If your middle or high school student struggles to stay on task, try some of these tips to help easily distractible teens focus. Don't be unsocialized! Click over to read the rest at Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers ..read more

A while back, I noticed a sign near the cash register while waiting to be seated. It said that the restaurant had gotten a new payment system and it could take up to 15 seconds to process a payment. Then, it thanked patrons for their patience.  Fifteen seconds. How much patience does it take to endure fifteen seconds of waiting? But that’s the world we live in. And in this fast-paced, modern world, the idea of something as slow-paced and labor-intensive as homesteading may seem like a nostalgic throwback to a bygone era.  However, for homeschooling families, homesteading and the sel ..read more

“The sun did not shine, it was too wet to play, so we sat in the house all that cold, cold, wet day…” Do you remember reading The Cat in the Hat as a kid? I know I do! I also have sweet memories of reading it to both of my children. Few stories ignite the imagination across generations like this beloved classic, written by the legendary Dr. Seuss in 1957. In case it’s been a while since you read it, let me refresh your memory before introducing The Cat in the Hat diorama. Don't be unsocialized! Click over to read the rest at Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers ..read more

Who’s helping you homeschool? You may be overwhelmed at the thought of doing it all, but there’s good news! You don’t have to. Learn how to find your homeschool support system! These post-pandemic days, when I mention that we homeschool, I don’t think it’s my imagination that I’m met with many shiny new looks of respect. And I know it’s not my imagination that I’ve been met with more responses like, “I could never do that,” “I like the idea of homeschooling, but I couldn’t make it work in the spring (2020),” and, “You must really be on top of it.” Side note: Can we trust memes as an accu ..read more

Whether clutter drives you batty or you’re the one who always knows where everything is amid the chaos, too much homeschool clutter may be a problem. Read on to discover why too much clutter may be hurting your homeschool and what you can do about it.  Everywhere we look – on Pinterest, blogs, Instagram, you name it – people are decluttering. I’ve seen umpteen clutter-purging room-by-room lists and photos of donation bin bags piled high, boasting another victory in the challenge of getting rid of the obscene amount of things we don’t really need. Marie Kondo has undoubtedly made heaps of ..read more

Glitter and slime. Two words that strike fear in the hearts of parents and glee in the hearts of children. But let’s talk about how to make Valentine’s Day slime! Since I believe learning should be fun and hands-on as much as possible, I’m going to make the case that making glitter slime can be educational. Every once in a while we need to set aside our dread of messes just to have a little educational fun, right? Come on! You can do it! Written by Sara of Heart and Soul Homeschooling. Don't be unsocialized! Click over to read the rest at Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers ..read more

This year my family, like many others, has faced an inexplicably relentless season of sickness. Just when we think we’re out of the woods, another random illness strikes. In the last six months, I think we’ve all been well for maybe a handful of days. This seems to be a common theme among families I’ve talked to this year, both locally and afar. This got me thinking about lessons for homeschooling in challenging seasons. And while I don’t know what’s up with these health challenges from a medical standpoint, it has made me think about how hard seasons are always opportunities. Don't be u ..read more

One of the best things about homeschooling is the flexibility it offers, and one of the areas in which we get to enjoy that flexibility is how we schedule our homeschool calendar. I’m not talking about your day-to-day schedule (that’s a whole other level of flexibility), but, rather, how we schedule the overall homeschool year. I’m one of those people who plan out our school year calendar every year before we get started. Our state requires a 180-day school year, so I want to make sure I’ve got a plan for getting them all accounted for in a way that suits our family’s needs. Don't be unsocial ..read more

By Jennifer Smeltser Economics is a subject we all know is important to teach our children, but we do not generally get around to completing a study until high school. It is just one of those subjects you are supposed to teach, and it should be, especially since economics affects every financial decision we make–from purchasing a piece of gum to buying a yacht. Notgrass Exploring Economics breaks down the concept of economics and explores the human behaviors behind how we use our money. This curriculum helps students gain a better understanding of the importance of economics in their lives.&n ..read more

Are you homeschooling high school? Even high school students benefit from hands-on learning. And there are ways to easily add more hands-on learning to your high school homeschool! (Plus, keep reading for a chance to win a little spending money to support those educational activities!) When we first began homeschooling ten years ago, I was determined to help my boys learn in fun and engaging ways. It was one of the reasons we decided to homeschool in the first place! I distinctly remember telling my husband how excited I was about project-based learning and how valuable it would be for o ..read more