Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Activity, Change, Progress

How To - - -

Creative Solution for Homeschool High School When Life Happens

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

I’m sharing a creative solution for homeschool high school when life happens. Also, look at my page How to Homeschool High School.

This made homeschooling my second high school son, Mr. Awesome, not only meaningful but one that I am really treasuring.

Although I had my reservations at first.

Let me back up first because you have to understand what happened when homeschooling high school with Mr. Senior 2013 to understand how I came up with the solution, which I am going to share in just a minute.

Creative Solution for Homeschool High School When Life Happens

When homeschooling Mr. Senior 2013, I had planned all four years.

And probably like most new homeschooling high school parents, I had a bit of over planning involved too.

Next, look at some of these resources to help you homeschool high school.

How to Homeschool High School Books & Resources

How to homeschool high school can be daunting at first. With a little help and these great resources, you’ll be a homeschool pro in no time.

Homeschooling 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers: When You Don't Know Where to Begin

Homeschooling 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers is a real eye-opener on homeschooling. It will alleviate a lot of the anxieties about getting started homeschooling. Reading each chapter’s highlights will give you encouragement, knowledge, guidance, and peace of mind to homeschool with confidence. The best part is that you’ll be educating the person who loves your kids the most in this world--YOU! Armed with the knowledge to make better choices in curriculum will empower you to continue the path of home education. Unlike many books based on one family’s experience, Homeschooling 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers is also based on Tina’s many years of mentoring hundreds and hundreds of new homeschoolers at live workshops. When you don’t know where to begin Homeschooling 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers equips you to successfully homeschool your children.

Cure the Fear of Homeschooling High School: A Step-by-Step Handbook for Research & Planning

Are you afraid of homeschooling high school? Do you think you’ll ruin your teen’s life? Are you afraid you’ll miss an important requirement for getting into college? Are you confused about credits and coursework? Or are you just downright overwhelmed and don’t even know where to start?

This book will take you step-by-step through the process of planning your child’s high school coursework all the way through to graduation, in such a way that you will KNOW that you are not missing anything! You truly can feel absolutely confident that you are doing the best thing for your child and your family. You can make informed decisions knowing you have done the correct research to do so. You can be FEARLESS!

Planning High School Courses: Charting the Course Toward Homeschool Graduation

Experienced hikers know to never begin a demanding journey without a good map and a strong plan. For homeschooling parents, it’s even more important to establish a solid homeschool plans toward high school graduation.

So, What Are Your Homeschool Plans?

  • Do you know how to homeschool high school?
  • Do you know how to prepare for college?
  • Do you know the high school courses essential to preparing for graduation, college and career?

Essential Electives for Homeschooling High School: How to Craft Courses That Exceed College Expectations

Homeschool Electives are the Secret Sauce for College Admission and Scholarships!

Learn How Homeschool Electives Can Make Teens, Parents, and Colleges Happy!

Homeschool electives are fun! Teens love them because electives involve a lot of what they want to do anyway. Parents love them because a happy teen makes for a happy family! Colleges love them because it helps them understand your teen so they can make good admission and scholarship decisions.

Lee Binz, The HomeScholar, shares the joy of homeschool electives. You will learn strategies to help you choose elective homeschool high school curriculum and document electives colleges will value. Don't put your homeschool in a box. Use electives and let your homeschool soar!

Graduate Your Homeschooler in Style: Make Your Homeschool Graduation Memorable

You’ve worked hard homeschooling your child, and now you’re near the goal line... homeschool graduation. Your plan your graduation takes forethought, not just for the culminating graduation ceremony, but also to ensure your child has accomplished everything you want them to before
leaving the nest.

You CAN still Homeschool High School!

However, though I didn’t feel like this in the beginning of my homeschool journey (that is another topic), I also didn’t want to turn the teaching reins over to somebody else.

I had not schooled this long to come to the point in my teen’s life to let somebody else make significant decisions.

Some of the best times I have had are homeschooling high school though I was terrified when we started.

I won’t be victim to the idea that somebody else can give my kids better. 

In other words, I won’t make any decision based on fear though many times I didn’t feel so brave.

Then right in the middle of high school with Mr. Senior 2013 as I mentioned in my post Should I Let My Homeschooled Teen Graduate Early, my hubby had a significant heart attack.

It was a set back for us in high school.

After we recuperated from that as a family, I realized that I had gotten behind on supervising some of the courses for Mr. Senior 2013.

However, we buried our noses in the books and he graduated on time and of course we had a huge celebration, Texas style.

The point I learned from what happened to my family was that I never wanted to be in that position again with Mr. Awesome of feeling helpless.

I also learned that instead of planning week by week with Mr. Senior 2013 (he preferred that over my 3 month suggestion of planning and I let him do it because I am teaching him to be responsible for his own methods of learning), that I could have planned out 3 months and still let Mr. Senior 2013 plan weekly.

High School Options for Teens

This would have alleviated the stress and helplessness I felt then.

However, that is water under the bridge and there is no way either my oldest son or I had any control over what happened in our lives.

Are you still with me?

I had to share all of that because it always helps me to make better decisions in our homeschool when reading advice if I understand why the choices were made.

So without giving up my control as the homeschooling high school teacher, I came up with a creative solution to high school.

I have taken at least two years homeschooling Mr. Awesome with subjects we chose together AND he is also completing an online accredited high school program with Penn Foster.

I rejected the popular notion that I had to either do it ALL myself OR give it ALL to somebody else.

The criteria for me choosing an online high school program was that it had to be basic, easy and able to be completed within about a year and half or so.

Creative Solution for Homeschool High School When Life Happens @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Penn Foster, unlike for example, Keystone High School program I knew was a much lighter high school program.

With all the upcoming doctor’s visit, recovering time and upcoming care my husband needed, I wanted to have a back up to my courses.

Too, I wanted Mr. Awesome to focus on the courses I had selected, just like I had with Mr. Senior 2013 and to be able to customize high school for him and spend that one-to-one time I had given Mr. Senior 2013.

Of course, Mr. Awesome had to be on board with this because I didn’t want him to think that I was making him repeat courses either.

Abiding Homeschool High School

In helping many homeschoolers, I was familiar with a wide variety of high school programs and knew that Penn Foster has been around for a while and prided itself on covering basics, which obviously would be a good choice if our life took another unexpected turn during Mr. Awesome’s high school years.

It has given Mr. Awesome a framework and still has allowed me to flesh in with programs like North Star Geography, some of my Bible lessons I want him to have and do our unit studies.

Thankfully, the Mr. has had as good as health as he will have living with the effects of the heart attack and Mr. Awesome has hammered through both the subjects we chose and those of Penn Foster.

It will have taken him about a year and half to finish Penn Foster but it also had some unexpected benefits of using Penn Foster that I will explain in an upcoming post.

Out of struggling, though it may be stressful to go through, I feel, always comes empowerment.

More Creative Solutions for High School Posts

I want each of my son’s homeschool high school experience to be unique and Mr. Awesome has certainly flourished with doing a combination of my subjects and ones we chose through Penn Foster.

Without giving up my goals of being able to give my second son a personal and unique high school experience, it called for creativity not compromise.

Homeschool High School

I am hoping by sharing this today, that if life throws you an unexpected curve, you will not give up but find a creative solution.

The end doesn’t always turn out as planned, sometimes it is better.

Also check out these other articles:

How to Cope Successfully With Homeschool Mental Stress

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

Homeschool mental stress is real. Also, look at my How to Homeschool page for more tips and resources.

Jumping into homeschooling with ways to reduce negative mental stress is crucial because homeschooling takes a toll on your mental health.

Having tried and true techniques at your finger tips is absolutely essential to coping with homeschool mental stress; the power of a mental hygiene homeschool routine can’t be underestimated.

How to Cope Successfully With Homeschool Mental Stress

I’ve learned to accept happily that struggling and being stressed doesn’t mean that the homeschool lifestyle is not worth it.

For my family, it has been a superior way of education.

How to Cope With Homeschool

The right view of stress, which is that not all of it is negative, is necessary to categorizing the type of stress we encounter in homeschooling.

5 BEST How to Homeschool Books

I've rounded up some of the best books to help you get started homeschooling.

Homeschooling for New Homeschoolers: When You Don't Know Where to Begin

Homeschooling 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers is a real eye-opener on homeschooling. It will alleviate a lot of the anxieties about getting started homeschooling. Reading each chapter’s highlights will give you encouragement, knowledge, guidance, and peace of mind to homeschool with confidence. The best part is that you’ll be educating the person who loves your kids the most in this world--YOU! Armed with the knowledge to make better choices in curriculum will empower you to continue the path of home education. Unlike many books based on one family’s experience, Homeschooling 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers is also based on Tina’s many years of mentoring hundreds and hundreds of new homeschoolers at live workshops. When you don’t know where to begin Homeschooling 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers equips you to successfully homeschool your children.

The Unhurried Homeschooler

Homeschooling is a wonderful, worthwhile pursuit, but many homeschool parents struggle with feelings of burnout and frustration. If you have ever felt this way, you’re not alone! Most of us need to be reminded of the “why” of homeschooling from time to time—but "The Unhurried homeschooler" takes parents a step further and lifts the unnecessary burdens that many parents place on themselves.

Teaching from Rest: A Homeschooler's Guide to Unshakable Peace

Those who have made the decision to homeschool their children have done so out of great love for their children and a desire to provide them an excellent education in the context of a warm, enriching home.

The Brave Learner: Finding Everyday Magic in Homeschool, Learning, and Life

Parents who are deeply invested in their children's education can be hard on themselves and their kids. When exhausted parents are living the day-to-day grind, it can seem impossible to muster enough energy to make learning fun or interesting. How do parents nurture a love of learning amid childhood chaos, parental self-doubt, the flu, and state academic standards?

Unschooled: Raising Curious, Well-Educated Children Outside the Conventional Classroom

Education has become synonymous with schooling, but it doesn’t have to be. As schooling becomes increasingly standardized and test driven, occupying more of childhood than ever before, parents and educators are questioning the role of schooling in society. Many are now exploring and creating alternatives.

There is good stress and there is bad stress.

There is no way to eliminate stress totally from our life because stress can be an energizing and motivating force to do school day in and day out successfully.

The release of energy, the highest sense of accomplishment, and the gratifying feelings deep down in our gut we get when we teach our kids to read, to cook, or see them positively engaging with adults is hard to explain to those that have not experienced it.

10 Tips to Manage Homeschool Stress

However, today I’m not talking about the good side of stress. 

We don’t talk enough about the bad kind of stress which can take over our mind, affect us, and affect those we love.

If you haven’t lived our homeschool life it’s hard to know what we experience day to day. 

Look at these 10 tried and true tips that have worked with me as I’ve homeschooled over the past 20+ years.

 1. Lowering your expectations is NOT equivalent to lowering your standards.

In many ways homeschooling back before all the devices exploded on the homeschooling scene, which are suppose to free up our time, was easier than today.

We didn’t have so much content thrown at us; we weren’t bombarded with information overload to wade through.

Pushing back and resisting the urge to cover every possible facet of a subject has not meant lower standards in learning.

How to Cope With Homeschool Mental Stress. Jumping into homeschooling with ways to reduce negative mental stress is crucial because homeschooling takes a toll on your mental health. CLICK HERE to grab them!

My sons high college grades prove otherwise. I view myself as a normal home school mom who didn’t always push her kids academically.

I was consistent each day and that was key to lowering the stress for the day and not overloading my mind with worry if my kids were performing well enough.

If you find that you keep piling expectations, extra subjects, or longer homeschool days on you and your kids ask yourself is it worth it?

2. Step away from the online world and into the real world.

One of the best ways to help me rejuvenate quickly is to be around close friends or family and stay completely off my phone and off online.

Do you remember the time when we all didn’t carry phones? Some people had to actually wait for a reply.

As much time as I spend on my blog and online schooling for my kids, I realize that I’ve always had intermittent times when I’m completely away from the online world.

I find myself with instant calm for my mind when I have face to face conversations with warm individuals. It reminds me that slowing down for day to day interaction is the key to a healthy mental hygiene.

3. Do simple physical activities. I do mean simple.

Don’t get me wrong, if you want to knock yourself out at the gym go for it.

My problem is that it takes me a while to recover from strenuous workouts and then it defeats my purpose in easing my mental stress. From there I go to worrying about what has not been done for the day.

What I have found that works for longer periods of time or through the years is a simple nature walk. To this day, I still take nature walks even in my neighborhood. I think doing it at the crack of dawn and seeing the sun rise sets the right tone for my day.

I’ve always been an early morning person, but if you’re not a morning person the evening sun or night skys is just as gorgeous. I have no favorites.

Being outside reminds me of what is important each day, it fills up my tank when I have to deal with others especially my kids, and it just reminds me to be grateful I’m alive.

4. Easy activities with the kids eases mental tension.

I always read about self-care and getting away from the kids. While this is true on occasions, the truth of it is we homeschool because we love being with our kids.

Not every solution involves isolation. When I feel overloaded I change our plans for the day.

A simple walk or hike with kids, an all day reading day, or even something simple like watching a movie are all easy activities that can ease mental tension. A shift in focus, rest, or stepping back are all options depending on your needs.

Sometimes it’s just not possible to be alone and when you can’t, take steps now to have ideas in place for when you need a different pace.

Besides, you are also modeling to your kids how to cope with days that are mentally taxing.

5. Add humor in big doses throughout the day.

There are many reasons to laugh during the day while homeschooling.

If you’ve taught for any length of time, you know your kids say funny things, think funny things, and do funny things.

Treasure those moments and don’t forget to laugh when it’s time to laugh.

It’s a quick fix to alleviate stress in the air and your kids will love the stress free atmosphere you create. Better yet, write down all of those funny sayings in your planner and come back to them.

I also save pictures in one file of funny things my kids did and I have some picture of myself that ares absolutely awful while homeschooling which I would never share with the homeschooling world.

But every time I look at them, I laugh so hard it’s hard to stop. It keeps me balanced of how I view myself.

6. Do we really NOT have time for a hobby? Count the mental cost.

I was wrong when I started homeschooling because I gave up some of my hobbies. Okay, my thinking was a bit off. It took me years to find balance; I hope it doesn’t take you that long.

My thinking was off because when I thought of a hobby I thought of something that gave no value. A hobby could keep you from doing the more important things if it’s not kept in balance. Why do we think it has to be all or nothing?

How did I adopt such an extreme view? I know it was to prevent me from not giving attention to what I needed to do each day which is to be sure my kids get the best education I can give them.

From Public School to Homeschool For a Relaxed Lifestyle

Again, I try not to go too hard on myself because I had set the right priority.

Balance is the key to doling out increments of time doing something I enjoy whether it’s photography, cooking, or blogging.

Not thinking about the teacher mom at present, but about the person and woman I am has always revitalized me.

You’re the only one to answer to if you have become unbalanced with your hobby.

At times, depending on the level of stress in my homeschooling, I’ve needed more time to step back and focus on who I am. Other times, not so much.

Avoiding critical judgments of how others spend their time off from school helps.

There is no time to be critical of others when you homeschool positively and care for your mental stress.

7. The power of 15 minutes for a shift in focus.

I mentioned earlier that unless you experienced our homeschool lifestyle it can be hard to appreciate the tips. I know oh so well how at times we just can’t get away from our kids.

When I had that time period in my journey, I had to learn the power of a 15 minute shift in focus.

If your kids are old enough to be left alone or to go to another room for that long, then implement that daily tip.

I set the timer on my stove because it was the loudest and because my boys could run into the room to see how much more time was left. It was an easy timer for them to read.

Of course I explained to my kids they didn’t have come into the room to see the timer and that they would hear it.

Staying in their room was a game in the beginning because they wanted to be near me to see what I was doing. However, the more I did it, the more they enjoyed it and stayed in their room or another room to play.

Also, looking back, I realized I also taught them how to have a pause in their day for relaxed mental time. This world can be extremely stressful and our kids need tips as they grow too.

Whether you decide to lay down and read, bathing (if you can), or just do nothing, you decide. Don’t keep engaging your mental person when it needs rest.

8. Your spouse or a trusted friend are priceless.

We know that we do a majority of the homeschooling, but if your husband is like mine, he’s interested in how you’re coping.

Don’t shut him out because he may not understand completely.

Just relaying to my husband what I have been dealing with helps me to articulate it orally and I find it refreshing to get it out of my mind.

I’m all for date nights if you can.

One more technique that my husband and I have implemented is although we may not be able to get away from the kids, we make time to talk alone and teach the kids to respect that time.

Time alone with my husband while the kids were present became absolutely necessary as each kid hit the teen years and we had to deal with unique stressful situations.

We had already implemented daily or weekly management of that type of stress.

9. Organize it, throw it out, and kick it out.

Another huge mental release for me is being able to clean, organize, or kick clutter to the curb. This is especially good if part of your mental stress toll stems from a cluttered home.

Don’t ignore your need for a more efficient working area.

Homeschooing is about teaching kids how to cope with daily life.

So many homeschooled kids are not taught that taking time to organize is as imperative as doing their school work. Is this because some homeschool families don’t view it as essential?

It’s unbalanced to do a whole workbook of math while kids live in a monumental mess.

Why is being good at math so much more important than being a person that people want to be around as they grow into adults? I would never want to live with anyone that didn’t pick up after himself. I want my kids to be the kind of persons that others can roommate with or live with.

Did I mention they are? If you find that your mental stress comes from a cluttered home, then STOP homeschooling and declutter.

You’re not getting behind on homeschooling when you clean, you’re getting ahead of it.

10. Make time for the little things. Chocolate, chat with a friend, get out of the house, or listen to music.

Lastly, make time for what refreshes you mentally.

Creating time to soothe your mental health needs to be part of daily management of homeschool mental stress.

Whether you find a bit of milk or dark chocolate helps bite by bite, a chat with a close homeschool friend which understands your feelings, getting out of the house, listening to your favorite music, exercising more, or doing like I did one time binge watch a Netflix series, they all count.

Make Daily Stress Management Part of Your Routine

Accepting the fact that I can’t do all I want to do and having daily routines has helped me to cope with negative stress.

Learning how to say no to things I can’t be involved in and recognizing stress triggers like avoiding explosive personalities in my homeschool world helps me to manage too. Some people bring unnecessary stress on themselves and those around  them.

Have tips ready at your fingertips for when you need a mental break; your journey should be memorable for the right reasons.

How to Cope With Homeschool Mental Stress. Jumping into homeschooling with ways to reduce negative mental stress is crucial because homeschooling takes a toll on your mental health. CLICK HERE to grab them!

What mental coping techniques do you use?I know you’ll love reading these other ways to empower your sticking ability to homeschool:

Hugs and love ya,

Embrace Island Life: How To Eat A Coconut Like Swiss Family Robinson

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

One of the ways that the Swiss Family Robinson survived besides the provisions they gathered from the boat was by gathering what they could from the land. Also, you’ll love more ideas on my post Swiss Family Robinson Unit Study.

They were able to find lobster, strawberries, mulberries, pomegranates, pistachio nuts, sugar cane, palm cabbage, as well as many kinds of fish, birds, and animals to eat.

One of the first things they were able to gather by tricking the monkeys into helping was coconuts.

Embrace Island Life: How To Eat A Coconut Like Swiss Family Robinson

Not only did they enjoy the liquid inside but were able to eat the meat inside and even use the emptied out half shell as a bowl.  

If you have never tried a fresh whole coconut with your kids, this is a great opportunity to examine and try one straight from the shell.

 I’m showing you how to open a coconut carefully and properly, harvesting both the water and the meat of the coconut. Use all 5 senses to explore the coconut. Research where they are native to and find the locations on a map.

 Find other uses for coconut shells, learn how to properly open and eat a coconut from the grocery store. 

You could also use this as a chance to introduce more exotic fruits like papaya, mango, dragon fruit, kiwi, pomegranates and figs, many of which were foods that were also consumed by the Swiss Family Robinson.   

More The Swiss Family Robinson Activities

Embrace Island Life: How To Eat A Coconut Like Swiss Family Robinson

Next, add some living books to your activity today.

Books Like Swiss Family Robinson

After adding living books, I add reference books to our unit study.

8 Books & Resources for Learning About The Swiss Family Robinson

Add some of these books to your unit study of The Swiss Family Robinson and their adventures on a deserted island.

Swiss Family Robinson (Illustrated Classic): 200th Anniversary Collection

More than 100 original illustrations by Louis Rhead. You want to read this book with illustrations.

Nature Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of the Natural World

See the world in a whole new way! Acclaimed illustrator Julia Rothman combines art and science in this exciting and educational guide to the structure, function, and personality of the natural world.
Explore the anatomy of a jellyfish, the inside of a volcano, monarch butterfly migration, how sunsets work, and much more. Rothman’s whimsical illustrations are paired with interactive activities that encourage curiosity and inspire you to look more closely at the world all around you.

Tracks, Scats and Signs (Take Along Guides)

Become a nature detective with this illustrative, engaging and fun Take-Along-Guide. You may not know where to look, or what to look for, but animal signs are everywhere and this guide will help you learn how to read them. You'll learn how to spot and identify common clues that 17 wildlife species leave behind in the woods, in the fields and along ponds.

Swiss Family Robinson Movie

The heroic tale of the courageous exploits of the Robinson family after they are shipwrecked on a deserted island. Using teamwork and ingenuity, they overcome the obstacles of nature and transform their new home into a "civilized" community.

Willy Whitefeather's Outdoor Survival Handbook for Kids

From treating a bee sting to building an overnight shelter, kids will gain the knowledge and confidence they need to survive outdoors.

Bear Grylls The Complete Adventures Collection 12 Books Set

Bear Grylls The Complete Adventures Collection 12 Books Set: Titles In This Set: The Blizzard Challenge The Desert Challenge The Jungle Challenge The Sea Challenge The River Challenge The Earthquake Challenge The Volcano Challenge The Safari Challenge The Cave Challenge The Mountain Challenge The Arctic Challenge The Sailing Challenge

Knot Tying Kit | Pro-Knot Best Rope Knot Cards, two practice cords and a carabiner

By Pro-Knot, the number one trusted name in Knots with over 7,000 5 Star reviews! This complete knot tying KIT includes everything you need to learn and practice how to tie 23 essential rope knots. The six card/twelve page waterproof plastic card set contains 23 best all purpose rope knots
clearly illustrated and described, bound together with a no-rust brass grommet in the corner!

Foraging Wild Edible Plants of North America: More than 150 Delicious Recipes Using Nature's Edibles

Edible wild plants are nature’s natural food source, growing along roadsides, sprouting in backyards, and blooming in country fields. North America’s diverse geography overflows with edible plant species.

I also have 7 more fun ways that you can use tropical foods for learning besides eating, like making mini explosions and a tropical fruit sensory bin.

7 Ways to Play With Your Tropical Food

  1. Dive deeper into learning about  tropical foods with my 20 Tropical Rainforest Foods and Make an Acai Bowl that is delicious and easy to make.
  2. This simple tutorial will show you How to Eat a Starfruit, another delicious exotic treat..
  3. Set up a fun science experiment inside of a pineapple (after you harvest the fruit to eat first of course) with the Pineapple Volcano and a few basic household supplies.
  4. You can also Learn About Fruits Around the World Fun With Food Activities and make a tasty Mango Smoothie too.
  5. Here is a recipe you can make with the meat of the coconut you harvest that sounds so tasty- Coconut Banana Smoothie.
  6. For your younger learners here is an adorable Sensory Activities for Kids : Tropical Fruits sensory rice recipe that goes along great with this read aloud and learn about more tropical fruits with this multi-sensory experience.
  7. If you live in a warmer climate zone (5 and above)  try your hand at growing Passion Fruit with these 5 tips that will have you enjoying this tropical treat anytime you want it.

Finally, look how to open and eat a fresh coconut.

How to Open and Eat a Fresh Coconut

You will need:

  • A coconut
  • Wooden cutting board
  • Corkscrew
  • Large sturdy kitchen knife
  • Large bowl
  • Cup to collect coconut water
  • Small sieve
Embrace Island Life: How To Eat A Coconut Like Swiss Family Robinson

First, to choose a coconut you want one that feels heavy for the size it is.

It should be dark brown with hairy fibers all over it.

It should make a nice sloshing noise when you shake it around to show it’s got water inside and is fresh.

Soak the coconut in a bowl of water for about 5 minutes to help soften the shell a bit.

Embrace Island Life: How To Eat A Coconut Like Swiss Family Robinson

Turn the coconut so that the 3 eyes are facing up and poke each until you find the one that is soft.

Embrace Island Life: How To Eat A Coconut Like Swiss Family Robinson

 Then use the corkscrew to open the hole up.

If you do not have a corkscrew, you can push through with a screwdriver and a little hammer.

Embrace Island Life: How To Eat A Coconut Like Swiss Family Robinson

Work the hole open a little larger if you need to.

Drain the coconut water into the cup, going through a sieve to collect bits of shell and set aside while you open the coconut.

Embrace Island Life: How To Eat A Coconut Like Swiss Family Robinson

We got a whole cup of coconut water out of our small coconut.

Embrace Island Life: How To Eat A Coconut Like Swiss Family Robinson

You can see three ridges very well that mark weak spots on the coconut.

With the back of the knife, tap very firmly on them and then all around the “equator: ” of the coconut until you see a crack form.

Alternatively, you can use a kitchen mallet if you have one on hand.

Embrace Island Life: How To Eat A Coconut Like Swiss Family Robinson

Continue tapping with force until it cracks all the way around.

Embrace Island Life: How To Eat A Coconut Like Swiss Family Robinson

To remove the meat from the coconut you can use thin sharp knives to cut it out or a vegetable peeler (great for little hands).

Break the pieces of coconut up into smaller pieces and then use a vegetable peeler to scrape off the shell.

Try the small bits of coconut and talk about the taste and texture.

Embrace Island Life: How To Eat A Coconut Like Swiss Family Robinson

What is Year Around Homeschooling? Part 2

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

I realized that year around homeschooling for my family meant shorter days, longer breaks, more meaningful lessons, less prep time for teacher to cover things “lost” during a long down time. Also, look on my page The Dynamics of How to Homeschool Easily and Smarter.

And year round homeschooling meant a choice of vacation time that suited my family’s rhythm whether it was summer or otherwise.

What is Year Around Homeschooling? Part 2

Then the next thing I wanted to know is “How does the schedule look?”

What are others doing that makes it successful for them or a good fit for their family?

Next, look at some of these books to help you plan to school year round.

5 BEST How to Homeschool Books

I've rounded up some of the best books to help you get started homeschooling.

Homeschooling for New Homeschoolers: When You Don't Know Where to Begin

Homeschooling 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers is a real eye-opener on homeschooling. It will alleviate a lot of the anxieties about getting started homeschooling. Reading each chapter’s highlights will give you encouragement, knowledge, guidance, and peace of mind to homeschool with confidence. The best part is that you’ll be educating the person who loves your kids the most in this world--YOU! Armed with the knowledge to make better choices in curriculum will empower you to continue the path of home education. Unlike many books based on one family’s experience, Homeschooling 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers is also based on Tina’s many years of mentoring hundreds and hundreds of new homeschoolers at live workshops. When you don’t know where to begin Homeschooling 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers equips you to successfully homeschool your children.

The Unhurried Homeschooler

Homeschooling is a wonderful, worthwhile pursuit, but many homeschool parents struggle with feelings of burnout and frustration. If you have ever felt this way, you’re not alone! Most of us need to be reminded of the “why” of homeschooling from time to time—but "The Unhurried homeschooler" takes parents a step further and lifts the unnecessary burdens that many parents place on themselves.

Teaching from Rest: A Homeschooler's Guide to Unshakable Peace

Those who have made the decision to homeschool their children have done so out of great love for their children and a desire to provide them an excellent education in the context of a warm, enriching home.

The Brave Learner: Finding Everyday Magic in Homeschool, Learning, and Life

Parents who are deeply invested in their children's education can be hard on themselves and their kids. When exhausted parents are living the day-to-day grind, it can seem impossible to muster enough energy to make learning fun or interesting. How do parents nurture a love of learning amid childhood chaos, parental self-doubt, the flu, and state academic standards?

Unschooled: Raising Curious, Well-Educated Children Outside the Conventional Classroom

Education has become synonymous with schooling, but it doesn’t have to be. As schooling becomes increasingly standardized and test driven, occupying more of childhood than ever before, parents and educators are questioning the role of schooling in society. Many are now exploring and creating alternatives.

More Homeschooling Year Around Tips

What is Year Around Homeschooling Part 2

Here are some options for schedules that I have followed and are following:

  • 4 weeks on, one off, until spring or holiday times, then off for a month.

This I found was best for when the kids were younger, and I would get behind on house work and chores.

Too, when I was pregnant or just sick and needed more rest, this was a much more relaxed time since the down time was longer.

You can even take off a month during the holidays or springtime.

  • 4 days schooling, one day off during the week instead of one consecutive week.

(This is the schedule I am presently kind of following. I prefer to have “off” one day during the week that is not school so that I can re-organize, catch up on work, help newbies or just do nothing. I don’t take it off EVERY week but maybe ONCE every three weeks or so)

  • 6 weeks schooling, take off one week.

This will give you more time at any “interval” during the year where you may want to take off 2 weeks.

  • One month off for “travel” for science and history.

Here is the problem – although it’s a nice problem but is this REALLY off or are your children learning while you are going to museums, field trips and visiting Washington D.C?

Summer months we hit school harder because here in Texas, it is too hot to be outside too long.

We save being outside for milder weather.

We can actually swim here in Texas all the way through September. So plenty of time for being outdoors and have a “summer” it’s just not in summer, but in fall.

Keep to the regular school schedule. If this is working for you, no need to change something that your family likes.

Summer months hit lighter. (We did this for this past year as my past year was very busy with school and my husband’s work). So, math and reading only and mostly rest.

Cover only like or two subjects during the summer. I always cover math.

But some homeschoolers prefer language arts, but I do not.

I prefer to do some science or history or craft projects that would be more time consuming during the year. This way we can give almost the whole day to learning about it.

One year I just schooled until we needed a break, like 8 to 10 weeks and then took like 2 weeks.

This is also a GREAT schedule. It is very refreshing, and you feel like you can stay caught up during the year.

What Year Round Homeschooling is NOT

1. Missing making fun summer time memories.

This is plenty of time for that and to keep moving forward in school.

2.No rest for the weary. It is really just the opposite.

My husband can tell when I and the kids are finishing a break. I have way more energy and patience in dealing with the children.

3. Drudgery. Homeschooling is about life; life is about homeschooling.

If our life hits drudgery, and it can at times since we are just human, it just means we need a change.

Drudgery is something that seems to sap long time homeschoolers, so we need to re-focus and realize the blessings that come from a long term relationship.

Change can come with new curriculum, a new routine, less structured work or just getting among other fellow homeschoolers.

The “newness and freshness” of new homeschoolers, the EXCITEMENT that consumes their every waking minutes and passion they have are contagious.

What do you think? Have you given year round homeschooling a try?

What is Year Round Homeschooling Part 2

A to Z List: 100 Fun Summer Homeschool Unit Study Ideas

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

These summer unit study ideas will keep kids of all ages having fun learning with topics they will be eager to study. Also, look at my page Best Homeschool Unit Studies.

Summer is a perfect time to get in some relaxed themed learning with unit studies.

You can make them hands-on with outdoor activities or beat the heat with a trip to an air-conditioned library to pick out the books you’ll need.

A to Z List: 100 Fun Summer Homeschool Unit Study Ideas

And if you pair a living book with a summer topic, you can have an easy summer learning activity.

Too, many homeschoolers prefer to start their homeschool year during the summer.

There are many advantages to beginning your homeschool year in the summer.

Advantages to Begin Your Year in Summer

For example, look at these advantages.

  • There is a slower start to the year.
  • You can cover one unit study for a few weeks before any other curriculum.
  • Also there is more time to give 1:1 to each child.
  • The day can be shorter to allow time for swimming and other fun summer activities.
  • In addition, some subjects like science and geography are better done outside during the summer season.

Start with this ultimate list of A to Z Summer Homeschool Unit Study Ideas and let your imaginations run wild!

A

Summer Unit Study Ideas

B

C

Summer Themed Unit Study Topics

Next, add some of these fun living books to your summer day.

Summer Reading List for Kids

Add one or two of these books to your kid's summer reading list.

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon

In the valley of Fruitless mountain, a young girl named Minli lives in a ramshackle hut with her parents. In the evenings, her father regales her with old folktales of the Jade Dragon and the Old Man on the Moon, who knows the answers to all of life's questions. Inspired by these stories, Minli sets off on an extraordinary journey to find the Old Man on the Moon to ask him how she can change her family's fortune. She encounters an assorted cast of characters and magical creatures
along the way, including a dragon who accompanies her on her quest for the ultimate answer.

Summer of the Monkeys

The last thing fourteen-year-old Jay Berry Lee expects to find while trekking through the Ozark Mountains of Oklahoma is a tree full of monkeys. But then Jay learns from his grandpa that the monkeys have escaped from a traveling circus, and there’s a big reward for the person who finds and returns them.
His family could really use the money, so Jay sets off, determined to catch them. But by the end of the summer, Jay will have learned a lot more than he bargained for—and not just about monkeys.
From the beloved author of Where the Red Fern Grows comes another memorable adventure novel filled with heart, humor, and excitement.

The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street (The Vanderbeekers, 1)

The first book in the bestselling series that the New York Times Book Review hails as “delightful and heartwarming.”

The Vanderbeekers have always lived in the brownstone on 141st Street. It's practically another member of the family. So when their reclusive, curmudgeonly landlord decides not to renew their lease, the five siblings have eleven days to do whatever it takes to stay in their beloved home and convince the dreaded Beiderman just how wonderful they are.

And all is fair in love and war when it comes to keeping their home.

Little Britches: Father and I Were Ranchers

Ralph was eight years old in 1906 when his family moved from New Hampshire to a Colorado ranch. Through his eyes, the pleasures and perils of ranching in the early twentieth century are experienced... auctions and roundups, family picnics, irrigation wars, tornadoes and wind storms all give authentic color to Little Britches. So do wonderfully told adventures, which equip Ralph for the path his life will take.

The Children of the New Forest

When Jacob Armitage, a local verderer, hears that Parliamentary soldiers looking for King Charles I are planning to burn down the home of the Beverley orphans he saves the children and rears them as his own grandchildren in a small cottage in the woods. But can aristocratic children, used to being served, learn to survive as simple foresters?This story was one of the first historical novels written for younger readers and has endured until today. Its classic themes of chivalry and bravery and the examples the children set are sure to be enjoyed by readers of all ages.This edition features the gorgeous illustrations of Paul Hardy throughout to add extra charm to an already incredible tale.

Trilogy (Boxed Set): Dragonsong; Dragonsinger; Dragondrums

For centuries, the world of Pern has faced a destructive force known as Thread. But now the number of magnificent dragons who have protected this world and the men and women who ride them are dwindling. As destruction falls from the sky, Menolly has only one dream: to sing, play, and weave the music that comes to her so easily—she wishes to become a Harper. But despite her great talents, her father believes that a young girl is unworthy of such a respected position and forbids her to pursue her dreams. So Menolly runs away, taking shelter in a cave by the sea. Miraculously, she happens upon nine fire lizards that could possibly save her world…and change her life forever.

Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster

It’s been five years since the Sweep disappeared. Orphaned and alone, 11-year-old Nan Sparrow had no other choice but to work for a ruthless chimney sweep named Wilkie Crudd. She spends her days sweeping out chimneys. The job is dangerous and thankless, but with her wits and will, Nan has managed to beat the deadly odds time and time again. When Nan gets stuck in a chimney fire, she fears the end has come. Instead, she wakes to find herself unharmed in an abandoned attic. And she is not alone. Huddled in the corner is a mysterious creature—a golem—made from soot and ash.

Where the Red Fern Grows

Billy has long dreamt of owning not one, but two, dogs. So when he’s finally able to save up enough money for two pups to call his own—Old Dan and Little Ann—he’s ecstatic. It doesn’t matter that times are tough; together they’ll roam the hills of the Ozarks.Soon Billy and his hounds become the finest hunting team in the valley. Stories of their great achievements spread throughout the region, and the combination of Old Dan’s brawn, Little Ann’s brains, and Billy’s sheer will seems unbeatable. But tragedy awaits these determined hunters—now friends—and Billy learns that hope can grow out of despair, and that the seeds of the future can come from the scars of the past.

To Kill a Mockingbird

One of the most cherished stories of all time, To Kill a Mockingbird has been translated into more than forty languages, sold more than forty million copies worldwide, served as the basis for an enormously popular motion picture, and was voted one of the best novels of the twentieth century by librarians across the country. A gripping, heart-wrenching, and wholly remarkable tale of coming-of-age in a South poisoned by virulent prejudice, it views a world of great beauty and savage inequities through the eyes of a young girl, as her father—a crusading local lawyer—risks everything to defend a black man unjustly accused of a terrible crime.

Emily of New Moon

Lucy Maude Montgomery's classic tale, the first in her "Emily" series of novels, about an orphan girl on Prince Edward Island. In contrast to Montgomery's other famous series that began with "Anne of Green Gables," Montgomery wrote the character of Emily to be closer to her own personality, and elements of the narrative are autobiographical. The story introduces us to Emily Byrd Starr, who is orphaned after her father dies of tuberculosis. Moving to New Moon Farm to live with her aunts and cousin, Emily meets new friends and engages in adventures as she grows. "Emily of New Moon" was followed by two sequels: "Emily Climbs" and "Emily's Quest".

Strawberry Girl

Strawberries—big, ripe, and juicy. Ten-year-old Birdie Boyer can hardly wait to start picking them. But her family has just moved to the Florida backwoods, and they haven't even begun their planting. "Don't count your biddies 'fore they're hatched, gal young un!" her father tells her.

Making the new farm prosper is not easy. There is heat to suffer through, and droughts, and cold snaps. And, perhaps most worrisome of all for the Boyers, there are rowdy neighbors, just itching to start a feud. The land was theirs, but so were its hardships.

Teachers, grandparents, and homeschooling families continue to reach for Lois Lenski's Strawberry Girl.
As one fan commented, a reason for its continued success is that it's "a touching, realistic tale of the power of neighborly love and kindness."

The Princess and the Goblin

"The Princess and the Goblin" by George MacDonald is a classic fairy tale novel first published in 1872. The story takes place in a medieval kingdom and follows the adventures of Princess Irene, the only daughter of a queen, who lives in a castle on a mountain top. One day, Princess Irene begins to see goblins lurking in the shadows who want to capture her and take her to their underground kingdom. She eventually meets Curdie, a miner's son, who helps her to overcome the dangerous creatures. Throughout their journey, Princess Irene and Curdie face various challenges and magical events that test their courage and friendship. They encounter a wise old woman who gives them important advice, a magical thread that guides them through the darkness of the underground tunnels, and a cunning goblin king who wants to keep Princess Irene captive in his kingdom.

Wingfeather Saga Boxed Set

This collection of Andrew Peterson’s Wingfeather Saga includes all four novels in hardcover: On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, North! Or Be Eaten, The Monster in the Hollows, and The Warden and the Wolf King.Janner Igiby, his brother, Tink, and their disabled sister, Leeli, are gifted children as all children are, loved well by a noble mother and ex-pirate grandfather. But they will need all their gifts and all that they love to survive the evil pursuit of the venomous Fangs of Dang, who have crossed the dark sea to rule the land with malice. The Igibys hold the secret to the lost legend and jewels of good King Wingfeather of the Shining Isle of Anniera.

D

E

More Summer Learning Activities

F

G

H

Summer Unit Study Ideas
  • Hiking
  • Hygiene

More Summer Learning Activities

  • Hydration/heat
  • Herb garden

I

J

K

  • Kites
  • Knots

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

And we always love nature walks anytime of the year and love this series of nature books!

Our Journey Westward
  • Stars
  • Sun/sunscreen
  • Spiders

T

U

  • Underwater creatures
  • Underneath the ground
  • Underwear (history)

Summer Unit Study Ideas

V

  • Vision

W

X

Y

  • Yaks

Z

You’ll love these other ideas:

I hope this list of 100 ideas will get you thinking about hands-on A to Z summer unit study fun!

This blog hop is organized by iHomeschool Network, a collaboration of outstanding homeschool bloggers who connect with each other and with family-friendly companies in mutual beneficial projects.

Summer is a perfect time to get in some relaxed themed learning with unit studies. Kids of all ages can have fun learning with topics they will be eager to study. Click here to look at this A to Z List: 100 Fun Summer Homeschool Unit Study Ideas!
Summer is a perfect time to get in some relaxed themed learning with unit studies. Kids of all ages can have fun learning with topics they will be eager to study. Click here to look at this A to Z List: 100 Fun Summer Homeschool Unit Study Ideas!