Homeschool & Life UPDATE | Things Are Going To Be DIFFERENT
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- Опубліковано 16 тра 2023
- Hi friends! I've missed you! I hope you're all doing well!!
I've been taking a much needed break to get my act together! Ha! 😅 Today, I'm sharing about what we've been up to, things that I've been wrestling with in my homeschool planning, and what we're going to be doing differently. Thanks for watching!
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Hi friends! I’m Erin. I’m a homeschooling mom to 4 kids and we’re in our 8th year of this homeschool lifestyle. I love to share videos with tips about things we’ve learned along the way that have helped me out, as well as curriculum reviews and some heartfelt homeschool inspiration. I hope you leave here feeling encouraged that YOU CAN DO THIS!
Thanks for checking out my channel!
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I’ve missed you all! 🤗 How is your homeschool year going? Getting ready to wrap up soon or will you be going through summer?
Screen-free time video (?) Yes, please 🎉
Yes, as soon as I feel like I have a groove, life definitely throws curveballs. We are always figuring things out! Love your genuineness, Erin!
For sure! Thanks, Ashley! 🥰
Screen free and gentle feast videos would be great!!
I love your channel and I find a lot of inspiration and encouragement watching your videos. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much!! ❤️
I would greatly appreciate a screen free video❤ you are such an encouragement to this mama’s heart!! I absolutely love your channel ❤❤😊
Aww, thank you for the kind note!! 🥰 So glad you enjoy the videos!
💜 Hey! ❤ Yes, screen-free time / lifestyle is something that's really on my heart. Another approach to it that I've been applying to myself for several years is this: my phone is constantly in my hand or pocket because it's my only connection to my husband and family. BUT I have zero games, 90% of all notifications are turned off, I've cultivated a really-couldn't-care-less heart when it comes to Facebook and also to UA-cam distractions - I see Facebook maybe 2 times a month for a few minutes but don't get lost in it, and I sometimes let myself watch a handful of the "random" UA-cam videos but stop quickly and get back to being focused. I'm very interested in any & all ideas for bringing up our kids with less to barely any screen time.
We are working during the hottest hours of the day for school, enjoying our cool mornings and evenings.
I’m thinking we’re going to follow that plan too! 🥰
We also do school year around because of the structure, scripture, memory and to help retain last year’s lessons. We use this time to go over fun subjects, such as health, science, history, or the arts; with just a worksheet of math a day for reinforcement and lots of free time, beach and park days.
Love that!! ❤️
Fantastic to see your son take an interest in our little island, Ireland 🇮🇪 ☘️. Greetings from 🇮🇪😃
He definitely wants to go visit someday now!
I’d love a screen free video.
We school during the summer but we take a long break during the fall. We live in Texas and it’s HOT and miserable all the time, not to mention mosquitoes. Plus, my kids do better with structure and it prevents summer slide.
I am very interested in knowing how no screentime went for your family. Thank you, 😊
I would love to hear how your no screen time went! What you noticed for your kids as well as yourself!!
My takeaway from your editing video was scheduling in all those things that we want to prioritize, but tend to fall to the back burner, first. And I took it literal in the sense of first in our day, because if I don't, it ends up on the back burner again. I dont know if that will help with the funk you are in, but it has been helpful to us. It goes beyond "morning basket," because it can take longer than I think that's intended to. But I put bible study, scripture memory, and prayer first, followed by chores, therapy goals, exercise, art, and piano, and then the more "formal" lessons. I feel those HAVE to be done, so I won't let the day end until they are done. Idk if that'd help you, but it's helped with prioritizing things that matter a lot to the atmosphere and joy of our home. The other days are our therapies, playdates, co-ops, practices, errands, and church nights out of the house. There's a lot to juggle! You inspire me and I appreciate your vulnerability!❤
We have had to take some unexpected breaks this spring. We were on track to finish by mid-June and now we won't get all our required number of days done until mid-July. Summer break is looking like it's only going to be about 6 weeks long.
Thank you for your transparency! Im at my second year of homeschooling and I've been struggling with the same things. Prioritizing discipleship of my children while trying to keep up with the curriculum of public school, in case my kids want to attend college, is a bit stressful. We just have to keep our eyes on the real goal, teaching our children to love God and to live for His glory. Praying for you and your family. Trust God. He will supply all of your needs, including the right education for you and your family. You got this, because God got you!
We're sooooo in the same boat! I'm learning to loosen the grip & allow the kids to direct their own learning, and just making sure we get the base lessons in earlier in the day ❤ they're so much happier & relaxed ❤️
I have been debating switching our math curriculum for quite a while now. I would love to know how your switch to Saxon went!!
We switched mid year- tgtb/teaching textbooks to Apologia ( for both) math and went a grade back. Best decision!!
What was the issue with teaching textbooks?
I’m glad to hear another mom leaning into (re)prioritizing pursuing the Lord together. It grieves my heart to see us as homeschoolers make Bible a subject instead of loving the Word and leaning into that night and day. And I absolutely am there with you in the passion of a wide range of cultural exposure. The heart for the nations. So good.
Yes, please talk about your screen free experience. I have kids that are similar ages to yours and feel like this would benefit my family but an scared to take the step.
I'd be interested in a Gentle Feast video, particularly how YOU implement it, because it's seemed too overwhelming for us to do when I've glanced at it in the past.
Would love a video on screen free time; our kids are also are taking a break! And please do a detailed look at A Gentle Feast! ✨
Oh my Wonderful God. We are doing a media fast! Please talk about your journey!
"The only constant is change!" Would love to hear how your 2 weeks of screen-free time went- especially with the older kids. So much of the educational material for middle and high school is on an electronic format now!
My screen usage was out of control. I had tried and tried to curb it but failed. I recently heard about ARO on a homeschooling podcast and ordered it immediately. It has changed the face of our entire home. I am barely ever on my phone, my husband puts his in the ARO box as soon as he gets home from work. We don’t even have phones in our bedroom ant night anymore. I am so excited about it! And ARO highlights getting that time back for our family. It connects us all on the app so we can complete challenges and alerts everyone when someone goes ARO so we are reminded to put the phones up!
Oohh! I haven’t heard of this! I’ll have to look it up! ❤️
Would definitely like to hear about A Gentle Feast and screen-time breaks! Thanks so much for your channel!
@7:20ish the confession of “I’ve never really ever been able to follow any curriculum”….that’s when I remembered why I love you so much in the first place. 😁 I want to so badly, but…ugh, it just doesn’t stick. I’ll head over to the screen free video next.
New to homeschooling and would love to hear more about gentle feast and screen free time! Love your channel!
Glad to have you back. I missed your encouragement. I would love to know how your down time went.
I don't like to curriculum jump because my kids like things a certain way. I was so ready to switch to saxon but it seemed like a trend. Everyone I know that went to Saxon switched again.
Planning for high school seems so fun especially with credits and dual enrollment. Apprenticeships should always be considered during high school.
Definitely appreciate a no screen video!! 👍
I can completely identify with so many of these things, Erin! Especially the tendency in the spring to desire more interest-led learning, an unschooling rhythm, etc. I have heard more than one homeschool mom say that is completely normal! 😂So you’re in good company! I look forward to the videos you mentioned-AGF review, high school plans, what you’re up to in the background…😉Enjoy these longer daylight days!
Everything you said is totally relatable! We also switch math curriculums and could be playing catch up over the summer
I'm interested in everything you said: screen fast, high school plans, and a gentle feast. So much for limiting screen time, huh? Lol.
We are winding down, but I plan on continuing with our spelling. I just purchased and started Spelling You See with my oldest two, and I hope they can make some good progress this summer. We use TGTB, and I love it, but the spelling is not working for them, so we are trying something new! And I will also be continuing with reading with my emergent reader.
Homeschooling year round has been so freeing for us. I never feel in a hurry or behind. School has just become a part of life for us. We take weeks or even a months off to travel or do other interesting things. During the summer months, we are home the most and have zero outside activities (except piano)--- so it only makes sense to homeschool throughout summer.
The podcast Relatable (Allie Beth Stuckey) just had an amazing interview with a scientist regarding actual brain changes that are happening with screen time. Every parent...or person with a screen should listen in. So good.
Thanks for the recommendation! I’ll check it out! ❤️
We have wrapped up for the school year so we can have some beach time to ourselves before the masses are out of school. Much needed break for me. Reading, math games and boardgames will continue during the peak hot hours (FL summers!). Trying to plan for next year but balance that with rest and reading good books by the ocean/pool.
Sounds like a wonderful plan!! ❤️
Id love to hear how you went screen free and how the people studying and using thru those worked out
Screen free time video please ! ❤
Would love to hear about no screen time😊 I’ve missed you!!❤
My daughter was diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis when she was 12. We do school year around to give her the down time she needs, at times it's a couple of weeks stretch. She loves her summer free but we just can't do both. Sometimes we just do the best we can.
I totally understand needing to continue some school over the summer. We're doing some math with my daughter, and one of my son's actually has asked for some school over the summer because he likes the routine. So we'll be doing some review type workbooks and things that won't take long, but will still help him feel like the day structure is more normal.
That’s great! Love that he’s asking for more! You know you’re doing something right then!! 👏🏼🙌🏼
I've missed you too, Erin! Great to have you back! Would love to hear about the screen-free time. And are the standardized tests that you have to do available? We don't have to do tests but a long report with all the compenteces they acchieved and how they acchieved them. We will also continue during the summer in a slow but steady pace.
Aww, thank you! 🥰 The standardized tests we do are from Family Learning Organization, you can order them from their website. I shared about our screen free time in this video: ua-cam.com/video/Ychvs2NrpeI/v-deo.html
Please do a video on no screen time :) I currently logged off of social media on my phone & am noticing a lot of differences. Thanks tons !
It really makes such a huge difference! ❤️
Yes! Love the idea of how you did screen free time! ❤I have been using Easy Peasy for a lot and starting the day off with bible study time with them.
Glad to hear about your homeschool update. Yes, I'm definitely interested in a video on A Gentle Feast! Would be very helpful, as I'm considering it for next year. Best wishes, Erin!!
I would ❤ and greatly appreciate a video about your experience/opinion on "A Gentle Feast" curriculum.
Please do a video on how you are doing with AGF! Thank you!
Looking forward to hearing your journey…especially as you navigate that perspective through high school. I’ve got a coming 7th grader, and my approach and lifestyle is similar to yours. Will be following your experience!
I mirror just about everything you shared. Thank you for making this video! Yes, please make a video on taking a break from screen time. Enjoy the summer!! 🌞❤
Definitely interested in screen free chatting! It’s been on my heart a lot lately!
Yes, screen-free time is a great topic! I'd love to hear your views!
We have no homeschool online. Our rules are 90 mins max of all screens a day and 2 hours max on Sat/Sun. Mine are 11. It seems reasonable and sits fine bc they are coding most of that time.
I feel ya on the need to change things up!
We just finished our 8th year of homeschooling and I am feeling the need to slow down and enjoy the days together more, not so worried about finishing curriculums or even using very many curriculums. I'm praying about what the Lord is leading us to do, and am eager to feel a fresh wind in our learning. This mama is burnt out on trying to meet anyone else's expectations. 😅
I am in the same boat. We are entering our 14th year and just graduated our oldest this past Sunday. The last few years we have leaned much more interest led after many years of mostly being a Charlotte Mason-ish family. I can't follow someone else's schedule to save my life! We are free spirits and like to go where the wind takes us. But, I do need a little bit of structure so we are looking at doing a few Master Books courses this fall(that interest my kids) and being very independent for history and literature and maybe even science. It's an adventure isn't it?!
That’s definitely me too!! ❤️
We had a family emergency at the beginning of the year so we are a few weeks behind in some subjects. I do plan on finishing all things. I follow a more traditional school style because my husband is a public school teacher. I really enjoy your perspective and appreciate your sharing of experiences.
We won’t finish everything. We had some unexpected life distractions this year. We will continue with math, read aloud, and independent reading. Everything else will stop at Memorial Day. We may do some interest led science over summer, but we will stop everything else for about 8 weeks. Of course daily Bible devotions continue (I don’t consider those a school subject though).
I feel the same too. When you think you find your groove boom something changes😊.
Yes would love to see video on screen time and gentle feast!
Yes please share how things went in the home while on screen break!! We use Saxon with Nicole the math lady and its served us well for our two boys!
Everything that you are saying has totally been my own thinking. We've gone through much the same experience in out homeschooling years.
I've been feeling that this whole year had been one but flop and I'm on my last child who is supposed to be in the 10th grade.
Yes on Gentle Feast video! I’ve never heard of it -
I love that you are always re-evaluating and so genuine with it.
AGF video would be great.
I would love to see a video on your screen free time. 😊
I'm going through that very same thing! And I would love a video on your thoughts about screen time.
As my boys become more independent in their reading and writing I'm excited to do more project based learning.
Just found your channel and it’s been such a great resource that has brought me so much wisdom, insight, and encouragement! I’m finally beginning to feel more and more empowered and capable and a lot of it has to do with your awesome and thoughtful hacks and wisdom! Thank you for sharing!
🙌🏼 I’m so glad to hear that! 🥰Blessings to you!!
YESSS!!! Screen free video please!!!
Sure, to all video thoughts on ALL. Thanks for your time
Super interested in screen time video!!! 😊
Also, it reminds me of a book that helped me start shedding the ideas we are taught of performance & perfectionism: "I Tried Until I Almost Died" by Sandra Somebody. And I think there was also "Lies Homeschooling Moms Believe" by Todd Somebody. I'm not near my bookcase to check the authors. Little by little I'm unlearning these learned self-pressures. Don't feel bad, thank you for pioneering and for your continued encouragement to us! ❤
Absolutely 💯 tell me about the 2 week screen free time. ❤
Yes! Please share your experience with screen-free time. It would be extremely valuable.
Yes please would love to hear your experience with AGF
Love you so much and appreciate this video and all you share here. We need another coffee date soon! ❤
Love you too, girl! And YES PLEASE!!
I love interest led learning as well! And it's not "unschooling" 😉 I love researching how to learn and what the best is! I am trying to figure out how to balance interest and less traditional learning with keeping track of "credits." It's hard to figure out how to cover all the bases.
🙋 A Gentle Feast video please!
Yes! Would love to watch that video.
Screen free video*
I'm going to use this with my 6th grader this year also!!
I think youre going to need more flag stickers to go with those passports.
I love this update, I probably like you and I love the freedom of unschooling but then my head says woah that’s too much freedom, I need a structure 😅 Love love that your kids did projects on other countries and incorporated something unique to finish the projects up like learning a new recipe, trying out a new skill like wood burning. Travelling to the places they study about would be the next coolest thing and so very much something I want to do with my kids! That’s why we homeschool right!? 😉 travel and learn!
I’d love to hear more about how the screen free time went and any tips you may have. I’ve been wanting to do that. But I know it will be an adjustment.
Would love to hear what you do for screen free time!
My younger kiddo will be in 8th next year and wanting to start high school level work...I'm in a very similar position, having moved further and further into interest-led/project-based/unschool-y school the older they've gotten, but not sure how to make it all work with his college and career goals (my older one made it easy on me by finishing 95% of the usual requirements in 10th grade). I would LOVE to hear your high school plans. And screen-free info? Yes, please! As the year winds down, I'm feeling discouraged, like I should have done everything backwards--unschooled when they were young and then gotten more traditional as they got older, or at least learned how to manage it all better. I just keep on having faith it will all work out...but the daily struggle is still very real. Thanks for your authenticity! I'm pretty new to your channel and love hearing all your thoughts.
I feel I can completely relate to so much of what you shared. I think you may be an idealist like me, always considering what is best and may be better. This past year we tried something new and put our oldest in a classical school that meets 3 days a week (awesome), and our younger three all joined 2 day/wk co ops. This has been our fullest and most productive year of homeschooling yet, but it has its challenges. With the co ops, I have to compromise some on curriculum choices and how time is spent, and that’s hard for me, but it is an overall net good. Our family worship time has been so fruitful and we will carry on. We also love missions and have made it a priority. Our three eldest (13, 11, 9) have each been on a mission trip (to Mexico, Morocco , and the third back to MX) with my husband after they were individually baptized. We’re waiting to see where our daughter will go! If you haven’t already, I’d highly recommend you check out the missionary vids on Heartcry’s UA-cam channel. For the last several months we have watched one a week with our kids and taken turns praying for the requests mentioned. I think you will love these videos! Blessings on you, Erin, as you seek to end the school year well!
Sounds like a wonderful year!! Thank so much for the recommendation! I will check them out!
Screen-free time is a big topic. I have been thinking of doing a screen-detox for our whole family. How did it go for your family?
Delight directed learning is great
Also, a gentle-feast info please!
I’d love to hear your thoughts on AGF!
I’d love what shows u allow your kids to watch
I've got a video about educational shows we like to watch here: ua-cam.com/video/ZEBHzWEYVFU/v-deo.html
Yes to discipleship
Screen free video please!
Screens and A Gentle Feast videos
I have been doing a lot of unschooling and deschooling research. And the man who first coined unschooling called it homeschool and said it just didn’t look like traditional school. And a lot of the y schoolers I follow are just eclectic homeschoolers. They use different methods and different curriculums all together. I know there is a group that are a little more fanatical about unschooling where they don’t use any curriculum. But it looks like that group makes up a smaller portion of unschoolers.
Yes! I’m definitely more in the first group! I think most people think of the radical unschoolers when they hear that term though, which makes it harder to say we are unschoolers. 😅
Screens video please!
How to do interested led in highshool, that's my question
Doing Teaching Textbooks over here…curious why you switched? And do you think your boys were behind because they were using TT?
I’d love to see a screen-free video too. I’ve greatly reduced our screen time. We’re just starting our homeschool journey and will be starting the first week of June because I start classes again in the fall. So I’m taking more of a year round approach and thinking we’ll just work through things as we can without any constraints on the traditional school year. We may have a few road trips as well so the kids can do a lot of learning during that instead of playing on their phones the whole time. Although typically my son “fast travels.” He just sleeps on road trips. 😂😂
Wait you have a daughter?
Yes! 3 boys and 1 girl! ☺️
Your videos are ALWAYS so timely. Thank you for sharing in raw honesty...that's why us Mama's can relate to you so much! 🤍
I have spent the last month evaluating what my motives are for picking curriculum, activities, and co-op. Is it fear that I need to do more or my kids will be lacking? He is asking me to simplify, go back to the basics, so He can lead our schooling to a place of even more peace and back to more moments of joy as we learn together.
Thank you for talking about a G.F. curriculum. I was contemplating that and realized I am a lot like you - I enjoy diving in most where I feel God leading! It's amazing that nothing is too small for Him....that leads us individually because He knows what our specific challenges are and what our children / family needs most! That is a huge comfort!
🎥 I personally would love to hear more of what your plans are for the school year ahead when you have time! My children are fast approaching High school - so as you pioneer all things transcripts & high school I know you sharing will be such a blessing!!
I ALWAYS learn so much from you and appreciate your 📚 book recommendations and the fact you don't push curriculums because they are supporting your channel - but you are honest about what you have learned over the years & truly works!
I will continue to pray for you as the Holy Spirit leads you! I'm believing for a joyful, truth filled, peace covered Summer and school year ahead!
In this journey it's been difficult to find like minded Moms... you've been one of the biggest encouragers/ mentors! THANK YOU! Have a great day! ☀️
Aww, thank you so much, Cindy! That means a lot to me!! So blessed to know that my channel has been an encouragement for you! I'll be doing an AGF video soon and will definitely be sharing what we'll be doing for next year, once I have plans laid out more!