Homeschooling can be a daunting path to embark on. Many parents wonder how they can possibly “get it all done” by themselves….especially if they are homeschooling multiple children.
As a mom of six kids, I am a HUGE fan of the “work smarter, not harder” philosophy, and because of that, my top recommendation for homeschool families is to outsource math to a self-teaching curriculum as soon as possible. This provides your children with professional teaching via video lessons, and does all of the grading and record-keeping for you! While I am not a big fan of just sitting the kids in front of a computer and expecting them to learn, THIS is the exception!
CTCMath is my favorite because it covers K-12 math (others do not), and offers one incredibly affordable price that covers ALL your kids no matter how many grade levels they work through in a year. I do not know of a more educationally effective, time-saving, money-saving option out there!
If you are looking for STEAM-themed science kits, you are going to want to check out RATATAZ!
This comprehensive science program has done all the sequencing for you in a way that integrates science concepts across disciplines, so information makes sense and becomes more memorable. The RATATAZ focus is on teaching kids how to think and not what to think. They believe strongly in helping students develop critical thinking skills, and to foster the natural curiosity that kids have.
Every RATATAZ unit includes a reading, writing, and hands-on experiment section. They integrate reading and writing strategies into science education. One key focus is teaching students how to strategically use opened ended questions to gather more information, just like scientists do. These open-ended questions leaves plenty of room to explore concepts beyond the RATATAZ science kits. This is where real inquiry and exploration begins. It also comes with an NGSS outline guide, so you can easily identify what concepts have been covered in each unit.
Each subscription box comes complete with the supplies needed for each unit and requires very little setup and prep time.
These kits are designed for student-led activities and facilitation. This decreases parent workload while increasing student comprehension.
If you are looking for some fun and engaging books, activity guides, and lapbooks for your children ages 6-11, you will want to check out Circle C Adventures! These Wild West themed novels offer exciting literature and language arts learning that your kids will love.
Free E-paper dolls! Six-year-old Andi Carter and her friend Riley, along with their animal friends from the Circle C ranch in 1874. Great for narrating the stories in the Circle C Beginnings series of first chapter books.
Special Offers! Circle C Adventures is offering an awesome “Library Special,” which is usually only offered at in-person vendor halls. This year you can get the same deal online. You can get all 35 of the Circle C and Goldtown books for only $190. The regular retail price of this collection is $268, so that’s a savings of $78! You even get free priority shipping for your new collection! Click here to check this deal out.
Are you wondering how to teach about the racial conflicts going on now in America? This book could give you a good springboard for discussion, especially using the free discussion questions provided by the author, a veteran homeschooling mom.
You will want to check out a new novel called The Long Shadow by Phyllis Wheeler. This is an anti-racist time-travel tale for kids ages 12-14.
Fourteen-year-old Richie, from white suburbia, thinks it is a good idea to run away from his guardian – until he finds himself whisked back 50 years, fighting to survive a freak storm, and afraid to accept help from a black man.
“Part survival story, part exploration of racial justice in America, part journey of self-discovery, and wholly engaging and memorable. A well done and powerful story. It is certainly stuck in my head.”—Joe Corbett, school librarian, St. Louis
“A powerful message wrapped in a page-turner.” —Cherie Postill, author, speaker, and mentor for teens at the St. Louis Writers Guild
“Heartwarming and heartbreaking, Richie’s story is a shining example of how taking a chance on unlikely friendships is the best way to break down the barriers we build.” —Jill Williamson, award-winning author of the Blood of Kings trilogy
“Sometimes we need to escape our own time and place to walk a few miles in someone else’s shoes. Phyllis Wheeler’s The Long Shadow will open your eyes, rend your heart, and take you on an invaluable journey.” —Wayne Thomas Batson, bestselling author of The Door Within Trilogy.
Wheeler’s sensitivity reader, St. Louis writer LaShaunda Hoffman, finds that the black characters are portrayed with dignity: “It was a good history lesson without being offensive to anyone.”
Why did the author feel impelled to write this book? “I grew up in a variety of mostly white neighborhoods in various places,” says Wheeler. “I moved to highly segregated St. Louis. Then, soon after we married, my husband and I decided to buy a house in a black neighborhood. We lived there twenty years and raised our four children there. We had black neighbors who folded us into their lives, their community.”
Living in a black neighborhood is not something most white people have done. “I wrote this book, hoping to encourage more people of any color to reach out to get to know someone different,” says Wheeler.
I remember the morning when I opened my planner, and nothing written applied to where I lived nor what I should do next. I was a displaced missionary and my days did not have the typical demands. For a while, the unexpected vacation was delightful, but before long I felt lost in nothingness.
Universally, we experienced rearranged schedules in 2020. In a way, women received the brunt of the chaos. Without warning, we became homeschooling moms who prepared huge amounts of food, day after week after month. As a bonus all the coffee shops were closed, and other rejuvenating pleasures disappeared.
Homemakers are a flexible bunch that learn to roll with the surprises. We erase, reschedule and juggle duties on a regular basis. It is not unusual to start the day with “Plan A,” and shift to “Plan B” to deal with interruptions.
But what about limbo? That uncertain period of awaiting a decision or resolution? The time when you cannot plan for next week or next month? My brain tends to run in circles, and it is hard to focus. It seems impossible to plan anything when schedules are demolished. Meanwhile, my planner silently reminds me of predictable days gone by.
A planner primarily helps to organize days and duties. But a planner is equally helpful when days and duties cannot be organized. It may help you stay motivated and replace the emptiness with purpose. Your planner entries become a peculiar mix of “to do,” “maybe” and “did.” Small, attainable goals will help you be productive. There is not a quick fix to abnormal times, but here are a few tools to get you going.
Schedule an out. Limbo can be mentally overwhelming and sometimes clouds of depression hover. Schedule something refreshing. Write “Thirty-minute break,” (or longer). I needed this when I was homeschooling, and other adult family members were in and out of the house. After thirty minutes of quietness, my brain was clearer. Maintaining sanity is important. Find time to do what refreshes you.
Keep track of the days. Scribble daily notes on the now unscheduled planner slots. Record the weather, news tidbits, current events, with whom you talked, etc. Tracking your days will give you a historical record of what happened during unusual times. It is amusing to read old planner notes during limbo. Did I really need to write “wash my hair?”
Swap disappointment for creativity. It is hard to erase anticipated events, but you can use the tasks list to write creative replacements. One friend wrote me, “It was sad our Canadian relatives couldn’t come to the family reunion, but we made the best of it. Every day we wrote an email and sent pictures to those missing, including some quotes and funny quips.”
Write down what must be done. During disruptive times, laundry and food preparation can be a comforting routine or a bothersome obstacle. If I write those duties in my planner, it helps clear the brain fog in those areas. Plus, I am doing something that is routine. I fill my planner with little things that can so easily be forgotten. Buy stamps. Ask when meeting starts. Pay Mary $20.00. Do not forget to schedule fun. Go for family hikes or buy a new flavor of ice cream.
Try something new. It is good to have something to aim for. In the middle of shutdown, I learned how to make artisan bread. One of my friends learned how to design a photo book online. It is easy to let days slip by and all we do is wish for normal life. Limbo can bring unexpected gifts of time and pleasure. Text photos or inspiration to friends, get physical exercise, trade audio books with others, read the Little House Series to your children or have an indoor or outdoor picnic.
Remember you are not a superwoman. Abnormal living can affect our energy levels. Somedays you will be physically and mentally weary. Typically, we arrange duties in a way that makes sense for our household. Abnormality replaces sense with disorder. Give yourself time to work through new issues. Take note of what is causing the most brain drain and find ways to minimize the pressure. Sometimes a talk with a friend gives encouragement, a new perspective, and fresh ideas.
If we mindfully plan our day, we benefit ourselves and our family. We can productively use our time for what is most important regardless of our circumstances.
Welcome to the Enrichment Lifestyle Blog! I'm so glad you're here. :) I'm Erica Johns, and I love to encourage homeschool moms and help them enjoy more of the beauty of the arts in everyday life.
About me: I started my homeschooling journey in 1997 and graduated the last of my six children in 2021. Amidst all the hard work, crazy days, uncertainty, and lost pencils, what I think we really gained was the gift of a lifetime: TIME TOGETHER. So awesome! Click my pic to learn more.
