The Successful, Yet Not-so-Perfect Homeschooler

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As many people are facing a new look to their school year, you may find that you are faced with what seems like insurmountable tasks. Are you working from home now? While homeschooling? While virtual homeschooling? Are your kids schooling at home while you head off to work? Times look strange, there is no doubt. As a veteran homeschooler, I can tell you I never envied the parent that had to get kids off to school in the morning. I certainly wasn’t cut out for that. But my homeschool is far from perfect. Take some pressure off yourself and let me give you a peek into my not-so-perfect homeschooler way.

All-in-One Curriculum GIVEAWAY

One of my favorite sites to use is School House Teachers. They offer a huge variety of courses and subjects at every grade level all under one roof. This month they are running a Shark Week BOGO Sale. You can get 2 years of membership for the price of 1. That’s $179/2 years! I use this as a supplement. Heck, who am I kidding? I use everything as a supplement. It is the perfect option for picking and choosing based on what topics and concepts you want to cover without committing to any one thing.

 -With this deal, you pay less than $8 a month! (where else can you find prices that low with such amazing choices?)

– This cost covers every single student in your family plus all parent resources.

– A chat option is available for any ST or homeschool-related questions.

– You can grab and go the digital school boxes for each grade OR you can pick and choose from over 450 courses.

– All courses are self-paced and can be completed on a schedule that works for you.

I am offering a GIVEAWAY. You can enter by commenting on this blog with your favorite subject to teach your kids. The giveaway ends August 31 at Midnight. BONUS entry for sharing this post. Just come back and make a separate comment with the link to where you shared it!

The One-Roomed Schoolhouse

As a not-so-perfect homeschooler, one thing I can say for sure is we were never cut out for the desk/classroom set up. We all sort of work in the same area of the house. I have a giant coffee table and an armoir that have been cleaned out and designated storage spots for school materials. We work at the kitchen table, the counter top, the living room carpet, the couch, the back porch, pretty much anywhere. I will say this…we live in Florida. It is unbearably hot here in summer. So hot that going outside is not an option unless you’re in the water! We tend to school outside more toward December and the early part of the year when the weather is more bearable.

Personalize Your Schoolroom

Sometimes a little change of scenery can be just the ticket. I came across Faux Brickwork. Faux brick wall panels give warmth and hominess to a room that is unachievable than just paint or wallpaper. You can create a space that is in the same room yet separate. I had, at one point, considered putting brick in my kitchen. When I came across this faux brick I had a change of heart for sure.

Being in one room has made things easier in the respect that I am right there working myself so if they need me, we are together in one big room. It would be really cool to have the faux brick behind a bookshelf or in a reading nook to give a sense of separation too.

They have places for all their books and supplies so, at the end of the day, they put it all back. Not always the prettiest, but it works. Plus, because I’m not-so-perfect, I seem to have a ton of extra books and curriculum for the times I need to make changes on the fly. Happens more often than you think.

Unschooling Like a Pro

I have been homeschooling my kids for 12 years this year. I can tell you that my not-so-perfect homeschool has gone so far as to ditch a curriculum mid-year because it simply wasn’t meeting the needs of my kids. We are picky choosy. I don’t prefer to feel trapped in a curriculum and I love choices. A well-rounded unit study is usually my first choice.

A different sort of option is Homeschoolshare.com. They have been a main choice, especially in the earlier elementary years. They offer lapbooks and literature unit studies because I also love letting them read books on topics they love and presenting what they learned in various ways. For instance, they could give a speech, make a timeline, prepare a diorama, complete a book report, organize a Venn diagram, or any other number of graphic organizers.

Basically, I made a pledge to myself that I would teach my kids to have a love of learning. I wanted them to WANT to learn. This meant teaching them in the ways they learned best and with topics they showed an interest in. This is not a popular method for homeschooling but I currently have an 11th grader who is taking college courses and is 2 classes short of high school graduation, a middle schooler who is a grade level ahead in all subjects, and a 2nd grader who reads on a 4th-grade level and builds models, loves machines, and wants to learn anything that involves wheels or animals. You may also want to read Teaching Kids How To Budget Easily With Groceries or How to Homeschool on the Go in Chicago.

Homeschool for YOU

The most important thing I have taken from all my years of homeschooling is not to compare my school room, my curriculum, and my style to anyone else’s! We do what works for us and you do what works for you.

Relax and enjoy the ride! Homeschooling is an ever-changing journey.