For many homeschoolers, the end of the school year is marked with the need for a standardized test or portfolio review. How about an evaluation done by the parents of the  year itself? End of the year evaluations I strongly suggest setting aside time to evaluate EACH child with the following list: What worked well academically? What didn't work well academically? What activities worked well? Which activities didn't work well? Name some high points of the year. Name some low points or stressors In what areas does this child excel? In what areas does this child need to improve? Now, go through the list and try to define "why" for questions 1-4. Next, is there anything in questions 2 or 4 that can be changed? (Make a note of it!) For question 5, rejoice! Can these experiences be repeated next year? Were these once in a lifetime happenings or repeat issues for question 6? Are there ways to turn these into positives… [more]

There is always some form of the ickies (a.k.a. viruses) floating around.  Given the nature of homeschooling, Mom is privy to the brunt of them all.  But, that doesn't mean she has to succumb to them! I've been blessed with following some basic recommendations shared with me years ago by a wise, older woman.  Recently I got hit with the latest 'icky' and am still recovering.   It was a good time to revisit that list and see where I had fallen off the wagon. Now, obviously this isn't an exhaustive list for health by any means.  But, a practical one for hectic lives! Quick & Easy Tips for Staying Healthy! *Meet with your Creator during the day! *Hug your loved ones! *Reconcile unresolved stress! Either go directly to the source and resolve the conflict -OR- if this isn't possible, take it before the Lord.  Do not allow to fester. *Get enough sleep! Shoot to be in bed by 10 pm.  Every hour of sleep you get before midnight coun… [more]

You all have seen her - Fun Mom.  The Mom who packs her family's week full of fun and adventure.  Who changes plans for a last minute filed trip without blinking.  Her children have rich experiences and ever changing days. I know that Mom. I use to be THAT Mom. Changes Several year ago things changed.  Or should I say, the season changed.  With the birth of a rather demanding child and my oldest entering middle school, it just wasn't as easy (both school-wise and nerve-wise) to have so many variables in our schedule. I found myself having to do a lot of letting go of expectations, desires and plans in favor of maintaining peace and order.  It was definitely a different place!   Soon, my oldest moved into high school and there were more changes.  Our Nip Napper got older and a little more agreeable and so, there were more changes.   I see now that while my idea of 'Fun Mom' has died, Fun Mom has now become 'Adaptable Mom'.  Adaptable Mom works on the flow of… [more]

I can give you a couple dozen reasons why you should homeschool.  We could debate upon test scores, the myths of socialization and more.  Instead, I'd like to use an example from YOUR OWN life....   Why on earth would you want to Homeschool?   If you've graduated from school, in whatever form it was, I want you to close your eyes. Now, picture some of the best learning days you had while in school. Done? Ok.  Now, let me ask you this.... How many of those days included a special workbook page? How about a spirited recitation of monotonous facts? How about that awesome film strip back in social studies?  (*note:  For those of you too young to know what a filmstrip is, it's a stagnant picture projected onto a screen with a sound track generally playing on a cassette tape recorder.  At the sound of the "ding" the teacher advances the film to the next frame.) I'm willing to guess that the most memorable learning days of the vast majority of you reading this had som… [more]

Here is part two of Becky's incredible story of homeschooling with a chronic, progressive illness.  If you haven't read part 1, please read here.  You can connect with Becky at her blog,  There is Hope. ~Lisa Homeschooling With a Chronic Progressive Illness Returning to the story and hoping you gain some encouragement as you read.  The years flew by and God was faithful to sustain me and to provide.  Hebrew 11 in the Holy Bible is on faith.  We often read this chapter for focus and encouragement.  As I said in part one, we had several ups and downs that God used to do a NEW WORK within us.  Hebrews 11:39-40 sums it up well, “These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised.  God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.” As our youngest approached pre-K and our oldest, middle school, my health spiraled out of control.  It had become obvious that I was not responding favorab… [more]

Is homeschooling possible when you AND your children are dealing with a chronic disease? I'd like to introduce you to the Heather Laurie.  She's a homeschool mom dealing with mitrochondrial disease.  She is an inspiration to many not only as a symbol of God's grace to one who raises children under trying circumstances but as one who raises and ministers to children who share the same health issues. As you read Heather's story and see how the Lord uses her family to minister to others, I'm sure you will be blessed! ~Lisa Homeschooling:  Falling Back on Faith My husband and I were told that our children and I had a disease called mitochondrial disease. This is a chronic, progressive, and life shortening disease with no treatment or cure. There is nothing I can say that can truly explain how horribly bare, raw, scared, and lost that left us feeling. The only reason we didn’t completely collapse was we were able to pray for strength in the parking garage o… [more]

When things go haywire in your homeschool, refocus! It was a horrible, monstrous, disastrous day! It was one of those mornings that you read about in homeschool blogs with some horrible, monstrous, disastrous title to grab your attention. Um....er...oh yeah.... guilty! It was probably one of our worst homeschooling days E-V-E-R!  Everything that could go wrong did, resulting in one pile up after another. Stop, drop and roll.  Refocus Your Homeschool! Tears and fighting over school work ....and over chores ....and over conflict ....and over relationships I think we hit every bump in the road that morning, plus made a few new pot holes of our own. Everyone needed a time-out, including Mommy! Thinking back over our morning, I grasped to understand why this day was so particularly horrible.  And though the kids were definitely at their worst, I realized that the heart of the problem had to do with mine.  My heart.  My heart just wasn't into it. E… [more]

I can remember in my early days of homeschooling talking to a veteran Homeschool mom about a phonics curriculum I had just purchased.  I boasted that I would be able to use it for each subsequent child.  She smiled sweetly, put her hand on my arm and told me gently, "It may not work for your other children.  One size does not fit all!" Learning styles.  One size does not fit all! I gingerly brushed off her comment, for surely she had to be wrong! The first child sailed through the curriculum.  After some  tweaking, the next child sailed through as well. The third child sailed into the curriculum with a resounding 'THUD'.  There was no amount of tweaking that could fix this one.  Turns out, my veteran friend knew a thing or two! I'm happy to say that since that time all three children are reading.  I had one read early, one "right on schedule" and one read late.  However, the approach for each was different. Rather than labeling a child who doesn't 'conform' to a parti… [more]

I'm thrilled to bring you this guest post from Becky.  She's a homeschooling Mom of 2 (one still at home) who is dealing with a chronic illness.  With the Lord's help she continues to teach her son.  Becky is an inspiration to me because she is steadfast in her faith and her walk with the Lord in spite of what is going on in her physical body.  To hear her praise Him in the midst of this storm and walk out her faith with absolute certainty challenges me to walk worthy of my calling.  I know her story of "God's mercy, grace, power, love and HOPE" will bless and challenge you as well.  Please visit Becky at her blog  There is Hope. ~Lisa Homeschooling With a Chronic Progressive Illness    In the darkest of moments His light shines bright. His loving, pierced hands hold me tight . His amazing love washes over, bringing me comfort, peace, and assurance. Because of my Jesus Christ I have HOPE despite chronic progressive illnesses. It is the POWER of that HOPE that saw me t… [more]

The foundation for any homeschool is the family.  It is vital to sow into your family in order to keep it strong and healthy.  Nothing can take the place of spending time engaging with your spouse and your children! Building the foundation of your homeschool Interrupting our usual school routine, we took some much needed time to enjoy one another's company and a little friendly competition as well! It's rare when Dad can join us on an outing.  We were blessed with his presence and a deep discount as well!   "A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken." Proverbs 15:13 NKJV Meaningful outings do not need to drain your wallet.  Free outings, such as trips to the park can be just as wonderful.    Pray, relax and seek activities that will connect you and your children.  Smile, laugh and enjoy!  (Just remember to turn those electronic devices off !) " A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit … [more]

Pitfalls of Homeschooling the Compliant Child Homeschooling an obedient, compliant child seems like a stress-free dream come true for most parents. These kids generally have pleasing dispositions, are easy to get along with, move with the flow, don't look for fights and take direction well. Because of this, when they are in trouble they don't always throw up the white flag. I am blessed with "one of those" kids. But, recently I have had to learn their subtle signals for help. Unlike a "vocal / opinionated " child, the compliant child isn't as quick to announce that they are having problems. Homeschooling the Compliant Child If you are homeschooling a compliant child, here are some cues to look for: *Subtle changes in temperament especially regarding a previously well-loved subject. * Procrastination! *Vague answers in regards to completed work * Avoidance of discussions about school My compliant child is my oldest, who is a 9th grader. For the most part, schoo… [more]

Admittedly, our initial reason for homeschooling has changed over the years.   However, the basics of our homeschool philosophy has not changed in 10 years.  And that is to allow our children to learn at their own pace while not holding them back at a certain level OR ostracizing them for any weak area.  To be able to spend extra time and effort in subjects that needs work and to launch them in areas of strength. So, in essence my children do not run at one consistent grade level but work according to their abilities spanning several grade levels within their schooling. Recently I was reading a literature selection to my children.  (Yes, we still do read alouds even after they can read on their own!). This passage from Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield Fisher, so summarizes why I'm passionate about homeschooling and not in favor of a 'one-size fits all' approach to education!!!!!   Homeschooling:  Lessons from Literature   "Elizabeth Ann fell back on th… [more]

In keeping with the season of Thanksgiving, I thought I'd share one of our favorite Holiday crafts.  If you have relatives coming in from out of town, or are blessed with extended family in your own backyard, why not make something to treasure for years to come? How to Make a Thanksgiving Keepsake / Family Heirloom Tablecloth! I can't take credit for this fabulous idea!  Before Thanksgiving another homeschooling Mom posted pictures of an awesome 'Thankful Tablecloth' she created with her family.  After she explained how easy it was and relatively inexpensive (well under $20), I knew I HAD to make one as well. The original "Thanksgiving Tablecloth" included thankful quotes from each member of the family and a corresponding scripture.  We decided on a slightly different take.  We omitted writing our 'thanksgivings' on it until next year and choosing a blessing verse. It's so simple!  First, measure your table.  Then, buy the appropriate sized tablecloth (pref… [more]

This guest post commentary is by Karen Miner Hurd, a long time proponent of  homeschooling and Parental Rights.  Think your homeschool rights are assured because you live in the United States of America?  Think again! UN Treaty Threatens US Homeschoolers Impoverished children sold into sexual slavery by their parents. Disabled children denied medical care because they belong to the wrong social caste. Pictures of starving children in countries torn apart by strife fill our social media feeds and televisions, tear at our hearts . The world should stand against such evil! Who will bring a renegade dictator to justice? Who will make sure that the innocent do not suffer? The cry is heard by an international human rights organization. Documentaries and fundraising appeals reach into our homes. An international treaty to end such injustice is proposed. Bad Legislation never seems evil. It often sounds like a good idea. Like Satan who masquerades as an angel of light, the U.N. Inter… [more]

Hind sight is 20-20!  Looking back at our homeschool journey, if I could travel back in time here's what I would tell "worried old me" concerning my 9 year old son and his struggle with creative writing. A Letter of Homeschool Encouragement Postdated Five Years Ago Dear Lisa:   I know you are questioning whether or not you are cut out for this job of homeschool Mom.  Let me assure you, by default, you are uniquely qualified and gifted by your Creator.   I know you are ready to pull your hair out because your almost 4th grade son can barely write a sentance on his own without crying.   This has left you feeling like a failure.  Here's what you don't know.  Your insistence on reading and stressing its' importance will carry him further than you know.  In fact, it is the most valuable academic pursuit you've taught him.  It will show in his reasoning, communication, vocabulary and ability to be a self-directed learner. Don't fret about writing.  The ability… [more]

Do you think teaching science in your homeschool has to be dull and dry?  Think again!  There are many ways to incorporate hands on learning to your studies.   For one of our learning experiences I brought in our stash of stuffed animals to help my kids with the concept of Taxonomy.   Fun with Taxonomy - Hands on Homeschool! In our study of  Apologia's Flying Creatures and Biology we first thought of our own Classification System Mnemonic to help remember Taxonomy:  Klingons (Kingdom) Pop (Phylum) Corn (Class) On (Order) Friendly (Family) Gas (Genus) Stoves (Species).  Then we gathered  the plethora of stuffed animals in the house and tried to fit them into Kingdom, Phylum, Class and in some cases Order.   Armed with Apologia's Flying Creatures and older brother's Apologia Biology book  plus the internet, my kids did a good job organizing and classifying.  They had fun AND it was a great way to help them visualize this aspect of science!   … [more]

My husband has a saying, "All good plans are subject to change."  I've had to adopt that saying recently in our homeschool when a chosen curriculum didn't pan out for one of our children. Homeschool Woes - What do you do when your Curriculum isn't Working?   Here's the scenario.   You are plugging away homeschooling your children.  You've done your best and think you've accommodated their unique learning styles --- only to discover that you have a curriculum FAIL on your hands for one of your blossoming students.   What do you do?   -Quit?   -Run Away?   -Hide?   -Pull out your hair?   -Cry?   -All of the above?   A product that I recently reviewed, LOVED, recommended and even switched to has fallen with a 'kerplunk' on the 'curriculum floor'.   As a homeschooler, reviewer and blogger, I feel like this 'issue' is magnified 100 fold. … [more]

This happened in our homeschool  a few months ago.  I am happy to report that we are still seeing improvements in our daughter's abilities and so thankful that this mountain was really a molehill! In Your Homeschool Don't Overlook the Obvious! In this day and age of learning labels, it can be easy to get carried away! Don't get me wrong, there are children who really do fit a certain diagnosis and receive the appropriate help afterwards. But, in that, it's also easy to over jump the problem and arrive at a hasty decision. Case in point - my 8 year old daughter.... Her reading was delayed.  Reading was a laborious undertaking which she dreaded.  In addition, her handwriting and spelling were atrocious!  She had all the signs of her brain not working in sync and needing Brain Integration Therapy. Visions of $$$$$ signs danced before my eyes. A good friend and fellow homeschooler suggested having her eyes checked.  I dismissed the idea as I thought if that was all it was,… [more]

For some, just the thought of homeschooling makes them faint.  But what about those that homeschool in a third world  country?  How do they do it? Personally, I'm in awe of families who are able to blend these two lifestyles.  Alisha of A Daily Process is doing just that.  Her family of 5 is currently serving the Lord in Tanzania.  Here's their story! Homeschooling Missionaries… I’ve been homeschooling since the day my children were born. It was one of those lifestyle decisions that my husband and I made before I was even pregnant. We prayed about it and felt that God was calling us to be committed to having me be at home and educate our children from the very beginning. I heard from many veteran homeschooling moms that homeschooling can be difficult; but, that if God has called you to do it, He will equip you and strengthen you. I also distinctly remember them saying to me, “When it gets hard, that is the time to remember you were called. Unless God changes His mess… [more]

Another aspect of homeschooling is the ability for Mom to learn alongside her children.  Perhaps you have large holes in what you learned in history or science when you were in school.  Or, as I have found, it's a whole lot more interesting learning on your own forgoing those boring and dry text books.  Whether is concrete facts, such as math or spiritual life lessons, the important thing is that we are always learning. Homeschooling - What I Learned from Math-U-See and Life of Fred:   "I don't get it!" "The guy makes no sense!" "No matter how much I watch the DVD, I just don't get it." So, breaking from our homeschooling tradition, I allowed my 11 year olds' protests over our long-time, trust-worthy math program to get to me.   Following some advice, I picked up an inexpensive Math book that was more story-like and "fun" with my son's approval.   And, guess what I heard the following week?  Yep!  I was again greeted with another round… [more]