Encouraging Moms Who Homeschool

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 ...

So, this particular book review carries a special kind of weight for me and hit me squarely between the eyes with it's subject matter. I am about to become an empty-nester and I have absolutely no idea how this can possibly be true. My times they are a-changing. And I don't know that I like the changing of the times, to be honest. Barbara and Susan's Guide to the Empty Nest is easy to read, well thought out, informative and, if not exactly essential for a woman in my situation, then by all means a wise option as I wrap up my current season of life. After all, I have been a full-time homeschool mom for almost 25 years. I probably need to seek out some counsel as I prepare to transition to...well...to whatever is next for me. The book has 12 chapters, divided into three sections, and includes an epilogue as well as four appendixes and a small group or book club study guide. Like I said, it's well thought out and informative. The chapters stay true to their intende...

It is easy for the homeschooling mother to sort of "drift" through her summer days. "Drift" being a relative term - summer means VBS and vacation and family reunions and swim lessons and visits to grandma and library reading programs and the like. There are no lazy summer days for busy moms, but there are days when the school year is far removed from our thoughts. Don't let your child's education fall into the deep, black chasm labeled "Out of Sight, Out of Mind". Summer poses an excellent opportunity to evaluate our home life, which of course includes our homeschool life, and make certain that the things which are most important are the things you are accomplishing. So, the big question to ask yourself is this: What is most important to you? Do not be too quick to answer this question. Take your time, think on it, pray about it, listen for the Lord to speak to your heart. What is truly most important to you, as a disciple of Jesus? As a stew...

I would not refer to myself as an expert on any topic, a guru at anything, nor a master of a trade. But I can refer to myself as one who has *almost* completed her work as a homeschooler. I am nearing the end of this road; I have been running my race for over two decades and soon this will all be in the past tense... I'm not an expert, but I am seasoned in this lifestyle. Here are a few of the things I have learned over the years.       # 1 ~ Small Children = Short Increments                              Homeschooling is both a coordinated dance and a balancing act - at the exact same time. If you have babies or toddlers, or a broad span of grades you are teaching, then you absolutely must plan out your time in short, manageable increments. This takes a lot of thoughtful planning and work on the front end of each week, but it pays off in spades (more on that in tip # 3). For example, pla...

After a whopping 22-ish years of homeschooling, I have acquired an enormous volume of books/curriculum/supplies. And as my youngest daughter is finishing up her junior year, I have got to get rid of all this stuff . So, I am listing things in groups based on similarity - but they are all available individually. And here's the kicker. All of this is absolutely FREE - you just pay shipping. If  you see something you are interested in, just leave me a comment with your email (and if you don't want to leave your email then email me at janburtauthor@gmail.com). Some of these books are in nearly-new condition, some are well-used and written in. But they all have plenty of use left in them! U.S. History: shipping for all books shown is $10 Middle Ages/Medieval History: shipping for all books shown $4 Misc. History: shipping for all books shown $3 Misc. History: shipping for all items shown $4 Games: shipping for both games $7 Misc. Language Arts: shipp...

I write in my Bible.  I know, I know...some of you are gasping, appalled at such behavior! But others of you have also found that taking notes, underlining passages, and placing dates and specific details near verses that speak to you or that you pray over a situation/for a person has great value. I know how valuable, how meaningful that is to me. In fact, when I so fill a Bible with writing that there is no more room, or when it is falling apart from use, I start with a new Bible.  When I had the opportunity to review a journaling Bible for Zondervan, I jumped at the chance. And since I have read through the Bible in its entirety many times, I didn't "read" this book the way I typically would for a review. It's really more of a review of this Bible's unique features. I'll go through those quickly. First, it is a hardcover Bible, which I really love. Softcover Bibles are fine, but I really prefer a hardcover. They can "fall" open when you ...

I didn't bring a single solitary thing into this old world on the day of my birth, and I ain't gonna take anything with me when I draw my final breath. This is an undeniable, universal truth and no one can get around it. No material thing lasts beyond our life span...we will not care one lick about any of it. If we give it any thought at all, it will be to wonder why we cared so much for "things" and "money" and why we didn't give more...and more...and more.           1Timothy 6:7-8   We brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.  So there it is. Herein lies the proverbial rub. How do we do this? How are we western-cultured, red-blooded Americans, capitalists to our core, ever going to be able to live like this? HOW? Well, as far as I know, the only way to live a life content with food and clothing (if that's all you've got, but that ain't all you...

A.W. Tozer. Now there's a name that immediately brings to mind a spiritual giant. His words are quoted in more books, articles and devotionals than one could count. Mentored by A.B. Simpson, Tozer is nearly as well-known as Charles Haddon Spurgeon or Dwight L. Moody in Christian circles. So when I had the opportunity to read and review a book containing never before published material of his, I jumped at the chance. The book is entitled Alive in the Spirit - Experiencing the Presence and Power of God . It was compiled and edited by James L. Snyder. This book isn't a lengthy read at just 188 pages, and the chapters are short enough to read and "digest" them one at a time in a single sitting. I'm a woman who writes in my books - and the more I like a book, the more underling, highlighting and margin notes will be found. My copy of Alive in the Spirit has a fair amount of writing in it. Now that's not to say that I found this to be my favorite book by Tozer...

I'm going to be doing something a little different in terms of my blog posts. Rather than my typical posts that are meant to put encourage women who homeschool, I will be blogging about the Bible. Today I would like to look at one verse in particular and share what I have learned from this verse, and maybe someone reading this will be encouraged by the Word. Better yet, maybe someone (or several someones) will decide to spend more time reading the Bible on a regular (read that daily ) basis. That would be pretty fantastic. Let's get to it:       1 Peter 1:9 - (New Living Translation) The reward for trusting Him will be the salvation of your souls.  Okay, so you already know that trusting Jesus is the only way to have eternal salvation for your soul. ( If you did not know that, let me suggest you read the book of John - right now, don't wait! - and pray and ask the Lord if He would like you to yield your life to Him and make Him your Savior and Lord over all you...

Women who home educate have chosen, in a very loud and clear manner, to take responsibility for the education of their children. Additionally, we have chosen to guide them into adulthood with the goal of them becoming, well, adults . Not only adult as defined by age, but actual adults who no longer behave like adolescents.  Sure, there are times we struggle with letting them grow up. It's hard! For a zillion different reasons, it's hard. And sometimes we hold on too tightly. That may be due to fear on our part, or sadness that this all-defining aspect of our own lives is changing, or perhaps we don't even realize we are still holding on. It is possible to believe you have let go of something only to look down and see it still tightly grasped in your hand. But for the most part, I think homeschooling mothers are working to get their children into adulthood in the proper time frame (as in, they behave like adults when their birth certificate reveals they are legally adults...