Kris’s Biggest Homeschool Mistake: Teaching in Subject Blocks

by on October 12, 2011
in a mom's education · 14 Comments

Written by contributor Kris of Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers

I‘ve been homeschooling my three kids, ages 16, 11, and 10, since 2002. Well, technically, I was only officially homeschooling the oldest way back in 2002. That year was not without its mistakes – the biggest of which was thinking that I had to model our homeschool day after a public school day, complete with the Pledge of Allegiance and recess.

Okay, so the Pledge wasn’t so bad, since I wanted my kids to know it, and my daughter definitely enjoyed her midday half hour outside when the weather was nice, but some of the structure was a little over the top for our rather relaxed family.
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Overcoming Homeschool Mom Burn-Out

by on September 2, 2011
in inspiration · 34 Comments

Written by contributor Kris of Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers

Homeschool mom burn-out. It’s a horrible feeling. I’ve had bouts with it off and on over the course of our nine-going-on-ten years homeschooling, but never as bad as this last year.

I was done. Wiped out. The last few weeks of our 2010-2011 school year can only be described as “muddling through.”

My kids will all tell you that this summer was the most boring ever. And, they’re probably right. We didn’t do anything remotely educational. We didn’t do much that was even especially fun. There was entirely too much video-game-playing, TV-watching, and Internet-surfing.

And, I can only muster up the tiniest bit of guilt over that because I needed it. I needed a couple of months to decompress.

I didn’t think I would be excited to start school this year. In fact, I was dreading it. However, when the first day started getting close, I was surprised to find that I was excited.

There were three things that I think helped me bounce back:
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5 Tips for Nature Study

by on July 22, 2011
in methods & philosophies · 24 Comments

Written by contributor Kris of Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers

Though we’re not always consistent with including it, nature study is one of our favorite ways to spend some of our homeschool day.

It’s fun, relaxing, interest-led learning in a real-world, hands-on environment.

Following are five tips for making nature study an anticipated part of your family’s education (because you’ll be learning, too, Mom):
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Summer School: A Time for Skills Training

by on June 15, 2011
in home maintenance & management · 17 Comments

Written by contributor Kris of Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers

Summer. A time for swimming, sleeping in, watching a little more TV, reading a few more books, cook-outs and family vacations. In short, summer typically offers a more relaxed schedule and a little more free time.

Even if you school year ’round, chances are your summer schedule isn’t as packed with outside activities as normal.

More time and less structure can make summer the perfect time to learn some new skills. No, I’m not talking about the three R’s. I’m talking about those things that can make your home run more smoothly when school is back in session.
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Easy Grammar: Making Grammar Easy (2011 Curriculum Fair)

by on May 11, 2011
in curriculum · 22 Comments

Written by contributor Kris of Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers

Children’s ages: 15, 11, and 9
Educational Philosophy Influences: Classical, Charlotte Mason, Eclectic

One of the biggest struggles that my family has had, curriculum-wise, is putting together a language arts program that works well for us. It’s also the area that contains the one piece of curriculum that we’ve used the longest.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been asked what I use for language arts, nor how many times I’ve answered that we’ve never found one all-encompassing language arts program that we enjoy. This is definitely the most eclectic area of our homeschool.
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