30 Helpful Tips for New Homeschoolers from Experienced Homeschoolers

     First of all, a great big THANK YOU to the lovely homeschooling mothers who contributed their bits of wisdom to this list!  I am so fortunate to be part of some fabulous online support groups.  And these women are there to help each other and share their experiences.  The following is a list of advice or tips they gave for newbie homeschoolers.  We are hoping that others can learn from past mistakes or have some luck by borrowing another's wisdom.  If you have any more tips and/or suggestions that might help, please leave it as a comment.  THANK YOU!

• 1.  "Don't wait until just before a holiday to check out books from the library regarding that holiday.  The good books may be all checked out for the month."

  
  

  2.  "Do not buy a used curriculum without finding out all the details, like if it requires supplemental workbooks, or if it requires an online account that can only be used once."

  
  

  3.  "Don't spend money on curriculum before you check to see if anyone you know - friends, other homeschoolers, someone online, your library - has a copy you could look over and 'try before you buy."

  
  

  4.  "Find out your child's learning style and THEN buy curriculum. Just because it works for someone else's child doesn't mean it will work for your child. 

  
  

  5.  "If your library let's you reserve books online and pick them up at the drive through window take advantage of it, I do this and it works perfectly! We can go into the library and let the kids choose their choices and not be worried about locating the books we need for our lessons." 
• 6.  "Just because you like a curriculum one year doesn't mean you will like using it the next. You may change after summer break, the curriculum may change due to the advancing of grade levels, you may find something you like better, your extra curricular so may not allow you the same amount of time, you may have more kids that can share curriculum than you had the year before and they may need something they can share better, or the publishers may change things under your nose (k12 anybody?)." 

  
  

  7.  "Make sure you budget time before school starts to research things and have what you want well in advance of when you plan to start school because it will take more time than you think to get what you want and even then it may not be what you really want and you may need to change."

  
  
• 8.  "You don't have to have the same schedule as the public school kids."
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  9.  "Your home gets messier, because you live there more....just turn cleaning into a consistent routine so it doesn't pile up crazy...even if it seems like you don't get very much done in one day...keep going."

  
  
• 10.  "Consider donating something from your curriculum that you really like to your library, and maybe also something you don't want anymore, and encourage others to do the same, if your library will take them. That way if a few people donate a few things and keep it going, eventually there will be a good place to reference new materials so you can get a really good grip on what the stuff is like before you have to buy it. It gets expensive buying things only to find out you can't/won't use it, even if the stuff is cheap, it adds up and takes up space and gets frustrating."

  
  11.  "It's important to know what works for your family. Some of that is just trial and error. I'm thinking mostly about homeschooling philosophy and how your family works together. There are so many ways to do things that you have to find what works for you - just like parenting. It's not a 'one size fits all' deal. It'll be different for every family and even for every child."
• 12.  "Try to buy on ebay to get good prices. The math curriculum I got ended up having one of the books messed up. It had pages that were duplicated, and some pages were missing. So not always a good deal!"

  
  
• 13.  "101 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum is the #1 book that helped me the first year of homeschooling."
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  14.  "Don't worry SO MUCH about a curriculum! Your kids will learn whether you want them to or not, and whether you have everything mapped out and organized or not   You will figure out a curriculum later on, or as you go."

  
  
• 15.  "Pray. Pray about your decision. Pray for your kids. Pray to know how to best met there needs. Pray about curriculum choices. Pray about styles (unschooling vs. Structure ect) to use when teaching your kids. Pray."

  
  
• 16.  "Talk and read.... talk to other homeschooling moms, read homeschool blogs and books and as you do those prayers will be answered. Listen for the still small voice that will guide."

  
  
• 17.  "Take time to detox, plan on taking MONTHS off "school" and then get started with whatever form of education you feel is best...when you are all ready and have a solid foundation. Get to really know your kids. Play with each other, clean together as a family, pray together!"

  
  

  18.  "It is normal to have bad days. There will be days when it seems like hardly anything got done, but they are still learning! There is down time in school & days when a substitute just shows a movie, so it is ok for you to do the same occasionally."
• 19.  "Don't stress about whether or not they are making progress. No matter how you homeschool, (or how badly you think you are failing) they ARE progressing."

  
  

  20.  "There are gaps in every education. Homeschooling lets you choose where they are."
• 21.  "Don't mess with early academics until they've learned to read and write. Bookwork is a lot easier when you don't have to read aloud every single lesson. Until then, explore the world and learn through play."

  
  
• 22.  "You'll likely not have to really teach a kid to read. Read to them, sound things out as you read, point to words. They'll be ecstatic when they break the code and will be full of self confidence that they "did it themselves," which they did...with love and only guidance from you. Let them score the big points. It will keep them curious and bold."

  
  
• 23.  "Try not to take credit for 'teaching them' things. Say things like, 'He learned...,' 'He found...,' or 'She researched...'  When you give them credit for their work, they'll have a vested interest in taking responsibility for working. It's like their pay."

  
  24.  "There's nothing wrong with taking a day off now and then to work together and get the house back in some semblance of order if you need to."
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  25.  "I would add that you don't have to use a curriculum. If you want to, that's cool, but another good way is to just use books, movies, and explore the real world through your children's interests."

  
  
• 26.  "Take other's advice lightly, do what works best for your own children."
  

  
  27.  "Try to refrain from scheduling the week full of extra curriculars and classes, leaving little to no room to explore."

  
  

  
  28.  "Make sure your Tuesdays are free. It seems that everything in the home school world happens on a Tuesday."

  
  

  29.  "If you are having discontent in the home (ex: disrespect, power struggles, fighting, disobedience, etc), stop trying to push academics or a curriculum.  Take time to assess what is happening in your home and repair the bond between you and your child or spouse.  Your relationship with your family is the most important thing.  There is no point in trying to teach your child when they do not respect you or if they are not happy.  They won't retain any information that way."
  

  
  

  30.  "You're not a school--don't try to be."

  
  

Why Homeschooling Is Awesome: Reason #4 - A Curriculum of Life Skills

     Welcome to Motivational Mondays!  I am inviting all bloggers to link-up with me and share your motivational posts for moms/parents and homeschoolers.  I think reading supportive and encouraging words is a perfect way to start off your week.  
*Please remember: Prior to adding your link, you must review the link-up guidelines here.
Thanks for stopping by!

     My husband co-authored this post, since he came up to me and dictated this experience with our 4 year old daughter, Marley.

     Marley and her dad went on an assignment/field trip together to the grocery store.  He told her they needed supplies and ingredients to make tacos.  He went over the supplies they needed and he let Marley push the mini grocery cart (which I think is adorable when the stores have them).  He said he had the time of his life watching her look for the supplies and teaching her about picking items that are good quality and reasonably priced.  She paid close attention and was very interested in his methods of shopping.  He taught her how to tell if an avocado is ripe to use.  He even tested her to see if she understood and she did a great job picking out our avocados.  My husband came home and told me about their experience with so much enthusiasm. He told me he is enjoying homeschooling.  He also pointed out to me that he knows full grown adults that aren't very knowledgable in efficient grocery shopping.

     I have been told on several occasions that the upcoming generations are lacking in life skills.  Many teenagers and college aged kids are growing up without learning how to take care of themselves on a daily basis.  Some skills that are being overlooked in traditional education are: Cooking, cleaning, shopping, doing laundry, simple problem solving, and being responsible to carry out tasks on their own.  I have also recently heard employers say that it is difficult to find employees, even college graduates, that can handle a problem by themselves.  

     Why are kids not learning these basic concepts?  Too much television? Cell phones? Video games? Lack of daily responsibilities?  Too much time spent on homework?  I do not know the reason for this oversight, but I do know that these life skills are more easily learned at home and through family interaction.  I also know that life skills are not only valuable in the home.  These skills create a sense of responsibility and confidence.  They teach people the value of a strong work ethic.  Those lessons and skills are priceless and will inevitably create a more successful person in all aspects of life.  We are grateful for the flexibility of homeschool, so that we may focus on those life skills and make sure our children are growing up to be self sufficient.

An InLinkz Link-up

Our Field Trip to a Local Mosque

     We had the opportunity to attend an event called Open Mosque Day.  When I heard about it, I was excited to take my family and make it an educational field trip.
     My husband and I are members of the LDS church, but we have always embraced knowledge of other faiths.  We enjoy being open-minded and continually learning.  We find it brings us personal realizations and encourages philosophical developments.  This also leads to a valuable lesson in tolerance and love for all people.  These are important principles that we want to pass onto our children, so it is nice that we are able to incorporate it into homeschooling.

     When we first arrived, I was a little nervous because I felt so different from the women there who were dressed in ankle length skirts and had their hair covered.  I wondered if I was going to be allowed in. Haha.  But the attendants were so friendly and made us feel very welcome.  They enjoyed interacting with our girls and engaging in conversation about motherhood.
   
     We were directed into the mosque where we were given a tour of the building.  During the tour we learned about the Arabic calligraphy and architecture.  We took off our shoes in order to enter the prayer hall and we were able to see where and how the five daily prayers are done.  It was a very pretty room.  Here is a YouTube video I found of the Islamic Call To Prayer, which I think sounds beautiful.

   
     There were many interesting details we learned throughout the tour. For example: The prophet Mohammed married a very successful entrepreneur businesswoman.  She had hired him to work for her and then proposed to him.  Isn't that great? Strong women figures making history way back then. ;)
   
     After the tour, we were provided refreshments and were able to sample some middle eastern finger foods.  Marley and Dylan loved this part!

     Our experience concluded with a short history lecture about the Islamic religion and a question/answer session.  I was very impressed with the historical knowledge shared.  I could see many closely related themes we have in our own religion, such as peace and kindness to all, worshipping of one deity, and personal accountability.
   
     The open house was very well presented and both our daughters had a great time experiencing the tour and making new friends.  I was surprised at how quiet, calm, and well behaved our girls were throughout the entire tour.  We discussed the experience with our daughter afterward and she said she liked the writing on the walls and that the carpets were cute. Haha.  We definitely felt comfortable enough to go back and seek more knowledge.  Thank you to the Islamic Center of Irvine!

     For further information about the Islamic religion, this booklet is very informative and answers frequently asked questions: A Brief Introduction to Islam.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Lesson Plan for Young Kids

     I have always loved the story The Legend of Sleepy Hollow! And being that my 4 year old has taken after mom and enjoys the spooky things, I am dedicating a week to talk and learn about Sleepy Hollow.  We will read and review the story together and learn about Colonial New York.

     Although, there are many more ways of studying this subject as an older student.  For example: Fact or Fiction? The Story Behind Sleepy Hollow is an interesting read, and could ignite an interest in colonial history for middle schoolers or high schoolers.  If my daughter was older, I would probably assign her to write a short research paper on the history behind the story.  There are also many activity and worksheet packets available for purchase for older children, such as this Sleepy Hollow Activity Packet.

Here is an outline of my lesson plan for younger kids:

PICTURE BOOKS:
- The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
- A to Z Mysteries: Sleepy Hollow Sleepover

EDUCATIONAL BOOKS:
- Colonial Kids: An Activity Guide to Life in the New World
- If You Lived In Williamsburg in Colonial Days 

WORKSHEETS:
- Sleepy Hollow Coloring Page
- New York State Coloring Page

ART/CRAFT PROJECTS:
- Flaming Pumpkin Head
   


     I fed orange construction paper through my printer and printed out a jack o lantern outline.  I instructed my daughter to cut it out, giving her a chance to practice her cutting skills.  She glued the jack o lantern on white paper.  Then, I showed her how to dip a fork into yellow and red paint and make flame prints.  She covered her pumpkin in flames, making it a nice representation of the headless horseman.
- Build A Cardboard Bridge

VIDEOS:
- The Haunted Pumpkin of Sleepy Hollow YouTube cartoon
- Legend of Sleepy Hollow YouTube narrated picture book
- And I highly recommend Disney's The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, which is a nice way to introduce a different time period to kids. (You can check your local library to see if it is available for check-out.)

GAMES/ACTIVITIES:
- Pumpkin Bowling
- Ichabod Crane Tag
     On a large area of grass set a starting point and a finish point and mark where the "bridge" would be.  This can be a simple game of tag, and the one who is getting chased would be Ichabod Crane.  The person running would be the headless horseman.  You can get creative with this and make pumpkin flag tags or use orange water balloons to throw at Ichabod.  It's fun and lots of good outdoor exercise!

SCIENCE PROJECT:
 - Make Slime

10 Halloween Costumes for Couples & Families...and a sneak peek at our costumes for this year!

     My husband and I have been married for 8 years now and we have had a blast dressing in matching Halloween costumes every year!  Here are ALL of our Halloween costumes over the years.  Watch our family grow through Halloween fun!

2006 - PIRATES: The Captain & Pirate's Wench
     We volunteered at my preschool carnival to make and distribute cotton candy.  The kids loved the pirate talk. Aaaarrrrgggg!!

2007 - FAMOUS COUPLES: Darth Vader & Padme
     Romance + the Dark Side = quality entertainment!

2008 - SPORTS: Football Player & Hockey Player
     Sports are timeless and usually pretty easy DIY costumes.  Daniel and I both had ice hockey gear already, so he dressed as a hockey player and I used my hockey pads and got a cheap jersey and helmet to complete my football player costume.

2009 - STAR WARS: Darth Vader & Yoda
     Star Wars is another classic theme.  I chose to dress up as Yoda because I was pregnant at the time and preferred to wear a comfortable robe and cloak over my big baby belly.

2010 - SCI-FI: Men In Black & Alien Baby
     These were my favorite halloween costumes! Very original and super cheap.  Daniel and I dressed in our black suit apparel to be Men In Black.  I dressed my baby girl in all lime green clothes and sewed on black felt pieces to her beanie to create the alien face.  This one was a huge hit!

2010 - THE 80s: Punk Rockers
     We were invited to a pre-Halloween gathering and I wanted to keep our Men In Black costumes secret, so we all whipped out our rock band gear and dressed up like 80s punk rockers.  80s is always a fun option.  Neon, layers, belts, and headbands. Fun!

2011 - FAIRY TALES: Little Red Riding Hood, Grannie, & The Big Bad Wolf
     Fairy Tales are so adorable and when I pictured my girl in that sweet little red hood, I was hooked!

2012 - DISNEY: Rapunzel, Flynn Rider, Mother Gothel, & Pascal

     My daughter chose to be Rapunzel, so naturally I made sure the rest of the family matched.  I had my second baby just a few weeks prior so she was tiny and perfect as pascal.  I actually purchased a lizard costume from a pet store for $10 and strapped it on my baby's back. It worked out well. Haha!

2013 - CLASSIC TV SHOWS: Punky Brewster, Brandon, Henry, & Cherie
     My child hood hero was Punky Brewster, so I was thrilled when my daughter asked to be Punky for Halloween.  We have the DVDs so even though Marley is about 30 years removed from that time, she is still a Punky fan.  I dressed as her best friend Cherie.  My husband was Henry, and Dylan dressed up as Brandon the dog. I think these costumes took the most effort to piece together.  My mom sewed the Punky vest for my daughter.  And I had to search far and wide for the perfect golden retriever costume and Henry's hat.  It was a lot of work but was also a big hit.  It even landed Marley on the news for original costumes in Hollywood.  Also, we were recently notified that Soleil Moon Frye (the real Punky Brewster) had seen our family costumes and really liked them.  I was quite flattered that she took the time to see them and comment on them.

And this year...*drum roll please*... we've decided to dress as...

2014 - PATRIOTIC AMERICAN SYMBOLS: The Statue of Liberty, Uncle Sam, & 2 Rosie Riveters
     We already had made Marley's costume for a 4th of July Show she was in this past summer. She loved being the Statue of Liberty, so we decided to re-use it and have the rest of our family dress to match.  We bought Uncle Sam's Wig and Goatee Set, and White Top Hat (I had to add the blue strip and stars from construction paper) on Amazon.com, and the polka dot wire headbands we found on eBay.  We are so excited about our costumes this year.  God Bless America!