Homeschooling is such a wonderful, hard, memory making, makes you wonder if you lost your mind and have any idea what you are doing adventure. I so loved our homeschooling years. Our sons have now graduated. There are many things I wish I could go back and redo but the heart of our homeschool is what mattered. So what are the homeschooling must haves? I hope these homeschooling tips will help you!
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I love being a boy mom…boys are so full of life and adventure. There is always an adventure waiting to happen, don’t you know? I grew up with 3 brothers and lots of boy cousins. I can be a tomboy or quite feminine. I am sure I would love being a girl mom too, but we were never blessed with a sweet little girl. We have been blessed with 2 amazing sons (and 2 we will meet in Heaven) …we were told we would never have children so they are truly a blessing!!
Homeschooling is a privilege and something our family loves. We homeschooled our boys the whole way through from the beginning. They are doing well and making an impact in the lives of others. Homeschooling and parenting isn’t always easy, but what in life is that is worth doing right is?
Even before homeschooling our sons, I always loved teaching boys at school. Girls too, of course. But I had a special place in my heart for boys because it’s often such a struggle for them.
I loved their curiosity and warrior hearts. We would do some lessons under a tree outside and they would have fun digging in the dirt while listening. As long as they were getting it, I didn’t mind. After homeschooling, I have taught 5th grade several years. It’s been interesting going back to teaching in a private school after our homeschool experience. I’m grateful to be in a school where I can implement many of our homeschool strategies and things I’ll talk about here.
What have I found in my many years of teaching to be some of the must haves?
Prayer~ This is a necessity for any mom. Homeschooling in general brings challenges that you often have no idea what to do with. Homeschooling, especially boys, can bring up new issues, depending on their learning styles, personalities, family situations and more. Pray about what curriculum would be best. Pray to better understand your children. Pray for wisdom as to how to lead them through the schooling experience. Pray for flexibility and to not worry what others think or what you feel is pressure from society.
Patience ~ Boys, in particular, are more adventurous and wired to move and get things done. But often girls are too. Sitting in a desk for hours was not part of their design. It takes patience to learn how to homeschool boys, especially if you were used to a studious girl first. Be patient. Let him be the boy that God created Him to be. This is part of him becoming a man. Don’t try to put him in the school mold…school was not made for boys. Let them move and be active. Let them run around the house or do jumping jacks. Instead of losing it with your sons who are just being boys, let them move!!
This is why so many kids, especially boys, are on Ritalin and meds…they don’t fit in the box of the school system. Just let them move, be patient with them and let them be who God designed them to be. And if you find that they really do have a hard time focusing and concentrating, consider using something natural before medication. (I love this for moms and kids!) No, don’t let them run wild without learning rules and respect and boundaries, but learn to understand their heart and their design, rather than following everything the world says. Hello~ the world is going the wrong way generally.
Adventurous spirit~ bugs, snakes, pets, mud, dirt, torn jeans…get ready for the adventurous spirit that kids, especially boys have. And you are going to need it too, mom!! Again, this is part of their makeup and part of their journey to becoming a man. If you are a boy mama, you need to embrace all of this and learn how to deal with it and love it and your boy! The season is very short and you will wish you had loved all this about your sons. Dig in the dirt, look for bugs and rocks. Be an adventurous mama, right beside them. You are making memories they will NEVER forget.
Embrace their likes~ Since we just had sons… this section is geared to boys because that’s the “likes” we knew. But you can apply this to your girls as well and their favorites.
Do you know how many rocks and gems I had in my house? And rock books? How about bird books and all types of bird calls and bird noises. And toy cars and tractors? And trains. And tools. Everywhere I had this stuff. And much of it is still around, organized differently or boxed up for grandkids now that our sons are grown. They loved it. And it’s still important to them. There is an entire book shelf full of rocks and gems from everywhere that they collected or their dad brought back from his work around the country and it meant so much to our sons…and to me most look the same, but nope…they are all different and came from different places. They are even labeled. Do I necessarily want rocks all over my house? No, but I love my boys and I love their passion and their interests. God wired them all different and I love to see them studying things and researching more about God’s Creation. It won’t be long before they are going to have other interests and your house will get back to normal. Things will eventually be boxed up and moved out and you will long for it all over again. Love it, love them, embrace this season and their interests. Let them know things that matter to them matter to you.
Timer for short lessons~ attention spans are short. They need to be moving, touching, creating, conquering. Who has time to sit for an hour math lesson that equals BORING in their book. Make it interesting and short, especially the younger they are. Our homeschooling completely changed when we tried the 15 minute lessons from Charlotte Mason. Keep the lessons short, switch up the type of lessons so different parts of their brain are used. Lessons will get longer as they get older. But just stop and think how effective and focused you are when you have 15 minutes of doing something.
Dirt~ You read that right, dirt. Boys need to dig and play in the dirt. One of my boys’ favorite things to do outside is to dig and create all kinds of little cities with their toys. We are farmers, so they are always using their little toys to recreate life on the farm…feeding the cows, chopping silage, filling up the silage pits. I love watching their imagination at work and seeing how observant they have been to life around them. Don’t be afraid to let them get dirty. A little dirt and mud never hurt anybody. And the floors and rugs will clean. Try not to be too obsessed with the house and wound their little hearts when they have mud prints all across your newly mopped floor as they are bringing you a fresh flower to say “I love you, mom. “ It’s going to get quiet soon enough… you don’t believe it, but it will. And you are going to miss many of these things that were so aggravating. It’s okay to keep things neat, but not at the expense of their little hearts. Teach them to help and respect the neatness but do it in love and enjoy the journey, mom.
Gear for the Adventure~ Boys have to have the right gear to be boys, did you know that?Cowboy hats, toy guns, swords and bows and arrows can make for a rousing adventure! They love Cowboys and Indians. Then there is Cops and Robbers. Or they could pretend to be Daniel Boone or Davy Crockett with the Coonskin Cap.
Boys need stuff like binoculars, magnifying glasses, a compass, survival tools, shovels, backpacks, radios/walkie talkies…there are so many options to get their imaginations going and their adventures real. It is great to see them acting out history lessons with all their cool gear. Now that they are older, their gear grows and becomes real. Real life skills and safety lessons.
Videos (list of ideas you can watch for free) ~ It is important to know your child’s learning style, but many children, especially boys, do best by touching and seeing. We did not (and still don’t) have TV in our home due to the junk it brings. For entertainment, {when we actually watch tv} we just watch dvds ( in the old days but now Prime) of old shows like Leave it to Beaver, Hazel, Donna Reed, Daniel Boone, etc… along with old adventurous movies. Sadly, men on modern shows are not portrayed in a positive light…rather they are shown to be sissy and stupid and need a woman telling them what to do. No thanks…not the influence I want. Old westerns and shows like Robin Hood, Little House on the Prairie, Lassie, etc… show men to be men and more often, a better portrayal of how God designed life to be.
Educational shows that my boys (and students) have loved are anything farm related or machine related. But lots of girls enjoy these too. And the American Girls series. There is a series about John Deere and life on the farm. Popular Mechanics for kids has taught them a lot, Drive Thru History…we love history in our home and this brings it alive! Science shows like Moody Bible Institute are really good to help them learn about God’s Creation. Nest Entertainment has an excellent history and Bible series Torchlighters is a great series about heroes. Here is a list I used for my classroom that you might find helpful. We like The Swamp Fox too. Liberty’s Kids is something I think you’ll kids will love! If you can’t tell. yet, I LOVE history! My kids and students have all learned to love history because it’s a passion of mine and I present it in a way that is fun and memorable. Here are some more free videos on history. And this list of free videos go along with Beautiful Feet Curriculum but can be used for lots.
Audio Stories ~ One of my boys’ favorites is Jonathan Park...a Creation adventure that teaches about science, creation, history and geography, as well as families and trust in God. This is an excellent resource and you could expand it to your science curriculum to help you as you discuss Creation vs. evolution, where in the world Jonathan Park is traveling and reading what the Bible has to say about what Jonathan is saying.
~LISTEN to audiobooks / stories in the car or at home. Some are books or read aloud on YouTube. Here are some:
- Amos Fortune on the Your Story Hour channel… This tried and true series has been bringing history and other wonderful character building stories to life for years.
- Biographies Playlist
- Christian Missionaries Playlist
- Living Books Playlist
- Check out Internet Grandpa
Good Books~ In addition to the audio books mentioned above (and I know books are already probably a huge part of your day), your kids need good books to read. Books about adventure, books with heroes, books with a heart, loving the Lord. Adventure can be fun while teaching valuable lessons. The library is always a great place to start, but you might want to add to your family library. Here are just a few good ideas (and it’s also great to look for a read aloud or audio to go with it, depending on learning style… Hardy Boys, Great Battles for Boys, Rush Revere, Nancy Drew, Anne of Green Gables, Black Stallion, Old Yeller, Pollyanna, Heidi, Swiss Family Robinson, Johnny Tremain, Black Beauty, Ben and Me, Five Little Peppers, Little Women, Charlotte’s Web. You can see more here.
Playdough ~ Something that kids love and moms can despise…especially if it gets in the carpet. It is a great learning tool for so many areas. It gives boys something to do with their hands and they can create all kinds of good things. You can use it for most subjects. Plus, it is just fun! I love using this in my classroom too… even for older elementary.
Legos~ Legos are popular in our house. They were banned for a while…do you know what damage can be done by stepping on one? I ended up on crutches for a couple of weeks with a bad sprained ankle from one of these little things. But, I let them come back in our home…I just am more careful now when walking in the “Lego Zone” and they are older so they are kept neater. You can do all sorts of things with Legos and there are even educational programs available. Boys love Legos…building, creating, tearing these apart. Check out all these ideas here from a fellow homeschooler.
Cars and Toy Tractors/Construction Toys or Dollhouses, Kitchens~ My boys loved {and still do} playing with all their little vehicles. They especially loved all their farm equipment since we are farmers. Boys can play for hours making roads and cities. They can build things and recreate life on the farm. Step back and watch their imagination in action. I love to watch them and hear their stories. My nieces loved their kitchens, dolls and the cars and trucks too! And my sons loved playing with their kitchens and working in the real ones. They all need to learn the skills and it starts through play.
These can also be used as manipulatives for all kinds of things. When they are little, use them for sorting skills, colors, and to help with basic math facts. When they get older, they can be used for classification and learning about different types of cars. That is more Daddy’s department in our home. The amazed me as we drove down the road and they tell me what kind of motor a vehicle has in it, 4 wheel drive/ 2 wheel drive, off road and more. I just know the color and make.
Nature Notebooks~ Most kids love the outdoors. And I know sometimes allergies can be a real problem to enjoying this sadly. A wonderful way to spend time outside and to study God’s creation and science is by keeping a nature notebook. Let your kids explore the wonderful outdoors and then go on scavenger hunts or have a specific topic for them to look for. Boys especially love to learn about birds, rocks, bugs, leaves, plants, worms, butterflies, animals, flowers…the list goes on! Enjoy this special time with your son as you share with him about the Creator. You can make your own notebook or get a sketch pad. Collect things you see to study more in depth in the house. Take time to let them sketch what they have seen or write a little about it.
Tools~ My boys always had toy tool benches from the time they could walk. They loved to “build” things and they learned basic safety skills. Now they have graduated to real tools and toolboxes. They love to save up and buy new things to add to their collection. We add to it too on birthdays, Christmas and special occasions. We want our sons to have a complete tool collection and know how to fix things around the house before they leave home. That will save a lot of money when they are living on their own if they know how to fix things around the house and on their vehicles.
They love building things. So far, they have built a patio, with an in-ground fire pit, a fish pond with water fall and picket fence, with a patio, a fence around our garden, tables, paper towel holders. And much more. They love to build…it went from pretend things as little boys to real things that are useful and sweet gifts. This is part of a well rounded education…much better than sitting and playing video games all day.
Make Learning Fun ~That can be done…especially as homeschoolers. Sometimes we get overwhelmed or are in a really tough season and our school is not looking like we want it to. I have been there and have had to opt for textbooks or computer programs during difficult or stressful times when I needed some extra help. Those are not my first choices but they only lasted for a season. We love and thrive on a Charlotte Mason with a twist of classical thrown in.
Have fun. Make memories. Laugh when you want to cry. Smile at the craziness. Take lots of pictures. Be okay with stopping the curriculum for the day and having a picnic or regrouping.
GIVE YOUR KIDS YOU!! They love you and want to be your little Knight in Shining Armor or Little Princess. In this busy age where everything is available at our fingertips, step away from it all and focus completely on your precious son or daughter . You are doing an amazing thing and impacting future generations. You were called for such a time as this!
Enjoy the journey. I know it’s HARD. I am not discounting that at all and have lived through the hard days when I didn’t think I would make it. But you will!! I know you can do it and believe in you!
Homeschooling your children is an amazing adventure and one that I am thankful to be able to do with my family. It has not always been the way I planned it or dreamed of it being, but we learned to be flexible and go with the flow. We learned from our experiences and the different seasons in our lives. We taught our sons to be men and to be leaders. Embrace this time with your precious boys!!!
Happy Homeschooling!
Be sure to check out the Big Book of Homeschooling for more ideas!
NOW TIME FOR A GIVEAWAY!
It’s hard to believe, but another homeschool year is just around the corner. Whether you’re deep into planning or still enjoying summer, chances are you’ve got curriculum and supplies on your mind.
We know that preparing for a new homeschool year can be both exciting and overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to stick to a budget. Homeschooling on one income or teaching multiple kids can make the costs add up quickly. That’s why I’ve teamed up with a group of amazing homeschool bloggers to bring you our 12th Annual Back to Homeschool Giveaway. And we think you’re going to love it.
This year, we’re giving away three $250 gift cards, and the best part is that you get to choose which homeschool curriculum company the gift card is for. Whether you use The Good & the Beautiful, Gather Round, Notgrass, My Father’s World, or maybe you like shopping at Rainbow Resource, this giveaway is designed to help ease the cost of your school year.
The giveaway runs from July 9 through July 18, so be sure to get your entries in.
To enter, simply use the Rafflecopter form below. I know there are quite a few entries, but each blogger has generously contributed to make this giveaway possible. And remember, the more entries you complete, the better your chances of winning.
We hope this giveaway is a blessing to you and your homeschool this year!
Giveaway ends July 18th at 11:59pm ET. Winners will be drawn and emailed the following day. The winners will have 48 hours to respond to email to claim the prize. By entering this giveaway you will be added to the email lists of the participating bloggers. Please be sure to read the Terms & Conditions upon entering the giveaway.
If this doesn’t display properly, please click the link so you will be able to enter the giveaway. I hope you win!!
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4ff1c6b5238/?
Have a great day!
With love,
Mary
