited to get started with my shiny new 1st grade curriculum! I don’t homeschool year-round (Sweet Friends, I need a break from formal lessons!! Summer is my absolute favorite. Summer is life to me–and isn’t all of life learning? Maybe I’m technically an unschooler in the summer…). Anyway, for me, it’s back-to-school time–at…
Homeschooling Will Save My Child (one of many myths)
So excited to be part of an important series–Homeschool Myths: Busted–Exposing the Truth Behind Homeschool Myths! Myself and other members of the Homeschool Blogging Connection Team are tackling a wide range of homeschool myths in this series, with the hope of offering encouragement and support. And while–yes, there are many misconceptions about homeschooling out…
Why I Love Teaching Textbooks (and how it just got better!)
(FYI…Teaching Textbooks provided me with their updated curriculum–version 3.0 for review…I was already using and loving Teaching Textbooks 2.0! As always–this post reflects my personal experiences and is 100% my opinion!) Excited to share with you why I love Teaching Textbooks, and give you an update and review of the newest version! My Switch to…
2018 Homeschool Moms Conference {ONLINE}
Thanks Registration for the 2018 Homeschool Moms Conference is now closed! It was a huge success–please join us next year! Earlier this year I was super honored to speak at my local homeschool conference! (And I was a complete nervous wreck and wanted to puke for about a week leading up to the event…) But…
Free Homeschool Planner — a Long-Range View
I love seeing the BIG picture! When I sit down to chart out our plans for the school year–I always start with long-range planning. Over my 14 years homeschooling, I’ve established an important planning routine. It basically goes something like this…Choose my curriculum, start locating books and resources, identify goals, and finally–plot it all out…
A Peek at My Build Your Bundle Purchases
Hi Sweet Friends! There has been a lot of excitement and buzz in the homeschool world this week about the Build Your Bundle sale! For years, I got the emails–and ignored them! Finally, I decided to check out what all the hoopla is about…And it really is an amazing sale on homeschool curriculum and…
Homeschooling Multiple Ages — With Unit Studies
I’ve always homeschooled multiple children…Which makes for some interesting curriculum decisions. Do I teach three different historical periods? Should I buy a different science curriculum for each child (because surely I can juggle Chemistry with a side of Physical Science topped with Marine Biology)…? Here’s the truth, Sweet Friends–in the early years (which in this…
The Best Curriculum for Kindergarten
Kindergarten…so full of possibilities! For many it’s the beginning of their “official,” journey into the world of homeschooling! If that’s you–welcome!! Along with all the excitement of starting something so monumental, comes a lot of pressure! You are homeschooling because you feel it’s the best choice for your child and your family…You want to…
Top 10 Favorite Math Manipulatives
I know I may be in the minority—but I love math, and I really love teaching math! I’m truly a nerd at heart. When it comes to teaching math to young students—using manipulatives is definitely the way to go! Regardless of what math curriculum you’re using—math manipulatives help kids gain a more concrete understanding of…
FREE Easter Copywork
Easter is almost here!! And I’m so excited to share my free Easter Copywork pages with you! It’s my prayer that writing out and reflecting on the Bible verses and copywork sentences will help your kids grow in their knowledge and understanding of Jesus and His great love for them! What an amazing privilege and…
Top 12 Favorite Homeschool Curriculums
After 14 years of homeschooling–I’ve tried a lot of curriculums! Homeschoolers have so many great curriculum choices available…Which is awesome, BUT–it can be totally overwhelming! Don’t let the multitude of homeschool curriculums scare you into analysis paralysis! Here’s the thing–there is no one perfect curriculum! We all have different needs and preferences. However, I do…
Teaching Music to Celebrate the Holidays
One of my favorite things about homeschooling is celebrating (and learning about) the holidays with my kids! There’s good food to make, stories to read, art projects and crafts to make–but there’s also great music to share! I love music–however, this is one of my weakest subjects when it comes to teaching my kids! That…
Tips for Teaching Your Left Handed Child Handwriting
All the boys in my house are lefties…My hubby, my teenage son, and my kindergarten son. It makes for some elbow bumping at the dinner table–but that’s nothing compared to the struggle with handwriting! Teaching my left-handed children fine-motor skills (specifically handwriting) has been one of the more challenging tasks for this right-handed momma! I’ve…
St. Patrick’s Day Copywork and Activity Packet {FREEBIE}
Somebody pinch me! Suddenly we’re seeing green–in the best way possible! I don’t know about you, but getting to March is such a relief to me–bring on all the joy of St Patrick’s Day and Spring Break! My husband is part Irish–and my kids have always loved getting into the spirit of the holiday! I’ve…
Spelling Practice — Mix it Up!
Getting our kids to practice spelling words—sometimes it feels like pulling teeth. We know spelling practice has to happen, but it doesn’t have to be busy work! I’m sharing 4 strategies to spice up your spelling routine! A Note About Spelling Programs…My Personal Favorite: Before we jump into the 4 strategies, I have to tell…
How To Homeschool –Teaching 101
So you’ve taken the plunge—you’ve decided to start homeschooling! And I’m so excited for you—it truly has been one of the greatest blessings in my life! When I started 14 years ago—it felt like a huge leap of faith (you can read all about why I got started and still love it—HERE)! But now you…
FREE Valentine’s Day Copywork
Love is in the air! Spring is around the corner (that’s my story—at least we’re through January)! And in honor of Valentine’s Day and all things lovely, I’ve created a set of Valentine’s Day Copywork! I love copywork—it’s such a gentle way to focus on grammar, spelling, handwriting, and memorization. Honestly—I think it’s a great…
5 Ways I’ve Sabotaged My Homeschool
Homeschooling has been part of our family for 14 years—it’s etched into our lifestyle. There are so many reasons I truly love it—but like most worthwhile endeavors…it comes with some hard days (hard years even)! Sometimes it’s because we’ve all been sick—nothing like the stomach flu to take you way off your game (and add…
How to Start Homeschooling Midyear — Emergency Homeschooling
A little over a year ago, a neighbor approached me–full of concern for a friend, who was wondering how to start homeschooling midyear. Second semester was well underway–but her friend found herself in crisis-mode and in search of alternative educational choices for her daughter in high school. The friend was facing a divorce–which involved moving….
Homeschooling Middle School Math — 5 Tips for Success!
Homeschooling middle school math —that subject brings up some serious emotions among us mamas! For some fear. Maybe disdain. Confusion. A few might admit to joy (it’s okay—I’m nerdy like that too). AND Passion…homeschool moms feel some real passion about their math curriculum choices! Middle School Math Success But regardless of what curriculum you’re using…
Get Organized — Homeschool Planner
Today I’m sharing tools and the Homeschool Planner I created to help get me organized! My hope is this comprehensive planner will help you tackle your own “to-do,” lists and help keep your homeschool planning simple, flexible, and organized! Organization and Mental Health For me—keeping organized is a big part of healthy living. I’m prone…
Kid Activities — Are the Sacrifices Worth It?
The last snowflakes just fell on this year’s Nutcracker ballet. It was beautiful—truly lovely. I wish I could just watch and enjoy the show—but instead I sit with shoulders tense, holding my program in a death grip and barely breathing. My eyes following my fourteen year-old daughter’s every move. Partly because I know the hours…
Why I Homeschool — 14 Years of Benefits
I colored inside the lines all my life…Deciding to homeschool was one of the first decisions that really took me off the beaten path. At first, I was terrified of what others would think—I spent a lot of time trying to justify why I homeschool (mostly to myself). Not necessarily because anyone was point-blank asking…
How to Homeschool With Toddlers
A common question I hear from moms is, “How do you homeschool with toddlers?” Sometimes it’s moms questioning whether or not they should even consider homeschooling, because the idea of adding something extra to the job of raising little people who are still in diapers, can’t dress themselves, and are constantly requesting snacks (on very…
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