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Day 11: Swoonworthy Learning Spaces & Homeschool Rooms And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

September 2, 2022 | 4 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Homeschool spaces is our day 11 learning spaces and homeschool rooms of the free 31 Day Free Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers.

Not everybody chooses to have a school room. And homeschool spaces and learning spaces are special to each family.

But all of us have to have an area that we feel comfortable learning in.

Finding the exact niche in your home for welcoming tons of new books and supplies is not easy either.

Day 11: Swoonworthy Learning Spaces & Homeschool Rooms And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

Though my first area looked a lot like a mini version of a public school room, it has changed many times over the years to accommodate my sons as they have grown.

Just like it is natural for your children to grow, it is normal to update and change your learning area each year with your family’s needs in mind.

Homeschool Spaces

Some years you will make drastic changes, other years changes will be more subtle.

Look at a few of these tips to keep in mind as you plan an area for younger children.

1. If you are teaching writing, be sure your children can practice good posture by making sure they have size appropriate furniture. We can’t expect pretty writing if they are sitting on phone books at the dining room table.

2, If you have ~~walking destroyers~~ precious toddlers, then look at storing you supplies up and out of their reach like the top of a closet. Under a bed in a container with a lid that they can’t pull out worked good for me for a few years too.

3. Because you will be getting little help in picking up items while you are training them, try to keep one room or area where you keep a majority of your items. It will be easier to locate what you need.

Look at a few of these things to keep in mind as you plan an area for older children.

Murphy Winter Antique White Fold-out Convertible Desk

1. Older children can crave privacy at times. Look at desks that extend, then fold back into themselves when they are not used. Even something simple that is attached to the wall, like a Murphy desk and then folds away works too.

2. Because you will have help as they are older, some of your books can flow out of your area and be kept in out of the way places. We have a large guest bathroom, and some of our books in magazine holders are kept there. But since my kids are teens they can help themselves and then put them back.

Organizing Homeschool Spaces

3. Kids are no different than you and I when they get older and prefer very specific supplies, pen or notebooks. Include them in making purchases because they have preferences too.

Too, I’m going to switch gears here on you.

Who is Tina Robertson

But before you can appreciate how I can help you here are are a few things about me. Sure, this free new homeschooler boot camp is all about you.

However, you need to know that I’m not new to the homeschool world.

It has been several years since I wrote this series and I want to update you on my successes. And I’ve helped HUNDREDS get on the road to homeschooling.

Too, I have 3 homeschooled grads. So I’m well past having my oldest kid being 10 years old.

But the best part is that what I have for you works.

Also, look at a few other things about me.

I am the author of the book Homeschooling 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers: When You Don’t Know Where to Begin

And I have a detailed self-paced online homeschool Kickstarter course. It is a detailed comprehensive course for first time homeschoolers.

That is enough about me.

This new homeschoolers free boot camp is about you. I’ve not only been helping new homeschoolers in person, but here at my site for years.

Let’s lighten up things and look at some swoon worthy spaces. Maybe one of these will help you to be inspired with your learning area.

Source: Pottery Barn (Please Pin from original sources)

Though a lot of their furniture can be expensive, some of their pieces work great especially if you have all young children, you will get a lot of use out the furniture.

Idea for Spring Nature Exploration Table

Source: The Imagination Tree (Please Pin from original sources)

This is a great idea to show how you can have a science/nature table inside. It doesn’t take much.

Source: My Joy Filled Life (Please Pin from original sources)

I love the use of space here, especially the wall space.

Beautiful table and walls for homeschool room.

Source: Luxe Living Forum but the site is no longer there.

I love this table and storage, though I would include chairs with backs if you end up using an area like this for writing. But, for crafts it is great.

Source: Hope and Honey

Love this cheery area for a learning area.

Source: Handmade Charlotte (Please Pin from original sources)

Love how she used the wall and you notice one space is a little higher for an older child and the other table is lower down.

Source: Just A Night Owl

What is not to love about this school room complete with lockers and chicken wire.

Source: Just A Night Owl

Source: Wildflowers and Marbles (Please Pin from original sources)

Homeschool Spaces

I see this as an area for one or two small young children.

Source: Natural Beach Living (Please Pin from original sources)

What a beautiful area to start off your journey in!

Source: Forever, For Always, No Matter What (Please Pin from original sources)

I love the update Jennifer made to her room last year. It is the perfect example of what I am talking about when I say that sometimes changes are big one year and then another year they are subtle.

I have more pictures on my links below if you can’t get enough eye candy. Click on each graph to go to the page.

Look here at Sharla’s school room at The Chaos and the Clutter.

New to Homeschooling Start with the Basics

Days 1 – 7 of the 31 day Free Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers

How to Organize When You’re New to Homeschooling

Days 8-10 of the 31 day Free Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers

The fact that we have to draw some of our ideas from playrooms, crafts and offices makes it an unique experience when we find something that works for our family.

Do you have an area in mind in your home? Do you have pictures to share already?

Homeschool Organization + {Storage, Spaces and Learning Places Part 1}

Day 11. Swoonworthy Learning Spaces. 31 Days of New Bee Homeschooler Blog Boot Camp.

How Understanding Homeschool Teaching Styles Makes You Successful

September 1, 2022 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Homeschool teaching styles wasn’t something I understood when I wanted to know homeschool learning styles.

Too, after researching for years and even teaching a workshop about it, there is still much confusion about how to identify homeschool teaching styles.

In addition, terms like modalities, teaching styles, and learning styles are terms that need to be clarified.

How Understanding Homeschool Teaching Styles Makes You Successful

However, tapping into the way a child prefers to learn is essential to success

Do you wonder why it seems like one child understands exactly what you mean when the other one seems clueless?

You know it’s not because that child is not trying to understand you.

It can be frustrating and discouraging to feel like you’re not getting your point across.

Homeschool Styles

First, for years research has been based on 3 types of learners.

They are either visual, auditory, or tactile or a combination of them.

How Understanding Homeschool Teaching Styles Makes You Successful. Do you wonder why it seems like one child understands exactly what you mean when the other one seems clueless? You know it's not because that child is not trying to understand you. It can be frustrating and discouraging to feel like you're not getting your point across. So instead of focusing on trying to funnel all people to categories or labels, I focused on understanding learning personalities.

And some of the characteristics of visual learners are:

Normally they learn through their eyes.
These types of learners love photos, maps, visuals,
diagrams and maps.

Next, look at a few characteristics of auditory leaners:

They tend to be good listeners.
And they can learn better through music, discussions, and sounds.
In addition, they love to record discussions and topics to listen back to later.

Lastly, some of the characteristics of tactile learners are

that they learn best by doing.
Hands-on projects, acting out, and performing experiments.

However, a lot of research has been done since this.

And although the science is not conclusive about exactly how we learn, we can agree that both children and adults have preferred ways of learning.

So instead of focusing on trying to funnel all people to categories or labels, I focused on understanding learning personalities.

Identifying Homeschool Learning Personalities

When you understand the way your child prefers to learn then you can teach him in a way that he enjoys learning.

To learn about personalities means to understand your and your child’s strengths and weakness.

Additionally, a learning personality means the skills a person uses to gather and perceive information.

So, a learning personality will include learning styles like visual, auditory, or tactile but it also includes personal preferences. That is more unique to individuals.

Too, I feel like understanding a personality is easier to identify than a learning style since many do not agree even on how many learning styles there are.

4 Ways Understanding Homeschool Teaching Styles Makes You Successful

You can plan a successful course with your child’s strengths and weaknesses in mind;
Specific goals can be set and met because your leaner will know how to meet them;
There is individualized education; and
Your learner will be eager to learn lifelong instead of struggling with why he doesn’t understand some subjects as well as he does others.

Identifying Your Homeschooled Child’s Learning Personality

Finally, after years of putting the pieces together, I have created an online self-paced course on how to identify your homeschool child’s learning personality.

This course will give you solid beginning points and look what you will learn.

YOU WILL LEARN:

How to understand the way your child prefers to learn so that you can teach him in a way that he enjoys learning;
How to pinpoint your child’s learning personality;
A starting point in understanding (barring any special learning challenges or disabilities) and accepting your child’s preferred way of taking in information;
Understanding when the learning personality emerges; and
Teaching tips for each learning personality to stop the head-butting.

Tapping into the way a child prefers to learn is essential to success.

Other Learning Styles Resources:

Easy Fall Crafts for Middle School: DIY String Pumpkin Art

August 31, 2022 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

If you’re wanting fall crafts for middle school for a fall unit study you’ll love this project. And look on my page homeschool middle school for more tips.

It may not quite be fall but pumpkin season seems to already be in full swing.

The stores have already begun to release all their fabulous pumpkin and pumpkin spice flavored goodies.

And the craft stores have had their decor out since summer.

Easy Fall Crafts for Middle School: DIY String Pumpkin Art

So, it feels like a great time to begin working pumpkins into a fall unit study.

This art project adds some fun decor for the house which also works in fine motor skills and practical living skills (learning to use a hot glue gun, hammer and nails).

This is a fantastic activity for middle schoolers to do completely on their own with a bit of instruction.

But this activity can also be done by kids in upper elementary with a little more help.

Too, I was able to get all the supplies from Dollar Tree making this project a grand total of $3.75.

And I barely put a dent in the yarn and have plenty of nails left.

If you have any of the items lying around already you can make yours cheaper or even free.

Pumpkin Unit Study Ideas

You can easily turn this into more than just an art project by giving your middle schooler a few other activities to do before or after completing their string pumpkin art.

Research the different varieties of pumpkin.
List 10 pumpkin facts.
Complete the journal prompt – One night while I was walking in the pumpkin patch . . .
Research a recipe for pumpkin pie and bake it.
Find out which state grows the most pumpkins.
Find out how Native Americans cooked pumpkin compared to the colonists.
Weigh, measure, and compare a variety of pumpkins.
Make a pumpkin catapult – large or small.

I know those ideas will get you started and use the beautiful book Farm Anatomy as a science reference to learn about pumpkins.

Here is a beautiful page from Farm Anatomy to research the different varieties of squash.

Pumpkin Art Supplies

Next, look at the easy supplies you need to make this diy string pumpkin art.

½” to ¾” nails
Orange yarn
Green yarn
Small piece of stick
Glue gun/sticks
Scrap board
Hammer

Again, some of these supplies you may already have.

Here is how you make your own pumpkin string art:

DIY Pumpkin String Art

First, choose whether to make your pumpkin art horizontal or vertical.

This depends on your piece of scrap wood.

Then lightly draw out the shape with a pencil.

This piece of wood was in the craft section at Dollar Tree and they have several sizes and shapes to choose from.

Once you are satisfied with the general shape of the pumpkin you can begin to place the nails.

You can either guesstimate the space as you go or make little dots that are roughly the same distance all the way around.

You know where you will start and end with the nails when you do it this way.

Tap the nails into place, knocking them in about halfway because you want them secure.

Continue all the way around until you have the outline of your pumpkin completed.

Knot one end of the orange yarn around one of the nails.

Then wrap it all the way around the outside of the nails to make an outline.

Your child can do this once or twice to create a thicker outline.

This next part is fun and easy.

We are going to fill in the pumpkin.

So all you have to do is crisscross vertically and horizontally around the pumpkin until you have filled it in completely.

Each nail should allow for the yarn to wrap around at least 5-6 times.

Tie the end of the yarn around a nail and cut off the excess.

Press your yarn down so that it is against the wood to show your nail heads.

This adds more texture and contrast to your art piece.

Once your pumpkin is filled in you can add your details like the vine.

Wrap green yarn once around the top center nail head.

And then twist it around the top and sides of the pumpkin.

Secure it down at the loops with a bit of hot glue.

Hot glue a small piece of a stick/limb from the yard to the top to make the stem.

You could also use a wine cork piece or another small bit of scrap wood.

To make a hanger, flip your piece over.

And hot glue a small length of yarn to either corner.

Make several of these to hang around the house for fall.

Also, this makes a great family night or co-op activity. Start with pumpkin and build your ideas out from there.

Other Fall Unit Study Resources

Look at some of these other fall unit study activities:

This was so fun to create. You’re ready to ring in the fall season.

I guarantee you and your kids are going to want to come up with more shapes to make for all the seasons and favorite themes.

Don’t forget to check at Dollar Tree. They carry a ton of yarn and wood pieces in the craft section now.

Day 10 Grocery Shopping Cooking Laundry And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

August 30, 2022 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Tips for grocery shopping cooking laundry is day 10 of the free 31 Day Free Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers.

New homeschoolers quickly say grocery shopping cooking laundry in long breath.

When your new homeschool life settles down after the initial excitement, then the everyday grind of keeping up becomes reality.

Day 10 Grocery Shopping, Cooking & Laundry And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

I want you to be energized when you give attention to this area of your life.

When stress is kept to a minimum, you maximize the enjoyment of beginning to school.

Paying attention to details like how you spend your day cleaning, cooking and doing laundry will help you stay flexible.

Grocery Shopping Cooking Laundry

For example, I tried to bring my I have-to-have-an-all-day-laundry-day mind-set to homeschooling.

The kids were all young and between hubby’s work clothes and a newborn that could plow through three or more outfits in one day, I was overwhelmed.

Instead of having a plan, I had to stop/start my school as I fell behind in my every day housework and cooking.

This of course was not good for my first homeschooled child as I wanted to start setting a routine for our day.

So, addressing your need for a relaxed order in your home is part of learning to school.

Balancing Grocery Shopping and Being a New Homeschooler

And I hope to spare you the mistakes of many wonderful cooks and moms turned fulltime home educator.

On Day 8: Organize Your Home, Then School, I don’t want you to think of organization as a stranglehold.

Here is where a positive attitude is helpful.

I realize many cooks like to cook spontaneously, but menu planning is neither dull or boring.

Because I prefer to be doing something else enjoyable, I have not made it a habit to go the grocery store two or three times a week.

Now, shopping online is convenient and time savings. I didn’t have that option when I started

When I first started homeschooling, I lived way out in the rural or country.

And I had to make every trip count to the grocery store.

Too, I’m going to switch gears here on you.

Who is Tina Robertson

But before you can appreciate how I can help you here are are a few things about me. Sure, this free new homeschooler boot camp is all about you.

However, you need to know that I’m not new to the homeschool world.

It has been several years since I wrote this series and I want to update you on my successes. And I’ve helped HUNDREDS get on the road to homeschooling.

Too, I have 3 homeschooled grads. So I’m well past having my oldest kid being 10 years old.

But the best part is that what I have for you works.

Also, look at a few other things about me.

I am the author of the book Homeschooling 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers: When You Don’t Know Where to Begin

And I have a detailed self-paced online homeschool Kickstarter course. It is a detailed comprehensive course for first time homeschoolers.

That is enough about me.

This new homeschoolers free boot camp is about you. I’ve not only been helping new homeschoolers in person, but here at my site for years.

Power of a 30 Day Menu Planner

That is why 30 day menu planner is powerful.

No stress at supper time determining what is for supper.

I simply look at my menu and know that I have EVERY ingredient in the house.

Too, the advantage of planning 30 meals gives you back time to enjoy each week.

It takes me about 15 or 20 minutes longer to plan, but I squeeze so much time out of having a plan for 30 days.

I have a 5 inch binder now complete with more than 365 meals we enjoy.

Start slow on gathering recipes of what your family likes and keep adding to them.

When I started, I only had like 7 or so before I had to repeat.

I took one year to focus mainly on family favorites and added to my binder.

Look at your month and notice which days you may have a field trip or a co-op and pen those days in so you can have quick meals.

And I have a 31 day fee editable menu planner to help you stay organized each month.

When I go in person to the grocery store, I have a generic grocery shop list. And I have another one that is by aisle.

Why take the time to do this?

It takes less time at the grocery store
I save money by not overbuying.
Every ingredient I need for meals my family will eat I have on hand and
The time I get back in the week is huge.

Power of a Permanent Grocery List

Another benefit of having it by aisle is that if you coupon, you can match up your coupons and have them ready for each aisle ahead of time .

Too, life will throw you curves as you school longer.

Many times I have been sick or caring for sick children. And I have had to rely on hubby, my teen boys or somebody else to grocery shop.

By printing this list weekly or laminating it, it stays on the refrigerator.

Then my family is helping me when they use the last of a product because they can check it on the list.

Balancing Cooking and Being New to Homeschool

My sons have done this from an early age. And it helps them to appreciate my job as head cook. Too, it teaches them organization.

InstaPot/Crock Pot, Yes More than One are Your New Homeschool Friends

There is no rule saying that when you cook, you can’t have more than one instapot or crockpot going.

I have found that if I take the time to put in one supper into my crockpot, then go ahead and put in a few more so they cook all at the same time.

Why? Your supper and/or lunch are being cooked for the next day or so.

Cook with the End of the Week in Mind

Another life saving tip especially if you have a big family is to cook extra.

If you cook extra chicken, beef, or veggies at the beginning of the week, you have it ready for the rest of the week.

Put it aside and have it ready when you cook, for example, chicken tacos or lasagna.

I-Don’t-Know-Why-I-Started-Homeschooling Meal

Okay, this is really called an emergency meal.

But I call it this because I have used my make it ahead frozen meals for bad days .

For example when I just didn’t feel like ~~schooling~~ cooking.

However, over the years having a few frozen meals have been a blessing when I was sick or had a sleepless night caring for sick children.

I used to keep one in the freezer, but now I keep as many as I can. I tend to do more during the flu season.

How to Not Give Up Doing Laundry While Learning How to Homeschool

Even when I took off a whole day to clean, I realized all day laundry days were impossible .

IF I wanted to get other things done on my day “off”, I had to get groceries, clean and pay bills too.

Give Up an All Day Laundry Day

This does not mean that you can’t catch up on laundry, it just means that you schedule laundry too.

Wash Laundry by a Priority Schedule

It took me a few years before I was comfortable with low piles of laundry, but I realized language arts should come before laundry.

So I set out to divide my laundry by more than just color and weight.

I needed a workable plan to manage the laundry.

tips for how to do laundry when you homeschool

Dividing laundry into these two mental piles has been a life saver for me.

I am able to spread out my laundry during the week for clothes in my pile that are obedient or require very little fussing.

For example, does it really matter if your underwear gets folded right away or not?

Or if you are right in the middle of explaining a math problem and you see your child’s face light up and at the same time the washer beeper goes off.

Can’t the clothes wait to be changed?

Saving the nicer clothes when I am around the house in/out has made it easier to give them attention immediately.

You decide on your mental list whether or not a group of clothes require immediate attention.

For example, my husband prefers nice, creased and unwrinkled jean so I give them immediate attention.

When my boys were younger, it didn’t really matter about their jeans being in top shape. I could certainly wanted clean, but could leave with a bit more relaxed look, aka a few wrinkles

Home AND School Schedule

Take a look at my schedule for suggestions on how to get it all in.

This schedule I left intact “as in” because I had created it when the kids were younger, all elementary ages.

You will notice that I put everything down that bothered me.

Grocery shopping, cooking and laundry do not need to be compromised because you started to homeschool.

You do NOT have to choose between healthy meals and homeschooling.

It just all needs to be assigned a spot.

We are moms, wives, daughters and some of us working homeschool moms. These needs have to be met and we all need balance.

The first and second year of homeschooling is about finding that balance.

Do not start school without plan to only have to stop and feel like a failure halfway through because you didn’t come up with a plan.

It takes a lot of energy to set realistic expectations and then redefine them again.

Take time to do it now before you jump fully into homeschooling will only benefit you.

When we are free of clutter, control our schedules and find workable solutions, we are on our way to being more organized and on our way to overcoming organizational hurdles.

Days 1 – 7 of the 31 Free Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers

Free 31 Day Editable Menu Planner

How to Get the Free Editable Menu Planner.

This free printable is a subscriber freebie.

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get access to my Exclusive Subscriber’s Only Library and you get this freebie too.

This is how you get access quickly.
► 1) Sign up on my list.
► 2) Go to your inbox and confirm your email from the automatic reply I sent you.
►3) Look for the automatic reply giving you the password to the private subscriber’s area. You should have it soon.

Exploring Space and Astronomy Free Unit Study for Multiple Ages

IF you are already a follower/subscriber, find the MOST RECENT email from me and the password and link to the Subscribers Area are ALWAYS at the bottom of every email.

Dy 10 Grocery Shopping, Cooking & Laundry Oh My! 31 Days of New Bee Homeschooler Blog Boot Camp

4 Colorful and Editable Homeschool Lesson Plan Templates

August 29, 2022 | 3 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

If you’re looking for an editable homeschool lesson plan template for your homeschool planner, you’ll love the ones I have for you today.

I have four colorful and editable homeschool lesson plan templates.

Planning can be stressful and if you have a guideline or framework to follow, it gives you a direction.

4 Colorful and Editable Homeschool Lesson Plan Templates

And if you prefer to plan by paper and pen but not write the same subjects over, templates have a huge time savings advantage.

In addition, you also can save printing cost when you print exactly what you need by having a two page spread.

5 Advantages to a Homeschool Lesson Plan Template

First, look at these advantages to an editable homeschool lesson plan template.

Planning is very flexible because your subjects can change from week to week. Adjust your templates through the year as needed.
Long range planning is easier because you can type in topics for each quarter or semester and add to your planner.
By having your lesson plan template separate you can submit your lesson plans to a shared file with your children. Use the templates as a checklist if you’re training your children for independence.
Each child can be assigned their own two page spread if you use more than one color.
Or use one two page spread to see all of your learners on one page. You decide the layout.