I understand that seeing all of our resources and/or eclectic approach to homeschool can be a little overwhelming. I need you to know we take our time and we utilize games and digital learning platforms.
I am far from a screen-free mama. In fact, we changed our Internet provider because we have so many devices running. I truly believe these can be used effectively and add to the educational experiences.
Here is a snippet of what we use and how we use it.
Podcasts: History, character, cooperative work and more are explained and can be applied all through various podcasts! It is honestly kind of crazy the amount of information that is available in podcasts. We also use them to reinforce lessons, particularly in Spanish.
BrainPop: This app is a deep and rich well of information spanning a multitude of subjects and ideas. They have two levels and we have been very happy with them both.
Epic: It;s only been a year since I was even introduced to this app but WOW! My love for books definitely passed down because my kids can get lost for hours in their vast catalog of books. They have everything from comic books, audiobooks, read-to-me, and absolutely everything in between. They have resource books, story books and original book series.
Kindle Unlimited: Again, more books, I know. We honestly can’t get enough of them. Kindle unlimited offers us a great amount of reading material, while it does have a cap, we have been able to take our time and read lots of books for one low fee instead of who knows how much.
Hoopla: This comes with our library card and admittedly, I use it more than my kids! They have so many audiobooks as well as ebooks,movies and music!
Khan Academy Kids: This was one of the very first apps my kids use and we still love it! It is engaging, fun and somehow never gets old!
You ready for the easiest DIY ever? This one is for the parent over the lego “disagreements”. This is also for those who have spent entirely too much time for one very specific lego brick. Enter, lego trays.
How goes it? Is anyone else in full “back-to-school” mode? Honestly, I feel like I have been in this space for a while, planning, preparing and sharing. I recorded a video of our math manipulatives that some of you requested and I thought I would a draft a blog to say the following:
You do not NEED any of this. Not one thing.
I strongly suggest you hunt sales and buy used.
If your kids need or desire a multi-sensory approach, manipulatives help a ton! I bought these over the course of 4 years. I also had help from the grandparents.
Please please please do not feel pressured into buying anything or stressing over what to get where. I share my favorites in this video if that is what you would like to start with.
How goes it? Sailing into summer? We sure are! Today I wanted to share our goals for the 2021-2022 school year because every time I share them via socials I get asked lots of questions.
I am also sharing because for a while, I was making goals all wrong! EEEEEK!! Had lots of mom guilt for sure. Since then, I’ve been making goals way more cohesively and it has truly enhanced our experience from homeSCHOOL to HOMEschool. Get it? I focused so much on the learning and was separating that from the whole child and our family.
How I start…
Every year I check out this book, Home Learning Year by Year from the library. I know you’re thinking “why not just buy it?” and the answer is if I did, I would drive myself crazy trying to meet certain metrics day by day. This way, I can look at it cumulatively and assess what we need to work on and what is solid. I can create learning goals per subject based on that.
Then I think about all the other things that aren’t included in that book like life skills, biblical application, allyship, fine motor and processing goals and create metrics to meet those goals. I do this for each kid.
I also involve my kids in this process. I ask them what they want to learn about, what goals they have for themselves and what they are interested in, etc.
Then my husband and I review them and begin the editing process until we are both solid in their goals for the next year and can work together to help our sons achieve these goals.
So far this method has proven effective so we will keep at it.
I am going to try to make this quick but this is important. Very important. As overwhelming as homeschooling can already be, the cost can sometimes be very daunting. I know this personally. I am no millionaire, but even if I was, I wouldn’t want to spend a ton on homeschooling. I could you know, feed the hungry or something. For those who aren’t millionaires, have budgets and bills, but want to homeschool and can’t get over some of the costs, there are ways around that.
Buy used: I know some people abhor this concept but hear me out. Buying used curriculum is a great way to save money. You can see in a previous post that I saved a ton on our math curriculum. If you are worried about germs, Lysol. Most homeschool moms take great care of the curriculum they invested in hoping to recoup some of the cost so you get a good product at a fraction of the price. Look for homeschool sales in your area or search online. You can also buy books used from local thrift stores and online. This has saved me a ton and I am sure it will save you a ton as well.
Download free curriculum: Well, duh! So many people have created free curriculums and units studies for your taking. Take them gleefully! My Pinterest board is full of them.
Create units and activities from books: This may not be for everyone but for some, it can be a great teaching experience and yield awesome results.
Buy supplies inexpensively: Stock up during back-to-school sales. Crayons, pencils, markers, composition notebooks, glue sticks- grab them all. During the year or for more specific items, check your local Dollar Tree. They have amazing items for ONE DOLLAR. You can’t beat that price.
Use what you have: If a project calls for something you don’t have, look for substitutes or another version to see if you can use something you already have.
Buy and split: If you have some homeschool friends that all need the same supply item that needs to be ordered, but comes in larger quantities at a higher cost, split the cost and share the quantity.
Ok, those are my tricks and tips for now. Did I miss something? Please tell me if so!
I know with us going into month ??? Of Pandemic life, the title of this blog may come off a bit confusing, crass even. Bare with me.
If you follow me on socials, (again, if you don’t are we really friends???), you’ve seen how serious I take memory making and with so much being #cancelled or not safe, I’ve had to take lots of it in to my own hands.
You can’t see the smile on my face now, but let me assure you, it is wide. Why? Well, because I could’ve given up, just let this season be what it was or could take very sour lemons, add way more than a spoonful of sugar and some lavender, tie it with a bow and call it a memory. I chose the latter.
Friends, I must tell you, this was far from easy and in my true fashion, so much was extra. SO. MUCH. So I’m learning to straddle the line a little better.
I say all that to say, I know this season, most of these days are far from easy. I am saying that I, like you, am very tired of this season. I am also saying that when this season is over, I do not want to regret an ounce, not a day of it.
When my kids remember “the germs” and all we couldn’t do, they will also remember all that we did, shared, explored and the magic I made happen.
So, if you still love me, follow along as I’ll have easy ways to whip up memories and fun safely.
These two are super easy and a hit with my family:
Apple Dippers board– a few weeks ago I shared a “fall fun” checklist that contained all the things you could do with apples. The last thing we did was this apple dipping board and, let me tell you, when my husband beat my kids in asking for seconds, I knew this was hit.
Here is what I did: Grab a serving tray, cutting board, or a large plate. Then core and slice about 3 medium-large apples to start depending on the appetite of your crowd.
Next, grab some small skewers or toothpicks and stick them through the apple slice from the bottom up, so it kinda looks like a lollipop. Now, to the fun part. Grab any topping you’ve ever had or wanted to have on a candy apple and lay it out. Now to the extra- I had some red dessert plates on hand and chose to put my toppings- caramel sauce, chocolate sauce, peanuts, sprinkles, marshmallows- in separate dishes and then let my family pick what toppings they would like and “dip” each apple slice then top how they please. It was a pure mess but I was happy to help make it!
Chili Board- Not to toot my own horn here, but according to my kids, this was the best dinner they’ve ever had. Between me and you, this was one of the easiest meals I’ve ever made, so that equals the ultimate win-win! I pulled chili from the freezer-yes, it was frozen because I had some veggies about to tap-out on me so I threw them with some spices, beans, and stock in the instant pot and 20 minutes later I had chili. Then, obvi, I froze it. So, I let the chili simmer to perfection on the stove in my new Dutch oven. While that simmered I made some cornbread muffins (again, legit the easiest recipe I’ve ever found and the tastiest.) Why muffins you ask? So I could freeze the leftovers. This enneagram 6w5 is always thinking ahead. So, chili simmering, muffing baking, right? Then you get your toppings out. I had scoops, red onion, green onion, goat’s milk cheddar, and parsley. Again, you go to town how you see fit! Take a little design liberty here and make it pretty. Ladle chili in bowls and let the board work its magic. 2 bowls and 2 muffins later, I had to refuse third portions because I value leftovers.
Throw in some games and give got some family fun and great memories in the books!
So, basically, you give me a board and basket and I’ll give you a year of memory making. Both of the above took maybe 25 minutes to execute but the smiles-those last a lifetime.
