Posts by Erin Archives - Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers

How to Easily Cover All Subjects with Interest-Led Learning

April 9, 2019 By Erin Vincent

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.

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…]

10 Ways to Make Your Homeschool More Fun This Year

January 10, 2019 By Erin Vincent

Homeschooling doesn’t have to mean endless workbooks and flashcards. Try one or all of these tips from Erin to make your homeschool more fun this year!

Written by Erin Vincent of Nourishing My Scholars.

Are you looking for ways to make your homeschool more fun this year? Did you know that homeschooling doesn’t have to be all workbooks and memorization? You may be surprised to find that there’s a load more fun you can have when you think outside the box.

The homeschool fun happens when you start to relax. If something isn’t working for you or your kids, it’s okay to change it. Remember, homeschooling doesn’t have to look like a public school or private school.

Your homeschool experience may not look like your friend’s homeschool or the ones you see on Facebook and Instagram. That’s okay, too! Do what works for you and your kids. It can look and feel however you want it to. That includes the fun factor!

10 Ways to Make Your Homeschool More Fun This Year

Try one or all of these ways to make homeschool fun this year. [Read more…]

How to Control Your Anger When Homeschooling Gets Hard

November 8, 2018 By Erin Vincent

Homeschooling can test the patience of a saint, but Erin has some practical anger management strategies for homeschooling parents.

Written by Erin Vincent of Nourishing My Scholars.

I had a major outburst today, folks. Have you ever had one of those? If you’re a mother, homeschooler – gosh, let’s face it, a human being – then I’m sure you have.

We woke up late, as usual. But today we had somewhere to be and homeschool appointments to keep. It seemed that everything was against us in making it anywhere on time.

I couldn’t get anyone to eat their breakfast or brush their teeth. One was complaining that the other wouldn’t stop looking at them. Someone’s sock was turned the wrong way, and they couldn’t walk until we fixed it.

Twenty minutes later someone else had forgotten their blankie. Then someone got to lock the back door before the other got a chance! Oh, the tears.

Good. Grief. The kids were tired and cranky, and so was I.

We are not morning people.

As we were backing out of the driveway and the bickering and crying escalated. I bellowed, “Enough!”

Then, I pulled the car back into the driveway and ordered everyone to get out. “We aren’t going anywhere,” I yelled. The shock on my children’s faces seared into my brain as I got out of the car and marched back inside the house.

It wasn’t my finest moment, folks.

I want to model calm, peace, and patience for my little ones. But this was not it. So, what are my anger management strategies when homeschooling gets hard?

We All Struggle with Our Emotions

Anger is the hardest emotion of all to control. Yes, homeschool moms get angry sometimes. We’re human, after all.

We have stressful jobs. Kids have meltdowns over assignments. Siblings bicker. And, we never get to go to the bathroom alone.

Being with our kiddos all day every day can be taxing. Don’t get me wrong; we also have the most fabulous job in the world. Homeschooling is a beautiful blessing, but sometimes juggling a million different balls gets to us.

Especially when the balls drop.

Underneath the emotion of anger, other subtler emotions lurk. We may not even recognize them. Underlying feelings such as fear, guilt, shame, and hurt masquerade as anger.

Am I doing enough?

Are my kids falling behind?

I’m failing them!

I can’t do it all.

These hidden emotions result in responses lacking the grace, love, and understanding we intend.

We all struggle with our emotions.

And then, we don’t enjoy the lovely gift of all that homeschooling has to offer.

How to Control Your Anger When Homeschooling Gets Hard

Anger Management Strategies for Tough Homeschool Days

The best defense is a great offense. Recognize when your emotions are about to get the best of you and take action to handle them more positively.

I shouldn’t have yelled, but canceling our plans for the day was necessary. It prevented worse meltdowns from both the kids and me. I was able to go inside and re-group, reschedule, calm down, and plan how to turn our day around.

And it did turn around. We had a lovely day of nature, art, and board games.

These helpful tips work for me when homeschooling get hard:

1. Slow Down. Count to 5 or 10 or even 30 – whatever you need to slow down and acknowledge that your emotions may be getting the better of you. Check your expectations and evaluate what’s going on.

Did you schedule something in the early morning knowing that your kiddos are NOT early morning people? Are you expecting too much or overscheduled? Both can cause a usually calm person to lose it. Maybe you need to cut back and leave space? Remember, learning still happens in those unplanned spaces.

2. Breathe. Breathing, which helps calm anger, is vital for controlling emotions. When we can calm our anger, we are more in control of ourselves. Take a few moments to close your eyes and focus on your breath. Breathe in and count to 4. Then breathe out and count to 4. Repeat. The bathroom and bedroom closet make great breathing rooms.

3. Mindfulness. We aren’t in control of anyone else’s actions, only our own. While we’re slowing down and breathing is a great time to reflect on this fact.

Controlling Your Emotions when Homeschooling Gets Hard

Other Helpful Anger Management Tips

One of the most helpful things I’ve learned over the years of parenting is NEVER to act while angry. Anger causes us to lash out. We may feel vindicated in our actions, but after a cool down we will see the overreaction and hurt relationships that our anger caused.

For me, homeschooling is about building the relationships with my family.

Find Your Tribe

When your homeschool is less than perfect, seek out your tribe for wisdom and inspiration. If you don’t have a physical tribe to turn to, then look online for like-minded mamas.

Whenever you’re feeling down in the dumps about homeschooling, watch one of Julie Bogart’s videos. Julie is the creator and owner of a language arts program called Brave Writer. She is also a former homeschool mom of 5 for 17 years.

Anytime I need a pick-me-up or help understanding where to go when my emotions are high; I turn to Julie. I always feel like she’s in my homeschooling corner. She helps me remember my “why,” and rediscover joy and contentment not only for myself but also for my kiddos even on the toughest homeschool day.

I’m also a big fan of The Homeschool Sisters Podcast and the Simple Homeschool for words of encouragement when homeschooling gets tough.

Take Your Vitamin N

Nature. When homeschooling gets hard, it is a soothing balm to the soul for my kiddos and me. Any time we wake up cranky, or I feel my emotions getting the better of me, we pack up our books and head out into the wild. Listening to the soothing sounds of water and the wind in the trees are all we need to turn our moods around.

Play Games

Playing favorite games is a great way to take the edge off a tough homeschool day. Games don’t judge, and they provide a stealthy way to work on early literacy, math, verbal communication, and cooperation skills. Plus, they help build family relationships while having fun!

Art

On those days or weeks when homeschooling throws you for a loop, art proves a beautiful way to both process and reconnect as a family. Why? Because art helps us calm down and focus. Our favorite art programs are You ARE an Artist Chalk Pastels and The Masterpiece Society Art Courses.

When the inevitable happens, and you lose control of your emotions, give yourself lots of grace and apologize to your kids. Ask for their forgiveness. After you’ve had time to cool down, talk with your kids about your frustrations and how you could have handled your anger better. Then put those words into practice.

Trust me; life will give you plenty of opportunities to practice.

How do you control your emotions when homeschooling gets hard?

5 Ways Homeschoolers Are Like Hobbits

September 6, 2018 By Erin Vincent

Written by Erin Vincent of Nourishing My Scholars.

Hobbits love second breakfast, go on awesome adventures, and are capable of amazing things! Does this remind you of anyone?

Homeschoolers! Check out these five ways homeschoolers are like hobbits.

This post contains affiliate links. See full disclosure policy for more details. Email and RSS feed readers may need to visit the blog to access affiliate links.

Hobbits are the extraordinary, small folk of J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Only the size of children (about the size of your average 5-year-old), hobbits are unassuming and perfectly content to do their own thing in the comforts of the Shire.

And yet, these little folks who prefer good food and comfort over meddling in the affairs of the big folk become the heroes of Middle Earth! I like to think of homeschoolers as heroes. Every day they are doing their best, finding their courage, and discovering the simple joys of life.

So how else are homeschoolers like hobbits?

1. They Need Second Breakfast.

Elevenses? Luncheon? Afternoon Tea? Dinner? Supper? I know my little hobbits eat ALL. DAY. LONG. The need to provide three square meals and countless snacks every day is one of the hazards of homeschooling.

Poetry Teatime is always a big hit. As in, my little homeschoolers would happily consume all the tea and treats in the house in one sitting if I let them.

They are enjoyers of all good things to eat. If they were hobbits, they would need to loosen the buttons of their waistcoats!

2. Homeschoolers Are Always Ready for an Adventure!

Homeschoolers are not all grammar, flash cards, and workbooks. Some homeschoolers are not those things at all. Most of us LOVE hands-on activities and adventures. Like going on nature hikes or field trips!

Hobbits became the heroes of Middle Earth! Homeschoolers are heroes, too. Every day they are doing their best, finding their courage, and discovering the simple joys of life.

Adventures always find us even when we aren’t looking for them. Like that time we went zip lining while hiking at the national park or when we tried roasted crickets as part of our history lesson with History Unboxed!

So, much like the Took side of Bilbo Baggins, homeschoolers are often overcoming fears, finding their courage, and readying themselves for adventures.

3. Homeschoolers Are Capable of AMAZING Things!

Potato clocks, rockets, survival shelters, and Morse code machines. Oh, My!

Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy, as my 5-year-old would say.

Homeschoolers sure are capable of amazing things! Most of these happen right in our backyards or on the kitchen table. Plus, we tend to make things as hands-on as possible and use whatever methods work best for our kiddos.

Some homeschoolers road-school, while others may take part in dual enrollment with local and online colleges! Then there are the unschoolers, who learn everything they need to know by following their interests.

Similar to the hobbits of Tolkien’s creation, homeschoolers are amazing!

4. Homeschoolers and Hobbits Are Surprising!

You’re never sure if what you’re doing is working or if they are learning everything they need to learn. We tend to jump in with both feet and learn as we go. Making mistakes is all part of the process.

Your kiddo may enjoy a strict schedule that is completely mapped out and by the book. Or she may prefer a looser plan with more hands-on activities. Then again, you may find yourself in the world of eclectic homeschooling filled with great books, games, and conversations.

Surprisingly, homeschooling usually changes year by year. So, we homeschoolers must also be adaptable.

I would say that hobbits are also surprising and adaptable as well. Look at all they accomplished in Middle Earth!

5. We are Fun-loving.

Merrymaking and song were a signature of the Shire-folk. Homeschoolers love to have fun, too. Parties are always welcome whether they be book parties, co-op parties, or birthday parties.

Sometimes we throw an impromptu dance party just because! A gathering of friends is commonplace around our home. Dancing, singing, playing games, and even the slip-n-slide all happen frequently.

Except for the slip-n-slide, sounds like hobbits to me!

Now tell me, how do you think homeschoolers are like hobbits?

6 Ways to Avoid the Homeschool Comparison Trap

July 18, 2018 By Erin Vincent

Written by Erin Vincent of Nourishing My Scholars.

Do you struggle with continually comparing your homeschool to others? Doing so can easily steal your joy and leave you feeling overwhelmed. So how do you avoid the homeschool comparison trap?

This post contains affiliate links. See full disclosure policy for more details. Email and RSS feed readers may need to visit the blog to access affiliate links.

Homeschool Comparison

“Comparison is the thief of joy.” – Theodore Roosevelt

If comparison is the thief of joy, then why can’t we seem to stop doing it? It doesn’t serve us to compare our homeschools, our children, our homemaking abilities, or anything else in our lives. Yet, we can’t seem to help ourselves. Social media has made it even harder to avoid comparing our lives to others’.

But it’s just as easy to compare yourself to others at the grocery store, library, or other social functions.

Are my kids doing enough? Am I?

Homeschool comparisons can create jealousy, a feeling of being less than, and thoughts of inadequacy. It can also lead to a sense of fear. Fear of not doing enough or doing this home education thing wrong.

Suddenly, you’re feeling like your kiddos aren’t reading enough classic books, they aren’t writing epic novels, their math skills aren’t up to par, or your poetry teatime isn’t magical enough because you served Little Debbie snack cakes instead of making homemade treats!

Ask me how I know.I’ve been there, folks.

Should I be teaching Latin and a foreign language? What about artist and composer studies? We should be doing hands-on activities and nature walks.

So, you try forcing, bribing, and cajoling your kids to do more, more, more!

Fear is a liar, and comparisons can make you miserable.

How to Avoid the Homeschool Comparison Trap

Comparisons can be a good motivator if you seek appropriate and realistic expectations. For example, you love the idea of poetry teatime, so you browse the internet looking for poetry teatime ideas to incorporate into your homeschool week. There’s nothing wrong with that. You’re looking for more information on a subject that interests you.

But, when you start to compare all aspects of your homeschool in a constant state of inexhaustible contrast that leaves you feeling like you are never enough, that’s a problem.

How do we stop comparing ourselves to each other?

1. Practice gratitude. What are you thankful for today? It’s hard to get caught in a comparison trap when you are actively grateful. Can you think of at least five things? Maybe you could start a gratitude journal.

2. Focus on your homeschool vision. How do you see your homeschool in your mind? What are your goals? Keep in mind your lifestyle, your teaching style, and your children’s learning styles. Now, what can you do to create that vision?

I have found the book Teaching from Rest to be helpful.

3. Reflect on how you want your homeschool to feel. Feelings are important and different from vision. I want our homeschool to feel warm and enriching. If you need a little pick-me-up, then you may enjoy the books:

4. Focus on your strengths. Everyone has strengths. Some people are great leaders, organizers, creators, readers, writers, gamers, etc. What is your strength?

5. Remember your homeschool why. Why are you homeschooling your kiddo?

It's okay, to look at what others are doing to gain insight and ideas that you can apply to your homeschool. But remember, every family is different, so every homeschool will be different.

6. Look at what has worked or didn’t work for your homeschool in the past.

It’s okay, to look at what others are doing to gain insight and ideas that you can apply to your homeschool. But remember, every family is different, so every homeschool will be different. Every. Single. One. The key is to find what works best for you in this season of your homeschool.

Just don’t judge yourself based on what someone else is doing.

Have you found yourself caught in a comparison trap? What helps restore your perspective?