😁Guest Post by Joanna Bischoff Homeschooling from a Mom of 3 How It All Began I look up from my desk. Three little heads, of varying heights and sizes, are intently bent over their desks, each at a (hopefully) brain-building school activity. In front of me is the homeschool area that I saw on Pinterest…
All posts tagged homeschooling
Working from Home Without Losing Your Mind
Before we get to the practical, let me share my story… My Journey in Working from Home – I have been working 50 – 60 hour weeks (without payment) for over 17 years. When I type that out it sounds like a lot. I guess it actually is. For me, it has just been 20…
Using Timers in Homeschooling
Timers can be used for many types of work and tasks. They can work as reminders, help kids with focus, and keep us from distraction. I use a variety of timers throughout my day. Here I will share how I apply these ideas to my homeschool day. See this article for how I use timers…
1st Day of School – My #1 Tip
We are headed into Back to School season here in Arizona. The heat is kicking our butts and we are all anxious for the fall weather to bring us rain and some relief. But, unfortunately, we have a few more months of desert heat to get through. So public schools go back early (usually end…
Homeschool Planning 101 – 3 Tips for Your Schedule
Before I can plan out subjects and specific homeschool lessons, I need to know what our school year schedule will look like. I need to know what classes we are signing up for and what our daily rhythm will be. Each school year is slightly different and often the extra classes change with the kids’…
Creating a Gentle On-Ramp Back Into Homeschooling Planning
I needed a break from my teaching job this summer. I needed a rest from constantly holding so much information and responsibility. I could feel myself getting close to burnout again and so I took the summer off. I decided to just be Mom to my kiddos. Not teacher, planner, homeschooler, and doer of all…
The Overstuffed Suitcase vs. Nurturing My Children
I often add a sense of urgency to education which is not helpful for a learning atmosphere. When I was a teacher in the public school system, I was pushed to have my students perform well on test scores. To fill them up with as much information as I could. The goal was to meet…
Taking a Summer Break from Homeschool
I think we all deserve a summer break. I have come across an interesting phenomenon in homeschool families. They expect to be doing school work year-round. Whether they are intentionally year-round schooling or just always feeling guilty for “not getting enough school work done”. I have experienced this guilt in my own home as well.…
Practical Questions for Spring Reflection & Planning
[Here is a favorite from the archive. I hope it helps you as we move through this season.] It is spring. The Palo Verde trees are blooming and it is heating up during the day. As I rummage for my flip-flops in my closet, I begin to think about our summer plans. What will this…
Day in the Life – Homeschooling 4 Kids
Here is a glimpse into what my day looks like. I sit at the schoolroom table with 4 kids (with 4 different grade levels), 2 dogs, 3 cats, and my cup of coffee. It is a Wednesday and we are working on our schoolwork. Two kids are reading on the couch, a dog is playing with…