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How to Unlock Hidden Secrets to Affordable Homeschooling

Reading Time: 4 min 21 sec

You are interested in homeschooling but one of the huge hurdles is the budget. Last time you checked, you are not Bill Gates, and you have kids that are determined to eat you out of the house.

In this day and age where the majority of households are dual-income, you wonder how on earth anyone can afford to homeschool? When you think about the potential cost of curriculum, let alone all the co-ops, field trips, and activities, your mind begins to explode. The only thing you can come up with is that homeschooling families have to be secretly rich.

I am here to tell you that no, not all homeschoolers are rich, not by long shot. They are just normal families with mortgages, kids needing braces, and spending their extra money buying diapers in bulk. The difference is that they made a huge decision to adjust their way of life in order to meet their family’s values.

It can feel overwhelming when you begin a new journey, especially when finances are involved. Unlike public school, the US government does not offer any assistance for homeschoolers in the form of tax breaks etc. You are responsible to cover the cost of your child’s education.

It is hard to make life adjustments if you do not know your end goal. Have you sat down and asked yourself (or with your spouse) what are our values as a family? And then follow that up with asking the question does homeschooling match up our vision and values for the future of our family?

So how do you do it? How do you homeschool on a typically one income budget?

1. Shop Smart

2. The Local Mom Scoop

3. Free Curriculum

4. Utilize Free Trial Offers

1. Shop Smart

You can always get good deals on school supplies in August, but what about in freezing cold of February? The Dollar store is my go-to resource for all school supplies, art supplies..chocolate…that you use all the time. I don’t know about you, but we always have a shortage of drawing paper. What would cost four dollars or more somewhere else is a steal at the dollar store.

There is a whole section just dedicated to teacher and education supplies. It is full of blow globes, clocks, workbooks, flashcards, and games. You never know what you are going to find, so I make sure to check out my local dollar store prior to making a purchase somewhere else. With the amount of school and craft supplies my kids go through on a daily basis, I have saved the fortune. Yay!

Here are some of my favorite finds:

Activity Books (Math, Language Arts, Spelling etc.)
Acrylic Paint
Drawing Paper
Handwriting Paper
Pencils/Pens
Puzzles

2. The Local Mom Scoop

There can be a wealth of free or low-cost classes and field trips if you know where to look in your town. Local mom websites that list upcoming events in your town are invaluable to homeschooling affordably.

You can find them by searching for free activities for kids or by also looking for a local kid activity magazine located in the FREE magazine section at your local grocery store (typically by the door). This is my #1 Resource for finding AMAZING free or cheap activities to do with my kids.

Second, search for local homeschooling Facebook groups. Join the main homeschooling group for your area and then one or two subgroups that match or have a similar teaching philosophy to yours. Those groups are a great resource for letting you know of upcoming homeschooling events in your area.

Third, check your local performing arts websites for field trip opportunities.

Here are some low-cost field trip ideas to check out locally.

Museums– Free Art Classes, Art History, Science Classes
Performing Arts– Free Symphonies, ballets, classes
Zoo– Free Days
Science Center– Free Science classes
Historical Landmarks
State Parks– Nature centers, classes,
Places of business– Factory Tours, etc.

3. Free Curriculum

I HATE spending hundreds of dollars on curriculum that I don’t end up using (frankly I hate spending money, period). I am so thankful that I discovered that you can borrow curriculum for FREE at the library. You heard me! I know Christmas just came early, right?! (See this article for step by step instructions)

They have a number of not only mainstream textbooks, streaming documentaries, and free software (ROSETTA STONE, PEOPLE), that are available. If your library doesn’t have the resource, they can request it from a web of libraries all over the US.

I have found not only found reading, grammar, logic, math, science, and religion books but have saved hundreds if not thousands of dollars. Woohoo!

Here are just some examples:

Living Books for every subject
Audio Books– Music, Languages, Math, Social Studies etc. on CDs
Curriculum– Textbooks, and Software

*Check out this post for more info and step by step instructions to request your free curriculum.

4. Utilize Free Trial Offers

There are some amazing resources that you can check out for FREE (many with zero credit card required). Whatever topic you are diving into, check to see if there is a free trial for a resource you could use to supplement your curriculum. These resources could be apps, streaming video, audiobooks or classes, etc.

This is a HUGE resource because it SAVES YOU MAJOR MONEY! No one wants to buy the latest and greatest resource only to have it sit on a shelf (waiting to be returned) because it doesn’t fit the needs of your family.

I have personally tried out free trial offers to art, social studies, math, reading, piano, language programs. Sometimes the trials are temporary and only happen a couple of times a year, and others are a permanent part of their marketing.

You can find such resources by a quick Google Search and by following your favorite homeschool bloggers (insert shameless plug* You can hear about more awesome homeschool resources and follow Most Important Work below* ) If you find a resource that you are interested in, sign up for their email list, be patient, and a couple of times a year, they will send out free (or close to free) specials.

Are you wondering HOW do you actually get started homeschooling? Join our community of moms who want to invest in the lives of their children through homeschooling. I also created a 10 Tips to Finding Excellent Curriculum form (grab it below) to help you on your journey.

You Got this Mom!

What about you? What is your number one frustration when it comes to figuring out this homeschooling adventure? Leave a comment, and don’t forget to follow Most Important Work on Pinterest!

How to Overcome the Top 10 Fears to Homeschooling

Reading Time: 5 min 32 seconds

What scares you when it comes to homeschooling? Is it the fear of failing? The cost? Or something else? When you start to entertain the possibility of homeschooling, it can be a daunting process. You don’t know what you don’t know, and that can be overwhelming.

Before we talk about breaking down the top ten fears of homeschooling, we need to take a look at the foundation of homeschooling, which are your family’s values.

Instead of focusing on your fears, ask yourself the question: What are my family’s values? What life do I imagine for my child?

Your values are CRUCIAL to not only deciding whether or not to homeschool, but how and what you teach, and your overall learning environment. Family values serve as building blocks to everything else.

I would encourage you to sit down with your spouse or a friend and write out your family’s values. They don’t have to lengthy or eloquent.

They can be as simple as:

A value of close family relationships
A value of encouraging a strong relationship with God.
A value of fostering a love of learning
A value of taking initiative, problem-solving, and out of the box thinking

Once you settle on your key values, you can begin to address your fears of homeschooling.

Disclaimer: Homeschooling is not for everyone. You must decide what type of education is best for your family.

1. I Am Not Trained As A Teacher

2. I Would Go Crazy Being At Home With The Kids All Day

3. I would Mess Them Up

4. What If I Failed

5. I Don’t Have Enough Patience

6. I Couldn’t Leave My Career

7. I Hated School

8. I Could Never Afford it

9. It’s Just Too Overwhelming

10. I’m Not Organized Enough

1. I Am Not Trained As A Teacher

Rest assured you do not need to be trained as a teacher to be qualified to teach your child. You have been teaching your child since they were born. You taught them how to walk, how to talk, their ABC’s, and how to share (okay, that’s an ongoing learning experience). You don’t need to start anything new, you just need to continue loving them, fostering relationships and a love of learning in your home.

2. I would go Crazy being at Home with Just the Kids all Day

Are you stuck at home now all the time? Unless you have an infant most likely, you are taking advantage of playdates, Storytime at your local library, and trips to the park. Nothing changes when you homeschool. You don’t cloister inside. You take advantage of the many opportunities homeschoolers have to learn, grow and explore the world.

Yes, as with any job, there are tough days, or days when you can’t get outside, and that’s when you continue to employ self-care practices. Throughout the day you take a couple of minutes to yourself, when your spouse comes home you go take a walk, go shopping, read a book or go out with friends. Taking care of your overall mental, emotional, physical and spiritual health is important no matter what job you hold.

3. I would Mess Them Up

Seriously, who knows and loves your child more than you? Who wants them to succeed more than you? We all want good things for our kids. We know their strengths and weaknesses, and unlike a teacher who has to manage twenty needs at once, we can tailor our teaching style to our child’s specific needs. You are the most highly motivated teacher out there.

4. What If I Failed

You need to know that just like traditionally educated children your child will have gaps in their education. It’s not failure on your part, it’s just life. You could teach everything there is to teach and some of it will go in one ear and out the other.

In homeschooling, you are not teaching just to get through the curriculum, you are fostering a love of learning in your child. If you focus on encouraging curiosity, exploration, and initiative, your child will the tools to not only fill in any gaps but the sky’s the limit on what they could add to the world.

5. I Don’t Have Enough Patience

Let’s be honest, every mom feels inadequate and like there is never enough patience to go around. That’s parenting in a nutshell, right?! As a parent (and a homeschooler) your patience is tested and it provides daily opportunities for growth. You can do it! You are doing it right now just by being their parent.

6. I Couldn’t Leave My Career

What are your dreams for your kids for the future? What are your family’s values? Those are the questions you need to ask yourself. Homeschooling doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to leave your career but it will mean sacrifice and adjustment.

There are tons of homeschool moms who still have a career while teaching their children. That’s one of the perks of homeschooling, it’s flexible, you don’t have to stick to typical eight to three pm schedule. There are parents who homeschool at night, or who trade off responsibilities during the day. You just have to find what works best for your family.

7. I Hated School

Homeschooling is not public school at home and it also looks different for every family. You can tailor homeschooling to your personality, your schedule and the needs of your family. You will need to incorporate your states homeschooling laws but other than the environment, and daily schedule is up to you.

I would encourage you to sit down and put to paper why you hated school. When you put it down on paper it’s amazing that what looks insurmountable is really not as big as you thought.

8. I Can’t Afford It

Homeschooling will take sacrifices. However, with the benefits of local libraries, free field trips, co-ops, second-hand curriculum, and scholarships, you can homeschool very affordably.

Take a look at your budget and ask yourself what do you really need and what can you cut out to make homeschooling doable for your family? Make a plan that will move you towards homeschooling.

9. It’s too Overwhelming

Many first-time homeschool moms feel like they need to plan their homeschool year down to the minute only to find out on day two that their plans are not realistic, AT ALL. I have never had a homeschool plan (even a basic one) that I didn’t adjust a lot.

You are not committing to teach your child at home for life. You are just responsible for planning this year. That planning can be as loose or as detailed as your personality warrants.

10. I’m Not Organized Enough

No one is. Seriously, there is not one homeschool mom that thinks that she is organized enough. Your children are living, breathing, human beings with different interests, strengths, and aptitudes. You can have an AMAZING homeschool plan only to have it fall apart when you realize your child needs more or less time with that particular subject, or there is a family illness, or a major life change.

You don’t have to be super organized to homeschool. What you do need to be able to do is to recognize the needs of your child and adjust your expectations accordingly. Your goal is to foster a love of learning, not to finish every textbook to the detriment of your child.

Are you wondering HOW do you actually get started homeschooling? Join our community of moms who want to invest in the lives of their children through homeschooling. I also created a How to Find Excellent Curriculum checklist (grab it below) to help YOU on your journey.

You Got this Mom!

What about you? What is your #1 concern when it comes to figuring out this homeschooling adventure? Leave a comment, and don’t forget to follow Most Important Work on Pinterest!

What You Need to Know the Good and Bad of Homeschooling

Reading Time: 4 min

You can’t believe that your precious child is almost ready to head off to school. It feels like you just brought them home from the hospital, and were up all night just trying to get them to go sleep.

Now your baby is all grown up and you are in the throes of trying to figure out the best type of education for your child. You want them to not only thrive in school and you also want them to grow up to be a well-rounded, functioning member of society.

As you start to research you keep hearing about this thing called homeschooling. You initially dismiss it, with an I could never do that shake of your head. But as you get deeper into the research process, you come to the place where you want to explore all your options.

I agonized over the decision of whether or not to homeschool. I remember the process like it was yesterday, feeling overwhelmed with this enormous weight of responsibility.

Choosing to homeschool (or attend public or private school) is a big decision but we are going to walk you through the process of discovering:

1. What is Homeschooling?

2. The Good and Bad of

Homeschooling

3. How to Decide if Homeschooling

Is Best for You

1. What is Homeschooling?

Home Schooling is more than teaching your child at home. It is a way of life. If your only exposure to education has been in a corporate setting, it might be helpful for you to think of homeschooling as private tutoring (with a lot of snuggles, family adventures and laughter thrown in).

You do not need to have a teaching degree in order to teach your child. You do not need classroom management skills because you don’t need to worry about the needs of twenty children, just your own.

There are an estimated 2.3 million childrenhomeschooled as of 2016 survey by the National Home Education Research Instituteand that number is growing each year.

Each family chooses to homeschool for a variety of reasons, such as religious views, financial reasons, to spend more time together as a family, to allow the child to pursue opportunities, or because they live in a school district not known for its high-test scores etc.

Homeschooling looks different for each family. Some choose to participate in an online school, or 2-3 day a week co-op, and others learn at home using a variety of sources. You can tailor make homeschooling to fit your child’s needs, your teaching, and your family’s lifestyle.

Here is a fun list of people who have homeschooled throughout the ages and went on to accomplish some pretty amazing things.

A number of our Presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson,& Abraham Lincoln.
Leonardo Da Vinci
Claude Monet
Alexander Graham Bell
Thomas Edison

Orville and Wilbur Wright
Charles Dickens
C.S. Lewis
Beatrix Potter
Louis Armstrong
Misty Copeland
Tim Tebow
Walt Whitman
Winston Churchill
Mozart

“Thank goodness I was never sent to school: it would have rubbed off some of the originality.” Beatrix Potter

2. The Good and Bad of Homeschooling

As with anything, there are pros and cons to homeschooling. You just need to decide if the pros outweigh the cons for YOUR family. This list is not meant to be exhaustive but to serve a starting point.

The Pros of Homeschooling include:

A personalized education,
One on one time with your child
Flexibility
You get to be the primary influence in their lives
Foster a love of learning
You are not restricted by a school calendar
Freedom to explore and develop your kid’s interests
Build strong family ties

The Cons of Homeschooling could be:

You are primarily responsible for their overall education
Could mean a sacrifice of a career and a second income
The financial costs of homeschooling (the state does not pay for homeschooling)
Time spent teaching your child

I would encourage you to sit down with your spouse (or trusted friend) and create your own pros and cons list. Take some time to discuss the sacrifices that homeschooling could entail for you and your family. Don’t worry about trying to come to a decision, just focus on getting it all down on paper.

3. How to Decide If Homeschooling Is Best For You

So how do you know what type of education is best for your family? I am not going to lie, this was a very tough decision. This is a choice that takes time. You can’t rush it, even if you think you already know what decision you are going to make.

Here are five steps I learned after going through the process:

1st- Spend Time in Prayer

Talk to God about your thoughts, concerns, and fears. Ask him for the wisdom to make the best decision for your family.

2nd- Write Down Your Values

What is important to you and your spouse? Does homeschooling move you towards or away from those values?

3rd- Get advice from People You Trust (and who know you well).

You will get conflicting viewpoints, so limit how many people you talk to, and remember that at the end of the day, YOU have to live with your decision (not them).

4th- Consider your Child’s Personality (learning style, & your personality)

This should be considered but should not be the sole determining factor in the overall decision.

5th- Take It a Year at A Time

Sometimes we can make the decision to homeschool seem so much bigger than it actually is, you are not committing to homeschool for life, just next year.

Are you wondering HOW do you actually get started homeschooling? Join our community of moms who want to invest in the lives of their children through homeschooling. I also created a How to Find Excellent Curriculum checklist (grab it below) to help YOU on your journey.

You Got this Mom!

What about you? What is your #1 concern when it comes to figuring out this homeschooling adventure? Leave a comment, and don’t forget to follow Most Important Work on Pinterest!

How to Homeschool in a Small Space

Reading Time: 4 min 58 sec

Have you ever wondered if it’s possible to homeschool in a small space? I don’t know about you but sometimes while homeschooling our homes can eerily resemble an episode from Hoarders. Cramped living spaces filled with old curriculum, books, paperwork, supplies, and projects seem to spread like a virus to every nook and cranny.

You sit down to homeschool your child, only to feel frustrated with your inability (and your child’s) to focus due to so many distractions. You organize all of your supplies only to find after a couple of weeks that the clutter has returned.

Your home is supposed to be a retreat but all you see is an endless to-list and an organizing nightmare. You feel overwhelmed, discouraged, and hopeless. You wonder if it is possible to homeschool in a small space without clutter spilling out of every drawer and cabinet!

Every homeschooling parent dreams of perfectly organized spaces where you have plenty of room to spread out and everything you need is always right at your fingertips. I am here to tell you that it doesn’t matter if you have a small or large space. It’s about the practical steps you take to control the clutter.

We are going to be talking about eight practical steps you can take to create a stress-free learning environment:

Stop Saving for a Rainy Day

2. Go Digital

3. Something Borrowed

4. In Plain View

5. Establish a Daily Habit

6. Avoid Sales

7. Utilize Media

8. Only Amazing Resources

1. Stop Saving for a Rainy Day

Do you ever keep resources just in case? You bought a math book, tried one or two lessons, you weren’t thrilled, so you put it back on the shelf, in the hope that it might miraculously be a good fit later down the road.

“If you’re not using the stuff in your home, get rid of it. You’re not going to start using it more by shoving it in a closet somewhere.” Joshua Becker

Let me be honest, if you haven’t used it in the last six months most likely you will never use it. Take a good look at all of your curriculum, whether its books, textbooks, handouts, projects and remove everything you haven’t used in six months. * You might be surprised at how many just in case, books and resources take up precious space on your shelves.

Good intentions do not create an organized stress-free home.

*This does not include staples (such as reading or math books) that you will use to teach your next child.

2. Go Digital

Do you have folders crammed full of handwriting samples, artistic masterpieces, math tests, and brochures from every field trip you have visited in the last six months?

I stumbled on this hack out of necessity when my second (of two) homeschool drawer was crammed to overwhelming with past paperwork. My good intentions of putting my paperwork into sheet protectors never ever happened (can anyone relate?).

Maximize your limited space by utilizing a scanning app to save every document (no drawer required). I have loved the flexibility and the price tag (its FREE) of the Genius Scan App. I scan every document and then upload them directly to the computer. It makes creating a portfolio a breeze (almost) every year. Say Hello to Empty Drawers!

If you find a better app, please let me know!

3. Something Borrowed

One of the ways we can run out of space so quickly is storing that reading or math book for two years until your next kid is ready for it. Did you know that the library is a gold mine of FREE Resources that… wait for it… YOU DON’T HAVE TO STORE!

I am talking about more than the lone textbook you found on your last library search, but a vast amount of material that will save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars. Check out this post 10 Library Hacks to the Hidden World of Free Curriculumfor step by step instructions.

4. In Plain View

An important aspect of homeschooling in a small space is being able to see everything at a glance. When organizing DO NOT stuff drawers or place items behind each other hoping to maximize space.

Take time and evaluate your materials. Here is a good rule of thumb when evaluating your materials

Keep the Best (Is it portfolio worthy?)
Remove Duplicates (Do you really need 8 pairs of scissors?)
Get Rid of all of those Scraps of Paper and Trash
Keep Only what you Love and use Regularly
Store the Same things Together (ex. Keep all pencils or library books in one spot)

5. Establish a Daily Habit

It is imperative when homeschooling in a small space to establish a daily practice of purging and placing everything back where it belongs. It might seem like an obvious suggestion until it comes to putting it into practice.

We choose to declutter at the end of every afternoon. I set a timer for ten minutes and we run about the house putting projects, books, and supplies away in preparation for dinner. Find a rhythm that works for you whether its right after school, late afternoon or during the evening, the point is to do it every day.

6. Avoid Sales

I don’t know about you but I can get a little carried away at those curriculum and library sales and start treating it like I am in the snack aisle of my local grocery store. I come out cash poor, regretful, and wondering where I am going to put all this stuff.

“It’s not a good deal if you don’t need it” -Unknown

Impulse buying can keep our homes, finances, and mental spaces in a place of chaos and clutter. Avoiding window shopping will go a long way in keeping your home free of mess.

7. Utilize Media

Get rid of some of those big heavy textbooks and utilize your digital resources. Not only can you purchase amazing apps and programs but I was shocked to find Rosetta stone language programs, math tutoring, and streaming documentaries (and that was just the tip of the iceberg) for FREE on my local library’s website. You can check out this article for step by step instructions.

8. Only Amazing Resources

Think of yourself as a curator of the best homeschooling resources. Only allow learning tools that you truly LOVE to enter your home.

“Your home is a living space, not a storage space.” Francine Jay

You do this by borrowing, researching, and committing to return items that do not fit your family’s needs. This step takes intentionality and commitment as there is always the pressure to find that perfect resource FAST. This step will play a huge role in allowing you to homeschool in a small space with peace.

So how do you find those AMAZING resources? Grab your free 10 Tips to Finding Excellent Curriculum checklist (get it below) to help YOU on your homeschooling journey!

What about you? What is your #1 concern when it comes to figuring out this homeschooling adventure?

Please feel free to leave me a comment and don’t forget to follow Most Important Work on Pinterest!

How to Avoid these Five Homeschooling Mistakes

Reading Time: 5 min 22 sec

Are you a new to homeschooling or in the thick of figuring out how to start? Are you dreaming of newly sharpened pencils, child prodigies, and Von Trapp family adventures? We are going to come alongside you on your journey and talk about the five common mistakes first-time homeschoolers make and how YOU can avoid them (and save hundreds of dollars).

I have spoken with a lot of new homeschool parents over the years who are overwhelmed, frustrated, burned out and about five minutes away from shipping their kids off to boarding school in Switzerland. They start to wonder about their ability, sanity, and if homeschooling is really doable for the average mom.

Homeschooling is very possible but sometimes we can unintentionally shoot ourselves in the foot by making decisions out of a lack of experience. We need people to come alongside us and help us through the minefields of those early days so that we can go back to enjoying those amazing family moments.

We are going to be addressing these 5 common homeschooling mistakes today:

1.Homeschooling without Direction

2. Duplicating School at Home

3. Bowing to a Teaching Philosophy

4.Requiring Too Much Too Soon

5.A Boxed Curriculum is the Answer

1. Homeschooling without Direction

We have an endless supply of amazing resources for homeschooling mamas and their students. It can get very easy to get caught up running to the latest teaching philosophy, schedule, curriculum, or activity hoping that it will solve all of your learning woes. Now I am all for exploring new teaching resources (We love you, Life of Fred) but it can get very exhausting and can give your kids whiplash if you don’t have a roadmap in place to help you figure out if that latest thing fits your family.

You need to know what your vision and values are because they influence the goals and atmosphere of your homeschool. You can’t set or accomplish your goals if you have no idea what you are aiming at.

For instance, does your vision for the future include children who grow up to be lifelong learners, self-starters, out of the box thinkers and mighty followers of Jesus? Does one of your values include forming quality family relationships?

If so, the decisions you make, your teaching style, activities, schedule, curriculum choices, and atmosphere all should flow out of your vision and values. They are a roadmap to a successful homeschool and when used properly, can help prevent burnout. Do not move forward without taking the time to talk over your vision, values, and goals with your spouse or a friend.

When things get challenging, instead of completely changing direction, and giving into fear and self-doubt, you can rest in the knowledge that you have an overall plan in place. By establishing your vision, values, goals, and atmosphere ahead of time it allows you to not have to make big decisions in a time of crisis.

2. Duplicating School at Home

You have just decided that you are going to homeschool and you are scared but also super excited. You rearrange your home, choose a homeschooling room, and rush out and buy (borrow or steal) desks, chalkboards, and inspirational posters for the walls. Three days into your homeschool adventure you realize that no one wants to sit at cold, hard desks when they can be snuggling on the couch reading books with mom.

Homeschooling is not public school at home. Homeschooling is a way of life. If your only exposure to education has been in a corporate setting, it might be helpful for you to think of homeschooling as private tutoring (with a lot of snuggles, family adventures and laughter thrown in).

Homeschooling is not just when you open your “school books” but all throughout the day, at the grocery store, gardening, listening to audiobooks in the car, while doing the budget, and fixing the sink, you are giving your children the benefit of real-world experience.

Save yourself tons of money, homeschool regrets (and your children a lot of frustration) by taking advantage of the benefits of teaching your children at home; one on one time together, comfy couches, and real-life learning to find out and own what works for you and your family.

3. Bowing to a Teaching Philosophy

As you start to research homeschooling it can feel like there are HUNDREDS of teaching methodologies out there. You are told that time in nature, memorizing information, giving them time to play, structure, no structure, textbooks, only living books, experience, and facts are crucial to your child’s success in life.

The options can not only feel overwhelming but restricting to a new homeschool parent. You get sold on a teaching philosophy and jump in 100% only to find out that it doesn’t quite fit your family. I have seen moms ignore the downsides (every philosophy can have negatives) and keep pressing on only to feel miserable because it is not a perfect fit.

You can save yourself time, energy, frustration, and money by realizing that you will need to adapt any philosophy to your family not your family to the philosophy. This is where knowing your vision, values, goals is crucial to setting the tone of your homeschool. Listen to your mom instincts, and don’t feel pressured to teach in a certain way if it doesn’t fit the needs of your family.

4. Requiring Too Much Too Soon

You are excited to get started on your homeschooling adventure. You sit down with your five-year-old and dive into your new stack of curriculum. The first couple of days are wonderful, and things are moving along brilliantly until suddenly they aren’t.

Your child whines when you get out the books, you find yourself constantly encouraging him to do one last problem or activity. You just find yourself working harder than they are to complete your list of studies for the day. You feel frustrated, demoralized, and you wonder if this homeschooling really works in real life.

Save yourself (and your child) frustration, by focusing on your values (strong family relationships, fostering a love for learning, character development etc.) instead of focusing on checking “educational” boxes.

When you have a ten-thousand-foot view of the future, you won’t get hung up on whether or not you completed the allotted math problems for the day.

Enjoy these early years, they won’t last forever. Encourage your child’s curiosity and rest in the knowledge that they are constantly learning by living life with you at the perfect pace for them.

6. A Boxed Curriculum is the Answer

You spend hours researching a comprehensive curriculum, you want to make sure that every base is covered, and that your kid won’t end up going to college, not knowing how to do long division. You find a curriculum that you think will be a good fit, shell out a couple hundred dollars, only to find to out that you love the math, are “ehh” about the social studies, and absolutely hate the language arts program.

It is rare (and I mean RARE) that a boxed curriculum will meet all of your needs. You know your child, you know their strengths and weaknesses, you know the vision and values of your homeschool, and you are the best person to hand select curriculum. Save yourself hundreds of dollars (do you see a theme here) by choosing the best resources for your child.

When you handpick curriculum, not only is it a smaller monetary investment but if it doesn’t work, you aren’t stuck with it (trying to get your money’s worth) or desperately scrambling to replace an entire curriculum midway through the school year.

Are you wondering HOW do you actually find a great curriculum for each subject? I created a How to Find Excellent Curriculum checklist (grab it below) to help you on your journey.

You Got this Mom!

What about you? What is your number one frustration when it comes to figuring out this homeschooling adventure? Leave a comment, and don’t forget to follow Most Important Work on Pinterest!