Encouraging Moms Who Homeschool

  1 Chronicles 5:20b says this: "... they cried out to Him during the battle. He answered their prayers, because they trusted in Him. "   Oh that's a good word for us homeschoolers, isn't it?    None of us ever has to battle it out on our own.  Hey, there will be times when you will not even need to prepare for the battle! Just cry out to God and trust Him to help you, the exact same way that He did for Israelite's in the fifth chapter of 1 Chronicles.   God is trustworthy. He really, truly will aid you as you seek to home educate your children for His glory.  Now, I can tell you this over & over again - and in spite of the fact that this is absolute truth, it won't move from your ears into your heart until you decide that it's not only true for me, but it is also absolutely true for you. Because truth that is left "outside" somewhere, as in "Sure, that's true...and I am encouraged that God moved on your behalf...but I'm not tot...

This is a completely practical post ~ just me sharing a few of my absolute favorite tools from 25 years of doing this whole homeschooling thing.                 # 1 ~ Weighted Book Page Holder (preferably a non-slip version) ~ This is an item you will use again and again and again from preschool through high school graduation...and I personally use one every day (holding open a cookbook - a Bible - a journal - you name it). It's perfect for holding open your first graders math workbook; perfect for your seventh graders science textbook; perfect for your high school students hardback copy of To Kill A Mockingbird, freeing up their hands to take notes, and so on. Here is a link to a couple of different options for book page holders on Amazon: Weighted Page Holder Book Holder           # 2 ~ KUM Artists' Color-Combi Pencil Sharpener ~   {UPDATE! This is no longer available as of...

#Goals Unless you have been living under a rock for the last couple of years, in the social media sense, then you have most likely seen hashtag/Goals floating around. Millennials seem to love throwing this term around. To be honest, it's not a bad concept. We all have goals, right?  So I was thinking about this idea of goals, and how using the hashtag almost sort of puts those goals "out there" for the whole world to see. It's like a unique form of accountability, in a way. If everyone knows your #Goals, then it stands to reason that everyone can check in with you about how those goals are coming along. Several years ago, when I was relatively new to this whole homeschool thing, I wrote out a list of goals for us. I typed it up in a fun font, cleaned it up and centered it, printed it out and taped it to the kitchen wall (also known as the homeschool classroom). There is was for several years, right at my eye level in the room where I spent the majority of my...

If you're like me, you don't homeschool year-round. I like to end our homeschool year some time in May and start up again in late August. That, however, is our actual academic schedule. I am always thinking about homeschooling ~ combing through our curriculum bookshelves, updating transcripts, reading books to encourage me as a homeschool mom...you get the idea. As a long-term homeschooler ~ as in 20 years! ~ I can tell you that the time spent focused on your homeschool in July pays big dividends come September. First off, mom won't feel nearly so overwhelmed when facing the advent of the new academic year. Second, your kids will have a far better school year if they know everything is ready to go before the year begins. Third, your home will run more efficiently if you are totally prepared for the school year (by totally prepared, I mean caught up on laundry, have all the library books you need, meals are planned, all supplies have been purchased, etc). And your husband ...