Encouragement Archives - All the Homeschool Things

How I Finally Realized That Relaxed Homeschooling is the BEST Approach

November 5, 2018 November 5, 2018 By Andrea @ All the Homeschool Things 1 Comment

I always knew something was a little different about my oldest – that was one of the main reasons I decided to look into homeschooling in the first place. We had her in kindergarten at the local public school, and we had some issues regarding her spirited behavior. She was a great kid, and she actually never got in trouble, but at her conferences, we had teachers explaining to us that one day she will have issues if we don’t get her hyperactivity under control and teach her how to be calmer. Basically, she wasn’t fitting their box and that

How to Become a Learning Family

October 14, 2018 October 15, 2018 By Andrea @ All the Homeschool Things Leave a Comment

When you hear the word education, what comes to mind? Is it school? Do you think a degree equals education? While schooling and earning qualifications are a part of education, they are not everything. Education is a process and experience, not just a checklist to complete. Education really begins long before any schooling does. It is experienced first in the home through family interactions, listening to stories, and experiencing the world around you. You may wonder when education ends, in truth, it never should. Continual education is the hallmark of a prosperous mind and life. Everyone knows that continuing education

Top Tips for New Homeschool Moms

September 9, 2018 August 24, 2018 By Andrea @ All the Homeschool Things 5 Comments

The new school year is upon us and for most homeschooling families, we are either planning to start our new year soon or already have. Somewhere, there is a mom who has just made the decision to homeschool, or maybe she’s been at it a year or two, but still feels overwhelmed and lost at times. Is this you? I remember being in that spot about 5 years ago. I was confused, I didn’t know where to start, I was unsure if I could do it, I was excited, nervous, and scared all at the same time. Yes, I’ve been there

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Homeschool Plans

September 9, 2018 August 23, 2018 By Andrea @ All the Homeschool Things 2 Comments

We can buy a course or find countless blogs extolling the virtues of homeschooling planning. They tell us to have a plan in place so we won’t be spinning our wheels or wasting our precious homeschool time. I understand its appeal, a plan for the entire year sounds lovely. But is it realistic? Our home isn’t an educational institution that carries on no matter the individual circumstances. If a child misses a day of third grade, oh well, the class continues, and it’s up to the child and their family to complete the work. Homeschooling doesn’t work that way. Homeschooling

10 Sanity Savers When You Need a Homeschool Break

September 9, 2018 August 22, 2018 By Andrea @ All the Homeschool Things 5 Comments

“It’s only the beginning of the school year, why are we already talking about taking a homeschool break?” Trust me, even if you don’t think you will need a homeschool break now, the time will come, my friend… the time will come. My first day of homeschooling was spent with me running between my bathroom, closet, and kitchen table trying not to cry in front of my daughter. Last year, our first day of school went off without a hitch… well, until a fight broke out, whining ensued, a kid started crying, and I sent everyone to their rooms for

How to Stop Stressing Over Homeschool Planning

September 9, 2018 August 21, 2018 By Andrea @ All the Homeschool Things 1 Comment

You ever see the “have it all together” homeschool moms on Pinterest, Instagram, and other social media accounts? You know, the ones who have the perfect homeschool room, spotless house…they even have their homeschool year all planned out before they finish the current year. I always wondered how in the world they did it! I mean, and still be able to keep up with the house, spend time with the husband, spend time with the kids, spend time with friends, etc. I still have no idea but I do know that I am NOT that mom. I also know that we

Guard Your Time: 7 Tips for Homeschoolers

September 9, 2018 August 19, 2018 By Andrea @ All the Homeschool Things Leave a Comment

It’s a teacher-in-service day and your friend, whose kids go to the neighborhood public school, asks you, “Can you watch Susie, Johnny, and Frankie today?” Your neighbor, who has two preschool-aged children, has taken a new job and now has to make childcare arrangements. She asks you if you’ll watch them, because “You’re home anyway.” Your aunt has recently retired, and she wants to spend more time with you and your kids. That’s great. The problem? She wants to do it right in the middle of the day and doesn’t seem to understand that just because you’re home, doesn’t mean

You CAN Homeschool! 9 Homeschool Myths Debunked

September 9, 2018 August 18, 2018 By Andrea @ All the Homeschool Things Leave a Comment

Homeschool myths were huge concerns for me when I decided I wanted to homeschool! I have to be honest and say that I didn’t think that I was fit to be a homeschool mom after hearing these things from other people. But once I discovered that these are only myths, the idea of homeschooling became so much easier to grasp. Today I want to share with you the nine most commons myths about homeschooling. You, too, can homeschool your children once you can see beyond the myths floating around about homeschooling.

Keeping Your Homeschool Priorities Straight

September 9, 2018 August 16, 2018 By Andrea @ All the Homeschool Things 3 Comments

Every year, it seems even easier than the last to get sucked in by all the new and shiny curriculum. I can add two or three more subjects in, right? And maybe another co-op class, because it looks so good? When you add in field trips, sports, and other extracurriculars, it can become overwhelming. There has to be a trick to keeping your homeschool priorities straight! I’ve been there, and it’s not pretty. One year, my son even made me promise that I would let him approve activities before I signed him up for them. You see, he was doing

Before Homeschooling High School Do These 3 Things

September 9, 2018 August 14, 2018 By Andrea @ All the Homeschool Things 3 Comments

“I’m homeschooling high school.” Gulp! The realization hit me hard and fast when someone asked me what grades my children were in. All of a sudden I realized my little babies were no longer…little nor babies. I mean, I knew that they weren’t little as they both tower over me. But knowing and realizing the impact on our life and homeschool is a little different. When facing homeschooling high school, FEAR is a common emotion. Fear is also amazing. It can either freeze you in place or it can drive you to find the solutions you need.