• All this & Dyslexia, too

    The worst kind of Shiny New Curriculum fail happens when you’ve dedicated time, energy, money, and hope to a new program to help your struggling learner. I know I’ve lived it. It burns. And in the midst of recovering, recalibrating, rebuilding, and planning sneaks in doubt and defeat. A little voice that nibbles on a homeschool mama’s heart and tells you can’t handle all this and dyslexia too. (feel free to replace your own acronyms or labels.) Getting back on the homeschool horse seems more than daunting. But you can do it! Bury your Guilt I know you’ve got it. Homeschool mama guilt. Shake it off. Kick it to the…

  • Planning for a Shiny New Year

    You’ve survived another year of homeschooling. Maybe it didn’t work out just like you planned. Perhaps there’s an unopened box of latin grammar sit scornfully under your desk. Or maybe you pushed so hard you lost all touch with who your kids really are. Thank the Lord for new beginnings. It’s time to get a fresh plan for a shiny new year. My Disclaimer! I am not a color coding – down to the second planner. I admire and sometimes envy those that are but I am not. I like to keep things simple and easy to see from a glance. Check out my video on record keeping to see…

  • Shiny New Curriculum Rebound

    Whoa there Mama! Stop! Don’t pick up that new catalog. Put down your credit card and shut off your computer… well after reading this post, of course. Don’t give in to Shiny New Curriculum Rebound. Don’t bounce from burnout or blasting full steam ahead into another program. Reboot, recalibrate and focus on rebuilding before you find yourself trapped in the next Shiny New Curriculum Bomb. Reboot After mourning the failure of whatever SNC you attempted, it’s vital to take time to reboot. Refresh your spirit. Dive into personal time with God. Not deep intensive study, unless that’s what He’s leading you to do. No, the open the book, color the…

  • Shiny New Curriculum Fail

    It looked so good online. Your friends raved about it. You researched, scrimped and saved to afford it. You applied it to your homeschool and followed every iota of each lesson plan. So why are you sitting among torn pages and broken hopes? Why did the Shiny New Curriculum (SNC) fail you? Are you just that terrible a teacher? Are your kids less intelligent than you thought? How come it works for everyone else but you? Sounds like we’ve walked through similar seasons. Let me give you some hope and few tips to get you through the Shiny New Curriculum Blues. Mourn & Move on It may seem like your…

  • Year in Review Printable

    Yay! The school year is done! YES! Celebrate! But before you jump into planning next year, take a moment and look back. Somethings work and somethings didn’t. Here’s a printable to help you look back and write down your year in review. Print one out for your overall year. Then print one for each student. 🙂 Be on the lookout for my blog series: What to do when the Shiny New Curriculum Fails. I hope you like it. As always: I’m cheering you on!

  • Bridal Shower Books

    I remember being a young, naive bride to be working the cash register at a local store. A newlywed customer rented a few videos and spilled the wisdom of six months of marriage. “It’s hard work” I remember rolling my eyes and uttering back in my wisecracking fashion, “If it is real love it shouldn’t be.” The wife huffed, returned my eye rolling, and left the counter shaking her head. Oh, the ignorance of inexperience and the wisdom of hindsight. Less than a few weeks into my own marriage and I was on my knees begging God and anyone who would listen for help. These are the books that guided…

  • Patience in Trials

    Waiting Bites! Especially during seasons of trials and hardship. Patience is the last thing I want to pray for when fighting through a battle. How about you? Dive into the 2nd part of Romans 12:12. BTW- I did not intend to shoot this video sideways. And immediately after shooting I walked into the kitchen to find my husband wading in the water gushing from our suddenly dysfunctional sink drain.

  • Reading with Your Mom

    So you’re all grown up and growing with your girl. But learning happens for an entire lifetime. Don’t forget to read and grow with your own mother. Here are some books I’ve read with my Mom and some I’d like to read with her. Love Comes Softly In 9th grade I needed a book for a book report. I didn’t want just any book. This was the book my mother handed me. I loved it! It was romantic without being mushy and adventurous without being unreal. I still love this book and it still offers conversation starters for my mom and me. Helen’s Babies This heartwarming quick read demonstrates a…