Best Homeschooling Advice

"What advice would you give a new homeschooling mom?"  This is a question we often hear.   Below are two articles with excellent advice for the "newbie" as well as the seasoned home educator needing some encouragement.  Do you have other tips you want to share?  Leave us a comment below with things that have helped YOU in your homeschooling endeavor! ~meg

My Best Dozen Pieces of Homeschooling Advice - by Simple Homeschool

Ten Tips from Homeschooling Moms of Four or More - by Well Trained Mind

Do Not Grow Weary

Homeschooling reaps rewards for children and parents alike - 100 times over!  It is truly a blessing to be a part of a child's education: seeing his face light up when he "gets" a concept, reading aloud a living book while snuggled up on the sofa, and learning fascinating subjects alongside her.  Or just spending time together.  There are days, though, which are challenging.  You know the days... The children don't behave.  The baby makes a huge mess right as school is about to begin.  Mom (or Dad) is not teaching with 2 full cups of coffee in her system.  The children aren't interested in the prepared lessons.  Home school is not for the faint of heart!  One day last week, I was having "one of those days".  I emailed a friend and briefly mentioned a test on which my child flopped.  I felt discouraged.  Why am I home schooling again?  I received this wise and encouraging response in reply (shortened a little, hence all the ellipsis):

"I'm sorry you had a rough homeschooling day!  Don't let that test get you down!  Your past 5 years of hard work HAVE paid off in SO many ways.  In addition to a wonderful education, [your children] are blessed to be with a momma all day who is a godly role model who teaches them about GOD & loves them so much!  Because [they] spend everyday together, they are learning how to get along, love one another, and are developing a close relationship with one other.  [Your son] has plenty of time to tear apart old cell phones (and anything else old he can get his hand on), only to glue it back into new creation.  We're giving our children so much more than a perfect score on a test... The time you have together as a family is a gift!  Time you will NEVER get back... Don't get discouraged!  Our kids are receiving character training right now which is much more important than a test.  Remember, we're still in the middle of it all.  We haven't seen the finished product.  Our children's futures do not rest in a 3rd grade test score.  It's so easy to become anxious and discouraged.  I pray that in these times of anxiousness, we will give it all to the Lord.  He is faithful!  He is our strength!  He is our refuge!"

Galatians 6:9

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."

Do not lose heart, my fellow home schooling friends!  And, by the grace and strength of God, I won't either!  :)  

This is What Happened When...

...I left a 5 lb. tub of clay laying around.  Some little kiddos turned it into this! 

Mainstay Farm's Pumpkin Patch

Mainstay Farm's Pumpkin Patch is by far our kids' favorite field trip every year!  This year marked our 6th year to visit, and every year they have something new.  We started our adventure with a huge in-ground jump mat, dressing our own scare crows, and a zip line for the little ones.  Then we moved on to marshmallow roasting followed by a hay ride.  The tractor-led hay ride took us to more activities at the top of the hill, including: a giant human maze, pedal carts and track, a jungle gym, a 100 foot slide, and a zip line for older kids.  As if all that is not enough entertainment, there is a gift shop, "Filling Station" for food and drink, petting zoo, sand box, and more!  If you are looking for a fun, fall pumpkin patch, this is it!

While we love the fun activities and memories we make here every year, we love the message of Mainstay Farm even more.  

Education FAIL

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It was quite a shock to see this sign at the store.  I read it, then re-read it, hoping I was reading it incorrectly - but no.  Needless to say they did not get my dollar!

Charlotte Mason and Classical Education

Susan Wise Bauer, author of the Well Trained Mind, has an excellently written article explaining similarities and differences between Charlotte Mason and Classical Education.  If you find yourself wondering how the two education styles agree with or differ from one another, check this article out:  Charlotte Mason Education

First "Day" of Co-op

Well ladies and gentlemen, with the click of one "publish" button, we are going to make you feel better about all of YOUR previous "first day of school" pictures (or lack there of).  While we have titled this post "First Day of Co-op", it was actually week 3...(sigh)  Clearly we didn't coordinate our children in matching outfits for this eventful photo.  We are also somewhat thankful you cannot readily see the bottom halves of our children's clothing, because 3/4 of them don't match the top half (and another student decided paint clothes were appropriate for school day).

You may be thinking, "this picture isn't so bad"!  But you should know it was the best of 10.  At some point, you just give up the shot and take the memory!  That's precisely what we did.  Our kids are clearly comfortable with one another in our 5th year together, and we are more than thankful to have such wonderful friendships with each other!  We hope you are enjoying your school year as much as we are :) ~meg