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.

How to Find Homeschool Community and Support

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Homeschooling can be lonely without a strong support system. That’s why it’s so important to find your homeschool community. If you’ve ever struggled to find your tribe, you’ll appreciate the tips Erin shares.

Written by Erin Vincent of Nourishing My Scholars.

Have you had trouble finding a supportive homeschool community? You are not alone! I am right there with you! Finding supportive homeschool groups can be hard, especially if you’re an introverted homeschool mom like me.

We homeschool parents carry loads of pressure to be perfect and to do this homeschool thing right. We need allies, cheerleaders, and friends to support us on this educational journey. But finding our homeschool community and support system is frequently easier said than done.

How to Find Homeschool Community and Support

Finding A Homeschool Community

To find your homeschool tribe, you’ve got to put yourself out there. Repeatedly! That’s hard. So is rejection or feeling like you don’t belong. It may take a while to find your tribe, but when you do,  it is so worth it! [Read more…]

Yes, You Can Homeschool Your Child With Special Needs

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If your child has learning challenges, homeschooling may seem intimidating, but you can homeschool special needs! In fact, it may be the ideal setting.

Written by Shawna Wingert of Not the Former Things.

Seven years ago, my son was diagnosed with autism. We had already been homeschooling for more than a year. That was a decision that we made based on many of the same reasons that ultimately led to his diagnosis.

As a former special education teacher, I was confident in our decision to withdraw him from public school. So, I was surprised that almost everyone else saw it differently.

Homeschool Special Needs

“When will you be putting him back in school?” his doctor asked as if it were a given.

“You’ll need the services only the school system provides,” a well-meaning therapist repeatedly told me.

“Maybe this is just too much for you to take on,” my family said, worried about my son and me.

Seven years later, I am grateful to say that homeschooling was one of the best decisions we ever made for my son’s development and education. [Read more…]

15-Minute Homeschool Lessons: The Perfect Busy Day Solution

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Even when life gets busy, school doesn’t have to suffer with these quick and easy 15-minute homeschool lessons. They’re perfect for busy days.

Written by Chelsea Gonzales of Wonder Wherever We Wander.

In a perfect world, we would all be on our A-game 24/7. We would always have fun ideas to keep our homeschools fresh and exciting. We would spend several hours a day engaged in active learning with our kids.

Unfortunately, this isn’t the reality for most of us. Life gets busy. We get wrapped up in trying to survive each day, and sometimes homeschooling falls by the wayside for a bit.

15-Minute Homeschool Lessons

When this happens, many homeschool parents are quick to assume they’re no good at this homeschooling thing. While it’s easy to feel that way, it just isn’t true. Believe it or not, your kids will keep learning even when you aren’t actively engaging them.

Still stressing? Take heart! There are some super-short, simple educational activities you can use to keep your learning momentum going. [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 Cope When Your Homeschooler Balks at Schoolwork

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What do you do when your child refuses to do his work? It’s frustrating! Learn how to cope when your homeschooler balks at schoolwork.

What do you do when your homeschooled child won’t do his schoolwork? The situation is frustrating, but how to handle it depends on why it’s happening. In most cases, blatant defiance isn’t why your homeschooler is balking at schoolwork.

Homeschooler Balks at Schoolwork

First, determine the cause of the resistance. The coping method you choose will vary if it’s a discipline problem instead of, say, a readiness issue.

Consider factors such as:

  • The age of the child
  • Possible physical or medical issues (ADHD, vision or hearing problems, Asperger’s)
  • Potential learning challenges (dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia)
  • Significant changes in the child’s life (divorce, a death in the family, the birth of a sibling, a move)
  • How your current curriculum meshes with his learning style or your teaching style

Once you pinpoint why your homeschooler doesn’t want to do his schoolwork, you can start exploring solutions. [Read more…]