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September 21, 2023 by Tricia Goyer Leave a Comment

How to Homeschool in 13 Easy Steps

As a homeschooling mom of nearly three decades, here are some tips for planning and scheduling your homeschooling!

Homeschooling your children can be a wonderful experience. Not only do you get to spend more time with them, but you can tailor your education to your children’s needs and interests. As a homeschooling mom of nearly three decades, here are some tips for planning and scheduling your homeschooling!

Know and Follow Your State Requirements: Each state has different regulations for homeschooling, so make sure you know what your state requires. This will help you ensure that your children receive a proper education and that you follow the law.
Schedule Heart Training Beyond Book Training: Homeschooling isn’t just about teaching your children academics. It’s also about training their hearts—scheduling time for character development, life skills, and other essential education areas beyond book learning.
Big Picture Idea: Take some time to think about your overall goals for your children’s education. What do you want them to learn? What skills do you want them to develop? This will help you plan your curriculum and schedule your homeschool days.
Plan Your Week: Once you have a big-picture idea, start planning your weekly schedule. Determine which subjects you’ll teach each day and for how long. Consider your children’s ages and abilities and any extracurricular activities or appointments.
Teach Kids of Various Ages at the Same Time: Teaching kids of different ages simultaneously can be challenging, but it’s doable. One strategy is to teach your older children more challenging material while tailoring the same subjects into more manageable tasks for younger kids. Another method is to have your older children help “teach” your younger children.
Discover That a Routine Is Your Friend: Kids thrive on routine. Establishing a pattern for your homeschool days can help your children feel more secure and make your days run more smoothly.
Whiteboards, Calendars, and Planners: Use whiteboards, calendars, and planners to help you stay organized. Write down your schedule, your to-do list, and any critical dates.
Morning Time and Read-Alouds: Many homeschooling families enjoy a “morning time” together to read and study. (Personally, this is one of my favorite parts of homeschooling!) This can be a great way to start your day and build family connections.
When Life Goes Off Schedule: Life happens, and sometimes your homeschool days will go differently than planned. It’s essential to be flexible and to have a backup plan. Ensure you have some activities or lessons ready if you need to switch gears.
Vacationing While Others Are in School: One of the benefits of homeschooling is that you can take vacations whenever you want. Consider taking trips during the off-season when prices are lower and crowds are smaller.
Chores and Home Economics: Teaching your children life skills is essential to their education—schedule time for chores and home economics, such as cooking, cleaning, and laundry.
Birthdays, Holidays, and Other Celebrations: Remember to schedule time for birthdays, holidays, and other celebrations. These are essential times to connect with your family and to make memories.
Put Away Your Phone: When spending time with your children, put away your phone. Give them your undivided attention and show them they’re more important than your screen.

Remember to be flexible, adaptable, and open-minded, as homeschooling can be a challenging but ultimately rewarding journey. With a little bit of planning and organization, you can provide your children with an education that prepares them for a successful future and helps them grow into well-rounded individuals.

Homeschool Success Course

Are you feeling overwhelmed and uncertain about your homeschooling journey? Do you wish you had a roadmap to help you navigate the challenges and achieve success? Look no further than Tricia Goyer’s Homeschool Success video course!

Tricia Goyer is a homeschooling expert with over 20 years of experience, and she has poured all of her knowledge and wisdom into this comprehensive course. In each video, Tricia shares practical tips and strategies for homeschooling, from choosing a curriculum to managing your time effectively.

With Homeschool Success, you’ll discover how to:

Create a customized curriculum that meets your family’s unique needs
Develop a daily routine that maximizes your time and energy
Cultivate a love of learning in your children and inspire them to reach their full potential
Foster a positive homeschooling environment that nurtures relationships and builds character
Navigate the challenges of homeschooling with confidence and grace

Tricia’s warm and engaging teaching style will leave you feeling empowered and equipped to tackle any homeschooling challenge that comes your way. You’ll also receive a workbook with actionable steps and reflection questions to help you apply your learning to your homeschooling journey.

Take advantage of this opportunity to learn from one of the most respected homeschooling experts in the industry. Enroll in Tricia Goyer’s Homeschool Success video course today and start your journey to homeschooling success!

Homeschool Success Course only $9
Purchase the course here.

Purchase the course here.

August 7, 2023 by Tricia Goyer Leave a Comment

How to Budget for Back-to-School Expenses

Budgeting for Back-to-School Expenses

I hate to say it, but back-to-school expenses are coming. Summer has been flying by and, depending on where you are, the school year is quickly creeping up on us. Here in Georgia, school started the first week of August!

I know for me, last year was hard. Maybe that was because it was the first school year for our family of five–I wasn’t exactly sure how to budget for it. Or maybe it was because there really are so many various and unexpected school-related expenses that happen during the year.

That’s why I believe it’s important to make sure you have at least $100 of wiggle room in your budget each month for the school year and especially back-to-school expenses. I know that sounds like a lot of money (and it definitely is.) However, chances are, when you look back over last year’s budget, you’ll notice that you come very close if not over the $100 a month for all those last-minute purchases.

How to Find Extra Cash for Back-to-School Expenses

Here are just a few ways that can hopefully help you figure out how to find an extra $100 (or more!) in your monthly budget for back-to-school expenses:

1. Cell Phones

Regardless if it’s just you and your spouse or the whole family on your phone plan, paying for cell service can be a little crazy. That’s why if you haven’t already, I highly suggest you switch over to a company like Republic Wireless (who I personally use) or Ting (several of my friends use them and love them).

You still get to have an awesome smartphone but without the high cell phone bill (mine is only $25/mo with data!).

2. Insurance

Yeah, I know, you don’t want to talk about this subject because it’s one of those “necessary evils.” However, if you haven’t called around lately to gather new quotes for your different insurance needs, I highly suggest you do. You could save yourself hundreds of dollars a year just from a simple phone call.

3. Subscription Services

It’s happened to me before. I completely forget that I have a subscription service deducting money from my bank account. It’s like I put it on autopilot and fail to evaluate if it’s a necessary expense or not.

The next thing to do is check for any recurring subscriptions, maybe now is the time to evaluate if they are still necessary. Spend a little time going through and canceling the unnecessary ones. This should add a little more wiggle room to your budget for those back-to-school expenses.

4. Be Inconvenienced

I’m a firm believer in the fact that sometimes, we are just paying way too much for convenience. It’s possible that if we allow ourselves to be inconvenienced, we could save $1,000’s of dollars a year!

One of my favorite ways to be inconvenienced is by not using paper towels. A few years ago, we switched from using paper towels regularly to using bar mop cloths. That one small change has resulted in saving us hundreds over the years! We only have to buy one roll of paper towels twice a year (for draining meats like bacon or ground beef.) Honestly, it has affected us very little.

So, look around your home and find little ways that you could save money by simply being “inconvenienced.” You could end up adding a whole lot more to your school budget than just a $100 a month!

What to Do with Your Savings

Those are just a few ways that you can cut your expenses before the start of the school year. But the key to not going broke this school year is to remember that once you add that wiggle room to your budget, as a result, you must make sure that you add a line item accounting for that.

For instance, let’s say you cut your cell phone bill from $100 to $30 a month (yes, that’s totally possible with Republic Wireless or Ting.) Now you have $70 of wiggle room in your budget that must be accounted for.

Now you’d want to add a line item like “School Miscellaneous” or something with $70 as the total.

Example:

Mortgage: $1,000
Utilities: $200
Car Payment: $400
Insurance: $150
Cell Phone: $30
Groceries: $500
School Miscellaneous: $70

Then whenever those random, “Hey we need each child to bring in a snack for our upcoming event on Thursday” happens, you’ll have the money ready to go in your budget. Just make sure that you account for that expense and deduct the total from your category for back-to-school expenses.

Hopefully, this helps you if you’re getting geared up for the back-to-school season. Even if this isn’t a stage of life you’re currently dealing with, send this onto a friend that is in this season to give them a boost!

What is a piece of advice that you could offer someone else for not going broke during the school year?

{More about Jessi Fearon}

Jessi Fearon is the founder of the popular personal finance blog, Real Life on a Budget, where she shares her family’s real-life on a budget in order to inspire others to learn how to manage their money better. Jessi’s work has been featured on Buzzfeed, Rockstar Finance, TIME/Motto Magazine, Money Saving Mom, and The Penny Hoarder. Jessi resides in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Georgia with her husband Pat and their three children Conner, Collin, and Charlotte and a rescue dog named Belle.

Additional Resources

How to Avoid Going Broke This School Year
Saving Money with Groupon Coupons
7 Tips for Living on $7 a Day
Restoring the Art of the Piggy Bank Savings
30 Cheap & Fun Date Night Ideas

July 12, 2019 by Tricia Goyer Leave a Comment

Ignite Your Child’s Mind with Hands-On History Kits

Sonlight’s Hands-On History Kits are here and we are so excited!

We brought our kids home to homeschool after adoption. Because the older girls had been in public school all their lives they had an idea of what school looked like—lots of lessons and worksheets and counting down the hours until they can play. When we started homeschooling with Sonlight, they didn’t know what to think. Not only was mom spending hours a day reading wonderful books to them, but their hands were also often free to be creative while they listened to me read.

That’s why I love Sonlight’s Hands-On History kits. It not only gives my kids an opportunity to be tactile while I read the lesson to them, but it reinforces the lesson while they play. And they love it! Happy homeschooling kids mean a happy homeschooling mom–and less stress!

Happy Kids=Happy Mom

My kids just seem to pay attention better when their hands are busy. With Hands-On History Kits, we are both happy. And they aren’t just learning–they’re getting a 360-degree education using all their senses. That means they will retain more of every lesson.

One reason homeschool moms crash is from trying to do too much. These hands-on kits mean I no longer need to spend hours searching through Pinterest or make a dozen trips to the store. Sonlight’s Hands-On History Kits have all the pieces to make a history lesson fit into our busy schedule. With Sonlight, I know I can easily plan my lessons and be prepared no matter what life throws our way. As a busy mom of ten (yes ten!) I rely on Sonlight to take care of the details so I can focus on what matters most–interacting with my children and teaching them with my whole heart.

All Hands-On Deck for a Great Value

Each box is a year’s worth of hands-on projects that’ll enrich your learning in one low-priced package! The Hands-On World Cultures Kit covers history, geography, and cultures (from Egypt to the invention of the motor vehicle.) The kit includes everything you need to complete 9 projects throughout the year, including a large 100+ page full-color illustrated instruction booklet, chock-full of diagrams for each step of the way.

These new hands-on supplements are perfect for any history program.

Click here to watch my unboxing of the Hands-On History Kit:

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June 19, 2018 by Tricia Goyer Leave a Comment

14 Great Gift Ideas for College-Bound High School Graduates!

Have a new graduate in your life? Here are 14 great gift ideas!

Our fourth oldest just graduated from high school last month, and we are already preparing her for college in the fall. She’s received some great gifts! If you’re looking for gifts for a graduate here’s a list of great ideas! Note: This post contains affiliate links.

Click on the photo of any item to see where to purchase it!

Have a college-bound graduate? Here are 14 great gift ideas!

Fine-tipped colored sharpies make all school work more fun.

This pencil sharpener works with a power adapter and is also USB.

Scissors are one of those things you don’t realize how much you use until you don’t have them.

A stapler always comes in hand.

For dorm living:

This shower caddy is great when you have to live with one (or more) roomates.

Sturdy, yet light and portable. Perfect for a dorm room.

Poster putty lets you decorate without putting holes in the walls.

Every dorm room should have a first aid kit.

One of my daughter’s favorite gifts was the dimmable LED desk lamp with USB charger.

My daughter sleeps with a fan in her face. This was a perfect find.

There’s no fighting over wall sockets with this Power Strip Surge Protector.

The first thing that gets packed when they drive home to see Mom.

To keep up with the school/social schedule.

Cookbook safe with a lock that my daughter got excited about!

I hope you like these ideas! I can’t wait to hear yours!

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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.

January 30, 2018 by Tricia Goyer Leave a Comment

Top Ten Reasons Why Homeschool Moms Need A Break

Congratulations to last week’s winners: Katie Anderson and Rayann Jones — please e-mail your mailing addresses to my assistant (amy@triciagoyer.com)! Enter below for your chance to win a copy of Homeschool Basics!

Top Ten Reasons Why Homeschool Moms Need A Break

(from Homeschool Basics)

Not that moms need a reason to take a break, but often we forget the importance of why we need one. Here’s my top ten list to help you remember to make mom-time a priority.

10. To have a parent/teacher conference—in peace.

9. To dress like an adult again—no yoga pants allowed.

8. To reconnect with friends and talk about things other than curriculum choices and homeschooling challenges.

7. To connect with other moms (from all walks of life) and realize you’re not the only one on this challenging parenting journey.

6. To enjoy uninterrupted conversation (unless you count the wait staff as an interruption . . . which we don’t).

5. To get away from the chattering kids, the multitude of questions, and the squabbling.

4. To finally have a chance to eat without someone stealing your food—or using it as a science project.

3. To fuel up and return happy and rested—a win for everyone.

2. For perspective on life. There is a great big world beyond the kitchen table.

1. To model for your kids what healthy living looks like.

Those are all good reasons, aren’t they?

Reason #1 made me stop and pause the most. As homeschooling parents, we know that what we model furor kids is just as important as what we teach. Maybe even more so! If we want our kids to become healthy adults, we need to teach them about learning, serving, giving, caring, working, rest, and recreation.

Mom, if you homeschool, you need a night out. Today, right now, take five minutes to plan when you can have one. It’ll help you and your family and will model for your kids what healthy living is all about. Consider it your assignment . . . and enjoy!

Top Ten Reasons Why Homeschool Moms Need A Break from @TriciaGoyer + enter to win!

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Do you need balance in your homeschool? 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.

Don’t let doubts hold you back any longer. Hope and refreshment await.

Find out more about Homeschool Basics and get your copy HERE.

Don’t miss this great price! Only $7.99 while supplies last!!

Are you new here? You might want to subscribe to my email updates, or follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, or Instagram.

January 23, 2018 by Tricia Goyer 1 Comment

What Homeschooling is Really All About

The number of homeschoolers has grown, and this leaves many people scratching their heads. Is this a cult? Is this a movement? Is this a fad? Before we dig into the how-tis of making homeschool work, let’s talk about what homeschooling is, and what it isn’t. After all, every good structure needs a strong foundation, and for us, a great homeschool is built by knowing the facts.

What Homeschooling Is . . .

Homeschooling is an educational choice.

Many people believe that homeschooling is only about religious beliefs, but in truth, homeschooling is an education choice.

People who homeschool see it as an opportunity to give their children a more personalized and effective learning environment. Public school teachers try their best, but even they will tell you that teachers must teach to the median student. Many parents choose homeschooling because they want a specialized learning environment for their children.

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. And, yes, I can follow my religious beliefs, too. I can choose to teach the Bible alongside math, reading, and science. For John and me, that’s an important part of their education.

Homeschooling is a lifestyle choice.

Each homeschooler makes a lifestyle choice by going against the morn of public or private school. Some homeschooling parents shelter their children from popular movies, media, and music. Others choose not to. Each home is different. There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to the homeschooling home.

Yet no matter what choices you make in those areas, homeschooling impacts your lifestyle. Usually, there is one stay-at-home parent. The way you shop, spend time with friends, and work changes because you’re giving a large part of your day to your kids. That being said, there are so many aspects of everyday life that you can choose to be teaching times if you’re creative! Grocery shopping and running to the bank can be great lessons. You simply have to be imaginative and realize your lifestyle won’t look like those of most of the folks around you.

Homeschooling is a family choice.

Homeschooling impacts every member of your family, including the children who are too young for school and the spouse who doesn’t do the majority of the teaching. Homeschooling should be a choice that both parents (if both are living in the home) should agree on. If both parents are excited and dedicated to homeschooling, their kids will often pick up on the joy of learning.

What is #homeschooling? Find out and enter to win a copy of Homeschool Basics from @TriciaGoyer

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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.

Don’t let doubts hold you back any longer. Hope and refreshment await.

Find out more about Homeschool Basics and get your copy HERE.

Are you new here? You might want to subscribe to my email updates, or follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, or Instagram.

June 20, 2017 by Tricia Goyer 2 Comments

3 Practical Tips to Help You Plan Joy into Your Homeschool

Have you ever met someone who you love being around and you want to make them an instant friend? That’s how I felt when I met Kristi Clover. She’s sweet, smart and fun! She’s also a homeschooling mama of many wonderful kiddos and a blogger. She’s my type of lady! (And we have a book, Homeschooling Basics, coming out soon—and you can listen to Kristi and I talk about God using your pain and you past on her podcast here!)

Kristi’s course has helped me get my homeschool organized, and I’ve asked Kristi to write a post to tell my readers all about it. I know you’re going to LOVE this!

Planning for Joy in Your Homeschool

3 Practical Tips to Help You Plan Joy into Your Homeschool

Homeschooling can make me feel like one big, hot mess at times. There are so many things to juggle. A history lesson with one child, math problems with another, phonics with my pre-reader, and tantrums from my toddler — often all at the same time. Crazy! {Not to mention managing your home and filling everyone’s stomachs, which seem to always be empty.}

Homeschooling is not for the faint hearted, but the blessings that come will fill your heart with more joy than you could imagine. We are going on our tenth year of homeschooling and have just loved it. Yes, there are hard days. Yes, there are even really hard days. But I try to keep my eyes on the goal: To disciple my children to love the Lord and develop a love for learning that will last a life time.

Through the years I’ve discovered a few things that help me accomplish this goal — and brighten up our days.

3 Tips to Help You Plan Joy into Your Homeschool

1) PRAY!

I can’t tell you how important this is! So often we get wrapped up in our to-do list that we forget to invite the Lord to be a part of our planning. God is a God of details. We can pray for His blessing over our homeschool, but we can also pray for His discernment and wisdom in planning out our school days.

2) Get the BIG picture first!

It’s so easy to just go crazy with all our curriculum purchases. We get really excited about things and everything looks so fun, so we buy too much. This usually creates unnecessary stress as we try to fit it all in. I’ve learned through the years to slow down and create a game plan for what I’m going to teach and how I’m going to teach it. I call it a “course of study.” I write out all subjects I’d like to teach (or am required to teach), then add each of my kids’ names under each subject — and start filling in the curriculum or resources I’m going to use to teach. I’ve found that there is often a lot of overlap that I can do away with. This step also helps you to see if you are trying to pull off too much in one school year.

3) Get everything ORGANIZED!

Life happens in the middle of homeschooling. Kids get sick, you get sick, family visits, emergencies pop-up — LIFE! It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when things like this interrupt your homeschooling. I will admit that I’ve gotten a lot better at just “rolling with it” when the unexpected creeps in. I’ve learned to cherish the time we have days curled up on the couch together with the tissue box next to us. However, last year when I had unplanned major surgery I was so grateful for all the time I had taken to get us organized. Our homeschool year continued on without me for a few weeks.

Homeschooling can be challenging, but it can also be joy-filled. I’ve discovered that the more I have things organized and planned out, the more smoothly our days run — and we have more time for fun.

I’m excited to share that I just finished creating a brand new eCourse designed to help you learn how to prep and plan for your homeschool year. I’ve filled it with encouraging video tutorials that show you helpful systems and practical tips on how to get your homeschool organized. I also added tons of great printables! There are even two extra videos that are designed to help you learn how to motivate your kids and come up with a game plan with homeschooling with “littles” in the house.

Find joy in your homeschool with @KristiClover’s 3 easy steps on @TriciaGoyer’s blog.

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I hope you will check it out. I pray it blesses your homeschool!

For a limited time receive $10 off your purchase of the Ultimate Homeschool Organization Course with code Clover10!

Kristi Clover is a Christian, homeschooling mom to five kids ranging from teens to tots and wife to her high school “crush.” Aside from her family (and chocolate), she’s passionate about encouraging women in their faith and inspiring them in their daily lives as moms, wives, and homeschoolers by offering “simple solutions for a more joy-filled life.”

Not surprisingly, you can usually find her at home trying to bring some order and fun into the mayhem of daily life. Kristi is a down-to-earth writer and an energetic speaker who loves to share about her adventures in marriage, motherhood, and homeschooling at KristiClover.com — and on her new podcast, the Simply Joyful Podcast! Kristi is also the creator of the Ultimate Homeschool Organization Course and the author of Homeschool Basics: How to Get Started, Keep Motivated, and Bring Out the Best in Your Kids, co-authored with Tricia Goyer.

Be sure to connect with Kristi online for an extra dose of encouragement for your day and get a free copy of her book, Sanity Savers for Moms, by clicking HERE.

Are you new here? You might want to subscribe to my email updates, or follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, or Instagram.

August 9, 2016 by Tricia Goyer 2 Comments

How to Avoid Going Broke this School Year {by Jessi Fearon}

Summer has been flying by and depending on where you are, the school year is quickly creeping up on us (here in Georgia, school started the first week of August!). And I know for me, last school year was hard. Maybe it was because it was the first school year for our family of five so I wasn’t exactly sure how to budget for it or maybe it was because there really are so many various and unexpected school-related expenses that happen during the year.

That’s why, I believe it’s important to make sure you have at least a $100 of wiggle room in your budget each month for the school year. I know that sounds like a lot of money (and it definitely is), but chances are, when you look back over last year’s budget, you’ll notice that you come very close if not over the $100 a month for all those last minute school function things and that whole “snack mom” thing.