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Reset your homeschool with this list of 10 new school year resolutions to try!

10 New School Year Resolutions for Homeschoolers

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It’s common to start a new homeschool year in August or September, which is the same time of year when public schoolers go back to class.

But I still like to reset my homeschool every January.

By that point, I’m almost halfway through the school year and I can take a look at which resources are working and which are…not.

I can also see how my kids are progressing and adjust our goals to suit their ability.

Every year, I make a list of things I’d like to change about my teaching method or our homeschool routine and I try to apply those throughout the year.

10 New School Year Resolutions to Try

This time, I thought I’d share of my new school year resolutions with you and hopefully get to read some of your plans as well!

There are ten tips below that can help you get a fresh outlook on the school year – even when you’re already five months into it.

They can also help if you’re feeling thisclose to throwing in the homeschooling towel. Trust me, I know exactly what that feels like.

Read through the ten suggestions and let me know which one you think will work for your family!

Feeling overwhelmed in your homeschool journey?

See what to do when homeschooling feels like too much!

Reset your homeschool with this list of 10 new school year resolutions to try!

10 New School Year Resolutions for Homeschoolers

Images c/o: CreateHERStock

This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.

1. Establish a daily routine.

As much as I like the idea of a “go with the flow” mentality, that simply does not work for our family, especially since some of us are living with ADHD.

Instead of attempting to schedule every single minute, though, we’re going to stick with our minimalist homeschool schedule and strive for consistency.

2. Spend more time outdoors.

I’m really not an outdoors person. I’d rather be inside with a thick novel than outside any day. Especially when it’s cold. Like January.

However, we have active kids who love the outdoors, so we’ll be working in more outside time this year. We’ve gotten a chance to share some great nature activities as a family and I’d like to make time for that on a regular basis.

Even I feel more relaxed after we spend time outside together.

Visiting a Nature Trail with Kids

3. Make good use of lapbooks.

We’ve used a few lapbooks with the kids in the past and we’ve enjoyed them quite a bit. But I’ve tended to shy away from using them much because they take so much time to prepare.

After the initial preparation, though, they are wonderful homeschooling tools that kids can use on their own.

We still have Knowledge Box Central lapbooks from years ago and the kids can grab them and complete an activity any time. They’re certainly worth the initial time investment.

Studying Carnivores with Lapbooks

If you want to see how they look, check out this cooking lapbook that even my sons loved!

4. Encourage independence.

My husband was the first one to teach this in our home, so I have to give credit to him for this resolution. He believed strongly that our kids should learn to take care of themselves as early as possible.

As a result, our three oldest kids can wash their own laundry, prepare their own breakfast and lunch meals, and clean their rooms. Even our youngest child has started helping to wash dishes. 

Less housework definitely takes a load off of my mind.

5. Slow down.

When I first started homeschooling years ago, I felt pressure to do ALL THE THINGS AT ONCE.

I planned every minute of our homeschooling day. I made a list of every single important children’s book with dates to read each one.

I collected every piece of homeschooling curriculum I could find. Then I almost killed myself trying to do it all.

Now that we’ve been at this for years, I’ve learned that it’s so much better to slow down, focus on what’s most important, and enjoy teaching the children.

See the next five school year resolutions and how to try them on the next page!

These five fun homeschool book report ideas are excellent for assessing reading comprehension with kids!

5 Fun Homeschool Book Report Ideas for Kids

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Ah, the familiar (and sometimes dreaded) book report.

When I was in elementary school, we had to give book reports in front of the entire class. I never minded, because I loved books and always wanted to talk about them to my classmates.

But everyone didn’t love doing them.

And it’s easy to see why. Just writing a report about a book isn’t necessarily fun.

So I thought it would be helpful to share these five fun homeschool book report ideas you can try with your children!

Fun Homeschool Book Report Ideas

These are simple to do and they’re engaging, so if you have children who don’t love writing about the books they read, these different book report ideas may help.

Read on to see the full list!

And, for more ways to bring books to life, take a look at our tips for making reading fun for active kids!

These five fun homeschool book report ideas are excellent for assessing reading comprehension with kids!

5 Fun Homeschool Book Report Ideas for Kids

Images c/o: AndrewLozovyi / Depositphotos

The Cereal Box Book Report

Take an empty cereal box and glue butcher paper or construction paper all around it.

Have your children draw an important scene from the book on the front and write the book title at the top.

Use the space for the nutrition facts on the side to list characters and places inside the book.

On the back, kids can describe the basic plot and explain what they liked about the book.

The Story Cube

Pick up a few dry erase dice and let kids draw a scene from a few of the book’s chapters on each side.

Challenge them to use the drawings to retell the story.

You can also do this with an empty tissue box. Let the kids draw scenes from the story and glue them around the sides.

Then they can use the story cube to retell the major parts of the story. Or “roll” the cube to tell random events.

The Comic Book Report

Hand out a couple of pieces of paper, with markers and colored pencils, and let the kids make a comic book summary of the story.

Keep it short (eight or twelve panels) and see if they can depict the events in the order they occurred.

Afterwards, they can use the comic book to retell the major plot events.

The Stage Play Report

If you have children who love to dress in costume and perform (like I do), why not have them try a stage play book report?

They can dress up as the main characters and act out a scene or two from the story. Let siblings help to make a “set” and play other roles too!

Older kids may want to try writing a soliloquy or monologue showing the main character’s internal conflict and struggles.

After the play is finished, let the kids hold a character “wax museum” while they’re still in costume!

Each one can hold up a sign with the name of their character and a few important facts about him or her. As parents, you can walk around to see each “exhibit” from the story.

The Build A Scene Report

Grab some art supplies and recyclables from around the house to build a model of a scene from the book.

Choose a specific setting from the story (such as a village, castle, apartment, forest, etc.) and challenge the kids to use as much detail as they can. This is a great way to help the kids pay attention to descriptive details in the book.

You can also use LEGO blocks to construct a setting from the story. With a smartphone, older kids can create a stop-motion video to show a few of the major events!

Which of these fun homeschool book report ideas do you think your kids would like? Let me know how they work for your family!

Try some of these other ideas for making reading fun!

These printable summer reading challenge bookmarks are a fun way to keep kids reading during summer!
This printable fall reading journal for kids is a simple way to help children analyze the stories they read!
Pick up this printable ice cream reading log for kids to keep little ones reading this summer! This printable reading kits with printable bookplates, a printable summer reading log, and printable coloring bookmarks!

See the 2020 homeschool curriculum choices we made for our family this year!

Our 2020 Homeschool Curriculum for Multiple Kids

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Well, the year 2020 has brought more than its share of surprises.

We were homeschoolers for ten years (not counting a five-month break) and last year I finally decided to let my kids attend public school.

After seven months, they were home again – suddenly. And now we’re back to homeschooling again too (like many of you).

If you’re unsure what to do with your kids, how to arrange their days, or what resources to use, I hope that reading our 2020 homeschool curriculum plan will help.

Our 2020 Homeschool Curriculum Choices

These are resources especially for the grades we’re teaching this year: third grade, sixth grade, and seventh grade. But you can use this as a framework for building your own plan too.

Just starting out with homeschooling? Check out my Get It Done Guide to First Time Homeschooling too!

See the 2020 homeschool curriculum choices we made for our family this year!

A No Stress 2020 Homeschool Curriculum Plan for Multiple Kids

Images c/o: AndrewLozovyi & IgorVetushko / depositphotos

(This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

Fair warning: This looks like a lot of work. But it’s not.

As you read, you’ll see that I reuse multiple resources for each child and several of these resources are free or inexpensive.

I do believe, though, in investing in the subjects that matter the most for our family’s goals. In our experience, that always turns out to be worthwhile.

By the way, if you’re unsure what to teach and when, I cannot recommend the book Home Learning Year by Year enough.

It breaks down each grade level subject and lists specific concepts to cover, with curriculum recommendations.

Our 2020 3rd Grade Homeschool Curriculum

Math – We’re using Teaching Textbooks this year for all three of our children. (Look for an in-depth review of TT later this year!)

Since our third grader is also using the BrainQuest Third Grade Comprehensive Workbook, we’ll be supplementing the math exercises in that along with TT.

ELA – For ELA, we’re just using the BrainQuest workbook along with What Your Third Grader Needs to Know. Easy peasy.

Science – We’ll be covering the science sections in both of the above books, but I want to add a bit more this year.

So we’re working with two Usborne resources: Science with Magnets and the First Encyclopedia of the Human Body.

Also – my third grader loves STEM, so I picked up the free STEM at Home resource from Carly and Adam. Done.

Social Studies – Social Studies is a bit harder to recommend, because we’re using the Usborne Time Traveler book.

(Note: I’m not an Usborne consultant. We received almost all of our Usborne books when we used BookShark curriculum last year.)

I looked around on Amazon and the Time Traveler book is super expensive these days. So if you’re looking for a more affordable resource, try the Usborne First Encyclopedia of History instead.

African Kingdoms History Unit

Our 2020 6th Grade Homeschool Curriculum

Math – For my middle schoolers, we’re also using Teaching Textbooks. But I’m adding another resource for each child.

My sixth grader will also be working with Everything You Need to Ace Math in One Big Fat Notebook. I love this book so much.

It’s filled with easy explanations, colorful drawings, simple exercises, and an answer key. Perfection.

ELA – Our eleven-year-old is a math and science fan, but he doesn’t love reading and writing. So he needs a little more support in that area.

We decided to use the 6th Grade Common Core ELA Practice Book from ArgoPrep.

Here’s why I like ArgoPrep: Their books come with free video explanations of each exercise. If you visit the website, you can choose your math or ELA book and then watch the instructors explain each exercise.

No more grading!

Science – While my third grader loves STEM, my sixth grader is a STEM super fan. All he’s ever wanted to do is build and design things.

I attended a STEM educator conference over the summer and one of the presenters recommended Instructables for Teachers. It’s incredible and free, especially if you are not STEM-inclined (like me).

It’s separated by grade level and the full instructions and supplies for each project are clearly listed. You can easily scan to see which projects you can complete with your kids before getting started.

Social Studies – Our social studies program is going to be based around the book Hungry Planet: What the World Eats.

Now that we’re living in unusual circumstances in our country, I wanted to help my son learn about the food insecurity people in other regions face everyday.

We’ll also be learning about the culture of each country and some of its history as we go along.

A no stress homeschool plan for 2020

Our 2020 7th Grade Homeschool Curriculum

Math – Teaching Textbooks again, plus Everything You Need to Ace Math in One Big Fat Notebook.

My seventh grader loves to draw, so we’re also using The Cartoon Guide to Algebra. It’s a really fun book and does a great job at illustrating some of the algebraic concepts that seem abstract.

ELA – For the basics, ArgoPrep again with the 7th Grade Common Core ELA Daily Practice Book.

By seventh grade, I also start to get serious about organization and writing with my kids. (High school is only two years away!)

So he’ll be taking two live classes with Open Tent Academy this year: one on Study Skills and one for IEW Middle School Writing.

Science – Our science for seventh grade is going to be based almost entirely around the free CrashCourse YouTube channel and the free program Ted-ED Earth School.

At this age, I start to let my kids have some say in their interests and my seventh grader is not interested in hands-on experiments. So videos it is!

Social studies – Our seventh grader will also be working with Hungry Planet, along with our sixth grader. Two for one!

What about Our Homeschool Electives?

We’re only working with one elective this year: how to play piano.

We got a keyboard from a friend and I bought the Alfred All-In-One Piano Course. Since our kids are a bit older, I decided to go with the adult version. But if I had younger children, the Basic Piano Course would be a better fit.

Whew! It looks like a lot on the page, but it’s really simple and streamlined.

Want to see some of our school year in action? Follow me on Instagram! We’re starting our school year on August 24.

Need more help to plan your homeschool year?

Banish overwhelm and start learning with this easy guide to first time homeschooling!
If you feel overwhelmed by planning your homeschool year, take a look at these easy tips to streamline your homeschool schedule!
Welcome the new homeschool year with these 25 fun first day of homeschool ideas! Choose a few of these back to homeschool ideas to try with your family!

Banish overwhelm and start learning with this easy guide to first time homeschooling!

The Get It Done Guide to First Time Homeschooling

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Suddenly homeschooling for the first time?

You’re not alone.

Many, many parents are teaching their children at home for the first time ever this year.

As a veteran homeschooler, I want to say two things:

First of all – welcome! We’re not weird as we seem and we love to have new families join us. So hi!

Second – no matter how unprepared you feel, you’ve totally got this.

And, to help make the idea of learning at home easier, I’m sharing this super easy, nitty-gritty, get it done guide to first time homeschooling.

The Get It Done Guide to First Time Homeschooling

If you’re brand new to the idea of teaching your own children, this is a simple, streamlined way to get started.

And, honestly, even though I’ve been homeschooling for ten years, this is basically the way I approach it as well.

So I’m here to tell you: it works.

Want to make the first day of your school year special? Try some of these fun first day of homeschool ideas!

Banish overwhelm and start learning with this easy guide to first time homeschooling!

The Get It Done Guide to First Time Homeschooling

Images c/o: victoshafoto / depositphotos

To start, I need to make a confession: I’ve been working from home and homeschooling for years.

But, I’ve also sent my children to public school (twice) and worked out of the home as well.

So I understand how having your children always at home can be…a bit much. If you feel that way, you will face no judgment at all from me. I get it.

As I’ve been talking with other moms online and in person, the number one feeling they express is a sense of overwhelm.

Trying to work from home, manage their households, and teach their children seems like an impossible task.

via GIPHY

Seem familiar?

So let’s start by taking a deep, deep breath together. Take two if you need to.

via GIPHY

We’re going to get through this in four steps (five, if you want).

That’s it. That’s all.

You can do this.

Step 1: Look at your state requirements.

Before you do anything, and I mean anything, find out what your state (or province) requires homeschoolers to do.

If you search “(state) homeschool requirements”, look for an internet search result from the actual department of education for your state. Then read the list of regulations.

Some states are very hands-off and require almost no paperwork or specific standards, but others are very detailed and require regular evaluations and check-ins by parents.

Use those regulations as your homeschooling framework.

Step 2: Choose a math program.

After you read your state’s requirements, start selecting how you will teach each subject, especially the core subjects such as math and English Language Arts (ELA).

Fair warning: There are a ton of math programs out there. A TON.

Don’t get caught up trying to read through each one and compare them. Start with Khan Academy (it’s free!) and let your child start working through that from the very beginning.

You’ll get a good sense of where he or she needs to improve as they go along.

You’ll also see what they like and don’t like about that program, which will give you a good idea of how to choose something different, if you choose.

If you just want to keep moving for now, check your child’s appropriate grade level on Khan Academy and then buy a grade-level math workbook. Done.

Farm Fun Bundle TPT Quote Box Ad

Step 3: Choose an ELA program.

Once you get math going, find a way to teach ELA.

Khan Academy has some courses for this too, but they’re still working on them.

I generally use a grade-level workbook for ELA and then add a lot of books to read and discuss together through the year. (Look for my specific homeschool choices for this year coming soon!)

Still with me?

via GIPHY

Step 4: Choose a way to learn science and social studies.

Okay. The biggies are done. Now it’s time to move on to the other subjects.

Science is actually pretty simple these days. Find a great and reputable kids’ science YouTube channel and off you go. Pick up a book with easy experiments to try if you like.

You can do the same with social studies. With younger kids, find an excellent world travel channel and learn about a new country each week.

For older kids, focus on historical events and their impact on society. (Further down, there are a few recommendations you can try for this.)

Step 5: Pick an elective or two (if you want.)

That’s basically a school day.

If you do math and ELA four days a week, plus science and social studies two days each, you’ve covered all the basics.

Want to add an elective? Great! There are plenty of those out there for free too, including art, music, American Sign Language (which I teach!), and more.

A simple internet search will point you in the right direction.

And we’re done!

via GIPHY

Pat yourself on the back. You’re ready to go. Really.

Is All-In-One Homeschool Curriculum Good for First Time Homeschoolers?

You might be wondering why I didn’t mention any all-in-one boxed curriculum choices in the steps above.

Well, here’s why.

I have used several through the years. (BookShark was our absolute favorite.)

In fact, I was homeschooled myself from sixth grade onward with a boxed curriculum.

Here’s the thing about all-in-one-programs (at least in my experience):

They tend to fit well in some subjects and not at all in others. All of my kids were at different grade levels in each subject. They tended to need a grade-level math but an advanced ELA program or vice versa.

So I always ended up with materials I paid for, but couldn’t use. Boo.

Also – I found the big box a little overwhelming, especially when I was just starting out.

But you might be different. So, after you’ve gotten into a good routine, feel free to take a look at a few (especially BookShark).

Easy Homeschool Options for First Time Homeschoolers

Whew! I’ve said a lot here, but I can’t let you go without sharing a few good resources that will help you get started if you’re first time homeschooling. These are all excellent and, even better, free.

Need more homeschooling inspiration? Try some of these ideas!

If you feel overwhelmed by planning your homeschool year, take a look at these easy tips to streamline your homeschool schedule!
Looking for an easy ADHD homeschool schedule to try this year? See the simple ADHD homeschool schedule we're using!
Do you want to homeschool but feel that you can't possibly spend all day with your kids? Here's how to manage it.

Fun Math Books for Middle School

Fun Math Books for Middle School

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I have a rising sixth grader who HATES math. I mean, she hates it.

If there was a way to study only literature for the remaining seven grades, she’d be in heaven.

But once numbers show up on a paper, her love for reading goes out the window.

I wasn’t encouraged to pursue a mathematics-based career and I’m a literature lover, so I understand her feelings completely.

But I don’t want her to allow a discomfort with mathematics to limit her career choices, so we’ve got to find a way to make math fun!

Fun Math Books for Middle Schoolers

Thankfully, there are a lot more resources for making math interesting these days than there were when I was a kid and I’ve gathered up a few today!

Check out this list of educational and fun math books for middle school to find some resources your kids might like!

For more fun with math, don’t miss our list of hands-on math activities to try!

Fun Math Books for Middle School

Fun Math Books for Middle School

These books are not the only cool math books for tweens around, but they are some of the best. Especially if you have students who love to work with their hands.

If you like any of these, leave a comment and let me know which one!

(This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

1.Math Dictionary for Kids: The Essential Guide to Math Terms, Strategies, and Tables (Grades 4-9)

2.Math Doesn’t Suck: How to Survive Middle School Math Without Losing Your Mind or Breaking a Nail

3.100 Math Brainteasers (Grades 7-10)

4.40 Fabulous Math Mysteries Kids Can’t Resist (Grades 4-8)

5.Janice Van Cleave’s Math for Every Kid: Easy Activities That Make Learning Math Fun

6.One Minute Mysteries: 65 Short Mysteries You Solve with Math

10 Fun Math Books for Middle School

7.Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi: A Math Adventure (Grades 2-7)

8.Math Puzzles and Games for Grades 6-8

9.Funny & Fabulous Fraction Stories: 30 Reproducible Math Tales and Problems (Grades 3-6)

10.Math Projects: 50 Hands-On Projects (Grades 5-8)

11.Everything You Need to Ace Math in One Big Fat Notebook (Grades 6-8)

12.Real World Math (Grades 5-8)

Help tweens learn to love math with these fun math books for middle school! These interactive and funny math books can help kids master concepts and have fun too!

Does your middle schooler have a math book that he or she loves? Please share your recommendations in the comments!

Need more math learning resources? Check out these posts!

Sidewalk Chalk Outdoor Math Game

Math Activities for ADHD Students

This free printable homeschool day planner makes it easy to structure a day of learning from home!

Printable Relaxed Kids Homeschool Day Planner

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We were homeschoolers for ten years.

During that time, I taught up to four children. In four different grade levels. It was fun.

And at times overwhelming.

But one of the most important things I learned is that the only way to make homeschooling work (for me, at least) was to take a very relaxed approach.

I tried timed schedules and they just didn’t work for us. Especially because some of our children have attention issues.

The relaxed homeschooling approach, though, was perfect.

Which is why I thought it might be helpful to share this printable kids homeschool day planner – which is perfect for relaxed learning at home!

Cute Printable Homeschool Day Planner for Kids

With this handy planning page, you can structure your child’s learning day without going overboard.

Which will only stress you all out. Trust me.

Read on to get your copy – free!

And, for more ways to plan your homeschool without feeling overwhelmed, take a look at how I got by without using a homeschool planner at all!

This free printable homeschool day planner makes it easy to structure a day of learning from home!

What is Relaxed Homeschooling?

I feel like I need to give a quick primer about relaxed homeschooling, just in case you’re new to teaching kids at home.

Relaxed homeschooling takes a gentle approach to schoolwork.

Instead of structuring your day in a school-at-home fashion (with a set time for each subject and a set amount of work to cover), you choose your own way to cover each subject.

In fact, you can even choose which subjects to complete each day.

The overall goal is to learn on a continuous basis – not to cover a certain amount of the curriculum.

My kids loved it.

Printable Relaxed Kids Homeschool Day Planner

So – if you’re using a relaxed homeschool approach, this simple homeschool day planner is perfect for outlining what you want to accomplish each day.

To use this printable kids homeschool planner, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

This homeschool planner includes two color pages and two line art pages.

One set of color and line art planning pages has labeled sections for the following subjects:

  • Math
  • English
  • Physical Activity
  • Creative
  • Free Choice
  • Science
  • and Quiet Time
Colorful Homeschool Day Planner Printable for Kids

The other set of color and line art planning pages is unlabeled, so you can decide which subjects or areas you’d like to teach that day.

The very essence of relaxed homeschooling!

Kids Printable Homeschool Day Planner

You can even make these reusable.

Simply laminate the pages and use dry erase markers to fill in what you’d like to cover each day.

And you can let the kids color in the line art version too!

Scroll down to get your free Printable Kids Homeschool Day Planner!

Need more help structuring your learning days? Try these tips!

If your homeschooling day starts badly, it can be a real challenge to get it back on track. Here are a few tips to help you learn how to start the homeschool day right each morning!
Overwhelmed by planning your homeschool day? Try this minimalist homeschool schedule to get started!
Looking for an easy ADHD homeschool schedule to try this year? See the simple ADHD homeschool schedule we're using!

To get your copy of our Printable Relaxed Kids Homeschool Day Planner, click the image or the link below to download it to your computer!

Kids Homeschool Day Planner Printable

>>> Printable Kids Homeschool Day Planner <<<

This relaxed printable homeschool day planner for kids is a perfect way to keep your learning days structured without going overboard!
This easy floating egg science experiment is so fun for kids who are learning about salinity! Great for science at home too!

Simple Science Experiments: Floating Egg Experiment

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It’s time for another one of our simple science experiments!

This time, we’re learning about salinity and floating with a simple floating egg experiment.

My boys are entering first and second grade, respectively.

These are excellent ages to introduce science experiments – especially ones that are low-prep, inexpensive, and simple to do, right?

Easy Floating Egg Science Experiment for Kids

Check out how we learned about salinity by making an egg float!

This would also be a great science lab for small groups or science centers.

If you enjoy this activity, don’t miss our colorful celery experiment or our superhero states of matter experiment!This easy Floating Egg Experiment is a neat way to teach kids about salinity and how it affects weight!

Simple Science Experiment: Floating Egg Experiment

Like all of our science experiments, this one is super easy and requires absolutely no scientific expertise.

To complete this easy science activity, you’ll need the following:

  • Clear glass
  • Egg
  • Salt
  • Spoon

Simple Science Experiments: Make an Egg Float!

We started by cracking open the Usborne First Encyclopedia of Science. (This is an affiliate link.)

It’s an excellent, hands-on introduction to scientific concepts for kids in grades 1-4.

Simple Science Experiments: Make an Egg Float!

The boys and I read the section about floating together.

We learned that there are places on Earth where water is so salty you can actually read a newspaper while you float along!

Simple Science Experiments: Make an Egg Float!

In the book, we read the instructions to learn how to recreate the same type of environment that allows human beings to float in salty water.

Then, we were off and running!

Simple Science Experiments: Make an Egg Float!

We gathered the supplies and got to work.

Simple Science Experiments: Make an Egg Float!

We poured each glass half full of water.

Simple Science Experiments: Make an Egg Float!

Then we added 10 teaspoons of salt to one of the glasses.

(Don’t put any salt in the other glass of water.)

Simple Science Experiments: Make an Egg Float!

Like so.

Simple Science Experiments: Make an Egg Float!

When we placed an egg into the glass that didn’t have salt in it, the egg sank right to the bottom like normal.

Simple Science Experiments: Make an Egg Float!

But when we added an egg to the glass filled with salty water, it floated right to the top.

The kids got a kick out of watching me push it down, only to see it pop right back up!

Easy Floating Egg Experiment - Look! We're Learning!

And that’s how salinity works! Salty water is denser (heavier) than plain water.

So heavy, in fact, that it can support the weight of heavier objects like an egg.

Neat!

This entire floating egg experiment took about 10 minutes from start to finish.

So if you’re looking for a super quick science experiment, this one’s perfect!

This easy floating egg science experiment is so fun for kids who are learning about salinity! Great for science at home too!

Stop by to see our other science learning ideas!

Study the properties of light with this simple light refraction experiment!

Simple Heat Conduction Experiment

Learn about the states of matter with this fun printable superhero states of matter lesson for elementary students!

Learn about displacement and salinity with this super simple floating egg experiment! This easy science experiment is great for kids who are learning at home!

Feeling a bit chilly about homeschooling this winter? Get back into the swing of things with these must-try winter homeschool ideas!

8 Must-Try Winter Homeschool Ideas

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I hate winter. Hate it.

I’m from Florida and, whenever the temperature dips below about 60, I’m done for the year. 

But when you’re homeschooling, you can’t just opt out of teaching during the cold. I know. I’ve tried it.

So that’s why I wanted to find some ways to make winter homeschooling fun!

These winter homeschool ideas are a great way to get the season off to a great start with your family! These are simple enough to do in one day.

Plus, they’re actually educational.

Fun Winter Homeschool Ideas to Try

Read on to see these tips for homeschooling during winter! And if you use a few, I’d love to know which ones were your favorites.

For more ways to teach about winter, don’t miss our All About Snowflakes printable unit or our list of must-read winter books for kids!

Feeling a bit chilly about homeschooling this winter? Get back into the swing of things with these must-try winter homeschool ideas!

8 Must-Try Winter Homeschool Ideas

Images c/o: stockunlimited and Lorraine Cormier from Pixabay

1. Teach about winter weather.  Take time to learn about the different types of snow and ice weather, as well as why temperatures turn colder during winter. Here’s a great explanation of why we have seasons, including winter.

2. Teach about emergency preparedness. You don’t have to be a prepper to prepare for winter. In fact, most of us already do it without realizing it. Teach a homeschool lesson on how to make sure your home is ready for colder weather and why it’s important.

3. Learn how and why snow melts. Snow is magic! It’s a cold solid that turns into water! This is the perfect way to teach about solids and liquids! You could even have them bring snow indoors to the sink and watch what happens when it melts.

Our Superhero States of Matter science lesson offers a way to teach this concept, even if you don’t have snow outside!

4. Get creative and build a snow castle or artistic snowman. Need a winter art lesson? Get outside! Not only will your kids get off the couch for a while, but by making a snow castle or artistic snowman, they’ll be learning art!

Don’t have snow in your area? Make our pinecone snowman craft instead!

Winter Playdough Mats for Kids

5. Make winter themed slime. Make a winter themed slime that includes fake snowflakes and teach your kids about the chemical reaction that makes the slime feel slimy.

To make wintery slime, change up our DIY Flubber recipe by skipping the food coloring and adding silver glitter!

6. Have a winter themed scavenger hunt. Bundle the kids up and send them outside with a list of things to find for a winter scavenger hunt. Be sure to include things such as pine cones, a tree branch without leaves, and other things that are common in winter.

Once they have found them all, have a discussion about how each item is different in winter and summer and what causes those changes.

7. Have a science lesson on how cold affects the human body. Most kids know they have to bundle up to go outside, but do they know why? Having a winter homeschool lesson about what cold weather can do to the body is the perfect way to teach them!

Here’s a great informative resource on the topic.

8. Make paper snowflakes. Snowflakes are amazing little things and your kids will love learning about them!

For an easy homeschool activity, pick up our Snowflake Math Factor craft and let kids cut out and decorate each snowflake before solving the math factor problems on each one. Be sure to hang them on the windows afterward!

Did you love these winter homeschool ideas? Try these other winter learning activities!

Teach children how to identify basic nouns, verbs, and adjectives with this winter-themed parts of speech sorting activity! Perfect for ELA over the winter!

Use these printable polar animal notebooking pages to learn about winter animals and the regions where they live!

These hibernation books for kids are awesome for studying how animals prepare for winter!

See more ways to teach about winter on my Winter Activities for Kids Pinterest board!

Homeschoolers get so many benefits from participating in sports! See how playing sports can help your homeschooler too!

How Playing Sports Can Help Your Homeschooler

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There are lots of studies that support the value of extra-curricular activities for kids. According to some, playing sports (in particular) improves a child’s overall academic performance.

But does that apply to homeschoolers? After all, homeschooling is a very different type of education than public schooling.

Homeschoolers usually have more time to spend pursuing their own interests. And they have less time that they are required to sit still than public schoolers.

It’s been our experience, though, that playing sports can help homeschoolers. Over the years, our kids have played several sports and we’ve seen the benefits personally.

How Playing Sports Can Help Your Homeschooler

If you’re planning your upcoming homeschool year and you’re considering a sport or two, here’s how playing sports can help your homeschooler.

Need more support to outline your school year? Don’t miss our collection of tips for planning your homeschool year too!

Homeschoolers get so many benefits from participating in sports! See how playing sports can help your homeschooler too!

How Playing Sports Can Help Your Homeschooler

Playing sports can improve focus.

Participating in sports helps homeschoolers use up extra energy, which helps them focus better. This is particularly useful for children that struggle with excess energy and attention issues.

Since we have children who are living with ADHD and ADD in our family, this has been a huge benefit of having them play sports. Even my most active child is calmer and more focused after playing a game or two.

Playing sports can help kids develop discipline.

Sports help homeschoolers develop discipline. In our family, this was sorely needed.

Since the kids didn’t have to be up and at school at a particular time each day, they struggled with following a routine. When they had a practice to attend, though, it was much easier to get them up and moving.

In addition, playing team sports, especially track and field, helped them see how their actions affected others and taught them the importance of cheering for their teammates.

Playing sports helps kids use practical math skills.

Do you have a child who’s always asking “But when will I ever use this?” during math class?

They’ll be surprised to learn how much they need math once they start playing sports. You can’t keep score, time your performance, or monitor your progress without it. 

And if they really love their sport, they’ll pick these skills up quickly. Much quicker than mine ever did during a math lesson.

Playing sports gives homeschoolers time to work with others.

If you have an only child, you might want to give him or her time to spend with other kids. Playing sports is a fantastic setting for this.

Many people express concerns about homeschoolers and “socialization”. While I don’t think this is a major issue for homeschoolers, extra-curricular sports do give homeschooled kids more opportunities to meet and cooperate with people who are different from them. Which is always a good thing.

Playing sports contributes to good physical and mental health.

Sports are great for your child’s mental health. Getting a little physical activity releases endorphins that contribute to a feeling of happiness. Even my moodiest tween felt better after running, playing tennis, or swimming.

And, since so many kids spend time on screens during the day, sports can help kids get more physical exercise and avoid being sedentary all day.

Playing sports can open up new interests for kids.

If you have a child who never knows what they want to do (I have two like that), then playing sports is also great for helping them to develop new interests.

As kids learn more about their sport, they will start to determine what they like and what they don’t like. This is a great starting point for exploring new hobbies and even career ideas. And it helps them start learning new things too!

Have you found that playing sports helps your homeschooler? I’d love to hear your experiences in the comments!

Check out these other tips for happy homeschooling!

If your homeschooling day starts badly, it can be a real challenge to get it back on track. Here are a few tips to help you learn how to start the homeschool day right each morning!

Is your homeschool starting to feel a little blah? Here are 25 tips from veteran homeschoolers to help you have a happy homeschool!

Get the new homeschool year off to a great start with these 25 helpful homeschool planning tips!

And see more ways to homeschool successfully on my Help for Homeschoolers Pinterest board!

Should you assign homeschool homework to your child See why homework may or may not be a good idea for your homeschool.

Should You Assign Homeschool Homework to Your Child?

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The very thought of homeschool homework might seem like a contradiction.

One of the biggest pros to homeschooling (at least for my kids) is that they thought they were getting out of having homework every day. And it’s easy to see why.

One of the biggest cons to public school is the sheer amount of homework that many kids have to complete before they return to class. I personally know families whose children spend hours on homework each night.

When my children went to public school a few years ago, I was shocked at the amount of homework assigned to them in elementary school. It’s changed quite a lot since my years in those grades.

Should You Give Your Child Homeschool Homework

Did you know, though, that some seasoned homeschool parents often decide it’s appropriate (and smart) to assign homeschool homework? It’s true!

In fact, I’ve been known to assign homework to my kids too.

The good news is that, as a homeschool parent, you get to make your choice based on what you know about your child and what you feel is best for them.

And, of course, you can always adjust as you go along when something’s not working. This is something I’ve also been known to do.

Want to read more about what it’s like to send your homeschooled child to public school? Take a look at our Great Homeschool Public School Experiment series!

Should you assign homeschool homework to your child? See why homework may or may not be a good idea for your homeschool.

Why Some Parents Assign Homeschool Homework

Images c/o: belchonock & TarasMalyarevich / depositphotos

When kids are in public school and have homework assignments to complete, they are responsible for finding out what is required, checking the due date, requesting help when needed, and turning it in on time.

Depending on the homeschooling approach you use, you might find that your kids struggle with these kinds of skills when they’re taught at home. Mine certainly did.

I’d assign something for them to do on their own, especially as they got older, and I was immediately inundated with complaints.

“Wait, what am I supposed to be doing?”

“I don’t understand the instructions!”

And, my personal favorite, “I thought I did it already!” (Really, kid?)

So I started using homeschool homework as a way to teach my children to work independently. I’d assign it and walk away. It was up to the kids to navigate any problems that came up, just as they would in a mainstream school setting.

I was always available when they needed guidance, not reteaching. And I’d provide them with reference materials and safe websites to use for research or review.

Initially, I felt guilty. Maybe I wasn’t being “there” enough for my kids or I was just “dropping” them after holding their hands for so long. But I was being unfairly harsh on myself.

If they were in a “regular” school and they had homework to do, there would be no teacher hiding away in their backpack to remind them to do it, or how to do it, or when to do it.

Whether they make the right choice by completing the work would be up to them. Whether they paid attention in class in order to know how to do the work would also be on their shoulders.

We all have to learn that, in life, each day is filled with choices, one after the other. And our decisions always have an effect, whether good or bad. This was just one way of helping my kids learn that lesson.

Should You Give Your Child Homeschool Homework?

Is it possible your homeschool kids may need a little homeschool homework to help them learn responsibility? Only you know the answer to that question. And, if you decide to implement it, the way you use it is up to you.

Some moms give the assignment, the due date and make it clear that the child is on their own. Others ask kids to choose a subject to study on their own and write discussion points and questions for the next school day.

Homework is up to the teacher!

If you’re feeling unsure about what to do, remember:

Homeschooling is a difficult endeavor, and the balance you strike each day as both a parent and an educator can be tricky. Still, whatever choice you make will be the right one for your children.

What about you? Do you assign homework? Why or why not? If you do, what’s your method? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!

Don’t miss these other homeschooling articles!

Is your homeschool starting to feel a little blah? Here are 25 tips from veteran homeschoolers to help you have a happy homeschool!

Are you overloaded with homeschooling materials? Here's what to do when you have too much homeschool curriculum.

Are you an overwhelmed homeschooler Trust me, I get it. Here's what I do when homeschooling feels like too much to handle.

And get more help for your homeschooling journey on my Help for Homeschoolers Pinterest board!

How to Afford Homeschooling eBook Download

Is your homeschool starting to feel a little blah? Here are 25 tips from veteran homeschoolers to help you have a happy homeschool!

25 Veteran Tips for Happy Homeschooling

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How many of you out there are either homeschooling or thinking of homeschooling? How many of you are homeschooling happily?

Making the decision to homeschool is a tough one, but one that usually brings a lot of excitement. As your homeschooling journey continues, though, you’ll start to face some challenges that can make learning at home feel…not awesome. In fact, it can get downright miserable if you’re not careful.

Which is why I wanted to share some veteran tips for happy homeschooling. After all, we’re teaching our kids at home because we want them to have the best education possible. If they’re unhappy while they learn, that’s not the best education, is it?

25 Veteran Tips for Happy Homeschooling

These suggestions cover some of the common challenges you’ll face as a homeschooler, but there are also tips and tricks for keeping your homeschool organized, feeding your hungry learners during the day, and teaching multiple kids at once (like we do).

Need some more homeschooling how-tos? Check out our list of homeschool planning tips to get your school year started right!

Is your homeschool starting to feel a little blah? Here are 25 tips from veteran homeschoolers to help you have a happy homeschool!

25 Veteran Tips for Happy Homeschooling

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1. 10 of the Best Tips for Homeschooling Kids with ADHD – Look! We’re Learning!

2. How to Start Strong Each Homeschool Week – Table Life Blog

3. How to Stop and Smell the Roses – Rock Your Homeschool

4. When You Fear Your Homeschooled Teen is Behind – Annie and Everything

5. 9 Ways to Help Boys With Too Much Energy – Homeschool Your Boys

6. How to Start a Homeschool Routine with Young Children – Hodgepodge

7. Fun Math Books for Middle Schoolers – Look! We’re Learning!

8. 10 Tips for Starting to Homeschool – Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers

9. Our Top Ten Lunches for Homeschool – iHomeschool Network

10. Tips for Changing Your Homeschool Curriculum – Triumphant Learning

11. 100 Ways to Have a Fun Homeschool Day – Rock Your Homeschool

12. How to Get Homeschooled Kids to Want to Learn – Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool Plus

13. 3 Essential Keys to Homeschooling Multiple Ages – Preschoolers and Peace

14. Practical Ways to Deal with Homeschool Burnout – iHomeschool Network

15. How to Keep Your Happy Through Winter – Nourishing My Scholar

16. Homeschooling Gifts You Don’t Want to Take for Granted – Look! We’re Learning!

17. The Best Way to End a Homeschool Day – Table Life Blog

18. The Power of Play: Using Game in Your Homeschool – My Little Poppies

19. 36 Ways to Organize Your Homeschool – Annie and Everything

20. How to Use Morning Time for a Happier Homeschool – Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers

21. Easy Ways to Homeschool On the Go – Rock Your Homeschool

22. 100 Educational Shows to Stream on Netflix – Homeschool Hideout

23. What to Do When Gifted Kids Struggle – Raising Lifelong Learners

24. 3 Ways to Instantly Gain More Time in Your Homeschool Day – Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool Plus

25. 5 Ways to Make Geography Fun – Look! We’re Learning!

Want even more tips for happy homeschooling? Liven up your learning with these ideas!

Struggling to get your homeschooling budget under control? See how I homeschool four kids for just $250 a year!

Make your homeschooling dollar stretch with this list of homeschool tools that are truly worth buying!

Overwhelmed by planning your homeschool day? Try this minimalist homeschool schedule to get started!

And follow my Help for Homeschoolers board on Pinterest for even more helpful suggestions!

How to Afford Homeschooling eBook Download

This list of over 50 free fall printables for kids is perfect for educational fall fun!

Over 50 Free Fall Printables for Kids

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50 Free Fall Printables - Look! We're Learning!

It’s the middle of September and we’re nearing my favorite time of the year: fall! Which gave me a perfect excuse to share some of my favorite free fall printables for kids!

We’ll be using several fall themes for unit studies with our kids in the upcoming weeks, including leaves, farms, harvest, and apples.

If you’d like to learn about autumn with your children, you might like to look through the list of over 50 free fall learning printables for kids below!

Free Fall Printables

By the way, if you’re ready to stock up on printables for other seasons of the year, don’t miss our roundups of free spring printables for kids, free summer printables for kids, and free winter printables for kids!

This list of over 50 free fall printables for kids is perfect for educational fall fun!

50+ Free Fall Printables for Kids

This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.

In the following list, you’ll find all kinds of fall printables for kids, including autumn printables, math worksheets, apple activities, scarecrow printables, lapbooks, and more!

If you get a chance to try some of them this year, I’d love to know which ones your children loved the most!

Farm Do-A-Dot Shape Mats – Look! We’re Learning!

Scarecrow Kindergarten Worksheets – Kindergarten Worksheets and Games

Fall Coloring Pages – Kids Activities Blog

Football Printable Pack – 3 Dinosaurs

Fall Color Sorting Printable – The Outlaw Mom

The Apple Pie Tree Lapbook – Homeschool Share

Fall Word Problems Printable – Royal Baloo

Fall Math for Preschoolers Packet – Teaching Mama

PreK/K Fall Pack – This Reading Mama

Apple Harvest Scissor Skills Printables – Look! We’re Learning!

Printable Autumn Leaf Puppets – Picklebums

Apple Activities Pack – 3 Dinosaurs

Apple Counting Preschool Pack – The Measured Mom

Fall Scavenger Hunt Printable – Hands On as We Grow

Apple Math Printables – Embark On the Journey

Fall Leaves Matching Game – Mama Miss

Notebooking Pages LIFETIME Membership

Harvest I-Spy Beginning Sounds Activity – Pre-K Pages

Fall Fun Nature Hunt Printable – The Chirping Moms

Apple Pattern Printables – Life Over C’s

Fall Lapbook – Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Fall Reading Pack – Kids Activities Blog

Apple Counting Cards – Every Star is Different

Harvest Letter Printables – The Preschool Toolbox

Fall Bingo Game – Wise Owl Factory

Fall Pack – 3 Dinosaurs

If your homeschooling day starts badly, it can be a real challenge to get it back on track. Here are a few tips to help you learn how to start the homeschool day right each morning!

How to Start the Homeschool Day Right

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It’s the start of a new homeschooling year and, for many of us, that brings a ton of excitement about our new books, our new curriculum, and the kids’ new grade levels.

But we’ve been at this homeschooling thing for nearly ten years now and I’m here to tell you that the excitement… is going to fade. In fact, it seems like the longer you homeschool, the quicker it fades. And a lot of that comes down to having a rough homeschool day – or two or ten.

It’s so easy to think that you’re going to start the homeschool day right, only to have it dissolve into two shouting matches, a sibling fight, and a crying fit over a math problem by 11:00.

How to Start the Homeschool Day Right

For years, I fell into the trap of planning weeks of lessons and then falling off the homeschool wagon just a few days in. I thought I needed to change my curriculum, revamp my schedule, or even try public school for a while.

I didn’t realize that I was planning my homeschool years right, but starting my homeschool days completely wrong. Here’s what I’ve learned about how to start the homeschool day right.

Take a look to see what didn’t work for me and what finally is working – after all this time.

Disclosure: I am a BookShark brand ambassador and am receiving free curriculum as part of my role.

If your homeschooling day starts badly, it can be a real challenge to get it back on track. Here are a few tips to help you learn how to start the homeschool day right each morning!

How to Start the Homeschool Day Right

Images c/o: lanakhvorostova and SIphotography / depositphotos

Plan your day’s lessons and activities in advance.

Please, please, please do not set yourself up for failure by thinking you can do this on the morning you plan to teach a lesson. You won’t get up early and plan for it. Trust me. You just won’t. (I cannot tell you how many school days I’ve given up on because I fell for this idea.)

Take some time to set up a flexible plan for your school week. Shoot for having the lessons for the week done by the previous Friday. Then try to schedule only a few full days and leave yourself some space for lessons that take a little…longer than expected.

Have a family meeting first thing in the morning.

This one took me an embarrassingly long time to figure out. And, really, this tip came from my husband. Whenever he’s home during the day, he gets up and goes into the kids’ rooms to talk with them about how they’re feeling that morning.

As he told me, “That’s the best way to find out what’s on their minds before we get started. Otherwise, they won’t be able to focus on what we’re teaching, because their minds are somewhere else.”

So I started doing this on our homeschooling days too. When everyone gets up, I talk to them all individually to see how they’re feeling, what they’re thinking, and what they want to do that day.

I tell them we’ll try to get at least some of what they’d like done – after we finish our school lessons. It really does help them put those thoughts aside (at least for a while) to begin the school day.

Eat a really good breakfast.

Remember those old cereal commercials we used to see on Saturday morning? The ones that show the bowl of cereal, along with toast, eggs, and a glass of orange juice as part of a “balanced breakfast”?

They weren’t kidding. Kids really need to eat a filling breakfast to start the day, especially once they hit puberty.

I was allowing my kids to make their own breakfast for a while. That led to eating less than they needed, because they often didn’t “feel” like cooking as much as they should have.

Now that I’m back to making breakfast (and they make their own lunches and snacks), they actually get full and their moods are ten times better, which makes our entire homeschool day run smoother.

How BookShark Helps Me Start the Homeschool Day Right

One of the biggest changes that’s helping me start our homeschool days off right is using BookShark with my youngest.

BookShark is a year-long, book-based curriculum that includes ELA, history, and science for grades K-8. I’m using it for our first grader this year and it has done wonders for my homeschooling routine.

Because BookShark plans the weekly lessons for you, I have her daily plans done in no time. I just look over the prepared plan, review the books we’ll need, and we’re off and running the next week.

Take a peek at my BookShark homeschool binder to see how it works!

Start the homeschool day (and year) right with these tips!

We structure our homeschool week in just three days. See how we're doing it!

Get the new homeschool year off to a great start with these 25 helpful homeschool planning tips!

Looking for an easy ADHD homeschool schedule to try this year? See the simple ADHD homeschool schedule we're using!

See more ways to plan your homeschool year on my Homeschool Planning Pinterest board!

How to Afford Homeschooling eBook Download

We structure our homeschool week in just three days. See how we're doing it!

How We Structure Our Three Day Homeschool Week

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We’ve always been rather creative in the ways we homeschool. While the idea of schooling at home might conjure up images of hitting the books from 8 to 2 Monday through Friday, we’ve never done it that way. Frankly, that doesn’t work for most homeschoolers.

Instead, we structure our lessons to get done in a three day homeschool week, even though the program we use is designed to be covered in four days a week.

Shocker, right?

But it actually works for us and has worked well for a few years now.

Take a look at how we structure our homeschool week in just three days a week!

Read on to see how we use a three day homeschool week in our family!

Note: We’re adapting BookShark with our youngest child to be a three-day-a-week program, but you could really make this work with any curriculum – as long as you’re willing to adjust a few things along the way.

Need to get more ideas for organizing your lesson plans? See how we use a homeschool binder to keep our objectives front and center during the year!

Disclosure: I am a brand ambassador for BookShark and am receiving free curriculum as part of my role. For details, see my Disclosure Policy.

We structure our homeschool week in just three days. See how we're doing it!

Why You Might Need A Three Day Homeschool Week

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How can using a three day homeschool week help you? If you think that you can’t homeschool because you’re too busy, compressing your school week can give you some much needed time in your schedule.

Personally, I’m a homeschooling parent who also works secularly. So I need to get our school lessons done for the week in about half of a normal workweek.

Generally, we complete our school lessons during those three days and then I use a couple of evenings and the other two full days of the week to work. That way, I can relax with the family on the weekends, instead of being chained to my computer trying to catch up.

Even if you don’t work, though, using a three day homeschool week can be a good thing. It will leave you with two extra days a week for chores, errands, appointments, or field trips.

How We Structure Our Three Day Homeschool Week with BookShark

If you take a look at our BookShark homeschool binder, you can see that each day’s lesson is completely planned in advance. This is a HUGE timesaver when it’s time to cover the material. Since we do a three day homeschool week, though, I have to make a few tweaks.

First, I put all of the week’s activities for ELA, history, and science together to see exactly what we should be covering. Then I count how many pages we need to read, experiments we need to complete, and worksheets we are expected to finish.

Finally, I just divide all of those activities by three to see how much we should do each day. Pretty simple!

BookShark is designed as a 36-week curriculum, so if you complete four days a week of the program, you should finish your child’s coursework within 36 weeks.

In our family, though, we homeschool year round. So I have a lot of wiggle room on the schedule. This means I can take out a day and make it up during our longer year without falling behind.

It’s working like a dream so far!

Need more homeschool planning ideas? Don’t miss these posts!

Get the new homeschool year off to a great start with these 25 helpful homeschool planning tips!

Struggling to keep your homeschool year structured? See how to organize your school year with a homeschool binder!

Welcome the new homeschool year with these 25 fun first day of homeschool ideas! Choose a few of these back to homeschool ideas to try with your family!

See even more ways to organize your homeschool year on my Homeschool Planning Pinterest board!

How to Afford Homeschooling eBook Download

Are you thinking of homeschooling all year long Here's a look at what you should consider when you're deciding if you want to homeschool year round.

Should You Homeschool Year Round or Not?

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If you’ve been around the homeschooling world for any length of time, I’m sure you’ve heard of families who homeschool year round. In fact, we’re one of those families, so if you haven’t met someone before, you have now!

Choosing whether to homeschool year round can be a tough decision to make. Which is why it’s normal to seek the guidance of experienced homeschooling parents when you’re considering this topic.

But the beauty of homeschooling is that you can do works best for you and your child. So whether you homeschool year round or not is totally up to you and yours.

Should You Homeschool Year Round or Not

If you’re considering homeschooling, then it’s clear that you want to understand your children and provide them with a good education. Homeschooling not only allows more family and bonding time, but it also creates an environment that supports the learning habits and needs of your child.

If you find that you are racking your brain with trying to decide if you should homeschool year round or not, here are a few things to consider before choosing one way or another.

Are you thinking of homeschooling but unsure you can do it? See how you can homeschool your own children, even if you’re not a teacher!

Are you thinking of homeschooling all year long Here's a look at what you should consider when you're deciding if you want to homeschool year round.

Image c/o: belchonock / depositphotos

Should You Homeschool Year Round or Not?

Homeschooling Year Round Does NOT Mean Schooling All the Time

While learning and education are important, it is also just as important to make certain that your little one doesn’t get burnt out from not being able to take a break.

If you choose to homeschool year round, a good alternative to a full summer break could be to take a couple of weeks off intermittently throughout the school year. This way, your child gets a little rest time (as do you!) and time for them to recoup and have a little fun in the sun as well.

Homeschooling Year Round Can Help You Avoid the Summer Slide

One of the biggest concerns that many public school teachers have is that it takes kids a few weeks after returning from summer break to get back into the swing of things at school. If you choose to homeschool year round, you’ll never have to worry about getting out of sync and schedule.

Being able to teach your child in an atmosphere and classroom setting that works perfectly for them and their learning needs is what homeschooling is all about. When you’re able to provide that education year round, you’re setting your child up for a great learning environment!

Homeschooling Year Round Doesn’t Have to Interrupt Family Vacations

Do you and your family have any traveling plans during the summer months or do people come to visit you and your family during the year? If so, consider that before deciding to keep up with the curriculum full-time.

While it doesn’t mean that you still can’t homeschool year round, it’s just important to understand that there may be times when you’ll be traveling or have guests over and you and your child will still need to get through your lessons and your work planned.

Talk It Over With the Kids

Instead of making this decision entirely on your own, talk to your child about their thoughts. You may be surprised by their answer in regards to what they prefer!

Some children like the scheduling and every day being the same, while others prefer a bit of time to recharge. Whatever the choice, rest assured that it will be the best one for you and your child.

How We Homeschool Year Round

We’ve been homeschooling year round for several years and here’s what we do:

We follow a typical school year for our start. We generally get started with our next grade in August, but we only school for three days per week. Every few months, we take a break for a week or two.

Over the summer, we take a very relaxed approach. We’re still homeschooling, but the majority of our learning comes from summer camps, field trips, and online courses. So far, this approach has worked well for our kids.

What about you? Do any of you homeschool year round? I’d love to hear how you make it work in the comments!

Still planning your homeschool year? Take a look at these posts!

Get the new homeschool year off to a great start with these 25 helpful homeschool planning tips!

Struggling to keep your homeschool year structured? See how to organize your school year with a homeschool binder!

Overwhelmed by planning your homeschool day? Try this minimalist homeschool schedule to get started!

Get more ideas for structuring your homeschool year on my Homeschool Planning Pinterest board!

How to Afford Homeschooling eBook Download

Welcome the new homeschool year with these 25 fun first day of homeschool ideas! Choose a few of these back to homeschool ideas to try with your family!

25 Fun Ways to Celebrate the First Day of Homeschool

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Back-to-school is an exciting time of year, especially when you homeschool! With new ideas and a fresh start, there is a lot to celebrate. Homeschool parents usually ooze excitement and you want your kids to get excited about the beginning of the homeschool year also.

Here are 25 fun first day of homeschool ideas to celebrate NOT back-to-school with your kids this homeschool year!

Make this homeschool year one to remember with these fun first day of homeschool ideas you can try with your family!

If you decide to try one of these first day of homeschool ideas, let me know which one your kids loved the most! I think we’re going to try numbers 2, 3, 11, and 19. 🙂

Need some ideas for planning your new homeschool year? Don’t miss our list of 10 new school year resolutions for homeschoolers!

Welcome the new homeschool year with these 25 fun first day of homeschool ideas! Choose a few of these back to homeschool ideas to try with your family!

Image c/o: andrekaphoto / depositphotos

25 Fun First Day of Homeschool of Ideas

1. Decorate your homeschool room with your kids.

This is a great activity for right before your homeschool starts or for the very first day. Grab some fun decorations and get started! Not only will decorating be exciting, but it is also a great way for your kids to have a vested interest in their homeschool.

2. Create a vision board for the year.

Setting goals for your homeschool is so important! Start your homeschool year off right by creating a large vision board with your kids. Discuss everyone’s goals for the homeschool year and write them on the vision board. Decorate it and hang it somewhere you can look at it throughout year. It will be fun to see all of the progress that your kids have made.

3. Go out to eat a special breakfast on the first day of homeschool.

This is such a fabulous way to celebrate back-to-school! Skip the formal school morning and head to a cafe or restaurant to ring in the new school year.

4. Eat dinner at a fancy restaurant on the first day of homeschool.

Shake things up a little bit and take your kids to a fancy dinner. You can talk about your day and what they look forward to for the rest of the year.

5. Have a dress-up dinner at home for your kids.

Have your kids wear their fanciest clothes and treat them to a fancy dinner at home. Use a table cloth, fancy dishes, candles and music to imitate a nice restaurant. You play the part of the chef and waiter and go all out!

6. Have a picnic lunch at a local park.

Pack your food and drinks and head out! If you don’t have a park nearby, the backyard can be just as fun. Bring a picnic blanket and enjoy your time together discussing the new year!

7. Have a family movie night to celebrate the first week.

After a great week of homeschooling, why not sit back and relax with your family? You’ve earned it! Let the kids pick the movie and spend some time together on the couch. Watch one of our favorites “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” and then try this Charlie and the Chocolate Factory unit study!

8. Gameschool for the first day (or week!).

Who says games don’t count for schooling? They absolutely do! Get back into the swing of things with a game schooling day or week. From board games to card games, your kids will build bonds and have fun!

9. Take funny first day pictures.

You can set up a “photo booth” with an awesome backdrop, or just make silly faces! The key is to get some great pictures that capture your child’s personality! Hang them up in your homeschool room to set the vibe for your homeschool year.

10. Surprise your kids with a photo book with pictures from the past year.

Kids love to see how much they’ve grown! This one takes some advance planning, but your kids will love this sentimental celebration! There are several online options for printable photo books.

11. Enjoy a day (or several!) at a local attraction (children’s museum, water park, etc.) when public school has started back.

Beat the crowds at your local hotspots by spending a day playing when public schools are back in session. After the summer rush, this is a nice way to take advantage of a huge homeschool perk!

12. Create a time capsule.

Use a shoebox (or a similar sized container) and create a time capsule that you won’t look at until the end of the school year. Items could include: first day of school picture, an interview with your child and goals he or she has. Put the box away (in a place you’ll remember!) and make a note of where it is and when to open it.

13. Start a scrapbook and add to it weekly.

What a great way to capture memories! If you can’t keep up with a scrapbook page per week, consider doing it monthly. At the end of the year, you will have captured so many precious moments!

See more fun first day of homeschool ideas on page 2!

Get the new homeschool year off to a great start with these 25 helpful homeschool planning tips!

25 Helpful Homeschool Planning Tips for the New School Year

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I just love homeschool planning season. Many homeschoolers start planning for the new school year during late spring and early summer.

In our family, though, homeschool planning season is practically a year-round event. Even after almost ten years of homeschooling, I’m always looking for new homeschool planning tips that will help us along our journey. After all, each child is different and each grade level is different, so what worked in the past may not work as you go along.

25 Helpful Homeschool Planning Tips for the New School Year

Get your new homeschool year started on the right foot with these tried-and-tested homeschool planning tips that work! There are 25 here – all from veteran homeschooling moms (including me!) – and they’re great for any age and stage you’re teaching.

Feeling a little overwhelmed by your homeschooling journey? Take a breather with this article about the things you don’t need to homeschool!

*Don’t miss the fabulous Rainbow Resource curriculum giveaway at the bottom of the post!*

Get the new homeschool year off to a great start with these 25 helpful homeschool planning tips!

Image c/o: habovka / depositphotos

25 Helpful Homeschool Planning Tips for the New School Year

1. Simple Lesson Planning for Minimalist Homeschoolers – Look! We’re Learning!

2. My Super Simple Homeschool Planning Method – Homeschool Your Boys

3. Make a Homeschool Schedule – Homeschooling Ideas

4. Printable 2018-19 Homeschool Planning Form – Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool Plus

5. How to Use Mind Maps for Homeschool Planning – Triumphant Learning

6. Free Printable Homeschool Planner Pages for Relaxed Homeschoolers – This Simple Balance

7. Printable Homeschool Quarterly Planning Form – Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool Plus

8. Step-by-Step Instructions to Plan A Homeschool Year – Preschoolers and Peace

9. Planning for the Non-Planning Homeschool Mom – Homeschooling Without Training Wheels

10. How to Hold a Weekly Homeschool Planning Meeting – Hodgepodge

11. Five Simple Tips to Help You Schedule Your Homeschool Day – Finding Joy In the Journey

12. How to Plan Homeschool One Quarter At A Time – Lara Molettiere

13. 15 Homeschool Schedule Ideas for Kids with ADHD – Look! We’re Learning!

14. How to Pre-Plan A Homeschool Year – Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool Plus

15. How to Frugally Plan Your Homeschool with Folders – Rock Your Homeschool

16. 2018 Weekly Homeschool Planning Worksheets – Table Life Blog

17. How to Plan A Homeschool Week – Blossom and Root

18. 7 Steps to Simplify Homeschool Planning – Triumphant Learning

19. The Ultimate Guide to Low-Stress Homeschool Planning and Scheduling – Hide the Chocolate

20. 7 Step Homeschool Curriculum Planner – Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool Plus

21. How to Create a Flexible Homeschool Schedule – Look! We’re Learning!

22. The Tools You Need to Plan Your Homeschool Year – Finding Joy In the Journey

23. How to Make Your Homeschool Planner Work for You – Rock Your Homeschool

24. Homeschool Planning with a Spiral Notebook – Blog, She Wrote

25. Free Printable Homeschool Planning Pages – Classically Homeschooling

These homeschool planning tips are awesome for jump starting your new school year! But if you need a little more help to plan your homeschooling lessons, check out these other suggestions!

Is choosing a secular science curriculum for your homeschool a challenge? Try these pointers to find the program that will work for your family!

Make your homeschooling dollar stretch with this list of homeschool tools that are truly worth buying!

Are you overloaded with homeschooling materials? Here's what to do when you have too much homeschool curriculum.

Follow my Homeschool Planning Pinterest board for even more suggestions!

How to Afford Homeschooling eBook Download

And now for the Rainbow Resource Back to Homeschool Giveaway!

Rainbow Resource Giveaway square

Whether you’re an early bird who already started your new school year or you homeschool year-round (like we do), I’m pretty sure you could use a little extra money for homeschool curriculum. Right???

I’m thrilled to share an awesome giveaway that I’m offering with a group of education bloggers. We’re giving away $250 to help parents buy curriculum, educational supplies, and more to stock up their learning library!

Well, actually, we’re giving away $250 twice.  Two people will win a $250 gift card to Rainbow Resource Center!!

 

To enter for your chance to win, simply use the Rafflecopter form below.  The more entries you do, the better your odds are of winning!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway ends July 27th, 2018 at 11:59pm ET.  Must be at least 18 years of age.  Must be a resident of U.S. or Canada to enter.  Selected winners will have 48 hours to respond to email notification to claim their prizes or another winner will be drawn.  By entering this giveaway, you agree to be added to the email lists of the participating bloggers.  Please be sure to read the Terms & Conditions upon entering the giveaway.

Do your active learners resist reading? Here are four ways to get them to start reading for fun!

4 Easy Ways to Encourage Free Reading with Active Kids

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We all know that reading is (probably) the most important skill a child should learn. Without reading, you can’t really do, well, anything.

But we don’t just want our kids to read because they have to. We want them to read because they want to. And that means making free reading an important part of every day.

The issue, though, is that kids who are on the active side might not be that interested in reading, especially for pleasure. And that’s why I’m sharing four easy ways to encourage free reading with active kids!

How to Get Your Active Kids to Read for Fun!

Try these simple tips to get your active learners reading! They’ve genuinely worked for our active kids, even our children who have ADHD!

Need more great kid lit suggestions? Check out our list of 100 memorable picture books for preschoolers too!

Disclosure: I am a BookShark brand ambassador and am receiving free curriculum as part of my role.

Do your active learners resist reading? Here are four ways to get them to start reading for fun!

4 Ways to Encourage Free Reading for Active Kids

Images c/o: get4net & FarmVeldman / depositphotos

1. Make reading time extra special.

If your active kids are resistant to reading on their own, turn reading time into an extra special occasion. Get out sleeping bags, build an indoor fort (using a table and a bedsheet), and let the kids read by flashlight while they’re “camping out”.

Or make reading into a high tea occasion. Have the kids dress up in their fanciest clothes, make tea and scones, and let them take turns reading a few lines in their most elegant speaking voices.

The key is to turn reading into entertainment, instead of just sitting down and looking at words. After a couple of occasions, they’ll want to know what happens next in one of the stories and ask to read more before your next special reading time.

2. Start a family reading challenge.

Get the whole family involved in reading by creating a short family reading challenge. Draw a bar graph on a piece of posterboard and hang it in the family room. Tell the kids that once the family finishes reading a certain number of books that month you’ll throw an ice cream party.

Be sure to fill the graph up as each book is completed. Before you know it, the kids will be begging to go to the library to get books of their own.

3. Choose stories with lots of pictures.

A book with lots of text can be intimidating to anyone, even grown-ups. So active kids who have little interest in reading need plenty of visual input to keep their interest. Picture books are a great way to get kids interested in stories and how they develop.

Once your active children are interested in following stories in general, they’ll be more open to chapter books and larger works. You might even try an illustrated version of a complex book, such as a graphic novel adaptation of a classic, and then let them read the original work to compare the two.

4. Use a book-based homeschool curriculum.

A simple way to encourage free reading with active kids is to use a homeschool curriculum that is centered on books. We’re using BookShark with our youngest child this year and the entire program is based around classic children’s books.

Our first book for our history lesson this year is Charlotte’s Web, which my first-grader is thoroughly enjoying. She never wants to stop reading when we reach the end of our assigned portion for the day. That’s always a good sign. 🙂

We’re also reading The Usborne Book of Peoples of the World, as well as Mother Goose Rhymes and Favorite Poems of Childhood. And that’s just for history!

How do you encourage free reading with your active kids? Have you been able to turn your wiggly little ones into readers? Share your tips!

See more resources for reading with homeschoolers below!

Ready to get your little one reading? This simple kindergarten homeschool reading list features early readers kids will love!

These picture books for preschoolers include classic stories and modern titles for parents to share!

Fun Math Books for Middle School

Follow my Reading for Kids Pinterest board for even more literacy tips and resources!

Keep learning all summer with this list of 40 at home summer learning activities for kids!

40 Fun At Home Learning Activities for Summer

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These 40 learning activities for summer are a great way to keep the learning going all during summer break!
Try some of these learning activities for summer to keep kids learning all year long!

I just love summer. In my opinion, it’s the time of year that basically makes life worth living.

The sun is out, you can walk around in flip-flops all day, no one cares if you eat ice cream for breakfast…it’s a good season.

The kids and I tend to take a more relaxed approach to learning over the summer, but I still like to keep them learning as much as possible.

So we found a bunch of at home learning activities for summer that are super fun and great for helping them explore science, math, STEM, literacy, and more!

40 Summer Learning Activities You Can Do at Home

There are 40 different summer learning ideas below, so you can try as many as you like during summer break.

If you decide to do some of these, be sure to come back and tell us how you liked them!

Want to spend summer boosting your children’s literacy skills? Take a look at this list of 50 summer books you can share with them!

Keep learning all summer with this list of 40 at home summer learning activities for kids!

40 At-Home Learning Activities for Summer

What I love about summer break is that you can keep learning with kids, but on your own terms.

No getting up to start school at a set time. No required amount of subjects or hours to cover.

Just time for fun learning with little ones.

40 Fun Summer Learning Activities for Kids

And these at home summer learning activities feature plenty of hands-on, low prep, and interactive ideas to keep preschoolers and elementary kids happy.

Take a look at the list below to get inspired for summer break at home!

40 Fun At Home Learning Activities for Summer

Use this list of 40 fun at home summer learning activities to keep your elementary kids excited to learn!

1

Pineapple Multiplication by Four Roll and Cover Game

This fun multiplication game is excellent for early elementary students! All you need is dice, a printer, and math counters!

2

Playground Science for Kids: Exploring Ramps and Friction on a Slide

Photo Credit: buggyandbuddy.com

Head to the playground to try this simple idea. See how simple machines affect friction with early learners!

3

Exploring Solar Heat – STEM Education

Photo Credit: www.steampoweredfamily.com

Go outside and use solar energy for this one. Show kids how the sun produces heat energy!

4

Human Sundial Shadow Science Experiments

Photo Credit: rhythmsofplay.com

Let kids act as their own scientific instruments! Use this activity to help them tell time with their own shadows.

5

Rescue the Shark Printable Battleship Game

Practice graphing and strategy with a fun summertime game. Plus, this makes a fun indoor activity for hot days!

6

Watermelon Seed Matching Game

Photo Credit: themamaworkshop.com

This is such a cute activity for early learners. And you can even bring it with you and use it as a busy bag!

7

Tide Pool Science Experiment for Kids

Photo Credit: buggyandbuddy.com

Show the kids how tide pools are formed with this simple experiment! And you only need a few supplies to do it.

8

Easy Ice Pop Math Patterns Activity for Kids

This ice pop themed activity is a fun math lesson for kids. Use it to help early learners practice building math patterns!

9

Heating Up Summer Creativity by Constructing a Solar Oven

Photo Credit: mosswoodconnections.com

Show kids how to harness the power of the sun to make an oven. It really works too!

10

How to Make Ice Cream in a Bag with Recording Sheet

Photo Credit: buggyandbuddy.com

We all scream for ice cream! Teach kids how to make ice cream in a bag and record their scientific findings.

11

Cosmic Colors! Solar System Coloring Pages

Teach the names of the planets in the solar system. And give kids a fun art activity too!

12

STEM Sunscreen Experiment – Spray vs. Lotion

Photo Credit: jdaniel4smom.com

Which lasts longer - spray sunscreen or sunscreen lotion? Find out in this summer science experiment!

13

Ice Cream Sounds! Short and Long Vowel Sound Sorting Activity

Have kids who are working on short and long vowel sounds? Let them use the digital or print version of this activity to practice sorting them!

14

Sink or Float Experiment: Physics for Kids

Photo Credit: www.kcedventures.com

Summer time equals time for water play. This fun water science experiment is perfect for little scientists!

15

Easy Sun Prints STEM Activity

Photo Credit: creativefamilyfun.net

Did you know you can use the sun to make color prints? Show kids how to use household objects and solar energy to make art!

16

Shadow Sidewalk Chalk Art

Photo Credit: rhythmsofplay.com

Add a fun art twist to measuring shadows! This is a simple STEM activity that's perfect for long summer days.

17

Simple Science Experiments: Simple Light Refraction Experiment

Did you know you can actually watch light bend? This simple light refraction experiment is so fun for kids to try!

18

Parts of a Dandelion Nature Exploration

Photo Credit: creativefamilyfun.net

Dandelions are all over the place during summer. Examine them with this nature exploration activity.

19

Travel Tales! Vacation Creative Writing Activity for Kids

Heading on a summer vacation? Let kids practice writing about where they went with this simple printable.

20

DIY Butterfly Number Stones

Photo Credit: www.craftsonsea.co.uk

These lovely butterfly number stones include math and art in one. And kids can do the painting themselves!

21

Bottle Rockets

Photo Credit: www.steampoweredfamily.com

Try an exciting science activity this summer with these bottle rockets. Perfect for outdoor play!

22

Amazing Coloring Flower Science Experiment

Photo Credit: www.kindergartenworksheetsandgames.com

See how plants receive nutrients with this simple experiment. And make some cool colored flowers at the same time!

23

All About the Solar System Printable Unit

Ready to explore space? This printable elementary science unit is a great introduction to the members of our solar system!

24

FREE Paint Gun Parts of Speech Game

Photo Credit: www.123homeschool4me.com

Get the kids outside for some messy play with this ELA activity. They won't even notice they're learning!

25

Build Vocabulary with a Summer Word Jar (Plus Tips and Ideas)

Photo Credit: www.whatdowedoallday.com

Encourage kids to keep reading and learning new words this summer with this idea! And it's so easy to set up!

26

Ocean Science for Kids - Easy Ocean Life Experiment Kids Love

Photo Credit: www.naturalbeachliving.com

Explore the zones of the ocean, even if you're landlocked, with this activity. Kids will love looking at it day to day.

27

Roll and Add Seashell Counting Math Game – Free Printable

Photo Credit: www.theartkitblog.com

Add a beachy theme to counting practice with this game. Such a great idea for preschoolers!

28

Ice Cream Printable Summer Reading Log

Keep kids reading over the summer with this printable kit! It comes with a reading log, coloring bookmarks, and more.

29

Make a Balloon Powered Sponge Boat

Photo Credit: www.thecrafttrain.com

This is a fantastic (and easy) STEM activity for summer. Kids can design and build a boat that actually travels!

30

How to Make a Solar Still

Photo Credit: theresjustonemommy.com

Did you know you can make drinking water from the sun's energy? See how in this cool science experiment.

31

Math in Nature Scavenger Hunt for Kids

Photo Credit: www.adventure-in-a-box.com

This printable scavenger hunt is excellent for outdoor exploring. Let kids look for math shapes in nature and record what they find.

32

Animal Houses: Engineering Game for Kids

Photo Credit: www.adventure-in-a-box.com

These printable cards challenge kids to build animal houses of their own. Use household supplies or materials they find outside.

33

DIY Geometry Dice - A Fun Math Practice Tool for Kids!

Play this indoor math game to review angles and lines with elementary kids. Only needs a couple of household items!

34

Color Changing Slime Recipe That’s Sun Activated (Summer Science)!

Photo Credit: littlebinsforlittlehands.com

Have you been making slime with kids? Be sure to try this recipe for solar power-activated color changing slime!

35

Word Building Activity Travel Kit

Photo Credit: iheartcraftythings.com

Put this simple word building kit together for early literacy practice. Great for rides in the car!

36

Water Balloon Letter Smash: Summer Literacy Activity

Photo Credit: www.schooltimesnippets.com

Make learning the alphabet into a summer play activity with this idea. Plus, you could tweak it to use with numbers, shapes, and more!

37

Printable Summer Reading Challenge Bookmarks for Kids

Pick up this printable bookmarks for summer reading with the kids. It's a simple way to help them try new kinds of books too!

38

Sharks! - A Shark Food Chain Game

Get to know how sharks eat and grow with this file folder game. Perfect for shark fans!

39

Printable Beach Unit Study: All About Beaches

Live far from a beach? You can still learn about them with this printable unit for early elementary kids!

40

Printable LEGO STEM Challenge Building Cards

Use these LEGO STEM challenge cards for simple STEM fun. Let kids choose a card or two and see what they can make!

Pineapple Printable Multiplication Game

One of my favorite at home learning activities is a simple no-prep printable game.

And this printable pineapple multiplication by four game is as no-prep as it gets!

Pineapple Multiplication by 4 Game

Just print it out, add a six or ten-sided die, and use counters or buttons to get kids playing.

Best of all – it’s free!

To get your copy of this printable pineapple multiplication by four game, click the image or the link below to have it sent directly to your inbox!

You’ll also get our weekly newsletter this Sunday night!

Click here to get your free printable!

>>> Pineapple Multiplication by Four Game <<<

Did you love these learning activities for summer? Don’t miss these other fun summer projects!

Use this printable Deep Blue Sea ocean activity pack to keep early elementary students practicing ELA concepts at home or over break!
Make this easy sea animal suncatcher craft for a simple summer art project this year!
These simple summer crafts for kids are such a great way to spend time together!

Avoid the summer slide by keeping the kids learning all summer. Here are 10 ways to learn over summer break!

How to Prevent the Summer Slide

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When I started to write this post about how to prevent the summer slide, I realized that this may not be an issue that affects homeschoolers as much as public schoolers. If you’ve ever had a child in public school, you might have heard of the “summer slide”. Basically, it’s the brain drain that occurs when kids follow a traditional school year and take summers off from structured learning.

I don’t necessarily follow a traditional school year, because we have school lessons during the summer, but we do take breaks from our homeschool during the year. And, trust me, that’s enough time for my kids to start forgetting things.

If you’re nervous about how to prevent the summer slide, don’t worry! There are plenty of things that your kids can be doing to continue their education while also having fun.

10 Easy Ways to Avoid the Summer Slide

If you take an actual summer break, you don’t want to make these activities too “schooly”. You can keep them fun and engaging, while using them to help kids remember some of their skills. If you homeschool year-round, these are nice, low-pressure ways to keep them learning.

Need more ways to make summer educational? Don’t miss our list of 50 summer books you can share with the kids!

Avoid the summer slide by keeping the kids learning all summer. Here are 10 ways to learn over summer break!

10 Ways to Keep Kids Learning During Summer Break

Images c/o: StockUnlimited & konradbak / depositphotos

Garden.

Gardening is a great way to teach your kids responsibility. Not only will they learn about how to grow foods and plants, but you may also get some free fruits, vegetables, and flowers in the process!

Go theatrical.

Have your kids write a short play to put on for the neighborhood. Or, if they are shy, they can just perform it for the family. Tell them to get their friends involved. The other parents will love that you’re providing something fun for their children to take part in.

Birdwatch.

Put a bird feeder, bird bath, and a lot of strings and nest building products in your yard by a window. Hopefully, you will attract some different birds that your kids can study. You may even see the entire process from nesting to baby birds flying for the first time!

Create a summer reading list.

Take your kids to the local library and have them pick a book that interests them. After each book, have them give you a little presentation or just talk to you about the story. You can even let them dress up as one of the characters from the book.

Learn another language.

Summer is a wonderful time to explore a new language! Choose a few simple illustrated books from the local library that are written in Spanish, French, or another language and see how many vocabulary words you and the kids can learn together. Find some videos for learning American Sign Language and try to practice a full signed conversation with our ASL2U curriculum!

Try some educational apps.

Take a virtual spin through an app store and let the kids pick out an educational app they’d like to try. If you limit screen time (like we do), give them a set amount of time to play it each day. Try to choose one that works on a skill your child needs help with, such as reading fluency, multiplication tables, or history facts.

Create musical instruments.

Find items from around the house and see who can make the best musical instrument! Good materials include toilet paper rolls, paper towel rolls, oatmeal containers, cereal boxes, plastic spoons, and jars filled with water. This is especially fun for little ones!

Write and illustrate a book.

Your kids need an outlet for creativity. Have them work on a story all summer and let them draw all of the pictures. Older kids can try a photo editing program to design cover art on their own!

Start a rock collection.

There’s no better way to learn about Geology than to start a rock collection. Challenge your kids to see who can find the most unusual rock in the neighborhood, then do some research to find out what kind of rock it is and how it is formed.

Study the stars.

If you have a telescope, put it to good use! Learn about a few constellations, such as the Big Dipper or Orion the Hunter, and take the kids outside to see if they can spot them!

Wondering how to prevent the summer slide? There are plenty of things you can do for and with your kids this summer to help them continue learning. Which one of these seems like the most fun and helpful to you? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Need more fun summer ideas? Don’t miss these posts!

This fun summer bucket list for kids is full of hands-on activities your children will love!

Learn about the science of beaches, plus get fun math, language, and geography practice, in this printable beach unit study!

This fun ice cream themed shape sorting activity for kids is so cool for practicing shape recognition!

And for more summer activities, follow my Summer Activities for Kids board on Pinterest!

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Are you overloaded with homeschooling materials? Here's what to do when you have too much homeschool curriculum.

What to Do When You Have Too Much Homeschool Curriculum

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The question of what to do when you have too much homeschool curriculum might seem like a strange one to ask. The more curriculum, the better, right? Well…

Remember when you first started homeschooling? Did you look at your bookshelves and imagine them filled one day with gorgeous picture books, beautifully-illustrated encyclopedias, and resources your kids would love?

I did. I wanted to make sure that my kids had the opportunity to learn from any book they wanted and that I had any resource I needed to create an engaging and happy homeschooling experience in our home.

Fast forward nine years later. Instead of staring lovingly at our academically-equipped bookshelves, I was fighting to keep the door of our homeschool closet closed. Actually, I was in the habit of hurriedly slamming it shut before an anchor chart fell on me. Something…went wrong somewhere.

What went wrong is that I went on a curriculum hoarding spree over the years. In my desire to make sure that my kids had every homeschooling resource they’d ever need, I’d managed to store materials for literally every grade level and their first two years of college. And, no, I’m not exaggerating.

Rather than feeling comfortable and secure in my homeschooling arsenal, I felt overwhelmed at the very thought of trying to plan the new year. So, I had to take some drastic steps to minimize our homeschool. And if you’re overloaded with homeschool curriculum, these steps might help you too.

Are you overloaded with homeschooling materials? Here's what to do when you have too much homeschool curriculum.

What to Do When You Have Too Much Homeschool Curriculum

Images c/o: belchonock & ArturVerkhovetskiy / depositphotos

Revisit Your Educational Goals.

Before you dive head first into your curriculum hoard, take some time to revisit your homeschooling goals. After years of homeschooling, we can get so used to following a “routine” that we lose sight of exactly what we’re trying to accomplish with our kids. It’s understandable, but it’s also counterproductive.

Grab a notebook and write down a homeschooling mission statement. Imagine what you want your children to be able to do by the time they finish homeschooling and then write it down. Or imagine what you want to have accomplished for them by the time they graduate and then write it down. Be very, very specific with this.

Keep the Resources That Align with Your Goals.

Read what you just wrote. Then read it again. Think about what you’ll actually need to make your goals a reality.

Now, open the door of your homeschooling closet (watch our for falling charts!) or venture over to your overloaded bookshelves and start pulling everything down. And I mean everything. If it’s a LOT (like ours was), do one bookshelf at a time to avoid collapsing into a puddle of overspending regret.

As you sort through each resource, reread your homeschooling mission statement and ask yourself: Will this help me accomplish my goals? Trust me, you’ll know when it will. If it will, put it off to the side.

Get Rid of Everything Else. Really.

Okay. We’re at the hard part. You have to get rid of every other thing that will not help you accomplish your homeschooling mission statement.

Complete curriculum you personally love? Get rid of it.

Expensive reference book you saved up to buy? Get rid of it.

Program you’ve kept for years just waiting for the right time? Get rid of it.

Just so you know: If you’ve been homeschooling a long time, this might be excruciating. So, to ease the pain, do NOT flip through any of the materials you plan to discard. It will not help.

Now when I say “get rid of it”, I don’t necessarily mean throw it in the garbage. Find another family to donate or sell the program to. Donate it to your local library. Feel free to pass it on, but just get it out of your house. Once you do, your homeschooling space will look better and you will feel wonderful!

Do you have too much homeschool curriculum?

One last thing: Now that you know what to do when you have too much homeschool curriculum, resolve never to get into this predicament again.

The next time someone offers to “give” you a program, reread your homeschooling mission statement. If it won’t help you accomplish it, it’s okay to say no! When you find out about a curriculum that’s on sale, read the details and reviews carefully to see if it will harmonize with your learning goals. If not, don’t buy it! It’s that simple.

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