homeschooling

September 14, 2020 by Tricia Goyer Leave a Comment

4 Practical Tips for a Grumble-Free School Year

As a homeschooling mom of ten, there is always a lot going on in our home, and it’s hard to make everyone happy all of the time. This has led to a lot of grumbling in the past. But a few years ago our family decided to do something different and replace out grumbling with gratitude. I chronicle our journey in The Grumble Free Year, and these are four practical things I learned that can also help your family to have a grumble-free school year!

1. Start with your grumbling before you address your family’s grumbling.

Okay, I admit it, it’s hard to tell my kids to do better when I was grumbling, too. I wasn’t a loud and proud grumbler, yet I would often fall prey to the internal, grumbling martyr, and I knew the kids could tell.

My internal grumbling often went something like this:

“I can’t do this. There are too many kids and too much needed from me. I can’t keep up.”

“It’s going to be a rough day!”

“Oh, the weather is bad outside, so much for my clean house while the kids are all cooped up!”

“I’m going to have to deal with the kids grumbling again, ugh!”

Having these conversations with myself was not only a sin, but it also created a murmuring tenor in our home. I had to repent before the Lord of my grumbling before I could make progress with my children’s attitudes and seek to have a grumble-free school year.

I had to capture my grumbling thoughts and think of something to be thankful for instead.

This simple practice changes my attitude and it was noticeable, to me and my kids.

2. Take control of your unrealistic expectations and remain flexible with your kids’ schooling.

No one expected this school year to go as it has. No one. Yet here we are, and complaining about it doesn’t change things.

As parents, we often grumble because we expect things to go a certain way, but they don’t. But the fact is, things rarely go as planned. Even if the changes aren’t huge (like going from public school to homeschool or virtual school), there are always bumps in our plans.

The problem with unrealistic expectations is when the house got messy, I didn’t get as much done in the day as I had hoped, or the kids started to fight, I would get overwhelmed and begin to grumble.

In my effort to stop grumbling, I thought about my unrealistic expectations that I could clean the house and have it stay clean. (We had eleven people living in our home at one point after all!) I also considered how unrealistic it was that I could go through a day with my family, and it would be conflict-free.

Instead of giving in to those unrealistic expectations, I started proactively considering how to help my family get back on track. Some days this meant stopping to do a 10-minute cleanup, with all the kids helping. Other days, it meant pausing to help my children communicate with each other better: “How about we try that conversation again, this time with kind words?”

Think about the next few hours. What do you hope will happen? Now consider your response when something doesn’t go as planned. It doesn’t matter what happens, just think about how you’ll respond.

When we realize we’re being unrealistic and plan for a positive (not negative) reaction, we handle situations better. We look beyond the problems to find solutions. We treat our family with respect, instead of just grumbling about what went wrong.

When we react with confidence, instead of feeling like a victim, we feel better about ourselves and others—and we model this for our kids. When we can control our expectations and emotions, we can better handle the bumbles and struggles when they come.

Consider your desire to have a grumble-free school year and how to attain it in light of this. With the current pandemic, there is so much up in the air. You might even start the year with your kids going to school, and then in a few months, things could quickly change. Thinking ahead to how you’ll respond when change happens can go along way. Planning to be flexible and to communicate positively now will help when things don’t go as planned.

3. Communicate to stave off grumbling.

Often we get upset or frustrated with our kids’ grumbling when they actually have a reason behind it. Kids are little people with human emotions, fears, and frustrations. When the grumbling starts, it helps to figure out what’s really going on.

Ask yourself:

Are they feeling residual tension and stress in our home? (Kids are amazing sponges when it comes to soaking up when we are fearful or stressed.)
Are there needs they have that are not being met?
Do they need extra love and attention from me?
Are they not feeling well, sleep-deprived, or hungry?

By asking yourself these questions, you may reduce complaining and head towards a grumble-free school year by realizing your child’s needs.

For older kids, they often grumble because they know outward defiance will get them in trouble. They feel frustrated about certain things, but they know they are not allowed to act out. Questions to ask older kids are:

What is worrying you?
Is anything making you anxious?

Then, instead of trying to solve all the problems yourself, ask, “What do you think we can do about this?” It’s amazing what solutions kids can come up with, and older kids learn to problem solve and not just grumble about it.

For my 4th practical tip towards having a grumble-free school year head over to Rooted Family for the rest of the article.

Are you ready to learn how to have True Homeschool Success?

Let me show you what has worked for our family for over two and a half decades. I want to share what’s given us the power so you too can lead your family through home education. Learn more here: True Homeschool Success

August 13, 2020 by Tricia Goyer Leave a Comment

How to have TRUE Homeschool Success

Are you ready to learn how to have True Homeschool Success? Let me show you what has worked for our family for over two and a half decades. I want to share what’s given us the power so you too can lead your family through home education.

How to have TRUE Homeschool Success

Home + school. It’s a decision we made years ago. But, to be honest, when we made that decision little did we know how it would affect generations to come of our little family.

We didn’t know *for sure* that homeschooling would give us the chance to teach our kids to trust God in all things.

We didn’t know *for sure* that reading missionary stories and talking about service to others would sink in.

And, we didn’t know *for sure* that our kids would develop strong relationships with God that would make them bold for Christ—willing to lead and follow Him where ever He called…

But we truly hoped and prayed that it would.

Now, we have three grown adults who not only survived homeschooling, but THRIVED! Our son Cory leads his lovely family to follow the Lord, our daughter Leslie is a missionary in the Czech Republic, and our son Nathan is a godly man pursuing Christ as He finds his career path.

Now, I get the amazing gift of homeschooling our seven adopted children as well! AND I get the amazing gift of seeing my grandchildren grow to be fully devoted followers of Christ too.

I have to tell you, this makes my heart burst.

How to have TRUE Homeschool Success

Would this have happened if we had chosen public school for our kids? Possibly. But the truth is, I KNOW that my time and efforts schooling our kids at home gave them a foundation of faith that has stood the test of time and now feeds into the faith of future generations of our family. THAT is a gift that keeps on giving.

When I see my beautiful grandchildren walking in the Lord I am overcome with gratitude that God called us to homeschool education. And I’m SO glad we took Him at His word when He said:

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

And:

“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger; instead, bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4

Also:

“Only be on your guard and diligently watch yourselves, so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen, and so that they do not slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and grandchildren.” Deuteronomy 4:9

As well as:

“Teach them to your children, speaking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” Deuteronomy 11:19

These Scriptures say to me that we as parents are called to be teachers. Not just some of the time, but in all things. We are to lead the children God blessed us with. And what an honor and blessing it is to do that.

How to have TRUE Homeschool Success

If you want to know more about how YOU can give the gift of a homeschool education to your family join me here: www.homeschoolsuccesscourse.com

Let me share all the practical tips and tricks I’ve learned to:

—Homeschool multiple levels in four hours a day.

—Create a positive learning environment where your children will thrive.

—Invite your kids to join you on the journey of education.

—Understand the basics of homeschool laws and what your kids need to graduate and go to college.

—Discover your gifts as a homeschool teacher.

—Finding extra help for special needs kids.

…and so much more!

Here is my welcome module to give you a glimpse of this course!

YOU can give the gift of a homeschool education to your family by joining me here: www.homeschoolsuccesscourse.com

August 12, 2020 by Tricia Goyer Leave a Comment

3 Steps to Turn Grumbling into Gratitude in your Homeschool

Today I want to share 3 steps to turn grumbling into gratitude in your homeschool. It’s hard to believe that Fall is around the corner. As we kick off a new homeschool year- we are still in very unsettled times. We may begin with one direction and have to change course at a moment’s notice due to the Pandemic. Perhaps now more than ever, we need to keep our focus where it needs to be and remember how critical our perspective is.

It's hard to believe that Fall is around the corner. As we kick off a new homeschool year- we are still in very unsettled times. We may begin with one direction and have to change course at a moment's notice due to the Pandemic. Perhaps now more than ever, we need to keep our focus where it needs to be and remember how critical our perspective is. Today I want to share 3 steps to turn grumbling into gratitude in your homeschool.

Remember what God thinks of grumbling.

The first step to turn grumbling into gratitude in your homeschool is to remember what God thinks of grumbling.

Sit down with your children and share the many Scriptures the Lord gives us that show the importance of praise and gratitude instead of grumbling.

Grumbling comes from the French language, which means “mutter between teeth.”

When we feel stressed, we think grumbling is a better option, but we forget how much God hates grumbling.

Why does God hate grumbling? Because, even if we don’t think so, it’s saying, “God, you’ve failed me.”

Also, the Bible talks about the grumbling Israelites in the desert. If you read in Exodus, there are chapters and chapters about this. But, it can be summed up in this:

In the desert, the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. Exodus 16:2 God had a promised land waiting for them, but they only focused on the challenges. And He wasn’t happy with their attitudes.

Numbers 14:26-29 says, “The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: “How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites.So tell them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord, I will do to you the very thing I heard you say: In this wilderness, your bodies will fall—every one of you twenty years old or more who was counted in the census and who has grumbled against me.”

Jesus also said, “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” in John 6:43

And James 5:9 says, “Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged.”

By sharing these and other scriptures with your children, you will not just be telling your children something that you think they need to do, but you will be putting God’s authority with it. Children need to see that we are God-centered, and our directions have biblical backing.

Assess If There is An Underlying Reason For the Grumbling

The next step to turn grumbling into gratitude in your homeschool is to see if there is a root reason. Often we move straight to correcting our kids, instead of figuring out the problem.

Bad attitudes, disobedience, and mouthiness are from the same vein. There is something unsettled within our kid.

It could be:

anxiousness
worry
fear
embarrassment

They could be:

overscheduled
tired
not having enough one-on-one time
feeling neglected or even bullied

To troubleshoot this, make a list of when the grumbling or anger happens.

Is it after screen time?
Is it during a particular subject in school?
Is it when they are getting ready for bed?

Next, try to figure out the why behind it:

Were they hungry?
Were they tired?
Were they overwhelmed?
Or is it that they simply don’t like the rules?

Then proactively seek solutions.

Here is an example of a situation we had in our family. Our kids don’t like bedtime. They always want to stay up later. So, We create a routine as fun as we could make it. For our 11 years old and under, they get ready for bed, get ice cream, and then it’s storytime. For our 12-year-olds and over, they get ready for bed, get ice cream, and watch a show with dad.

They don’t want to get ready for bed and of course, at that time of night, being tired doesn’t help with attitudes,

but ice cream is fun and shifts the focus off what they don’t want to do, to what they do want (icecream)!

Plus, the routine helps, so we don’t have to deal with grumbles or fights every day.

This strategy can work in turning grumbling into gratitude with your homeschooling as well.

Ask yourself:

What is the situation?
How does my child feel about this situation?
What is a system I can create around the problem?
How can I make that system fun?

Hardwire Praise To Turn Grumbling Into Gratitude

The third step to turn grumbling into gratitude in your homeschool is to hardwire praise in your heart and home.

We need to focus on God and the good, and then we will fully receive what God promised. But, we cannot do this of ourselves. It is not in us. We cannot tackle this problem alone. I’ve taught my kids to pray for the fruit of the Spirit. We cannot be loving, patient, kind, or grateful on our own. But we can ask God to work IN us.

Just like other emotions, gratitude is an emotion. It does not come naturally. It’s one that must be cultivated. We need to hardwire gratitude into our hearts consciously.

David, in the Scriptures, talks to himself and encourages his heart in Psalm 42:5. He asks himself why he is discouraged and tells himself to look up and hope in God! When we are tempted to grumble or be discouraged, we need to talk to ourselves using the scriptures as encouragement. What kind of conversation are you having inside your head?

It truly can become a habit if you work at it. As one of my friends calls it, we need to be “magnifying our mercies.”

–Do you have an overwhelming amount of laundry? What a mercy that God has given you these little people!

– Is it rainy and cold outside? What a mercy that you have such a warm, cozy home!

-Are you behind in a specific homeschooling subject? What a mercy that with homeschooling, you can set your own pace and focus on what is most important at the time!

-Are you feeling overscheduled, overwhelmed, and unappreciated: “Thank you God that you have given me a sound mind to make healthy changes in my life and the strength to be strong in the things I can’t change.”

When we train ourselves to praise, it changes everything, and eventually, it can become a habit. The more we replace our grumbling with gratitude, the more we hardwire the right responses, and this is something we will carry with us for life. How do I know? I saw it first hand.

For the last twenty years, my Grandmother has lived with us. Just a few months into our grumble free year, she fell and broke her back. In our already busy homeschool life, this was not expected. I had to pull back even more, and that was tough for me, and I was tempted to grumble; But, my Grandmother’s example convicted me.

Because of her dementia, each day, she awoke forgetting about her injury. Instead of complaining, she’d thank me for taking care of her. She’d also thank God for how good He was to her. Throughout the day, I’d hear Grandma singing praises to God as she lay immobile on her bed. She could not sit, stand, or walk, but she praised.

We can make a habit of turning our grumbling into gratitude in our homeschooling. And if we do this, no matter what the future year might hold, whether our plans fall into place as we had hoped, or whether the Lord changes our path to something different- we can trust in His divine plan and praise Him in our homeschool and our whole life!

What is something that you have done to turn grumbling into gratitude in homeschooling? I’d love to hear about it!

~Tricia

Want to learn more about my family’s commitment to have a Grumble Free Year?

The Goyer home–with two parents, eight kids, and one eighty-eight-year-old grandmother with dementia–is never without noise, mess, activity, and, often, complaining. And it’s not just the kids grumbling. After adding seven children in less than six years through adoption, the Goyer family decided to move out of survival-mode and into unity- and growth-mode. They decided to tackle the impossible: a grumble-free year. Check out the book.

Are You a New Homeschooler? Or Are You a Veteran Homeschooler That Needs Encouragement? Check out My Homeschool Success Course!

Are you desperate for all the best advice for homeschooling all in one place? So was I when I started 25 years ago. It’s way easier than you think, and I want to teach you the basics.

-How to save TONS of money.

-How to teach your kids together, so you don’t have to juggle multiple curriculums.

-And what I’ve learned to make things easier for myself!

Included in the course:

10 Video Modules

+ Workbook

Each module takes 20 minutes and will save you TONS of time, TONS of money, and will give you confidence and peace about the upcoming school year. Check out my limited discount!

July 16, 2020 by Tricia Goyer 2 Comments

Great Homeschool Resources for Girls Who Love Horses

Do you have horse lovers in your house? I sure do! In fact, more than one. When you can couple homeschooling your child with the things that they love, it makes schooling that much more fun. Today I want to tell you about some great homeschool resources for girls who love horses.

I love it when I can find ways to encourage my children’s love for learning. There is nothing like seeing their eyes light up as they develop their own interests. So, when we found the Circle C products, I knew it would be like candy for my girls. I mean, what little girl doesn’t love horse adventures? Add to that with paper dolls, coloring pages, lapbooks, and audiobooks, and you have a win/win situation! These are such great homeschool resources for girls who love horses!

From activity guides, to lapbooks, to Wild West novels, Susan K. Marlow knows how to capture kids’ attention. She’s also created exciting curricula for year-long literature and language-arts learning.

Or kids can read these historical adventure books just for fun! From your youngest (who can listen to the audiobooks), to teens, your girls will love these books.

Here is my daughter with some of the audiobooks: 12 hours worth of fun listening!

While your kids are listening, they can also act out the stories with their paper dolls or color the coloring sheets that correspond with the books.

Susan and I are kindred spirits in that she began writing stories when she was 10 years old. In fact, you can read some of the stories she wrote as a teen here. As a busy mom, when she was not homeschooling her own children, she would retreat in the evenings and write about the wild, wild west and the Gold Rush.

Now she has dozens of books in print!

Susan has a series for boys about the Gold Rush as well. Make sure you can check out The Goldtown Books. So not only is this an excellent resource for girls who love horses but boys too!

But, one of the things I love the best is that Susan has made a whole bunch of her products FREE!

- PDF adventure books
- Activity guides
- Coloring sheets
- You can even try a Free Lapbook

And there is so much more – all free on her site.
Your daughter (and son) is sure to find lots of goodies to enjoy.

Susan also has a bunch of products that also make great gifts for your little horse lover. I hope your family enjoys reading and learning through these visits back in time with all the Circle C beloved characters.

Have you ever read any of these books or gone on any of these adventures with Susan? Which ones are your favorite?

Homeschool Success

Have you checked out my homeschool success course yet?

Let me share all the practical tips and tricks I’ve learned to:

—Homeschool multiple levels in four hours a day.

—Understand the basics of homeschool laws and what your kids need to graduate and go to college.

—Discover your gifts as a homeschool teacher.

—Finding extra help for special needs kids.

…and so much more!

Here is my welcome module to give you a glimpse of this course!

YOU can give the gift of a homeschool education to your family by joining me here: www.homeschoolsuccesscourse.com

July 13, 2020 by Tricia Goyer Leave a Comment

Simple Organization Tips for Working From Home

Over the years I’ve put a lot of thought, sacrifice, and even money into figuring how to make working from home run smoothly. Just yesterday I was telling a friend, “How amazing is it that I get to do what I love [write] while also getting to spend a large portion of my day with my children?” Here are some details of how I practically manage with Simple Organization Tips for Working From Home.

Simple Organization Tips for Working From Home

I love working from home. I love being here for my kids.

I’m here when my kids wake up in the morning. I’m the first person they see when they come downstairs. I take them for walks. We homeschool and play board games. I fold their jeans and T-shirts from the dryer and set dinner before them every night. I tuck them in bed.

This doesn’t come without challenges. though. My kids at home now are ages 9, 10, 12, 15, 17, and 17. That’s a lot! A lot of noise and a lot of mess. It’s sometimes hard to concentrate. One of my organization tips for working from home has been, I’ve resorted to hiring outside help. Specifically,

I hire a housekeeper to come once a week.
I hire a “Manny” (My older son) to come many times a week, during the day to keep an eye on everyone while I work.
I use assistants to be my extra hands and feet. They upload my blogs, manage my website, book guests for my radio show, etc.

None of this has happened overnight. I’ve sought out help in small ways, and I’ve built up over time. I’ve taken each step once my income has been able to sustain it. And the truth is knowing that I have others counting on me paying them has helped me be diligent about my work, too. I can’t play around on Facebook or computer games all day. I need money coming in to support those who make it possible for me to do what I do.

Simple Organization Tips for Working From Home

Another organization tip for working from home is, I depend on my handy-dandy calendars!

Digitally I use Google Calendar and Calendly to keep track of where I need to be when. I don’t schedule anything unless I consult with my calendars first. I set up blocks when I know help will be there. or when my wonderful husband will be available for the kids, and then I schedule my work into those slots.

Things don’t always go as planned, but at least I have a plan that propels me in the right direction!

Simple Organization Tips for Working From Home

But, it’s not just having a calendar that makes the difference. My 3rd organizational tip for working from home is to plan to fill your calendar wisely.

Here are a few important things about my calendar:

Not every slot is full. There is time to homeschool, to cook, to clean, to play outside. There is also white space to nap, read, or paint.
I schedule in time with friends- mostly virtually these days.
I focus on a few important things. My life revolves around my kids, my writing, friends/church, and mentoring teen moms. That’s enough. I say no to a lot of things so I can say yes to the things that God has called me to. Those things are most important to me.

I also like to use a physical planner, as well, to help keep me on track of where I should be. I am currently using my friend Ruth Chou Simon’s Planner. It’s beautiful and functional:

There is one more key part to managing my schedule…

Whenever I start feeling anxious or worried, I go back to this verse.

Ecclesiastes 4:6, “Better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.”

Yes, there are many additional ways I can give and serve, but one handful is enough, thank you very much.

How about you? Do you have a calendar that helps you keep track of your life and goals? Do you have any organization tips for working from home to add? I’d love to hear about it!

You might also enjoy Balancing Working From Home with Schooling From Home. Download the free printable for more work from home tips.

May 29, 2020 by Tricia Goyer Leave a Comment

Four Easy Steps to Homeschool

Is it possible that you could educate your child with just Four Easy Steps to Homeschool? Yes! Read on for these simple ways to find homeschooling success.

Homeschool Success: it could be easier than you think! When most people think of homeschooling they imagine complicated schedules, detailed lesson plans, piles of worksheets, and hours of attempting to make wiggly kids sit still (but with no avail). What if—instead of that—you could find homeschool success in four easy steps? Yup, these four easy steps to homeschool have helped hundreds of thousands of moms succeed as teachers and have helped millions of kids find joy in learning!

These four easy steps to homeschool start with something so simple … opening a book!

Consider the books you loved as a child—the ones you never tired of reading. Those books were interesting, exciting, heartwarming, and often had a touch of fun and humor. The illustrations pulled you in and made an impression. Even after all these years, happy emotions stir within. Good books leave an impression. Captivating books are the doorway to learning.

With a pile of books and these four steps, you will find success in your homeschool. And your kids will have fun in the process!

The 4 Easy Steps to Homeschool Success are:

1. Repetition

Have you ever heard, “Read It Again, Please!” Kids want to hear their favorite stories again and again. Repetition helps kids learn and remember story events. After hearing the same book numerous times, your child will delight in beating you to the punch line! Rereading the story several times also allows the reader to make different comments at each reading.

Five in a Row is curriculum is built around this concept. Wonderful storybooks are chosen, and parents read them every day for a week. With each reading kids learn more about the story … and they think more critically. Every day new elements of the story can be discovered.

Five in a Row study guides are available for four levels—Before Five in a Row, More Before Five in a Row, Five in a Row, and Beyond Five in a Row. Authors Jane Claire Lambert and Carrie Lambert Bozeman have selected a number of outstanding books for children and built a unit study around each one. In Five in a Row, favorite books include Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, Madeline, The Story About Ping, and more!

2. Simplicity

What could be easier than reading aloud a fun, interesting storybook five times? The storybooks in Five in a Row are full of wonderful learning concepts. These picture books open the door to learning about art, history, vocabulary, geography, science, human relationships, applied math, writing, and more! The concept is simple, but the discoveries made within each story leads to inspired learning which sets you up for homeschool success!

When it comes to incorporating Five in a Row, you get to choose the lesson or lessons you want from one subject area each day. If you choose to use only one lesson (provided in the Five in a Row Teacher’s Manuals), you can work through a learning concept in as little as 30 minutes daily, including the time to read the book.

Head over to my friends at Five in a Row to see the last two easy steps, get a free download of The Story About Ping AND get their free resource How to Turn Any Book Into a Unit Study!

Have you checked out my homeschool success course yet?

Let me share all the practical tips and tricks I’ve learned to:

—Homeschool multiple levels in four hours a day.

—Understand the basics of homeschool laws and what your kids need to graduate and go to college.

—Discover your gifts as a homeschool teacher.

—Finding extra help for special needs kids.

…and so much more!

Here is my welcome module to give you a glimpse of this course!

YOU can give the gift of a homeschool education to your family by joining me here: www.homeschoolsuccesscourse.com

May 21, 2020 by Tricia Goyer Leave a Comment

Homeschooling Your Preschooler- Tips from Five in a Row!

Thinking about homeschooling your preschooler? It’s not hard. All you have to do is pick up a favorite storybook. Nothing delights a child more than sitting on a parent’s lap, snuggling close, and opening the pages to a favorite story. Stay tuned for a free download from Five in a Row as well!

7 Tips to Homeschooling Your Preschooler in 20 Minutes a Day:

1. Start with Classic Storybooks.

Classics are classics for a reason. … they are good. Classic storybooks speak to the human heart and often cover topics like love, fear, family, and hope in easy-to-grasp and fun-to-read stories. Technology and culture change over time, but the hearts of people stay the same. The same things your grandmother worried about as a child will most likely be the things your child worries about, too. Simple stories with warmth, charm, and timeless truths will capture your child’s heart, just as they’ve done for generations!

2. Don’t Worry About “Teaching.”

Instead, consider reading time with your child as “little lessons.” Use stories as a happy introduction to books. Provide an interesting and light introduction when you read, but for the most part let the story do the work. The time between ages two and four should be a time of sharing, hugging, reading, singing, dancing, puzzles, blocks, outdoor excursions, swinging high, playing in the sandbox, and enjoying fascinating introductions to the wonderful world of life. As you can see, books are just part of the discovery!

3. Read Now to Build a Foundation for Later.

History, Science, and Language lessons aren’t necessary at these young ages, but pointing out these elements in books lays a foundation for academic subjects in later grades. For example, in the book Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear? one illustration is a kitchen floor covered with shapes. Help your child find the circles, squares, and triangles in the picture. Then you can make potato stamps (the spruce crafts has a great tutorial) in different shapes and stamp them onto paper with paints or stamp pads. As your child makes a design of his own, he’s learning the foundations of art and math, but mostly he’s having fun!

4. **Know that Bonding Is Even Important Than Learning.**

Reading together buildings intimacy between a reader and a child. Someday, when our children are grown, very few of us will say, “I sure wish I had sold more at my job, or won more awards at work, or opened more new accounts for my employer.” But many of us may say, “I wish I had spent more time with my children when they were young.” We will always treasure this time. And, this bonding is important to children, too. The connection and trust they develop with us when they are small will grow as they grow and will be the foundation for a strong parent-child relationship in the future.

For the last three tips, plus bonus material AND a free printable head over and read the rest of Homeschooling Your Preschooler in 20 Minutes A Day at Five In A Row.

Have you checked out my homeschool success course yet?

Let me share all the practical tips and tricks I’ve learned to:

—Homeschool multiple levels in four hours a day.

—Understand the basics of homeschool laws and what your kids need to graduate and go to college.

—Discover your gifts as a homeschool teacher.

—Finding extra help for special needs kids.

…and so much more!

Here is my welcome module to give you a glimpse of this course!

YOU can give the gift of a homeschool education to your family by joining me here: www.homeschoolsuccesscourse.com

May 21, 2020 by Tricia Goyer Leave a Comment

Fun School! Help Your Kids Learn At Home This Summer with Free Resources

Did you know you can Help Your Kids Learn At Home This Summer with free resources to make schooling fun? It’s not summer school–it’s Fun School!

Help Your Kids Learn At Home This Summer

There are few things kids look forward to more than summer break. Yet, things are different this year. Most kids have already been home for two months. They’ve been balancing school at home, but for most kids, it’s been more “hard and different” than “fun.” As a mom, I want my children to have a healthy love of learning. So I’m excited about tools that can give them joy in the process.

This summer, keep kids both entertained and educating with FUN SCHOOL. All of these activities are as fun for the parents as they are the kids … and they are all FREE!

Free Audiobook

My kids love audiobooks. We listen to them on car rides, and during art and craft time. We listen to them while playing Legos and baking cookies.

Some of our favorite audiobooks are by Jim Hodges. They are great for the whole family—lots of fun and exciting adventures and completely clean. (Even Dad enjoys them!)

You can sign up to receive a free audiobook HERE.

And if you enjoy this audio as much as I think you will consider signing up for the Download-a-Month Club. A digital download normally costs $18. But, with the Download-a-Month Club, YOU decide what title goes on sale as a download every month, and you only pay $6.99 per story! Your family will love having a constant stream of exciting audio stories month after month.

Free Unit Study

My kids have fallen in love with unit studies. We love taking one subject and learning about it from different angles. Recently, we’ve been enjoying Five In a Row studies. For these studies, you read one classic storybook five days in a row, and then each day explore a different element around the story.

Download a free Unit Study HERE.

This free download is for The Story of Ping. In it, kids can learn about relationships, animal kingdoms, geography, culture, literature, literary devices, art mediums, and more! After reading the book each day you pick what areas to explore.

More Free Resources to Help Your Kids Learn At Home This Summer

Join me over at The Better Mom to read the rest of this post: https://www.thebettermom.com/blog/2020/5/11/fun-school-help-your-kids-learn-at-home-this-summer-with-free-resources

Free Stay Home Journal

Stay Home Journals help kids focus on good things.

During this time, kids need a place to think, write, or draw what is going on in their hearts and minds. Writing helps kids process emotions. Writing moves thoughts from a kids’ emotional brain to his thinking brain, allowing him to process all that’s going on.

I believe in this so much, I’ve created Stay Home Journals for kids.

Download your free Stay Home Journal HERE.

Free Stay Home Journal: https://bit.ly/freejournalforkids

Free Resources (Not just for kids!)

My team has put together a list of over 200 amazing resources and courses for you. This is a load of great education for all ages. From the tiny tots to the parents, there are some wonderful sites on this PDF. Yes, you can go to the Smithsonian, tour Yellowstone, or travel to Paris without leaving home!

I’m especially looking forward to every Wednesday, where there will be free, online, worship-painting classes with Blossoming Hearts Studio on Facebook. And don’t forget about the free Lamplighter audiobook too!

The list also has sites for every homeschooling subject you can imagine. Pass this on and share it with your friends: Free Resources for The Whole Family.pdf

Hope and Refreshment for Homeschooling Parents

Need more ideas and advice on homeschooling? Pick up a copy of Homeschool Basics. Receive tried-and-true homeschool advice from veteran homeschooling moms Tricia Goyer and Kristi Clover. We dish out practical help on getting started and staying the course. Homeschool Basics will remind you that the best homeschooling starts with the heart. Packed with ideas to help you push aside your fears and raise kids who will grow to be life-long learners.

Kristi and I believe that homeschooling can transform your life, your home, and your family. Mostly, we believe homeschool can truly prepare your children for the life God’s called them to live.

Get Homeschool Basics on Amazon Now!

Are you new here? You might want to subscribe to my newsletter, check out my podcast, or follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, or Instagram.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” Read full privacy policy here.

May 19, 2020 by Tricia Goyer Leave a Comment

Teaching the Strong-Willed Child at Home

Here’s some hope and help for Teaching the Strong-Willed Child at Home!

Teaching the Strong-Willed Child at Home

I used to laugh when my mother-in-law, Darlyne, told me how my husband was a strong-willed child. That was until our daughter turned out to be exactly like her dad.

A scrawny high schooler, John was told he’d never make it in the Marines. So he joined. He not only made it, but he graduated top of his class. In the military, he stayed true to God, even when alcohol and women were readily available to him. All through life, he has lived as a man of honor and excels in his work. His strong will has taken him far.

This, of course, wasn’t comforting as I dealt with my own strong-willed child. Leslie was a sweet baby doll her first year of life, but things changed once she turned 2. She’d have tantrums if she didn’t get her way. She would hide behind me and refuse to talk when people approached her. If I gave her a blue cup, she wanted the red one. If I offered a cookie, she’d want a cracker, and vice versa. Each day was a battle—my will against hers. There were days I loved my child but didn’t like her that much.

Leslie is witty, intelligent, and extremely strong-willed. This meant when she was growing up we would often find ourselves at odds when it came to homeschooling. Getting her to focus on schoolwork was a daily fight. I had to apply the same principals to home school that I had used to raise as a busy, obstinate toddler.

Maybe you have one (or more) kids like this. Here’s what I’ve found helpful when teaching a strong-willed child.

Narrow The Choices

Offer two choices, and make it clear that your child must pick between the two choices. This helps them have some level of control while establishing healthy authority as a parent. Of course, there are subjects that must be covered and your child needs to learn the topics that are required. But could they paint their own map of the world instead of color a preprepared one? Could they jump rope while reciting times tables instead of sitting at the table? Choices can include the method of learning as well as the delivery of the answers.

Stand By Your Word

If your child disagrees, don’t give in. Once they realize that bad behavior won’t get them what they want, they will back down.

With my child, Leslie, instead of offering a blue cup and her demanding a green one, I’d offer both colors and let her pick from those two. Of course, she’d then want the red cup, but I didn’t give in. She had to pick between the two. This worked for clothes, snacks, and other things. I’d still give my daughter a choice, but I’d limit those choices. After a while, the battles stopped. She soon understood that I wouldn’t give in to her whines.

Focus Their Strong-will On Positive Things

Help her channel her energy into positive activities at home, like exercise, musical instruments, or writing. Strong-willed kids often battle with having excess energy. Help them focus that by giving them extra breaks or activities that give them opportunities to expel that pent up bounce. If your family schedule permits, consider allowing your child to play on a recreation sports league such as basketball or soccer. The extra running and interaction with others can give them an outlet for their busy mind and body.

Fill Their Love Tank

Even while at home, take steps to speak your child’s love language. Make their favorite breakfast, make a special dessert or coffee drink and sit with them on the couch, or take a walk just the two of you. As you build that relationship, they will start to open up and trust you more.

My daughter is a quality time and gifts person. She gets excited when I bring her a pack of gum or her favorite lip gloss from the store. She loves when I take her to coffee or when we go to lunch. As we spent time face-to-face, my daughter opened up about everything she was dealing with. She even confessed to some areas that she struggled with. I discovered that she wasn’t as strong as she liked everyone to believe. When I filled her love tank, her will weakened, and we built a bond that has remained for years.

Teaching the Strong-Willed Child at Home

Although you might be facing fear and anxiety about schooling your strong-willed child at home, don’t dwell on those feelings. The most important thing to remember is that what your children need most is your love and support. Learning can take place in many ways. But if our kids feel loved and safe, they will continue to excel through any situation that comes along. Remember, you are your child’s biggest fan–show them you believe in them and that you’re there to help them through this.

Together, we will succeed!

Here are more resources I think will help you as you are Teaching the Strong-Willed Child at Home

My Stay Home Journals Help Kids Focus on Good Things

During this time, kids need a place to think, write, or draw what is going on in their hearts and minds so I created these journals to provide kids a special place to record their experiences. I like the sound of “stay home.” It’s a way to focus on the good during a hard time. It’s a great way to help your kids think about what good things may be happening during this time and what they are looking forward to when it’s “safe” for us to return to normal life.

The pages are set up so older kids can write their thoughts (writing practice!) and younger kids can draw their thoughts or have a parent write for them. Need inspiration? Check your Facebook or personal calendar to help think about what your family was doing at certain points on the timeline. I made the insides colored as well so these can be special keepsakes of this great pause in our history.

I’ve designed several styles so every child can have a journal that makes them feel special.

You can find all the journals I’ve created here: Stay Home Journals

I even created a FREE printable version. Feel free to share with a teacher or someone who might need it.

Free Stay Home Journal: https://bit.ly/freejournalforkids

Free Resources (Not just for kids!)

The list also has sites for every homeschooling subject you can imagine. Pass this on and share it with your friends: Free Resources for The Whole Family.pdf

Hope and Refreshment for Homeschooling Parents

Kristi and I believe that homeschooling can transform your life, your home, and your family. Mostly, we believe homeschool can truly prepare your children for the life God’s called them to live.

Get Homeschool Basics on Amazon Now!

Advice and Encouragement for Teaching the Strong-Willed Child at Home

Are you struggling with finding hope and help for school at home? I recently talked with Focus on The Family and offered my thoughts and experience with being a homeschool mom of over 25 years. You may have fear and anxiety during this time, I understand and I want to help you get your own heart-centered so you can have peace and be the best parent and teacher you can.

Listen in to my Interview on Focus on the Family

And here’s a PDF with more Work-at-Home Tips!

Are you new here? You might want to subscribe to my newsletter, check out my podcast, or follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, or Instagram.

April 24, 2020 by Tricia Goyer Leave a Comment

Balancing Working From Home With School At Home

Are you trying to balance working from home with homeschooling kids? It’s hard, right? Here are some things that I hope can help!

Know It’s Possible

First of all, know that working from home and schooling at home are both possible. It’s true! In the almost three decades that I’ve been homeschooling my ten (yes, 10!) kids, I’ve written over 70 books. I’ve also learned a lot along the way.

When I first started homeschooling, I had an idea of what it would look like. But I still had questions. What were the homeschool basics I’d need to know? With no one to guide me, I did what I assumed was the norm–I ordered a huge box of curriculum, bought old school desks, and prepared to do school in my home. That started out alright, but I’ve learned so many things along the way that have made our journey more successful.

Now, I teach my children at the kitchen table, and I think they’re getting a great education. We don’t have a dedicated school room, and, yes, there is a multiple student-to-teacher ratio, but those things don’t seem to matter. Those things don’t impact how well my children learn. My kids live in a learning environment, which means their education continues long after we clock out of our school hours.

So, what’s the key to balancing working from home and helping your kids with school? Let me share what I’ve learned through many years of trial and error.

Intentional Windows of Time

Schedule windows of time that keep things moving. I wake up before my kids just so I can have an hour (sometimes more) of uninterrupted work before they get up. During this time I might sit outside on my porch and drink a cup of tea while I pray or read my devotional for the day. On some days I know I have to start with a writing project I need to finish. Just having this first time of the day set aside for myself gives me the peace to move forward as a work-at-home and school-at-home mom.

When they get up, I help my kids get ready and give them individualized attention for about three hours. After that, they can usually work independently, and I do my work as they continue working on their own. It’s impossible to do both at once so don’t set yourself up for frustration or failure. It’s okay to exclude one or the other at certain times.

3 Ways to Help Kids Stay Motivated To Do School Work

As we move through the days ahead I find one question seems to be repeated–how do I keep kids motivated to do their school work day in and day out? Here are some things I’ve found help keep kids moving in the right direction and getting things accomplished.

1. Create Incentives

Everyone likes to look forward to a special treat. Tell your child that if they can do 45 minutes of work, they can help you bake cookies or some other activity they will look forward to. If kids know something fun is coming, they are more likely to do the work you’re asking them to do. My children enjoy playing board games with me. If I want to motivate them through a particularly difficult section of study sometimes I will let them chose a game in advance. When they get discouraged or distracted I can remind them that I’m looking forward to playing the game with them. Building excitement helps keep them focused on the task at hand.

2. Approach Work Creatively

For assignments that don’t involve written work that has to be turned in, don’t be afraid to let them do the work differently. For instance, if your daughter has to answer a set of questions but doesn’t have to turn in the written work, sit down with her and ask her the questions out loud, and ask her to just speak her answers back to you. Not everything has to be written down for your child to learn. This is especially helpful for auditory learners.

For children with extra energy, let them stand, jump, or walk through the house while reciting the answers or subject they’re studying. Can you take a walk around the block and identify colors, numbers, or plants that might apply to their school work? Don’t be afraid to think outside the box when it comes to learning. The more ways you can integrate the topic into their lives, the more chance that the information will embed itself deeply into their brains. That’s a well-rounded education!

3. Take A Break

You, and your child, both need breaks! For younger children, don’t try to work for longer than 25-30 minutes without giving them a break. Even traditional school days are broken up into “chunks” of learning and breaks. The older the child, the longer the chunks of learning can be. No one expects you or your child to sit eight hours a day in strict reading, writing, or arithmetic lessons. That would be mind-numbing.

Even parents need a break during the day. Can you have older kids step in to supervise younger kids during art, music, or reading? Break up subjects with educational videos on the topic to give everyone a mental break. Could your child call a grandparent or family friend who might be able to talk with them about a subject while you load the dishwasher or have an afternoon cup of tea?

Even a five-minute walk around the yard, or ten minutes to check Instagram, can give you a mental reset you both need to start again fresh and ready to tackle the next subject. Never underestimate the power of closing the door to your bedroom for five minutes to pray.

Balancing Working From Home With School At Home

Although you might be facing fear and anxiety about schooling at home, don’t dwell on those feelings. The most important thing to remember during this time is that what your children need most is your love and support. Learning can take place in many ways. But if our kids feel loved and safe, they will continue to excel during this (and any other) situation that comes along. Remember, you are your child’s biggest fan–show them you believe in them and that you’re there to help them through this. Together, we will succeed!

Here are more resources I think will help you as you work at home and school at home:

My Stay Home Journals Help Kids Focus on Good Things

I’ve designed several styles so every child can have a journal that makes them feel special.

You can find all the journals I’ve created here: Stay Home Journals

I even created a FREE printable version. Feel free to share with a teacher or someone who might need it.

Free Stay Home Journal: https://bit.ly/freejournalforkids

Free Resources (Not just for kids!)

The list also has sites for every homeschooling subject you can imagine. Pass this on and share it with your friends: Free Resources for The Whole Family.pdf

Hope and Refreshment for Homeschooling Parents

Kristi and I believe that homeschooling can transform your life, your home, and your family. Mostly, we believe homeschool can truly prepare your children for the life God’s called them to live.

Get Homeschool Basics on Amazon Now!

Advice and Encouragement for Schooling At Home

Listen in to my Interview on Focus on the Family

And here’s a PDF with more Work-at-Home Tips!

Are you new here? You might want to subscribe to my newsletter, check out my podcast, or follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, or Instagram.

April 20, 2020 by Tricia Goyer Leave a Comment

How to be Successful Unexpected Homeschooling Parents

When I started homeschooling 20 plus years ago, I shared the same fears that you might be experiencing today—fear of inadequacy, fear that my kids would fall behind, being unable to keep a good schedule, and losing my patience with my kids. However, after decades as a homeschooling mom, I’ve learned that I CAN manage all those things successfully–and you can too!

Here’s How to be Successful Unexpected Homeschooling Parents

Shift Your Perspective

If you consider school to be pages in workbooks completed, then sure, kids won’t get as many pages done. But if you shift your perspective and think about learning, discovery, and life skills—I believe that, during this time, kids will actually begin to get ahead in the things that really matter.

Develop a Love of Learning

Kids are naturally curious. Look for opportunities to foster that curiosity. If they’re asking you about your job as you work from home, answer their questions as you have time and share as much as you can about what you’re doing and why. The more your kids love learning, the more they will excel in school and life.

Trust God to Fill in the Gaps

On my son Nathan’s first day of college, I had a panic moment. I worried that I hadn’t properly taught him how to write an essay. Embarrassed, I apologized to him and then worried all day. At the end of the day, he came home excited and said, “Mom, don’t worry, in my writing class, our teacher is teaching us how to write essays.” I laughed at myself. I’d forgotten that teachers in college teach too. Nathan is now a writer himself.

School At Home Doesn’t Mirror Traditional School

One of the biggest problems parents are having right now is getting their kids to work from 8am to 3pm. The truth is–they don’t need to! Because you can give them individualized attention, they actually don’t need that many hours to do schoolwork. Each day, help them get ready and work on school but don’t stress about sticking to a perfect plan. Things will get done. Just remember that your child’s character and emotional security during this time also matter. They matter a lot. This is something none of us has had to go through before. We are all learning to adapt as we go and that’s okay.

Put On Your Oxygen Mask First

It’s so easy during times of high emotion to feel overwhelmed. Every morning I wake up before my kids to pray, spend time with God, and have some moments of peace and quiet. Having that hour to myself is my “secret” to being patient with my kids and feeling less overwhelmed—although I still feel that way sometimes, too! Give yourself grace and if you have stressful moments take a break and recenter. Take a walk outside, have a cup of tea, read a short devotional or step into another room and have a short prayer. I find that these small chunks of “me” time can help me get through days when things seem tense.

How to be Successful Unexpected Homeschooling Parents

Three of the most common issues I believe most are experiencing right now are balancing working from home (for their own jobs) with schooling their kids, staying motivated, and dealing with strong-willed children. Here’s some help and hope for those three situations.

Balancing Working From Home With School At Home

Know that it’s possible!

In the almost three decades that I’ve been homeschooling, I’ve also written over 70 books. What’s the key to balancing working from home and helping your kids with school? Intentional windows of time. Schedule windows of time that keep things moving. I wake up before my kids do and have an hour (sometimes more) of uninterrupted work before they get up. When they get up, I help them get ready and give them individualized attention for about three hours. After that, they can usually work independently, and I work on my work as they continue working on their own.

The key is not trying to do your own work, and help your kids with school, at the same time. Most of the time, that won’t go well.

Helping Kids Stay Motivated To Do School Work

Create Incentives

Tell your child that if they can do 45 minutes of work, they can help you bake cookies or some other activity they will look forward to. If kids know something fun is coming, they are more likely to do the work you’re asking them to do.

Approach Work Creatively

Take A Break

Teaching the Strong-Willed Child at Home

My daughter Leslie is extremely strong-willed, and getting her to do her schoolwork was a daily fight. Here’s what I’ve found helps when teaching a strong-willed child: