Can you feel it? Spring is in the air…finally! No more dark afternoons, frigid temperatures, or leftover piles of dirty snow. Best of all, you can start working some outdoor activities into your homeschooling again! It comes at the perfect time because, after a long winter stuck indoors (in many regions, anyway), most homeschooled students are ready to enjoy the warmer weather. And there are plenty of ways to incorporate the wonderful spring weather into your homeschooling lessons. Here are a few ideas that take advantage of the season while helping you finish your homeschool year on a strong ..read more

There’s one thing that comes along during the school year and grinds homeschooling to a halt–spring. There’s just something about the warm weather, new growth, and the sunshine that makes it quite difficult to homeschool the way you did during the winter. After years of homeschooling, I’ve learned to embrace the spring fever with spring lesson plans that play into our homeschool plan and with a few well-planned spring field trips. And that’s what we’re going to tackle today…spring field trips. Because nothing says “spring homeschooling” like taking advantage of the flexibility and freedom to ..read more

When we last left you in 2023, we were preparing you to take some much-needed time off from homeschooling during the holiday break. Now that we’re into the new year, it’s time to return to the grind–the second half of the homeschool year! But that’s easier said than done sometimes. Breaks don’t last forever; often, realizing there is still half the year to go can feel overwhelming and not fun.  Whether you’ve already jumped into the year’s second half or are getting ready, these reminders will help you get back into the groove for the second half of the homeschool year! 1. Take It Slow M ..read more

At this point, most of you have completed your Christmas shopping. But what about a gift for yourself? We’re here to give you an excellent Christmas gift idea that you deserve: Time off from homeschooling! And, honestly, it’s not only about you deserving this gift but also about needing it. Here’s why. 1. You need rest! Three facts: Teacher job burnout is real, whether you teach in your home or a brick-and-mortar school. The job can lead to emotional and behavioral exhaustion, contributing to physical health. Research has indicated that teaching is one of the most stressful occupations. Teac ..read more

A frequent question homeschool parents ask is, “How I can encourage my student to become an independent learner?” On the surface, homeschooling may not seem like it provides opportunities to promote independent learning. However, homeschooled students can be empowered to become confident, independent learners. Here are some tips that can help you encourage independence in your student. 1. Seek a curriculum that provides opportunities for independent learning and study. Lessons don’t need to be in a lecture format or even taught one-on-one by an instructor all the time. Many publishers have de ..read more

Whether you’ve been homeschooling for six months or six years, you’ve likely experienced…homeschool burnout. It’s often one of the biggest hurdles homeschooling parents face. Being a parent-educator is tough, and even the most dedicated individuals can sometimes feel discouraged, uncertain, and unenthusiastic about their circumstances. Fortunately, these feelings will pass. We’ll help you recognize signs of homeschool burnout and give you self-care strategies to overcome it and feel motivated and supported. What does homeschool burnout feel like? If you’ve ever experienced being overwhelmed ..read more

As a homeschooling parent, you’ve seen the benefits of home education. And hopefully, your child is experiencing the academic success they deserve. But are you and your student actively celebrating homeschool milestones and achievements? If not, you should…we’ll tell you why and how! Why Homeschool Success Is Worth Celebrating If you or your child once attended a traditional brick-and-mortar school, you’re likely aware that these schools celebrate student success regularly. At the end of each semester or marking period, most schools announce academic achievements such as honor roll, dean’s li ..read more

Thanksgiving is here, and that means plenty of food, lots of family time, and the opportunity to reflect on what we’re truly thankful for. You and your kids may be excited to finish the school week and start the holiday, but here are some activities to do in the last few days of school before Thanksgiving. Or bring these activities to your homeschool Thanksgiving celebration! Here are five ways to celebrate: 1. Write and recite Thanksgiving poems or letters of gratitude. A great exercise for students of all ages is asking them to write an original poem or a letter expressing what Thanksgiving ..read more

There are more education options today than ever before. As homeschooling continues to grow in popularity across the country, there’s one form of homeschooling that keeps drawing attention–microschools. We’ll cover everything you need to know so you can choose the right microschool for your child’s education. What is a microschool? Microschools are very small, often one-classroom school settings that offer schooling for around 10 children at most. Microschools usually have a mix of students from different grade levels. Curriculum varies by student, with parents choosing materials suited to th ..read more

When adults volunteer, they generally do so because they feel strongly about giving back to their community, they have deeply personal connections to a foundation or cause, and because it is a rewarding experience that makes them feel good about themselves. And rightfully so. Homeschooled students who volunteer can experience the same benefits, along with a few other perks. Let’s look at how homeschooled students can benefit from volunteering. Leadership and Teamwork Experience While homeschoolers certainly have a chance to participate in sports and other extracurricular activities, those opp ..read more