Raising Arrows - Large Family Homeschool Life

Autumn Homemaking Oct 28, 2024

Every Autumn, my homemaking habits change with the season. Here are a few cozy ways I celebrate the Fall season in my kitchen and elsewhere!

GET IT NOW FOR FREE! Fall Family Traditions Bundle!

Resources mentioned:

Corinthian Bells
Farmhouse on Boone - Sourdough Starter, Sourdough Rolls, Sourdough Loaf, Pumpkin Spice Latte Concentrate
RoseRed Homestead on YouTube
Whole Wheat Bread Recipe
30 Minute Pizza Recipe
White Pizza Recipe
Hearty Winter Oven Stew Recipe
Winter Soup Recipe
Taco Soup Recipe
Sourdough Discard Apple Fritter Bread Recipe
Pumpkin Crumble Cake Recipe
Taco Seasoning Mix Recipe
Podcast #173 - Large Family House Sizes & Layouts
Decluttering Template (free download)

Large Family House Sizes & Layouts Oct 17, 2024

Over the years, our large family has lived in many different sizes of homes. A listener asked me to share what I've learned from living in large and small homes and what I feel is crucial space to have in a large family home!

Mentioned in this podcast:

Max & Lilly Bunk Bed
Trifold Mattress
Podcast #66 - Maximizing Space in Kids' Bedrooms
Large Family Bedrooms (post)
Living in a Garage While Building Your House Debt Free (post)
Large Family Organization page on Raising Arrows

Creating a Kitchen Workflow Sep 11, 2024

How to make your kitchen work efficiently and effectively while you homeschool!

Today's Sponsor: WriteStories by Scriptive Encourage reluctant writers and emerging storytellers to write their own stories using illustrations from children's books!

Resources mentioned:

Table Chores (post)
Master Grocery List

Make Your Kids Go Outside! Aug 27, 2024

A listener asked if I "make" my kids go outside, and the answer is a resounding YES! If you struggle to get your kids outside, this podcast is for you!

Resources mentioned:

Our Charlotte Mason Nature Bag (post) (podcast)
Autumn Homeschooling Ideas (post)
Tapestry of Grace (curriculum overview)
1000 Hours Outside (podcast) (trackers)

How to Have a Flexible Homeschool Year Aug 13, 2024

If you know you are going to have a busy homeschool year or if you just want to keep your homeschool schedule open and flexible, here's how you can plan for the upcoming year without stressing yourself out! This is the method I have been using for years with great success!

For more help, get my book: Flexible Homeschool Planning

Resources mentioned:

Flexible Homeschool Planning (book)
Are Local Homeschool Groups, Co-ops, and Classes a Waste of Time? (post)
How to Put Your Homeschool on Autopilot - Podcast #50
Five in a Row (curriculum)
Rod & Staff ABC Series Workbooks (curriculum)

I'm Not Ready to Start the Homeschool Year! Aug 07, 2024

Not every homeschool mom is excited to start the new school year. Here's what to do if YOU are that mom!

Get these books to help you manage this homeschool year!

Homeschooling with Purpose

Home Management for the Homeschool Mom

Resources mentioned:

The Truth About Burnout (post) (podcast)
Burned Out Mom (video)
A Mother Who Never Burns Out (post)
How to Put Your Homeschool on Autopilot (post) (podcast) (video)
Simply Convivial classes
How to Take a Homeschool Mom Sabbatical (post)
How to Take a Jubilee Homeschool Year (post) (podcast)
Year Round Homeschooling page on Raising Arrows
Homeschool Planning Inspiration (podcast) (video)

Homeschool Planning Inspiration Jul 23, 2024

Need a little inspiration to get started (or keep going!) with your homeschool planning? This podcast is full of ideas to make it efficient, easy, and enjoyable!

Resources mentioned:

Creating a Homeschool Schedule You Love eCourse - use code: 2024HSPLAN for 20% off! (ends 8/1/24)
Flexible Homeschool Planning (book)
Tapestry of Grace page
Music in Our Homeschool
You ARE an Artist (chalk art lessons)
Independent Homeschooling (post)
Modified Workboxes (post)
Homeschooling & the 3 Year Learning Curve (post)
How Many Hours Does It Take to Homeschool (post)
Delight Directed Homeschooling series
Investing in Real World Homeschooling (post)
CompuScholar
Homeschool Graduation Requirements - A Simple Plan (post)
Preparing Your Homeschooler for College (post)
Homeschool to College - Transitioning your teen (podcast #102)

How Giving Each Child a "Special Night" Has Become a Beloved Family Tradition Jul 10, 2024

For more than a decade, we have been doing some form of "Special Night" with each of our children one night a week. In this podcast, I share how that tradition has morphed over the years to accommodate our growing family and why this has become such a special night for all of us!

Resources mentioned:

Mom Breaks Versus Mom Escapes Jun 13, 2024

When you need margin in your day are you seeking breaks or escapes? Recognizing the difference is crucial to your job as a mother and homemaker.

Resources mentioned:

The Me Time Myth (post)
Caring for Yourself - The Me Time Myth Revisited (post)

Screen Time Rules When You Have Multiple Ages May 30, 2024

When you have big kids and little kids and even young adults living in your home, how do you handle all the different screens and rules for being on devices? Here's what's worked for us!

Resources mentioned:

Podcast #74 - Screen Time Limits in a Large Family
Do Your Homeschooled Kids Need a Cell Phone? (post)
Creating a Special Night for Each Child (post)
The Anxious Generation (book)
VidAngel (movie and television filtering service)

Homeschool Organization in Small Spaces May 02, 2024

Simple organizational ideas for homeschooling in small spaces using what you already own!

Resources mentioned:

Spending Time with Your Teens Apr 18, 2024

A plethora of ideas to help you spend quality time with your teenagers as they move from childhood into adulthood.

Resources mentioned:

Boys & Their Attitudes - Podcast #54
Girls & Their Attitudes - Podcast #56
Homeschool to College: Transitioning Your Teen - Podcast #102
Mother Daughter Journaling (post)

14 Ways to Make Your Marriage a Priority Apr 01, 2024

Don't let your marriage slip through the cracks of your homeschooling day!

Resources mentioned:

The 5 Love Languages (book)
Just Between Us (app)
Driveway Dates (post)
12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson (book)

Mothering Sons into Adulthood Mar 25, 2024

The relationship between a mother and her son is special, but it also changes as he moves from being a little boy, to being a teenager, to being a man. As moms we need to learn to accept these changes and grow and change with them.

Resources mentioned:

Boys and Their Attitudes (Podcast #54)
How to Parent and Discipline Boys and their Attitudes (post)
Kristin Lavransdatter trilogy

How to Keep the House Clean with A Lot of Kids Mar 08, 2024

Tactics for keeping the house clean with a bunch of kids underfoot!

Get my book - Home Management for the Homeschool Mom

Resources mentioned:

4 Steps to a Better Homeschool Day (free class)
Mom's Daily Checklist
Cleaning with Kids Podcast Series - #46-49
How to Put Your Homeschool on Autopilot - Podcast #50

Changing How We See Sundays Feb 15, 2024

Are your Sundays anything but restful? Are you tired of trying to get Sundays "right?" When you have a lot of kids, Sundays can be hard - getting everyone ready, keeping everyone calm during the service, and then they still expect to eat when you get home! It's time we changed how we see Sundays and lean into Jesus as our Sabbath rest!

Focus you calendar on Christ! Celebrating the Church Year Online Guide BUY NOW and start CELEBRATING!

Challenges of Homeschooling Multiple Ages Jan 29, 2024

Homeschooling a lot of different ages and stages presents a unique set of circumstances and challenges. In today's podcast, we'll walk through several of these with real world solutions!

Teach your kids to dig into Scripture with games, puzzles, and more in the brand new Bible Investigators: Creation! Need help creating a homeschool schedule you can stick to? Take my class! Creating a Homeschool Schedule You Love!

Resources mentioned:

How to Add Another Child to Your Homeschool (post)
Simple Morning Time (post0
Simple Morning Time (podcast #86)
Morning Time with Multiple Ages (post)
Independent Schoolwork (post)
Teaching Textbooks Large Family Review (post)
Secrets for Handling Attitudes in Girls (post)
Girls and their Attitudes (podcast #56)
How to Parent and Discipline Boys and Their Attitudes (post)
Boys and their Attitudes (podcast #54)
Homeschooling When Everyone Needs You (post)

Balancing Homeschooling and Homemaking Jan 24, 2024

How do you find time to clean the house while you homeschool? In this podcast, we'll talk about keeping up with the housework and schoolwork using simple routines and systems!

Useful resources for managing your home and homeschool:

Creating a Homeschool Schedule You Love (ecourse)
Home Management for the Homeschool Mom (book)

Other resources mentioned:

How Many Hours Does It Take to Homeschool? (post or podcast #26)
One Day House Cleaning (Home Blessing) - post
Cleaning with Children Podcast Series: #46-49
Mega Laundry Post
Morning Routine
Table Chores
Morning Time
Teaching Your Kids to Work Independently
15 Minute Tidy Up
Evening Routine

Living the Liturgical Year as a Protestant Family Dec 07, 2023

How to use the Christian Church Year to focus your heart and mind on Christ as year long!

Get my Liturgical Calendar Guide for Protestant Families HERE! use code: LITRURGY10 for 10% off!

FREE Liturgical Calendar Wheel - https://raisingarrows.net/liturgical-church-year-protestant-family/

Resources mentioned:

Celebrating the Biblical Feasts by Martha Zimmerman
Celebrating the Christian Year by Martha Zimmerman
Unwrapping the Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp
Living the Christian Year Devotional by Bobby Gross
Podcast #28 - Having a REAL Sabbath Rest
Emily's Story
Christmas Homeschool Ideas
Free Easter Devotionals for Children

Losing the Baby Weight Nov 14, 2023

My personal journey of losing and gaining and losing again throughout 20 years of multiple pregnancies.

Resources mentioned:

How to Adjust Homeschool Methods for a Large Family Oct 24, 2023

Your favorite homeschooling method may not fit your large family, but a few small adjustments can work wonders! In this episode, Amy shares how to tweak 5 popular homeschooling methods to make them work for a large family.

Get the ebooklet mentioned in this episode! How to Make Any Curriculum Work for Your Family

Resources mentioned:

Charlotte Mason Homeschooling in 18 Easy Step-by-Step Lessons (ebook)
Notebooking for the Large Family (post)
Tapestry of Grace (page on Raising Arrows)
How to Have a Jubilee Homeschooling Year (post)
Music In Our Homeschool (online learning platform)
Morning Time with Multiple Ages (post)
Karen Andreola's books
Julia Rothman's "Anatomy" books

Related Podcasts:

Podcast #124 - Taking a Jubilee Homeschool Year
Podcast #70 - How to Use Workbooks to Lighten Your Homeschool Load

How to Find Time to Clean as a Homeschool Mom Oct 11, 2023

Homeschool moms have a lot to do in a day, including trying to keep the house clean! WHEN do you find the time to clean? Let's talk about what works best and why!

Buy the Book!Home Management for the Homeschool Mom

Take my FREE Class: 4 Steps to a Better Homeschool Day

Related Podcasts:

Podcast #46 - Weekly House Cleaning Without Help
Podcast #47 - Creating a Chore Board
Podcast #48 - Weekly Chore Rotation
Podcast #49 - Weekly House Cleaning with Older Children

Sponsored by: Homeschool Magnet

In this episode:

Questions you need to ask yourself when finding a meal planning method that works for you.
Why you should avoid comparing your grocery budget to someone else's.
My meal planning methods over the years.

Resources mentioned:

Large Family Meal Planning (blog post)
How to Use Evernote to Meal Plan (video)
Family Favorites Meal List (blog post with video!)

Homeschooling Ages 6 & Under Apr 27, 2021

What should homeschooling look like if you only have kids ages 6 and under? How much time does it take and what subjects should you cover?

Need help homeschooling? Check out: Homeschool Magnet

Get my FREE HOMESCHOOLING CLASS! 4 Steps to a Better Homeschool Day

In this episode:

Why age 6 is scary for homeschool moms.
The one thing your child needs most in his or her education.
Why a 6 year old only needs an hour of schooling - and what that looks like.

Resources mentioned:

A Year of Playing Skillfully (read my REVIEW)
Peaceful Preschool (read my REVIEW or watch the VIDEO)
Tapestry of Grace Primer (review coming soon!)
Easy Morning Time (post & podcast)
Avoid Mom Burnout (post & podcast)

Homeschool to College: How to Transition Your Teen Apr 07, 2021

The world outside your homeschool doesn't have a biblical worldview, so it is important to prepare kids for the culture they will meet in college.

Compass Classroom Sale! up to 50% off popular video curriculum >> SHOP HERE

The Introverted Homeschool Mom's Survival Guide Mar 30, 2021

As an introverted homeschool, it can be difficult to manage a day full of children. Learn tips and tricks to make it easier!

Need someone to help you homeschool? Check out Homeschool Magnet!

In this episode:

Why you should admit you are an introvert.
The morning routine introverts need!
A simple trick to teach your children during school hours.
Why everyone needs to do less - including your extroverted children!
How to create an introverted "haven."

Resources mentioned:

Podcast #97 - Things Large Family Moms Can't Do
Podcast #37 - How to Choose Extracurricular Activities for Your Family
Morning Time with Multiple Ages (post)
Making Lunch Easy (post)
MBTI test
Morning Routines based on personality (post)

"Now I am sure if you could once make up your mind in the fear of God never to undertake more work of any sort than you can carry on calmly, quietly, without hurry or flurry, and the instant you find yourself growing nervous and like one out of breath, would stop and take breath, you would find this simple and commonsense rule doing for you what no prayers or tears could ever accomplish." - Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss

Choosing Homeschool Curriculum When You Have a Lot of Kids Mar 16, 2021

Explore the many options for choosing curriculum that can be used to teach many different ages at the same time! (Part 3 of the Homeschooling Multiple Ages podcast series.)

Need someone to help you homeschool? Check out Homeschool Magnet!

In this episode:

Why you shouldn't choose curriculum based solely on your children.
How to "teach up" and "supplement down."
How to make age-graded materials easier to use.

Resources mentioned:

Podcast #98 - Homeschooling Multiple Ages (Part 1)
Podcast #70 - How to Use Workbooks to Lighten Your Homeschool Load
A Year of Playing Skillfully (review post)
Teaching Textbooks (review post)
Tapestry of Grace
Peaceful Press
Rod & Staff ABC Series
Biblioplan
Sonlight
Shurley Grammar

Homeschool Organization for Large Families Feb 23, 2021

In this, Part 2 of Homeschooling Multiple Ages podcast series, we explore simple and effective organization methods for the supplies, books, and curriculum needed to homeschool a larger family.

Need help homeschooling? Check out Homeschool Magnet!

For more guidance and ideas to help you homeschool your larger than average family, get my book: Large Family Homeschooling

In this episode:

The key to organization (hint: it isn't pretty and it isn't color-coded!)
How to best organize homeschool books and curriculum so it is easy to use.
Resources and apps that help you organize!

Resources mentioned:

Large Family Homeschooling book
Color Coded Kids (podcast #95)
Morning Time with Multiple Ages post
Organizing the Large Family Homeschool post
Simple Homeschool Organization Systems post
Modified Workbox System post
Cube storage with baskets
External hard drive
Keepy app

Homeschooling Multiple Ages - Part 1 Jan 26, 2021

Are you homeschooling more than one child? Then you already know how hard this can be, and you might be wondering if there's some secret to success you are missing. Never fear! I can help you navigate the murky waters of homeschooling multiple ages and grade levels!

Need help homeschooling? Check out Homeschool Magnet!

Make a homeschool schedule that WORKS with my ecourse: Creating a Homeschool Schedule You Love!

In this episode:

What makes homeschooling multiple ages so stressful.
Why you have to think outside the box and how to do that.
How to choose curriculum you can use to homeschool all of your kids.

Resources mentioned:

Creating a Homeschool Schedule (class)
Why Homeschool Gaps Aren't Mistakes (post)
Tapestry of Grace (resource page)
Apologia Elementary Science
The Story of the Romans
Biblioplan

Things Large Family Moms Can't Do Jan 07, 2021

Moms with big families might look like super mom from the outside, but there are lots of things we CAN'T do that allows us to do the things we NEED to do!

A new way to homeschool! HomeschoolMagnet.com/arrows

In this episode:

How I handle volunteer opportunities.
The only thing I have to apologize for (and how I avoid it in the first place).
Why introverts and extroverts matter when it comes to being a large family mom.

Resources mentioned:

Podcast #95 - Color Coded Kids

How to Do Christmas School Dec 07, 2020

Step-by-step tips to fit in Christmas plans and projects into your December homeschool! Plus, my personal Christmas Homeschooling plans this year!

Need help homeschooling? Check out HomeschoolMagnet.com

Get my Christmas Holiday Homeschool Planner HERE!

In this episode:

How to fit extra holiday projects into your homeschool day.
How much time you should take to do holiday projects and plans.
My own Christmas Homeschool plans!

Resources mentioned:

Color Coding Your Kids Nov 17, 2020

When I had my 4th child, I started organizing the kids' things by color. This podcast is all about the why, how, and what of color coding your kids, plus what to do when you run out of colors!

Check out Homeschool Magnet for a new way to homeschool!

In this episode:

Why I started color coding my kids.
Which items were most important for me to color code.
What I did when I ran out of colors for each of the kids.

Resources mentioned:

Color-Coded Children (post)
Matching Outfits for Your Large Family (post)
Tervis cups

How My Homeschooling Has Changed Over the Years Nov 04, 2020

When I started homeschooling, I had a very different goal in mind and a very different approach. Over the 18 years I've been homeschooling, A LOT has changed in our home and homeschool!

Check out Homeschool Magnet!

Get my Homeschool Scheduling ecourse! Use code: raisingarrowspodcast for $10 off!

In this episode:

The ultimatum my husband gave me when I started homeschooling.
Why I read a HUGE homeschool catalog cover to cover.
The things I learned about myself as a homeschool mom and how it changed how I homeschooled.

Resources mentioned:

Holiday Homeschool Planner (use code: THANKFUL for $10 off)
Using Workbooks in Your Homeschool - Podcast #70
How to Anchor Your Homeschool Day - Podcast #77
Occupying a Busy Preschooler - Podcast #16
How We Prepare Our Kids for College
A Year of Playing Skillfully Review
Peaceful Preschool Review
Tapestry of Grace (How I use this curriculum)
Homeschool Garden Morning Time Review
Music in Our Homeschool (aff)
SQUILT (aff)
Apologia Elementary Science Review

What I Wish I'd Known When I Started Homeschooling Oct 20, 2020

10 things I wish someone had told me about homeschooling when I first got started that would have really mattered!

Take my homeschool scheduling course!https://raisingarrows.net/homeschoolschedule Use code: homeschoolschedule to get $10 off!

In this episode:

How your homeschool methods will change - and why that's ok.
Why your weaknesses don't make you weak.
Why over-analyzing is your best asset.

Resources mentioned:

What I Wish Someone Had Told Me When I Started Homeschooling (post)
Why Homeschool Gaps Aren't Mistakes (post)
Am I Smart Enough to Homeschool (podcast #84)

Help! My Homeschool Curriculum Isn't Working! Oct 06, 2020

You're a few months into homeschooling and you realize that shiny new curriculum isn't working out the way you had hoped. What do you do? Keep trudging through? Throw it out? Sell it? Help!

Coupon code: homeschoolmom20 for Home Management for the Homeschool Mom & Flexible Homeschool Planning

In this episode:

Reasons you should ditch a curriculum.
How to tweak a curriculum that isn't working.
Tons of ideas to help you redo and supplement curriculum.

Resources mentioned:

Home Management for the Homeschool Mom (book or audio)
Flexible Homeschool Planning (book)
Change Curriculum (or just change how you use it?) (post)
Why Homeschooling Gaps Aren't Mistakes (post)
Does My Child Have to Do All of the Problems in the Book? (post)
Reading Eggs (aff)
Peaceful Press curriculum (aff)
Apologia Science for Multiple Ages (post)
Khan Academy
Wraps Ups (aff)
Unifix Cubes (aff)
SimplyFun Games Instead of Flashcards (post)

Nature Based Homeschool Curriculum Sep 08, 2020

Sharing God's creation with your children is an important part of their education, but it doesn't have to be complicated to be awe-inspiring! Today, I'm sharing a few of my favorite nature based resources that don't stress me out!

Take my FREE CLASS - 4 Steps to a Better Homeschool Day!

In this episode:

Why your children need nature.
How to keep nature studies from being overwhelming.
Great resources that make nature studies easy!

Resources mentioned:

Hashtags to follow:

#natureschool #naturestudy #unpluggedchildhood #wildandfree #outdoorclassroom

Parent-Student Conferences for the BEST Homeschool Year Aug 12, 2020

Start your homeschool year off on the right foot by meeting individually with each of your kids! This introduces them to their curriculum and helps them to feel included in and responsible for the lessons they will be learning throughout the school year.

Need a homeschool schedule you can stick with? START HERE!

In this episode:

How to get your kids to "own" their schoolwork.
How parent-student conferences help your spouse understand your homeschool.
How these meetings build your relationship with your kids.

Resources mentioned:

Creating a Homeschool Schedule You Love (ecourse)
Year Round Homeschooling (huge list of resources!)
Back to School Ideas for Homeschoolers (post)
Johnny Appleseed & More! (unit study ideas for Fall)
Apples & Cinnamon Unit Study
Blessing Tree (craft)
Parent-Student Conferences (post)

How Your Kids Can Homeschool Themselves Jul 21, 2020

How much homeschooling can kids do on their own? This podcast gives you steps to teach your kids to be independent learners and homeschool themselves!

Take the Creating a Homeschool Schedule You Love ecourse! SIGN UP HERE!

In this episode:

What independent learning looks like.
The 1 thing you have to believe if you want your kids to work on their own.
How your child's interests could be the key to teaching them to work independently.

Resources mentioned:

Creating a Homeschool Schedule You Love (ecourse)
Independent Learning for Homeschoolers (post)
Morning Time with Multiple Ages (post)
Podcast #50 - Autopilot Homeschool
How Many Hours a Day Does it Take to Homeschool? (post)
Podcast #74 - Screen Time Limits for a Large Homeschool Family
Investing in Real World Homeschooling (post)
Delight Directed Homeschooling (blog series)

How Much Time Should You Spend Playing with Your Kids? Jun 15, 2020

How much time do you need to set aside to play with your children? How do you find time to play in a day full of cooking, cleaning, changing diapers, and just trying to keep up. And do you really NEED to play with your kids or is this just a guilt trip made up by parenting "experts?" LISTEN NOW!

FREE 30 DAY TRIAL OF READING EGGS > https://readingeggs.com/raisinga

GET MY BOOK > So Many Littles, So Little Time

In this episode:

How to find time to play with your kids.
How to "play" while you work.
Tricks for managing your time to include your little ones all day long!

When a Sibling Feels Left Out May 19, 2020

Everyone feels left out from time to time, but as a mom, seeing it happen in your own family can be heartbreaking. Learn what you can do when one of your children feels left out.

FREE HOMESCHOOL CLASS 4 Steps to a Better Homeschool Day JOIN NOW!

In this episode:

Why siblings shouldn't be required to play together all the time.
Why friendships between siblings ebb and flow.
How to encourage your kids to include each other.

Resources mentioned:

An Easy Morning Time Routine Apr 28, 2020

Get your homeschool day started with a simple Morning Time that helps you set the tone for the entire day! And guess what?! It doesn't have to be long and full of lots of extra stuff! Start simple and work your way up to a Morning Time that fits your family!

FREE CLASS - 4 Steps to a Better Homeschool Day SIGN UP HERE!

FREE TRIAL OF READING EGGS! https://readingeggs.com/raisinga/

In this episode:

Why having a Morning Time is helpful to the rest of your homeschool day.
How to implement a simple Morning Time.
How to ease into more for your Morning Time.

Resources mentioned:

My new class! - Creating a Homeschool Schedule You Love!
FREE 4 Steps to a Better Homeschool Day class
Reading Eggs FREE TRIAL
Anchor Your Homeschool Podcast & Video
Homeschool Garden Morning Time Review Post & Video
FREE SAMPLE of Homeschool Garden Morning Time
Making Morning Time Easy
Morning Basket Time with Multiple Ages
Timeline of the Classics
Hurlbut's Story of the Bible (1932 edition)
Mighty Acts of God
The Read Aloud Family
Honey for a Child's Heart

How I Deal with My Lack of Motivation Apr 14, 2020

How do I overcome a lack of motivation when I feel lazy or like I can't accomplish anything? This podcast is full of ideas and insight based on my experiences as a mom, homeschooler, and homemaker.

FREE TRIAL of MINNO! Christian kids streaming video app Use code: RAISINGARROWS for a 7 DAY FREE TRIAL! SIGN UP HERE: GoMinno.com

In this episode:

Why your lack of motivation may be a need for rest.
How to use lists and challenges to motivate you.
Why your motivation personality type can make or break you.

Resources mentioned:

GoMinno.com (free 7 day trial with code: RAISINGARROWS)
Trim Healthy Mama (aff)

Am I Smart Enough to Homeschool? Mar 31, 2020

Yes, you ARE smart enough to homeschool, plus learn how to play up your strengths and overcome your weaknesses!

FREE 7 DAY TRIAL OF MINNO Christian kids streaming video app! use code: RAISINGARROWS

In this episode:

How to strengthen your academic weaknesses.
How to find resources to teach your weak subjects.
How your strengths become the icing on your homeschool cake!

Resources mentioned:

Minno streaming app >> GOMINNO.COM (use code RAISINGARROWS for free 7 day trial!)
Teaching Textbooks
Apologia Science
Grammar for Writers (big sale going on April 1-8, 2020!)
Making Morning Time Easy (post)
Morning Basket Time with Multiple Ages (post)
Why Homeschool Gaps Aren't Mistakes (post)

How to Set Up a Simple Homeschool Schedule Mar 24, 2020

Making a homeschool schedule doesn't have to be hard! Learn how to make a simple schedule that helps you stay consistent and on track!

Get more homeschool scheduling help with my books: Home Management for the Homeschool Mom Flexible Homeschool Planning

In this episode:

How to find the "right" block of time for homeschooling.
How to order subjects to make your schedule simple!
New scheduling course from Raising Arrows coming soon!

Resources mentioned:

Home Management for the Homeschool Mom (book)
Flexible Homeschool Planning(book)
How Many Hours a Day Does it Take to Homeschool? POST - PODCAST
Autopilot Homeschooling - POST - VIDEO - PODCAST
How to Anchor Your Homeschool Day - PODCAST - VIDEO
The Kind Kingdom curriculum (aff)
Creating a Homeschool Schedule You Love eCourse! [COMING SOON!]

Dealing with The Dirty Dishes Mar 17, 2020

Large family = Lots of dishes! Learn how to stay on top of the dish washing with a busy household and lots of littles!

Go HERE to get your Laugh and Learn Bible today!

In this episode:

How to keep up with dishes when you only have little kids.
How to set up dish washing chores when the kids get older.
Resources to help large families manage all those dishes.
And so much more!

Resources mentioned:

LaughandLearnBible.com
Bosch dishwasher
FLYlady.com
XXL Drying Mat (aff)
Soap Wand (aff)
Mystie Winckler's Simplified Organization classes (aff)

How to "Prove" Your Homeschooler is Learning Mar 03, 2020

Is there a homeschooling skeptic in your midst? Do you feel like every time your turn around you have to prove your kids are actually learning? This podcast shares simple ways to "prove" your children are learning at home without making them regurgitate facts and figures on command!

Get the Laugh and Learn Bible for Easter this year! (tell the grandparents!)

In this episode:

The real reason the skeptics closest to you quiz your kids.
How your phone can be a powerful tool for convincing (and including) the grandparents.
How to utilize the walls of your home to share your homeschooling experience.
How to use hospitality to invite skeptics to understand and engage in your homeschool.

Resources mentioned:

Mistakes We Made Parenting Our College Student Who Lived at Home Feb 18, 2020

How much should you expect of the young adults living in your home? What if they are going to college or have a job? How do you set rules and boundaries that make sense for your adult child and the rest of your family? Learn from our mistakes!

Read the post: Mistakes We Made Parenting Our Live-At-Home College Student

Resources mentioned:

Empowering Parents section on adult children living in your home.

Homeschooling All Ages Together Feb 04, 2020

Simplify your homeschool by teaching the same subject to all of your children at the same time! Learn how in this episode!

Get your copy of Large Family Homeschooling HERE!

In this episode:

Subjects that easily lend themselves to being taught all together.
How to teach to varying ages.
How to choose curriculum that helps you teach everyone all together.
How to keep young ones engaged and older children challenged.

Resources mentioned (may contain affiliate links):

The Homeschool Garden Morning Time plans
Apologia Science
Fix It Grammar from IEW
Mad Libs
Mystery of History
Tapestry of Grace
Peaceful Press
Word Up! from Compass Classroom

Helpful podcasts & posts:

Homeschool Mom Basket (post)
#77 - How to Anchor Your Homeschool (podcast)
#50 - How to Put Your Homeschool on Autopilot (podcast)
Large Family Homeschooling (book)

Tips for Eating Healthy with a Large Family Jan 21, 2020

Feeding a healthy diet to your large family takes coordination, time, and resources, but it's not as difficult as you may think. With a little creativity and grace, you can easily feed your family healthy meals that don't take all your time, energy, and money!

>> BUY Home Management for the Homeschool Mom

How to Anchor Your Homeschool Day Jan 08, 2020

If your homeschool schedule feels chaotic and messy, you probably need to put some anchors in place to keep your homeschool day on track! Learn how in this episode!

Get your 30 day FREE TRIAL of Reading Eggs here!

In this episode:

What are anchors?
How do they help you build a consistent homeschool schedule?
Why school needs to start (and end) the same way every day.
What happened when I didn't anchor my day!

Resources mentioned:

Morning Time Basket w/ Multiple Ages
Podcast #50 - Autopilot Homeschooling

How to Keep Your Home Clean During the Holidays Dec 10, 2019

Keep your home tidy and festive this Christmas season...even with a lot of kids...even with homeschooling...even with all the stuff you have to do!

Get the Christmas Holiday Homeschool Planner >>

Get your FREE Christmas Movie Themed Parties >>

Get your FREE Christmas Eve Candlelight Vigil >>

In this episode:

What we do for Advent & Christmas
Why you should focus on tidying up rather than cleaning
How and when to set up a "Tidy Up Time"
How to get kids involved in cleaning up
How to put your house "to bed" each night
How to keep Advent traditions simple

Resources mentioned:

Balancing Homeschooling & Self Care Nov 26, 2019

Homeschool moms are busy with a lot of things, but in our busyness are we neglecting to take care of ourselves? How do we balance all we have to do with our own needs, while avoiding the trap of selfishness? This podcast might step on a few toes, but it's time we addressed self care as a homeschool mom!

FREE 7 DAY TRIAL of Minno with code: RAISINGARROWSGo to >> GoMinno.com - The streaming service for Christian kids has all the classic episodes of Veggie Tales + thousands more!

In this episode:

Why I don't like the term "self care" and what I prefer instead.
Why homeschool moms are so stressed and in such need of "self care."
How to create healthy "temple" habits.
How to hit the "reset" button on your day.
How to fit self care into your morning and evening schedule.

Resources mentioned:

Podcast #69 (Relaxed Homeschool Mom)
Podcast #45 (Sensory Issues)
Podcast #52 (Mother Culture)
Podcast #37 (Extracurricular Activities)
How to Take a Homeschool Mom Sabbatical (blog)

Screen Time Limits in a Large Homeschooling Family Nov 12, 2019

Between education and entertainment, our children spend a lot of time in front of screens. How do we handle the balance of online and offline when there are a lot of kids in the house and a lot of school needing to be accomplished? This podcast gives you tangible, practical ideas for setting limits on screen time!

FREE 7 DAY TRIAL of Minno!with code: RAISINGARROWS GoMinno.com This streaming service for Christian kids has all the classic episodes of Veggie Tales + thousands more!

In this episode:

How much school work should be done on the computer by age.
Why I have a set time of day for screen time.
How we organize TV time.
Why Friday is "special!"
Why Sunday is "different!"
How long my kids get to play games.
How to handle screens when you have adult children in the home.

Resources mentioned:

Minno (7 day free trial with code: RAISINGARROWS)
Weaning from the Screen (post)
How to Get a Mommy-Break without the TV (post)
Teaching Textbooks (post about how we use it)
Reading Eggs (post about how we use it)
Typesy (post about how we use it)
Wattpad (online writing platform)
Compass Classroom (online classes we love!)

Family Road Trips & Holiday Travel Oct 29, 2019

Make your next day trip smooth sailing with these tips on what to pack, how to keep the kids calm, and much more!

Check out the new Jonathan Park audio adventures! use code: arrows for FREE SHIPPING!

In this episode:

How to make a family day trip enjoyable.
How we avoid having phones and a DVD player in the van.
How to make a van seating chart to avoid arguments.
What should go in your Day Trip Bag & Diaper Bag.

Resources mentioned:

What to Pack on a Family Day Trip (post)
Van Seating Chart (post)
Van Tour (video)
Homemade Baby Carriers (post)
How to Pack for a Large Family Vacation (video)
interlocking baby toy rings
muslin blankets
soft-sided cooler
first aid kit
fleece lap blanket
zippered water-resistant blanket
collapsible trash can

(some links may be affiliate links - I make a small commission from purchases made through those links, including Amazon.)

Learn more about Jonathan Park Creation Science audios HERE >> Don't forget the FREE SHIPPING code: arrows

Managing Meal Time Madness with Little Ones Oct 15, 2019

Does meal time feel chaotic, loud, and full of picky eaters? These tips will help you manage meal time with grace and calm when all you have are little ones sitting at your table!

Get your FREE FALL FAMILY TRADITIONS BUNDLE!

**hint** There's a coupon code for my Holiday Homeschool Planner Pack inside!

In this podcast:

Why you need a meal reminder on your phone!
Why kid-friendly dinnerware keeps meals calm & teaches a valuable lesson.
The best thing to bring to the table to keep mom sane!
Why high chairs are your best friend.
Why the way you serve the meal is important.
How to teach your small children to converse at the table.
How to hand discipline at the table!
Managing picky eaters!
Why every meal time should be special!

Resources mentioned:

Fall Family Traditions Bundle (FREE RESOURCE!)
Managing Meal Time with Babies & Toddlers (BLOG POST)
Table Chores (how our family cleans up after dinner!)
Our Washcloth Napkins (BLOG POST)
Our Ikea dinnerware set
Our Corelle dinnerware set
Wooden Roller Cart
Table High Chair
Reclining High Chair

Why Family Traditions Matter Sep 24, 2019

As Christians, the things we do as a family take on significance far beyond our earthly home. Learn why family traditions matter and how to start your own simple traditions today!

>> FREE Fall Family Traditions Bundle

How to Use Workbooks to Lighten Your Homeschool Load Sep 17, 2019

Are you worn out and needing a break, but don't know how to get more margin in your homeschool day? Have you ever felt guilty for using workbooks in your homeschool? Do you wish you could ditch the workbooks, but you just can't figure out what you would do instead? This podcast will help you use workbooks to your advantage without making your homeschool dry and boring!

Get your FREE FALL FAMILY TRADITIONS BUNDLE

Other resources mentioned:

How to Take a Homeschool Mom Sabbatical (post)
Fix-It Grammar
Autopilot Homeschooling (podcast)
Does My Child Have to Do All the Problems in the Book? (post)
Math Wrap-Ups (aff link)
Reading Eggs/Math Seeds
Unboxing Reading Eggs Workbooks (video)

Helpful Timestamps:

1:46 - What happened when I tried to completely ditch workbooks in our homeschool.

4:04 - The benefit of delegating your homeschool subjects to workbooks.

4:48 - What beautiful homeschooling memories are truly made of.

6:27 - Why workbooks aren't just for the subjects we detest teaching.

8:07 - How workbooks can help you homeschool through hardships.

8:39 - Addressing the "guilt" of using workbooks.

11:32 - Subjects that easily lend themselves to workbooks + my personal workbook choices!

13:02 - How to make workbooks fun!

14:04 - Why you don't have to do all the problems in a workbook.

16:13 - Math manipulative ideas.

17:40 - How to supplement workbooks without adding to your workload.

20:22 - Where to put workbooks in your homeschool schedule.

How to Be a Relaxed Homeschool Mom Aug 20, 2019

Are you stressed out by homeschooling this year? This podcast will give you the practical tools you need to become a relaxed homeschool mom!

Get my FREE Daily Homemaking Checklist HERE!

Autopilot Homeschooling (podcast #50)

How to Put Your Homeschool on Autopilot (post)

The Easiest Homeschool Routine Ever! (video)

How to Choose Extracurricular Activities for Your Family (podcast #37)

Helpful timestamps:

1:17 - How recognizing your unique family dynamic will help you relax.

6:08 - How to choose stress-free curriculum.

10:17 - How to "Delete & Delegate" things in your homeschool day.

14:53 - The #1 thing that causes stress in a homeschool mom's life!

Taking the Blah Out of Back-to-Homeschool Aug 05, 2019

Are you feeling less than excited about getting back to homeschool? Start your homeschool year off right with some new (and simple!) traditions!

FREE TRIAL OF READING EGGS HERE >>

Things you need to check out:

Back to Homeschool (post)
Homeschooling Year Round information
End of Summer Picnic (podcast)
End of Summer Picnic (post)
A Year of Playing Skillfully (review)
Lenspiration (use code ARROWS for 30% off)

GET MY BOOK FLEXIBLE HOMESCHOOL PLANNING HERE >>

Organizing Your Spiritual Life Jul 23, 2019

Is your Quiet Time lacking since you had children? It's time to organize your spiritual life!

>> GET YOUR FREE FAMILY WORSHIP GUIDE!

Maximizing Space in Kids' Bedrooms Jul 15, 2019

Got a lot of kids and not a lot of space? This podcast is all about managing and organizing your kids' bedrooms to make the most of the space you have!

Looking for help with managing your home and homeschool? I wrote the book! >> Home Management for the Homeschool Mom

Posts you may want to read:

Small House, Large Family (2016)
Large Family Bedrooms (2014)
Living in a Garage (2017)
How I Organize Baby's Things in my Bedroom (2017)
Large Family Closet Organization (2019)

Helpful Podcast Timestamps:

1:01 - Why we only use 3 bedrooms no mater the size of our house.

3:27 - Using the Master Bedroom for children.

5:06 - Putting babies in with siblings.

6:34 - Our current boys bedroom setup.

7:02 - Clothing storage options

8:12 - Triple bunks & platform beds (READ MORE HERE)

9:19 - Spaces for babies (READ MORE HERE)

11:08 - Bunk Beds for older kids (THESE are the bunks I mentioned)

11:57 - Hanging vs. Folding clothes

15:17 - Toys in the bedrooms

16:23 - Family closet ideas (READ MORE HERE)

Creating a Mom Uniform Jun 10, 2019

Every professional that helps them do their job well. Moms need a uniform as much as anyone! The great thing about our uniform is that we can personalize and customize to show our uniqueness, all the while reminding us of who we are in Christ and helping us serve those He puts in our path! Creating a Mom Uniform will give you the tools you need to do your job well!

> Check out www.analuisa.com/RaisingArrows to see the earrings I mention in this episode! (and get $10 off!)

> Subscribe to the Raising Arrows newsletter for your FREE Daily Homemaking List to keep you on track during your day!

> Follow me on Instagram!

Other resources mentioned:

Sensory Issues as a Mom (article)

Getting Dressed to the Shoes - FLYlady (article)

Why I Started Homeschooling May 21, 2019

Everyone has a story about how they came to homeschooling. This is mine!

Subscribe to the blog for helpful tips and resources for homeschooling!

SUBSCRIBE HERE!

0:53 - How I learned about homeschooling 2:59 - The series of events that God placed in our lives that led to homeschooling 5:02 - My husband's homeschooling ultimatum 7:15 - The point where I began to catch a vision for the spiritual side of homeschooling 9:26 - The 2 main reasons I started homeschooling & how God used my sinful pride to put me on His path. 10:35 - Why you have to homeschool according to God's plan for YOUR family. 11:26 - Where to start your own homeschooling journey!

Simple Summer Homeschooling Plans May 08, 2019

Are you planning on "trying out" homeschooling this summer? Perhaps you are considering homeschooling year round or you feel like you need to "catch up" a bit this summer. Or maybe you just want to have a little educational fun during the summer months! Whatever your reason, these summer homeschooling plans will help you plan without breaking a sweat!

Download a FREE Homeschooling Year Round Checklist >> https://www.subscribepage.com/yearroundchecklist Read the post about Summer Homeschool Plans HERE >>

My books Flexible Homeschool Planning will help you make plans that stress you and your homeschool out! GET IT HERE >>

Other Resources:

Peaceful Press

A Summer of Playing Skillfully

You ARE an Artist Clubhouse

50 States Songs Course

Kids Cook Real Food Class

Magic School Bus Science Kit

Wild Goose Science Books

Five in a Row Curriculum

How to create a Nature Table >> https://www.raisingarrows.net/nature-tables-simple-nature-study/

Little House on the Prairie Homeschool Plans >> https://www.raisingarrows.net/little-house-on-the-prairie-homeschooling/

Can You Homeschool an Entire Grade Over the Summer >> https://www.raisingarrows.net/homeschool-entire-grade-summer-podcast-39/

Should You Homeschool Your Preschooler? Apr 25, 2019

Are you considering homeschooling your preschooler? Do you wonder how you will fit it in with all the other homeschooling and tasks you have to do in a day? Are you overwhelmed by all the choices out there for preschool curriculum? This podcast will help you decide if homeschooling preschool is a good idea for your family, how to choose a curriculum that won't overwhelm you, and how to fit it into your day.

GET YOUR FREE SONLIGHT TRIAL --> sonlight.com/invitation

Helpful resources:

Flexible Homeschool Planning book

Occupying a Busy Preschooler (podcast)

Occupying a Busy Preschooler (video)

Occupying a Busy Preschooler (post)

Points of interest:

2:10 - My super-simplified version of "preschool" with my older kids.

2:48 - Why I stopped doing preschool.

3:35 - The reason I changed my mind about preschool (hint: his name is Creed!)

7:16 - What I needed in a preschool curriculum.

8:23 - How I fit preschool into my day.

11:58 - What if you are in a busy season?

13:12 - Questions to ask yourself before deciding to homeschool preschool.

14:17 - How homeschooling preschool has changed our lives.

16:14 - What to look for in a preschool curriculum and how to make it work for you.

Organizing Your Kitchen with Stations Apr 08, 2019

Get organized in your kitchen by making stations that group items you use often. Learn how to create a Baking Station, a Juicing Station, a Breakfast Station & more!

Don't forget to grab your FREE LOTION BAR (available through the month of April 2019) at: hardlotion.com/raisingarrows Use code: raisingarrows

Resources mentioned:

Bosch mixer - https://amzn.to/2UlZ2TZ (aff)

Mockmill grinder - https://mockmill.com/u/?a_aid=raisingarrows (aff)

Freezer to Slow Cooker Meal Plan - http://www.sidetrackedsarah.com/affiliates/idevaffiliate.php?id=102 (aff)

DIY Breakfast Station ebook - https://store.notconsumed.com/products/diy-breakfast-station

Large Family Laundry Solutions Mar 05, 2019

Laundry is a part of our everyday existence, especially in a large family! Learn the secrets of our daily laundry chores and how this routine has evolved over the years!

Resources:

Large Family Daily Laundry Routine (blog post)

Huge List of Large Family Laundry Systems (blog post)

Teach Your Kids to Do Their Own Laundry (blog post)

XL Hamper with Mesh Bag (aff)

Managing the Medical in Your Life Feb 19, 2019

Every family has medical needs, but this podcast deals with ongoing medical issues that require organization and planning to manage effectively. From pregnancy to surgery, chronic illness and ongoing medical treatment, learn how to manage it all without confusion and added stress.

Flexible Homeschool Planning book

Home Management for the Homeschool Mom book

How to Make an Emergency Folder (blog post)

Mercy's Story (blog post)

Podcast #21 - Morning Sickness & Managing Your Home

The Curriculum of a Delight Directed Homeschool Feb 05, 2019

A Delight Directed Homeschool isn't a method - it's an approach. One that works with ANY curriculum! Learn how to make your curriculum delight directed and spark passion in your children's lives!

Resources:

Delight Directed Homeschooling series
Lifestyle of Learning series
Educating the Wholehearted Child by Sally Clarkson
Introduction to Delight Directed Homeschooling Podcast
Stop Seeing Homeschooling Extras as Extras (post)
Apologia Elementary Science texts

Intro to Delight Directed Homeschooling Jan 21, 2019

Learn how to incorporate your child's natural aptitudes and interests into their homeschooling using Delight Directed Learning! Also includes a crash course in making homeschooling a lifestyle of learning!

Resources:

The Christian Home School by Gregg Harris - https://amzn.to/2syhM1S
History Books by Genevieve Foster - https://amzn.to/2CsgJ8B
Our Mother Tongue by Nancy Wilson - https://amzn.to/2Dd0Nsi

Subscribe to the Raising Arrows Newsletter for more great content for the Large Family Home!

Girls & Their Attitudes Jan 07, 2019

As your girls grow into their teenage years, you may begin to see attitudes that are so different from what you are used to seeing. Learn 3 secrets to help your daughter navigate her teen years and avoid attitude problems.

Resources:

Boys & Their Attitudes (podcast)
Secrets to Handling Attitudes in Girls (post)

Subscribe to the Raising Arrows Newsletter for more great content!

Large Family Mom's Guide to Thanksgiving Nov 19, 2018

Control the chaos and have a blessed Thanksgiving with this guide to a fantastic holiday from a large family mom's perspective! Learn how to manage the kids, the crowds, the food, and the festivities in this idea-packed podcast! Resources mentioned: FREE Family Thanksgiving Worship Service Holiday Homeschool Planner Pack 12 Week Holiday Planner (aff) RECIPES Sweet Potato Casserole Cranberry Salad Pumpkin Crumble Cake CLOTHING Primary.com (aff) Nursing Tank Top (aff) POSTS Blessing Tree - Fun family craft! The Large Family Mom's Guide to Thanksgiving Kids & Thanksgiving - 7 Ways to Stop the Stress What to Pack for a Family Day Trip Van Seating Chart

Boys & Their Attitudes Nov 08, 2018

Are you seeing attitudes in your boys that seem disrespectful and rude? Are you worried you won't know how to handle them as they get older? This podcast shares the secret to dealing with boys and their attitudes! You won't want to miss this! Read the post How to Parent & Discipline Boys & Their Attitudes Resources: 27 Bible Heroes to Encourage Our Boys on RaisingArrows.net Bringing Up Boys by James Dobson Wild at Heart by James Eldredge

Homeschooling Through the Holidays Oct 15, 2018

Homeschooling through the holidays can be so much fun! Learn about great resources for homeschooling during Thanksgiving and Christmas, and how to make memories along the way! Get the Holiday Homeschool Planner Pack! $7.99 each or $10 for the set Thanksgiving Holiday Homeschool Planner Christmas Holiday Homeschool Planner 12 week Holiday Planner (we have used this planner for years starting October 1 every year) Blessing Tree - something we do every year as a family! Advent Nature Study (we love this one!) HUGE list of Advent ideas! Family Traditions podcast Autopilot Homeschool podcast When you subscribe to the blog, get a FREE Fall Movie Themed Party Guide to enjoy with your family!

Learning to Create a Mother Culture Oct 02, 2018

Busy moms tend to forget to cultivate art and beauty in their own lives. They are so busy pouring out, they don't realize how important it is to show their children what an abundant adult life looks like. Learn how to inspire your children with your own creative life by building what the Charlotte Mason method calls "Mother Culture." Resources mentioned: The Me Time Myth (post) #bookstagram on Instagram You Are an Artist! Clubhouse & Chalk Pastel classes Watercolor Nature Journal Class on Craftsy

My Morning Routine on a Homeschool Day Sep 25, 2018

Have you ever wondered what a typical morning homeschool schedule looks like in our house? Today, I share all the subjects we tackle, our Morning Basket or Table Time routine, how we manage lunch on homeschool days, and so much more! Get FREE homeschooling & homemaking resources HERE! Resources mentioned: The Homeschool Garden Morning Time Review ~The Homeschool Garden Morning Time Membership~ The Precious People Curriculum Review ~The Precious People Curriculum~ DITL - Typical Friday House Cleaning (VIDEO) How to Put Your Homeschool on Autopilot (PODCAST) Weekly House Cleaning (PODCAST) Homeschooling Year Round information Making Homeschool Lunches Easy Apologia Science with Multiple Ages Phonetic Zoo Review Reading Eggs (helped my struggling reader!) GradeSpelling.com CLE Science Readers

How to Put Your Homeschool on Autopilot Sep 13, 2018

Homeschooling is a big job! Learn how to put some of your subjects on autopilot will give you more margin in your day and less stress in your life!

Resources mentioned:

Why Teaching Textbooks is great for a large family - BLOG POST

Does My Child Have to Do All of the Problems in the Book? - BLOG POST

How we do Apologia with multiple ages - BLOG POST & VIDEO

Compass Classroom - This is a fantastic video-based curriculum!

Making Morning Time Easy - BLOG POST

To learn more about planning a simple homeschool day that utilizes autopilot subjects and looping extras, get my book Flexible Homeschool Planning. It will revolutionize your homeschool!

Weekly Cleaning When You Have Older Children Sep 07, 2018

Now that I have a mix of big helpers, medium helpers, and little not-so-helpers, we can do a supercharged Weekly Home Blessing with decluttering and deep cleaning! Learn how we do it in this podcast!

Weekly Chore Rotation Aug 27, 2018

During busy seasons of life, a weekly chore rotation is super helpful! This method works best when you have children who are beginning to be able to help out with cleaning chores, even though their standards may not be on par with your own. I used this method when I had a mix of older and younger children.

Resources mentioned:

My book - Home Management for the Homeschool Mom
Large Family Logistics

Creating a Cleaning Chore Board Aug 06, 2018

When you have a lot of little ones, survival cleaning is often the best way to go. Putting together a simple chore board can be a sanity saver because it doesn't require a lot of forethought and can be done anytime, anywhere!

Post & Video can be found here - https://www.raisingarrows.net/2016/08/chore-board/

Weekly House Cleaning Without Help Jul 26, 2018

When I had 2 small children, I did the majority of the house cleaning every Monday morning, mostly by myself. Learn how I organized the chores, how long it took me, and how I kept it clean the rest of the week.

In this episode:

How I got control of my messy house.
My Monday morning chores.
How I kept the house clean throughout the week.

Resources:

FLYlady app

Life as a Mom with Sensory Issues Jul 19, 2018

Are you a mom who is easily overwhelmed by noise, lights, touch or smells? You might have sensory issues like I do. Listen to learn how I deal with being a large family mom and having sensory issues. Learn my tips and tactics for managing all the sensory input a mom comes in contact with during the day!

Life as a Mom with Sensory Issues (blog post)

Resources mentioned:

Preparing Your Homeschooled Child for College Jul 05, 2018

The tools your children need for college are the same tools they need for life - so give them that college-prep homeschool education even if they don't go to college! Here's what we did!

Read the post here - https://www.raisingarrows.net/2018/05/preparing-homeschooler-college/

Mentioned in the podcast:

Fish dissection - https://www.instagram.com/p/BjnKRCBAWBM/?taken-by=amyraisingarrows

Helpful link for Graduation Requirements - https://uh315.isrefer.com/go/phsc/Amyarrows/

Transcript help from The HomeScholar - https://uh315.isrefer.com/go/tts/Amyarrows

James 1:2-4 Proverbs 22:6

Making Major Changes to Your Homeschool Jul 01, 2018

After years of doing the same thing in our homeschool, we are changing it up in a major way! Come hear all our news, plus learn tips and tricks for making major changes in your own homeschool curriculum and schedule!

In this episode:

New curriculum reveal!
How we make the Charlotte Mason method work for our family.
Ideas for making the transition to a new curriculum and schedule easier.

Resources mentioned:

Occupying a Busy Preschooler (podcast)

A Year of Playing Skillfully Review (post)

A Year of Playing Skillfully (and A Summer of Playing Skillfully)

The Peaceful Press - home of The Peaceful Preschool & The Precious People

Ambleside Online Year 12

For the Children's Sake (book)

Morning Basket (book)

Nature Table (post)

Notebooking Made Easy May 30, 2018

Does notebooking overwhelm you? Do you feel like a notebooking flunkie? Do you wish you figure out how to make time for it? This podcast is for you! Learn how to make notebooking easy for your family!

In this episode:

How to combine subjects for notebooking.
How to store (and not store) notebooks.
Tons of ideas to take the stress out of notebooking!

Resources mentioned:

Large Family Notebooking post

Teach Them Diligently Convention

Apologia Notebooking

NotebookingPages.com Discount code = arrows25 and is good for 25% off anything at Notebooking Pages. Expires 8/31/2018.

Making a Menu Plan Your Family Loves May 07, 2018

Menu planning is one of those homemaking chores that can easily become drudgery. You spend copious amounts of time putting together a list of meals you "hope" everyone will love, then you have to write out your grocery list, and then you have to actually make the meals you planned. But, what if you had a list of meals you knew your family loved? Trust me - it will revolutionize your menu planning process! This podcast teaches you how to build a menu plan your entire family loves!

In this episode:

How to put together a meal list to choose from.
The family voting process.
Finalizing your meal list.
How to create a rotating menu plan from your list.

Resources mentioned:

Soup, Salad, or Sandwiches post (our super easy lunch menu!)
Trim Healthy Table
Holiday Planner

Building Strong Family Traditions Apr 18, 2018

What makes you strong as a family? What makes your home a haven? What makes you unique? It's the things you do together as a family - the traditions your family has created over the years. And often, the stronger the family, the more traditions you see that family celebrating.

If you find yourself lacking in these rich family traditions (or you want to build even more!), this podcast is for you!

In this episode:

3 reasons why you can't seem to build solid family traditions
Easy tradition ideas you can start today!
How to put together a list of family traditions.

Resources mentioned:

End of Summer Picnic podcast

Emily's Story

Grieving Through the Holidays

Our Irish Supper Menu

12 Week Holiday Planner

Little House on the Prairie book set

Amazon Prime Music - look for Seeds Family Worship or Scripture Lullabies

Having a REAL Sabbath Rest podcast

Resurrection Garden

Jonathan Park audios

Beginning of School picnic

Advent Ideas for Kids

How to Make Birthdays Special without Breaking the Bank

Special Night

How to Play CHOPPED as a Family

How to Homeschool an Entire Grade Over the Summer Mar 28, 2018

Is it possible to homeschool an entire grade over the summer or at least get a child caught up in a subject or two? Absolutely! With a little hard work and diligence it is doable and here's how!

In this episode:

What topics to cover to maximize your time.
Resources to make summer schooling easier (and cheaper!).
Reward ideas for you and your child working so hard!

You can find the full post here - https://www.raisingarrows.net/2016/06/can-you-homeschool-an-entire-grade-over-the-summer/

Resources mentioned:

Compass Classroom (video based curriculum)
Khan Academy
Starfall
Reading Eggs
Beacon Handbook

Parenting High Maintenance Children Mar 15, 2018

Some children take more energy to parent. They are emotionally, physically, and mentally taxing, but we can learn how to parent them best if we just take the time to understand who they are and what makes them tick.

In this episode:

The one thing that will change how you parent your high maintenance child.
How to avoid making a diagnosis an excuse.
Finding new discipline methods and coping mechanisms that work.

Resources mentioned:

Homeschooling the Child with Aspergers Syndrome

How to Choose Extracurricular Activities for Your Family Mar 06, 2018

Are extracurricular activities overwhelming you? Learn a better way to choose activities for your family that put the entire family first and build strong relationships within your family rather than pulling you apart!

In this episode:

What activities work well for the entire family.
How to decide it the amount of time it is taking away from the family is worth it.
How to fight the "that's not fair" argument.
How to mesh your child's giftings with their extracurricular activities.

How to Have Enough of You to Go Around Feb 26, 2018

Are you feeling stressed out and stretched thin? Are you wondering how to better manage your day so you can be a better mom? This podcast gives you tons of great tips on having enough of you to go around in your parenting, homemaking, and every day life!

In this episode:

How to delegate and who to delegate to.
How to spot time wasters.
When to let go of a schedule.
How to find peace with your day.

Resources mentioned:

So Many Littles, So Little Time ebook - coupon RAPODCAST 10% off here - https://www.raisingarrows.net/product/many-littles-little-time/

Age Appropriate Chore List

Don't want to listen? Read the post!

Homeschooling During a Move Feb 17, 2018

Moving creates a lot of upheaval for your family, and homeschooling often suffers in the move. Our family has moved many times, so today I am sharing our tips and tricks for homeschooling during a move.

In this episode:

How to keep homeschooling and when to stop
How to pack and unpack while homeschooling
How to create a new schedule

Find more information in these blogs posts:

Homeschooling Year Round Series Large Family Moving Series

Sleep Training Babies Feb 04, 2018

Everyone has an opinion on the controversial topic of putting babies on a schedule. Here's my take as a mom of 10!

In this episode:

Why babies don't sleep.
How to make the choice between scheduling and not scheduling.
My favorite ways to help babies sleep.

Resources mentioned:

Sleep Training post on Raising Arrows - https://www.raisingarrows.net/2013/03/ask-amy-sleep-training-babies/
No Cry Sleep Solution by Elizabeth Pantley - http://amzn.to/2EdUSo8
Rock 'n Play Sleeper - http://amzn.to/2FHnoLV

Handling the Stomach Flu with a Large Family Jan 08, 2018

Stomach flu with a house full of children is never fun, but as a mom of 10, I've learned a few tips and tricks to managing the sickness that will make the mess less and help you keep your sanity through it all!

In this episode:

What supplies you should always have on hand.
How to "contain" the sickness. (or not)
The best way to take care of a vomiting baby.
The #1 thing you MUST do while in the thick of it!
What the recovery phase looks like.

Resources mentioned:

Teaching Your Unique Child Nov 06, 2017

Every child is unique, but how can a homeschool mom teach to so many different styles without wearing herself out?

This podcast is sponsored by Sweet Hairlooms Lilla Rose - this mom of many is also a missionary, so please take a look around her site and know that your purchase is going to help spread the Gospel!

Resources mentioned: (some links are affiliate links)

Understanding My Child Worksheet

Practical Personality Portfolio - Get 20% off using code RaisingArrows

Delight Directed Homeschooling Series

Audio-Technica Headphones

Teaching Textbooks

Occupying Busy Preschoolers Podcast

Simplified Organization

How to Make Any Curriculum Work for Your Family ebooklet

Relaxed Homeschool Mom Podcast

Homeschool Planning Podcast

Tapestry of Grace

See the Light Art

A Year of Playing Skillfully Preschool Curriculum

Decluttering Room by Room Part 2 Oct 30, 2017

The follow-up podcast to how I declutter room by room, this episode gives you a detailed description of one of my decluttering sessions, as well as an overview of what I've been getting rid and how I'm organizing as I go.

In this episode:

My big declutter mistake!
How to organize as you declutter.
Why you shouldn't buy organizational tools {right away}.
How to organize so it stays organized!

Find all the podcast notes and resources HERE!

Halloween & Reformation Day Oct 23, 2017

For the past month or more, Halloween decor, costumes, commercials, and more have been bombarding our lives. While my response in the past has been to ignore the day completely, this year I'm taking a new look at Halloween.

In this episode:

How we used to celebrate Halloween.
Why I started rethinking what we should do on Halloween.
Plans and links for meaningful object lessons.

Resources can be found at https://www.raisingarrows.net/2017/10/halloween-reformation-protestant-lessons/

Decluttering Room by Room Part 1 Oct 17, 2017

Are you looking for a no nonsense approach to decluttering? Jump in right where you are and get started today with this easy quick start podcast!

In this episode:

How I dug out of my messy life.
Why I'm sick of {most} decluttering books and websites.
How much time it takes each day to declutter.

Resources mentioned:

Decluttering Room by Room | Part 2 - [COMING SOON!]
FLYlady.net
Flylady Kat on YouTube
Favorite Crockpot and Freezer Meals - Large Family Table and Sidetracked Sarah

Having a REAL Sabbath Rest Oct 10, 2017

Are you tired of having a harried, crazy, unrestful Sunday? Can you truly have a day of rest? Yes, you can! This podcast shares how I began the search for a relaxing Sabbath and where it led me.

In this episode:

Why Sunday never felt restful to me, and why I began searching for something better.
The resources that led me to where I am now.
How I have changed how I look at my weekend.
How our family spends the weekend.

Resources mentioned:

--> Balancing the Sword Bible Study (out of print, but you can get used at a good price)

--> Celebrating Biblical Feasts In Your Home or Church by Martha Zimmerman

--> A Child's Geography: Explore the Holy Land (out of print)

--> Weekly Home Blessing post (our house cleaning routine on Fridays)

A Well-Ordered Day Oct 02, 2017

When you homeschool, it is imperative you have some sense of order to your day because the flow and productivity of your day is entirely up to you. However, having a well-ordered day isn't about a tight schedule and huge to-do lists. It's more about structure and margin.

In this episode:

Learn how to begin ordering your day.
Learn how to make meals, school, and personal time more productive.
Learn how to put things in their proper order.
Learn how to plan for interruptions that don't derail your entire day.

Resources mentioned:

Home Management for the Homeschool available in audio, paperback, ebook, and Kindle

Loop Scheduling

Tapestry of Grace

PictureSmart Bible

Mommy Morning Routine Podcast

Meal Planning Podcast

How Many Hours to Homeschool Podcast

FLYlady.net

How Many Hours a Day Does it Take to Homeschool? Sep 25, 2017

Are you worried you aren't homeschooling enough hours? Or perhaps your homeschool schedule has you stressed out. Or maybe you need to know how to count homeschooling hours that aren't seatwork. Everything you need to know is here!

Thanks to a partnership with JonathanPark.com, I have a coupon code for 20% off the Series Packs (ends up being 40% off the Original Adventures!) Use this link - https://www.jonathanpark.com/pages/blogger-review-special-offer Use this coupon code - arrows20

In this episode:

How many hours does homeschooling actually take?
How long should each subject take?
What can you count as school?

Get your FREE Home Management Training Checklist!

Post on How Many Hours it Takes to Homeschool Post on How Long Certain Subjects Take to Homeschool

2017 Homeschool Curriculum Podcast

Large Family Homeschooling eBook - Offers tons of great tips for managing your time and getting the goodie out of your school day!

Homeschool Made Simple video - fantastic video from Compass Classroom on keeping things simple in your homeschool.

Creating a 30 Day Master Meal Plan Sep 18, 2017

If you are looking for a way to pull together an easy meal plan that gives you tons of freedom and flexibility, a 30 Day Master Meal List is the way to go! Don't miss the Trim Healthy Table GIVEAWAY!

In this episode:

How I use a rotating list to make shopping easier.
Why the Miscellaneous/Sides category is so important.
Tons of great recipes!

Resources mentioned:

--> Once a Month Shopping Series

--> Master Meal List post

--> Large Family Recipe page

--> Trim Healthy Table from Trim Healthy Mama

--> Evernote

--> Cinnamon Roll recipe

--> Oven Pancake (aka Dutch Babies)

--> Banana Bread

--> 365: One Year of Healthy Meals for Busy Families

Celebrating with an End of Summer Picnic Sep 11, 2017

It's time to say goodbye to summer! Whether you love Summer and are sorry to see it go, or you are more than ready for Fall and all the smells and sights it brings, start a new family tradition by having an End of Summer Picnic with your favorite summer treats as we usher in the new season!

In this episode:

Our picnic menu.
How we incorporated our back to school kick off.
Ideas for creating your own end of summer memories!

Resources mentioned:

End of Summer Picnic post
Homemade Lemonade recipe
Hot Air Balloon Ride
A Year of Playing Skillfully Preschool curriculum
The Peaceful Preschool curriculum

How to Be a Rested and Relaxed Homeschool Mom Sep 05, 2017

Go to https://www.raisingarrows.net/podcasts/ to find the show notes and resources mentioned in this podcast!

Are you overwhelmed by the task of homeschooling? Are you stressed out by everything you have to do during the day? Do you feel like homeschooling isn't at all what you had dreamed it would be. This podcast will give you the tools you need to find rest and relaxation in your homeschool day and the margin you need to begin enjoying homeschooling once again!

In this episode:

How to get rest even when you aren't getting sleep.
How to find margin in your day.
How to choose extracurricular activities for your kids so you aren't run ragged.
PLUS! Get a FREE BeeSilk Lotion Stick!

Potty Training Tip & Tricks Aug 28, 2017

As a mother of 10, you'd think I'd be an expert at potty training, but it has been a lot of trial and error, and I still don't think I'm very good at it! However, I have discovered one method and a lot of tips and tricks that work really well, even with my stubborn potty trainer!

In this episode:

Find out if my boys were easier to train than my girls!
Learn my potty training in 1 day method!
Get the low-down on how we reward our potty trainers!

Morning Sickness and Managing Your Home Aug 20, 2017

This podcast is my very best advice for running your home and parenting your children during morning sickness!

In this episode:

The one thing you need more than a schedule!
How I managed to grocery shop with morning sickness!
How I meal planned while I was sick!

Show notes with resources can be found here - https://www.raisingarrows.net/2017/08/morning-sickness-managing-home-podcast/

My Laundry Methods Aug 14, 2017

Over the years, how I do laundry has changed to accommodate many factors including how many kids I have, where my laundry room is located, and my current life circumstances. This podcast goes through all of the methods I have used along with my current method. Find inspiration and ideas for conquering your own Mt. Washmore!

Homeschooling with Purpose Aug 07, 2017

It is my passion to provide encouragement for the homeschooling mom, so the first podcast of every month this school year will be a Homeschool Mom Support Group! We'll call it the RAP session (Raising Arrows Podcast - get it?!), and this is the very first one! Today's podcast will be all about finding your focus and purpose this year as a homeschooling mother!

Our Nature Bag Jul 31, 2017

No homeschool science curriculum would be complete without learning about God's creation! Keep your nature study tools all in one place with a Nature Bag!

In this episode:

What nature study tools are best to keep in your Nature Bag.
Where to keep your Nature Bag.
How to incorporate unit studies into your Nature Bag.

Our 2017 Homeschool Curriculum Jul 24, 2017

It's that time of year again! Check out our Preschool through High School homeschool curriculum choices!

Occupying a Busy Preschooler Jul 17, 2017

I have a VERY busy preschooler. In this podcast I share the resources we use to keep him occupied and how we structure his day so he stays out of trouble!

Clothing the Kids Jul 10, 2017

How do you find quality clothing for all of the children in your family? This podcast gives you tons of ideas and resources! You will learn about my favorite baby clothes, how I find great deals online, and when I start requiring my children to help pay for their own clothing.

My ALDI Grocery Budget Jul 03, 2017

What does a family of 11 buy? What is my grocery budget each week? Why will you never see me laying all my groceries out on the table and taking a photo of them? Learn all of this and more!

How to Make Read Aloud Time More Peaceful Jun 26, 2017

Does Read Aloud Time stress you out? Has your vision of being surrounded by children who listen intently and sit still while you read beautiful picture books given way to the reality of kick fights, crying babies, and nonsensical questions from the toddler? Have you vowed to never read aloud to your children again? This podcast is for you!

A Typical Day in My Life Jun 19, 2017

Have you ever wondered what my day looks like? Here's your chance to see how my routine works, and what an average day is like in the Raising Arrows household!

In this episode:

Why I don't get up early.
How I manage my rowdy preschooler.
When I fit in blogging.
What a typical homeschool day looks like.

How I Organize the Baby's Things in my Bedroom Jun 12, 2017

When you have a baby, their things are spread out all over the house. You have diaper changes, feeding paraphernalia, bedding and clothing, and more! Here's what I keep in my bedroom, and how I organize those things!

In this episode:

My favorite organization tools.
Things I keep in my bedroom for my special needs baby.
How I keep baby's clothes organized + my favorite baby outfit!
How I keep my toddlers busy while my hands are busy with baby.

Show notes at: https://www.raisingarrows.net/podcasts

Schedules for Homeschooling Year Round Jun 05, 2017

Are you considering homeschooling year round and wonder how that looks when it comes to scheduling? In this episode we will talk about several different options for homeschool scheduling plus ideas for what to do during your time off, and why homeschooling year round might just make you a better homeschool mom! Show notes at https://www.raisingarrows.net/podcasts

3 Essential Morning Homemaking Chores May 31, 2017

What 3 things could you do to revolutionize your day and take it from chaos to calm(ish) in about 20 minutes each morning? In this podcast, learn the answer PLUS:

How to get your home guest-ready first thing in the morning.
My secret weapon for keeping the bathroom clean!
How to guarantee meals won't be haphazard.

Mom's Summer Reading List May 20, 2017

Summer reading lists don't have to be serious, and they certainly shouldn't feel like homework! They should inspire!

What's on my summer reading list?
Why fiction inspires me more than a method.
How a sappy book inspired me to find the perfect biscuit recipe!

Should You Homeschool Year Round? May 13, 2017

Is homeschooling year round a good choice for your family? Listen to this podcast and consider all the reasons why it might be a good fit!

In this episode:

The crisis that started our homeschooling year round story.
Learn why homeschooling year round saves you time.
Reasons why homeschooling year round is a good fit for many families.
Why homeschooling year round is not as exhausting as it sounds!

Find show notes at: https://www.raisingarrows.net/podcasts

Decluttering the Kitchen May 06, 2017

Is your kitchen a mess? Work alongside me as we go through the kitchen, cleaning and decluttering!

In this episode:

Why I have always struggled to keep my kitchen clean.
How many of each item I keep in my kitchen.
Appliances I can't live without.
A tour of my kitchen, including bulk purchases and stations I have set up.

Large Family Mealtime Apr 29, 2017

Make family meal times with your little ones nourishing for body and soul! This week's podcast is full of ideas for making meal time less stressful!

In this episode:

How to de-stress meal time.
Easy breakfast, lunch, and dinner ideas!
Resources for managing little ones during meals.
Creating a pleasant mealtime atmosphere.

Find all resources mentioned at: https//www.raisingarrows.net/podcasts

Making Homeschool Planning Easy Apr 22, 2017

Does homeschool planning stress you out? If you’ve ever wondered if there is an easier way, this is the podcast for you!

In this episode:

Tons of easy homeschool planning ideas!
Resources for helping your kids be more independent.
What planners work best depending on what kind of homeschool mom you are.

Show Notes can be found at: https://www.raisingarrows.net/podcasts

Surviving Homeschool Convention Speaker Sessions Apr 15, 2017

In this episode, I share:

How to choose speaker sessions to go to.
Why you should consider budgeting for convention audios.
The biggest problem with homeschool convention speakers.
Why even veteran homeschool moms need to hear homeschool convention speakers.

Resources mentioned: FREE Homeschool Convention Survival Guide!

Surviving Homeschool Convention Vendor Halls Apr 08, 2017

In this episode, I share:

How to make the vendor hall seem less scary.
Why changing your mind about curriculum at the convention is ok.
Why you shouldn't buy on the first day.
Pitfalls of the vendor hall and how to avoid them.

Resources mentioned: FREE Homeschool Convention Survival Guide! Wheely Cart (my made-up name for the cart on wheels that can hold all your conference finds!)

Creating a Simple Schedule or Mom Schedule Mar 28, 2017

In this episode, I share:

The key to sticking to a schedule.
How to set up a simple schedule you can follow.
How to create more margin in your day.
How to get in the "extras" you always want to get in, but don't seem to have the time for.

Resources mentioned: My At a Glance Schedule (circa 2015 - and seriously needing an overhaul!) Margin by Richard Swenson, M.D.