5 (surprising) things you need to know about homeschooling high school ~
Written by Shawna Wingert of Different by Design Learning

For seven years now, I have been sharing our homeschool journey here on Simple Homeschool.

My oldest was eleven at the time. My youngest was eight.

It’s been a wonderful, crazy, joyful, stressful, sometimes devastating, sometimes rewarding, always worthwhile seven years.

Today, I find myself helping one child graduate high school, and the other prepare to begin it. My oldest only has six weeks left in his educational journey with me. My youngest has six weeks plus the next four high school years.

Prefer to listen instead?

I think because my oldest is preparing for life after high school homeschool, I find myself reflecting on what I know now about the high school years (that I never would’ve thought possible back when we started).

The truth is, most of the past four years feel like blur. They went by so much faster than his younger years homeschooling. They went by faster, but they were also, frankly, so much more fun.

Our days have became equally interesting for all of us. Because they are older, their interests more closely resemble my own. Our discussions about current events, history, and art are far more engaging than I thought possible.

It’s hard to think about it coming to an end, at least with one of them.

With this in mind, I wanted to share the things I wish I’d known about homeschooling high school before we were actually homeschooling high school. If I could go back in time to the mom I was seven years ago, this is what I would tell her.

5 Things You Need To Know About Homeschooling High School

1. Homeschooling High School Doesn’t Have To Be Totally Different From The Younger Years.

When we were preparing for my oldest to begin his freshman year, I thought it would be totally different.

I mean, this is high school right? Doesn’t it need to be more rigorous and less, well, fun?

Turns out, my son’s high school years looked a lot like every other year: interest-led, hands-on, project based learning.

At the end of his senior year, I can honestly say that it worked. We had already figured out how he learns best. I am so glad we didn’t change that to fit some idea of how high school is supposed to be!

2. Don’t Be Afraid Of High School Transcripts and Course Credits.

I was terrified of the transcript at first. It felt formal and threatening.

Turns out, it wasn’t really that hard. In fact, after I figured out how I wanted to do it, I actually looked forward to completing his transcript each semester. It felt like an observable measure of progress (something that can be really hard to come by as a homeschool mom!).

This post by Kara, really helped me relax about my son’s transcript.

3. Your Role Will Change Over The Four Years (and that’s OK).

I was a little taken aback by how quickly my role began to change as my son progressed through the high school years.

I went from being the one in charge of all of things to the one who needs to buy all the things and drive him to all the things. It was a little disconcerting at first, but it was exactly what needed to happen. My son developed a sense of engagement in his learning and independence that we had never seen before.

It’s worth being the accountant and the driver, instead of the teacher sometimes.

4. Your Child Will Have More Opinions (and that’s OK).

Of course it’s okay, right?

I know this to be true in my heart, but I can tell you that when my son had a very strong opinion about applying to four year colleges (he wanted to, I thought it was not a great fit for him) – I missed the years of him pretty much learning the way I thought he should learn.

Homeschooling high school is also just parenting a high schooler. It includes letting go when it’s time (cue tears).

5. The Memories Are Irreplaceable.

Oh my goodness, this one also makes me tear up a little, but it’s true.

The memories we have created together, especially as my son has become more and more of an adult, are precious to me in a way that is quite different from the younger years.

I am not sure I can put it all into words, but this is what I know – these high school years are when homeschooling and being with my kids all the time really started to get good.

I wouldn’t trade the memories we’ve made these past four years for anything.

There is so much more I could share.

I could tell you how impressed I was with my son’s college essays. I could tell you how worried I am about the giant step he is taking in heading off to college in the fall.

But I won’t. What I want to tell you is this – homeschooling high school has been one of the greatest experiences of my life and I am so grateful to be able to do it all over again with my youngest.

Maybe check back in four years. I will let you know how it goes.

What’s Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie’s quiz now and receive a free personality report to help you organize your homeschool based on what your personality type needs most!

Read your way to a love of math (UPDATED!) ~
Written by Jamie C. Martin of Simple Homeschool

I’m currently updating a series I published over ten(!) years ago about math, explaining how our family decided to approach the subject in a non-traditional way, particularly in the early years.

Now you’ll get to hear my perspective looking back as a veteran homeschool mom to see if it matches what my young, naive homeschool self thought!

In these posts, we’ve explored math study from a different perspective, asking two important questions: Why do we do what we do when it comes to this subject? Are there any other valid approaches to consider?

Other updates in this math series:
* A different way to look at math
* Out of the box math inspiration

An alternative to workbook pages in the early years is the simple sharing of a book spread open across your lap. It’s one of the easiest ways to create a blossoming love of numbers and patterns in a child’s heart and mind.

Back in the day when I was an insecure homeschool mom, I would have loved a list of well-chosen math titles, recommended by someone I trusted.

I’ve tried to provide that for you here, highlighting the resources we found most enjoyable in our own family – as well as including an updated list of other popular books you may want to check out.

Enjoy the journey as you read your way to a love of math!

Read your way to a love of math: 75+ titles for ages 4-12

Bedtime Math

Who is it for? Ages 4-12

What a fun addition (get it?!) this resource is for your math-learning littles.

Check out their website or app for easy access to a daily math question, or check out one of their three published Bedtime Math books(afflinks) for an offline option.

The beauty of bedtime math is that there are questions geared to a variety of learning-levels, making it something you can use for your preschoolers all the way to your pre-teens!

Life of Fred

Who is it for? Ages 6 – High School

Since I first wrote this series, I’ve been asked the same question several times: “I’d like to approach math differently, but what can I do if I have to provide documentation for my state and/or my kids have to take a standardized test?”

My top recommendation for those in the above situation would be to explore Life of Fred Math, a curriculum that goes from early elementary all the way through high school – but in a very different way to the norm!

Used in a structured or formal way, you’d be able to approach math creatively but still be able to provide the documentation you need to meet your local requirements.

Like any resource, Life of Fred isn’t for everyone. But my kids loved it, and I loved that I could read math aloud at the lunch table!

Mathemagic

Who is it for? Ages 4-12

Mathemagic is Volume 13 of a kids’ encyclopedia series that used to be produced by Childcraft and is now out of print.

It is full of inspiring math stories, clever puzzles, riddles, and games – perfect for reading aloud or putting on the shelf for your kiddos to flip through.

Math study aside, we have always had a used set of several Childcraft volumes  on our shelves, and still do!

I can’t get of rid them, because hardly a homeschool day went by in our house that I didn’t see a child with one of these tucked under their arm. Keeping them for the grandchildren, perhaps one day?!

No longer in print, check for them on Amazon or Ebay.

Mathematicians Are People, Too

Who is it for? Ages 8-12

This is a fascinating collection of short stories about the lives of the great mathematicians throughout history – often including the details about how they developed their groundbreaking theories and discoveries.

A perfect way to show our kids what passion for math looks like, this series contains two volumes.

Sir Cumference Series

Who is it for? Ages 7-11 (give or take)

The Sir Cumference books introduce foundational geometry concepts through adventurous stories – radius and diameter, data collection, perimeter, area, and pi all make an appearance in this series of 12 titles.

*****

Other titles to explore for ages 4-8 (Updated!)

• 12 Ways to Get to 11
• Amanda Bean’s Amazing Dream (multiplication)
• Anno’s Counting Book
• Anno’s Mysterious Multiplying Jar
• The Boy Who Loved Math: The Improbable Life of Paul Erdos
• Captain Invincible and the Space Shapes  (3D shapes)
• Count on Me
• Do Not Open This Math Book  (addition/subtraction)
• The Doorbell Rang (division)
• Double Puppy Trouble  (doubling)
• Each Orange Had 8 Slices
• Even Steven and Odd Todd
• Fannie in the Kitchen (measurements)
• Full House: An Invitation to Fractions
• Give Me Half!  (fractions)
• The Greedy Triangle
• How Much is a Million?
• I Love You 100  (counting to 100)
• Inchworm and a Half  (fractions)
• Just Enough Carrots  (comparison)
• Lemonade in Winter: A Book About Two Kids Counting Money
• Math Fables: Lessons That Count
• Math For All Seasons: Mind-Stretching Math Riddles
• Measuring Penny
• Missing Math: A Number Mystery
• Missing Mittens  (odd/even)
• More or Less  (comparison)
• Multiplying Menace: The Revenge of Rumpelstiltskin
• Mummy Math: An Adventure in Geometry
• One Grain of Rice: A Mathematical Folktale  (doubling)
• One Hundred Hungry Ants
• Pebbles and the Biggest Number
• Pigs Will Be Pigs (money)
• A Place for Zero
• The Rabbit Problem
• The Reindeer Remainders  (division)
• Spaghetti and Meatballs for All!
• Tally O’Malley  (tallying)
• Ten Black Dots
• What’s Your Angle, Pythagoras?  (geometry)
• Where is Sheep 100?  (skip counting)
• Zero the Hero

Other titles to explore for ages 8-12 (Updated!)

• 5 Minute Math Problem of the Day
• The Adventures of Penrose the Mathematical Cat
• Annika Riz, Math Whiz
• The Best of Times (multiplication)
• Betcha! (estimating)
• Counting on Frank
• CSI Math Mystery for Kids
• Danica McKeller’s Math Series (Ages 12+; Perfect for adults looking to freshen up, too!)
• Daphne Draws Data: A Storytelling with Data Adventure
• Divide and Ride  (division)
• Earth Day – Hooray!  (place value)
• Eat Your Math Homework
• Fractions in Disguise (fractions)
• Game Time  (time)
• G is for Googol: A Math Alphabet Book
• The Grapes of Math
• The Librarian Who Measured the Earth
• The Man Who Counted: A Collection of Mathematical Adventures
• Math Curse
• The Math Inspectors (Chapter book series – 6 titles)
• Math Mysteries: The Triple Threat
• Math Potatoes: Mind-Stretching Brain Food
• Math-terpieces: The Art of Problem Solving
• The Multiplying Menace Divides  (division)
• The Number Devil: A Mathematical Adventure
• The Penny Pot  (coins)
• The Phantom Tollbooth
• Pythagoras and the Ratios  (ratios)
• Shark Swimathon  (subtraction)
• The Times Machine!  (multiplication/division)
• Too Many Kangaroo Things to Do!  (multiplication)

“Mathematics, rightly viewed, possesses not only truth, but supreme beauty.”
~ Bertrand Russell

Do you know of any more inspiring titles to help read your way to a love of math?

What’s Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie’s quiz now and receive a free personality report to help you organize your homeschool based on what your personality type needs most!

This post contains affiliate links. 

A note from Jamie: While not technically a homeschooling day, this post provides a helpful look into an early childhood Waldorf classroom, largely based on a home atmosphere. Many popular homeschooling curricula spring out of this philosophy, so I greatly appreciate Sarah sharing her expertise with us!

It’s “Soup Day,” in my Waldorf kindergarten class. My assistant and I arrived early to don our aprons and prepare for the day. A basin full of water has been set on the table. Vegetable scrub brushes lay nearby.

A small wooden cutting board, wooden bowl and “crinkle cutter” have been set in front of each chair.

At 8:10, the teachers gather to read the morning verse. We end with Rudolf Steiner’s words, “Receive the children with reverence, educate them with love, let them go forth in freedom.” We are ready to start our day!

A Day in the Life of a Waldorf Kindergarten

At 8:15, the children begin to arrive, each one proudly carrying a vegetable to add to our “stone soup.” Lucy brings a potato, Aidan brings a carrot. Frances brings broccoli, and Max a beet. It takes a village to make stone soup!

Each child finds her symbol above her hook – it might be a bunny, an apple, the moon, or a squirrel. She hangs up her coat, takes off her outdoor shoes and puts on the soft pair of slippers that is kept at school.

Children then put on a small apron and come to the table where I am seated to help chop vegetables. The conversation is lively as we chop. I begin to sing, “Stone soup, stone soup, cook a pot of stone soup,” as we work.

Photo by Sarah Baldwin

As each child finishes, he brings his bowl of chopped vegetables to my assistant, who adds them to the big pot on the stove. Now it is time to play!

Play Time

Free play is the heart of the morning in a Waldorf kindergarten, and the children waste no time. A trio dons silk capes and crowns, the leader declares “I’m the king, you’re the knight, and you’re the bishop!” They’re off to slay dragons.

One boy pulls out a log stump, and soon others are lined up to take turns jumping off it.

Photo by Sarah Baldwin

Another pair pulls out two wooden playstands, and begin draping them with silks and play cloths, fastening them with chunky wooden clips to create a cozy little home.

The two teachers finish lunch preparations, while two children set the table.

At 9:30 I sing:

Tick Tock goes the clock, what does it have to say?
Time for us to pick up our toys, and put them all away.

The children gradually transition from their play, and begin to fold silks, put shells and stones back in baskets, and move the playstands back to their places. We gather on the rug in the center of the room for circle time.

Circle Time

During circle time, I lead the class through a series of seasonal songs, verses, gestures and movement. The children imitate me. We repeat the same circle every day for two weeks, until the children know every song and gesture by heart, taking pleasure in their mastery.

We end circle with the following verse:

Now the sun has gone to bed,
The stars are shining overhead.
In their nests the birds all sleep,
Into their homes the snails will creep.
Children now no more will roam,
It’s rest time now and we’re safe in our home.

Rest Time

The children lie down on the rug for rest time. I sit in a rocking chair with one child on my lap, who gently strums my kinder lyre. The soothing notes of its pentatonic scale help create a restful mood.

When all are settled, the “wake-up fairy,” a silk marionette, comes to the resting children, one-by-one, to kiss them on the cheek and tell them it’s time to get ready to go outside.

Outside Time

We go outdoors every day – rain or shine, snow or mud. Living in Maine I’ve learned that it’s possible to enjoy being outside even on the coldest of days if one is dressed properly.

In the winter that means wool long underwear covered by lots of layers, down jackets, a warm wool hat and insulated mittens. In the spring (or, as it is known in Maine, “mud season”) it means rain pants and rain boots every day.

Out on the playground, a group of children dig tunnels in the sandbox, others climb a tree, some build fairy houses, a pair sit and talk on top of the big boulder making plans. I rake leaves.

At 11:15, I sing, “Come and follow, follow, follow, me!” The children line up like little ducks behind me as we make our way back to our warm and cozy classroom.

The children hang up their coats, put their slippers on and find a seat in the circle of chairs my assistant has set up. It’s story time!

Story Time

As with circle, I will tell the same story every day for two weeks. Today the children hear the story of “Mother Holle,” a Grimm’s fairy tale.

Throughout the year, the children will hear a variety of fairy tales, folk tales and nature stories (sometimes with puppets), which they listen to with rapt attention, never tiring of the repetition.

Lunch Time

Now it’s time for lunch! We sit at the table, light a candle and say the following verse:

Earth who gives to us this food,
Sun who makes it ripe and good,
Dearest Earth and Dearest Sun.
We’ll not forget what you have done.

And finally we get to enjoy our stone soup, which has been simmering on the stove all day. One lucky child finds the stone in her bowl and gets to make a wish. She then passes it to her neighbor, and all of us around the table will get to make a wish with the magic stone.

Photo by Douglas Mott

After lunch, two children help do the dishes, while the others get dressed to go back outside.

Goodbye

At 1:00, parents have arrived. Children, teachers and parents gather in a big circle, hold hands and sing:

Dear friends, goodbye
Dear friends, goodbye
Now is the time of day
When we all go our way
Dear friends, goodbye
Dear friends, goodbye

We’ll see each other again tomorrow on “Bread Day!”

Find all of Sarah’s Waldorf-inspired posts on Simple Homeschool here.

Are there any elements of my Waldorf kindergarten morning that are similar to your homeschool mornings? Any ideas you’ve gleaned here that you’d like to incorporate into your days? I’d love to hear!

What’s Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie’s quiz now and receive a free personality report to help you organize your homeschool based on what your personality type needs most!

52 Artist’s Dates for Your Homeschool ~
Written by Debbie Douse of An Adventurous Education

A wise friend of mine, knowing my desire to increase my creative flair, bought me an excellent book called The Artist’s Way. (afflink)

Fundamentally, this book encourages you to let go of what no longer serves you and instead make space for art in whichever forms call most to you. One of its key tenets is the concept of the artist date.

This is a permission slip to spend a couple of hours each week allowing your ‘inner artist’ to simply play.

The time should be spent alone, doing something that inspires you – fills your creative bucket so to speak – with no set outcome. Joyful, right?

I started adding this to my weekly planner. I’d bravely take myself out alone to the theatre to watch beautiful dancers or just ringfence time in my garden. My children’s interest was piqued.

I bought myself a stack of magazines to cut up into an inspiration board, and Rosie excitedly picked up what was left to make her own. Harry, noticing me book an oil painting class, asked if we could make it a mother-son date day instead. For months, I’d left a stack of photo frames hanging around ready to make a display of our travels.

It was an artist’s date destined not to happen… until Rosie decided she’d waited long enough and asked me with pleading eyes if she could please do some of them! Clearly the priority I was gifting my own creativity was motivating them to do the same.

So I brainstormed a list of 52 artist’s dates for your homeschool to stimulate all our imaginations.

The ardent Artist’s Way followers would insist these be done individually, and often, that works best.

But there’s also value to be gained doing them beside your loved ones, connecting through playful creation. And in a homeschool setting, it’s ideal for both bonding and interesting coursework that you might otherwise not have time for!

52 Artist’s Dates for Your Homeschool This Year:

1. Print out uplifting quotes and make a collage
2. Book a cookery course, design your own dinner party menu or forage for ingredients to use in a new recipe
3. Redecorate your bedroom and paint a mural on the wall
4. Attend a poetry recital or design your own with friends
5. Have a go at the potter’s wheel
6. Research Andy Goldsworthy’s art and create your own outdoor sculpture
7. Have a seasonal photography competition amongst family members – who can take the best winter or spring photograph?
8. Experience a new kind of theater, such as slapstick, mime or street theater
9. Design a mood board of pictures for a story/scene you’re writing
10. Try a new dance style, such as Irish or Flamenco
11. Draw your favorite building in your local town
12. Go wild swimming
13. Introduce yourself to a new style of music and find a favorite song in this genre
14. Pick some flowers from the garden to make a bouquet
15. Plan a road trip
16. People watch and create stories about each character
17. Make a photo-book of your holidays
18. Peruse a food market and taste foods you’ve never tried before
19. Research and try a new craft technique, like macramé, book folding art or wire figure sculpting
20. Go on a barefoot or night walk
21. Create a collection of beautiful objects
22. Visit an art gallery or museum
23. Write a song
24. Plant part of the garden as a beautiful sanctuary for you
25. Design a comic strip
26. Kayak or canoe down a river
27. Draw the floor plan of your ideal home
28. Bravely book a guided ghost walk
29. Go to a comedy club or write a comedy sketch
30. Make a ‘creative bucket list’
31. Attend a writing class
32. Make your own photo frame out of driftwood
33. Learn to knit
34. Explore unique shops with no agenda
35. Survey the sunset or sunrise, or stargaze
36. Watch an inspirational speaker
37. Start a nature journal
38. Enjoy a music festival or concert
39. Try workshops to learn new skills, such as juggling, leather working or soap making
40. Create a Pinterest board for a hobby or passion
41. Bake a new type of cake or pastry
42. Add hygge to your home
43. Plan, save and buy a new outfit
44. Make a Christmas wreath
45. Start a sewing project, such as new curtains, a patchwork quilt or new skirt
46. Enjoy a coloring or doodle book
47. Try a new type of painting class, like oil, Batik or watercolors
48. Start a blog, Substack or YouTube channel
49. Sit by the river and write a poem
50. Venture into previously unexplored areas of an art/stationery shop
51. Make a photo display
52. Write 10 things you’d love to be brave enough to do; chose one and do it!

Having experienced my own artist’s date last night – a talk from the intrepid explorer Simon Reeve – I can attest to the uplifting impact on your imagination.

Here’s to building a creative 2025!

* Find more of Debbie’s inspirational writing on Simple Homeschool here.

What’s Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie’s quiz now and receive a free personality report to help you organize your homeschool based on what your type needs most!

Toe-Dipping into Homeschooling ~
Written by Lusi Austin of That Homeschool Life

Imagine it’s a hot, summer’s day here in Australia. There is no place I’d rather be than near the ocean or our local river, dipping my toes into the cool water.

Sometimes, just dipping my toe in is enough and other times, it is the starting point for a full on deep-dive!

And that has had me thinking – offering our kiddos a myriad of learning opportunities and experiences is like toe-dipping: our kids dip their toes into the learning waters.

Sometimes they have ‘just enough’ exposure to certain activities and ideas that it gives them a chance to really feel like they have tried that subject or theme. At other times, that little toe-dip actually leads them into a deep-dive on a topic that they’d once never even thought of.

This has happened with most of my kids over the years. Instead of fighting the urge to insist that we all approach the water in the same way, I now actively encourage toe-dipping into homeschooling interests (even if it doesn’t lead to a deep-dive experience).

Let me share a few examples and just how far one small dip into the waters has led to an immersive experience for three of our kids.

Toe-Dipping into Homeschooling

A Dip into Tech

A few years ago, my youngest son (now 13 years old), seemed to be interested in building, making and creating with Legos. I saw that his interest moved more into the Lego Technic pieces (afflinks). He worked on click-style circuit kits but completed these very quickly.

A friend had mentioned a special electronics style kit that she had found called Spintronics. Although this was a little beyond him in some areas, he kept at it. I saw that it was stimulating his mind in way that other kits had not.

Now at 13, this little toe-dip which began playing with Legos, has led to him into new tech areas.

He has purchased two 3D printers and using his own designs, he has begun selling 3D printed earrings and fidget toys. He has joined a homeschool coding club. His love of tech and engineering principles continues.

A Dip into Cooking

From the time our kids could stir a bowl, I have had them in the kitchen making a mess  participating. They kept their own recipe books, writing out recipes we had made together. When one of our sons took a job at a local nursing home in the kitchen, he already had some skills he had practiced at home.

He was then offered an apprenticeship in commercial cookery. He has now graduated from his tertiary education certificate course. Last week, he cooked for his housemates!

Who knew a toe-dip into cooking during our homeschool years might come in handy in his future?

A Dip into Sewing

Another example of toe-dipping in our home has been my youngest daughter and sewing. I gave a toe-dipping experience to all five of our children in this area.

But she was the only one who REALLY went all in with the deep-dive! You can read more about where this dipping led her in this post.

When Toe-Dipping Doesn’t Lead Anywhere

What if NOTHING happens after you offer an activity or a learning experience to your kiddo? As parents, sometimes we feel disappointed that our kids don’t go all-in with an activity. Breathe and know that it is okay.

We all have likes and dislikes. It may not be something your kid picks up again EVER. Or you may have given them an introduction to something that they can explore for themselves in another season of their life.

Sometimes, the best place is watching from the sand. They may be observing and taking things in. It may be that later down the track they ask more questions or their interest piques.

Rest in the knowledge that you have given your child rich learning opportunities and experiences. There is value in toe-dipping, in deep-diving, and in standing on the sand too.

* Find more inspiration in Lusi’s writing on Simple Homeschool!

What’s Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie’s quiz now and receive a free personality report to help you organize your homeschool based on what your type needs most!

Tailoring Your Homeschool Curriculum: A Child-Focused Approach to Thriving ~
Written by Colleen Kessler of Raising Lifelong Learners

Whether you’re using an all-in-one program, mixing and matching from various providers, or DIY-ing it with online resources, the key to ensuring your curriculum choices fit your family’s vision is to shape it around your child’s unique needs.

Here’s how to implement a child-focused approach with confidence and flexibility.

Think of Curriculum as a Framework, Not a Script

One of the greatest benefits of homeschooling is the freedom it gives you to customize learning. While curriculums often come with guidelines and structured lesson plans, they’re not set in stone. Think of your curriculum as a framework that supports your child’s learning rather than a strict script to follow.

Your child’s academic, social, and emotional needs should guide your teaching journey. If your kiddo is a hands-on learner who thrives when building and experimenting, incorporate lots of project-based learning. Science experiments, art projects, and even cooking can make subjects more engaging.

Got a kid who loves structure? They might do well with a set schedule that allows them to anticipate what’s coming next. This mindset shift can reduce the pressure to “do it all” and allow you to focus on what truly benefits your child.

Adapt for Strengths and Challenges

Every child has their strengths and areas that need extra support. A one-size-fits-all curriculum won’t work, and that’s okay. Use your homeschool as an opportunity to lean into their strengths and find creative ways to address their challenges.

For the math whiz , but reluctant reader, look for cross-curricular activities that integrate their interests.  If they love baking, turn cooking time into a math and reading lesson by having them follow a recipe.

They’ll be practicing math skills with measurements and reading comprehension without even realizing it.

For the artistic child, seek out options that include creative projects. Let them illustrate science journals, create history timelines as comic strips, or build dioramas of scenes from the books they’re reading. These activities allow them to express creativity while still covering essential learning goals.

For the child who needs extra support in certain areas, customizing your curriculum can make a world of difference.

If reading is a challenge, consider using audiobooks or read-aloud sessions to build their comprehension skills without the stress of decoding words. On the other hand, if they excel in a particular subject, don’t be afraid to accelerate the pace or dive deeper into topics that fascinate them.

Incorporate Life Skills and Interests

Homeschooling isn’t just about academics; it’s about raising lifelong learners who are prepared for the world. Use your curriculum to teach life skills and cater to their interests. Does your child love animals? Take that passion and run with it!

Explore biology through animal studies, incorporate animal-themed books into reading time, and use nature walks as an opportunity for science lessons. Not only will this make learning more enjoyable, but it will also help them see how subjects connect to the real world.

Life skills are equally important. Cooking, budgeting, gardening, or even basic home repairs can be turned into valuable learning experiences. This hands-on approach not only teaches practical skills but also reinforces concepts like math, science, and problem-solving in a real-world context.

Embrace Flexibility and Adjust as Needed

Flexibility is one of the greatest gifts you can give both yourself and your child. Some days, the curriculum might need to take a back seat because your child is having an off day, and that’s okay. Consider it an opportunity to pivot and do something different. 

If you find that a particular curriculum or approach isn’t working, don’t be afraid to change. Try breaking subjects into shorter, more manageable chunks if long lessons cause burnout. Or take a day to dive deep into a hands-on project if your child seems disengaged. 

Connect with Your Community for Ideas and Support

Don’t forget that you’re not alone in this journey! Join local homeschool groups, co-ops, or online forums where you can exchange curriculum tips, resources, and advice. Sometimes hearing what works (and doesn’t) for others can spark new ideas for customizing your child’s learning path.

Celebrate Progress, Not Perfection

It’s easy to get caught up in meeting academic benchmarks, but don’t forget to celebrate small wins. Did your child finally master a tricky concept or show interest in a new topic? That’s worth celebrating!

By focusing on progress rather than perfection, you’re fostering a love for learning and building your child’s confidence.

Ready to Dive Deeper?

This child-focused approach not only enhances learning but also nurtures a lifelong love of education. By embracing flexibility and meeting your child where they are, you’re raising learners who are engaged, motivated, and ready to tackle whatever comes their way.

Want to explore more ways to customize your homeschooling experience?

*****

A note from Jamie: The ideas in this post are just a tiny fraction of those Colleen shares in her new book, The Homeschool Advantage: A Child-Focused Approach to Raising Lifelong Learners.

I got a sneak peek, and here’s what I wrote afterwards:

“Colleen Kessler shares from the depth of her experience as a long-term homeschool parent, a mother of differently-wired kids, and a recognized authority on gifted studies.

In The Homeschool Advantage, she strengthens our resolve and self-trust as homeschooling parents, reminding us that home education is not just one alternative for our kids’ learning, but that it may in fact be the best option of all!” 

If you need a boost of confidence for your homeschool journey, snag a copy of The Homeschool Advantage today!

What’s Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie’s quiz now and receive a free personality report to help you organize your homeschool based on what your type needs most!

Where Can An Interest Lead? ~
Written by Lusi Austin of That Homeschool Life

My beautiful 15-year-old daughter recently made this dress to wear to Sydney, Australia’s production of Hamilton, the musical. She made it from a $10 piece of fabric she found in a local second-hand store (in Australia we call them ‘op shops’ short for opportunity shops!)

I can’t sew to save myself! Well, that’s not entirely true: I bought my first sewing machine when I was 25 years old and, using YouTube videos, taught myself how to thread the machine and how to sew a straight line!  I can sew a straight line, but can’t sew anything like the things my daughter makes.

Where Can an Interest Lead?

How to encourage an interest your child has that you don’t share:

So, if I am not into sewing, how did my daughter develop her skills?

Well, let me just say up front that of my five kiddos, Zippi is the only one who has really LOVED sewing. I’m so glad that I gave her time and space to develop her love.

How did I know she loved it? I observed her. Over time, I could see that she was excited about learning new skills.

I made suggestions and provided her with tools. I could see her eyes light up when she made something. There was a spark, and so I tried my best to fan the flame of interest.

We started small to test the waters. At the age of 7, she was sewing a felt puppet using a step by step kit. Then slowly, we stepped it up.

A few years later, she tried the sewing machine for the first time. I think a purposeful project is helpful in sparking an interest. So I helped her make some simple curtains for her bedroom.

Then she asked me how to thread the bobbin onto the spool (which I’d always done for her). I showed her how to do it and from then on, she did it herself. We incorporated her learning outcomes into her passion.

I found a few sewing bee shows for her that I thought might fit this interest, bought some second hand sewing books and some vintage patterns.

Then I outsourced. She joined a local craft and sewing group. She would troubleshoot problems there or at home with me (with us looking online together) as well as Zippi’s Nan helped her when she came for visits.

As the years went on, so did her interest in sewing and fashion. Her skill level increased as she kept practicing. She made masks and scrunchies and I encouraged her to participate in a local market to sell some.

Her market was a success and led to her being able to sell them in a friend’s café. This incentivized her further! And again, she upped her skill level.

She started tackling more complex techniques in her work – bell sleeves, darts, shirring, zippers, overlocking, using patterns (and creating her own patterns from scratch). I found a croquis (form drawing) class for Zippi to take online.

Again, this skill took time to develop.

I scaffolded supports for her in this area: she began with a pre-made template, graduated to using plastic templates and then took the online croquis class. Her form and perspective skills improved.

Another lovely homeschooler sent us fabric and another sent us old workbooks from a fashion course she’d previously undertaken.

And so, with skills, resources and my old friend ‘time-and-space’, the little girl with a passion for fashion continues to create.

I don’t know if there is a career in fashion ahead for my daughter or not. But what I do know is this: she has developed skills across so many subjects of learning, by spending her time doing something that she really loves!

And in our home, that is a worthwhile and wise investment. 

* Read more of Lusi’s inspirational posts on Simple Homeschool here!

What’s Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie’s quiz now and receive a free personality report to help you organize your homeschool based on what your type needs most!

Interest-Led Learning When Your Child Only Likes Video Games ~
Written by Shawna Wingert of Different by Design Learning

I was on the phone with another homeschooling mom last week.

She was trying to work through how to best teach her twelve-year-old son without the resistance that was a daily struggle last year. “Have you tried an interest-led approach to learning?” I gently asked.

Frustrated and discouraged, she replied, “How can I take an interest-led approach when his only interest is video games?”

I understand her concern.

We tend to view video games as a sort of enemy of education and learning, especially in the homeschool community. I used to feel the same way.

But over the course of the past few years, as my boys have matured into teens and I have had to find new ways to connect with them, I have come to see video games not as a threat, but a tool that we can use to help our kids learn.

Interest-Led Learning When Your Child Only Likes Video Games

The more I have learned about my sons’ interest in gaming, the more convinced I have become that we are missing real edcuational opportunities with our kids.  Here’s why –

Not All Games Are Created Equal

I think the fear is that our children will be locked up inside a dark room all day playing violent, degrading games. While some of those types of games exist, there are many more that actually provide very real educational learning opportunities for our children.

For example, Minecraft has been a mainstay in our homeschool since I learned that signs can be created throughout the game. We use these signs to practice sight words with my struggling reader.

Another example in our home is Battlefield One. In this war game, my son has learned more about WWI than any textbook was ever able to teach him.

Video Games Provide Opportunities To connect With Our Children On Their Level

Just as our kids love to show us their latest art project or trick on the skateboard, they also enjoy showing us their skills in a virtual world. Knowing what they are playing, asking why they enjoy it, and providing positive reinforcement creates an environment of mutual respect. This respect is the foundation of interest-led learning.

We respect our kids’ interests and allow them to drive our approach to their education. Video games can absolutely be as valuable in interest-led learning as my youngest son’s interest in animals. We just have to take the time to learn about them, with our child as the guide.

Video Games Can Help Lead To Strength Based Learning

I have shared before how passionate I am about using our children’s strengths to drive their learning.

What has surprised me is how video games have actually revealed some of my boys’ natural gifts and strengths. For example, my youngest is a wizard at three dimensional thinking and building. It serves him well in video games, but I am also learning ways to incorporate this strength into our learning away from the screen.

The relationship between interests and strengths is quite significant. In fact, the combination of the two is what allows me to create strength based learning plans for my sons and for other families.

I have created a worksheet to help parents get started with this type of approach. It is available for free to Simple Homeschool readers HERE.

How To Use Video Games In Interest Led Learning

I want to leave you with some practical examples of how to incorporate video games into your homeschool.

Get Involved

My first recommendation is to participate in as much conversation and game play as possible. I don’t ever actually play games, but I do sit with my boys while they play. I ask them why they enjoy it and have them show me all their skills.

Use As A Starting point For Lessons

Last week, my son mentioned Russia was a location in the game he was playing. We got the map out and found it. We did a google search together to learn more about it. And then, we went back to the game and compared what we learned to what we saw on the screen. Was it an accurate depiction? Why not?

Another example in our homeschool is how we use mobile games. There is a Harry Potter mobile game that my son loves to play. He wanders the neighborhood, looking for magical creatures in the game. He gets a little exercise and fresh air and then we come home and practice reading aloud using the Harry Potter book series.

Use As A Check For Understanding

Some of the more creative video games, like Minecraft, easily serve as a kind of quiz to see how your child is retaining the information he’s learning. For example, my son created a Medieval Village in Minecraft to reflect what he had learned as part of our Medieval History unit study. It worked beautifully, almost like an online version of our old shoe box dioramas.

Overall, I have found video games to be a very useful part of our learning. The more I learn about the games my children play, the easier it is to find ways to incorporate this interest into our homeschool.

* Find more of Shawna’s inspiring posts on Simple Homeschool!

Do your kids play video games? Have you used them as part of your homeschool?

What’s Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie’s quiz now and receive a free personality report to help you organize your homeschool based on what your type needs most!

Next year will possibly be my daughter’s last year of homeschooling. Wow, just writing those words causes a squeeze on my heart and a tear in my eye! There are plans afoot for her to attend school for her last two years, to sit higher-level exams.

So, this last year homeschooling feels especially poignant.

As I look back over the years, the thing I am so unbelievably grateful for on this homeschooling journey of ours is the deep connection I have developed with my two children through the medium of shared learning.

It’s in all the hours spent snuggled up reading about the endeavours of Scott in the Antarctic or those excited moments of “Oooh, I get it now,” as they grasp a new science concept. It’s in the deep conversations about human behaviour or which political party to vote for, or the light dinner time chats where we tease out a mathematical conundrum.

This bond through shared scholarship over the last nine years has been a real privilege. It’s reminded me to set in place some key traditions for continuing this connection for the upcoming year and hopefully even once they’ve flown the nest.

Creating Traditions for Shared Lifelong Learning

Literary Picnics

Yesterday Rosie and I had the first of what we’re calling, ‘literary picnics.’ We laid out a blanket and delicious picnic alongside a whole range of books. Over the following hour, we cuddled and:

• Recited and discussed our favourite poems.
• Chose selections to read from various books meaningful to us in some way, such as John Green’s book Paper Towns or Speeches of Note by Shaun Usher.
• Read to each other pieces from our own current writing projects.

This all felt so very Anne of Green Gables (our joint favourite literary character) and was honestly such a joy. So much so that we’ve decided to make it a bi-weekly feature of our upcoming school term.

Throughout the winter, we’ll move them in front of a log fire, but the aim will be the same: connecting through a shared passion for words.

This year, she’s studying for exams in English language and literature, as well as a drama qualification. The literary picnic sessions will be an opportunity for her to embed her learning as she updates me on the books and poems she’s studying, the monologues she’s preparing and the dissertation she’s writing.

It will also offer the chance for us to read together a whole range of writing styles from articles to diaries, to letters to interviews, helping her prepare for her English language exam.

Finally, we can vulnerably share our own writing in this forum (e.g. Rosie’s currently writing a screenplay), bouncing ideas off one another and offering honest and loving advice for improvement.

We are both so excited for these sessions and I pray that it’s a tradition we’ll continue to do for many years to come!

Adventures

Since they were small, our family have always connected through adventures, big and small. Together, we’ve walked a marathon, made brass bowls in Marrakech’s medina, climbed inside an Egyptian pyramid, volunteered at an animal sanctuary in Costa Rica, wild camped, tracked the Northern Lights, fat biked through the dunes of South Africa and made our own hammock.

Learning through the world, these adventures teach us fundamental life skills, such as facing our fears, strengthening self-belief, connecting deeply with others, whilst also filling our creative buckets.  Adventure has and always will be a way of life for our family, a place where I know we’ll continue to connect and grow side-by-side long into the future.

Spanish Hour

All three of us are hispanophiles: lovers of all things Spanish! Since we have this joint passion, I thought it would be fun to spend an hour a week learning more about Spanish arts, sports, music and culture, from a smorgasbord of options, e.g.:

• Make a traditional Spanish recipe
• Select a famous Spanish painting, such as Guernica by Picasso, to discuss together
• Watch different Spanish dances, such as Flamenco or the Argentine Tango
• Listen to traditional Spanish songs
• Read an article together about Spanish culture or history
• Watch a movie in Spanish
• Visit the Tate Modern to view works of art by Mexican artists Frida Kahlo or Diego Rivera
• Go to the Cervantes Theatre in London to watch a Spanish play
• Research the life of famous Spanish sporting heroes
• Pick a Spanish-speaking country or part of Spain and research its famous sites

The aim of these traditions is purely to nurture our shared interests in a joyful and non-pressured way, with the hope that we’ll continue to connect like this long after their school is finished. These traditions will hopefully inspire shared lifelong learning in all of our lives!

What’s Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie’s quiz now and receive a free personality report to help you organize your homeschool based on what your personality type needs most!

9 Educational Philosophies Defined (UPDATED!) ~
Written by Jamie C. Martin, editor of Simple Homeschool and Introverted Moms

Hi friends! I’m here again with another installment in my new Simple Homeschool series, in which I’m updating past content to keep it fresh and useful for all of you.

This post was one of the most popular back in the early days of Simple Homeschool; it gives a helpful overview to the many educational philosophies out there.

Originally this was Part I of a two-part series. As part of my update, I merged them and added several updated links to help you learn more about any method that strikes you as interesting.

Feel free to pin it or bookmark so you can come back to it anytime – enjoy!

*****

When I first started to research homeschooling, I didn’t even realize there was more than one way to “do” education. Growing up in the traditional system, like most of us, I assumed that homeschooling meant duplicating that system at home.

Imagine my surprise (& joy) as I discovered the plethora of educational methods and philosophies out there. That’s when I realized how amazing a home education could be – so many possibilities and options existed that could be tailored for each child!

The downside of having so many choices is wading your way through the information. If you’ve recently felt overwhelmed by all that’s out there, this article is just what you need.

Here are nine educational philosophies defined to get you started.

9 Educational Philosophies Defined

1. The Traditional Method Defined

This is what it sounds like–taking the classroom model and translating it into your home. Typically this method revolves around textbooks, worksheets, and tests to determine if your child is mastering the material.

Some children love plowing through a workbook and thrive on it. For those who don’t, you can always use these sparingly or on a child’s own terms. We have a shelf of workbooks that our elementary-aged children can work in if and when the mood strikes them.

Many families may use the traditional method in one subject, like math, while using different methods for other subjects. Large families may find it helpful to use some textbooks if it provides an easier way to follow up with several children.

Further Reading:

• Abeka
• Brain Quest Workbooks
• Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool
• Easy Peasy All-in-One High School
• Time 4 Learning

2. The Unit Study Method Defined

The unit study method seeks to combine several subjects under one unifying theme.

If your son loves trains, you would use that subject to look for books about trains (literature), write about trains (English/handwriting), study the history of trains (history), develop word problems about the speed of trains (math), and so on.

Photo by woodley wonderworks

A homeschooling mom or dad can compile a unit study on any subject that interests a child, but some publishers take the hard work out of unit studies by putting packages together on a variety of topics.

Unit studies often incorporate multi-sensory approaches to a subject, making it ideal for kinesthetic learners. The downside is that these lessons may require extra preparation time on behalf of the parent.

Further Reading:

• How to Embrace Rabbit Holes with Lazy Unit Studies
• 4 Reasons Why We Love Using Unit Studies In Our Homeschool
• The Best Way to Plan a Unit Study
• Ivy Kids
• Five in a Row

3. The Charlotte Mason Method Defined

Charlotte Mason pioneered amazing educational changes in Great Britain. Living in the late 1800’s, she revolutionized the educational system at that time – aiming to prove that children of any class had the ability to learn and enjoy it.

Her methods have seen a resurgence within homeschoolers of our generation–a wonderful thing as her teachings offer much to families and children.

Key aspects of her philosophy include nature study, short lessons, narration, real “living” books as opposed to textbooks, and the development of good habits.

Further Reading:

• 7 Characteristics of a Charlotte Mason Education (UPDATED)
• Ambleside Online
• Modern Miss Mason
• Simply Charlotte Mason
• When Children Love to Learn by Elaine Cooper

4. The Unschooling Method Defined

The word “unschooling” may sound frightening, especially if you are new to homeschooling.

Terms with essentially the same definition, but that may be less intimidating include delight-directed education, relaxed homeschooling, or interest-led learning.

Photo by Jesse Millan

Unschooling advocates believe that children are born with a natural curiosity and love of learning, and that this desire to learn will continue to grow and develop if it isn’t stifled.

This method of education isn’t about neglect – many households pursue an intentional type of unschooling lifestyle and find that it brings joy to their families.

Even if you believe you must cover the “basics” in certain subjects, you can still implement part of this philosophy by allowing your children as much freedom as possible in other educational areas.

As a mom who went from thinking unschooling was the most outrageous, scary concept I’d ever heard of–to a mom who loves relaxed homeschooling and implemented it as much as possible, I encourage you to check out the following links.

Further Reading:

• The Myth of the Uninvolved Unschooler
• Curious About Unschooling?
• The Beauty of Unschooling Kids with Special Needs
• What Do Unschooled Teens Do All Day?
• Teach Your Own by John Holt

5. The Classical Method Defined

Classical education has its roots in classic civilizations–much of it based on ideas with a Roman or Greek foundation.

The classical method focuses on the Trivium–three distinct stages children work through as they develop. Young children begin with the grammar stage, proceed through the logic/dialectic stage, and graduate to the rhetoric stage close to adulthood.

Key aspects of this philosophy include the importance of reading and discussing classic, living books and the study of classical languages like Latin or Greek.

Further Reading:

• Classical Conversations: An Introduction
• How We’re Teaching Our Kids to Read Classically
• The Classical Unschooler: Education Without School
• The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home
• The Well-Educated Mind: A Guide to the Classical Education You Never Had

6. The Literature-Based Method Defined

Literature-based homeschooling families use high-quality literature as the backbone of their curriculum. Many of the philosophies we’ve covered address the importance of using living books as a vital part of the educational experience.

Serious literature-based schooling advocates take it a step further and try to accomplish as many subjects as possible within the outline of a good story, believing this helps a child’s mind assimilate information.

Many companies publish reading lists by grade and age level. Other literature-based publishers organize the entire curriculum for you – making it easy to purchase and have delivered to your door an entire school year’s worth of learning and reading.

Further Reading:

• Curriculum Choices: Sonlight Explored
• THIS is the most important part of your homeschool day
• How to Read Aloud Every Day
• Oak Meadow Curriculum
• Sonlight Curriculum

7. The Montessori Method Defined

This educational method was developed by Maria Montessori (1870-1952), an Italian physician. In a Montessori setting, older and younger children learn alongside one another, which gives it a natural crossover to a homeschool setting.

Teachers give guidance and support, while providing access to a large array of learning materials. Children choose their activities and learn through seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling, touching, and movement. Knowledge is internalized in a natural, self-paced way.

Further Reading:

• Montessori at Home: 8 Principles to Know
• Homeschooling Benefits for Adolescence
• Living Montessori Now
• Guidepost Montessori
• Montessori for Homeschoolers

8. The Leadership Education Method Defined

Leadership Education has become more widely known as a homeschooling philosophy. Also called Thomas Jefferson Education or TJEd, it centers around the idea that children learn differently in different stages of life.

Drawing on the work of Jean Piaget and other educational philosophers, three main phases of childhood learning are defined and implemented: Core, Love of Learning, and Scholar.

Because this is more of a philosophy than a method, it’s easy to adapt many of the Leadership Education principles into any curriculum you may use. TJEd is one of the philosophies that resonated with me the most and characterized much of our family’s homeschool!

Further Reading:

• The 4 Phases of Learning in Leadership Education
• The 7 Keys of Great Teaching in Leadership Education
• Core Phase: Creating a solid foundation for ages 0-8
• The top educational goal for my 8-12 year-olds
• Leadership Education/TJEd Home Page

9. The Eclectic Method Defined

Few homeschooling families fit within the constraints of one method or philosophy, and that is one of the strengths of home education!

As I shared in this post on our journey, my family merged inspiration and ideas from Charlotte Mason, Literature-Based, Leadership Education, and Interest-Led Learning/Unschooling.

Don’t be afraid to pick and choose. The beauty truly unfolds as you find and discover what works for you and your children.

And as homeschooling parents, we get to watch the whole process. What an amazing privilege!

Is having these educational philosophies defined a help? Which of these methods have you implemented in your homeschool? If you’re just getting started, do any of these philosophies resonate with you?

What’s Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie’s quiz now and receive a free personality report to help you organize your homeschool based on what your type needs most!