Homeschool

Our family officially began homeschooling when our oldest started kindergarten in 2007.   After experiencing three years of fun learning activities together in our home with my oldest one and loving the time with her and her younger siblings, choosing to remain at home and continuing learning through homeschooling was a natural extension. Granted, there are challenges, fears, and insecurities along the way, but homeschooling has been so rewarding.  I do not regret a moment of time that I have been able to invest in the lives of the children the Lord has given me.

Are you thinking of homeschooling for your family?

Below are links to some of the thoughts I've shared over at Joy to the Heart in regards to homeschooling as well as a couple of related printables.  May you be encouraged on your own journey...

You CAN Homeschool
Curriculum Choices
Keeping Track of Progress
Making Memorable 1st Days
Keeping It Real
Day In The Life
Meal Planning

You CAN Homeschool!

• Homeschool - Embarking on a Journey

• Scripture Encouragement for Homeschool Moms (printable)

• Delight. Commit. Trust. (printable verse)

• Scripture Bookmarks (printables for moms)

Curriculum Choices & Progress

Curriculum Planning Resources

• Curriculum Providers

• Online Learning Opportunities

• Curriculum Mapping

Our Curriculum Choices Through the Years:

• 2021-2022 (12th, 10th, 8th, 6th)

• 2020-2021 (11th, 9th, 7th, 5th)

• 2019-2020 (12th, 10th, 8th, 6th, 4th)

• 2018-2019 (11th, 9th, 7th, 5th, 3rd)

• 2017-2018 (10th, 8th, 6th, 4th, 2nd)

• 2016-2017 (9th, 7th, 5th, 3rd, 1st)

• 2015-2016 (8th, 6th, 4th, 2nd, K)

• 2014-2015 (7th, 5th, 3rd, 1st, PreK)

• 2013-2014 (6th, 4th, 2nd, K, preschool)

• 2012-2013 (5th, 3rd, 1st, PreK, 2 year old)

• 2011-2012 (4th, 2nd, K, 3’s preschool, toddler)

• 2010-2011 (3rd, 1st, PreK, 2 year old, 4 mo old baby)

• 2009-2010 (2nd, K, 3’s preschool, toddler, baby arrived end of year)

• 2008-2009 (1st, PreK, 2 year old, 6 mo old baby)

• 2007-2008 (K, 3’s preschool, toddler, baby arrived mid year)

• 2006-2007 (PreK, 2 year old, 7 mo old baby)
  – Joyful Heart Character

• 2005-2006 (3’s preschool, toddler, baby arrived mid year)
  – Joyful Heart Bible and Rhyme

• 2004-2005 (2 year old, 6 mo old baby)
  – Joyful Heart Learning

Student Progress

Keeping Track of Progress:

• Homeschool Report Card

• Homeschool Highschool Academic Report

• Daily Progress Sheets per Grade Level (K-8th)

• Free Gradebook Spreadsheet (from Five J's)

Homeschool Spaces and Organization

• In a School Room

• In an Apartment

• Throughout the House
  

• Utilizing Workboxes (elementary aged students)

• Workboxes revamped (middle school and highschool)
  Printable Workbox Tags

Making Memorable 1st Days

Build excitement and make the first day of each homeschool year something to look forward to!

A few ideas...

• A Marvelous Adventure - a superhero theme (2021)
  -Superhero printables for sale at TPT

• Hamilton! (2020)
  -Hamilton printables for sale at TPT

• Stacking Up the Learning - a book theme (2019)

• Mysterious Benedict Society Theme (2018)

• Baking - Great British Bake-Off style (2017)

• Olympics (2016)

• Americana (2015)

• Ocean Creatures Theme (2014)

• Flying Creatures (2013)

• Love Theme (2012)

• Patriotic (2009)

Some first day printables...

• Grade Level Signs- Great for marking the first day of a new school year!

• Back 2 Homeschool Banner - Print on cardstock, hole punch corners, string, and hang!

• Growing in Grace - Let your children fill in their favorite things, plans for the future, etc. Save and compare from year to year!

• Apples of Gratitude: An Apple a Day for the Start of School - a way to focus on an attitude of gratitude from the very start of the school year! (Contains Scripture Reference Apples that can be used for sword drills and discussion, for references that children look up to copy neatly, or as a reminder for memorization practice, Display Apples for students to either draw or write what they are thankful for, and Notebook Sheets)

Keeping It Real - Balancing Fears with Trusting in Christ

• The Daily Mommy vs. Teacher Battle (A 5 part blog series)

• In Mourning

You will keep in perfect peace
him whose mind is steadfast, 
because he trusts in you. 
Trust in the Lord forever, 
for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal. 
(Isaiah 26:3-4)

Day In The Life

• Homeschooling - A Day in the Life (2 year old, 4 year old, and Kindergarten)

• My 4 Ring Circus (18 months, 3 /12 year old, Kindergarten, 2nd grade )

• The Favorite Part of Our Day - Morning Worship (K, 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th)

• A Day in the Life of a 9th Grade Homeschooler

• A Day in the Life of Growing Independent Learners (2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th)

• What’s a ‘Typical’ Homeschool Day? (4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, 12th )

Meals & More

• Meal Planning Printables

  Printable Main Dish List– to list your family’s favorite dinner meals
  Printable Menu Plan– a sheet to plan your dinners and grocery list
  Printable Freezer Meals – a sheet to keep track of what’s in your freezer

• Meal Planning for Busy Moms - a blog post with tips for making meal planning manageable