It’s real and it happens to most homeschoolers at one point or another. It’s the feeling of exhaustion, being overwhelmed or unmotivated, irritability, depression, anger, or like you’re constantly playing catch-up. It can happen to anyone.
One of the biggest causes is the lack of breaks for homeschooling parents. How do you refill you bucket when you are constantly with the kids? Finding ways to take breaks, and take time for yourself is an important part of self-care.
Today I’m sharing a few things that I do to ensure that I get a break. From having a strict bedtime to quiet time to finding time for your own hobbies (for me, it’s reading), there are things that we can do to ensure we are taking care of ourselves as parents and homeschoolers. Because no one wants to burn out.
We give our kids books to read because books are one of the best ways to learn. They inspire, educate and challenge our thinking.
Which is why we, as homeschool parents, should be reading too.
This past year or so, I’ve been making a real effort to read more in general. I’ve actually read more books in the last year, than I have in all the year combine since high school. While I’ve done pretty well on my personal goal of reading more, it’s also given me a chance to read some great books on homeschooling and education.
This is my book list for homeschooling parents. These books have changed how I think, taught me some cool things and inspired me. You’ll definitely want to check these out!
These are my top recommendations so far. I still plan to keep up my goal of reading more this year, maybe even setting a number goal. I’m thinking of trying to read 50 books this year. Which means I’m probably going to be able to add few titles to this list by the end of the year.
Every September, we have a day that we celebrate as the first day of our homeschooling year. For us, we usually celebrate on the same day that school starts in our area because Stephane is a high school teacher. It’s a natural start for us since it’s his first day of school too.
But exactly how do we celebrate?
Have a Special Breakfast – It’s a great way to start the day!
Take a Picture – It’s an annual memory for the first day and marking milestones in their life.
Curriculum Gift Bag – Take all their new supplies and curriculum, put it in a bag and let them open it. Because everyone likes getting gifts.
Go On a Field Trip – Since everyone is back to school, you can take advantage of the empty science centres and museums and zoos and go on a field trip.
Go On a Picnic – Pack a lunch, head outside and have a picnic. We look for a place with a park or splash pad to make it extra fun.
Library Visit – Start the new homeschool year with some new library books.
Get Creative – Do an art project with the kids. Bonus points if it has the potential for getting messy.
Have a Game Day – Gameschooling is huge! Why not ease into the year with a day full of games. Great, easy option if your other plans get rained out.
Start a New Read Aloud – Pick a new book or novel and get reading. We start our new novel right before bed. It’s a great way to end our not-back-to-school celebration.
There are lots of ways to celebrate! Pick as many or as few as you want. These are just some ideas that you can do, but I encourage you to build traditions that your kids love. Every family is different. Make your celebration work for your family.
What do you teach your kids when you are homeschooling?
It can be a little overwhelming because there are really so many possibilities!
First, you’ll want to make sure that check with your state or provincial requirements. Some places have certain subjects that must be taught at home. So make sure you check that!
But if you live in a place like we do (Ontario, Canada), where there are few to no requirements, let alone a requirement for certain subjects, deciding what you are going to teach can be a little overwhelming.
So lets break it down a little for you.
Traditional Subjects
You can start by looking at the traditional subjects. You know the ones that everyone knows and that are taught in schools.
Math
Science
Language Arts (reading, writing)
social studies/history/geography
art
music
physical education/health
bible/religious studies
Lifeskills
A lot of parents spend time helping their kids prepare for adulthood, by teaching some basic lifeskills.
household chores (laundry, dishes,
cooking/baking
pet care
gardening/yard maintenance
homesteading/animal care
auto repair/ small engine repair
plumbing/ woodworking/ electrical
Even more Options
Looking for more options? Pretty much anything can become a subject of study when you are a homeschooler.
coding
nature studies
robotics
handicrafts (sewing, knitting, etc)
business/ entrepreneurial skills
pretty much anything your kids are really interested in
So there are lots of options of subjects, when you homeschool. The upside to all this choice? You get build and design a homeschool program that is unique to your family, your values and your children.
We’ve had several requests for tips lately. Most come from new parents who are homeschooling for the first time and are a little nervous. So we decided to put together a list of our top 10 tips for new homeschoolers.
1. Deschool
Deschooling is the first thing your should do if you are leaving the school system. It’s a chance for you to “un-learn” everything about school and a chance for everyone to adjust to your new normal. If you want more information on deschooling, you’ll want to check out this post, Deschooling 101.
2. Find Your Why
Understanding and clarifing for yourself why you are deciding to homeschool is so important. The answer to this question of why will the the foundation for you homeschooling. It influences your choice of approach, curriculum and schedule. It will also be a guiding light, something to help remind yourself of why you are doing all this when you have a tough day, week or month.
3. Don’t Re-create School in Your Home
The focus of homeschooling should be on “home” not on “school”. You don’t need to do 8 subjects every day, sitting in a desk for hours. You get to make learning and education what you want and what’s best for your child. And homeschooling takes a lot less time that public school so you can really allow interests to lead your learning a lot more.
4. Start 1-2 Subjects Max
There is no reason that you need to teach 6-8 subjects from the get go. Start with 1 or 2 max and then once you are more comfortable with your flow, schedule and your child’s learning style, you can add another. This will help you from becoming overwhelmed and give everyone time to adjust.
5. Try a Unit Study
A unit study is a great way to dive deep into a topic and learn all you can about it. When you do this, you actually cover several subjects at once. For example an oceans unit can cover geography, science, art, reading and writing. So pick a topic your child or children are interested in and dive in. Building a unit study is actually really easy and makes the learning so much more personalized.
6. Establish a Routine
We’re not talking about a daily schedule that’s scheduled down to the minute. It’s more of a routine or a rhythm to your day and your week. We have meal times and quiet times in our day. But I also have certain things that happen on certain days. I know that on Wednesday morning, we go to playgroup or have a playdate. On Thursday morning, we’ll do some baking. It makes it a little easier knowing what will happen in the week. It fills time and give purpose to your days.
7. Include Mini Fun Things
We do Waffle Wednesdays. And Friday night pizza/movie night. These little mini celebrations during the week make for great traditions, it’s fun for the kids and it’s one less thing you as a parent really need to think about.
8. Quiet Time
We highly recommend having a quiet time during the day. A time when the kids can play/rest/nap independently and you as a parent get a little break. Our girls do 1.5 hours every afternoon where they can play in their activity room or bedroom. It’s a great time to you as a parent to reset and it gives them a chance to be independent. It even gives them a chance to get away from each other if they need it (they go to separate rooms). And don’t use that time to plan or anything like that. Take that time to fill your own up. Have a cup of tea, watch a show, read a book. Do what you need to take care of yourself.
9. Get Outside
When you are stuck inside the same 4 walls, you can start to go a little stir crazy. So get outside. Go for a walk, a hike, play in the backyard, to to the park. It’s good for burning the little ones energy and it’s great for everyone’s mental health.
10. Read, Read, Read!
A lot of people underestimate the power of reading. Reading aloud to you kids is one of the best educational things you can do for them. Read picture books, poetry, biographies or novels. Or even put on an audiobook. When you are starting homeschooling, make an effort to read every day to your children, even if they can read themselves.
That’s it! Those are our top tips for newbie homeschoolers. Hopefully, they can help you establish and build you homeschool into one that is as unique as your family!
Picking a homeschool style or approach is an important first step when you start homeschooling. But it’s also super overwhelming.
There are so many options (9 actually) and each is so different. But, don’t worry! We’re going to help you understand the different homeschooling styles out there.
School-at-home Approach
One of the first approaches many homeschoolers try but also one that most homeschoolers abandon. School-at-home tries to recreate the school environment in your house. A strict schedule, blocked time periods for each subject and lots of workbooks. It’s great if you are planning on homeschooling for a short amount of time before returning to the public school system but long-term homeschoolers often find it too rigid and that they don’t need to spend that much time on each subject every day.
Classical Approach
This is the oldest homeschooling approach (literally, it’s ancient). It places a big emphasis on logic, learning facts and rules, and reasoning. Many also include Latin or Greek studies as part of the foundations of language arts. It can be seat work heavy but it’s a time tested approach.
Charlotte Mason Approach
A very popular approach that blends well with other approaches, the Charlotte Mason approach focuses on nature, poetry, and literature. It uses living books, copy work and journalling. It’s a very gentle approach and very child-centred. Most curriculum is Christian-based (because Charlotte Mason was quite religious) but the elements and foundations can be used in a secular setting.
Unit Studies
Unit Studies are growing in popularity and for good reason! Unit studies can follow a child’s interest, be highly engaging, and are even a great option for studying as a family with multiple ages. You can buy unit study programs or you can make your own. But you do need to be cautious of “holes” to ensure a well-rounded education.
Waldorf Approach
A mind-body-and-soul approach, this style focuses a lot on art, creativity, and nature. It’s pretty much the “liberal arts” approach of homeschooling. While it focuses on art and nature, it doesn’t use a lot of textbooks or technology. It can be expensive because of it’s use of natural materials and some people are concerned about the lack of focus on reading in the early years.
Montessori
While not an official homeschooling approach (since you need to get a teaching certification from their school in order to be qualified as a real Montessori teacher) many parents are taking the principals and incorporating them into their homeschooling. It’s a play-based approach that uses a child’s interests, large blocks of free time and child-sized tools to help children learn. It’s a popular choice for parents with children with exceptionalities. But for neurotypical kids, it’s only really appropriate for younger preschool or elementary years. And it can be expensive because of needing everything to be child-sized.
Unschooling
A child-lead approach, unschoolers believe that children are capable of learning and that parents are there to facilitate that learning. It’s actually more of a lifestyle than an approach with the belief that learning is a life-long endeavour. Children lead the learning while parents “strew” (which is when they introduce different ideas and topics and see what their child gravitates towards). There is very little curriculum used and the child has a lot of say about what and when it will be used. Unschooling can be time-consuming (because parents are constantly strewing and facilitating) and there are concerns about children “falling behind or missing things”. But there is also the belief that not all children need to learn everything they teach in schools.
Radical Unschooling
Radical Unschooling is like unschooling only a little more intense. There is absolutely no curriculum and some take it as far as no organized classes. They also believe in a child’s ability to learn and that a child’s interests and strengths are the best way of encourage learning. Like unschooling it can be a lot of work to strew properly and you have to be aware of holes in the learning but radical unschoolers believe that every child will learn what they need in life and through life.
Eclectic Homeschooling
Eclectic homeschooling, also known as relaxed homeschooling, is when you blend 2 or more approaches together to create a unique style. For example, we are eclectic homeschoolers and we blend together unschooling, unit studies, and Charlotte Mason approach, picking elements from each to make a style that we like. It makes for a very unique and highly customized homeschooling approach. It can be a little overwhelming since you don’t have as many criteria for narrowing your research and curriculum options but it’s easy to adapt to any family.
Now that you know a little about the different approaches, you can consider picking one for your homeschool. But how do you choose? Check out the next post on choosing the perfect homeschool approach for your family.
Picking a homeschooling approach can be overwhelming. And since it’s one of the first things you do when you start homeschooling, it’s a lot to start with. And with 9 different styles to choose from, how to you even choose?
Before you choose you need to know 3 things.
There is no “perfect” homeschool style that will work for everyone
Very few people fit perfectly into any single homeschool approach.
A style might work for a while and then you’ll want or need to change.
So now that we know those things, it’s time to pick a homeschool style. Here’s how to do it.
How to pick a homeschool approach
Read over the different homeschool approaches. There are 9, so read them carefully and make a note of the ones that you connect with. Some approaches won’t connect with you.
If you are still stuck, take a quiz. Rebecca from HomeschoolOn has a great quiz. But I urge you to look at the full results. When I took her quiz, I got unschooler, but when I looked at my full results which said I was 26% unschooler. I was also 25% unit studies and 25% Charlotte Mason style. Which since we are eclectic homeschoolers, that’s actually exactly what we are. But look at the full results and see that you get. But know she only covers 6 styles so take that into consideration.
Use your list and results as a jumping off point to do some research. Read some books, read some blogs and see what style you really like.
The next thing you can do, it try it out. Try homeschooling and the style you like. There will be a some trial and error, especially when you start homeschooling. But you’ll never really know what’s your style until you get your hands dirty.
And don’t be afraid to customize and personalize your homeschool. We homeschoolers beg, borrow and steal from other styles, all the time. Because each family is unique, your homeschool will be unique and you can change and adjust things, even a homeschooling approach, until it’s right for your family.
Unit studies are growing as a popular homeschooling style. And rightfully so! They are highly engaging. You can easily pick from thousands of topics your kids are interested in. And you can study one topic as a family with each child getting something out the unit.
You can buy unit studies and even find many online for free. But what if your kids are found a subject they are really into and you can’t afford the curriculum or you can’t find any for your child’s rare topic choice.
In that case, you can build your own and it’s actually very easy. Just follow these 6 simple steps. We’ve even got a Free Printable PDF to help you build your own!
You have to start by picking a topic. Once you’ve decided on your topic, decide what subjects you want to hit while you doing this unit. I often recommend trying to hit no more than 3 or 4 subjects in a single unit.
2. Books
Find some books on the topic. Gather anything you can find. Picture books, poetry books, non-fiction, field guides and novels.
I also like to try and find one big book, a novel or chapter book that we can read throughout the study. I look for something that is related to the topic if possible (like Charlotte’s Web in an Insect unit study). Sometimes, it’s a little bit of a stretch but we make it work.
3. Hands-On activities
We like to keep our unit studies to about a 4-6 weeks, with a month being our most popular timeline. So in a month-long study, I’ll aim to find 3-4 hands-on activities to do with the kids. Pinterest is my go to for ideas.
4. Media and TV
TV, movies and media can be a great learning tool in your homeschooling. I like to find something educational for the kids to watch every now and then. Sometimes a 5 minute YouTube video can explain something better than I could in an hour. Look for YouTube clips, documentaries or educational shows like Magic School Bus for ideas.
5. Field Trip
Get out of the house and find a cool place that is related to your topic. Go and visit a museum, a specific floor of a science centre, a play or literally a field.
6. Big Project
A big project can be helpful way to pull all you’ve learned together. Sometimes we do it at the start of our unit (Like planting a garden when we’re learning about plants and seeds). Sometimes we do it at the end (like a big experiment at the end of our Scientist unit).
7. Recipe (Bonus)
If I can find a fun recipe, then it’s a little bonus. I get the kids to help me make it and include it during our poetry teatime.
Unit studies can be a fun way to get kids excited about learning at home and are often a great pick-me-up idea when things get a little blah. We often do a unit study in January, after the excitement of the holidays wears off and we’re feeling a little unmotivated.
To help you create your own unit study, we’ve created an awesome PDF. You can download it for free! It’s designed to help you create any unit for your unique family!
One thing that most people forget when they start homeschooling is the very first step: Deschooling.
Deschooling is the process of letting go of the “school mentality”. When families leave the public or private school system, there are a lot of things they need to leave behind in order to be successful at homeschooling.
What is Deschooling?
Deschooling is a process where both parents and children unlearn the school system and learn what their new homeschooling norm will be.
Who Should Deschool?
Anyone who is leaving the school system, public or private, should take some time to deschool.
Why Should You Deschool?
There are so many really important reasons why you should deschool.
It allows families to unlearn school-based expectations, behaviours and schedules
It gives time for kids to get the novelty of “no school” out of their system
Parents get time to adjust to having the kids home all the time. With the kids home all the time, there will be more mess, more snacks and more friction.
Deschooling allows time for parents and children to “reconnect” and grow their relationship.
It’s the perfect time for kids to find their true passions, explore their interests and hobbies
For some, it’s also a time of healing from the stress of school or from negative situations that occurred at school.
When and How Long Should You Deschool?
As soon as you leave the school system, you should start deschooling. It’s the first step in starting your homeschooling journey.
As for how long, that really depends. The rough rule of thumb is 1 week to 1 month for every year your child was in school. For example a grade 5 student would need anywhere from 5 weeks to 5 months of deschooling. The amount of time will really depend on the child and how stressful their time in school was. If they are leaving on positive terms, then they would probably need a shorter time. But if they are leaving on more negative terms (for example, struggles with learning, administration or bullying), then they will need more time to heal and destress.
Where Do You Deschool?
You can deschool anywhere and everywhere. Just like homeschooling!
How Do You Deschool?
It’s a little counter-intuitive, but it’s a time of no educational activities. No worksheets, workbooks, or curriculum. It’s basically a lot of free time, allowing families and children to find their natural schedule, family rhythm, and what the kids are actually interested in.
Most families focus on life skills, chores, establishing what they want their family to be. Some might even take some time to focus on establishing healthy behaviours and becoming more healthy in general (more sleep, working on mental health, and dealing with a health issue).
Last summer, I asked Alexie what she wanted to learn and do in her homeschooling this year. She had a few suggestions. One of them was to have more tea parties.
That’s certainly an idea I can get on board with.
Poetry teatime was an idea from “Brave Learner” author Julie Bogart. The concept is simple. Host a tea party with your kids and share some great books and poems.
If this is an idea that you think your kids would love, let me walk you through how to host the perfect poetry teatime.
1.Make Some Snacks
We love to make some food for our party. We often make some kind of baking, whether it’s cookies, muffins, or loaf. Because of Alexie’s food sensitivities, we usually have to make 2 different recipes, but it’s just a normal thing for us. We also like to make seasonal choices or to connect with a book or poem that we will read. By doing a little baking we are adding some math and science to our teatime.
2. Set the Scene
It’s important to take some time to set the scene for our tea parties. We set the table with our nice china, little plates, and cute napkins. We light tealight candles, arrange some flowers, and make it a pretty place to sit. It’s also a great idea to set the ambiance by playing some soft music in the background.
3. Serve the Tea
Serving the tea is very important and how we kick off our tea time. Feel free to serve whatever liquid you would like. Favourites at our house include pink lemonade, iced tea, and hot chocolate in the winter.
4. Start Reading
Julie Bogart started poetry teas as a way to foster a love of poetry in her children. And while we often read poetry from one of our Shel Silverstein books or others, we’ll also read things other than poetry, too. We’ve read Christmas stories during the holidays, picture books by some of our favourite authors, or even a chapter or two from a chapter book the girls were already reading.
While the idea of poetry is nice, I also love the idea of teatime just being a time to read and share a love of literature. And when the girls get older, they’ll be able to take turns reading aloud and might even take the opportunity to read one of their original stories or poems.
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