homeschool Archives - My Blessed Mess

Time Saving Tips and Hacks for Homeschool Moms

03.20.2019 by myblessedmess // Leave a Comment

When I started homeschooling my kids, I had three kids ages 4,5, and 8. The oldest, my stepdaughter, attended public school a few blocks from our house. In the beginning I had only one K'er and a preschooler who wasn't quite ready for academics. A couple years later, I had a K'er and a 2nd grader with a baby on the way. Fast forward to today - I have two out of school, a high-schooler, one in upper elementary, a k'er, and an almost 2yo - plus two giant furbabies!

As the years have gone by, we have encountered many changes and challenges as our family has grown and I have learned a LOT along the way. While I still haven't figured out how to make more hours in my day or how to clone myself to get it all done (oh wouldn't that just make things so much easier), there are little things that make the load a bit lighter and our days (sometimes) run a bit more smoothly. I would love to share a few of my favorite tips and hacks for homeschool moms with you, wonderful reader, in the hopes something in my little list will be helpful to you, too!

Setting your Student up for Success with Victus Study Skills System

03.06.2019 by myblessedmess // 1 Comment

One of my top goals for my children is to teach them HOW to learn, rather than just fill them up with knowledge and facts. For this review I was sent a full set, covering grades K through college age, of the Victus Study Skills System to take for a test run. We were able to use the Elementary and Middle/High School levels. This is the first system of its kind I have ever come across in my fifteen years of homeschooling! I am excited to share with you why I was so impressed with this curriculum, what we loved about it, and what we didn't like.

What is the Victus Study Skills System?

This program teaches a systematic approach to study, not only introducing concepts, but also a way of thinking to your students. We all encourage our students to work hard and study so they will be successful learners, but what does that actually look like? I personally wasn't taught HOW to study when I was a student, and I would bet that you weren't either! This system remedies that problem and does an excellent job of equipping your child to study efficiently and effectively. Some of the topics covered are:

Learning styles/strengths
Goal setting
Time Management
Organization
Study environment
PQRST method
Listening skills
Note taking
Test prep

Why I Don’t Keep Homeschool Grades

02.15.2019 by myblessedmess // 2 Comments

Many long years ago, when I first started my homeschooling journey, our homeschool looked very much like "school at home". I used a textbook-style boxed curriculum, I graded every page of written work and kept meticulous records. I assigned grades and issued a report card every 9 weeks. I put a lot of pressure on my kids (and myself) to make sure they were doing things on the typical public school timeline, and keeping grades helped to show they were jumping through all those hoops.

We schooled this way for a few years. As I became more comfortable with home education and more knowledgeable about learning styles, educational methods, and how to foster real learning - our homeschool evolved. The way we "do school" now couldn't be further from the way things were done at the beginning of our journey! One thing I stopped doing was tracking and assigning grades.

Why not keep grades?

The Ultimate Homeschool Resource – (SchoolhouseTeachers.com Review) PLUS discount!

02.06.2019 by myblessedmess // Leave a Comment

As a busy homeschooling mom with kids of varying ages, I am always looking for resources that can make my days easier and benefit them all. Over the past few weeks, we've been enjoying reviewing the Ultimate Annual Yearly Membership from SchoolhouseTeachers.com. Let me just say there is SO MUCH INCLUDED in this membership! I won't be able to touch on all the wonderful, useful features, so I will focus instead on our personal favorites.

Overview - What's included?

SchoolhouseTeachers.com is an online educational resource for Christian homeschooling families, BY Christian homeschooling families. You will find self-paced, online courses and printable materials for preschool through high school, e-books, planning resources, an extensive video library, focused learning centers, and a whole area devoted to homeschool parent support - just to scratch the surface! They currently offer over 425 courses (both core subjects and electives) and are adding more every month! They offer both a monthly and a yearly subscription option.

Must-Have Tools for Homeschooling Families!

01.29.2019 by myblessedmess // 1 Comment

After homeschooling for over 14 years, I have accumulated a LOT of supplies. I have tried things throughout the years that I thought I would love, but ended up collecting dust. Then there are those items which I reach for daily. When starting out, it can be overhwhelming figuring out what the must have tools for homeschooling are and sifting through the many choices available. My hope is that this list might help both new and veteran homeschoolers alike! I will do my best to break these down by category for you. Read More...