Daily Life & Activities Archives - Simple Homeschool

4 Fun Ways to Enjoy Summer Homeschooling

Cait Curley — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 11:50:00 +0000

4 Fun Ways to Enjoy Summer Homeschooling ~
Written by Cait Curley

Our family just wrapped up a 3-day soccer tournament and the kids are prepping for their year-end piano recital. I need to sign my daughter up for the summer swim team this weekend and my oldest needs to decide which merit badges he wants to work on at Scout camp. My husband just brought freeze pops home from Costco and my youngest is working on a summer activity wish list.

Summer is here, you guys. We made it!

I’m ready to hop grab a slice of watermelon, hop in the hammock, and get lost in a delicious book. But, first… I have to figure out our summer homeschooling plans.

Summer Homeschooling Works Well For Many Families

As much as I would like to while away my summer hours reading in a hammock, my kids crave structure. Early in our homeschool journey, I tried taking the summer completely off and it made for rocky re-entry in September. I’ve learned that our family thrives when we maintain a little structure during the summer months.

Summer homeschooling works for several reasons:

Kids love routine.

Routines are important for children and teens. Predictable routines help kids to feel grounded and secure. Routines are especially helpful during times of uncertainty and change.
Routines help to keep children and teens busy.

I’m a huge believer in the value of boredom. My kids always do something creative after complaining of boredom. That said, I don’t want to spend my summer days listening to my kids whine about boredom. Adding a dollop of structure to summer days can help decrease the “I’m bored” whine factor!
No summer slide.

Honestly? I kind of hate the term summer slide, but we all know that those math skills can be a bit rusty come September. Sprinkling a little math throughout the summer can make September reentry a breeze!
Allows for time off during the year.

This is one of my favorite reasons to homeschool during the summer months. It allows for more time off during the traditional homeschool year. Feeling burnt out? Want to enjoy the winter holidays? Dying to take an impromptu long weekend? Year-round homeschooling allows for more space during the year.

There are many benefits to year-round, but summer homeschooling need not look anything like the rest of the homeschool year!

Homeschooling in the Summer Needs To Be Fun

Our summer homeschooling looks nothing like the rest of the school year. I want our summers to have plenty of white space and I want the learning opportunities to be fun for several reasons:

I need the break.

Homeschooling is hard work, and the past year-plus has been more challenging than in previous years. I want our homeschooling to be fun this summer!
My kids need the break.

I try to remember that when I feel like I need a break, my kids are almost always feeling the same. Kids need downtime, too!
The weather is better and we need to enjoy it.

Summer is hands-down my favorite season. I live in New Hampshire and summer is but a blink! Because of this, I want to soak up every last bit of our summer days.

Our summer homeschooling includes heaps of outdoor time, stealth learning, delicious books, and -of course- play!

4 Fun Ways To Enjoy Summer Homeschooling

I’m a firm believer that the very best ideas are often the most simple ones. Here are four super simple, super fun ways to infuse more play into your summer homeschooling:

Make your own bucket list

Summer bucket lists can be fun, but they often lead to feelings of pressure and overwhelm. I much prefer a Summer Idea List. The Summer Idea List is just that- a list of ideas. It’s not a to-do list. You’re not expected to tick off every box. Instead, this is a boredom buster. Did your teen just whine of boredom? Refer him to the list.
Coffee and Books

Reading aloud is the most important part of your entire homeschool day. In our family, we have a simple but beloved homeschool tradition called Coffee and Books. It’s as simple as it sounds! I drink coffee and read books to my children while they eat breakfast. I’m able to check off the most important thing early in the day and that feels pretty darn good.
Outdoor Games

We are gameschoolers, but board games do not need to be confined to indoor spaces. When the weather is gorgeous, we take our games outdoors! We love to play waterproof games in the pool or at the beach.
Unit Studies

I love unit studies! The summer months are perfect for getting lost in a long, leisurely rabbit hole. Whether you’re interested in backyard science or you want to get lost in a favorite author’s work, unit studies are a great way to sneak in some fun summer learning.

What will your summer look like?

Whether you’re eating your weight in watermelon and spending lazy days reading in the hammock, or if you’re homeschooling through those hazy hot and humid days, I wish your family a wonderful, playful summer!

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!

A Little House virtual field trip (UPDATED)

Jamie C. Martin — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 18:30:07 +0000

A Little House Virtual Field Trip ~
Written by Jamie C. Martin, editor of Simple Homeschool

As I’ve written before, the Little House books have influenced my life since I first read them as a little girl. I’ve read the entire series several times and have always had a dream – a dream that this year is going to come true!

I’ve always wanted to walk where Laura walked, see where she lived, and be inspired as a family along the way. Well, this summer it’s happening!

In June we’ll be heading west as a family – not in a covered wagon, but a minivan – to the Little House sites in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and South Dakota on a massive road trip.

I’m beyond thrilled to have the opportunity to do this as a family, but then I thought – why not take you guys along with me?

Of course, you won’t all fit in the minivan, but why not put together a virtual field trip so you can take your kids to Laura’s homes from your dining room or coffee table?

Ready? Let’s go!

A Little House virtual field trip

Stop 1. Pepin, Wisconsin

Books written about this site: Little House in the Big Woods

Head to Little House in the Big Woods on Google Earth

Laura was born in the Big Woods in 1867, and she describes this first childhood home in Little House in the Big Woods. The Ingalls lived here twice, and the memories Laura shares in the book actually take place after they returned from the Kansas prairie.

If you look at the satellite view, you’ll see that only a few trees remain, but there’s a replica cabin located at the site and a picnic area to hang out in.

Take a tour of Little House, Pepin:

(Click here for the video if you can’t see it below.)

Learn more about Pepin:

Stop 2. Independence, Kansas

Books written about this site: Little House on the Prairie

Head to Little House on the Prairie on Google Earth

Laura’s family moved here in 1869 and settled on land belonging to the Osage Indians, having received word that the land would soon be available for settlers. After a year of persevering through hardships and dealing with tensions between the Native Americans and settlers, the Ingalls were forced to leave Kansas.

Today a replica cabin sits on the site, furnished the way Laura described in the book. Pa’s hand dug well stands nearby as well.

Take a tour of the Laura’s little house as it looks today:

(Click here for the video if you can’t see it below.)

Learn more about the Kansas site:

Stop 3. Walnut Grove, Minnesota

Books written about this site: On the Banks of Plum Creek

Head to Walnut Grove on Google Earth (scroll up a little to see the original dugout site)

After leaving Kansas and spending a few years back in Wisconsin, the Ingalls moved to Minnesota in 1874 and lived in a sod house for the winter. Pa eventually built a house on the property (which Laura called “the wonderful house,” as it was the largest she had lived in at that point).

Both houses are gone, but Plum Creek–ah, that’s still there! I’m looking forward to taking off my shoes and wading in it, just like Laura did.

The site of the dugout has been marked, and Walnut Grove has a museum dedicated to Laura and the time period. The church bell that Pa donated his shoe money for hangs at a church in town as well.

Tour the site of plum creek and Laura’s home:

(Click here for the video if you can’t see it below.)

And take a walk on the banks of plum creek:

(Click here for the video if you can’t see it below.)

Learn more about the Minnesota site:

Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum, Walnut Grove

Stop 4. De Smet, South Dakota

Books written about this site: By the Shores of Silver Lake, The Long Winter, Little Town on the Prairie, These Happy Golden Years, The First Four Years

Head to Little House in De Smet on Google Earth

After suffering disappointments in both Minnesota and Iowa, where the Ingalls lived for a short time, the family decided to move further west so Pa could work for the railroad as it expanded through South Dakota. This ended up being their final move until Laura, Mary, Carrie, and Grace left home as adults.

De Smet is the site of the Long Winter, the site of Laura’s courtship with Almanzo Wilder, and the start of their married life together.

Tour the Little Town on the Prairie:

( Click here for the video if you can’t see it below.)

Stop 5. Malone, New York

Books written about this site: Farmer Boy

Head to Almanzo’s childhood home on Google Earth

Almanzo was born on this farm in 1857, and Laura shares his childhood story beautifully in her book Farmer Boy. His family lived here for nearly two decades, until crop failures forced them to move west to Minnesota.

Almanzo’s original home still stands, and has been restored as much as possible to the time period in which the book was written.

Tour Almanzo’s farm:

(Click here for the video if you can’t see it below.)

Learn more about Almanzo and his home:

Stop 6. Mansfield, Missouri

Head to Rocky Ridge Farm on Google Earth

All the Little House books were written from this location!

Laura, Almanzo, and Rose moved here in 1894 looking for a fresh start in farming. They transformed the rocky land they purchased bit by bit and spent nearly 20 years building the white farmhouse that is now a museum honoring the family’s legacy.

Years ago Steve and I had the chance to visit Rocky Ridge Farm on a road trip before having children, and I loved seeing Pa’s fiddle and Laura’s kitchen and parlor.

I’m standing at the site of the “Rock House,” which Rose (Laura/Almanzo’s daughter) built as a gift to her parents down the street from Rocky Ridge Farm. After living there a few years, they said it was “too fancy” for them and that they were homesick for the farm – so they moved back down the street!

Tour the Little House on Rocky Ridge Farm:

(Click here for the video if you can’t see it below.)

Learn more about Rocky Ridge farm:

I hope you enjoyed this Little House virtual field trip out west with Laura and me – a special thanks to Laura Ingalls Wilder, Frontier Girl for all of the wonderful video clips!

Head here to read all Jamie’s posts re: Little House – including the one after we returned from our trip!

First shared when my kids were 12, 11, and 10 ~ updated for current accuracy/information

“It has been years since I beat eggs with a fork or cleaned a kerosene lamp. Many things have changed since then, but the truths we learned from our parents and the principles they taught us are always true. They can never change.”~ Laura Ingalls Wilder, reflecting on her famous series

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 you need most!

A Homeschool Day in the Life Overview

Jamie C. Martin — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 15:05:00 +0000

For 15 years at Simple Homeschool we’ve been celebrating the diversity and uniqueness of homeschooling through our popular Homeschool Day in the Life series.

Simple Homeschool writers have shared a look at an average day inside their homes — whether they have one child or many; whether they love a certain curriculum or method or prefer to come up with their own way of doing things. If you’re looking for inspiration, you’re in the right place!

Read on and gather plenty of practical ideas you can apply in your own homeschool:

2025 Homeschool Day in the Life Series – (15th & final year!)

2024 Homeschool Day in the Life Series – (14th year)

2023 Homeschool Day in the Life Series – (13th year)

2022 Homeschool Day in the Life Series – (12th year)

2021 Homeschool Day in the Life Series – (11th year)

2020 Homeschool Day in the Life Series – (10th year of this series!!!)

2019 Homeschool Day in the Life Series – (9th year of this series)

2018 Homeschool Day in the Life Series – (8th year of this series)

2017 Homeschool Day in the Life Series – (7th year of this series)

Photo by Gillian King

2016 Homeschool Day in the Life Series – (6th year of this series)

Photo by Rick Harris

2015 Homeschool Day in the Life Series – (5th year of this series)

Photo by Yann Gar

2014 Homeschool Day in the Life Series – (4th year of this series)

Anne’s homeschool day in the life (with a 3, 6, 8, & 10-year-old)
Jamie’s homeschool day in the life (with an 8, 9, & 10-year-old)
Cheryl’s homeschool day in the life (with an 18-month-old & 5, 16, 17, & 18-year-olds)
Kara’s homeschool day in the life (with a 6 & 9-year-old)
Donna’s homeschool day in the life (with 11-year-old twins)
Diana’s homeschool day in the life (with a 4-year-old)
Amida’s homeschool day in the life (with a 3, 7, 12, & 15-year-old)
Kris’s homeschool day in the life (with a 12, 14, & 18-year-old)
Kari’s homeschool day in the life (with a 4 and 7-year-old)
Readers link up to share their homeschool days

Photo by St0rmz

2013 Homeschool Day in the Life Series – (3rd year of this series)

Amida’s homeschool day in the life (with a 2-, 6-, 11-, and 14-year-old)
Kris’s homeschool day in the life (with an 11-, 13-, & 17-year-old)
Jamie’s homeschool day in the life (with a 7-, 8-, & 9-year-old)
Hillary’s homeschool day in the life (with a 2-, 5-, & 8-year-old)
Lora’s homeschool day in the life (with a 10 months, 2-, 4-, 5-, 7-, 8-. & 8- year old)
Sarah’s homeschool day in the life (with a 12- and 15-year-old)
Jessica’s homeschool day in the life (with a 4-, 6-, 8-, 10-, 12-, and 15-year old)
Kara’s day in the life (with an 18 month, 4, 6, and 11 year old)
Rachel’s homeschool day in the life (with a 6- & 10-year-old)

Photo by Phani Kumar

2012 Homeschool Day in the Life Series – (2nd year of this series)

Amida’s Homeschool Day in the Life (with a 1, 5, 10, and 13-year-old)
Kris’s Homeschool Day in the Life (with a 16-, 12-, and 10-year-old)
Jamie’s Homeschool Day in the Life (with a 6, 7, & 8-year-old)
Renee’s Homeschool Day in the Life (with a 9, 10 & 12-year-old)
Hillary’s Homeschool Day in the Life (with a 7, 4 and 1-year-old)
Sarah’s Homeschool Day in the Life (with an 11-year-old and 14-year-old)
Rachel’s Homeschool Day in the Life (with a 6, 8, 12, & 15-year-old)

Photo by Luca Diggelmann

2011 Homeschool Day in the Life Series – (1st year of this series)

Heather’s Homeschool Day in the Life (with a 13-year-old)
Sarah’s Homeschool Day in the Life (with a 10-,13-year-old, & a Graduate)
Jamie’s Homeschool Day in the Life (with a 5-, 6-, & 7-year-old)
Donna’s Homeschool Day in the Life (with 8-year-old twins)
Amida’s Homeschool Day in the Life (with a newborn, 4-, 9-, & 12-year-old)
Heidi’s Homeschool Day in the Life (with a 4-, 6-, 9-year-old, & baby, too!)
Renee’s Homeschool Day in the Life (with a 8-, 9-, & 11-year-old)
Lora Lynn’s Homeschool Day in the Life (with a 2-, 3-, 5-, & two 6-year-olds)

Share your homeschool day in the life with us – one last time!

Jamie C. Martin — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 12:14:36 +0000

Share your homeschool day in the life 2025 ~
Written by Jamie C. Martin of Simple Homeschool

We’ve reached the end of our 15th and Final Homeschool Day in the Life Series!

Outside of my marriage and homeschooling/raising my kids, there are few things in my life that I’ve done for 15 years, so this feels like a milestone.

I hope you’ve enjoyed it, too–whether you have been following along for this season or for all 15!

In case you missed any of this year’s posts, here are the links again:

And if you’re curious, you can find all 15 of my own homeschool days right here, going all the way back to my very first in 2011.

Today it’s your turn to join in and share your homeschool day in the life, one last time!

Here’s how to take part:

If you’ve written about your homeschool day on your own blog/website, please leave a link to your post in the comments section of this post – find that right here.

Be sure to tell us what ages you’re homeschooling!

And if you don’t have your own website, please write the details of your day right here within our comment section. Then we can hop around and “visit” everyone.

Thanks so much for being a part of this series that has been so close to my heart all these years. I appreciate you all! xo

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!

Lusi’s Homeschool Day in the Life (with a 13- and 15- year old)

Lusi Austin — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 16:33:38 +0000

Lusi’s Homeschool Day in the Life (with a 13-, 15- year-old) ~
Written by Lusi Austin from That Homeschool Life

A note from Jamie: Since 2022, Lusi has been sharing her homeschooling life in Australia here, and her writing was an answer to prayer! I’ve learned so much from her as a mom with three graduates (and two more to come!). And I admire and look up to her gentleness with life in the midst of homeschooling with chronic illness.

One of my favorite posts she’s contributed is on Dealing with Post-Homeschooling Parental Guilt – so good! Lusi, thank you for sharing this final day in the life with us! I’m so grateful, Jamie xo

*****

Our 17th year of homeschooling started this week. We now have three kiddos who live out of home (all working full time); two still learning at home.

I now work remotely doing some part-time social media work. And next week I begin undertaking two-days a week of studying myself.

We have discussed how this year we will have a little more structure to help us fit everything in. But that ‘structure’ went out the window fast. On Monday, we got through one full day of learning (as we’d hoped) but by Tuesday night, I had all the signs of Covid. I tested positive the next day.

So instead of me sharing about how smoothly our year began, I decided to share what life often looks like around here (with so many compromised immune systems!): messy, unpredictable and real.

Lusi’s Homeschool Day in the Life (with a 13- and 15- year old)

MORNING

Normally we begin with devotional time and some read-alouds in the lounge-room, but today began with my 15-year old making me a coffee and bringing me some breakfast to bed.

Mr. 13-year-old slept in and later also tested positive for Covid. Miss 15 carried on with her chores and took on her brother’s chores so that the dogs and chickens would still be fed, which was so appreciated.

Mr. 13 climbed into bed next to me to show me his Design and Technology journal entry that he wrote yesterday.

He’s quite a reluctant writer, but he will write about things that interest him.We got out the laptop and he showed me the rolls of filament (he has been saving up for) to use on his 3D printer.

He double checked his calculations and then we placed the order together. He filled in the delivery details on the website himself and then wrote a follow up paragraph on completing the task. We printed off the order list, which he’ll also include in his Design and Technology journal.

Meanwhile, Zippi (15) carried on independently with her spelling list, some creative writing and reading. Zeeki (13) watched some Lego and Minecraft videos on a projector that he set up for fun, then listened to an audiobook in his room.

I worked on some of my current work-from-home tasks from bed and tried to give my body the rest it needed.

AFTERNOON

By this time, my lovely doctor had sent through my antivirals script and my hubby picked that up on his way home from work. I got up and heated up some chicken soup from the freezer (my grandmother’s recipe). It immediately made me feel comforted.

My hubby brought home electrolytes and some gluten-free chicken nuggets at my request which he popped in the air-fryer. So grateful for a caring family on days like this.

Mr. 13 completed a Duolingo lesson in Japanese, which he has just begun learning. Miss 15 completed her 146th day streak in her Spanish lessons.

EARLY EVENING

A storm was brewing. We went outside and looked at the sky darkening. As Miss 15 began to make homemade gluten-free dumplings for the family meal (her rostered night), her insulin pump alarmed.

This is a big part of our days – her having the time and space to manage her Type 1 Diabetes well. And she does. She made an adjustment in her pump and then went on with cooking dinner.

The gluten-free dumplings were amazing!

The kids spent a little time gaming, reading and then hopped into bed, while hubby and I watched a Good Doctor re-run. And that’s the end of my Day in the Life 2025!

Sometimes, things happen that are out of control, like Covid or other illnesses or a death in the family, but learning can still happen: learning to rest, to care, to connect.

All we can do is our best and that my friends, is enough.

You are enough.

Being together is enough.

Lusi x

My, how the days have changed:

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!

Sarah’s homeschool day in the life (w/ twin toddlers & a 3-, 10-, 12-, & 14-year old)

Sarah Mackenzie — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 17:45:28 +0000

Sarah’s homeschool day in the life ~
Written by Sarah Mackenzie of Read-Aloud Revival

A note from Jamie: Did all of you out there homeschooling littles think I forgot about you? Never! Even though many of our contributing writers currently have older kids, I wanted to reshare a post from our day in the life archives that might help some of you in the trenches with littles.

Enjoy this snapshot from Sarah Mackenzie’s homeschool – did you know Sarah was a contributing writer on SH for three years? Find all her posts here.

*****

This year we’ve got quite the crew:

14-year-old (8th grade) girl
12-year-old (6th grade) girl
10-year-old (5th grade) boy
3-year-old girl
2-year-old twin tornado boys … or as I’ve seen referenced elsewhere: twinados

5:38 am

My two little identical alarms run into my bedroom and wake me up. I miss the days of rising before my crew and having just a few minutes to myself, but this is not the season for it. The twins keep me running hard and long most days, so I sleep until they wake me.

The 3-year-old is not usually too far behind them. They pile on the couch under blankets and we do the early-morning-snuggle routine before getting started with first breakfast.

7:00
It’s time to wake the big kids. They have breakfast, and the toddlers settle in for second breakfast. Then I sneak off to shower while bigs entertain littles.

Big kids get ready for the day and do a morning job each (like emptying the dishwasher or taking out the trash), and I try to kinda-sorta tidy the kitchen in preparation for the day ahead.

Sarah’s homeschool day in the life (with twin 2-year-olds & a 3-, 10-, 12-, & 14-year old)

9:00
Time for school! I used to start our school day at 8. I’ve found my stress level has decreased significantly since I took the pressure off myself to start that early.

It seemed we could start 8 if (and only if) I was a drill sergeant, so now we start at 9 and I try not to bark orders.

We begin our day with morning time. In many ways, it’s the bread and butter of our school day. It’s where I immerse my kids in truth, goodness, and beauty. We all sit together to read literature, memorize scripture, and take a dip in the liberal arts – Shakespeare, composer study, picture study, or something of that nature.

This isn’t a picture from today, but lest you think our morning time is quiet, tame and orderly — well, I can’t have that. This is what morning time looks like at our house most days.

We read, memorize, and discuss, and the toddlers cause general ruckus and mayhem. Morning time is short, important, slightly stressful, and the best part of everyone’s day.

9:45

Twenty to thirty minutes later, we move into the next chunk of our day- something we call Morning Rotations.

Getting one-on-one time with each of my school-age kids can be tricky with so many toddlers mucking about. Morning rotations are how I make sure to get some good quality time with each child every day.

Each term, I choose a subject that my kids need focused 1-on-1 time for, and we do it during this time block (right now it’s writing for all three of my school-agers).

I simply take the child I’m working with into a separate room and we close the door. One of the remaining big kids is left to supervise and entertain the twins; the other reads and does preschooly things with the 3 year old. Every 30-45 minutes for the rest of the morning, we rotate.

One big kid works with me while the others watch the littles.

It’s a great system, if I do say so myself.

By noon, we’ve completed morning time and each big kid has had 30-45 minutes with me 1-on-1. #win!

12:00
Lunch. Then the big kids clean the kitchen, and I take the littles up for rest time. Naptime boycotts are in full force, so there’s not usually any real sleeping being done these days.

Regardless, the toddlers have to stay in their bedroom to play (and make a huge mess) to give the rest of us some peace to relax and read.

1:30
What happens now depends on which day it is. Most days, it’s time set aside for the big kids to work on their spiral notebooks.

The kids more or less do the work listed in their spiral notebooks on their own. These are co-op homework assignments and anything else they can do on their own, like practicing piano or typing, listening to their history audio book, or completing a notebooking page for science.

Basically, if it’s not part of our morning time and we aren’t doing it during our 1-on-1 time, it gets listed in the spiral notebook.

Two days each week, our math tutor comes during this time and teaches the kids their new lessons.

This has been a tremendous help as I am, quite frankly, not a great math teacher. He assigns their work for the rest of the week while he’s here.

On Tuesdays, friends come over to do a socratic-style history and humanities class. My brilliant friend Angela teaches this, and it is easily one of the best parts of our homeschool curriculum. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

(They’re having tea and conversation about the Boston Tea Party in this picture).

3:00-ish

Late afternoons afford the kids a bit of free time. They almost always spend it reading, though I do try to convince them that there are other worthy pursuits … like listening to audio books.

Actually, when the weather is nicer, I’ll often kick them outdoors, or load them all into the 12-passenger van and head to a nearby park. If it’s a day our friends come over for humanities class, we just hang out and play with them.

4:00

Around 4, it’s time to rally. The house is usually a disaster zone by now, so we start tackling it together, and then I pair toddlers up with big kids to play while I make dinner.

5:00
My husband comes home, and we eat early. Big kids have assigned after-dinner chores, my husband takes over the whole crew, and I head to my corner bedroom office to work.

I run a podcast and community for parents who want their kids to fall in love with books. It’s nearly a full-time job, and I do most of that work during evenings and weekends.

I’m always a bit giddy to get started.

I posted this picture last week on Instagram right after working for a couple of hours. You know what I’ve discovered this last year? That as an extrovert, working outside of my homeschool is a really, really important way to take care of myself and feed my joy- it gives me so much energy!

I used to feel guilty about that, but I’m learning not to.

On evenings like this one, I head upstairs until about 9 p.m. On the day I’m documenting this post, I spent my work time preparing talks for the four conferences I’m speaking at this year. Those’ll be here before I know it, and I want to be ready!

Usually when I’m working, I’m recording podcasts, creating master classes and resources, and working with my team to line up award-winning authors like David Macaulay and Avi for our membership families to meet at live online events.

That’s John Erickson of Hank the Cowdog fame at one of our Live Author Access events, answering the kids’ questions from the chatbox. How could I not love work like this?

It can be a real challenge to juggle the demands of a career with homeschooling, homemaking, and raising my passel of peeps, but I’ve found so much energy and joy in making it happen.

9:00
Before making some tea and grabbing a book, I’ll try to look over spiral notebooks one last time, draft the kids’ school lists for the next day, and then spend some time hanging out with Andy.

It’s very likely I’ll stay up too late.

And then it’s another day.

How the days have changed:

2015: Sarah’s homeschool day in the life (with twin 1-year-olds & a 2-, 9-, 11- and 13-year-old)

Debbie’s Homeschool Day in the Life (with a 14- and 15-year-old)

Debbie Douse — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:32:01 +0000

Debbie’s Homeschool Day in the Life (with a 14- and 15-year-old) ~
Written by Debbie Douse of An Adventurous Education

A note from Jamie: Debbie, I have always admired the heartfelt way you pour yourself into your children as a homeschool mum. I feel so blessed to have gotten to meet you three in person – a gift I’ll always treasure! Thank you for sharing one final day in the life with us as we wrap up this series.
xo, Jamie

Morning

I wake to the sounds of the birds singing and sunlight peeping through the cracks in the curtains. It’s 7:45am, late for me. I’m still recovering from a bad chest infection so I’m gifting myself the grace of sleep.

Normally, I’d be up at 6:30 and out running or heading off to an early CrossFit class – my latest obsession!

Instead, I opt for a slow morning of prayer, writing down my morning thoughts, and a chance to chat to my husband with hands wrapped around a hot cup of tea. Neither teen will be up for a while. I’m eternally grateful that homeschooling provides this flexibility to shift our entire day to suit their new adolescent need to sleep in.

By 9am, they’re both up and after a quick brekkie and shower, they’re ready to go by 9:30.

Debbie’s Homeschool Day in the Life (with a 14- and 15-year-old)

To Work…

Harry and I start with his economics. He’s planning on taking an exam (a GCSE) in this subject, along with maths, in the summer. This week, he’s studying globalisation and multinationals.

Initially, we work through a Kenyan case study. He answers questions and we discuss the companies mentioned, such as Unilever, and the brands they own. Today, I can relate his work to a real-life situation as my husband James’ company has just bought part of a French data company in order to enter the French market.

After a while, I leave Harry to read and summarise the next section.

Meanwhile Rosie has started on her English, as this summer she’ll sit exams in both Literature and Language. Today, she’s working through a practice Language exam paper, but with no time pressure. Before she tackles each longer question, we read the extracts together and discuss her approach, weaving in the techniques she’s learned over the last few months.

By 10:30am, I have space to focus on prepping lunch, our main meal of the day. Today though, my heart sinks as I realise that I’d optimistically planned beef stew. This takes 3 hours to simmer, and the meat is frozen.

This infection has knocked me off my game! So, I make a quick dash to the supermarket to get ingredients for a speedy chicken stir fry.

The next part of my morning is somewhat frenetic as I juggle cooking and helping the children.

Stirring the wok with one hand, my other searches for the economics answers on my phone so I can work through another case study with Harry. Briefly we’re interrupted by Rosie asking a question and in the corner, James is getting cross with the printer!

Please tell me you can relate to the chaos…?!

Lunch

By 12:15 though, we’re all lunching, and peace is momentarily restored. I love this part of our day where it’s just the four of us chatting. Today we share fun facts and my favourite is that it’s illegal to own just one guinea pig in Switzerland as they’re social animals and would get lonely!

After lunch, as it’s such a beautiful spring day, we go for a walk around the village. We chat about our upcoming trip to India. I explain how the 1947 Partition caused the greatest forced human migration in history.

Millions of Hindus fled to Delhi – one of the cities we’ll visit. Muslims in turn left the city for safety in newly created Pakistan.

Learning through travel is a key part of our homeschool and understanding the history of a place before you visit makes the experience that much more impactful.

Afternoon

Once home, Harry switches to maths, working on circle theorems, pretty much independently, for the rest of the afternoon. Every so often he takes little breaks, for example to try to fix the old ride-on-lawnmower, tinkering away with the engine – sadly to no avail!

Rosie meanwhile puts her writing skills into practice. She starts to craft a letter to her local Member of Parliament (MP) about an issue close to our hearts. There’s a new schools bill currently being debated in parliament.

If passed, it would substantially affect the freedom of home education in the UK.

For example, the new law means that a child with any form of special educational needs would not automatically be permitted to home educate. Instead, special permission would be required, in essence discriminating against these children.

We’ve read so many books about the oppression of minority groups and courageous individuals prepared to push back. This is Rosie’s chance to stand up and be one of the brave young voices fighting for the rights of the UK homeschool community. It’s a hard task though.

She has to park the emotion sufficiently to write a persuasive letter to her MP about her homeschool journey, how it has benefitted her, the impact of the new bill and how it could be amended. It takes her the rest of the afternoon, but it’s one of the most important tasks she’s ever done!

By 4:30 pm, they’re both done with their work for the day.

Passions

Harry and I head straight out to his evening cricket session from 5-8pm, listening to the excellent podcast – No Such Thing as A Fish – en route.

We’re a passion-led homeschool, so any opportunities to develop their passions are prioritised above all else. Harry’s dream is to be a fast-bowling cricketer for England.

He’s just signed his first contract with Kent Cricket Club, to be part of their Emerging Players Pathway, the very first rung on the ladder to playing professional cricket (but there’s a very long way to go!).

This evening, he has individual sessions to practise his bowling, batting and fielding skills. It’s followed by a specialised programme in the gym.

Back home and Rosie is following her own passion: acting. She’s joined a Zoom call with the writer of the National Connections play she’s currently rehearsing, called No Regrets.

The author talks to them about his journey in becoming a playwright and performer, offering advice for their own careers and a chance to ask questions about the play.

Evening

Later, she grabs a quick dinner and jumps on another fun call with her best friend, to chat, play games and write poetry together. James collects Harry from cricket, which leaves me with a free evening for once. I take advantage with a hot bath and my new brilliant book: City of Djinns: A Year in Delhi. Bliss! (afflink)

Once the boys are home, Harry showers and eats. He then nips off to paint his Lord of the Rings figures for the Middle Earth Strategy Battle game with which he’s currently obsessed!

By 9:30pm, we’re all exhausted, and head up to bed for a reading wind down!

It’s a full-on life this homeschool world of ours, but I’m conscious it’s partly coming to an end, with Rosie possibly going to school in September.

I’m trying – in amongst the chaos – to savour every moment with these precious children.

My, how the days have changed:

Debbie’s Homeschool Day in the Life (with a 13- and 14-year-old)

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!

Jamie’s FINAL homeschool day in the life (with a 17-, 18-, & 19-year-old)

Jamie C. Martin — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 15:36:32 +0000

Jamie’s (FINAL) homeschool day in the life (with a 17-, 18-, & 19-year-old) ~
Written by Jamie C. Martin in 2023, published in 2025

A note from Jamie: In January 2023 I wrote this draft, but never published it. That’s because my son Jonathan and I also recorded a homeschool day in the life podcast episode at the same time, and I didn’t have time to finish both.

Now, as a retired homeschool mom, I do! So enjoy this never-before-seen time capsule of Martin family homeschool history, a snapshot of our final year of official homeschool life from two years ago and my final homeschool day in the life post here on SH, having joined in all 15 years! xo, Jamie

Jamie’s FINAL homeschool day in the life (with a 17-, 18-, & 19-year-old)

My how the days have changed. Yet some things stay the same.

I can’t believe that I have two homeschool graduates and my “official” days of homeschooling are nearing their end. (2025 update: Um, they ended! )

I have found that having three kids so close in age brings a different pressure to this phase of life.

It comes from helping kids launch into their next season, even as I try to figure out what my next season might be. (2025 update: Still figuring that out lol!)

Our Current Morning Rhythm

In the morning, we gather around the breakfast table with whoever happens to be home.

Instead of reading Little House or Narnia, as we once did, I now read from a devotional or Guideposts magazine, which features short, inspirational stories.

We pray together, then whoever is at home has chores to do. Next I often find myself in the van driving someone to a part-time job or volunteer opportunity. (Our two special needs teens are unable to drive.)

Finding ways to create a meaningful life for all of us is my priority for this next phase. And in that regard, it’s not all that different from our homeschool days five or 10 years ago.

If Elijah (17) is at home, we will sit down to do lessons (reading & math) together. I have been teaching this child to read for ten years now and we have not reached fluency yet. To say this has been discouraging would be an understatement.

Now we’re beginning to focus on assistive technologies to help fill in the gaps, even as we also look into our public school transitions program, which would give him services until age 22. (2025 update: This has been the biggest blessing and best fit for his past two years!)

Our final official reading lesson before this amazing kiddo started our town’s public school transitions program

I continue to be grateful for the holistic view of education homeschooling gave us from the very beginning -even before having a clear picture of my kids’ special needs.

We always emphasized that each child should learn at his or her own pace. That each person has strengths and weaknesses. That life is about developing your potential while leaning on others’ support in areas where you need it.

Because of this approach, I know that all of my children are in a stronger position than they would have been in the traditional school system. Their self concept and their mental/emotional health has been as much a focus as their academic development.

I once assumed that after my kids had graduated, I would have hours of extra time. (Stop laughing!)

But the time I used to devote to homeschooling I now use to help kids research and fill out job applications, prep for interviews, apply to college, and fill out the piles of paperwork that result when you are the main educator of your children.

#truth

Time Out for Me

I’m so glad that no matter what stage my kids have been in, I have always taken daily time out to read, reflect, or journal. I’m grateful for the veteran homeschool moms who encouraged me to do this even when my kids were younger.

This often looks like sitting in front of the woodstove in the winter, having to remind a child or two that I want to talk to them…but not right now.

Sometimes, if all else fails, I still can be found closing myself in the bathroom or bedroom for a few moments of quiet. (One of the things that never seems to change!)

Guardian of the Books

I pride myself in being “guardian of the books,” even to my now young adults. I can often be found researching an engaging title while also encouraging them to find inspiring books for themselves.

Jonathan and I still do our Chapter a day Book Club, which gives us a connection point even when he is out of town as he has been on his gap year. He spent ten days solo in Los Angeles working on a lighting project and has another trip lined up.

Celebrating my boy home again after working on Team Lighting for the 2023 Super Bowl Half-Time Show! 2025 update: This is now the 3rd year he’ll be doing so!

It thrilled my heart around the Thanksgiving table when he shared that homeschooling has given him a unique perspective and the ability to develop his technical skills to a high level of expertise.

All three of my kids are currently employed! It’s been fun to see them find their way to first jobs that I know they will remember forever and to see them thriving and being challenged in their own unique ways.

It’s a thrill (and also stretching to my heart) to find new ways to support them as they take these steps of independence.

Elijah’s first job at Walgreens!

We continue to have expectations for those of us who spend a day at home, including helping around the house, cooking, reading, having some version of Bible/devotional time, as well as getting outside.

Taking walks with my older teens is a regular occurrence and also a lovely time to listen to their thoughts, ask questions, and hear their hearts.

As a family with one biological child, two internationally adopted children with special needs, and four nationalities represented among us, we’re definitely not the typical homeschool family.

Yet that’s part of the reason why we chose it. I am glad that at least so far, all three of the kids remain grateful for their education and feel that homeschooling has been the best fit for them. (2025 update: They still do!)

My only regret looking back: I wish I would not have worried quite so much.

Looking back to that mom I was 10 years ago, I wish I could wrap my arms around her and tell her that even though great challenges lie ahead, it’s going to be okay.

Today, it’s my role to believe that will also be true for the next 10 years.

I know with God’s faithfulness, it will be.

Check out ALL of Jamie’s Homeschool Days:

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Kari’s Homeschool Day in the Life (with a 4-, 6-, 15-, and 18-year-old)

Kari Patterson — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 11:00:44 +0000

Kari’s Homeschool Day in the Life (with a 4-, 6-, 15-, and 18-year-old) ~
Written by Kari Patterson of Sacred Mundane

(A note from Jamie: Out of the 15 years we’ve been doing this series, Kari has shared TWELVE homeschool days from her life with us! I’m so grateful for her voice on Simple Homeschool for over a decade and for this final day in the life she’s sharing with us. Thank you, Kari! xo, Jamie)

My goal this year was to find our new normal.

Like Amber, it’s been a doozy of a few years around here. Three years ago my mom had just passed, two years ago we were living in a travel trailer taking care of my dad who had leukemia, and last year we were making his hospice arrangements.

Oh, before all that was the pandemic. So yeah.

And while I can’t say I know what normal really is (is that even a thing?), here’s what a typical Tuesday looks like around here:

Kari’s Homeschool Day in the Life (with a 4-, 6-, 15-, and 18-year-old)

Morning

My first conscious thought is, “Ah, it’s Tuesday. I don’t have to get up,” accompanied by a ridiculous amount of happiness. Can anybody relate? I used to rise crazy-early but these days it’s like my body is making up for lost time. *smile*

I roll over and enjoy the not-getting-up.

We’re in an unusual window with our four where the Olders are old enough to be on their own school-wise, and the Youngers are young enough that we haven’t begun a super structured school routine.

Not going to lie, it’s nice.

When I emerge from my room it’s almost 8am. Heidi (15) is at the stove scrambling eggs, Justice (6) and Ben (4) are on the floor playing MagnaTiles and Lego, and my husband Jeff is in the corner chair reading. A fire is crackling in the woodstove, outside is a frozen blanket of frost.

It’s so idyllic I actually just stand and soak it in for a moment. As a mom you know these lovely quiet moments rarely last!

We also happen to be fresh off a wicked bout of Norovirus, so I look sadly at the coffee pot and spend a quick moment of silence lamenting that still, nothing sounds good. I pour a little, sniff it, sadly sigh, and set it down. Not yet.

I stand and stare at the contents of the fridge and at all the shelves in the pantry, baffled by how every single thing sounds gross, then realize it’s 8:12am and it’s Tuesday.

“Is Dutch up??”

Whoops. Yes, he has an alarm, but I’m not sure he remembered that his sister now has piano lessons before their Community College classes begin. We’re all still a bit off from this sickness.

I take the stairs two at a time up to his room and gently nudge him.

“Um, you guys need to leave in 8 minutes. How can I help you?”

He stirs, fairly comatose but still in good spirits. Two minutes later he’s dressed, backpack slung over his shoulder. Jeff and I band together to present him a breakfast and sack-lunch, tuck a liquid IV-spiked water bottle under his arm, and he and Heidi head out only five minutes late.

High School

Dutch (18) is taking his last few high school classes at our local community college. We’ve used a Diploma program through a local homeschool testing and resource center that utilizes a private umbrella school through which homeschool students can receive academic advising, plus diploma and transcript services.

We were thrilled to learn that he was just named Valedictorian for this year’s graduating class!

For high school, Dutch has taken a variety of online HSLDA courses, in-person classes taught through a local “school” for homeschool teens, community college classes, and independent coursework. This hybrid approach has worked well for him.

Heidi (almost 16) is enrolled in Baker Early College, a charter school that allows her to get her high school diploma and Associates Degree at the same time. She is now taking all of her classes at our local community college, so this works out well for rides, as they are on campus at the same times each week.

This charter school also organizes regional activities (roller skating, escape rooms, a prom) for its students (and each can invite one other non-Baker student). She has quite a few theater friends in this program, so she loves that they can enjoy these group outings together, all provided and sponsored by Baker.

Typically every Tuesday morning, Jeff takes the little boys to visit a dear couple in their late 80’s/early 90’s, who were friends of my parents and I have quiet hour to read my Bible and pray. #luxury

But since we were so recently sick, Jeff calls to say they’ll play it safe and wait until next week. He heads to his office (he works from home on Tuesdays) and the Littles and I begin our day.

Daytime

Our days don’t have a lot of structure at this point as I’m honestly just enjoying the luxury of not having to be super-structured. Every day we do an assortment of laundry and chores, cook meals, go for a walk outside, do our IEW curriculum, play games, and read lots and lots and lots of books.

We’re at the reading stage where I read regular books and Justice hops in with words here and there, or he reads Easy Reader books and I hop in with words here and there.

And Ben hops in and repeats whatever we’re saying so as not to be left behind. *smile* Justice also loves to write, and we occasionally work on our “Letter Lessons,” memorizing character traits and verses.

Somewhere mid-afternoon the teens arrive back home. Dutch makes a quick turnaround to get back into town for wrestling practice. Heidi begins homework, or practices piano and rehearses for Anastasia, the current theater production. In the late-afternoon the boys and I clean up and I let them watch a short Lego video on the iPad while I gather my wits and start dinner.

It’s rare they are all in one frame!

Evenings

I’m grateful our days are slow because our evenings are pretty full. Tuesday nights Heidi and I head to Bible Study, then she takes a late-night ballet intensive class.

We don’t get home until almost 11pm, so it was a good thing I slept in! *wink*

Thank you for following along on our day. If you have any thoughts or questions about having Bigs and Littles, feel free to drop a line below!

My, how the days have changed:

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!

A Day in the Life of a Waldorf Kindergarten

Sarah Baldwin — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 17:35:04 +0000

A Day in the Life of a Waldorf Kindergarten ~
Written by Sarah Baldwin of Bella Luna Toys

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.

Originally published Feb 2011 ~ photo by Sarah Baldwin

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!