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.

5 Reasons You Should Consider Homeschooling at Night

By Bethany Ishee

If a packed or unusual daytime schedule is derailing your homeschool, try homeschooling at night to maximize your schedule. Bethany has five reasons why a schedule change may be just what you need!

Written by Bethany Ishee of BethanyIshee.com.

So often we embark on this homeschool life with the idea that learning happens between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. We make our beautiful, color-coded schedule and set the alarms. Then, we don’t understand the disappointment when things don’t go as planned.

Life gets in the way of that perfectly timed schedule.

5 Reasons You Should Consider Homeschooling at Night

Before you get discouraged and flag down the school bus, remember, this is your homeschool and learning happens all the time. Sure, it can happen at 9 a.m. if that suits your family, but 9 p.m. is okay, too. And for those of you with teenagers, I see you already nodding your head because you know how difficult life can be with a 15-year-old at 9 in the morning.

5 Benefits to Homeschooling at Night

Have you ever thought about homeschooling at night? Consider these benefits. [Read more…]

100 Books Made to Movies You Can Watch On Amazon Prime

By Adrienne Bolton

What are you reading this year? Add some picks from this mega list of books made to movies that you can watch on Amazon Prime. Enjoy!

Written by Adrienne Bolton of Adrienne Bolton.

I don’t want to sound like an overachiever or anything, but it’s my goal to watch as many books made to movies as we can this year. Anything to help get our kids get excited about reading, right?

So I had this idea…

100 Books Made to Movies You Can Watch On Amazon Prime

100 Books Made to Movies You Can Watch On Amazon Prime

Me and big ideas! This list was a labor of love. I haven’t clicked around the interwebs at all because I don’t want to see another list until after I publish this one, but I’d like to think mine is a pretty darn good, family-friendly list of books made to movies!

Each listing includes the year the movie was released and its rating according to Amazon Prime Video.

About the list:

  • This list is NOT a parent’s guide! Watch at your own risk. Please do not be angry or upset if there is something in a movie you find offensive or inappropriate. I can be sure the list is what it promises: these movies were also once books.
  • There are NO “R” rated suggestions, and the whole family can enjoy the majority of the list.
  • I tried to categorize this, but that task seemed easier in theory. I’m not Robert Ebert, ok? If I call something a classic and it really isn’t or whatever, just be ok with me anyways. Deal?
  • You can find all of these on Amazon Prime Video. Some are included with your Prime membership already; others you can rent through Amazon or a third-party app. Some titles are actually a series.

Without further ado, I bring you my list, baby! One hundred books made to movies that will make you want to stop what you’re doing and veg out all day. [Read more…]

The Best Way to Choose Curriculum for Kids Who Learn Differently

By Shawna Wingert

If your children have learning differences, choosing homeschool curriculum can be a challenge. But Shawna shares one simple way to ensure you get it right.

Written by Shawna Wingert of Not the Former Things.

Nine years ago this month, I ordered my very first homeschool curriculum. It was an all-in-one, everything-you-need-in-these-boxes type of curriculum and I was so excited. I unpacked the boxes with the enthusiasm of a kid opening presents on Christmas morning.

I carefully put together my lesson plan binders and organized my bookshelves. Every once in a while, I would glance through a workbook or two, excited to get started.

Then, we began homeschooling.

The Best Way to Choose Curriculum for Kids Who Learn Differently

It didn’t take long for my children to rebel. To their credit, they tried. Their little five- and eight-year-old faces looked up at me with an expression that showed they knew I really, really wanted to do all the things. They tried to appease me.

But within a week, it was clear me that they both needed a different approach. I felt like a total failure, only five days in.

The Best Way to Choose Curriculum for Kids Who Learn Differently

Almost a decade later, I have to smile looking back on those early days. Back then, I didn’t know about any of my boys’ learning differences. I didn’t realize that recreating school at home would have the same outcome as school itself had for them. (Not a good fit, to say the least.)

I didn’t know that I could take advantage of the freedom homeschool offers. That I could help my boys learn in ways that worked best for their strengths and differences. 

I only knew that the only person this amazing, beautiful curriculum was working for was me. [Read more…]

Curriculum-Free Geography? How to Get it Done and Have Fun!

By Bethany Ishee

Not sure how to homeschool geography without the fill-in-the-blank workbook? Bethany’s fun curriculum-free geography ideas will help you tune in to the world around you without ever cracking a dry, dusty textbook.

Written by Bethany Ishee of BethanyIshee.com.

If you’ve homeschooled for a while, you may be starting to wonder if all this curriculum is really necessary. Or maybe life has thrown you a curveball, and new curriculum purchases are on hold for a bit.

Whatever the reason you’re considering going curriculum-free, it can be helpful to view curricula as a tool and not a requirement.

Geography is an excellent subject to try out schooling without curricula.

Curriculum-Free Geography? How to Get it Done and Have Fun!

Diving deep into writing or math without the safety net of a curriculum can feel too daunting. Geography provides a fun, low-stress option for those looking to make that stack of textbooks a little bit shorter.

So how do you homeschool geography without all the memorization and workbooks? [Read more…]

Strength-Based Homeschooling: 5 Reasons Why It Really Works

By Shawna Wingert

Working to your child’s strengths can improve retention and build a love of learning. Discover the benefits of strength-based homeschooling.

Written by Shawna Wingert of Not the Former Things.

Before I was a homeschooling mom, I worked in corporate training and development. My job was to help companies identify talented individuals within their organization and teach them to leverage an individual’s strengths for better performance.

One year, I was asked to attend a training session at Gallup. This multi-day intensive was all about using individual strengths to improve overall ability and performance. Based on their book StrengthsFinder 2.0 and a ton of Gallup research, the key takeaway was: Teaching to an individual’s strengths exponentially increases productivity and learner satisfaction.

Surprisingly, I also learned that when a person is allowed to progress in a way that is ‘strengths-based,’ her overall capabilities and performance increased, even in the areas that were weaknesses.

5 Reasons Why Strength-Based Homeschooling Really Works

After completing the training, I saw the research prove itself again and again in a corporate setting.

Then, I started homeschooling my boys. [Read more…]