The Homeschool Solutions Show

Be proactive, not reactive. You know you are going to have good days and bad days. We've been talking the past couple of weeks about how we might be the ones sabotaging our homeschools. We also discussed the importance of having our attitudes ordered rightly because someone might be watching. But what does this look like in the day to day of our home? We have meals to cook, errands, appointments, and a house to clean. And then there are the unexpected problems that come up in our week. Listen or read more at https://pambarnhill.com/proactive-homeschooling/

You've met her. Maybe you've been her. Maybe you are her. Some homeschool moms might scare you. Some homeschool moms scare their children. But I think we've all experienced another kind of scary homeschool mom: the one who scares herself. Are you scary? Who do you scare? Is it always wrong to be scary? If our fears are pointing us toward our weaknesses, and we then reinforce those areas, we can become scary in all the right ways: Scary not to our children or to ourselves, but to the world, the flesh, and the devil. Listen or read more at https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/scary/

This is the second post in the series: Help Your Kids Memorize Anything. You can see part one here. No doubt, the heart of any memory method is recitation. By saying the words over and over again, the language patterns, information and the very essence of words become ingrained into our being. Often when we read, especially as better readers, we skip over words or read by phrase instead of word for word. It is this reason that simply reading something to memorize it is not enough. The better way is to say it out loud — or recite it. Listen or read more at https://pambarnhill.com/recite-recite-recite-help-kids-memorize-anything/

Guilt is a universal feeling though it rears its ugly head in different ways, using different strategies for each person. We must all learn to tackle this beast in our own way and find the strategies that work for us. I have been working hard to be reasonable, rational, and really honest with myself as I attack the ridiculous guilt that creeps up on me. Yes. Ridiculous. Some guilt is just plain ridiculous. Listen or read more at http://www.notbefore7.com/2017/06/21/mom-guilt-over-it/

It's no good looking all calm and serene in the face of criticism if you then go home and collapse into a snivelling heap, all confidence destroyed, convinced you're setting your children up for a lifetime of failure. Here's how to build your homeschooling confidence so criticism enters one ear and sails straight out the other, never thought of again. Except for a giggle with your homeschooling friends about the ridiculous things people say to you, of course. Listen or read more at https://fearlesshomeschool.com/confident-homeschooling-criticism/

Memory work is a big part of what we do around here. And while for some people, memory work would suggest feelings of drudgery and drill and kill, the reality couldn't be farther from that. We love our memory work and have fun with it. The kids get great satisfaction in learning a new poem or a series of math facts. These "hooks" become saved in their brain to be excitedly called forth during the liturgy at church, at a science museum or demonstration, or during story time at the library. We memorize because of those feelings of satisfaction and to create those hooks of information. Listen or read more at https://pambarnhill.com/help-kids-memorize-anything/

I've found myself listening to opinions about home education, advocating it, and answering homeschool questions in some of the most unexpected places and times since we began homeschooling in 2009. From family and friends to acquaintances to complete strangers, people have plenty of concerns and questions about homeschooling. Some of those questions come so frequently that it feels like deja vu and some come so frequently that I've developed canned answers. Shameful, I know! Here are my 5 most-asked homeschool questions and how I answer them. Listen or read more at https://tablelifeblog.com/homeschool-questions/

Struggling to squeeze all of your children's math lessons into your homeschool day? Here's 6 ways to streamline your math teaching so that you can fit multiple grade levels into your schedule! I recently received an email from Tiffany, who was debating whether to continue using Singapore Math. Along with some other issues, she wrote: "I'm finding it difficult to fit 3 separate Singapore math lessons in each day." Whether you use Singapore Math or not, and whether you have two, three, or five kids (or more!), I bet you're nodding your head in agreement. Math eats up a lot of time in homeschool schedules. Listen or read more at http://kateshomeschoolmath.com/how-to-teach-multiple-grade-levels-in-math/

Laura wanted to do this homeschool thing just right. She had struggled in the past, but this year was going to be different. Her homeschool planning was going to be perfect. So she started by buying a fresh, new homeschool planner. You know the kind. It had months of lesson plan grids that started in August and went all the way through the following summer. Laura began the year feeling compelled to write things in every box. Successful homeschoolers have a plan, and she wanted to be a successful homeschooler. Listen or read more at https://pambarnhill.com/homeschool-planning-not-guessing/

The oldest just graduated from high school. For the last year, while preparing for him to leave the nest and live on his own, my husband and I began to realize we may have failed him when it came to essential life skills he needed to survive. We spent 17 years educating him, providing for him, making sure he was well-rounded and knew how to play most sports. But, we failed him on some of the simplest of tasks that we took for granted. Don't fail your kids like we almost failed our son! Here are 10 life skills for teens who will soon have to navigate the world without their parents. Listen or read more at https://www.hidethechocolate.com/life-skills-for-teens/