9 Ways To Become A Better Homeschool Mom

July 27, 2017 2 Comments

The start of the new school year is just a few weeks away. Even though it’s still summer, I spend a portion of each day preparing for what’s ahead. My preparation includes the usual things: selecting curriculum, creating reading lists, planning trips, and sifting through extracurricular options.

But this year, I’m also taking time to do some personal preparation as well. I want to start the school year with the right mindset, so I’ve been reflecting upon the previous school year and thinking about ways to become a better homeschool mom this school year.

The result of my thinking can be summed up in this list of suggestions. If you’re interested in becoming a better homeschool mom this year, perhaps these nine suggestions will enlighten and encourage you.

1. Be spontaneous. We all know that planning ahead is one of the keys to homeschool success. It gives us focus and brings us peace of mind. However, taking time to enjoy an unplanned activity can be purposeful as well as fun.

These last minute outings may become the highlights of the school year. Every once in a while, it’s good for us to step off the well planned path and take time to enjoy something unexpected but awesome.

2. Connect with other homeschool families. Homeschooling can be a lonely journey, but it doesn’t always have to be. When we establish connections with other homeschool families, we become part of a likeminded community and experience the joy of new friendships.

If face to face connections are difficult, we can seek out online groups or forums specifically created for homeschool moms. Through these connections we can share homeschool joys and seek answers to our homeschool dilemmas.

3. Maintain realistic expectations. Our desire to raise knowledgable and successful children drives our curriculum choices and helps determine the extracurricular activities in which our children will participate. Because there are so many excellent activities and courses to choose among, our excitement may lead us outside of the realm of what’s humanly possible.

In order to maintain good mental health, we should avoid taking on too many responsibilities and fight the urge to create overwhelming weekly schedules. There are only 24 hours in each day and we have to be realistic about how we spend those hours.

4. Exercise your right to say no. We can’t let other people, even those with good intentions, dictate our schedules. Caving in to pressure or giving in to guilt means we may end up taking on tasks we don’t want or don’t have time to tackle.

It’s well within our right to say no to a teaching assignment at co-op or to decide against serving as the host of the weekly homeschool science club. Saying no today may prevent stress tomorrow.

5. Refuse comparisons. Most of us know that one homeschool mom who is always doing something amazing with her kids. Many of us have visited that one homeschool Pinterest board chock full of fantastic homeschool activities. Sometimes these encounters leave us feeling as if we’re not doing enough for our own kids.

Don’t compare your homeschool to anyone else’s homeschool. Each one of us is on our own unique homeschool journey, one that is just right for our family. Let’s refrain from using another mom’s yardstick to measure our homeschool success. Instead, let’s choose to appreciate the beauty of our individual homeschools.

6. Relax. We’re moms and we want to give our children the best. However, sometimes in our quest for the best, we get worked up and let the What Ifs run rampant in our minds. What if she doesn’t learn to read until age 6? What if I have to switch math curriculum midyear? What if we fail to complete all of the science experiments?

Don’t worry, dear sister. It will be okay. Just relax and continue to move forward.

7. Place relationships before rigor. The ABCs and 123s are important, but they’re not more important than our relationships with our children. Homeschooling is about more than facts and figures.

If our kids are full of facts, but lack the joy of fulfilling family relationships, we have missed the mark. During our homeschool days, let’s be intentional about strengthening the relational bonds between parents and children and among siblings.

8. Stop beating yourself up. We all make mistakes and we can’t do everything. But in spite of our shortcomings, the Earth continues to rotate and each day is a new one full of opportunity. Beating ourselves up over the past isn’t a good use of our time. In fact, doing so can lower our self-esteem and decrease our productivity.

When we make a mistake or slip up in other areas, we can choose not to dwell upon it. Instead, we can learn from the mistakes, endeavor to do better, and best of all, move on.

9. Take care of yourself. When was the last time you had a physical? Is it time for a mammogram? Are you ignoring health issues because you don’t have time to make personal appointments? Are you eating well? Do you exercise regularly? Are you getting enough sleep?

Yes, we are busy women, but we have to make time for self care. Heart disease, stroke, and depression are real. We can’t give our kids what they need, if we haven’t gotten what we need. Every single day we should take time to care for ourselves. Our families will be blessed by our efforts.

Homeschooling: Six Things You Should Do

May 5, 2015 Leave a Comment

When moms begin the homeschool journey, their minds are often full of questions. This is especially true of new Black homeschoolers who have often been disappointed by the traditional school system and who are seeking to create a rich child-friendly learning environment at home. Moms want to know what they should do in order to create a happy homeschool and help their children find success.

What should I teach?
How should I teach it?
How long should I teach it?
What books should we read?
Should we attend a homeschool cooperative?
Should I set up a schooling room at home?

Answering questions that begin with the word “should” is often difficult because there isn’t a one size fits all response. But that’s exactly where the beauty of homeschooling begins. As a homeschooling mom, you have control over your child’s learning environment and what you “should” do largely depends on the needs of your child. Every homeschool looks different and that’s a wonderful thing!

But in all honesty, there are some things you should do in your homeschool, but they don’t have much to do with curriculum choice, classroom set up, or book lists. Instead, this list of six “shoulds” has everything to do with creating the stimulating and nurturing environment Black homeschoolers need to gain knowledge and confidence.

You should follow your state’s homeschool regulations. If you’re unaware of the homeschool regulations in your state, you need to make sure you know them. Your homeschool must comply with the law. Failing to adhere state regulations could threaten your ability to homeschool. You can learn more about your state’s homeschool regulations by checking out this page that tells more about homeschool laws.

You should enjoy the time you spend teaching your child. Watching your child learn and being there for the “light bulb on” moments is one of homeschooling’s greatest joys! Children grow up quickly and so it’s imperative that we savor every moment we have with them. The time we spend homeschooling our children should never be looked upon as an unpleasant burden, but rather be viewed as an opportunity to build strong and loving relationships with our children.

You should teach your child according to his or her particular learning style. Take the time to read about learning styles. As you study your child and work with him, you’ll soon discover how he best learns. Once you know his style or styles of learning, select educational materials that utilize the style and teach your lessons using that style. For more information about learning styles, check out these three posts: Homeschooling Tactile Learners, Homeschooling Auditory Learners, and Homeschooling Visual Learners.

You should teach at a pace that is comfortable for your child. Don’t rush just for the sake of getting done. Learning is meant to be an enjoyable process, one that fosters a desire to learn more. If your daughter needs you to slow down so she can master long division, do it. If your son masters fractions quickly, move on. You have the ability to tailor lessons that will meet your child’s needs. Don’t frustrate your child by moving too quickly or too slowly.

You should remember that you are your child’s first and best teacher. You are equipped for this job because you know your child best! As long as you dedicate yourself to better understanding your child, learning the subject matter that is to be taught, and teaching in an effective manner, you can educate your child at home successfully. If you need support in your homeschool journey, connect with other homeschoolers. The African American Homeschool Moms Facebook group is a great place to meet other homeschool moms.

You should focus on your homeschool and not another mom’s homeschool. The homeschool community is extremely diverse and learning looks different in each home. Comparing your homeschool to my homeschool is like comparing apples to oranges. The comparison is unequal so it’s best not fall into the comparison trap in the first place.

A happy homeschool is simple to create and is not governed by a lot of technical “shoulds”. Stay informed, enjoy the time you spend with your children, focus on your homeschool, and above all…relax!

Considering Homeschooling?

November 3, 2014 Leave a Comment

So you want to be a homeschooler, but you have no idea where to start! More than likely, you’ll do what most people do when they want to learn about something. You hop on the internet to find information, but then you’re instantly overwhelmed by all of the information out there.

Don’t be discouraged! I know you are thinking if researching homeschooling is this hard, then actually doing it must be even harder! I won’t lie to you, homeschooling is a lot of work BUT it is the most rewarding job you will ever have. Honestly, the time that is put into homeschooling your children will be more than worth it. Don’t fret…I want to help you.

I am a newbie homeschooler. You’re probably wondering how a newbie will be able to help YOU….a fellow newbie. Hang tight, I think I can do just that. Although I am only in my second year of homeschooling, I have learned some things along the way. I’d like to share what I’ve learned and hope it is a blessing to you.

Are you ready? Here goes…

First, check your state’s homeschool laws. Some states have many requirements, while some states have fewer requirements than others. You are required to know your state’s requirements so that you’ll be able to stay within the law.

Second, read books on homeschooling. You may find books in your local library, but if not, you can buy them. I prefer to buy mine so that I can write and highlight in them. The following gives some of my favorite titles. Each of the books is a good starter book with information on homeschooling journey. They are packed with tons of information on learning styles, curriculum, what to teach at each grade level, and even how to create a peaceful learning environment. I own each one of them and love them all.

Third, join homeschool groups. This is one of those times where social media is an awesome tool. Facebook is full of helpful homeschool groups. You can even find groups in your area so you can meet other local homeschoolers. Support is a big aspect in the homeschool community. This journey would not be as awesome without the amazing support from other homeschoolers.

Finally, breathe! Understand that this journey is a special one, one that will open doors your children would have never imagined. This applies to moms as well. Homeschooling allows moms to learn how our children learn, discover what they like and don’t like about learning, and tweak teaching and learning so they are enjoyable and not daunting tasks. Homeschooling also allows for more family time. Our children won’t be little for long and homeschooling affords us the opportunity to bask in their youth with them while watching them flourish. Don’t let those moments pass you by. Breathe and get ready for an amazing ride!

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Today’s post was written by Cleveland, Ohio resident Jersey Woods. There she married the man she calls her Angel on Earth and now homeschools their three children who set out daily to give her a run for her money! While they do so, Jersey is working to get the parenting thing down one “oops!” at a time!

She is a Jesus loving, Jersey of All Trades! She writes, she blogs, she cooks, she creates! She is a visionary, a foodie, a fashionista, and a rose that grew from concrete. Jersey is on a constant journey to learn and grow while planting what she calls a vineyard of spiritual fruit full of love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, and faith.

Connect with Jersey at her blog, She’s Far Above Rubies.