Finding the Balance

If there’s one question that I mull over way too much regarding my kids’ education it’s this: How do I find the balance, or sweet spot between pushing too much and not pushing enough.

Anyone else with me? 

In my beginning years of homeschooling, I thought the more challenge and work the better, and that this would result in a more “educated” person.  But as the years went on, I’ve seen the value in giving them the breathing room to explore their interests and letting their own motivation drive their learning

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I know challenging my kiddos is important, but when taken to the extreme it can cause burnout.  On the flip side, I know taking a relaxed approach can yield many benefits, but can also sometimes lead to laziness.  

find the balance

So how do you find the balance? 

In Sarah Mackenzie’s book “Teaching From Rest” (which I try to read just about every year because of all the wonderful nuggets of practical wisdom), she writes:

“If studiousness is a virtue worth cultivating, I find that I am drawn toward vice on either side of it. On the one hand, I am drawn to steamroll over my kids, to lord over them with checklists and grade levels withouth regard to their nature as unique persons made in the image of God.  On the other, I am drawn to negligence or carelessness. I comfort myself with adages about children learning all the time and, hoping that my child will encounter an idea for himself without my interference, fail to form my student’s affections out of fear that such work is coercion or manipulation.”

I can relate to this so much! The pull between pushing too much, and not pushing enough is a real struggle.  

Motivation drives learning, and diligence is worth cultivating. 

I do think there is tremendous value in a self-driven child. Many days I’m amazed at what my kids get done when it’s done completely of their own volition.

When their work comes from a place of self-motivation, it has more meaning to them and they remember more of what they’re learning about. Letting them take ownership in their learning is empowering for them and increases motivation.

Yet it’s true that in the real world, you sometimes have to do things you’d rather not. Diligence is also a discipline worth cultivating.

Light the fire, but then remember to stoke it.

One of my favorite quotes about education is “Education is not the filling of a bucket, but the lighting of a fire.” Mackenzie takes it a step further and says “…but we must remember that a fire does indeed need to be lit, and then stoked, or else it will burn out.”

Having recently returned from a week of camping (and many hours spent around the campfire), this point is especially vivid to me.  I’m reminded that just like a campfire needs to be stoked and tended to – in order to stay robust, our kids sometimes need our prodding and guidance to help them.

Some days I’m going to get it wrong by pushing too much.  Other days, I’ll probably let laziness go too far. That’s ok. Hopefully most days, I’m finding myself stoking the fire of learning…

See my next post: Practical Ways to Stoke the Fire of Learning

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Three Tips for Homeschooling a Creative Kid

One of my biggest challenges over 8 years of homeschooling has been figuring out what works for my oldest child, a creative learner.

In the early years, she did not like my ideas for homeschooling -ideas that reflected what I thought homeschooling should look like (which were hugely influenced by my time as a classroom teacher!)

Often I’ve said if I could go back to our early homeschooling years, there are many things I would do differently

I’ve had to unlearn so much about my idea of what education SHOULD look like – and am still a work in progress! Ultimately, homeschooling doesn’t always look the way we expect, and it’s appropriate to tweak things when necessary! This is especially true with creative learners who thrive on novelty.

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tips for homeschooling a creative kid

3 Tips for Homeschooling a Creative Kid:

1. Give them free time to explore their interests.

Many years ago I received advice on the importance of free time to explore interests as a method to help with anxiety (which is common with creative people).  This advice has proved to be invaluable

When we are overscheduled, and my creative learner has less time to “create”, she is more likely to experience anxiety. Having time to be creative in a non-structured way is extremely helpful to her.  

2. Work together to make a plan. 

Their input into their learning plan/schedule/curriculum will foster ownership in their learning and increase motivation. 

My daughter and I work together to create a weekly schedule.  If I were to just give her her list of tasks, things would not go as well! But when I get her input we can work together to make a plan, and things go much more smoothly.

3. Consider different methods of instruction.

Is there a subject or curriculum that is just agonizing for your kiddo? Consider, is there a way you can do things differently?

For us, switching from a more traditional math curriculum to Life of Fred was a game-changer.

Also, incorporating Minecraft into my daughter’s history learning (she’s not a big history buff) has made it come more alive to her. Her most recent Minecraft creation was a hospital build to go along with learning about the Bubonic Plague.  *We use Gamed Academy for Minecraft. 

Creative kids often learn by doing!

Additional ideas for creative learning:

Games – Here are some of our favorite math games!

Chalk Pastel (also a lot of lessons here that tie into history!)

Maybe for reading, switching between audiobooks and regular books could be helpful.  

Resources to Help You with Your Creative Kid:

For more ideas, one book I highly recommend is The Brave Learner by Julie Bogart. Lots of ideas in that book to get the brain juices flowing!

Also, knowing how your child is smart can be very helpful! The book 8 Great Smarts by Kathy Koch is a great read to help you learn even more about that! 

 

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4 Great Sports for a Child with Dyspraxia

Sports for a child with dyspraxia can be a double-edged sword.

On one hand, they are not going to have the same ability as neuro-typical children, especially body-smart children, but on the other hand, in order to develop their coordination and brain/body communication, they need to exercise their body.

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Some sports are better suited for a child with dyspraxia, while other sports might be downright frustrating!

And that’s not to say you should avoid sports that require more coordination. However, realize it will take more work for your dyspraxic child than other kids. But, if your kiddo has a desire to participate in a sport that requires more coordination, and is willing to put the work in, then go for it!

Whatever sport you end up choosing for your child, finding coaches/instructors that are understanding and flexible is key!

Sports for a child with dyspraxia

4 Sports to consider for your child with dyspraxia

1)Martial Arts

Martial arts, such as taekwondo, karate, jujitsu, etc are individual sports that help develop strength, endurance, confidence, agility, and focus.  There’s also a lot of crossing the midline in martial arts, which helps strengthen both sides of the brain and develop coordination.

2)Swimming

After my son completed a 6-month course of the Brain Balance program, the program director recommended swimming lessons as his suggestion for a sport/activity to get involved in next. This is due to the fact that when you’re in the water, you have more awareness of your body because of the resistance of the water. Swimming is a great choice for kiddos with dyspraxia.

3)Tennis

Our son with dyspraxia just started tennis. So far he’s enjoying it! And while it is a sport with a huge focus on coordination, it is not as intense as basketball/soccer/football, etc., as there is more of an individual focus to it.  There’s also a lot of repetition in tennis which helps improve motor planning (a skill that may be weaker in individuals with dyspraxia)

4)Running

Since running doesn’t require as much “skill” you can focus on other things like your form, which helps build body awareness (which is always helpful for kids with dyspraxia.) Success in running doesn’t depend on how coordinated you are or aren’t.  But running does demand hard work and endurance! And while some kiddos may not be predisposed to be athletic, they have a chance at being a successful runner if they can put the hard work in. And you can still be a part of a team too! We used these shoes for my son’s first experience running on a track team.  It helped minimize frustration. 🙂

**And I’m speaking from my own personal experience here…  As a kid, who wasn’t the most coordinated, I did not do well in team sports (basketball, soccer, etc.)  But I was able to succeed in cross country and track which was a confidence booster!

Gift Ideas Dyspraxia


 

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Life of Fred Algebra (We still love Life of Fred!)

Our daughter just started Life of Fred Algebra,

and it’s probably her favorite subject.  This is a big deal since the math tears flowed freely when she was young. We are thankful that she continues to love Life of Fred Math. Algebra has been integrated into Life of Fred since the elementary books (introduced in bite-sized amounts and then building from that), which has made the transition to Algebra pretty seamless.

Life of Fred Algebra

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Before we began using Life of Fred,

I had the stance that we’d stick with “Fred” as long as it continued to work for us.  Since my last post on Life of Fred, she’s completed the Pre-Algebra series, which includes three books: Pre-Algebra Physics, Pre-Algebra Biology, and Pre-Algebra Economics.

Life of Fred Algebra She thoroughly enjoyed the combining of pre-algebra with other subjects (well maybe not physics as much, though it did stretch her brain a bit!)

I thought pre-algebra might be a time when we weaned off of Fred, but surprisingly she enjoys it even more now.  She hopes to go all the way to Calculus.  You go, girl!

However, I don’t suspect Life of Fred will be the math curriculum of choice for all three of our kids.

Our 10-year-old son prefers a more structured math curriculum, with repetitive problems laid out in a sequential manner. That is not how Life of Fred is designed. While he still enjoys reading the Life of Fred books for fun, he will likely use something else as he advances in math.  This year he is using MasterBooks math which is working out well.  Our youngest is only 6 so the verdict is still out on him!

My daughter grasps math concepts fairly quickly which is why I think Life of Fred still works well for her.  The quirkiness factor of it also continues to remain an attractive and novel quality.

We are even trying out the Life of Fred Language Arts

books this year which have ALSO been a hit!

Life of Fred Algebra

Fred has pretty much been a BIG WIN for us.

I highly suggest checking any of their books out if you’re needing something outside the box for your kiddo. If your child likes the concept of Life of Fred, but needs extra practice, they also have extra books with practice problems. 🙂


You can also find the books here.

 

 

 

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Middle Ages Book List

The Middle Ages span the years from (roughly) 500-1400 AD. It’s the millennium that bridges ancient history with modern history. 

The Middle Ages were characterized by everything from lack of literacy (only a small percentage of people could read or write) to the building of the most magnificent cathedrals and castles, to the writing of the Magna Carta (which initiated the idea that everyone needed to yield to the law, even the king.)

Here is a list of books we read to learn about the Middle Ages, and a few extra that we hope to read the next time around (we do history in cycles, so we will be circling back to the Middle Ages in a few years!)

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Reference Books

Middle Ages

The Magna Charta by James Daugherty- Written in a narrative style, this book is jam-packed with information about the Magna Carta,  a historic document that influenced government moving forward. My history lover enjoyed this one! However, t’s a bit of a dry read (for a non-history lover.) Good for ages 10+.

A Child’s History of the World by Hillyer.  A great overview of history.

How Should We Then Live? by Francis Schaeffer – This is not specific to the Middle Ages, but includes one chapter devoted to the Middle Ages and I highly recommend reading this book alongside studying history with your kids to give you a better foundation of the history of Western Culture. If you want a broad picture of history from a Christian worldview, this is THE book to read.  It starts with Ancient Rome and moves on to the Middle Ages, Renaissance, Reformation, and beyond.  Considering the times we are living in, I think this book is more relevant than ever. 

Time Traveler  Usborne (this is a family fave!)

Leif the Lucky by Ingri & Edgar D’aulaire – Leif, a Viking who lived in the 900’s , was a Norse explorer (his family was known for settling Greenland.) Exploring was more of a characteristic of the Renaissance but because his life fell during the time of the Middle Ages, I’ve placed this book here.  Great illustrations and good for younger kids.  

Castle and Cathedral – both by David Macaulay

Atlas of World History Also, Usborne!

Usborne Encyclopedia of World History

Look Inside a Castle (Usborne Look Inside) For younger children (not pictured)

Literature:

Middle Ages

Door in the Wall by Marguerite de Angeli – A short novel about a boy who is sent away to become a knight, but he loses use of his legs and therefore dream is squashed. A story of bravery and character.

Trumpeter of Krakow by Eric P. Kelly – This takes place near the end of the middle ages in Poland.  It was a captivating historical fiction story of a famiy who has a great treasure and must keep it hidden for the safety of everyone. It gets into the wrong hands and things take a wild turn.  Gives a good depiction of the danger of living during this time.  

A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park- My daughter read this on her own but enjoyed it.  Takes place in 12th century Korea. 

Crispin: Cross of Lead by Avi – Another book my daughter read on her own.

Adam of the Road by Elizabeth Janet Gray- Newberry Honor Book. Set in 13th century England, this book follows the adventures of a young minstrel boy, Adam. This book stays true to 13th century England.

Beowulf by Michael Morpurgo- An easier take on the classic.  This was perfect for a first run-through of the story.  We highly enjoyed this read.  

The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman (not in picture) – An easy read that will captivate your young learner. Highly fictitious, but fun and still gives a feel for what the middle ages were like.   

Books for Next Time Around

Middle Ages

Hawk and Dove Trilogy by Penelope Wilcock

Pendragon Trilogy by Stephen Lawhead- We tried the first book of this trilogy as an audio read-aloud, and while my husband and daughter enjoyed it, it was too intense for my 10-year-old, so I recommend it for older readers.    

The Black Arrow by Robert Louis Stevenson

Middle Ages Chalk Pastel Art

Middle Ages

My youngest, age 6, enjoyed doing medieval chalk pastel art as his primary way of learning about this time period (there may be one or two Renaissance time period pictures in there too!)  He is definitely a kiddo who learns through activity and this was a great way for him to learn about the Middle Ages in an age-appropriate way.  

Check out my other history book lists!

Ancient Egypt

Ancient Greece

Ancient Rome

 

 

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Homeschool curriculum picks 2020-2021

Our Homeschool Curriculum Picks for 2020-2021

We actually started on this school year in the beginning of August (with a two-week break in September as we explored Custer, Yellowstone, and the Grand Tetons)

Like I say every year, none of this is set in stone, but it is our plan for the year for now

We now have three readers in the house, which is super exciting.  And wow, does it make a difference!

This blog post contains affiliate links and any purchases made through such links will result in a small commission for me (at no extra cost to you).

Curriculum Picks for 2020-2021

curriculum picks 2020-2021

7th Grade:

Handwriting:

Getty Dubay Handwriting

Writing:

I’m kind of winging it for my daughter’s writing this year.  I’ve gone back and forth with the idea of unschooling writing for her, signing her up for a class, or doing a more rigorous curriculum.  The fact of the matter is she has high aptitude for writing and some of her best writing has come when she is not prompted.  With that being said, if I do feel we need to beef up her writing requirements, I will probably use Bravewriter Writing Projects.

Math:

Life of Fred – She’ll be finishing pre-algebra and moving into algebra this year.  Life of Fred continues to be an amazing fit for her.

Reading/LA:

Life of Fred Language Arts

Becuase Life of Fred Math has been such a great fit, we decided to try their lanugage arts books. They are technically for high schoolers but from the reviews I read, many said they used them successfully with their middle schoolers, so we thought we’d give them a try. So far so good! 

Independent reading – 1 book per month from a list I made for her on top of all the other reading she does (she’s a re-reader, so most often I’ll find her in a book she’s already read!) 

Other:

Spanish -using Duolingo 

GamED Academy 

Typing.com

Piano lessons

Sketching 

5th Grade:

Handwriting:

Getty Dubay Handwriting

Writing:

Journal Entries using writing prompts.

Writeshop – This writing curriculum is more structured than what we’re used to, but so far it has been a good fit for this particular kiddo. It’s gentle and not too intimidating, and covers many different genres.  And as a bonus – it includes a colorful “fold-n-go” grammar practice. 

Curriculum Picks 2020-2021
Fold-n-go grammar packet for lesson 2
Language Arts/Reading:

Explode the Code – He’ll be finishing book 8 this year.

Independent reading on own – we decide books together.  

Math:

Masterbooks math – We needed a change for math this year, and heard a lot about Masterbooks, and so far it’s a great fit!  This kid needed more structure and review than Life of Fred offers. 

Math-It – Math facts practice

Extra workbooks for practice such as this one.  

1st Grade:

Handwriting:

Getty Dubay

Writing:

Journal entries (very basic and as he wants to – I don’t push it!)

Reading:

Read aloud with me (separate from the older kids as his books skew younger)

Independent Reading/Audiobooks (this kid listens to a  LOT of audiobooks!) Now that this kiddo has started reading, there’s no stopping him!

Curriculum Picks 2020-2021
Reading while eating breakfast 🙂
Language Arts:

Explode the Code

Math:

Masterbooks

Math-It

Math Games

For Everyone:

Bible:

Rotating between:

A Child’s Story Bible by Catherine Vos

Picture-Smart Bible -An especially great choice for picture-smart kids!

Memorizing various passages of scripture (we’re working on 1 Corinthians 13 right now.)

Literature:

Lots of reading aloud

History:

Living Books exploring Renaissance to Early U.S. History. We will be plotting the major events on our timeline as we go.  

Curriculum Picks 2020-2021
Some timeline highlights from the Middle Ages

A Child’s History of the World by Virgil M. Hillyer – Our history spine to read alongside the Living Books.

Chalk Pastel classes that go along with our history cycle

Curriculum Picks 2020-2021
Viking Helmet lesson

**For a more comprehensive post on how we do history check out this post: Homeschooling History Without a Text Book!

Science

No Sweat Nature Study – This continues to be a favorite, especially for my younger two, and gives me a reprieve. 🙂

Weekly Science Co-op with friends

Language:

English from the Roots Up – I got a used copy of this book to save a few bucks!

Music:

S.Q.U.I.L.T. – I love how this curriculum is open and go.  And even though I have a music background it’s nice to have something that’s already prepared.

Other:

Kiwi Crates (we switch between Kiwi, Tinker, Atlas, Doodle and love them all!)

Curriculum Picks 2020-2021
Kiwi Crate on the Human Body

These our our curriculum picks for 2020-2021.  They are bound to be tweaked at least a bit, but this is the plan for now!

 

 

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4 Reasons Right Now is a Great Time to be a New Homeschooler

There are quite a few reasons now is a GREAT time to be a new homeschooler:

4 Reasons Right Now is a Great Time to be a New Homeschooler

I’ll be honest, I’ve never been so grateful to be a homeschooler as I am right now.  I’ve seen the angst so many friends have experienced not knowing if, or how their school would be re-opening.  And the worry of school closing down if there is an outbreak.

For homeschoolers, so much has remained the same, and for the most part, we are unaffected by decisions made by local private and public schools.

For many, these crazy times have given rise to the idea of homeschooling, when maybe they’d never thought about it before (or it was just on the back burner).

There are quite a few reasons now is a GREAT time to be a new homeschooler:

No Pressure

Well maybe not NO pressure, but certainly reduced pressure!  Often times, people are scared to try homeschooling because they don’t want to bear the weight of their child’s education.

But during this crazy time when life feels chaotic, and for many virtual school is the only option, they can feel the pressure lifted knowing homeschooling, even if they’re not sure they’re doing it right (which they’re probably doing just fine!) is a better option than the others available. And by the way – yes you are qualified to homeschool your own child.

Retain a Sense of Normalcy

Our “new normal” world is strange. I’ve seen the pictures – socially distanced desks (some with shields!) not to mention masks all day, and potentially no recess. There’s also the worry that your school could close at any time due to an outbreak.

All of this change and uncertainty can be stressful for kids. Having them at home allows you to maintain a sense of normalcy even in the midst of a crazy time.

You won’t have to field the questions…

New (and old) homeschoolers often have to field many questions such as ‘What about socialization?’, and ‘How long do you plan on homeschooling, etc. etc.?’ But for now, new homeschoolers and those just trying it out have covid as an excuse. 😉

Huge Amount of Support

You’re part of a big group and there’s lots of support! Since so many others are also homeschooling, there’s a good chance you know others in your community giving homeschooling a try, and homeschool groups online are busting at the seams with new homeschoolers.

In fact, I don’t know if there’s ever been a better time to be a new homeschooler!

If you’re wanting some guidance on how to get started homeschooling, check out my ebook: Getting Started Homeschooling.  It contains my best tips and advice to get started.Getting Started Homeschooling

 

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Books for Ancient History

Living Books for Ancient History
books for ancient history

I say it often – one of the best parts about homeschooling is redeeming my own education, especially when it comes to World History. The whole scope of history – from the creation of the world to the present. Following, you will find to links to all the posts I did on using books for Ancient History.

Nothing is new under the sun and studying all of history really helps you grasp that. Additionally much of what is considered standard in our society today, began

in these ancient times (government, our calendar, plumbing etc.)

In our homeschool we use a textbook-free approach to learning history.

Three of the most important times in ancient history are Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome.  

Ancient Egypt:

Here’s our booklist for Ancient Egypt and we also did some pretty rad hands-on activities.   Between the mummies, pyramids and hieroglyphics, Ancient Egypt is pretty fascinating to study!  

  • books for ancient history

Ancient Greece

From philosophy and politics to art and medicine – the happenings of Ancient Greece had a huge influence  on western civilization.  Here’s our Ancient Greece booklist.

Ancient Rome

Last (but not least) of the Ancients – Ancient Rome.  As a Christian, this was especially interesting to study because Jesus walked the earth during this time. Here is our booklist for Ancient Rome

books for ancient historyWe thoroughly enjoyed using living books for Ancient History.
Next up, the Middle Ages! 

 

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Reading in the Early Years (Three simple things that worked for us!)

Reading in the Early Years

Reading is the bedrock of education.  Once you learn to read, you can teach yourself anything.  Once you learn how to read, you are on the path to becoming a lifelong learner. 

Unfortunately, teaching reading is also one of those things that can scare parents away from homeschooling in the early years.  And it doesn’t need to be that way!

As we now have three readers in the house, I’ve had a chance to look back  and consider three simple tools we used to teach reading in the early years.  

This blog post contains affiliate links and any purchases made through such links will result in a small commission for me (at no extra cost to you).

Reading in the early years

1) Reading Aloud

I feel like a broken record with this one, but reading aloud is probably the best thing you can do to set your child up to be a lifelong reader and learner. 

Remember, some children will be “late bloomers” when it comes to reading.  Our middle son fell into this category, and we actually took a break from teaching him how to read, and simply read aloud to him until his brain was ready.  That decision, which seemed crazy to some, paid off immensely. 

If a child is resistant to learning the mechanics of how to read and it causes frustration or tears, I highly recommend focusing on just reading aloud to them, until they are ready. 

2)Bob Books

Bob Books were a good starting point for teaching our kiddos the basics of reading.  Bob Books appeal to young kids because the books are small and can easily be held by a child. And the characters are a little silly which also appeals to children.

The boxes these books come in are colorful and visually appealing (each color represents a level) and the books steadily progress in difficulty.  Each book read gives the child a sense of accomplishment.   

reading in the early years

While Bob Books played a part in each of our children learning to read, some of our kids enjoyed them more than others. They are repetitive, which is great for learning how to read, but some learners may grow tired of them quickly.

3) Explode the Code Workbooks

With a focus on phonics, Explode the Code workbooks and are a fun and easy way to teach kids the building blocks of words. 

Our daughter worked through a couple of these (Books 1 & 2) and then we felt they weren’t necessary anymore.  She is a natural reader, writer and speller, and once it became busywork, we deemed it unnecessary. 

reading in the early years

Our son (age 10), however, is starting book 8,  and has benefited from working through the entire series. Though he IS a strong reader, he is NOT a natural speller and these books have been instrumental in helping him see the breakdown of words.  He also really enjoys working through them.

Our youngest (age 6) also enjoys working through the Explode the Code books and they have been a catalyst in his reading journey.  I suspect he will not need to work through the whole series, but he is enjoying them for now.  

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Book 1
Reading in the early years
Book 1

 

img_3476
Book 8

*********

Remember, learning how to read should be enjoyable!  If there are tears, just read to your child (this can also include audiobooks!) until they are ready. 

 

 

 

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Getting Started With Homeschooling

Getting Started With Homeschooling: Everything You Need to Know!

Are you just getting started with homeschooling, or wondering if it would even be feasible for your family.

Homeschooling has been all the talk these last few weeks. For various reasons, more are considering it as an option this fall.

I personally had years to think about our first year of homeschooling, and I feel bad for those who are overwhelmed at the thought and paralyzed – not sure how to even get started.

Thankfully due to so many being in the same boat, there are more resources than ever!  Which is a blessing AND a curse, because it’s a bit of information OVERLOAD!

I created an ebook: ‘Everything You Need to Know to Get Started Homeschooling’ as a resource for those just starting out.

What’s included:

  • Types of Homeschooling
  • Picking a Curriculum
  • Homeschooling Littles
  • Planning Your Day
  • Homeschooling on a Budget
  • Homeschool Requirements

And more!

To receive this FREE resource click here.

Getting Started Homeschooling

Homeschooling can (and should) be an enjoyable experience, even if it’s only for an indefinite amount of time. And it doesn’t need to be complicated!  My hope is this resource is encouraging and empowering to those just getting started.

*If you’re already on my email list but would like a copy, please send me an email at [email protected] and I’ll be happy to send you one!

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