I was asking this question 4 years ago, so I'm writing the post I wish I'd had. 🥰A little background: Our family began officially homeschooling when our oldest son was entering kindergarten. I wasn't homeschooled and only knew a few homeschooling families, so I had a lot of questions (and trepidation) about choosing a curriculum.Here's what I've learned along the way:+ An open-and-go, boxed curriculum can be very helpful for your first year. We used Sonlight (with no regrets!) and I have many friends who love My Father's World. You go to their website, select your child's grade level, and order the materials. All you need for the year - the instructor's guide, books, and supplies - arrives at your doorstep. You're ready to homeschool! This helped me feel confident that yes, I was doing enough, and had advisors ready to help me if I needed it.+ A trusted homeschool mama in your community is an invaluable resource. If there's a homeschooling mom in your church whom you admire, ask her all your questions. How did she get started? What curriculum would she choose (or stay away from) if she could do it all again?+ Start simple, as it will take a while to find your rhythm. For example, all that a kindergartener *really needs* is a reading/phonics program, a math program, and (for Christian families) a morning Bible/devotional time. If that's all you do for your child's kindergarten year, great! You can add history, handwriting, science, and other electives as you grow more confident.+ Remember that you may not land on your favorite curriculum or educational philosophy your first year. And that's ok! If you're interested in finding your homeschool style, I've linked a helpful quiz in my profile.+ After you've narrowed it down to a handful of curriculums you're interested in, I love Cathy Duffy's review site (cathyduffyreviews.com). Her reviews are straightforward and very helpful.
The Internet is filled with so many good things we can do for our homeschools, that we often neglect the BEST things. Here they are in one post.
Is homeschooling free? Yes, it can be! Here's a list of my favorite homeschool curriculum that you can find online for FREE!
In times homeschooling has emerged as a viable and increasingly popular alternative, to traditional schooling. Families from around the world are opting for homeschooling due to its flexibility. Personalized learning experiences. In this blog post we will get into the benefits of homeschooling over traditional schooling and shed some light on why many parents are
Unschooling ideas for the 2023-2024 school year: resources and collaborative plans for grades 8, 6, 4, 1 and Pre-K.
What makes successful homeschoolers? It all starts with habits and discovering what is best for you and your kids. These habits are...
How does unschooling spelling work? Learn ways unschooled kids pick up on spelling naturally, resources if they don't, & lots of reassurance.
If you want to keep your students engaged try to mix things up when you can. We’re going to give you a few homeschool routine ideas to help!
I've made a list of 100 field trip ideas for homeschoolers to provide inspiration and help you plan your homeschooling. Don't miss the free printable at the end!
100 Activities to do with your kids - that are Free!
I did not include any channels for toddlers or early elementary. Because of the width of YouTube, kids can come across crazy things on YouTube! For even more safety, watch the following videos on the channel’s website or YouTube Kids instead of YouTube. Learn in Color is not affiliated with any of the channels below. […]
HOMESCHOOL ROOM ESSENTIALS: HOW TO SET UP YOUR HOME SCHOOL LEARNING SPACE Whether this is your first year homeschooling or you need virtual school must haves, homeschool room essentials and homeschooling items can help set you up for school at home success!
If you are new to homeschooling & want to set yourself up for success, here are some dos & don'ts as you get started your first year homeschooling.
Strewing is an amazing way to inspire your child’s natural curiosity. Did you know you may already be doing this unschoolish habit? It’s a practice that can provide amazing learning opportunities regardless of your homeschool method. Plus, it’s easy! So, I’ve put together 100 strewing ideas for your homeschool! This post may contain affiliate links. […]
Homeschooling families tell you what is unschooling and why it's the best way for children to learn.
Freedom Homeschooling lists free homeschool life skills electives for all grades. Home economics, personal finance, auto repair, and more!
If you're stuck indoors for whatever reason, try these educational activities to crack boredom from easy science experiments to fun activities.
Paramount to maintaining sanity is having a guideline or idea of what to teach in each homeschool grade. You’ll love the tips shared by a veteran homeschool mom with 25+ years.
Deschooling definition: planned period of adjustment a child needs when transitioning from public school to homeschool. Understanding how long it takes and why the deschool process has major, necessary benefits in helping a child decompress and successfully prepare for switching to home school and formal school work. Get tips for de-schooling, learn how to start homeschooling with deschooling, the difference between deschooling vs. unschooling and more!
Just stepping your toes into the world of homeschooling? Wondering what the different types of homeschooling methods are and which one is the best fit for your family? Choosing a homeschool style can seem daunting and overwhelming at first, but taking the time initially to learn all the different methods will help you to understand … The Different Types of Homeschooling Methods Explained Read More »
Preparing to homeschool but not sure where to start? This 5 step method has been my go-to for years and it totally works, you guys!
Homeschool planning can be overwhelming. With these homeschool planning secrets and hacks, you can conquer your challenges with homeschool planning today!
Homeschool elective classes made easy with these fun online art classes, music resources, and more!
Download a Daily Homeschool Schedule developed by a Teacher & current Homeschooling Parent below OR use it as a template to create your own!
Want to take your kid's knowledge to the next level in your homeschool? 16 old-fashioned or vintage skills to boost your homeschool experience.
It is the end of May, which here in Idaho that means we are done with school! This year has been a whirlwind to say the least. If anything, we truly have learned that as teachers and parents, we can do anything life throws our way. I have grown by leaps and bounds, and watching educators, parents
Hey fellow unschooling families! As we eagerly prepare for another enriching year of child-led learning, I can’t help but feel a rush of excitement and curiosity for the journey ahead. Unschooling …
Many new homeschoolers are concerned if they are spending enough or too much time doing school in homeschool. How should we be scheduling homeschool?
Use this homeschool supply list to stock up on must-have homeschool supplies for when you're just starting out! Includes a list of homeschool reference texts.
Want to schedule some new field trips for your kids? Check out this huge list of homeschool field trip ideas!
Not sure how to start homeschooling? Whether you're moving to homeschool temporarily or for the long haul, these ideas can help!
Find tons of homeschool printables on The Crafty Classroom blog, including notebooking pages, lapbooks, planning forms, charts, and other learning activities!
If you're looking for the best planner for homeschool moms then I've got you covered. This planner is amazing and I highly recommend it!
Enjoy this project with your little one to help teach them address memorization and geography concepts.
The benefits of gardening in your homeschool provides young learners with much more than just homegrown food. Homeschool garden learning.
Have you heard about The Good and The Beautiful controversy? It is a hot topic in homeschool circles and I'm sharing my thoughts here.
Quarantine homeschool is a new reality right now for us. Having a quarantine homeschool schedule, rules and printable pack is saving my sanity right now.
This is our second year homeschooling and my first year teaching two kids. I have a first grader, kindergartener, and 3.5 year old. We have been using this weekly binder system for organizing our curriculum for a couple months and it's just simplified the mornings so much for me! I feel organized instead of scattered.
These tips for homeschooling kids with ADHD are an absolute lifesaver for parents of kids who have ADHD or ADD! A whole month of ideas!
Are you looking for deschooling ideas? In this post you'll find 101 guilt-free deschooling activities that are fun and educational.
fun and simple ways to learn all about herbalism in your homeschool.
We love Julia Rothman’s book series. Her anatomy books make a fantastic addition to your homeschool library as resources your children will love not only for their amazing illustrations, but also the detailed descriptions. If you’re not sure quite how to make these books work in your lessons, you’re going to be really excited about...
You'll find lots of Montessori Activities, Montessori toys, Montessori gifts, Montessori books, Montessori printables, Homeschool Printables, Montessori at home, Montessori themes, and so much more.
These homeschool tips can help you stay on track every single day. Homeschooling doesn't have to be hard with these simple tips!
Homeschool planning can be overwhelming. With these homeschool planning secrets and hacks, you can conquer your challenges with homeschool planning today!
