Homeschooling is an increasingly popular educational path for many families, both in the US and abroad, and it’s no wonder why. Teaching your children allows parents to take control of their education and tailor it around their own needs, values, and interests. You can homeschool to the beat of your own drum!

But homeschooling isn’t just about following a set curriculum with points being checked off along the way. It also means finding ways to get creative with your approaches, challenging outdated ideas, and being open to learning new things. It's about being intentional in your life with your children and family, allowing you to grow together and learn along the way.

In this blog post, we’ll explore how you can homeschool in a way that fits your own values and outlook on life. Maybe you will rethink a few things you are doing and add or remove things that seem to work better for your family. Because homeschooling is about learning, growing, and becoming to the beat of your own drum, each homeschool environment is a unique biosphere of learning.

How Society May Think You Need to Do Things in Your Homeschool

One of the most common questions homeschoolers get is, "How do you do it all?" The answer is simple—we don't. We don't try to do everything that society tells us we should be doing in our homeschools. We pick and choose what works for our families and what we feel is important for our children to learn.

This can be a hard concept for some people to grasp. Society has this idea that there is a certain way things should be done, and if you're not doing them that way, you're not doing them right. This couldn't be further from the truth! Homeschooling gives us the freedom to break away from the mold and do things our own way.

So how do you know if you're really "doing it right" when it comes to homeschooling? Trust your gut. If something feels off or like it's not working for your family, don't be afraid to change it up. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to homeschooling, so find what works for you and run with it!

The Reality of Our Homeschool Life

"The Reality of Our Homeschool Life"

It's no secret that homeschooling can be a bit of a juggling act. You're trying to balance your own work and home life with the needs of your children, all while ensuring that they're getting a quality education. And, let's be honest, sometimes it can feel like you're just barely keeping your head above water.

So, here's what we DON'T DO as a family or in our homeschool. It works for our family.

 1.Grades. We homeschool to develop a love of learning, not so we can hand out grades. I attended an art school in NYC, and it was a breath of fresh air to not get scores or grades there. It allowed for skills, knowledge, and growth to be the sole focus of schooling.

 2. Video games. Here me out. We don't believe in needing or wanting extra screen time. I also do not want to be bargaining or fighting over this with my kids. This includes apps on iPads. Sorry! We do nice movies but really aren't fans of video games in our house. 

 3. School pick up lines. An entire day with my kids is preferable to multiple hours commuting and being in a school pickup line each day.

 4.Tests. Our state doesn't require any, and we're okay with this. I am not a fan of my kids sitting for hours doing state standardized testing. I know where my kids are in terms of learning without that. Each state is different so be sure to follow your local laws. 

 5. Sports. Before I say more, I want to add that my two oldest simply aren't interested. The two youngest may be later, but for now we don't do sports here, and I am happy to have the freedom to fill our time in other meaningful ways. You don't HAVE to do sports if it isn't working for your family's schedule and life. It can be a huge commitment. 

 6. Bus rides to school. A big no for me. Bad things happened to me on buses as a kid. No supervision at the back of school buses is not great, especially in the world we live in today.

 7. Early wake-ups/rushing out the door.  I love that my kids get to have a slow morning, and they enjoy this time immensely. So that's exactly what we do: getting up early allows us to take our time getting ready for the day.

 8.Rigid schedules. Oh, I know I have my daily plans for learning and activities, but I love that I get to dictate my own schedule so much. It would take a lot for me to give that up.

Choosing to Be Intentional in Your Homeschool Life

When it comes to homeschooling, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Every family is different, and every child is unique. That's why it's so important to find an approach that works for you and your family. One way to do this is by choosing to be intentional in your homeschool life.

What does it mean to be intentional? It means making choices with a specific goal in mind. It means being deliberate in your actions and mindful of how your choices will affect your family. When you're intentional in your homeschooling, you'll be able to tailor your approach to fit your family's needs.

So how can you be more intentional in your homeschooling? Here are a few ideas:

1. Know Your Why: Before you start homeschooling, or even before you decide whether or not to homeschool, it's important to ask yourself why you want to homeschool in the first place. What are your goals? What do you hope to accomplish? What kind of lifestyle do you want for your family? Knowing why you want to homeschool will help you make better decisions about how to homeschool and what type of homeschooling is best for you.

2. Set Priorities: Once you know your why, it's time to set some priorities. What's most important to you? What do you want to focus on? What can you let go of? Setting priorities will help guide you as you move forward. 

3. Create a Plan: Now that you know your why and have set priorities, it's time to create a plan. What will each day or week look like? What do you want to accomplish during that time? How will you go about achieving these goals? Writing down a plan can help keep you on track and ensure that you're focused on what matters most. 

4. Establish Routines: Routines provide structure and consistency, which are essential when it comes to homeschooling. Establishing routines for when school starts, ends, meal times, chores, etc., will help make homeschooling smoother and less stressful.

5. Make Time For Play: If you let it, homeschooling can be intense and all-consuming. That's why it's important to find ways to take breaks and have fun together as a family. Whether that means playing board games or going on nature walks, make sure to find time for activities that everyone enjoys!

Being intentional in your homeschool life is the key to success. By taking the time to really think about why you want to homeschool, setting priorities, creating a plan, establishing routines, and making time for fun, you'll be better equipped with the tools necessary for providing a solid learning foundation as well as family life structure. 

Why There Will Never Be a One-Size-Fits-All Homeschool

There are as many reasons to homeschool as there are families who do so. Some families choose to homeschool because they want to be more involved in their children's education. Others homeschool because they want to provide a more customized and individual education for their children. And still others do it for religious or philosophical reasons.

But the one thing all these families have in common is that they've made the decision that traditional schooling is not the best fit for their children. And that's why there can never be one "homeschool solution that fits all."

Every family is different, and every child is unique. That's why the best way to figure out how to homeschool is to find a method that works for you and your children. There are tonnes of resources out there, so take your time and explore what's available. Talk to other homeschoolers, read books and articles, and attend workshops and conferences. The more you know, the better equipped you'll be to make decisions about what will work best for your family.

Also, it's important to know the laws surrounding homeschooling in your state or country. These will possibly affect some of the ways in which you can homeschool.

Embracing Our Homeschool Differences

Homeschooling is a unique way to educate your children, and it comes with its own set of challenges. One of the biggest challenges is finding other homeschool families to meet with who fit your lifestyle. This is important to note. That we are all homeschooling with the best intentions to raise our children with our family values, and those don't always align with everyone else's. That's ok.

There are a lot of different ways to homeschool, and each family has its own way of doing things. That's one of the great things about homeschooling: you can tailor your education to fit your family's needs. But it can also be a challenge when you feel like you're not meeting the standards set by other homeschoolers.

It's important to remember that there is no one right way to homeschool. Every family is different, and what works for one might not work for another. The key is to find what works for you and your family and stick with it.

Don't compare yourself to other homeschoolers; they are where they need to be and doing things in their own way. Embrace your differences and use them to your advantage. You'll be surprised at how many great friendships you can make homeschooling and at the success you can achieve when you are open to hearing others ideas.

Benefit From Our Free Word Doc Homeschool Schedule

Homeschooling doesn't have to be expensive or complicated. In fact, it can be quite simple if you use our free Word doc homeschool schedule. 

Many of you asked for this file to help with your homeschool. Here it is! It's pretty simple but has been working so well. Edit it to fit your needs.

The weekly schedule we use in our homeschool. Each child gets one in the front of their binder. Each week, I make a list of which chapters and pages in each book must be read. The child checks off each item we accomplish each day. This keeps them and me accountable and lets us know what to expect each week as they begin to be more independent.

This schedule covers subjects and methods used by Charlotte Mason homeschoolers. 

Using this schedule will help you stay organized and on track with your homeschooling goals. And best of all, it's completely free! So why not give it a try today?