Frugal and Free Homeschooling {part 5}

Is it possible to homeschool for free or inexpensively?  Yes, it is. I remember lamenting that I was so low I didn’t have enough money to send my kids to school.  At the time, I felt like I had failed entirely.  Then, I realized what a blessing to know I had no way to go but up and that I could not send my kids to school.  I did not have a car nor money to buy clothes, shoes, and materials just to go to school.  I was forced to see the true cost of homeschooling.  The cost is very … Continue reading

Can Your Homeschool Blog Earn Money? {Part 2}

In part 1 of, Can Your Homeschool Blog Earn Money?, I covered how to create a blog posts that attract readers.  Creating good content is the first step to creating a quality blog.  I cover this in Blogging Tips and Tricks as well.  Today, I want to cover a few more background areas before discussing opportunities, so hang in there.  When I say profitable with regards to your homeschool, I do not simply mean financially. Let’s start by exploring what makes a good homeschool blog. The competition is fierce.  While you need to be aware of what your competitors are … Continue reading

Can Your Homeschool Blog Earn Money? {Part 1}

The homeschool cup runneth over with homeschool blogs.  Many frazzled homeschool moms and those at a loss for inspiration have found restoration in many of the amazing homeschool blogs on the net today.    My experiences blogging about homeschooling has opened up a world that I may have otherwise missed; both as a homeschooling mom and as one who profits from blogging.  Many homeschool moms have also discovered this opportunity and desire to learn more about profiting from their blogs. Since most homeschool homes balance on the tip of one income this potential source of support or business is becoming more … Continue reading

Is there shame in quitting homeschooling?

Due to the strong feelings toward homeschooling it is often looked at as some sort of exclusive club. The club that lets you in but will never let you out unless you defect and that my friend is like a good old fashioned Amish shunning. At least this is the feeling I get from moms who email me for encouragement when their homeschooling days come to an end. For some reason or another they can no longer homeschool but they are told by others not to give up, they can do it, or they are harming their children by sending … Continue reading

Putting it Together: Blogging Tips, Part 3

Baker’s Dozen of Blogging Tips, part 3 Remove the Navigation Bar: The navbar on your blogger blog looks unprofessional. If you want to give a more polished impression remove it. Guest Posts: Guest posting on blogs is a great way to bring more exposure to your own blog. Accepting guest posts will do the same as that blogger will bring her traffic to you. It is also a great way to get to know and form friendships with other bloggers. Facebook Page: If you do not have a Facebook page for your blog then create one. I read that 1 … Continue reading

The Brave Homeschooling Parent

Being a parent takes bravery, and a homeschooling parent is a perfect example of this. We’re pretty brave just to make the decision to homeschool in the first place, but then we add an additional layer of courage as we allow our children to experiment. Experimentation is a fantastic way to learn. It’s how all the great inventors accomplished the things they did. Can you imagine if Thomas Edison’s mother had forbidden him to play with electrical sparks? No significant amount of progress is made without some element of risk, and no real discovery is ever made without stepping into … Continue reading

Family Game Night: Wits and Wagers

“”A Family Edition of the Most Award-Winning Party Game in History!”” Summary from the North Star Games: Wits & Wagers Family simplifies the rules and scoring system of the popular Wits & Wagers. Now families and kids can get into the Wits & Wagers action! First, every player writes down a guess to a fun question. Then players try to score points by choosing which guess is closest to the right answer without going over. That is it! The game features 300 new family-friendly questions. And even better than that, Wits & Wagers Family includes Meeples– fun, cute, human shaped … Continue reading

Homeschooling and the Work-at-Home Mom, Part One

This last August, Richele wrote a great article about being a homeschooling mom and running a home business at the same time. Those of us who like to operate from home seem to do it in a multi-facted way, don’t we? I thought I’d take a few minutes to add my thoughts to Richele’s. I am a homeschooling mom, and I have been since my children were born. I was taught at home, so it seemed perfectly natural to me. What would be weird is sending my kids to public school. I am also a work-at-home mom. I’ve done this … Continue reading

Hand Me Down Curriculum: Benefits and Drawbacks

It’s almost September, and you’re on the hunt for curriculum. You’ve visited web sites, talked to your friends, and scoured the brains of those in your local homeschooling groups. You have a list of curriculum you want, and you know where to get it. Then you look at the price. Ack! Curriculum can be expensive, especially if you want to get a lot of different packages at the same time. If curriculum prices have you reeling, it’s time for a trip to the Used Curriculum Store. Don’t you wish that there was such a thing? What are the advantages of … Continue reading

Can You (and Should You) Talk About Serious Social Issues With Your Child?

Yes. In a word, yes. You should talk about serious social issues with your child. My daughter was sick this week and we were watching The Sound of Music. Until a few months ago, I had never watched this movie. I’d played its music ad infinitum in band classes from grade 6 on, but I’d avoided watching it. However, my daughter loves musicals, so The Sound of Music it has been, over and over for the past few months. The Sound of Music is a relatively light movie until just over halfway through. It involves a lot of singing and … Continue reading