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Whether you have been homeschooling for years or were forced into it by 2020, you’ve taken on a difficult task.  Teaching isn’t easy and you are likely tackling it on top of your “real” job, taking care of a home and trying to be a parent, neighbor, spouse, friend,...

In most schooling situations, whether brick and mortar classroom of some kind or your own kitchen table, February seems to be known as the slump month. It’s dark. It’s cold. It’s usually wet and sloppy outside. You’ve been schooling for six solid months. It feels like...

The other day, my teenage son asked, “How do you do it, Mom? How do you stay inside all day?” It was more of a rhetorical question, considering the answer was a given. Clearly, he was feeling the effects of the pandemic—schools, malls, theaters, and restaurants shut...

If your child is loud and bubbly around you but quiet and fearful around other people, they might be overly shy. Some shyness is normal in children but it can become a problem if it affects their socialization skills. This can be especially concerning for homeschool...

Just like adults, it’s common for children to lose their motivation to work. An off day every few weeks is normal, but if your child is consistently running into issues with productivity, you should address the problem. Here are a few things to do when your child...

You know those days when everything has gone haywire, the kids are moody, the reliable recipe flops, the unexpected bill comes in the mail, and the in-laws birthday card was left unmailed? Those are the worst. These types of days are the ones that make you question...

As this calendar year comes to a close while we are in the midst of 9th, 7/8th, and 1st grades, I am reminded how thankful I am to homeschool. Our family has been wonderfully impacted by the opportunity to sit around our table each day to tackle the task of learning....

Haven’t heard of that one?  If you are familiar with the 12 Days of Christmas, you’ll know those 12 days technically begin on Christmas and go into the new year (although most are quite annoyed by the song well before the actual gift-giving period begins).  The 12...

You’ve had those days. The baby is crying. You have five unread emails from work. The dog has been itching all day. It’s 3:00 and all you’ve eaten is a granola bar. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and feel like you can’t keep up with your homeschool duties, try the tips...

Many parents dream of living somewhere that their children can grow close to their grandparents. If you’re in this situation and you homeschool your kids, you may have thought about getting their grandparents involved in homeschooling. Seniors can offer unique...

Just when you thought you were past the Halloween creepies, someone critical of homeschool or a naïve neighbor mentions the dreaded education gap. Perhaps you’ve been considering transitioning back to brick and mortar school or maybe as your kids get older, you’re...

If the Covid shutdown has offered just one good thing, I would like to think it would be the freedom from the regular old routine. This might sound strange, but let me explain. A main benefit is that many workers are now working from home. More of a blessing than a...

With the spread of COVID-19, everyone is advised to continue to stay home and distance from each other to stay safe. It can be more difficult to stay connected with others while distancing, but below are a few ways to keep relationships without meeting with someone in...

Many parents currently find themselves working from home because of the coronavirus pandemic. If you have kids who are also at home, it can be a struggle to stay productive with a constant stream of distractions being thrown at you. The tips below will help you manage...

With many businesses and indoor facilities closed, daily walks have become a source of joy and relaxation for many families. If your kids are also home during the day, why not make these walks educational as well? Here are a few ways to make learning fun when you’re...

I came across an old schoolbook from the 1950s which taught the reader, probably fourth grade or so, how to dress for school. The textbook instructed that the schoolroom was to be considered a workroom and to dress appropriately for the work that would take place. I...

Not so long ago in our very own galaxy, many of us decided to take on homeschooling.  We dove in headfirst at light speed (circumstances conspiring against us as they did) and built a curriculum, plans and even some desks.  Things have started well.  Still, some of...

Homeschooling offers the opportunity to school when and where you like and the option to take advantage of some unique learning opportunities.  Take the National Park Service (NPS) for example. The NPS administers well over 400 sites across the country, all of which...

I began homeschooling sometime around 2010. I was an organized and stiff homeschooler. We started at the same time each day, had a circle time board which hung on the interior of the bedroom closet door, and was addicted to laminating everything even though my...

Homeschooling looks different for every family. We love the freedom to create the homeschooling life that works best for our individual families but sometimes doubts chip away at our confidence. With every book that we read or conversation, we have with a successful...

If you’re homeschooling your child during COVID-19, you may be stumped when it comes to field trip ideas. Many businesses are still closed and many activities are cautioned against to avoid catching the virus. Here are some field trips you can take during COVID-19...