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…
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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…
Cleaning With Essential Oils — My Shortcut
I love the idea of cleaning with less chemicals…And as Chief Toilet Bowl Cleaner, Window Washer, and Countertop Wiper (AKA: Mom)–I get exposed to a lot of them! So, I’ve been searching and experimenting with different natural cleaning brands for a while now. But nothing has really stood out to me–plus they tend to get…
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…
How to Pray — A Simple Prayer Structure
My prayer life has gone through ebbs and flows over the years. Somewhere along the way, someone shared a simple outline for personal prayer with me called ACTS. And while there’s no one right way to pray—I’ve found this strategy really helpful. My hope is that if you want to learn how to pray, or…
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…
Easy Panang Curry
I discovered and fell in love with Thai food about 10 years ago (before that—was I really living though?)—curry is life. In particular, I discovered my most favorite food in all the world—Panang Curry. I know—this does not exactly sound like something you can recreate at home. But I love this dish so much, I…
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…
20 Marriage Tips After 20 Years
Last summer my husband (Jason) and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary! And now I’ve officially been married half my life! We tied the knot just one month after my 20th birthday…wow! I felt very grown-up back in 1997—totally ready to take on the world with my new hubby! And I guess you could say…
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…
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…
Staying On or Off Disney Property at Disney World
Planning a trip to Disney World is so exciting! Deciding where to stay is one of the first things to knock off the “to-do,” list! We’ve visited Disney World five times with our family, and we’ve stayed both on and off property! (We’ve got 6 kids and have done Disney with toddlers, teens, and everything…
