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New Homeschooler – Mustering the Courage to Face THE 4 Homeschool Biggies – Part 1.

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Key to conquering all the topics you will be faced with in your first few years of homeschooling is identifying what they are.

Today, I want to infuse you by sharing some tips on facing THE 4 homeschool biggies.

When you are new to homeschooling, sometimes you just don’t know all the questions to ask and it can be hard to pinpoint exactly what is bothering you.

No need to stress about it because I will help you to round up what I call homeschool giants to slay.

When the homeschooling biggies are clearly identified, then your energy and time can be well-placed.

1. Curriculum Colossus.

As new homeschoolers, we are proud to show off to all naysayers or even to the Mr. that we have now made curriculum choices.

However, what can be daunting just a few short weeks into the year is that the curriculum choices we made may not be working.

Excitement turns to anxiety for both mother and child and curriculum seems like it becomes an almost insurmountable hurdle.

Facing the Homeschool Giants

Look at a few of my tips that can help you to analyze how to make choices for curriculum.

1. Did you pick the textbook approach just because that is the only one you know about and feel comfortable with?

I know it’s hard right now with so many things being thrown at you, but try to take time to educate yourself about learning styles.

Look at my post Homeschooling:Learning Styles – What’s the Difference Anyway to start down the road in pairing curriculum with your child’s learning style.

2. Also, don’t fall victim to public school mentality which is that just because your child is in a grade level that equates to the same grade level curriculum.

Guess what? You are not alone if you are already having curriculum problems if you chose your curriculum this way. New Homeschooler - Mustering the Courage to Face the 4 Homeschool Biggies Part 1 @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool PlusThough the grade level your child is in when he attended public school can be a starting point, you will want to use free online tests, read the scope and sequence of a curriculum and look at free samples to make a more informed choice.

In addition, if your child has been in public school before then you probably have an idea of which subjects he struggles in.

For example, does it make sense to push him on to the next grade if he struggles and suffers terribly in math?

When a new homeschool teacher does this, it can have detrimental effects on a child.

Instead of getting the help he needs by you choosing a lower level to promote mastery, both your child and you may now blame the stress on homeschooling.

Don’t push through concepts in a curriculum that your child is not familiar with.

Learning overlaps and he wants to be somewhat familiar with some of the basic concepts so he can build on them this year whether the subject is math, writing or reading.

Encourage a love of your new homeschool routine and curriculum by allowing your child to feel like he has some mastery over what you are introducing.

When he connects with something he knows, he then knows he can go on and tackle the rest of it.

2. Socialization Hype.

I never get tired of touting about how well connected homeschoolers are. But year after year, we still have to defend against the same mind-set.

Somewhere, someplace, somebody is thinking that our children are poor lost souls, wandering aimlessly and without friends.

Never mind the fact that a doubter of homeschooling has not truly sat down with a well rounded out youth to only discover the idiosyncrasies he has, but that we all have.

Sure, if you look hard enough you can find the weird in me too.

So unless you plan to not ever be around other homeschoolers which I know is probably not the case, then your children will turn out “normal” like everybody else’s children.

New Homeschooler Empowered

Look at my post Socialization – A Homeschool Hallucination to grab some gracious ways to respond to those that think you are going to lock your kids up in a closet to only emerge at graduation.

Also, look at my post here Homeschool Hangouts & Socialization Situations on creative ways to find other homeschoolers in your area.

Believe me, homeschoolers are oozing everywhere and you can’t live in a city small enough that does not have homeschoolers. Okay, okay, you may have to drive a bit, but we are everywhere.

If you and your kids want friends, true, lifetime homeschooling friends, then a little bit of effort is needed.

And just a few more words of wisdom to help you muster up the courage to be around all those weird homeschoolers, look at my blog post Homeschool Field Trips – An Important Piece of the Educational Puzzle Part 1 and Homeschool Field Trips – An Important Piece of the Educational Puzzle Part 2.

Of course, you know my wordiness love for words, so I will share Part 2 of Mustering the Courage to Face THE 4 Homeschool Biggies next.

Can you guess what the other two biggies are?

Have you hit a wall yet with curriculum and socialization?

Hugs and love ya,

Tina Signature 2015c

20 First Day of Homeschool Celebrations

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

20 First Day of Homeschool Celebrations @Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

When the boys were real young, our first day of homeschool celebrations were simple.

Banana pancakes and french toast were some of their favorite breakfasts, so we celebrated with a special breakfast.

Homeschool Celebrations

As they got older, first day of homeschool celebrations became more involved.

Look at some of these ways to kick off your first day of homeschool and add some fun too:

1. Cook a special breakfast.
2. Go to the museum.
3. Spend the day at the beach.
4. Spend the day creating crafts.
5. Spend the day reading aloud.

6. Play board games all day.
7. Go to story time.
8. Go to the movies with other teens.
9. Spend the day at the pool.
10. Lounge at the library all day.

11. Go out for pizza.
12. Go out for ice cream.
13. Plan a field trip with your group (one of my very favorite because we all felt like we were playing hooky and we involved others).
14. Go ice skating (perfect because it’s indoors and you can stay cool. We loved this).
15. Bake cookies.

16. Camp out for a night.
17. Start a nature journal.
18. Start off with art lessons outside (we did this and so much fun).
19. Start off with archery lessons (we did this one year also and the boys still remember).
20. Start off with a meal you would eat during a history period (we did this too and loved it).

Remember, there is plenty of time to hit the books.

Make the first day of school memorable each year by celebrating it.

Do you have any special traditions for homeschool that you celebrate?

Hugs and love ya,

Also, check out:
Patience, Confidence, Knowing ALL the Right Answers NOT Required to Homeschool
Homeschool Organization – Free Morning Routine Flip Cards for the Littles
6 Ways to Organize Your Homeschooled Teen

Get Organized – Rev Up for the New Homeschool Year

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

The secret to getting organized for the new homeschool year in next to no time is preparation.

Thinking now about long and short term storage options, you can set up a simple system that will save you precious time during the hectic pace of the new homeschool year.

Get Organized - Rev Up for the New Homeschool Year @Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Long Term Homeschool Storage Options

1. Free cloud storage and portable devices.

You may think it goes without saying, but storing as much as possible on free cloud storage or portable storage devices is a great reminder.

Print off the list of your e books or what is in the cloud and keep it in your planner. Having the list of your materials at your finger tips will help you avoid constantly accessing on line free storage or plugging in your portable devices when lesson planning.

If you have been homeschooling for a while, it may take some time to scan paperwork onto your computer. However, it is well worth the time instead of digging through boxes.

You are the only one to know whether you want to save an original piece of artwork or that creative essay that you thought would never happen.

2. Tubby mom.

Whether you are new to homeschooling or in my case last year when I was getting ready for a big move overseas and didn’t know my storage options, huge plastic tubs or totes are perfectly acceptable for storage.

If you are new to homeschooling, it is hard to know what you want to save and what to pitch in the beginning.

Keep all the paperwork and pieces of arts and crafts in large tubs and when you have a system, then pitch what you don’t want.

Try to avoid throwing all the school work together in the tub in the beginning.

A simple system for organizing within a tub like using notebooks, binders or even small boxes does not create mounds of work to sort later if you change your storage system.

3. Over sized 3 Ring Binders. (5 inch)

If you have the space for it, over sized 3 ring binders are one of my favorite organizing tools.

Though they can be expensive, the binders I purchased have held up well through the years.

Using 3 ring binders to organize for homeschool @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

I have not only used them to store paperwork long term, but I use them for my huge recipe book.

Adding page protectors to the binder to keep precious keep sake paperwork in prevents it from being dog eared and over handled.

It takes time to add the page protectors, but I also like to be able to flip through the pages when I want without handling the kids school work too much through the years.

4. In the box options.

Depending on how much you have to store, you may be able to use shoe boxes and huge diaper boxes that were meant for the trash.

It doesn’t take much work to make the boxes pop with some color by covering them with beautiful bright colored fabric and you have some swoon worthy storage.

If you are not feeling too crafty then store bought options overflow too.

Short Term Homeschool Storage Options

Teaching your children from the beginning to put away their books and paperwork each day will not only lighten your workload, but it is an important organizing skill to teach your kids.

1. Humble Plastic Drawer  – Not So Humble

Plastic drawers are some of my favorite ways for the boys to be sure they put away their supplies.

Each year, I measure my biggest or longest book, which normally is a high school book and make sure the drawers fit.

I have had good success with well made drawers at the Container Store though they are more expensive.

2. Slim 3 Ring Binders & Folders.

Slim color coordinating binders or folders for each kid or color coordinating by subject gives them a tool that is not too hard to handle.

Having tools that are handy and within arm’s reach will help your child to be organized on a daily basis.

3. Hanging Up Storage.

Take advantage of walls, closets and doors to add more hanging store.

I used hanging storage for games, flashcards, crafts and things used on a daily like supplies and headsets.

I love the beginning of the new school year because it means I can hoard get all new organizing tools that I am excited about and that are swoon worthy too. It makes me feel like I can justify the cost too because I normally can use the organizing tools longer than a year.

Do you have anything new you are adding to your learning space this year?

Hugs and love ya,

Want some more organized homeschooling ideas to drool over? Check out:
DIY Homeschool Organizing with Duct Tape
Homeschool Organization – {Storage, Spaces, & Learning Places}

 

3 Sanity Saving Tips for Your First Week of Homeschooling

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

3 Sanity Saving Tips for Your First Week of Homeschooling @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool PlusIf this is your first year of homeschooling, you are in for a wild adventure.

Homeschooling is the only call to duty where you can feel utterly triumphant and drastically defeated in the same day.

Homeschooling can have just as many downs as ups and in the same moment.  So, it is important to arm yourself with three sanity-saving tips in your first week of homeschooling.

Participation over Progress.

Minimizing lesson planning and maximing interaction with your children by discussing with them what they want to learn for the new homeschool year sets your homeschool up for success.

When children have control of their education, they become owners of it.

Conversations about what your children’s goals are, even if your children are young, sets the pace for independent learning from the very beginning.

Avoiding a spoon-fed mentality, which can be the norm in public school will minimize your workload over the long haul.

From the beginning, meaningful conversations become a way to tap into what interests your children and more importantly it gives them ownership of their education.

I am the Boss of You.

One year I remember helping a new bee who was having trouble with her first grader.

Getting my mind prepared for some kind of academic problem she was having, I was surprised when the new bee mentioned that her first grader was telling her constantly, “You’re-not-the-boss-of-me.”

Just one year in public school in Kindergarten and the first grader did not view his mom as the authority when teaching him.

When authority is not respected, homeschooling gets tough to say the least because kids grow up quickly.

Character building is inextricably linked with academics.

Building respect for your authority as the parent helps your child to see that though you allow as much free choice as possible, you ultimately are the one in charge.

Progress can’t made when a child is constantly whining, complaining or questioning every decision you make.

List Your Non-negotiables

In your first or second year it is normal to have a mile long list of homeschooling goals.

Write them all out, but also have a separate list of one to three goals, which are achievable and reachable.

Reaching one to three goals becomes your foundation of your homeschool, but it also becomes your list of non-negotiables for the year.

Progress year to year is not made with mile high goals, but with tiny measured steps that turn into huge leaps each year.

Gear up for the new homeschool year by slowing down to engage your child in meaningful conversation about his choices for the day, balance your child’s growing need for independence while maintaining the authority in your day and building your homeschool foundation with a few well-chosen non-negotiables.

Have you implemented a plan for the new homeschool year?

Hugs and love ya,

Tina Signature 2015c

Also check out:
Beginning Homeschool in Middle School – 3 Questions Worth Asking
Top 10 Tips to Get a New Homeschool Year Rolling

5 Advantages to Creating Your Own Homeschool Unit Study

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

5 Advantages to Creating Your Own Homeschool Unit Study @Tina's Dynamic Homeschool PlusBeing hooked on well-laid out lesson plans, I never thought I would be a homeschool unit study convert.

Planning seemed like a lot of time, which you know we all have very little of. And of course the other biggie you hear about in unit studies is the fear of missing something when teaching them.

Put to sleep the great missing something myth because no matter how long we teach, there is always something we will miss. Check out Am I Doing Enough When Homeschooling and Gauging Homeschool Progress – Masters of their Material to grab some tips.

Today, I want to share 5 advantages to creating your own homeschool unit study.

(1) Focus On Your Children’s Needs and Goals

Designing a unit study for the exact needs of your child is a huge advantage that stacks heavy against other homeschool approaches.

One of the supposedly negatives about the time that it takes to design a unit study can be a strength when it is suited to fit your children’s needs.

Check Out Books That Make Planning Unit Studies Eazy Peazy

(2) No Missing Books, Curriculum or Outdated Resources

The world of education can be a fast moving wheel and even the most well-staffed company can be hard pressed to keep their curriculum up to date with current resources.

Choosing current homeschool resources, library books and hands-on activities you find ensures that your unit study will run smoothly because all of your products are current.

(3) Lower Grade Unit Studies Are a Jumping Off Point for Higher Grade Planning

When I look back over my unit studies from the lower grades, I know I planned them with my children in mind.

When it comes to homeschooling middle and high school grades, previously taught unit studies become an unexpected advantage because they serve as a foundation or introduction to high grade unit studies.

When a child makes a connection to previously learned material it is meaningful.

Unlike subject areas where you are not sure what a child learned, your own well-laid out and planned unit studies are unique to your children. The bottom line is that you know what you taught them and can expand on those subjects in the upper grades.

(4) Learning Together as a Family is Easiest When Using Unit Studies

Like a lot of new homeschoolers, I started off with separate subjects for each of my kids. Insanity sets in and we learn that by having less curriculum, we can not only teach different ages together, but we cover content whether it’s science or history in more depth.

Teaching children together but on different levels not only fosters family togetherness, but forges a close bond between siblings.

(5) Challenges Learners Along With Encouraging Independent Learning

It is no secret in the homeschool world that we not only homeschool our special needs children who have unique abilities, but we have many advanced and gifted learners too.  Even special needs children can be advanced in some areas.

Because of uneven development in children, unit studies can challenge a learner at his level.

Project based learning is encouraged by unit studies because each child can delve into what interest him about the topic you have chosen to cover with your children.

Though you may be on one unit study topic, each child has the flexibility to learn as much or as little as he wants to.

Research skills are developed when using unit studies instead of following a spoon fed mentality.

Unit studies are hard work but the pay off through the years makes designing unit studies worthwhile to pursue.

There is no need to guess how to start one.  Do you want to create one now?

Look at my series of 10 Days of Diving Into Unit Studies By Creating One Together.

Began small by creating a simple unit study and it will grow into a comprehensive course of study.

Do you design your unit studies or use laid out unit studies?

Hugs and you know I love ya,

 

 Check Out Books That Make Planning Unit Studies Eazy Peazy