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15 Old-Fashioned Useful Skills Homeschoolers Love To Teach

May 17, 2020 | 2 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Here are 15 old-fashioned useful skills homeschoolers love to teach. Also, look at my page The Dynamics of How to Homeschool Easily and Smarter.

Whether you didn’t learn these skills in school or you’re determined to give your children the best education you’ll love these useful skills to teach.

Besides, teaching only academics and not life skills is a huge flaw in the educational world. We don’t want to repeat that same nonsense thinking.

15 Old-Fashioned Useful Skills Homeschoolers Love To Teach

So we choose to intentionally teach what other educators view as vintage or old-fashioned because we know some obsolete skills prepare today’s kids for adulthood.

Look at these 15 skills, academic or otherwise which homeschoolers still love to teach.

Old-Fashioned Skills for Today’s Kids

1. Cursive writing.

Unless a child has a special need, most homeschooling parents know that learning to write and cursive writing are valuable skills.

Beyond the fact that most early documents were hand-written, cursive writing supports hand-eye coordination and can reduce letter reversals.

Look at some of my tips below about how I teach writing.

  • How to Teach Cursive and Composition With A Fresh Perspective
  • Cursive Matters; Handwriting Style Doesn’t + Free Resources
  • 5 Creative Ways to Boost Handwriting in Older Kids

2 Finance

3 Accounting

4 Budgeting

5 Money Management

6 Writing a Check

Yes they are all very different skill sets.

Although they are connected learning to budget and run a household is different than money management.

Money management is not only a skill used in personal life but can be applied to a business.

You want your children to have as many as they can get while living with you.

Today’s kids learn early how to use a debit or credit card without knowing what is a budget or knowing ways to rein in their spending.

Subjects Not Taught in Public School

Distinguishing between a need versus a want is an extremely valuable skill to teach kids.

Not teaching a kid about finances while in middle or high school or even earlier may set him up for much debt later in life.

Too, many places of business still use paper checks.

Teaching our kids both how to write out a check and how to make a bank deposit in person are necessary skills for adulting.

Next, look at these books about money and look at Whatever Happened To Penny Candy?: A Fast, Clear, and Fun Explanation of the Economics You Need for Success in Your Career, Business, and Investments.

8 Rad Money Resources to Teach Money For All Ages

Grab some of these money resources to teach your children about how to save and budget money.

Not Your Parents' Money Book: Making, Saving, and Spending Your Own Money

For the first time, financial guru and TODAY Show regular Jean Chatzky brings her expertise to a young audience. Chatzky provides her unique, savvy perspective on money with advice and insight on managing finances, even on a small scale. This book will reach kids before bad spending habits can get out of control. With answers and ideas from real kids, this grounded approach to spending and saving will be a welcome change for kids who are inundated by a consumer driven culture. This book talks about money through the ages, how money is actually made and spent, and the best ways for tweens to earn and save money.

The Toothpaste Millionaire

Sixth-grader Rufus Mayflower is betting that he can make a whole gallon of toothpaste for the same price as one tube from the store.
There’s just one problem, he has to solve real-life mathematical
equations first! With help from his good friend Kate Mackinstrey, can
these two entrepreneurs keep up with the high demand for their popular product? Beloved children’s author Jean Merrill introduces readers to the ins and outs of a budding business, from costs to profits, in this exciting tale about perseverance, ingenuity, and underdogs.

Learning Resources Money Bags Coin Value Game

  • MONEY GAME FOR KIDS: Players collect, count, and exchange money all the way to the finish line
  • MONEY SKILLS: Learn valuable money skills through fun game play
  • PLAY MONEY: Includes game board with spinner, 100 plastic coins, play bills, markers, and dice

Smart Money Smart Kids - Raising the Next Generation to Win with Money

In Smart Money Smart Kids, financial expert and best-selling author Dave Ramsey and his daughter Rachel Cruze equip parents to teach their children how to win with money. Starting with the basics like working, spending, saving, and giving, and moving into more challenging issues like avoiding debt for life, paying cash for college, and battling discontentment, Dave and Rachel present a no-nonsense, common-sense approach for changing your family tree.

I Want More Pizza: Real World Money Skills For High School, College, And Beyond

The perfect gift! Give the gift of financial literacy to your teen - they will thank you for a lifetime. You are not alone; it is often difficult to reach young adults on the topic of money management, but look no further. I Want More Pizza finally has teenagers excited about personal finance and is giving them the confidence that they can succeed. This resource is being used in classrooms around the nation as young adults enjoy the pizza model for learning about money management. Now available for the first time for you to bring into your home, give your young adult the gift of financial literacy and they will thank you for a lifetime. Primary topics discussed include saving, spending, prioritization, goal setting, compound growth, investing, debt, credit cards, student loans, mental blocks, and taking real world action.I am sure you have heard a few of these: "I don't need it", "I'm too young", "I need to spend my money on _____ ", and the list goes on. The pizza model for learning personal finance breaks down those barriers because, well, everyone loves pizza! Just because money management is extremely important doesn't mean that it has to be extremely complex. I Want More Pizza leaves them in complete control to find the plan that works for your young adult - it's their choice. If they don't enjoy math or don't like to plan, no problem, we've got them covered as well. And it's only ~100 pages, which young adults love given their busy social calendars. Money doesn't have to be stressful. Finally reach your young adult and help them become financially literate for a lifetime. After all, there is a lot of pizza in life to enjoy!

Managing Your Money (Usborne Life Skills)

This down-to-earth guide is filled with practical advice on everything from how to budget and be a smart shopper to student loans, mortgages and insurance. An essential book for equipping young people with the skills they need to manage their money now and in the future. Includes links to websites with more tips and advice.

12 Ways for a Homeschooled Teen to Earn Money - A Budding Entrepreneur?

Long before they are of age to start working, kids want their own money. And whether they count bricks at a construction site as a kid like my entrepreneur husband did or just want some spending money, kids are looking for creative ways to earn their own bucks.

Economics for Beginners

Nobody has everything they need, all the time – so how can we make do with what we have? Economics is all about understanding the choices we make to solve this problem. With bright, infographics pictures, this informative book describes why markets are so important, how businesses work out what to sell, and how governments choose how to run a country. Includes Usborne Quicklinks to specially selected websites for more information.

And look at my post 12 Ways for a Homeschooled Teen to Earn Money – A Budding Entrepreneur.

7. How to do taxes.

My kids started working while in high school and although they didn’t make enough to have to prepare a tax return, we still helped them prepare one.

When a child is living on his own he’ll have a basic understanding of tax deadlines and taxes.

He manages adult responsibilities way better than if you had never introduced basic tax how-tos.

8. How to cook from scratch.

The pandemic of 2020 is a perfect example of how life can throw a huge curve.

Because we want our kids self-sufficient, teaching them to cook from scratch like baking basic bread or from what is on hand saves money, teaches independence, and can be healthier.

Look below at a few ways I incorporated this into our learning day:

  • How to Help Kids Go Beyond the Basics of Homeschool Cooking & Resources
  • How to Incorporate Subjects into a Fun Homeschool Cooking Unit Study.

9. How to fill out a job application and how to do a job interview.

When I helped my first teen fill out a job application, it was hilarious.

School Doesn’t Prepare Us for Life

Although he knew what it was from the exploring career opportunities course in high school, preparing one was quite different.

To this day, he still thanks me and his dad for helping him to look at his set of skills both strengths and weakness realistically.

However, nothing compared to seeing him get ready for his first job interview.

He was pretty comfortable looking to apply for a job that required a dress jacket.

Just a word of advice, be sure your teen knows how employees are expected to dress after you go over your dos and don’ts for a first-time job interview.

10. Learn to read a map.

I love GPS too, but if you’ve ever hiked or walked in a remote area your cell phone is not really a good bet.

Besides learning about scale and distances, a map can teach local geography and can teach us what is around us.

No cell phone service needed.

Things No Longer Taught in School

Maps are engaging and foster a love of learning about places along the way instead of just getting to a point like a gps.

We can use both in our everyday and not let a generation grow up equipped without engaging with a map.

11. Diagramming a sentence.

To understand how words need to be arranged in a sentence to make their thoughts clearer, kids need many ways to learn word arrangement.

When kids have to break down or diagram each part of a sentence it leaves no room for ambiguity. This teaching technique still helps many students.

12. Auto upkeep.

Whether the tires need air or not, when and how to change the oil, and basic upkeep to maintain your safety and the life of a vehicle are important skills to know.

13. Home Economic skills.

I know home economics courses are now called some fancy name like Family And Consumer Sciences.

That is another post for me, but kids need to know how to read recipes, count food portions, food storage, food prep ideas and how to eat healthy.

And while we can teach these skills separately, it’s much easier to teach them while on the job.

Assigning your kids the responsibility to make a grocery list or a meal for the family works.

I started with easy meal ideas for my kids to make for the family and as they grew, so did the cooking skills.

Benefits of Life Skills

In addition, teaching a kid basic sewing can be a lost skill.

Back in the day learning basic sewing skills was a must because all clothes were hand-made. Learning how to sew on a button is still a valuable skill.

14. Latin.

Latin used to be taught at in a lot of public schools.

Today, not all homeschoolers teach Latin, but a lot do.

We see the value of teaching our kids the roots of modern-day language and how to analyze root meanings.

15 Old-Fashioned Useful Skills Homeschoolers Love To Teach

The deductive reasoning used while learning Latin helped my kids to know how to critically think.

15. High School Shop Classes.

Classes like woodworking, metal, and drafting classes seem to be dwindling.

Those types of hand skills are being lost. Electricians, plumbers, and carpenters are valuable skills needed in our community.

Also, these classes were taught in high school so that a teen had time to pursue passions and some of the classes were segues to a higher degree.

These skills are not outdated in our home, but they are skills which propel our kids to the future. A future where our kids are truly prepared for whatever comes their way.

Old Fashioned But Timeless Skills

How can a kid learn about the human body without preparing a meal?

And how can a kid value how fast human history changes unless he can read the thoughts of the founding father in their handwriting  – cursive?

How can a child not be saddled with debt and stress the rest of his life unless we teach him now how to save and when to spend?

Look at some of these other reads:

  • How to Know What A Homeschooled Child Should Learn Yearly?
  • How to Mesh Your Personality With Homeschooling When They Collide
  • Homeschooling Kindergarten : What Subjects to Teach and For How Long?
  • Teach Your Homeschooled Teen the Art of Studying (without nagging)
  • 6 Best Homeschool Hacks Teaching Multi-Aged Children

We don’t have to make a choice between academics or old-fashioned practical skills a child should know. We want them both!

Hugs and love ya,

2 CommentsFiled Under: Be an Exceptional Homeschool Teacher, Build Character in Homeschooled Kids, Graduate a Homeschooler, Homeschool Multiple Ages of Children, Homeschool Simply, Homeschool Teens _ From Teen to Graduation, How To - - -, Teach/Which Subjects to Teach/Cover EVERYTHING Tagged With: homeschool, homeschool challenges, homeschool highschool, homeschool lifestyle, homeschool mistakes, homeschoolcurriculum, life skills

How to Mesh Your Personality With Homeschooling When They Collide

April 11, 2020 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, I’m sharing how to mesh your personality with homeschooling.

We bring our view of what is education to the homeschool world based on our experiences. That’s not the shocking part. How to mesh our personality with homeschooling when they collide is the painful part.

If you’re like me, you’re a product of public school or maybe you fit in the category of being a public school teacher much like the ones I’ve mentored through the years.

When your idea of schooling is constant testing (without being state mandated), over technical lesson plans, and giving daily grades, it can collide with the relaxed homeschool approach.

How to implement the relaxed and successful approach of homeschooling while maintaining much needed guidance for your structured personality is not easy, but it’s possible.

Having started my journey being severely structured and then learning how to implement a delight-directed approach was a gradual process.

How to Mesh Your Personality with Homeschooling

I didn’t take years to adjust to a relaxed approach when I saw that the delight directed approach worked.

However, the organized part of my personality knew that some guidance was needed so important skills like math and writing did not get left out.

Using strengths to shore up weaknesses in my teaching style was the key for me.

Look at how I started slowly until I lit a fire in my kids for learning.

Tip 1: Start with a content subject.

It takes time to move away from segmented subjects and understand that all bodies of knowledge are connected.

So when going from structured to relaxed, start with history, geography, or science to get your feet wet. Look at Skill Subjects vs. Content Subjects: What’s the Difference.

The content subjects don’t have to be introduced or mastered in an exact order like skill subjects, which are the three Rs – reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic.

For example, if you choose to cover the American Civil War in 4th grade or 7th grade, there will not be any big gaps in your teaching.

You obviously would expect more research, writing, and maybe map work from a middle schooler than an elementary-aged kid, but that is the only difference.

Tip 2: Field Trips, Living Books, and Projects.

The next thing I had to quickly learn was that tools matter. You can’t expect a talented artist to create masterpieces with lame tools.

Kids are the same; learning tools don’t have to be expensive, but kids need relaxed and unstructured time to use them.

Throwing in a field trip as a second thought instead of being the major learning experience does not stir passion or kindle in the slightest a love of learning.

Surrounding your kids with living books, which are books that explain topics in story form, taking regular meaningful field trips and pursuing projects your kids are passionate about stokes the creative juices.

Look at 5 Steps to Choosing Geography Living Books Your Children Will Love and 13 Living History Books about Ancient Greece.

Also grab some tips from 22 Awesome Homeschool History Field Trips.

Tip 3: EVERYONE is passionate about something.

I hear it all the time.

My kid is not interested in anything. He just wants to play games or ride his bike, or ___ (insert anything here other than “school”). Even games can have educational value.

Turn fun into learning. This is the hard part for personalities who want to stay structured, but I have many examples to show you how. Here is one. Look at my post Screen-Free Educational Activities for Kids Who Love Video Games.

If you fill up every bit of time with scheduled activities, a child has no time to linger. He needs time to investigate, explore, and discover.

Lingering can produce laziness, but it can also produce a lively, energetic kid IF you provide opportunities.

Between you and I, it can be easier for a structured personality to do this because you have a natural bent toward wanting to be organized.

Look at the list below to provide opportunities:

  • introduce a totally different subject or course that your family doesn’t know much about like marine biology, interior design, or forensic science. What kid doesn’t want to learn about crime. Don’t focus on grading or completing, just introduce and whet your child’s appetite.
  • trade reading for doing. This is not so easy for structured folks who feel that reading a book completely equates to learning sticking. Reading recipes does not make an elite chef. Trading reading for doing looks like this: Instead of reading books only about being interested in pets or animals, volunteer at an animal shelter. If a child is too young, start an easy pet sitting business. When a child wants to learn about music, he plays a piano or guitar. When a child wants to learn about math, he bakes cookies, plays board games, learns by dominoes, learns by a card game, learns by hopscotch and can still read a book. When a teen wants to learn about law, call a law office and have him volunteer for a day or two a week.

The Difference Between Lazy and Relaxed Homeschooler

  • strew. Strewing is placing items, books, materials, supplies, games, or any other item in places around your home. It’s intentional. It’s hard to find passions unless a child is exposed to a variety of topics AND when he makes choices from the items instead of being told, it’s empowering. Children will have an insatiable appetite for a topic that aligns with their strengths or interests. Not being told every subject to cover breeds fierce independence in learning.
  • reference books. Having more reference book in my home to use for research than textbooks was a game changer for me. Look at 100 BEST Books for Kids from all 50 States (Easy Geography), 5 BEST Books to Create an Around the World Unit Study (and Hands-on Activities), and 3 Less-Known and Irresistible Homeschool Hands-on Science Books to spark a few ideas of what to stockpile in your home.

Tip 4: Turn your weakness into a strength.

One fear of relaxed homeschoolers is not covering everything. It’s the same fear for home educators who have a more structured approach.

Turn your weakness into a strength by creating organizational systems which align with a more relaxed approach.

Hear my heart when I say to let go of all organization is not the answer. It never worked for me. Find your balance by using what your gifts are for your kids.

From my struggle, I created the wildly popular 7 Step Homeschool Planner. It’s a powerful tool for relaxed organization.

More Transitioning to a Relaxed Homeschool Lifestyle Tips

  • Transitioning from Public School to Homeschool For a Relaxed Lifestyle
  • When Homeschooling is Sucking the Life Out of You
  • 26 of the BIGGEST Gripes about the Homeschooling Lifestyle!
  • How to Mesh Your Personality With Homeschooling When They Collide
  • What is REAL Homeschooling? Homebound, Co-op or Public School at Home

A few key points to take away about my planner is that it’s UNDATED. That is huge for folks who feel once they’ve planned they are behind when the first sick day comes.

Not so with my undated planner. You simply stop schooling and pick up on the next lesson number.

In addition, my drive to do worksheets only turned to creating lapbooks for our unit studies for my kids. I have dozens of them for you here on my site.

I took a strength of organization and aligned it with a hands-on tool like lapbooks.

Finding the Non-School Homeschool Teacher Within

Look at these other ways you can use your strengths:

  • create a simple checklist of subjects for the day. Don’t tell the exacts if you want to add more delight-directed learning to your day. Simply put down your subjects like math, spelling, and vocabulary for the day. Challenge your kid to find a way to satisfy one of them with a non-traditional way to learn. Of course, don’t be like that lame artist or chef I mentioned earlier by not providing enough tools. Provide the tools and books and resources.
  • alternate subjects that you want covered like science and history instead of covering both on one day. This gives your child more time to research and delve into a topic.
  • provide visual communication of what you expect for the day. Visual communication like charts and calendars equals a powerful communicator.

One of the most important things to remember about relaxed or child-directed learning is that it looks different for each family.

One weave that is common among all families is that the parent is more of a facilitator. Tihs will help you to learn to blend your personality with homeschooling.

Think:

  • of your role as guiding instead of dictating,
  • how can you give more choices while still meeting your expectations for the day, and
  • how can I add other tools in my home so that passions are fed or discovered.
How to Mesh Your Personality With Homeschooling When They Collide.We bring our view of what is education to the homeschool world based on our experiences. That's not the shocking part. How to mesh our personality with homeschooling when they collide is the painful part. CLICK HERE if you want to go from structured to relax! #homeschool #homeschooling

Do not over complicate the process; use life happenings or natural things to be the teacher for you and your children.

Tip 5: Expand the definition of homeschool curriculum and use life happenings.

For example, use the seasons. Use springtime to make a garden, use winter to learn about winter birds or hibernation, use summer to learn about the ocean and ocean animals and used fall to learn about the cycles of life or the tides or moon.

Here are a few more of my units to help you get going and find the teacher within you and more important to mesh your personality with homeschooling.

  • How to Easily Garden Plan With Kids Using LEGO
  • Colorful Winter Bird: Northern Cardinal Lapbook & Unit Study
  • Ocean Lapbook Printables
  • Fall Unit 1 {Pumpkins, Leaves, Corn, & More}
  • Free Fall Unit Study Ideas– For Older Kids Too

The key to relaxed learning is use everything around you and everyday to teach.

The last important point to share is that you need to expand your definition of curriculum so your kids are not always sticking their nose in a book to learn something.

You know we love reading. A lot of homeschoolers are passionate about reading, but learning goes beyond that.

Look at 45 Ways to Define Homeschool Curriculum.

You’ve got this! Go now and conquer!♥

Hugs and love ya,

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Be an Exceptional Homeschool Teacher, Begin Homeschooling, Determine Learning Styles, Homeschool Simply, How To - - - Tagged With: homeschool, homeschool challenges, homeschool lifestyle, homeschool mistakes, homeschoolapproach, personality

100 Reasons Why Homeschooling is a SUPERIOR Education

November 22, 2019 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have 100 reasons why homeschooling is a superior education. Also, you’ll love more tips on my page The Dynamics of How to Homeschool Easily and Smarter.

In the early 1980s, my mom homeschooled my youngest sister.

Then, folks thought homeschooling was illegal. It wasn’t, but it felt that way.

As my mom researched about homeschooling, I read the same research as meager as it was, but I came to appreciate that homeschoooling is a superior education for many reasons.

I was in public high school and close to graduating when my mom began her homeschool journey.

Later, I started my family and now I have 3 homeschool grads. I’ve seen many changes – big and small.

100 Reasons Why Homeschooling is a SUPERIOR Education. I don't think homeschooling is for everyone.  

There are valid reasons why folks can't homeschool, but not having favorable circumstances doesn't negate the superior value of the homeschool approach. CLICK HERE to read this long list of how homeschooling is a superior education.
#homeschool #homeschooling #newhomeschooler

One thing which has exploded for me is my BIG list of reasons why homeschooling is better than school.

Too, we have stats now for you to analyze, but the hundreds and hundreds of personal success stories are of greater value to me.

I don’t think homeschooling is for everyone.
There are valid reasons why folks can’t homeschool, but not having favorable circumstances doesn’t negate the superior value of the homeschool approach.

I wished EVERY family could give their kids one-to-one tutoring. Those odds are hard to beat.

Reasons Why to Homeschool

Look at these 100 reasons why the homeschool approach is better than a public school education.

  • Education is different than schooling. ALL children can be educated, but if a child doesn’t step in sync to public standards in a school he is failed. The public standard is put ahead of the child. The self-confidence that a child has is undermined.
  • Bullying by students and teachers isn’t tolerated in the homeschool world.
  • Education at home is in sync with how a child develops and as he masters concepts.
  • More time is spent outdoors and nature becomes the child’s schoolmaster.
  • Sleep, diet, and wellness of the child is superior at home because of the ability to adapt to the needs of each child.

  • Passions are intensely pursued which turns to mastery of topics by children.
  • Children will read well on their timetable which sets them up for lifelong success. Waiting on a child to read sets them up for loving to read instead of having to read. One is a delight the other is drudgery.
  • The parent is hands-on with their children and children flourish with personal and loving attention.
  • Freedom. It’s the true meaning of a superior education when you’re not told what to learn each day.
  • Open-ended questions becomes the segue to mastery of material, not being spoon-fed.
100 Reasons Why Homeschooling is a SUPERIOR Education

Reasons to Choose Homeschool

  • Learning is not looked at as grade levels, but for longer periods of time. Did you know that a lot of homeschooled kids don’t care what grade they’re in until they get older? Grade levels compartmentalize learning.
  • We trust the fact the children have a natural curiosity to learn and it shouldn’t be contained in workbooks.
  • Homeschooled kids learn excellence without the two Ws that public school enforces – walls and workbooks.
  • Education happens while you travel and see the world. Even a child’s own backyard is his science lab.
  • Customized learning is the BEST.

  • Children are not exposed to active shooter drills. Children focus on celebrating childhood not being in fear of it.
  • By not being up at 5 a.m. to walk in the dark and catch a school bus, children wake up later rested and go for a nature walk. Playing piano or practicing art before the formal part of their day begins is the norm.
  • Instead of constantly cutting or washing their children’s hair because they’re exposed to lice, they are outside playing in a leaf pile or making snow angels.
  • Instead of focusing on how vaccines are harmful to children, the family is focusing on a vacation to learn about caves or the beach.
  • Sex education is the parent’s right to teach their children at a time he is ready. A parent protects the innocence of her children because she knows the exact time to expose her children to sensitive matters.

Why Parents Homeschool Their Kids

  • Fear of gangs does not have to be present.
  • Parents and not peers are the best to influence their children.
  • The family chooses ideals they want their children rooted in instead of society deciding what is accepted and not accepted.
  • Education is not forced-fed.
  • When it comes to what our children are learning, most families want more.
100 Reasons Why Homeschooling is a SUPERIOR Education
  • Gifted children can move ahead and not get in trouble because they became bored in a traditional classroom
  • We want our children to learn how to read proficiently and to be a lifelong reader.
  • Our children are exposed to more topics and are not learning to just pass state required tests.
  • We teach our kids skills that will be practical for them in life.
  • Does anybody else find it bizarre to turn your children over to a complete stranger who spends most of his day with them?

  • Children are not constantly sick and missing out on learning opportunities.
  • You can teach in a relaxed way without jumping through hoops to meet rules.
  • Learning at home is more exploratory and not workbook driven.
  • It’s unhealthy for children of any age to sit for six hours a day.
  • Home fosters a love for learning.

What is a Superior Education?

  • We teach things that public school can’t teach like how to budget, how to save, and how to not get in debt.
  • As parents we ARE the experts. An expert is one who has an authoritative knowledge of a skill. Parents are the experts for their children.
  • We change curriculum instantly when it’s not working. We don’t wait on red tape or even the start of a new school year to make changes.
  • Adjusting the hours and days to suit our family’s life keeps learning a privilege and something children look forward to each day.
  • Pushing our children out of their comfort zone, but in a secure environment elevates their learning to another level.

  • We want our children to pursue learning as a lifestyle and not a list to check off.
  • It takes less time to learn at home. There are no unnatural interruptions at home. Children are used to natural interruptions like younger siblings or a change in a parent’s schedule.
  • We have the choice to put our children in front of a computer for school, crack open a physical book, or both.
  • We do not need to answer to the government. It’s been my experience that most parents exceed any government standard.
  • Tests should have a purpose, not be meaningless. Parents are the ones to best determine if a tests suits their needs.

How to Start Homeschooling

  • Face to face discussions everyday with your children gives you a window into their heart and what is on their mind. Channeling children to do good is part of a superior education.
  • Academics can be delayed for young children so they have more time to play and be little boys and girls.
  • Children learn from experiences and not just from children their same age.
  • Children can be ready for higher level courses on their timetable. Sometimes that is earlier than what is considered the high school years.
  • Instead of reading about science in a boring textbooks, children get their hands dirty doing science.

  • Homework is a nightmare. While at home, children learn at times that are good for them. What are they doing all day in public school?
  • Parents don’t want to feel disconnected from their children because children get up at dark:30 and are exhausted when they come home.
  • Free public school doesn’t mean better. Parents decide which curriculum is free and which curriculum is paid.
  • Children learn at home what is a true entrepreneur.
  • Children learn cursive at home which always been the standard of a well-educated man. Learning to read cursive is a skill that many children are losing.

  • There is no mind numbing busy work at home.
  • Public school suffers budget cuts, but at home even the most modest budget is ample for children.
  • No one gets left behind at home because the pace is set to each child.
  • The learning style of each child is important and learning is tailored to strengths.
  • There is not constant focus on what a child cannot do, but how to pursue what he can do.
100 Reasons Why Homeschooling is a SUPERIOR Education

Why You Homeschool

  • Home is the best place to prepare children for adulthood which is the true meaning of education.
  • Special needs children can learn in a safe environment instead of being made fun of by both teachers and children.
  • Extracurricular activities can be increased or limited to the needs of each family.
  • Common sense is used as a measure of what to teach and not common core.
  • There is less pressure on young children at an early age.

  • Parents want the say over what to teach their children.
  • One approach or curriculum can be used for one child and a completely different curriculum and approach for another child.
  • Teens don’t have to spend four years in high school and waste time on subjects they’ve mastered. They can move on to college level work in high school or sooner if they’re ready.
  • Mistakes by a child are viewed as learning experiences. Failure is a good teacher. Learning that early on teaches a child to try again and critical thinking skills.
  • Getting children out of their comfort zone teaches them to take charge of their learning.

  • Unless you plan to homeschool under a rock, children have frequent socialization with adults and children. They learn the true meaning of socialization which is how to behave in a mixed aged group.
  • Children learn compassion and kindness when they take care of family members who have become sick. Waiting to teach children how to be kind when they’re adults could be turning out self-centered people. Children learn early to put their needs on the back burner while caring for those hit with sickness.
  • Religion or lack of it is the SOLE responsibility of the parent.
  • Being at home allows children to dig deeper and not have to move on until their curiosity has piqued.
  • Parents are the ones enjoying the best times with their children instead of someone else. That love fosters a strong desire to learn because children know they’re in a secure and safe environment

Individualized Homeschool Education

  • When a child has medical issues, his learning is not delayed.
  • Children do have to have a substitute teacher who may care little to none about a child.
  • Parents want their children to enjoy learning as long as possible.
  • While being educated, children have the flexibility to run a family-based business.
  • Time spent with children is superior quality.

  • Field trips in the homeschool world can happen every week if the family chooses to and not just while children are in Kindergarten.
  • It’s just a better education tailored to each child.
  • Parents don’t want their children away from them for so many hours.
  • Families aren’t locked into school calendars of when children should learn.
  • Children want to be outside a lot and play.
100 Reasons Why Homeschooling is a SUPERIOR Education
  • Some children choose a career or college track and can pursue their objectives better at home with the freedom they need.
  • The pace in Kindergarten has gone to ridiculous for little kids. Standardized tests in Kindergarten is becoming the norm.
  • Children can travel the world and learn about it instead of inside a crowded classroom.
  • Families teach children about being a member of society by being in it and getting children involved it.
  • There are not tons of useless meetings with teachers or administrators who may care little about the success of your children.

More Posts on Why Homeschooling is a Superior Educational Approach

  • Why My Homeschooled Kids Are Not Given the Choice to Go to Public School
  • Transitioning from Public School to Homeschool For a Relaxed Lifestyle
  • It’s a New Homeschool Year and My Child Wants to Go Back to Public School
  • Deschool – Get off the Public School Treadmill!

Top Reasons to Homeschool

  • Families can address immediately any perceived gaps in a child’s education.
  • Testing is not used as the gauge of what children know and do not know.
  • A school setting is arbitrary and unnatural.
  • Families can allow humor and grace to meet in the day which aids children to be emotionally sound.
  • More time is spent reading together as a family.
  • Children are valued instead of demeaned by being told to raise their hand to go to the bathroom, eat, or drink. That is very opposite of the real world.
  • It is the right of a parent to pick associates or peers instead of children being poorly influenced in a classroom.
  • Nobody knows children better than the parents. Nobody.
  • College tuition is overpriced and homeschool parents have options like CLEP and dual credit.
  • Public schools cannot simply meet the needs of all children.
100 Reasons Why Homeschooling is a SUPERIOR Education. I don't think homeschooling is for everyone.  

There are valid reasons why folks can't homeschool, but not having favorable circumstances doesn't negate the superior value of the homeschool approach. CLICK HERE! #homeschool #homeschooling #newhomeschooler

I don’t EVER talk folks into homeschooling because some days are flat out hard, but in the end it’s been worth every bit of stress.

Nothing beats the unique journey which each of my children have had. They’ve all had a private and elite education with less then half the cost of public education.

In the process, they have formed lifelong friends; we constantly have had to cut back on time spent in 4 H club, art classes, foreign language classes and ballroom dance classes to name a few so we could be at home.

What else will I add to my list in the next 10 years?

What questions do you have about homeschooling?

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Begin Homeschooling, Homeschool Simply, Homeschooling, Kick Off Your Homeschool Year Tagged With: deschooling, homeschool, homeschool challenges, homeschool joy, homeschool lifestyle, homeschoolplanning, newbeehomeschooler, reasonstohomeschool

What to Expect When You Expect to Homeschool (25 Silliest Questions Ever)

July 9, 2019 | 3 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

When I started homeschooling I wasn’t prepared for the onslaught of questions asked by family, friends, and total strangers. Some questions were harsh and others were down right quite silly to me. Today, in sharing what to expect when you expect to homeschool, I have rounded up some of the silliest homeschool questions that you’ll ever be asked.

Homeschool Critics Want to Know

Hopefully, you can have your answers prepared when you get asked the silliest homeschool questions ever.

Okay, true some people really wonder, but homeschooling today is more popular than ever. So we wonder why folks aren’t informed.

What to Expect When You Expect to Homeschool (Why 25 of the Silliest Homeschool Questions EVER} @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Silly Homeschool Questions

We love talking about our homeschool style, but always find a chuckle in one or two of these questions.

  • How does he socialize?
  • Are they home with you all day?
  • Are they going to go to real school one day?
  • What about prom?
  • You can’t issue a high school diploma, can you?
  • When your kids are grown, won’t they get in trouble because they didn’t know there is real authority?
  • Do you have to wear dresses?
  • Do your kids have to wear uniforms?
  • What about teaching high school math?
  • What about extracurricular activities?
  • Do kids pass to the next grade? How do you know?
  • What qualifications do you have to teach your kids?
  • Are you going to at least put him in high school?
  • When do they start real school?
  • So, are you a teacher?

Don’t forget to grab my book, Homeschooling 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers: When You Don’t Know Where to Begin to be empowered and to be in the know!

  • Is it legal?
  • How will your kids ever make friends?
  • How will your kids learn to be normal?
  • What are you using for your curriculum?
  • When are you going to get him tested?
  • Do they actually do any work?
  • What grade are your kids in?
  • How can you teach your kids if you don’t know everything?
  • Do your kids have friends?
  • Do your kids get out during the day?

I’m sure you can add some more to this list even if you’ve homeschooled for a short amount of time.

Do you think this now adequately prepares new homeschoolers for their start? tee hee hee

What other silly questions have you been asked?

What to Expect When You Expect to Homeschool 25 of the Silliest Questions You May Be Asked as a Homeschooler @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

You’ll also love these other reads:

  • Homeschool Critics: How Do You Know You’re on Track?
  • How to Cope Successfully With Homeschool Mental Stress
  • Deschooling: Step One for the New Homeschooler (the Definitions, the Dangers, and the Delight)
  • Is Homeschooling Making the Grade? It’s in and the Grade is ALL Fs!
  • Transitioning from a Public School Mindset to a Relaxed Homeschooling Lifestyle
  • Blurring the Line Between Living and Learning When Homeschooling
  • Wipe Out Self-Doubt: 13 Ways to Show Homeschool Progress (And How I Know My Sons Got It)

3 CommentsFiled Under: Begin Homeschooling, Homeschool Simply Tagged With: homeschool, homeschool challenges, homeschool joy, homeschool joys, homeschool lifestyle, homeschool mistakes

How to Know What A Homeschooled Child Should Learn Yearly?

May 28, 2019 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

You’d think having a year by year list of requirements which a homeschooled child should learn would be helpful. Also, look at my page The Dynamics of How to Homeschool Easily and Smarter.

A list of requirements may or may not be depending on your circumstances.

If your child is on a faster track than most kids his age, then such a list could set your child up to be a resistant learner.

How to Know What A Homeschooled Child Should Learn Yearly?

Nobody wants to go over previously mastered material.

On the other hand, if a child needs to stay on a concept longer, then the beauty of homeschooling is allowing him to linger longer.

I won’t leave you hanging though because I know paramount to maintaining sanity is having a guideline or idea of what to teach.

After 25+ years of teaching, I have found easy ways to guide my kids to graduation.

Look at these 3 quick planning tips you need now and I rounded up some resources for you.

3 Quick Planning Tips You Need Now

Skill subjects are the backbone of ALL years from Prek to High School; the skill subjects are math and language arts.

ONE/ ALL subjects can be categorized into a SKILL or CONTENT subject.

Language arts is a general term to including many different subjects depending on your child’s age.

Because language arts includes all facets of English, you want to be familiar with the subjects that fall under the broad term of language arts.

Two of the three Rs — reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic are part of language arts.

Giving your attention first to language arts and math is vital.

While choosing content subjects is important, your child could struggle terribly if skill subjects are not introduced in a sequence.

One example of how important laying foundational steps is learning to read.

You want your child exposed to a wide variety of sounds and have a rich print environment to boost his reading skills.

Look at these subjects that are language arts.

Subjects for Younger Grades

Reading
Phonics
Penmanship
Grammar
Spelling
Poetry

Subjects for Older Grades

Literature
Word Study
Vocabulary
Grammar
Spelling
Composition
Poetry

Oral speaking is also part of language arts.

Some things about language arts like conversations are not specifically taught, but learned through interaction with your kids each day.

TWO/ Instead of focusing on a scope and sequence, glance at the table of contents.

A scope and sequence is how topics are covered in a curriculum.

Scope is the depth or amount of knowledge or information to be covered in each grade level and sequence refers to the order or steps based on grade level.

The idea for sequence is that it builds on knowledge based in previous grades.

In summary, a scope and sequence is an agenda or schedule of what to learn and when to learn it. That’s it.

Kids have the ability to learn facts from two or more grade levels.

Knowing the scope and sequence is helpful, but I find that glancing at the table of contents of any curriculum is an easier tip.

Each curriculum has a different scope and sequence. So unless you stick with one curriculum, I find that taking a closer look at the table of contents has always met with a better fit for my kids.

Focus on the grade level your kids will be on, but more important study the skills on the curriculum that are up one grade level and down one grade level from that same curriculum to ensure a good fit.

Ask yourself these questions while looking at the table of contents:

  • how much of it is review,
  • how many new concepts will be introduced,
  • how many days are lessons assigned, and
  • how much help does it give the teacher.

THREE/ Your state standards can be used as rule of thumb.

This is my least favorite way of understanding what a child needs to learn unless of course you have required subjects required by state homeschool law.

It’s my least favorite because most of us start with our local state standards, but find that we want to cast a wider net of knowledge.

How to Know What A Homeschooled Child Should Learn Yearly?

Many years I’ve let go of grade levels and concentrated specifically on skills or concepts.

This is a helpful tip whether you have a gifted learner, a child who seems to be right on target, or a child that needs more time for concepts to stick.

Also, be sure you’re getting tips from my YouTube Channel How to Homeschool EZ.

Focusing first on skill subjects, glancing at a table of contents, or scanning a scope and sequence will cut your planning stress in half. It’s a simple starting point.

Year by Year Home Learning Resources

However, you’ll eventually become an expert at choosing levels when you also grab a few of these empowering resources.

Home Learning Year by Year is a great resource that has been around for a while.

It’s a very useful guide if you want to glance at what kids are capable of learning each year.

Too, for many years, I used this guide and highlighted concepts we we’re covering.

I love using it when I prepare my unit studies too.

Another series of books that have been extremely helpful to me through the years is What your __ Grader Needs to Know.

You’ll love having a detailed explanation for both content and skill subjects in each grade level.

Also, grab these free downloads which will help you to gauge grade levels to get a better fit for your kids.

  • Core Knowledge has a free preschool sequence. Notice this is not a scope (meaning how long long or what age). A sequence is much more helpful because it gives you an overview of skills in an order.
  • Core Knowledge also has a K to 8th grade sequence. Again, notice this is a sequence only which I find very helpful. I get to decide if we want to cover 6th grades in 4th grade or vice versa.
  • Also, I have various scopes and sequences on my free 7 Step Homeschool Planner page.

Keep in mind that if you make a mistake, it’s all still OKAY.

If a grade level proves too easy, save it for another child or keep the level as a review. You can resell your used curriculum too.

Too, if you chose a grade level that has proven more challenging than you planned, then take the pace slower. Divide the lesson plan into two days until your child’s maturity rate catches up.

6 EZ Homeschool Planning Steps

  • Focus FIRST on Math and Language Arts.
  • Determine if you need to meet state law requirements.
  • If not, glance over one of the above resources.
  • Study the current grade level, the next higher grade level and the lower grade level table of contents. Choose the best fit based on your child’s quest for knowledge and not age.
  • Remember your child can move ahead or go slower. Making a mistake is okay.
  • Enjoy watching your child’s knowledge grow layer by layer because there is a lot of overlapping between grade levels.

You got this!

Look at these other practical and useful tips you’ll love:

  • How Early Should I Begin Homeschooling My First Child? (and checklist)
  • Homeschool High School Readiness?
  • A to Z List: Middle and High School Homeschool Electives
  • Big Ol’ List of All-In-One Homeschool Curriculum (a.k.a Boxed)
  • 3 Risks of Not Tracking Your Homeschool Lessons (Even If They’re Laid-Out)
  • How to Teach Homeschool Preschool From the Inside Out (And Preschool Skills)
  • Homeschool High School The Must Cover Subjects Part 1
  • Homeschool High School The Must Cover Subjects Part 2
Paramount to maintaining sanity is having a guideline or idea of what to teach in each homeschool grade. You’ll love the tips shared by a veteran homeschool mom with 20+ years. CLICK HERE to read these sanity savings tip and grab the resources!
Paramount to maintaining sanity is having a guideline or idea of what to teach in each homeschool grade. You’ll love the tips shared by a veteran homeschool mom with 20+ years. CLICK HERE to read these sanity savings tip and grab the resources!

1 CommentFiled Under: Choose Curriculum, Homeschool Multiple Ages of Children, Homeschool Simply, Homeschooling, Kick Off Your Homeschool Year, Schedule/Balance Home & School, Teach/Which Subjects to Teach/Cover EVERYTHING Tagged With: homeschool, homeschool challenges, homeschoolmultiplechildren, homeschoolplanning, planning, scope and sequence

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