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.

Easy Spanish Lessons for the Whole Family

By Kris Bales

A couple of weeks ago, Josh told me that he liked all the meals I’d fixed for supper the previous week. No, it wasn’t because I’m such a fantastic cook. He liked them because they made easy leftover meals for taking to work.

I still took it as the compliment it was though because all the meals were also simple to prepare and stuff that the whole family likes to eat.

Easy and effective. Those are my kind of meals.

Flip Flop Spanish review

I like easy and effective in my homeschool curriculum, too. Pick-up-and-go curriculum that my kids enjoy, that works well for them, and requires little prep work for me is the very best kind. That’s why I’ve been so happy with the Flip Flop Spanish curriculum.

What Is Flip Flop Spanish Curriculum?

Flip Flop Spanish is an easy-to-use, two-year Spanish curriculum designed for the whole family to learn together, from your preschooler to your high schooler – and you.

It comes with everything you need to start using it right out of the box. The only things you’ll need to add are a binder and a few index cards.

I also had some acrylic playing card storage boxes that I found extremely handy, but a couple of rubber bands or plastic sandwich bags would work just as well.

Elementary Homeschool Spanish

When you open the box, you’ll find:

  • The curriculum manual, 3-hole punched and ready to go into a binder with a front and back cover and spine insert
  • 3 sets of flashcards
  • 4 audio CD’s containing all the lessons
  • A dry erase paddle and marker for practice and games
  • Card-holder notebook pages for sentence-building

It is a homeschool curriculum/organizer junkie’s dream. I mean, seriously? Two full years of curriculum and (almost) everything you need to do it fits in one binder? What’s not to love about that?

(The only things that don’t fit in the binder are the flashcards. However, if you store them in a 3-hole-punched pencil pouch, you could store them in the binder, too.)

How Do You Use Flip Flop Spanish?

Flip Flop Spanish is so easy to use. I started by going through a lesson by myself to see how it worked. Then, I had Megan go through the lesson on her own. She finished and said, “That’s it?”

Yes, that’s it. The lessons are simple, interactive, and short – perfect for all ages. Each lesson is designed to take a week to complete, going through the same lesson at least three times before moving to the next. On the third time through, you don’t use the CD but interact with your student face-to-face.

Homeschool Spanish for High School

If you’re learning with only an older student, you can do two lessons at a time. Older kids and adults could do the lessons entirely independently (though it’s beneficial to have a practice buddy) using the curriculum guide and CD lessons. It’s recommended to spend at least three days a week on Spanish lessons.

The CDs feature a different track for each section of the lessons, which makes it simple to stop for younger kids with shorter attention spans and pick up where you left off.

What Does a Flip Flop Spanish Lesson Look Like?

For each lesson, there is a list of flashcards to pull out. Each flashcard has a picture on the front. The back lists the Spanish word and pronunciation, along with the English word. The cards are placed picture side up. As you listen to the CD, each word is introduced in English and Spanish.

The cards are also numbered, so it’s easy to find the ones you need to pull out for each lesson.

homeschool Spanish

Students are asked to touch the correct card when they hear its Spanish word. Because you’re only hearing the Spanish word and looking at the picture, the lessons teach your brain to think in Spanish.

Flip Flop Spanish review

After practicing the words, students use the cards to build sentences in Spanish. Older students are encouraged to keep a notebook and write out two or more of the sentences they build with the cards. This allows them to practice speaking, reading, and writing in Spanish and familiarizes them with Spanish grammar.

There are different activities peppered throughout the curriculum, such as Spanish Pictionary, hide-and-seek, and crossword puzzles. There is plenty of review – and even break weeks! – built into the curriculum.

Plus, there are invitations to email Señora Gose, the creator of the curriculum, if you have questions or get stuck. She really wants students to succeed with Spanish!

homeschool Spanish

See? Even la gata likes Flip Flop Spanish.

So, if you’re looking for a Spanish curriculum that’s easy to use and fun for all ages, check out Flip Flop Spanish. We can’t wait to dig into it more next school year! Be sure to check out some of their fun extras like a perpetual Spanish activity calendar and Spanish-English labels for objects around your home.

How to Ignite Your Child’s Passion for Reading

By Kris Bales

I’m a bookworm. I have loved to read as long as I can remember. Once, our school did a read-a-thon to raise money for a charity. My step-dad pledged $1/book (that was a lot of money back in the day) because he didn’t think I’d read that many books. It seems like the goal was 20 books per reader, and, of course, I read them all!

My step-dad later told me that he knew I’d do it. He just wanted to add a sense of challenge for me. That’s probably true.

ignite a passion for reading

I was the kid who always won an award for reading tons of books over the summer. I would lie on my bed, with my pet parakeet perched on the book nibbling the pages, and read for hours.

Of course, I didn’t have the television, video games, and the internet competing for my attention. Back in those days, there were only three channels (five if you could get the public broadcast channels to come in), and they were all showing soap operas all day long. (Confession: I was hooked on General Hospital during the Luke, Laura, and Scorpio years.)

So, how do you ignite a child’s passion for reading these days with so many electronic devices vying for their attention? My kids aren’t die-hard bookworms like I was (Seriously, you’d think I’d have at least one.), but they do enjoy reading. Even the dyslexic ones. It’s worth noting that it’s wrong to think that people with dyslexia don’t enjoy reading. They do; it’s just a slower, more challenging process for them.

Share Your Love of Reading

The most basic step in raising kids who love to read is to share your love of reading with them. I read to my babies before they were born. Yes, I was that mom who would read to her pregnant belly.

I’d lie in bed reading board books to the kids when they were infants. I introduced them to my favorite children’s books when they got a bit older. We went to Story Time at the library, and they chose their own books to bring home each week. (And usually to a fast-food place with a playground with friends afterward, so Story Time was always a highly anticipated event.)

ignite a passion for reading

Read bedtime stories to your kids. (Even when they’re older.) Let them see you read. Join kid-friendly book clubs or start a family book club. Have 20-30 minutes of silent reading time each day during which you all read (or look at picture books or wordless books) on your own. Yes, this means you, Mom.

Introduce Your Kids to a Variety of Genres

I have three kids, and they all have vastly different preferences when it comes to reading genre. My boy has always preferred non-fiction books. Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel was one of the few picture books he’d sit still for as a kid. He always preferred fact-based books about trucks, cars, and military stuff.

One of my girls has loved Shakespeare since she was 15. She also devours manga and fantasy novels. The other girl likes stories and biographies. The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series was what first got her hooked on reading.

Introduce your kids to a variety of genres so they can discover their favorites. A friend of mine used to have her kids choose at least one biography, one non-fiction, one fiction, and one book of poetry each time they visited the library. Those are some well-read young adults who were avid readers throughout their teen years.

Give Your Kids a Firm Foundation

Teaching a child to read is probably the single-most important skill you can give them. If a kid can read, he can learn about anything. One of the most critical aspects of teaching reading is keeping it fun. After you’ve shared your love of reading with your kids, you don’t want to ruin it by turning the activity into drudgery for them.

One resource that I keep hearing about over and over in the homeschooling community is Reading Eggs. Reading Eggs is web-based reading instruction designed for kids ages 2-13 that I wish had been around when my kids were learning to read.

It features games, songs, and rewards that have been carefully designed to engage kids and keep them motivated. Kids can access Reading Eggs on the web or a mobile device using the iOS or Android app. It’s perfect for today’s tech-savvy, screen-loving kids. I mean, seriously, my 4-year-old niece can navigate a tablet better than I can.

The Junior level uses games, songs, and videos to teach 2-4-year-olds pre-reading skills. Reading Eggs teaches 4-7-year-olds phonics, sight words, spelling, vocabulary, and reading comprehension. Kids ages 7-13 can build on those skills with comprehension lessons, games, and an online library using Reading Eggspress.

Reading Eggs offers several affordable subscription levels, but from now until February 11, 2018, you can try it for free for 4 weeks. Just click through the link and sign up to get started!

What has worked well for you for inspiring a love of reading in your kids?

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10 Ways to Keep Preschool and Kindergarten Learning Fun

By Kris Bales

It can be so easy as a homeschooling parent – particularly a new one – to get caught up in worrying about academics. Yes, formal learning is important but so is delight-directed learning and just having fun. This is especially true when you have little ones. Moms and dads, keep preschool and kindergarten learning fun!

10 Ways to Keep Preschool and Kindergarten Learning Fun

Keeping learning fun for your little ones isn’t hard. Just quit worrying about workbooks and curriculum and try these tips.

1. Play!

Don’t underestimate the importance of play for young children. Kids incorporate the things they see and experience into their play. It’s a way of helping them process their experiences and learn valuable social and problem-solving skills.

Play with your child. Reenact everyday situations by playing restaurant or store. Let your child explore his imagination by playing dress-up. (My kids always has a well-stocked dress-up box made up of Halloween costumes purchased on clearance, yard sale and thrift store finds, and outgrown adult or older sibling clothes.)

Let your child lead your play. You don’t need a plan or an ulterior motive. Just spend some time interacting with your youngster and let him lead the fun.

Don’t feel that you always have to play with your child. Let her spend time in self-directed, solitary play or arrange a play date with friends.

2. Follow your child’s lead.

Some young children are ready for some formal learning at an early age – particularly if they have older siblings who are doing school. Play is so important, and parents are often admonished to hold off on formal seatwork. However, if your child enjoys doing more structured learning activities, go for it!

Some kids love to go through preschool or kindergarten workbooks and activity books. Some are eager to learn to read. Capitalize on their eagerness by following their lead – which also means putting the books aside without guilt if the interest wanes.

3. Make your child part of your day.

Young children learn so much simply by participating with you in everyday activities. When you wash dishes, let your child help (or fill up a pan of soapy water and give her her own dishes to wash).

Let him help you sort and fold laundry, which is an excellent way for him to practice categorizing, counting, and fine motor skills. Make your preschooler your official produce-weigher at the grocery store.

Allow your child to help you measure or stir when you cook. This provides a natural way to practice counting and talk about fractions.

4. Go outside.

Any excuse for fresh air and sunshine is a great excuse, but for young children, there is so much to explore outside. This makes time outdoors the perfect learning experience, too. Let your child go outside and just play. Period.

Or, look for simple ways to turn a neighborhood walk into an educational outing. Take a nature walk. The Handbook of Nature Study blog is one of my favorite resources for nature study.

You might also want to check out the book, 100 Backyard Activities.

5. Create.

Color. Sculpt with Play-Doh. Cut pictures from old magazines and paste them on construction paper to make collages. All of these activities work on creativity and fine motor skills, but they don’t feel like work. They’re just fun.

I remember one day when my kids were younger (but older than Kindergarten age, so let older siblings in on the fun, too), I pulled out construction paper, old magazines, scissors, and glue. Josh, Megan, and I sat at the table for an hour or more, creating and talking.

It was a little thing, but one of those unexpected memory-makers.

6. Create a learning wall.

When my kids were little, we had a very preschool-classroom-looking learning wall. The kids and I really enjoyed it. (Yes, I include myself.)

It included things like:


The learning wall provided a fun, low-key way for us to take about 15 or 20 minutes to go over key concepts every day.

7. Sing.

Learning songs are great for this age! My kids loved the songs from The Letter Factory. You can sing the alphabet song together as well as songs to help them remember the days of the week, states and capitals, months of the year, skip counting, and more.

And, don’t forget about the Schoolhouse Rock songs! We still sing those.

8. Make homemade toys.

When Brianna was in home daycare, Miss Cheryl had all kinds of fantastic homemade toys that worked on gross and fine motor skills. The kids would drop clothespins in a milk jug or push large pom poms into the jug opening. She always had the sides cut out so the clothespins and pom poms could be easily retrieved.

I used to have an old diaper wipe container filled with caps from various containers such as milk jugs, orange juice containers, and soda bottles. We used them for counters and stacking. The kids would sort them into categories such as same/different, big/little, or by color.

10 Ways to Keep Preschool and Kindergarten Learning Fun

9. Socialize.

Learning to interact with others is an important skill for young children, so don’t feel as though you’re blowing off formal learning when you get out and about in your community.

Go to the library for story time (or just to choose books and talk to the librarians). Head out to the park for play dates – even if you’re not meeting anyone. Kids can have a new best friend within five minutes of arriving at a play place.

10. Read.

Read to your child every day. That is probably one of the most important activities you can do together. Read just for fun. Read random books. Choose a theme for the week. Learn about people from other places. Introduce your child to some of your childhood favorites.

Do some fun extension activities to go along with the books you’re reading, such as Officer Buckle and Gloria or Bread and Jam for Frances. Check out Picture Book Activities by Trish Kuffner for more great ideas.

Preschool and kindergarten are such fun ages! Don’t get bogged down into thinking that every day has to be full of classroom-style learning.

What are some ways you keep (or kept) learning fun for younger kids?

Busy Bags: Activities to Engage Curious Preschoolers

By Kris Bales

The fact that preschoolers are curious, energetic little beings is both a blessing and a curse. When you’re trying to get school done with older children, get dinner on the table, or wait more than 2.5 seconds for an appointment, that energetic curiosity can be maddening.

Those are the times when you need quiet, self-contained activities that preschoolers can do on their own. Those are times when you need Busy Bags Kids Will Love.

Busy Bag Activities to Engage Curious Preschoolers

What Are Busy Bags?

Busy bags are self-contained, screen-free, fun, and educational activities. Dubbed busy bags because they’re often stored in zip-lock bags, these activities can provide that sanity-saving quiet parents need while engaging kids in meaningful play and exploration.

busy bags for preschoolers

Busy bags aren’t just for keeping kids out of your hair. They’re a fun way to connect with preschoolers and:

  • Promote early learning concepts such as number sense and letter recognition
  • Encourage creative, imaginative play
  • Develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination
  • Provide quiet, but productive activities for preschoolers

My 3-year-old niece and I had a blast playing with the busy bags I made for her to try out. Except one. That one she declared to be “too hard for me, Aunt Kris, because I’m a baby.”

The kid cracks me up. Um, girlfriend, if you can articulate that idea that clearly, I have a feeling the activity isn’t too hard for you.

What Is Busy Bags Kids Will Love?

Busy Bags Kids Will Love is a 100+ page, full-color book featuring 52 busy bag activities with easy-to-follow directions – and photos for the visual learners among us – on each page.

early learning activities for preschoolers

The book is written by Sara McClure, a former classroom teacher who now homeschools her children. Sara began using busy bags in her own home to keep her young son engaged while she worked with his older brother.

Busy Bags Kids Will Love includes tips on creating and storing busy bags, along with a list of 100 things your child should know before entering Kindergarten.

Each section begins with a detailed explanation of the skills and concepts that preschoolers should be exposed to and how the busy bags in that section address those skills. So, more than just showing parents how to create activity bags for kids, the book increases understanding of early childhood development and how to encourage age-appropriate play and exploration.

Who can use busy bags?

Busy bags are versatile to use and inexpensive to assemble. This makes them ideal for:

  • Homeschool parents
  • Parents and grandparents of preschoolers
  • Teachers and daycare workers
  • Childcare providers
  • Cool aunts {grin}

My sister used to love for Brianna to babysit my older niece because Brianna always brought games and activities with her. She actively engaged my niece instead of just plopping her in front of the TV while Brianna played on her phone. I wish we’d known about busy bags back then.

How Do You Use Busy Bags?

The possibilities with busy bags are endless. I love that the 52 activities in Busy Bags Kids Will Love are broken down into four categories:

  • Math
  • Literacy
  • Fine Motor Skills
  • Just for Fun

This breakdown makes it easy to find just what you’re looking for if you want to work on a specific skill. It’s also perfect for ensuring that you’re covering a balanced assortment of skills.

screen-free activities for preschoolers

I made one bag from each category to try with my niece. Most of the items I needed to make the bags were things I already had around the house. For those supplies that I didn’t have on hand, most were available at the dollar store. I went to a craft store for one item (though a well-stocked dollar store would probably have had it – ours seemed a little picked over) and splurged on a sturdy bottle for another of the activities.

You can put the bags together yourself or host a busy bag swap with some friends. A swap allows participants to get a variety of bags while keeping the prices of assembling them low. Busy Bags Kids Will Love provides simple, practical tips for hosting a stress-free busy bag swap.

Once the bags are assembled, you can pull them out as needed and keep them rotated so that the activities are fresh and engaging for your preschooler. The bags are designed so that preschoolers can complete the activities with minimal supervision. Many of the activities include tips for making the activities self-checking, as well.

Busy Bag Activities Kids Will Love

Have you made busy bags with your preschoolers? What’s been successful for you?

8 Tips for Homeschooling with Babies, Toddlers and Preschoolers in the Mix

By Kris Bales

Sometimes I amuse myself. When my kids were little, the outgoing message on my answering machine started with, “You’ve reached the Bales family three-ring circus…”

And lest someone think they could just track me down on my cell phone, my outgoing voicemail message started with, “You’ve reached the Bales family traveling circus…”

Homeschooling can be challenging. Throw a baby, toddler, or preschooler in the mix and chaos is often a much better word. When we started homeschooling in 2002, I had a 7-year-old, a 3-year-old, and a 1-year-old. Fun times, y’all!

I’m here to tell you, though, that you can successfully homeschool with little ones around – and it’s just a small season in life that passes in the blink of an eye. If you’re homeschooling with babies, toddlers, or preschoolers, try these tips.

1. Take advantage of nap time.

Nap time was huge for us. When I was only schooling my 7-year-old, we saved reading – the one subject that required quiet and my undivided attention – for the afternoons when her siblings were napping.

If your older child is in the early elementary years, you’ll likely find that you can complete all or nearly all of his seatwork during nap time. For most early elementary-aged kids, formal seatwork generally takes a maximum of two hours.

If you can’t get it all done during nap time, save the most mom-intensive or quiet-requiring work for that time.

2. Try baby-wearing.

For moms of babies, look into using a sling or wrap for “baby wearing.” With baby happily snuggled up with Mom and her hands-free, schooling can carry on business-as-usual for the most part.

3. Create a baby- or toddler-proof area for schooling.

This tip probably saved my sanity. When my children were little, we schooled in our mostly-finished basement. It was an area where we could contain and entertain the baby and toddler with minimal supervision. It was stocked with fun, baby-safe toys and books, a couch for snuggling to read, and a table for my older daughter’s seatwork.

Josh and Megan played with each other while I worked with Brianna. Once the lessons were explained and Brianna was working on her own, I moved to the floor to play with the little ones. I was still easily accessible to Brianna for questions or support, even if I needed to move back to the table with a younger sibling sitting in my lap for some cuddle time.

4. Involve younger siblings.

It’s also a great idea to involve younger children as much as possible. We spent a lot of time snuggling on the couch to read or with the younger kids sitting at the school table, playing with Play-Doh or building with Legos.

One of the favorite activities of the younger two siblings was getting involved in the hands-on projects that Brianna was doing for science or history. Toddlers and preschoolers love doing what the big kids are doing – and it may surprise you to realize how much they’re learning!

Sometimes younger siblings enjoy having their own “school work.” Pick up some coloring books or workbooks at department or dollar stores so little ones can have their own school books. My kids loved the free Letter of the Week curriculum.

5. Spend time with little ones first.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking, “I’ll just get the big kids started, then, I’ll spend time with that baby.” Sometimes, if you give the little one a few minutes of your undivided attention first thing, he’s much more content to play on his own for a bit.

6. Take turns with the little ones.

If you have more than one older sibling, let them each spend some time with their little brother or sister during the day. Letting the older kids each spend 15-20 minutes entertaining the baby provides you one-on-one time with siblings, builds the bonds between the baby and his older brothers or sisters, and teaches older children how to serve others.

7. Utilize electronics.

Although no one wants to rely on the “electronic babysitter,” used sparingly and thoughtfully, TV, videos, apps, and online games can prove extremely useful in occupying little ones. There are so many educational options for young children these days.

I always liked using DVDs because they have a pre-determined length. That means the little ones couldn’t get involved in another show before I could get there to turn the TV off. I was amazed at how much Josh and Megan learned about fire safety from a Sesame Street video and a video given to us by our insurance company. Those were two of their favorite videos for several weeks!

And, y’all, four words: Leap Frog’s Letter Factory. Josh and Megan seemed to learn all of their letters and sounds overnight watching that video. I was so impressed that it was my standard two-year-old birthday gift for years.

8. Have “school time only” activities for little ones.

Have toddler and preschool activities that you only bring out during school time and rotate them often. Pinterest is a treasure trove of ideas that didn’t exist when my kids were little. I had to rely on books. You know, paper books. {grin} Here are some of my favorites:

The Toddler’s Busy Book, The Preschooler’s Busy Book, and Picture Book Activities by Trish Kuffner

Story Stretchers for Infants, Toddlers and Twos by Shirley Raines

Homeschooling an older child with younger siblings in the house can feel challenging sometimes, but it is also incredibly rewarding. It’s not something that should ever dissuade a family from homeschooling.

What are some of your best tips for occupying little ones during school time?

updated from an article originally published May 18, 2007