All About Learning at Home

You might be here as a purposeful homeschooler or someone who has found herself here by surprise, but either way, you’re not alone. We pulled all of our favorite resources here to help you think through the why and the how and the not-going-crazy parts, because they’re all important!

Can I do This?

ARE YOU QUALIFIED TO HOMESCHOOL YOUR CHILDREN? Podcast from Heidi St. John
Are you qualified to homeschool your children? We’re talking about the qualifications and who defines them today, and I think you’ll be encouraged by the answer!

HOMESCHOOL BRAVELY WITH JAMIE ERICKSON, Podcast from Heidi St. John
Do you ever struggle with the feeling that you’re not good enough to homeschool?  Me too! I’m blessed today to introduce you to a new friend here at the podcast. Jamie Erickson is a mother of five and will encourage you to homeschool with confidence and courage as you follow God’s voice into new seasons of mothering and homeschooling. Be brave! God’s got you—and your kids—in His hands.

3 TIPS TO BEING A HAPPY HOMESCHOOL MOM, Podcast from Heidi St. John
I won’t lie, homeschooling is hard some days. But there are a few things you can do to do it and be happy while doing so! Listen in for 3 tips from 2 experienced homeschool moms. 

Why Would I Do This?

SHOULD I HOMESCHOOL? Podcast from Heidi St. John
Families today are considering homeschooling more today than ever before. Is it right for you? Join homeschool veteran of 20 years and let’s talk about why you might homeschool and how you would go about it.

THREE REASONS NOT TO HOMESCHOOL AND WHY WE DECIDED TO GIVE IT A TRY, from The Busy Mom Blog
Homeschooling for the wrong reasons sucks the life out of you, and there are several wrong reasons. But knowing your reason can keep you going when times are tough! Let’s think through the reasons together.

WHY DO WE HOMESCHOOL? Podcast from Heidi St. John
People often ask me why my husband and I decided to homeschool our seven children. Truthfully, we never planned on homeschooling—but we have come to believe that it is the best educational option out there today for many reasons: socialization, educational opportunities, freedom… just for starters. If you’re a parent who is sitting on the fence about homeschooling or if you’re a seasoned homeschooler who has lost your vision for education, tune in today! Heidi has a big hug for you and a reminder that what you’re doing is worth it.

How do I Survive This?

WHEN YOUR HOMESCHOOL YEAR STARTS OFF CRAZY, from The Busy Mom Blog
We started our homeschool year last week.  It went great.
For one day.
Then the crazies came to visit. 

How do I Do This?

HOMESCHOOLING FOR ROOKIES, Podcast from Heidi St. John
Are you beginning or considering homeschooling? Here are a few tips on curriculum, learning styles and getting started that will help you get moving on the right foot. You can do this!

GETTING ORGANIZED: 5 Essentials for Getting Started, from The Busy Mom Blog
Most of you know that I am an accidental homeschooler. It’s true. So when I got into this wild, crazy homeschooling adventure, I honestly had no idea what I was doing. No. Idea.  I knew I could do it, I’d seen it done.  I just didn’t know what it meant for me.

THE KEY TO SUCCESSFUL HOMESCHOOLING: READING ALOUD! Podcast from Heidi St. John
Join veteran homeschool dad and speaker, Steve Lambert as he and I talk about one of the best ways to build relationships and encourage a love of learning in your home.

Here’s a Free Learning Style Profile.

FINDING YOUR CHILD’S LEARNING STYLE, from The Busy Mom Blog
What are learning styles?   I never gave learning styles much thought until I began homeschooling my kids. I thrived in the traditional school environment (as do many teachers). Then I began to teach my dyslexic kids and my eyes were opened to a world of learning differences that I never knew existed.

WHAT IS NOTEBOOKING? from The Busy Mom Blog
We like to document our homeschool while giving our kids a way to share what they learned in a Notebooking or Lapbooking sort of way and get away from typical worksheets. We’ve answered some FAQs here.

CHOOSING CURRICULUM WITHOUT GOING BROKE OR CRAZY, from The Busy Mom Blog
There is a rabbit hole of curricula that can be quite overwhelming. I’ve simplified your choosing here in some simple steps.

How Do I Teach Several Kids at Once?

A FEW TIPS FOR HOMESCHOOLING A WIDE AGE RANGE, from The Busy Mom Blog
One of the biggest challenges I find with homeschooling is scheduling it all in. Even if we don’t have a super set and outlined schedule, it’s still one of the biggest stressors when it comes to the homeschool year.

HOMESCHOOLING WITH TODDLERS, from The Busy Mom Blog
Here’s the big thing I’ve learned though.  Are you ready? The best thing I can do for myself and my toddlers is to appreciate them. I have lots of fun toddler stories but one of my favorites is from 1998, the first year we were homeschooling. I was still in “let’s see if I can really do this” mode and I was very serious about it all.  

GIVING OUR KIDS THE GIFT OF BOREDOM, from The Busy Mom Blog
These days we are all about programs, and bucket lists…
And if we aren’t keeping our kids busy and occupied with these than we give them our ipads, smart phones or some other kind of screen to keep them occupied.
But what if we did something drastic and returned to the good ol’ days, the lazy days of summer?  What if we embraced the value of time – time to be bored – knowing that we are allowing their imagination, their curiosity, their ingenuity to develop?

Can I Homeschool for High School?

 

Special Circumstances

CAN I HOMESCHOOL IF I WORK? Podcast from Heidi St. John
Can I homeschool if I work? I get this question a lot — and I’ll answer it today along with several others. Tune in!

WAITING UNTIL YOUR CHILD IS READY, from The Busy Mom Blog
Sometimes we know that this child is different or that child isn’t ready and we fight the fear that someone might think less of us, or our child, if they can’t read or write or do math at the right age.  Truly, one of the hardest and best things we can do for a child that isn’t ready for something.. is to simply wait until they are.

UNANSWERED PRAYERS, HOMESCHOOLING SPECIAL NEEDS, AND CHILD SALVATION, Podcast from Heidi St. John

Today I will be answering several questions from listeners, including what to do when our prayers seem to go unanswered, homeschooling special needs children, and whether or not a young child is capable of accepting God’s gift of salvation. All things that matter to the Lord!

Encouragement

HOMESCHOOLING HELD HOSTAGE, from The Busy Mom Blog
I remember the day we decided pull our daughter out of school. The day we “made it public”—this decision to homeschool.
I.Was.Terrified.  Really. My knees were knocking as I walking into our oldest daughter’s grade school.  I liked her teacher. I had no complaints, really, except that we knew in our hearts there was something missing.

DEAR HOMESCHOOL MOM WHO DOESN’T WANT TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL, from The Busy Mom Blog
Dear homeschool mom who isn’t ready—or can’t bring herself to think about school: In other words, a letter to myself.

Conversations With My Adult Children

A HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR LOOKS BACK AT HOMESCHOOLING THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL, Podcast from Heidi St. John
“What is it like to be homeschooled through high school?” This is a question my kids get a lot, and today on “Meet My Friend Friday,” I’m going to introduce you to one of my favorite people on the planet, my son, Spencer! Spencer and I will be talking about the ups and downs of homeschooling, and talking candidly about his experiences ahead of his June 8th graduation from our homeschool. Join me for this very special edition of the podcast.

WHAT DOES MY DAUGHTER SAY ABOUT HER HOMESCHOOL JOURNEY? Podcast from Heidi St. John
Homeschooling in the hands of Godly parents is a fantastic tool for discipling your children. Today we’re talking with a homeschool success story as she shares what she did – and didn’t – like during her homeschooling years.