How to Run a Stress-Free Homeschool

The kids and I have been having SO much fun homeschooling these days.

I think it’s a healthy distraction from all the “we’re moving soon” and “mom has cancer” emotions. Ya know? Just to buckle down into a fun project and learn something new, has been a good thing for all of us on these long, boring January days.

Last year, I had a 5, 4, and 2 yr old, and an infant. We went for tons of walks in the woods, almost every day… mostly for my emotional sanity. Some fun Pinteresty-projects, like stick shapes tied together with burlap twine, hung up on the wall… that was fun;) Animal homes make from clay, paint, sticks and string. They learned to add and subtract with my old rock collection for manipulatives, and practically memorized their Leapfrog Letter Factory DVDs. Our oldest was reading easy books by Christmas, and somehow the 2yr old learned all his colors right under my nose. It was a low-key year for homeschooling… very peaceful. Very “forest school” ish.

This year? They are sponges! We still go on plenty of our beloved romps through the woods, but every morning is now spent in official “school” mode. I simply can’t throw new concepts and projects at them fast enough. They can tell you the difference between Ancient, Medieval, and Modern history… sort photos of different Ancient empires… what causes weather, storms, predictions, cloud types, the water cycle… they can name all the continents, oceans, climate zones, and the 4 instrument families. I taught them to study, and they are eating it up. Which absolutely delights my teacher heart… and staggeringly supports some teaching theories I’ve been quietly testing out and observing over here. I really believe that education is a lot simpler and less stressful than even homeschoolers often realize it is… but more on that later. 😉

For now, I’m curious! What about you all, dear readers? 💕😊 Are you distance learners, homeschoolers? Curriculum-lovers, Charlotte Mason, Waldorf, Montessori, Classical Conversations…. a little bit of everything… Dollar-store workbooks and internet worksheets… or totally winging it? Hey, I’ve been through it all, lol! What’s your jam these days?:) What do you love about teaching your kids? What could you do without?