I'm beginning my fifth year of homeschooling and wanted to address some of your FAQs. I don't believe there is one right way to educate our children, and I never want anyone to feel shamed for choosing an option beyond homeschooling. 

That being said, you all often ask questions so I hope having answers in one place is helpful. Let's dive in!

SEE THE COORESPONDING VIDEO HERE!

How old are your kids?

They're 10 (4th grade), 7 (2nd grade), 5 (pre-k-- we decided to wait to send him), 2, 1

What form of homeschooling do you do? 

We do a hybrid. Our school-aged kids go to a tutorial two days a week and are home three. Their tutorial covers Science, History, Latin, Art, and some Language Arts. I'm responsible for Math, Language Arts, and the work our tutorial sends home.

There are pros and cons to this format. I don't have to come up with much of their curriculum. I'm not the only one watching their education so it feels like less pressure. They have other incredible adults loving on them. They spend time with friends they adore two days a week. Their school has activities like cross country, theater club, etc. 

But, this also means we're also responsible for schoolwork that I may not choose on my own. (I see you, Latin!) And sometimes the work load is more than I want- especially for the upper grades.

Why did you choose to homeschool?

There are a few reasons, but the biggest is time. Time to be together, to learn skills that we may not have space for otherwise, to practice forgiveness, to foster deeper sibling relationships and relationships with people beyond our peers, etc.

I'm not opposed to the public school system in theory (I actually went to schools in the school system my kids would be zoned for!), but I don't think the traditional school format is ideal for little ones-- especially boys. I long for our kids to enjoy learning and to know how to learn in a way that works for the personality and skill set God has given them. For our boys moving around, being outside, exploring, and being very tactile has been crucial. 

We've always said one year and one child at a time, but my hope is that we'll at least be able to homeschool until 3rd grade. It's an immense privilege, this I know. I'm very grateful for the opportunity! 

What curriculum do you use? 

We currently use The Good and The Beautiful for Math and Language Arts. We tried Right Start Math (loved it but too time consuming) and Math U See (not my kids' preference). We've also used All About Reading for LA, which I'm a big fan of. We may go back.

Our tutorial chooses the books we need to buy for the subjects they lead. It's often living history books, fun science reference books, and great novels. 

What are your must haves? Do you use a specific room? 

I originally set up a school space, but found us migrating to the kitchen more often than not. Now, I usually have one child at the kitchen island and one at the kitchen desk (which is also where I keep our supplies). I can talk with both of them while my other children run around the rest of the house. 

I've become more minimal as we've gone on. Here's a collection of some of our most-used items: Good pencils and a sharpener, an organizational system we can keep up with (one desk organizer for each kid), a family computer we can use together as needed, and a way to outline what each kid needs to do each day. 

A simple spiral notebook seems to work best for keeping us on track. I jot down their daily assignments, which takes me just a few minutes, and they mark them off as we go.

What do you do with your kids who aren't in school yet? 

This is the hardest part of homeschooling for me. This year, our 5 and 2 year old will go to pre-school two days a week when my oldest two are home so that I can focus more on them. Everyone is home one day a week, which is LOUD, but the kids love being together. I know we won't get as much formal school done on that day, so I plan ahead with a lighter load.

My 1 year old will be home full time, coloring on her brothers' work, making messes, and learning beside them. It's chaotic, but also very sweet. 

I remind myself that God knew what our family would look like. He allowed us to have these ages at this point in time. We're all learning such valuable lessons far beyond math!

What do you do when kids have a bad attitude about school? 

This has been a pain point for us so we're trying something new this year-- asking my husband to begin the day for us. Before school starts, he reminds the boys what school is for, how God is shaping them into men, how loved they are, what a privilege it is to stay home together, etc. They pray, listen to hype music, and prepare their minds. So far, it's been such an improvement!

What's one piece of advice for homeschooling moms? 

Value relationship over results. "Connection over completion" is often what chant to myself. Which, let me admit, is so very hard for me. I love working through a good checklist! But there are days your kids won't want to do school. They'll spin on the floor, meltdown, give you less than best effort, etc. What a beautiful thing to be able to teach them how to work through their emotions, find ways to regulate, change plans, and move forward together. 

I'll also add: Know your WHY. It will really help in hard moments. Sometimes, my hardest moments are knowing I'm missing out on being with friends who are together during our school day or giving up my "me" time. Take these concerns to the Lord, ask Him to remind you of why your family made this decision, and to comfort you. And know you can always adjust down the road if needed!

Do you have a school rhythm? 

YES. I am allll about rhythms. Our kids always have to brush their teeth, get dressed, clean up their room, and prep for school. If they're home, that means getting out their work, pencil, and water. If they're going to school, that means prepping their backpack. 

After Robert has done their hype routine, I ask them to look at their spiral notebook (see above). They're learning how to work independently, which does not come naturally to them at all. We're learning all kinds of skills over here :) But I'm grateful for a safe space to do it! 

How do you care for yourself without the "break" of sending kids to school? 

Whew! Some days, it really is a lot. I get overstimulated by loud noises and messes, which has been good for me to notice and name and work out with the Lord. Don't assume all homeschooling moms are perfectly patient and calm. I'm certainly not! But God is so good to provide peace when I ask for it, even if it's just internal. 

How I begin my day is very helpful here, too. Before kids wake up, I prayer walk, workout, and spend time rooting myself in God's Word. I drink deeply from the Well of Life and eat Daily Bread so that I'm nourished for my family. 

Additionally, I often tell my kids that I need a break to be the best teacher and mom I can be. I go sit in my room for five minutes, just like I encourage them to do when they're feeling overwhelmed. They turn on music, we all reset, and then come back together.

As they get older, I'm also letting them make and clean up their own lunch while I take some time to do something life-giving for myself (which may include necessary house work or reading with a little one). 

Verses you rely on? 

Ahh, good question! I have a product coming for this soon! In the meantime...

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. -Psalm 121:1-2

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. - Galatians 6:9

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. -Colossians 3:23-24

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. -1 Thess 5:11