Posts by Sara P Archives - Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers

Let Them Read: Giving Your Kids the Freedom to Choose

May 2, 2019 By Sara

There are plenty of homeschool reading tips out there, but Sara offers one of the best in the following article: let your kids choose what they read. Freedom to choose increases engagement.

Written by Sara Jordan Panning of Heart and Soul Homeschooling

I recently had a conversation with a reading specialist who has encouraged excitement for reading in hundreds of kids. He relayed to me how frequently parents come to him complaining that their kids only want to read graphic novels. His response: “They’re reading, aren’t they?”

It’s so easy, especially as homeschoolers, to get all caught up in and obsess over what our kids are reading. We convince ourselves that if our child doesn’t fall in love with Tom Sawyer or Little Women, he’ll never be true lovers of books. This thinking simply isn’t correct.

Studies have shown that when parents and teachers give children the freedom to choose what they read, they are much more likely to read more often and for the pure pleasure of it.

I confess I used to be a literature snob. I read all the classics and vowed that my kids would read them, too. While we do read classic literature, I give my daughters the freedom to choose what they like to read based on their interests. Within reason, of course, but this has not been a problem so far.

My oldest daughter is 17 and has developed a taste for good books of all kinds, even if they aren’t the best according to Charlotte Mason twaddle standards. Sometimes a good story is just a good story and enjoyable to read. All three of my daughters like to read for fun, so I count that as a win. [Read more…]

4 Fantastic Ways the Whole Family Can Learn Together

February 14, 2019 By Sara

When you’re schooling multiple ages, it can be a sanity-saver to find ways the whole family can learn together. Try these four that are great for all ages.

Written by Sara P. of Heart and Soul Homeschooling

As homeschool parents, we’re often pulled in many directions all at once. Does this sound familiar?

“Mom, I need help with this math problem!”

“Will you read this book to me, Mom?”

“Mom, can we do this science experiment now?”

All of that from three different children of three different ages going in three different directions. I can’t count how many times I wished I could make a copy of myself so I could do everything at once!

4 Fantastic Ways the Whole Family Can Learn Together

Of course, we know that isn’t possible, so I decided to do the next best thing: come up with fun and educational activities we could all do together.

Even though my daughters currently range in age from 9-17, I’ve found that some of our best learning opportunities happen when we’re all spending meaningful time together.

The whole family can enjoy many educational opportunities together. Some obvious options are field trips (a.k.a. family vacations) and educational documentaries and movies. However, those are usually on the schedule only occasionally. Don’t miss the simple ways you can include family learning time for all ages every day in your homeschool. [Read more…]

6 Creative Ways to Easily Homeschool Foreign Languages

December 6, 2018 By Sara

Try Sara’s fun, simple tips to homeschool foreign languages without a curriculum. The tips are perfect for kids of all ages, including high school students.

Written by Sara Jordan Panning of Heart and Soul Homeschooling

In high school, my oldest wanted to learn Japanese. I ordered a Japanese language learning set, but she just dabbled around with it. Now, she’s married and living in a rural area without a lot of job opportunities.

Except with this one large company. They’re always looking for applicants fluent in – can you guess? Japanese. If we had dug in and made learning Japanese a priority, she could have a cushy office job right now. {sigh}

So, heads-up, y’all. Use Sara’s easy and creative tips for including foreign language lessons in your homeschool. ~Kris

Teaching your kids a foreign language has benefits beyond just earning credits on their high school transcript. In a global marketplace, fluency in a second language can provide a competitive edge. Not only that, learning a second language can improve a student’s English grammar and mechanics skills and increase vocabulary.

But how can you squeeze foreign language studies into an already packed homeschool day? Read on for six creative ways to easily homeschool foreign languages, even when your schedule is full. [Read more…]

How to Handle Homeschooling When You Move to a New State

October 11, 2018 By Sara

Written by Sara Jordan Panning of Heart and Soul Homeschooling

Moving to a new state can be both exciting and unsettling. Much like the decision to homeschool. Both also require careful thought and planning.

When we moved from state to state, I knew that I wanted to keep up with homeschooling no matter where we lived. I learned some things along the way that will hopefully help you handle homeschooling when you move to a new state.

Helpful Tips for Homeschooling When you Move to a New State

There are several important and practical things to keep in mind when you’re moving and want to continue homeschooling. Use this as your checklist to help cut down on the stress.

Download this free Homeschooling While Moving Checklist to help.

Before the Move

1. Know the law.

Research the homeschooling laws in your new state to see how they compare to what you’re currently doing. We moved from a moderately regulated state to one with stricter regulations. I wanted to have a plan in place ahead of time so that I would be prepared as soon as we arrived.

It also depends on what time of year you move. Is it summer, which allows for a little more breathing room in filing your paperwork? Or is it mid-school year when some states require that you submit paperwork within 14-30 days of residence?

A great place to find the answers to these types of questions is the Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA). If you’re not a member and you’re moving to a state with moderate to strict regulations, you might want to consider joining at least until you feel comfortable in your new state. You can speak with someone at HSLDA who specializes in your state’s laws.

2. Check out homeschool groups.

Before the move is also an excellent time to research homeschool groups that will be local to your new area. Facebook is a great place to start, along with a Google search for state homeschool groups. Researching ahead of time will help you plug into homeschool co-ops, activities, and support for you and your kids right away. A homeschool group is a great place to make new friends.

3. Look for homeschool-friendly areas.

Another consideration is choosing a homeschool-friendly school district if possible. If there are several school districts in the general area you’re moving to, you can check with homeschool groups to see if one district might be easier to work with than others. It might help you make a decision when choosing a place to live.

I learned that our district was generally more favorably responsive to homeschool paperwork than another one just five minutes away. It helped us narrow down our choices when looking for a house to rent.

During the Move

Moving is a stressful time of transition for the whole family. A little bit of planning ahead can help make it easier. Here are a few tips I learned:

1. Pack a separate backpack and/or plastic storage bin with essential homeschool books and supplies for each child.

Keep this handy in the car, rather than lost amongst a jumble of boxes in a moving van. This will save your sanity and allow you to keep learning even while you’re traveling, without having to search for everything once you reach your destination frantically.

2. Make use of media during the transition time.

This is an excellent time to listen to audiobooks in the car or watch educational DVDs on a portable DVD player. Learning doesn’t always have to look like a traditional textbook/worksheet method, especially during a major life change.

I recommend Jonathan Park CDs for science, classic literature that you can download for free as mp3 files, and fun, educational DVDs like LeapFrog or Drive Thru History. If you have a laptop and an internet connection in your hotel room, you can make use of educational websites and even Netflix. Kindles are a great way to “carry” a lot of books without taking up much space.

3. Take advantage of the travel time to see new sights and make it a field trip!

History is everywhere. Odds are that there will be some type of educational stop you can make on your trip. Many are free or low cost, too!

We’ve seen old one-room schoolhouses, Revolutionary War cannons, locks on a waterway shipping line, old mills, and other small historical sites of interest. It doesn’t have to be a huge tourist attraction like Niagara Falls (though we saw that on one of our moves) to be fun and educational.

We’ve homeschooled in hotels and in the car when necessary while traveling. I figure if people can live in an RV full-time and homeschool, I can manage to homeschool on the road for a while. It just takes a little creative thinking.

After the Move

Even once you move into a new place, there is always the initial process of sorting, unpacking, and getting settled. At least that’s been my experience. Organizing skills don’t come naturally to me. And, even the best-laid plans can get shuffled when you move to a new state.

That’s why my number one bit of advice for after the move is to relax and take your time finding a new homeschool routine. It won’t hurt to take some time away from the books to learn some real-life lessons together as a family. Things like patience, grace, and coping skills are essential things to learn, too!

My number one bit of advice for after the move is to relax and take your time finding a new #omeschool routine. It won't hurt to take some time away from the books to learn some real-life lessons together as a family.

Take some time to learn the area in your new state. See some of the sights. Do something fun to break up the stress. Since you’ve planned ahead before the move, you’ll be ready to join any groups or file your paperwork when the time comes.

When you’re committed to homeschooling as a lifestyle, it’s only natural that you’ll continue homeschooling no matter where you might live. I hope these tips will help make the move a bit smoother for you!

Have you moved while homeschooling? What tips would you add?

Homeschooling with Chronic Illness

August 9, 2018 By Sara

Written by Sara Jordan Panning of Heart and Soul Homeschooling

Homeschooling seasons ebb and flow. Some are easier than others. A new baby arrives or you make a cross-country move. Eventually, life returns to “normal,” and you find your homeschool groove again. However, chronic illness can be unpredictable with no end in sight. Homeschooling, with its built-in flexibility, can be an excellent option for families coping with chronic illness.

I’ve been living with chronic illness and pain for 21 years and homeschooling for over ten years now. Based on my experience, you can homeschool in spite of chronic illness. I’ve found homeschooling to be a gift in spite of my health struggles.

Homeschooling with Chronic Illness

I had a chronic illness before my children were even born, so I went into homeschooling aware of it. Some people don’t receive a diagnosis until after they begin homeschooling, or they have periods of remission and recurrence with their illnesses.

Sometimes it’s a child who is diagnosed with a chronic illness, like diabetes, Celiac disease, or even severe allergies. Whatever the situation, homeschooling can be a huge blessing in the midst of difficult times.

Why Homeschooling Is a Great Option for Parents or Children With Chronic Illness

The flexibility of homeschooling makes it ideal for people coping with chronic illness. Homeschooling allows you to:

1. Slow your pace

If a flare-up strikes, you can take things at a slower pace. I have fibromyalgia, migraines, thyroid disease, PCOS, and mixed connective tissue disease (similar to lupus). Some days I can manage my pain with medications, followed by days when I can’t get ahead of the pain.

On those bad days, we cut back on our activities. A traditional school schedule doesn’t allow for too many absences or a slower pace, but homeschooling makes it easy.

2. Adjust school start times

If you’ve had a difficult night with insomnia or other sleep disturbances, you can sleep in. No rushing to catch a bus at 7 am!

3. Modify your calendar

We homeschool year-round. This schedule allows us to take breaks anytime we need them. No need to cram everything into a certain time period on the calendar. Even if you don’t school year-round, homeschooling makes it easy to reschedule your calendar as needed.

4. Monitor your child’s health

Homeschooling allows you to monitor your child’s health more closely. Whether it’s checking blood glucose levels or avoiding exposure to allergic triggers, you can create an educational environment that supports your child’s health needs.

Tips for Coping When You’re Homeschooling With Chronic Illness

1. Create a literature-rich environment.

Books, especially living books, are the key to our homeschool success. Whether they’re audiobooks, library books, or our own growing collection, books are the heart of our learning. When I’m having a rough day, we can still enjoy learning together from a comfy spot on the couch with good books.

2. Take advantage of homeschooling’s flexibility.

If we plan a field trip but discover it’s a bad pain day, we know that we might have to leave sooner than we expected and come back another day. Sometimes we choose to reschedule.

If you’re homeschooling with chronic illness, consider trying relaxed, delight-directed learning or even unschooling for a time if necessary. A more relaxed approach to education allows you to capitalize on the good days without stressing over the bad ones.

3. Don’t discount the life lessons.

Children can learn important character lessons like compassion, patience, and perseverance through difficulties like a chronic illness. Look at trials as an opportunity for growth.

4. Don’t beat yourself up.

Sometimes we’re our own worst critics. We’re juggling so much in our roles as moms and homeschoolers, and chronic illness adds another layer of responsibility. Do what you can on the good days, but allow yourself some breathing room on the not-so-good days.

No one ever wants to become an expert on how to homeschool with a chronic illness, but sometimes life happens in less than ideal ways. Remember to give you and your children grace. When it comes down to it, pulling together to cooperate and get things done even when it’s not easy strengthens family bonds.

Do you homeschool with a chronic illness? What tips would you add?