Search Results for: blog what made you decide to homeschool

Virtue Lessons Made Easy

  Product:  Virtue Flash Cards, Handbook, Butterfly Award, Coloring Pages, and Character Assessment Company:  We Choose Virtues Use:  To teach character development from a biblical or secular point of view. Grade Recommendation:  3rd-5th (older children can help teach and younger children will enjoy the lessons as well) Homeschool Method: Any Rating:  5 out of 5 golden apples Highlights Simple program with minimal prep and maximum results Can be used with to enhance current character or biblical lessons or as a stand alone Takes minutes a day Adaptable to large families with multi-aged children Great for Sunday school or co-ops Affordable What is … Continue reading →

Smylebii: Something to make you Smyle

I love the ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit that some homeschoolers display. One homeschool business that I am excited to see flourish is Smylebii. Smylebii is the creative effort of four homeschool girls who have learned to find joy in all situations. They want to spread that joy through their business. Smylebiis are figurines, charms, and keychains, that are sure to make you smile. They will custom make a one of a kind Smylebii just for you! Who are the Smyles behind Smylebiis? We are four home schooled daughters of an Evangelist/Missionary to North America. We love to make people smile … Continue reading →

Are You Afraid of Summer?

It’s the end of June. For many people, school is ending. Whatever your pattern, it’s likely that if you’re involved in extracurricular activities or summer vacations at all, your patterns will change during the summer months. While this is lovely and can lead to restful times, exciting times at camps, and happy family days together, the summer can also bring stress. In recent years, I’ve realized that June is another early December. Many years ago, I started to clear out December. It had become a month of intensive family activity, and it didn’t need to be. Yes, Christmas is a … 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 →

Teaching Your Children Your Morals

Not all homeschooling families are religious, but many are, and have chosen to incorporate their values into their homeschool curriculums. This is true of me and my family. We are Latter-day Saints, and we choose to make our religion an integral part of our lives. This overflows into everything from our interactions with each other to the way we approach certain subjects—creationism rather than evolution, for instance. The other night, I had an experience that made me sit back and look at my daughter in a new light. She has been taught from infancy what we believe, and I know … Continue reading →

Homeschool Smackdown

We’ve made the decision to homeschool. We’ve turned away from the pressures of trying to compete with the public school and we’re good with our decision to be a little different. We’ve found our curriculum, we’ve organized our supplies, and we’re really happy with how we’ve decided to proceed. Invariably, though, we’ll find ourselves in a conversation like this: Us: “So, you homeschool too?” Them: “Why, yes, I do. I’ve had all twenty-four of my children at home, with no drugs, and I’ve taught them at home since birth. They all said their ABC’s shortly after their first diaper change, … Continue reading →

Embrace What Interests Your Teen

When my children were younger I went through a stint where I homeschooled them. In fact, my now 16-year-old son was homeschooled all the way through 4th grade. I didn’t put him into school until 5th grade. One of the things that I really enjoyed about homeschooling was the opportunity to really embrace my children’s interests. Quite often I would incorporate into our curriculum things they had a personal interest in. Early on my oldest son developed a liking for history and the military. I put together some really fun unit studies on those subjects. He still has some of … Continue reading →

At Odds: Teachers and Homeschooling Parents

Homeschooling parents and teachers are often pitted against one another either by society or by the individuals themselves. Many teachers take offense that a parent could possibly think she could teach her children better at home. Many homeschoolers take offense that teachers feel they are not qualified to teach their children at home. Let’s cut through the thick fog and put an end to individual homeschooling parents and individual teachers fighting over who has the right to education young minds. Does a degree or the one who gave birth have the right to educate a child? Homeschooling is legal in … Continue reading →

Gearing Up for Your First Home Schooling Year

So, you decided to make the big leap and home school your children? As significant as this decision was, you will be faced with many more as you embark on this journey. Here are some basic advice to guide you through the first questions and decisions you will face. Of course, things are not always this simple, but it’s best to keep our perspective and not get too overwhelmed. Home schooling is a learning experience for the parent as much as the child. What curriculum should I use? This is the question mainly asked by new home schooling parents. What … Continue reading →

Starting Your Own Niche Site

Like myself, many single parents tend to work solely from home so we can take care of our kids, perhaps home school them, and try to fill as many roles as possible in our children’s lives. Though there are a hundred scams for every one legitimate WAH business, there are some solid ways to help make ends meet. Freelance writing is one, as well as Internet marketing. These days, most families have access to the internet, which gives you a virtual money-making machine right at your fingertips. All it takes is some time and perseverance, and a healthy dose of … Continue reading →