Advice that helped me early on was to study educational philosophies. There are more out there than I realized at the time. I wondered why I was struggling to make curriculum work for us, and finally settling on and understanding my own philosophy made a big difference. I'm eclectic, relaxed homeschooler with Charlotte Mason influence, educating two artistic daughters who resist formal academic requirements and think outside the box. Obviously unconventional, but I strive to balance their own interests, my energy level, and the state's requirements. It's much easier to educate them now that they both know the careers they want to do.
I tried being all charlotte Mason but quickly realized me and my older two love traditional (I still do love elements of CM), so I assumed my youngest would be the same. She’s her own little person, who definitely loves a CM style lol. You’re right, it’s definitely a balance!
Great video! I completely agree. For the third one, when someone is not in the frame of mind for learning, it could be so many things growth spurts, stress, illness, sleepless night, adjusting the lifestyle changes, weather, environment, hormones, surprise interruptions. I've seen all of these effect myself and my girls. Sometimes I do half days of school where I pick my top priority subjects for each child. Other times I have give it a whole day off. Now that my girls are in sixth and seventh grades they can often do double lessons to make up for it on another day
Love these helpful tips. They are so relatable and so good! Thank you for this video. Needed a recap in number 3….. this week we took off and if has been super amazing. We are both excited to get back to our homeschooling next week. Many blessings and happy homeschooling
Yes on the mindset 🙌🏼 it is okay to walk away, it’s okay to let the kids go outside and play and try again later, it’s okay to wait until the next day. We’ve grown a bit on our homeschool journey and I agree with you on everything. Also, thanks for telling us about creative fabrica! I have found so many resources for my kiddos, especially my preschooler on there.
Thank you so much for sharing. I just pulled my son (12) from public school last week and this is my first time ever homeschooling. The best thing I’ve done was let him make decisions. I let him choose between a few curriculums I liked. He chose his science and history classes while math and English are grade level and then I require a computer science class. It includes internet safety and security. We made a list of the things to do each day including free time and he’s figuring out his own schedule. We agreed on a bed time but he doesn’t have a wake up time. Not only is he happy and motivated, he’s learning to plan his life instead of being told what to do and his decisions are already great. By taking a 30-60 second break between each shirt activity he finish an entire chapter in English today. He has adhd and could never do that in public school. Even with “accommodations” they just can’t offer him the right environment.
I love the overall climate thing!!! We account for both curriculum changes and supplements!!! If we are struggling we take a break and normally go outside!!!
Thank you for sharing. I like your third word of advice. It really stands out to give permission to just break and take some deep breaths all around. I think the same goes for energy. If I notice my daughter is wiggling, moving, distracted, and has a lot of energy, I give her permission to stand up and stretch or March around to het that energy out possibly helping her concentrate. We even sometimes give her permission to play for 15 minutes if I feel my kids need a little time to get their energy out.
Love your 3 advice choices ❤️ It's all about enjoying the journey, even on challenging days, with a heart of gratitude for what we are privileged to get to do! So if switching out that tear inducing curriculum, or hitting pause when it's "one of those days" helps us enjoy the journey, go for it cause you won't regret it years down the road!
I agree wholeheartedly. If I would’ve had the same mentality when we first started homeschooling than I could have made leaps and bounds but going through years of homeschooling and developing an eye when a child is struggling giving them a break I don’t know if I could’ve learned it a different way than progressing through the challenges of experience. You are doing so good by being attentive to your kids developing minds. Home education is much more than teaching reading, writing, and arithmetic.
O 100%… sometimes experience is the best teacher. Trial and error. I’ve definitely been there too, but thankfully we can learn from not so great moments.
You always give excellent, useful tips - thank you! We've started with How Great is Our God, which my son and I both love - so thank you for that recommendation! I wasn't going to start Fix It grammar until next year, but since it's only one sentence per day, my son and I both wanted to get started on it, so we have, and it's also a big success! =)
Thank u! Been there in most situations! In my third year with my littles, so hearing from other moms helps!
Yes, comradery 🙌
Advice that helped me early on was to study educational philosophies. There are more out there than I realized at the time. I wondered why I was struggling to make curriculum work for us, and finally settling on and understanding my own philosophy made a big difference. I'm eclectic, relaxed homeschooler with Charlotte Mason influence, educating two artistic daughters who resist formal academic requirements and think outside the box. Obviously unconventional, but I strive to balance their own interests, my energy level, and the state's requirements. It's much easier to educate them now that they both know the careers they want to do.
I tried being all charlotte Mason but quickly realized me and my older two love traditional (I still do love elements of CM), so I assumed my youngest would be the same. She’s her own little person, who definitely loves a CM style lol. You’re right, it’s definitely a balance!
Great video! I completely agree. For the third one, when someone is not in the frame of mind for learning, it could be so many things growth spurts, stress, illness, sleepless night, adjusting the lifestyle changes, weather, environment, hormones, surprise interruptions. I've seen all of these effect myself and my girls. Sometimes I do half days of school where I pick my top priority subjects for each child. Other times I have give it a whole day off. Now that my girls are in sixth and seventh grades they can often do double lessons to make up for it on another day
Absolutely! There are so many reasons why someone isn’t cooperating and trying to assess the reason why can be so helpful.
Love these helpful tips. They are so relatable and so good! Thank you for this video. Needed a recap in number 3….. this week we took off and if has been super amazing. We are both excited to get back to our homeschooling next week. Many blessings and happy homeschooling
Glad you got to enjoy a week off ☺️
Yes on the mindset 🙌🏼 it is okay to walk away, it’s okay to let the kids go outside and play and try again later, it’s okay to wait until the next day. We’ve grown a bit on our homeschool journey and I agree with you on everything. Also, thanks for telling us about creative fabrica! I have found so many resources for my kiddos, especially my preschooler on there.
Yes - growing and making progress is so important too! ❤️
Thank you so much for sharing. I just pulled my son (12) from public school last week and this is my first time ever homeschooling. The best thing I’ve done was let him make decisions. I let him choose between a few curriculums I liked. He chose his science and history classes while math and English are grade level and then I require a computer science class. It includes internet safety and security. We made a list of the things to do each day including free time and he’s figuring out his own schedule. We agreed on a bed time but he doesn’t have a wake up time. Not only is he happy and motivated, he’s learning to plan his life instead of being told what to do and his decisions are already great. By taking a 30-60 second break between each shirt activity he finish an entire chapter in English today. He has adhd and could never do that in public school. Even with “accommodations” they just can’t offer him the right environment.
Sounds awesome!!
The "climate" advice is very wise indeed!
Helps the focus to be on the big picture
I love the overall climate thing!!! We account for both curriculum changes and supplements!!! If we are struggling we take a break and normally go outside!!!
Thank you for sharing.
I like your third word of advice. It really stands out to give permission to just break and take some deep breaths all around.
I think the same goes for energy.
If I notice my daughter is wiggling, moving, distracted, and has a lot of energy, I give her permission to stand up and stretch or March around to het that energy out possibly helping her concentrate.
We even sometimes give her permission to play for 15 minutes if I feel my kids need a little time to get their energy out.
Yes we always have to get that energy out haha
Love your 3 advice choices ❤️ It's all about enjoying the journey, even on challenging days, with a heart of gratitude for what we are privileged to get to do! So if switching out that tear inducing curriculum, or hitting pause when it's "one of those days" helps us enjoy the journey, go for it cause you won't regret it years down the road!
Enjoying the journey, absolutely! ❤️
I agree wholeheartedly. If I would’ve had the same mentality when we first started homeschooling than I could have made leaps and bounds but going through years of homeschooling and developing an eye when a child is struggling giving them a break I don’t know if I could’ve learned it a different way than progressing through the challenges of experience. You are doing so good by being attentive to your kids developing minds. Home education is much more than teaching reading, writing, and arithmetic.
O 100%… sometimes experience is the best teacher. Trial and error. I’ve definitely been there too, but thankfully we can learn from not so great moments.
You always give excellent, useful tips - thank you! We've started with How Great is Our God, which my son and I both love - so thank you for that recommendation! I wasn't going to start Fix It grammar until next year, but since it's only one sentence per day, my son and I both wanted to get started on it, so we have, and it's also a big success! =)
So glad you’re enjoying those resources! ❤️