As a former public school teacher, gold-star sticker student, and general rule-follower…I never really considered unschooling. I don’t like the word. And quite frankly–I thought it sounded like a bunch of crazy talk. Who are these wild moms? I can only be so countercultural! Homeschooling is my max-limit—thank-you-very-much. To me unschooling sounded too much like…
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20 Lessons After 20 Years of Motherhood
This year I’ll be celebrating my 21st Mother’s Day as a mom…My oldest child is 20 years old–I became a mother at age 22. I’ve almost spent more of my life as a mom than not. But no matter how long you’ve been a mom, entering motherhood is a defining moment. A bridge, that once…
Is Saxon Math Right for Your Homeschool?
I’ve been using Saxon Math for almost as long as I’ve been homeschooling…(16 years). It’s my staple, no-brainer curriculum choice year after year. For whatever reason–talk of math curriculum brings out some really strong emotions among the homeschool crowd. We’re fierce about our math! Perhaps because math is such a foundational subject or perhaps because…
2020 Homeschool Mom Conference
It’s that time of year…Homeschool Conference Season! This year, many in-person conferences have been delayed or rescheduled for later in the summer (we hope). I’ve been involved with the online Homeschool Mom Conference since it started in 2018…It’s the original online homeschool conference! But because the concept is still relatively new–you might be wondering exactly how…
How to Start Homeschooling: The Ultimate Guide
I have been homeschooling 16 years…It’s not something I ever imagined doing–but now I can’t imagine my life without it. If you’re at the beginning of the journey, I just want to come along beside you and give you a huge hug. You can do this! (Currently, some of you find yourselves schooling-at-home temporarily because…
Letter A : Crafts & Activities
Let the games begin! My 5 year-old twins are just beginning to learn how to read! They’re on step one: Learning the letters and corresponding sounds. We’re using my phonics curriculum: Ready for Reading (I created it especially for them and other homeschool families after years of teaching my other 4 children to read and…
6 Reading Strategies for New or Struggling Readers
Training wheels…Sometimes I feel like teaching children to read is much like teaching them to ride a bike. Some kids are super confident–“Take these training wheels off; let me go!” (These are the amazing early readers that apparently all the other moms have…If only kids reading too much was your biggest problem!) And then there…
How to Clean Your House Fast
So the hard truth about house cleaning–it never ends. But if you can build good habits and routines–it will “practically,” clean itself…And I know this sounds a little too Mary Poppins-ish to be comforting (now “A Spoonful of Sugar” is stuck in my head). But it’s really true… And what’s also true…habits and routines can take…
10 Best Tips to Successfully Homeschool High School
Today it’s a pleasure to have Miranda Lamb, The Reluctant Cowgirl, on the blog…After homeschooling through high school, she’s sharing her 10 Best Tips to Successfully Homeschool High School! Welcome, Miranda! Homeschooling through high school was never part of my plan. But I made the mistake of going to a homeschool graduation. As I sat in…
Super Simple Pumpkin Craft & Activity for Kids
What the heck even happened to October, Sweet Friends? Scary, wicked how time flies! This past weekend we did our annual trip to the pumpkin patch and the pickins were a little slim…(And it was an absolute crowded, crazy zoo…People in huge lines to ride a tractor and buy kettle corn…It was a NO for me. I…
When Your Homeschool Moments Aren’t Instagram Worthy
Most of the moments in our homeschool days don’t feel very “Instagram,” worthy…I wish they could all be cute with pinecones, flowers, and watercolors…(And pants—pants are good.) But no—many of our moments don’t make for great photo ops…The daily grind isn’t always very romantic: math, phonics, worksheets. Not to mention dirty dishes and piles of…
Free Preschool Math Worksheets (Numbers 1-5)
As much as I truly believe that young children learn best through play…my littles love sitting down and doing “work”! I think it makes them feel grown-up…So in a sense, it’s truly an extension of their imagination and play! When they are doing their “work,” I want them to experience success and joy–this should be fun…
How to Homeschool History (Without a Curriculum)
The homeschool world is full of shiny curriculum…I love it! I love researching it, shopping for it, and opening it all up (it’s like Christmas in July when the boxes start to arrive)! The smell of new books and fresh crayons–it’s the smell of hope and endless possibilities! I’ve definitely chased my fair share of…
Goldilocks and the Three Bears
“Once upon a time…” There’s just nothing like those four words signaling the start of an enchanting story…a fairy tale. Personally, I adore fairy tales—give me all the princesses, castles, bad wolves, and magic beans! And I love sharing them with my kiddos! One of my favorites is Goldilocks and the Three Bears. It’s lite…
4th of July for Kids (FREE Printable)!
Aren’t we all a bit of a kid on the 4th of July? Give me all the streamers, popsicles, black snakes, and hot dogs! The 4th of July is just plain fun–it isn’t fancy or stressful! (Except when 20 children are all doing arm circles with sparklers within inches of each other’s faces…) It will…