Category Archives: Homeschooling

Delight-Directed Learning for ANY Homeschool {Part Five}

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Welcome back to my series, Delight-directed Learning for ANY Homeschool.

delight-directed homeschool

In our first four discussions on this topic, we looked at the following ideas:

Part One: Talk to your kids or maybe just pay attention to what they talk about most. What piques their curiosity? There really are very few topics that cannot be developed into an educational experience. We often take these topics and create unit studies.

Part Two: Notice when your student gets excited by something you are already teaching. It really can be as simple as giving your student some extra time to follow a rabbit trail.

Part Three: Notice what has piqued the interest of your student and then plan a field trip based on that interest.

Part Four: Create a “fun school” jar with exciting activities you know your kids will enjoy.

This week, in my last installment, I want to expand on one last idea that I mentioned briefly in Part Two.

Fill a book basket with books on your student’s topic of interest.

Using book baskets is something I learned early on in our homeschool journey, and this method of learning serves a dual purpose.

First of all, filling a basket full of colorful picture books, interesting nonfiction books, and inspiring biographies exposes your children to different genres of literature and encourages a love of reading.

Secondly, reading is just a great way to learn. Put away the boring workbooks and dry textbooks and let your students enjoy learning about interesting topics from real, living books. Even if you do nothing else but let your child read (and read to him), deep, rich learning will occur.

Head to the library and check out books on any subject your student wishes to learn about, and then spend a day (or a week) reading all of them. You will be amazed at how much your kids learn from reading about topics of interest to them. It’s likely you can also shop your own bookshelves for books to read, too. You’re a homeschool mom; every room of your house has a bookshelf, right?

If your kids don’t read them all, that’s okay, too. But chances are good that if you take them to the library, teach them how to find books based on a topic they love, and then set them free to choose the books, they will at least look at them! Use them for required reading, free reading, read aloud time, and bedtime stories. Any time, day or night. It doesn’t have to be just during school hours. If your kids are reading about a topic they love, they will want to read (or listen to you read) about it all the time!

http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-image-children-reading-book-summer-park-image25167761

Using this method has encouraged my son to love reading for pleasure, and for school. For a long time, he didn’t even realize he was “doing school.” Today, I rarely have to make any kind of reading list for him. He devours books faster than I can supply them. Our library always has a stack ready to be picked up. And yes, there are many days that all he does for school is read. And I am perfectly fine with that.

Which brings me to the topic of working with kids who don’t love to read so much. That is another great benefit of this method. If you have reluctant readers, be patient. This method of learning may not be an immediate hit, but if you fill their book baskets with books about subjects they choose and are passionate about, it’s only a matter of time. In the beginning, they may only flip through and look at the pictures. That’s okay. Give them time. Read to them more. Help them explore things they love with books. They will come around eventually.

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Read more from Marcy in her Author Box below!

Heidi St John Homeschooling Guide to Daylight

10 Ideas For Celebrating Back To School!

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10 Ideas to Celebrate Back-To-School @thebusymom.com

 

Can you believe it is that time of year? Again? Here in East Tennessee kids are headed back to school the first full week of August! Yikes! What about you? Are you gearing up for another homeschool year? Kids getting ready to head back in your area also? I am one of those moms that loves to celebrate EVERYTHING! I love a reason for cupcakes or balloons. Don’t get me wrong, my simple celebrations aren’t always Pinterest-perfect, but celebrations don’t have to be! Adding one of these simple ideas sometime the week before school starts will help to create some positive, wonderful memories for your family as you start a new school year!

1. Snap a few special pictures. Use this list to make sure you don’t miss any special back-to-school moments. I love these sidewalk shots using chalk to write their grade level.

2. Bake a fun treat together. (Or one to take to your new teacher and classmates!) Try these adorable apple-cinnamon back-to-school cupcakes! And here are a few healthier options like fruit kabobs and apple sandwiches or these adorable cheese stick pencils!

3. Read a sweet book together. Here are a few back-to-school picture books to share with your kids: My Brave Year of Firsts by Jamie Lee Curtis, Chopsticks by Amy Rosenthal, Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten by Joseph Slate, How Do Dinosaurs Go To School? by Jane Yolen.

4. Have a good-bye to summer party. Have one last hooray! One last sleepover, one last visit to the water park, invite friends over, etc. Making it a “last time” possibly in the week before school starts could seem a bit sad, but I think it’s just making it more special and making memories. Focus on the positive.

5. Make a gift for the new teacher. Even if that teacher is YOU. I like gifts, don’t you? 🙂 What about a pencil vase/jar made out of crayons? This ruler crate/basket is adorable. This pencil wreath would be a perfect back-to-school gift for a new teacher! Or, if the teacher is you, a pedicure or gift card to Starbucks may be more to your liking!

6. Go back to school shopping. Even if you don’t leave your house to school, a new outfit or a new pack of crayons is always exciting!

7. Fill out an interview with each child, an “all about me” type questionnaire that makes a great keepsake. Here is a great printable interview already made for you. Scroll down on this post for another colorful interview printable.

8. Print a few lunchbox notes to encourage your kids throughout the year. You can always place these notes at their place at the table if you’re at home, or on their pillow! I think if I print some out ahead of time I might be more inclined to use them through the year. Here are a few printable notes you can give to your kids! And a few more for you to choose from.

9. Ask your kids for THEIR ideas! They may have a fun idea for your family to try out in the last days before you start your school year back up. Kids are often a lot more creative than we are.  My kids would likely say, “Let’s go to Dollywood one more time!” or “Let’s have ice cream for supper!”

10. Pray together. Pray for your students, their teachers, their friends, their school, our country. Pray that our families can be a light to the world in whatever school setting they attend.

Have a great school year, Busy Moms!! 

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Heidi St John Homeschooling Guide to Daylight

Affording to homeschool as a single parent

Affording to Homeschool as a Single Mom

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I didn’t know anything about homeschooling until I was pregnant with my first son. I’d always gone to public school and I just figured it was either public or private. My mind was slightly blown when my childbirth educator and doula told me that she homeschooled her children.  She was also a single mom at the time and in law school. Over the course of my pregnancy we talked alot about her decision to homeschool.

Fast forward 4 short years and I found myself in almost the exact same position. I was in law-school, with two children and my oldest was getting close to the age of Kindergarten. I had a choice to make about his education. At first I figured that I’d just put him in private school. Then I considered holding him back another year so he could mature emotionally before starting school. Finally one day I heard God clearly tell me that I was to homeschool my boys.

Say what?

It’s been 4 years since I obeyed that call to homeschool my boys. I never imagined that I’d be a single parent homeschooling, but I’m here to tell you that it can be done.

Affording to homeschool as a single parent

Single Parent Homeschooling: Affording it

The #1 question people ask me all the time is “How do you support yourself?” It’s a hard question to answer because honestly what works for me may not (and probably won’t) work for everyone.  When I decided to follow the call to homeschool I also walked away from a legal career. Yep, you read that right. I am not using that legal degree that I worked hard for.  And no, I don’t regret it.

I do work, but not a full-time job. I do a little free lance writing, I work as a virtual assistant and I’m in the process of starting a life coaching business. All of these I can do from home and it works around homeschooling and my boys’ schedule.  Here are some other tips for affording to homeschool as a single parent:

  1. Keep it simple: Homeschooling does not have to cost an arm and a leg. There are many options out there for teaching our children that are affordable and sometimes even free!
  2. Choose a Curriculum that works best for your family: When I’m looking for curriculum I have a few requirements that must be met before I buy anything. My #1 requirement is that it must be something that I can use with both my boys at some point.  I don’t have the budget to buy new stuff every year so I look for things that we can either use at the same time or that can be passed down once my oldest is done with it.
  3. Always look for ways to teach a subject for free before you buy a curriculum: The library is a homeschooler’s best resource. You can teach many subjects with your library card and some really great books. Some libraries even have homeschool texts that you can check out to use for a while.
  4. Look for free or discounted days at museums and parks.  Many museums, zoos and parks have one annual free day, days where you can donate cans of food for a discounted ticket or other deals of that sort.  Don’t hesitate to call a place you want to go and ask if they have a homeschool week!
  5. Barter if there is something you need.  Is there an older person in your life who would love to teach your children woodworking?  Maybe you can make a crock pot of soup once a week while he shares his skill.  Or maybe you’re a fabulous bread baker and your friend loves to teach science.  Make a plan to trade services!
  6. Choose what is most important, and let the rest go. Don’t feel pressured to make your homeschool look like your friend’s. Your friend may use a $500 boxed curriculum or do every Pinterest craft she can find… you don’t have to do that! Spending hours on (free) nature walks together will afford your children as many delightful memories as theirs. I promise!

Those are just a few of the practical ways that I can afford to homeschool as a single parent.  Practicality aside, however, I rely on God to provide for me to do what He has called me to do!  He has called me to homeschool my boys, and He has been faithful in providing the means for me to do so.  If He asks you do homeschool, He will provide for it!

Do you have any questions about single parent homeschooling?? Leave them in the comments and I’ll do my best to answer them or write another post about it.

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Heidi St John Homeschooling Guide to Daylight

Planning Your Homeschool Year

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Planning Your Homeschool Year @thebusymom.com

It’s that time of year, busy moms!! I put together a list of resources for you here that will help you with ALL aspects of planning your homeschool year!

Grab a cup of coffee or a glass of sweet tea and be inspired as you read through these links! Bookmark this page to come back to when you’re needing fresh inspiration and encouragement!

Homeschool Inspiration

Now that you’re inspired, here is some practical help for you. Help with the actual PLANNING: choosing curriculum, types of learning, priorities and goals!

Homeschooling Planning Helps

Lastly, encouragement for your mama’s heart. We all know that there will be bad days. When those days come, carve out some time for prayer and keep coming back to this page for snippets of encouragement!

When Homeschooling is Hard

Well, I hope you’re as inspired as I am! This page should keep you busy reading and being inspired for weeks to come! From the Busy Mom Writers, we hope and pray your coming school year is FULL TO THE BRIM of joy and learning together as you follow the path Jesus has for your family!

Heidi St John Homeschooling Guide to Daylight

Delight-Directed Learning for ANY Homeschool — Part Four (free printable)

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delight-directed homeschoolWelcome back to my series on how to add delight-directed learning to ANY homeschool! You can read the first 3 installments here:  Part One,  Part Two and Part Three!

This is probably one of my very favorite ways to add delight-directed learning to our homeschool. And with summer upon us, the timing for this could not be more perfect!

Create a “fun school” jar with exciting activities you know your kids will enjoy.

The concept is super simple. Just grab a Mason jar or empty peanut butter jar — even a coffee can will work. Write your fun school ideas on slips of paper, fold them up, and toss them in the jar. On days you want to add some delight-directed learning to your day, you’ll have plenty of ideas there for the choosing.

I’ll give you a few ideas to get you started, but please — take requests from your children to add to the jar, too (that’s part of what makes it delight-directed!). Then take a break from “school” and let them choose from the jar what they will do that day. Here are 15 fun school jar suggestions to get you started:
  • Go on a nature walk with a list of items to look for (leaves, moss, animal tracks, acorns, flowers, etc.). I have a free nature printable I’d love for you to use for this. It has a scavenger hunt and journal pages for all four seasons. Download your free Nature Through the Seasons PDF.
  • Create art.
  • Do messy science experiments.
  • Collect an insect or other creature in your backyard (butterfly, moth, ants, spider, turtle) and observe it for a couple of days before releasing it. We have a box turtle that lives in our yard. My son loves to keep him around for a couple of days now and then for observation. He can tell you more about box turtles than most kids, I think.
  • Learn about how to use Word or PowerPoint.
  • Grab a camera and look for interesting things to photograph. Learn about digital photography while you’re at it.
  • Visit a nursing home with a list of questions to interview one of the residents.
  • Plant a garden. Even if you live in an urban area or apartment, you can grow herbs in a container or use root vegetables to make a table top garden.
  • Visit your local zoo or aquarium. Choose one or two animals to learn about before you go, then photograph and observe while there.
  • Find a creek or pond and collect water samples to study. Find rocks perfect for skipping and see how many times you can skip a rock through the water.
  • Visit your local state or national parks. National and state Parks offer amazing fun and educational opportunities for a low cost. We even seek them out when on vacation!
  • Learn about the history of ice cream; then go out for an ice cream cone.
  • Go geocaching!
  • Make pine cone bird feeders and hang them in a tree in your backyard.
  • Taking a walking tour of your city.

fun school jar

Heidi St John Guide to Daylight

When Your Homeschool Doesn’t Meet Your Expectations

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Homeschool Expectations

 

I came from a long line of highly educated people.  Even my grandmother, born at the turn of the century, had an advanced degree.  So naturally, when I started homeschooling, I expected that my children would also be highly academic.

Then I discovered the world of dyslexia.

Dyslexia causes otherwise intelligent people to struggle mightily with reading, writing and spelling.  So while my kids had all of the intelligence to succeed academically, their execution of school-type work hindered them.  In fact, because these things were so hard for them, and despite their great creativity, imagination and love of learning itself, they disliked traditional academic pursuits.  Yikes!  This mama was worried.

Looking back now after 20 years of homeschooling dyslexic kids, I realize that I could have saved myself a lot of sorrow if I had realized one basic fact much sooner.

God’s Purposes Over My Purposes

God created my kids with great purpose from before time began.

God…called us with a holy calling, not according to our works,
but according to His own purpose and grace
which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.
2 Timothy 1:8-9

While I may not know God’s exact purposes for my kids, I can know that they are good and perfect, awesome and doable.

Somehow, intellectually I understood this but practically speaking, I wanted things my way.  As I learned to lean on God and ask Him for direction for my kids’ lives I found peace.

Many Types of Intelligence

All of my years trying to figure out dyslexia taught me that there are many types of intelligence.  Not only that but that they were perfectly created that way by God so that they could beautifully and naturally fulfill their God-given purpose!

So relax mamas, breathe!  Lay your burdened thoughts for your children and their futures down before the Lord.   Let go of your expectations and ask God for wisdom.  As God slowly weaves your story and the stories of your children together, it will be tempting to pick up that burden once again, but I assure you – God is faithful.  His promises are true.

While your child may not be meeting your expectations, he or she is being prepared day-by-day, experience-by-experience for God’s purposes to be fulfilled in their lives.

Discovering God-given Talents

Once we have laid down our agenda for our kids, we are free to observe our kids natural interests and strengths.  Where do they excel in ability?  What really interests them?  Where these two intersect, interest and ability, may well be where their purpose lies.

Questions to Ask

Are you teaching them about the wonderful works of God?  Are you pointing them to Jesus in their trials?  Have they experienced the faithfulness of God?

Honestly, what would be the worst thing that could happen if your child never mastered Algebra?  Read all of the classics?  Or never went to college?  Could God still use their lives?  Of course!

Now go and lay those burdens down and pray for God’s good and perfect purpose to be made known in your lives and the lives of your kids.

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Heidi St John Homeschooling Guide to Daylight

Where Is the “Easy” Button for Parenting?

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Did you ever sing The Bear Hunt song at school? I remember it well.  See if this brings back any memories:

(Leader)
We’re going on a bear hunt!
(Group)
We’re going on a bear hunt!

We’re gonna catch a big one!
We’re gonna catch a big one!
I’m not afraid!
I’m not afraid!

As a third grader, I loved this form of adventure. It was a way to get the wiggles out while pretending to be brave for that cute boy with the messy hair and big blue eyes who sat two desks behind me.

The other day, I was talking with my friend about mothering. We were laughing about the ups and downs of every day life when the conversation turned to the difficulties of homeschooling. Eventually, we landed on the topic of raising children. So many of us spend money and time looking for that perfect solution for raising kids. Surely there must be an easier way. Last night when I was reflecting on our conversation, it came back to me. “This journey of parenting is a little like going on that bear hunt,” I thought. I couldn’t remember the whole thing, but after a little time on Google, I found it. I recalled repeating after my teacher as she said:

Oh, no! ” ”
It’s a big puddle of mud ” ”
Can’t go around it ” ”
Gotta go right thru it ” ”
Yeuk! ” ”
Well, let’s go.
Squish, Sqwish, Blaaahh.

Squish. Blaaaaaah. Are you struggling a strong-willed child? Maybe you are at odds with your teen. Squish. Plod. Can’t go around it. Can’t go over it. Can’t go under it. Gotta go through it. Sound familiar? It’s easy to think that if we just put our kids in school, our lives would be easier. Maybe, if we had more money or if our child was more obedient—or maybe less strong willed—life would be easier.

Precious mom, don’t think for a moment that this journey you’re on as a mother is only about the children you’re raising. I assure you; it’s as much about you as it is about your children. Parenting is the hardest, best thing that most of us will ever do. It’s not easy.

If you’re struggling today, don’t lose hope! Parenting isn’t supposed to be easy! It’s the struggle that’s teaching us! The journey is filled with challenges, both big and small: not unlike that Bear Hunt from so long ago …

We’re coming to a wide river ” ”  (my child is strong-willed)
And there’s no bridge going over it ” ”  (no book is going to fix it)
No tunnel going under it ” ”  (there’s no way to ignore it)

If you feel overwhelmed by the many responsibilities and pressures of parenting, , know that you don’t have to go it alone.  Those who love you won’t feel burdened by listening to you and helping you along in your journey. I can almost hear my friend Margaret talking to me as we dealt with our first fevers, fussy toddlers, school, adolescence, and finally adult children. I’m a “Mamsi” now—and I can’t wait to hold my grown daughter’s hand as she begins to cross the wide, wide river …

It’s just plain old water ” ”
And we’re gonna have to swim ” ”
All right, dive in!
Start swimming
Do the back stroke
Do the side stroke
Do the doggie paddle
Try the little cat paddle
OK Jump out, shake yourself off

Parenting is hard. There is no “easy button” for it—and that’s okay. It’s one of the reasons we need each other. It’s one of the reasons we crave relationship. We were created for relationship. We need to know we’re not alone.

Shhh, it’s a cave ” ”
Looks like the kind of cave that B-bears live in ” ”
I don’t know if I want to go in there
You think we oughta go in?
Are you nuts?
There’s probably a bear in there

Parenting requires both perseverance and authenticity. We need each other. As we go through the struggles of parenting, hopefully, we’re growing too. Are you helping that new mom or the mom who is struggling through a problem you have faced?

All right I’ll go in, You stay here,
And if I find a bear, I’ll come out and get you
And we’ll all go in and grab him together

The next time you see an exhausted mom sleeping through “Mommy and Me” class or posting about having too much laundry to do, encourage her! Since there is no “Easy Button” for this journey, we had better stick together.

I’ll come out and get you—we’ll all go in and do this thing … together.

Group hug,
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Heidi St John Guide to Daylight