Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers

Honest. Quirky. Real. Practical tips, candid reviews, and stereotype-smashing humor for homeschooling families.

Honest. Quirky. Real. Practical tips, candid reviews, and stereotype-smashing humor for homeschooling families.

Tips for Wrapping Up Your Homeschool Year Right and 2019 May Writing Prompts {FREE PRINTABLE}

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What does wrapping up your homeschool year look like at your house? We’ve got some tips to help you wrap up the year right, plus free writing prompts!

Written by Adrienne Bolton of The Mommy Mess.

I can’t believe it’s almost time to start wrapping up the year! Do you take a summer break? We have in the past, but at this point, we’ve become unschoolers by default and have no idea what our plan is for the upcoming week, let alone summer.

I’m sure we’ll be doing some things over the break, but technically, our school year calendar ends in May.

wrapping up your homeschool year

What does wrapping up the year look like in your homeschool?

Are you celebrating accomplishments or beating yourself up for not getting enough done? If I’m candid, I’m busy doing much more of the latter. It’s a been a rough year.

Homeschooling a child with OCD, anxiety, or mental illness can be discouraging at times, and this year has been one of those times for our family. If you’re the parent of a special needs student, you understand the roller coaster of emotions that come with the job of homeschooling a child who’s different.

Am I doing enough?

How will I get through to my kid who hates school?

What if we don’t finish?

Anybody?

No matter if you’re homeschooling a child with special needs or not, the homeschool mom worries tend to creep up at the end the year, don’t they? If you’re feeling down about your year, know you’re not alone!

It’s an excellent time to remind yourself of all the positives. Focus on what you’ve accomplished and celebrate milestones, no matter how small! [Read more…]

When You Worry You’re Not Doing Enough for Your Homeschooler

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When worry that you’re not doing enough for your homeschooled kids eat at, ask yourself these questions to focus on the big picture.

Written by Shawna Wingert of Not the Former Things.

One of the most challenging parts of being a homeschooling mom for me is the nagging feeling that I am missing something.  Eight years in and I still battle the worries.

Should I have made him do more math?

What if his reading delays are because I didn’t push him to do more?

Am I really doing enough?

When You Worry You're Not Doing Enough for Your Homeschooler

Over the past month, I have had the pleasure of working directly with families of non-traditional learners to create individualized learning plans. Because we base these plans on the children’s strengths and interests, it requires me to communicate directly with moms about the specifics of their children’s learning.

When You Feel Like You're Not Doing Enough For Your Kids Shawna Wingert, Not The Former Things

These families blow me away! Every single child has engaging interests and significant abilities that reach far beyond academics. The parents I work with are doing amazing things to help their kiddos succeed, sometimes in the face of difficult diagnoses and challenging learning differences.

Here’s the thing – I have been wholly impressed. The moms I have worked with, however, all express the same general concern, one that I completely identify with.

I feel like I am not doing enough.  [Read more…]

How to Successfully Sell Used Homeschool Curriculum on eBay

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Homeschooling on a budget? Buying and selling used is where it’s at! Learn how to successfully sell used homeschool curriculum on eBay.

Written by Adrienne Bolton of The Mommy Mess.

I’m always surprised to learn how many people don’t sell used homeschool curriculum on eBay. We’re balling on a budget, so buying and selling used has been part of my shopping process every year, and I check eBay first!

Are you homeschooling on a budget? One great way to stretch your homeschool dollar is reselling used textbooks and supplies at the end of the year. (Purchasing used for the upcoming year saves a ton, too!)

How to Successfully Sell Used Homeschool Curriculum on eBay

Getting Started Selling Used Homeschool Curriculum on eBay

If you don’t already have one, you’ll need an eBay account. It’s simple to set up. [Read more…]

How to Easily Cover All Subjects with Interest-Led Learning

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Discover how easy it is for children to learn what they need to know in all subject areas while following an interest-led learning approach.

Written by Erin Vincent of Nourishing My Scholars.

Can children really learn all they need to learn by following their interests? Covering all subjects is indeed possible whether you follow an interest-led learning approach all the time, part-time, only in spring and summer, or just in the afternoon.

You can integrate your children’s passions into your homeschool rhythm if you are willing to support and nurture their growing interests. But sometimes you have to think outside the box.

How to Easily Cover All Subjects with Interest-Led Learning

Interest-Led Learning

To make the most of interest-led learning, look for ways to support your children’s interests.  For example, one of my son’s interests is the guitar, so I look for ways to nurture that.

He has been taking guitar lessons for several years with Gentle Guitar. His goal when he started was to learn to play Beethoven’s 5th. Now he’s researching the greatest guitarists of all time like B.B. King, Jimi Hendrix, and Keith Richards by looking up their most notable songs on YouTube and comparing different techniques.

He is also learning to play by ear the theme songs from his favorite video games and considering the MasterClass, Carlos Santana Teaches the Art and Soul of Guitar. [Read more…]

6 Secrets to Slaying the Teacher/Mom Balance in Homeschooling

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How many hats do you feel like you wear as a homeschool parent? Adrienne shares six secrets for discovering a good teacher/mom balance in homeschooling.

Written by Adrienne Bolton of The Mommy Mess.

Finding a comfortable teacher/mom balance in homeschooling has been one of the most significant challenges for me. I’ve spent years trying to juggle the two hats only inevitably to fail because it’s impossible to separate the pair.

Do you struggle with this too?

Teacher/Mom Balance in Homeschooling

Try these six secrets I’ve found for slaying the teacher/mom balance in your homeschool.

1. Be a parent, first and foremost.

Homeschooling is not only your job but a large part of who you are as a parent. When I’m struggling with that teacher/mom balance in homeschooling, I try to remember one rule of thumb: I’m my kids’ mom above all else. I just happened to choose a style of parenting that involves teaching them at home.   [Read more…]