The Homeschool Solutions Show

Latest Episodes:

HS 036: Homeschool Resolutions You Can Keep by Pam Barnhill Dec 30, 2016

Show notes

It's the new year and if you are like most homeschool moms, then you are hashing out which New Year's resolutions you want to make.

And while we are deciding to lose another ten pounds and keep our bathroom cabinets organized, another area we might consider resolving about is our homeschools. Unfortunately, so many resolutions are often forgotten by mid-January, lost in an overwhelming sea of good intentions and high-expectations.

I know it has happened to me many times. I begin the year ready to start strong, with no fewer than fourteen new habits on Day 1, and then by January's end, I am exhausted and back where I started December 31.

In an effort to avoid resolution burn-out, here are some tips I am going to try this year to make those resolutions work for me.

Listen or read the rest at https://edsnapshots.com/how-to-make-homeschool-resolutions-you-can-keep/

HS 035: What Homeschool Moms Really Want for Christmas by Pam Barnhill Dec 23, 2016

Show notes

It's that time of year. Time to get ready for Christmas. Homeschool moms are making angel costumes, dusting off the Baby Jesus and setting up the nativity. We are hanging our stockings, stirring up some egg nog, and singing "Joy to the World." And like everyone else, we are making our Christmas list too. I, myself, have been both a bit naughty and a bit nice this year — after

Homeschool moms are making angel costumes, dusting off the Baby Jesus and setting up the nativity. We are hanging our stockings, stirring up some egg nog, and singing "Joy to the World." And like everyone else, we are making our Christmas list too. I, myself, have been both a bit naughty and a bit nice this year — after

We are hanging our stockings, stirring up some egg nog, and singing "Joy to the World." And like everyone else, we are making our Christmas list too. I, myself, have been both a bit naughty and a bit nice this year — after

And like everyone else, we are making our Christmas list too. I, myself, have been both a bit naughty and a bit nice this year — after all I am a homeschool mom in need of grace. But I am making my list anyway with

But I am making my list anyway with hope that St. Nicholas will soon be here. Here are a few things that are on it. I'm thinking they might be on yours as well.

Listen or read the rest at: http://www.freehomeschooldeals.com/what-homeschool-moms-really-want-for-christmas/

HS 034: How to Homeschool Consistently by Mystie Winckler Dec 16, 2016

Show notes

Have you ever started off your day by watching a movie, turning on the television, mindlessly clicking around Facebook, or skimming your online news feed?

It happens.

Does it affect your mood? We're fooling ourselves if we say it doesn't.

I know I am tempted – and often give in to the temptation – of checking my email and "catching up" online first thing in the morning. Even if I get up before the kids and take a walk and read my Bible, if I then open up the laptop and lose myself online while the kids are getting up and having their breakfast, it does not help my mindset.

It does not help me get the day rolling. How we begin our days sets the tone for the whole day. What we put first communicates most to our kids and to ourselves, even unconsciously.

Listen or read the rest at http://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/homeschooling-consistently

HS 033 The Psychology of Homeschooling with a Toddler by Lynna Sutherland Dec 09, 2016

Show notes

Homeschooling. With a toddler. Need I say more? As homeschool families everywhere start back to school, there seems to be an echo across the Internet. "We had a great first day back, but the toddler …" The echoes are reverberating in my soul, and I haven't even started back to school yet.

Over the summer, we've kept a very loose routine because, as I am sure you know, when you're a mom, there is no such thing as a day "off". If you don't provide some form of structure, you end up spending mom energy on household and relationship disasters instead. So we've kept our Bible time and some independent math and Latin practice. And even this amount of schedule has just about stretched my big kids + preschoolers + toddler mama-ringmaster capacity.

If you search the Internet, you can find tons of fantastic posts about strategies for keeping toddlers busy while you homeschool. I really liked this one. And if your toddler is the kind who would just eat the busy bag, try this one. I'm not going to spend time on strategies for the toddlers. I want to talk about strategies for you.

Listen or read more at http://www.hswotrainingwheels.com/psychology-homeschooling-toddler/

HS 032: Easy Tips for Poetry Tea Time by Pam Barnhill Dec 02, 2016

Show notes

We have been doing poetry tea parties since the kids were really little.

I stumbled on the concept from Charlotte Mason home educators like Julie Bogart and Elizabeth Foss well before my own kids were school-aged and fell in love with the ideas of pulling out the nice linens, finding a book of poems to read, and sharing time together over a treat in the afternoon.

I know from your emails that tea parties are something people find intimidating, but really they don't have to be. Here are a few of the tips we use to make them doable and easy.

Listen or read the rest at http://edsnapshots.com/how-to-do-poetry-tea-party/

HS 031: Homeschooling When the Kids Try to Throw You Overboard by Lara Molettiere Nov 25, 2016

Show notes

This week has been rough. Last week was off-kilter, too. We are in a season of change. Our homeschool is changing, our therapy schedules changed, and the boys are changing. And there's been a coup. At least it feels that way.

"Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream. Throw your teacher overboard . . . ."

Yep. That' a pretty good summation of what our house/homeschool has felt like. Anyone else had that kind of day/week/season? Here are a few tips for homeschooling when your kids try to throw you overboard.

Read the rest or listen at http://www.laramolettiere.com/homeschool-kids-try-throw-overboard/

HS 030: Fun vs Joy in Homeschooling by Pam Barnhill Nov 18, 2016

Show notes

I have totally given up on the idea that learning must be made fun for the student. It was an idea that ruled the first two years of our homeschooling and quite frankly, I'm a little bitter about it now.

I feel like in many ways I have short-changed my children and their abilities, because I did not throw the idea over long ago. Fortunately, childhood is forgiving and our recovery is going well.

The reality is, much of learning, especially in skills subjects like reading, writing, and math is just plain hard work.

I am a firm believer in making sure the work we do is developmentally appropriate even if it is not on the same timeline as the schools around us. I am also a proponent of giving a child the time they need to master something.

Listen or read the rest at https://edsnapshots.com/fun-vs-joy/

HS 029: Are You Reacting to or Controlling the Atmosphere in Your Home by Crystal Wagner Nov 11, 2016

Show notes

Have you ever had one of these days… There are just some days you want to join the fussy crowd.

You wake up and are feeling confident about the day. Then you walk past your child's room and say, "Good morning!" The response you receive is less than enthusiastic and you think, maybe she will cheer up before breakfast. She just needs to wake up. Then you sit down to eat. She's not in a bad mood. She's not even upset or angry. She's just rather blah.

The other daughter wakes up in a good mood, snuggles with you for awhile, and is pleasant and cheerful through breakfast. But later in the morning when she is supposed to be practicing her piano lesson she begins by BANGING on the keys in frustration. Your first response is to feel despondent—"Great! Another one of THOSE days."—and join the grumpy crowd.

Listen or read the rest at http://www.triumphantlearning.com/reacting-or-controlling-the-atmosphere-of-your-home/

HS 028: Tips for Balancing Homeschooling and Housekeeping by Tonia Lyons Nov 04, 2016

Show notes

Homeschooling is such a blessing for our family – I really believe it has created a family bond that we would not have had if we'd chosen another educational route for our daughter. But, that doesn't mean it isn't difficult!

One of the biggest issues I've found is learning just how hard it is to keep up with all the housekeeping chores while we're homeschooling. Over the years, we've discovered a few tips and tricks that help us keep up with those daily housekeeping chores.

Read more or listen to the rest at http://thesunnypatch.ca/tips-balancing-homeschooling-housekeeping/

HS 027: Do the work of homeschooling by Brandy Vencel Oct 28, 2016

Show notes

Is this your first week of homeschooling for the year? It is for me. I always start our new homeschool year the week of my youngest child's birthday because I really enjoy adding that kind of stress to the first week of school.

Whether the stress in your homeschool week is normal life stuff, like birthdays or long to-do lists, or abnormal life stuff, like surprises and emergencies, the fact remains that homeschooling isn't always easy. It just isn't. This is because homeschooling is just like anything else: it's work, and you have to actually Do It.

Read or listen to the rest at http://afterthoughtsblog.net/2015/08/homeschooling_do_the_work.html

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