I never expected my knowledge as a mom who has home schooled over a decade, would really be of much benefit, to many… but after countless emails from moms stressed to the max, overwhelmed at the virtual school systems, schedules and demands… I thought it would be helpful to write a blog post that I can pass onto those moms struggling and unsure as to what to do.
Although of all years, ironically I sent my boys for the first time ever to an actual school. All 4 of them. (Great year to change, right?) Prior to our move back to GA, I was feeling incredibly tired mentally. It wasn’t so much from home schooling… but a combination of stressful circumstances, job loss, unexpected moves, surgeries & difficult times.. It wasn’t the first difficult season we had experienced either in the last 5 years or so… So come the end of the 2019, around Christmas time… I decided that School year 2020-2021 I would send the boys to local charter school & my oldest would be a 10th grader in a public high school. I needed a break. Then Covid-19 happened… When every public school moms world was completely shifted, mine stayed relatively the same… We continued doing what we have always done and knew… home schooled.
Aug. 2020 rolls around and as our county here in GA planned to open for in person learning, I decided I would still send the boys. Stick to the plan. I am probably in the minority here, but the virus didn’t worry me in the least… so off the boys went Aug 3rd, 2020… and so far its been just fine. No real issues. My oldest may have to be switched to a “hybrid” schedule soon, due to the increase cases of Covid among the high schools here. As for the lower level schools, it seems fine so far, no real issues that I’ve heard. Most of the counties around us are closed however. We were one of the only ones to open back up. So people 15 minutes from me are all virtual… and I know many states that did a state wide “virtual only” options… Its varied from state to state and county to county. What I think many parents are realizing with virtual school though, is how difficult it is to “school” your kids on someone else schedule, rules, methods… especially if you are juggling your own job on top of that, and or other siblings.
So this post is for you mommas… dads…. who are at a loss… and want options.
If our kids school closes and goes to virtual, I will absolutely unenroll them from the school and just home school them. Home schooling is not virtual schooling. IT IS COMPLETELY different. Yes your kids are HOME with you, but when you are abiding by a public schools calendar and assignments, you will find yourself up to your eye balls in busy work, endless to dos and an array of nonsense, that does nothing but cause tension, stress and frustration within the home. I know this, because years back we tried doing Connections Academy in SC (an ONLINE PUBLIC virtual school) and y’all, we lasted 2 weeks. It was ridiculous to manage with 4 boys. 4 computers. All the live lessons, texting photos to the teacher of work they did, screen grabbing junk, submitting those, making sure they did things in the right format. Having streaming issues. Login not working. Word search, coloring sheet, project busy work, that no one benefited from at all…. It was just not fun… none of it. Home School SHOULD be fun…. and should not cause you so much stress you want to move to an island and hide.
With home schooling, you the parent should control the schedule.
You control what your kids do and dont do.
Not a system.
You set times to do things according to your days, weeks, months.
You get to enjoy the beauty of home school and flexibility it can bring, by simply doing things “your way” – and embracing the available options there are for home education. SO MANY OPTIONS!!!
So below are a few options that have worked for us, as well as a few other options that may be a better fit for you. The thing with home schooling is that “some stuff” may work for your family, while other stuff doesn’t. It is without a doubt a trial and error thing at first… and its ok if you get a curriculum, hate it, sell it on facebook market place and find something else mid year. Ive done this and my kids survived. Promise. Also, remember, your kids are little. If they are older, its a little more complicated… but grades 5 and below, so much less to stress over… a little school and a whole lot of hands on learning goes a long way. :)
Math Options
- Teaching Textbooks : I LOVE this one because its encourages the student to do things on their own. It starts I believe in 3rd grade and goes through high school. Its ONLINE and or you can get the CD-ROM. The lessons teach the kids the concepts they are learning. Walking them through an interface that is easy to understand and follow. It also keeps track of their grades, as well as help them solve problems they miss. Its really one of the best math programs I’ve used in 10 years of home schooling. Love teaching textbooks!
- Abeka Arithmetic : We used Abeka math books for our younger boys math. So K-3rd grade we used Abeka. I would just order the student book and teacher answer key. That is it. You do not need the test books. Beauty with home school, the amount you test your kids, is up to you. We weren’t big on doing test. As long as our child was grasping the work done in their workbook, that is all we felt was needed.
- Saxon Math : Great option as well with the TEACHER DVDS. Saxon is a bit more dry… not as pretty and colorful as Abeka books, but a solid curriculum. The dive DVDS and or teacher DVDS do the teaching for you as well. Saxon cost a good bit more than Teaching textbooks though… and as someone who’s used both, I would def. steer more towards TT than Saxon any day.
- Math-U-See : We did this ONE year. It wasn’t terrible… had hand on manipulative. So if you have a visual hands on learner, this may be a good option… it also has DVDS to help teach concepts… It just wasn’t for me. Not sure why. I do know many families who love it though and is worth looking at as an option.
Spelling/Writing/Phonics
- The Good and The Beautiful : I actually wrote a (full review on this curriculum HERE) – We have used this the last few years and I have been very happy with it. Its super simple to follow. It is christian based, so keep that in mind if that is not something you want. The author is a mormon, so for those of you reading who are evangelical and have a varied view theologically, as a former Baptist Pastors wife, who used that curriculum for years, I saw nothing in it that flagged and or made me uncomfortable at all. It is a solid and beautiful curriculum that I would recommend to anyone. The only thing with this curriculum is that it is hands on. So mom and or dad has to teach it to the child. However it walks you through everything you have to do very simply…. and lessons typically only take 30-45 minutes. So painless and simple. They also offer science and history curriculums as well.
- Abeka English and spelling/phonics : all great options. We used the Abeka phonics program and spelling for YEARS. It also is easy to follow. Abeka does offer DVDS as well and streaming for classes. IT is EXPENSIVE if you do the streaming videos but it is a good option for those who want an actual teacher for their child, without all the virtual school garbage haha. We did abeka videos for a season when we were brand new to home schooling and it was a good option for us to start with. It is a bit work heavy at times, but the beauty with abeka, you can skip stuff you dont want to do and no one would know otherwise haha… so you use what is needed and pass by what is not.
- Abeka Writing Books : (Cursive or manuscript) are both great. No complaints here. Just get the student book, have them do a page or two a day, thats it! Can’t go wrong.
- Hand Writing without Tears : Also a great workbook for hand writing. Super simple and fun.
- Easy Grammar : Great simple grammar books older kids can walk through for themselves and or younger kids can be instructed through the lesson really easily. 15 minute lessons. Cant go wrong.
Online Fun Options:
- Reading Eggs – for younger kids… but oh so cute! Owen use to do this and absolutely loved it.
- Starfall – Completely free online, theres also an iPad app. My kids used this for so many years as young new learners.
- Adventure Academy – for older kids 8+ – really fun. A good break in the day activity that is also educational.
- Miacademy – I personally have never used this one, but if we end up having to home school again, it will be one I check out. Looks really neat!
- Kahn Academy – Such a great resource for help on all things school.
History/Sciences/Box Sets :
- Apologia– is a great one for reading through studies with the kids. Older kids can read these on their own. They have unit studies on a variety of topics. From astronomy, to studying animals and plants.
- Story of the World Series : One of our favorites!! Buy them all. Read them to your kids. Let your older kids enjoy them. They’re fantastic. /
- Sonlight : More expensive, but really nice. For those who are taking a more hands on approach, this would be a great options.
- My Fathers World : Similar to Sonlight. Lots of great options here.
That really is about it.
You could get loss in a sea of curriculums.. There truly are TONS out there. There are also home school groups such as Classical Conversations and local co-ops you can look into. We’ve done our share… some worked for us, others didn’t.
My whole philosophy with home schooling is to allow the kids to learn organically. Teach them about things around the home, as well as the academics… know when to take an adventure to the aquarium or creekside. Be ok with breaks and sleep in when needed. Home schooling should not be rigid and stressed… It should have routine yes…. but theres a balance there. Like I use to tell my boys all the time “Dude….. we are here all day…. there is no rush, go play.” If it looked like it would rain by 1pm, yet the first half the day it was sunny, guess what? You better believe I sent those wild boys outside to play for hours before we did any school… because that is how some days go. You work around your own clock and learn to be ok with being a bit more free. :)
I hope this has helped encourage some moms reading… I hope it does not over whelm you… I am an open book… If you want to chat more feel free to email me at fromdrea[at]gmail.com – Id be glad to help… we can chat via Marco Polo and you can pick my brain a bit if need be.
All I know is that our days should not be so stressed we cant enjoy our children… if virtual school isn’t working… Pull them… and enjoy the freedom being your own “teacher” –er… Boss? hehe” can bring.
YOU GOT THIS!
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