Frugal and Free Homeschooling {part 1}

Many have pushed aside the idea of homeschooling due to a lack of finances. Many make the decision to stop homeschooling because of a difficult financial time. Hearts that feel the impact of failing make decisions that cause them to retreat and not go forward. You are not a failure. If you are experiencing a hard time or you feel you can not afford to homeschool, do not feel shame. Many more struggle behind those happy Facebook status updates and expensive looking science experiments on blogs. A few years ago, I was in a financial situation that I feared would … Continue reading →

iPad App: Homeschool Helper

When I was in the market for a planner, I could not find the right one. I also knew that I did not want one more book to at my desk. So, after reading about the Homeschool Helper app, I decided to splurge and spend the $4.99 and give it a try. After all, $4.99 for a planner is a pretty good deal and especially so for this app. I highly recommend it if you enjoy using your iPad for homeschooling. Some may still prefer the pen and paper method over the type and iPad method. Normally, I would agree … Continue reading →

Planning for Fall

For me it is the time of year that I plan for the coming school year. I allow my children to take the summers off so fall really is a “back to school” time for us. We may do some science experiments, field trips, and math, during the summer but for the most part it is just for fun. I truly believe kids need unscheduled time to allow the lessons to manifest through active play. However, I am far from traditional in my educational approach even though we use a traditional calendar. And if truth be told, the summers help … Continue reading →

Scheduling Tips

Any endeavor that requires organization and scheduling on a regular basis is fragile in the hands of a flawed human. Homeschooling is one such endeavor which can turn from calm sunny skies to a thunderstorm with little warning. The storms come to every homeschool family at one time or another. Yet, a state of chaos should be the exception and not the rule. If you are living in a chaotic homeschool situation, it will frustrate everyone involved, and that is does not make for a proper educational atmosphere. Homeschooling is busy, crazy, fun, exhausting, amazing, and full of ups and … Continue reading →

In the News: Preschooler Forced to Eat Chicken Nuggets in School

In the news today was a story that should not have surprised but alas I was anyway. Fox News reported that a preschool girl was not allowed to eat the lunch her mother packed for her because the contents did not meet “”U.S. Department of Agriculture guidelines.”” The student was provided a lunch of chicken nuggets provided by the school cafeteria to provide the nutrition she needed to live. In what world can chicken nuggets provided by a school lunchroom be considered edible much less healthy? You may be thinking that her mother surely packed her a lunch of wood … Continue reading →

Take a Teacher Work Day!

Have you ever taken a Teacher Work Day? As homeschooling moms we are in charge of a lot from laundry to grading spelling tests. Our jobs can get overwhelming and we can often get behind in our planning and organizing. Now, if you are someone who does not understand how anyone can get behind on laundry or loses track of a plan for the day then kudos to you and please let me know how you do it. I, for one, am far from organized and easily get behind on laundry. I run a home, a homeschool and I work. … Continue reading →

Planning for a New Year

The New Year is upon us and it is time to re-evaluate our homeschools. If you follow the traditional calendar then you have around five to six months left of school. Start the year off right by determining what needs to be changed to make the most of the last part of the school year. As homeschoolers we have the ability to be flexible and cut out what doesn’t work while keeping what does. Homeschoolers need to constantly evaluate the needs of our children and our homeschool. Here are some questions to ask yourself as you come off of winter … Continue reading →

Quiet Time

I lived for naptimes when my children were young enough to make naps. It was my time to go over lessons, plan the next day, or just sit with a cup of tea and do my devotions or read a book. It was like an hour lunch break that I desperately needed. When it was over I felt energized and ready to take on the rest of the afternoon and evening. Of course there were times I did not want to see it end. As time went on my children no longer needed naps but my need for them to … Continue reading →

Stay on Track without Going Crazy

Regardless of how you plan or not plan your homeschool day we all have the same amount of hours in the day. Many love to follow a strict schedule to keep them on track every hour of the school day. Many prefer a flexible schedule while some prefer not to schedule at all. At some point most homeschoolers formulate even a lose plan due to the sheer amount of work that needs to be accomplished in a day. I prefer a flexible schedule since I am apt to throw in the towel at the first sign a rigid schedule would … Continue reading →

When do I clean: Practical Changes

One of the advantages of being disorderly is that one is constantly making exciting discoveries. ~A. A. Milne I love that quote. It describes my personality entirely. You would be amazed at the items I find and become distracted by while attempting a task or to clean. I once found a Verizon rebate Visa card, sadly, it was expired. Another time I found an old box filled with cards and items I intended to put in a baby book for my third child. I never started it and she is now six years old. While, these finds are good for … Continue reading →