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Checklist and tips for the end of the homeschool Year clean out. When it’s time to clean up your homeschool room/area before you can enjoy summer break, follow the checklist and tips.

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End of the School Year

It is almost that time of year. Your reaching the end of that math book. You and your kids are feeling the end is drawing near to your homeschool year. For those of us that follow a traditional school schedule, May represents the drawing near of school ending and the beginning of summer. I am all ready to start getting rid of things that I will no longer need.

It’s time to pack up the curriculum and move onto summer. It is a much welcomed time for our family. We homeschool with a lot of pizazz and go full force, but there is something about May that makes us ready to “ring the school bell” one last time. We are ready for summer. Trips to the mountains, beaches, museums, parks, friends houses…. Anything but the routines of the school year.

Here Comes Summer!

One of my favorite aspects of the school year ending is purging and cleaning out our homeschool goodies. Piled in our home is nine months of art projects, math worksheets, manipulatives, books that are now too simple, dioramas, “inventions”, old dried out glue, finished curriculum, broken crayons, dried out markers, scraps of papers, oh my crazy list of too much school stuff could go on and on.

These things need to get out of my house and into the donation bag, the trash can, or up for resell on Ebay. I welcome the feelings of joy that come from the clear out! Sometimes it is not easy to know where to start

I put together this summer homeschool cleaning list for those of you who like a little bit of direction and that oh so good feeling of checking off a list. Print it up, put it on a clipboard, and begin the summer clean-out of your homeschool room (or cabinet).

Get your Free Homeschool Summer Cleaning Checklist Here

I don’t know about you, but cleaning seems much more rewarding when I can check items off a list! It just feels good, doesn’t it? Having a checklist for some reason makes me feel more productive

Yearbooks, Memory Books, Portfolios, OH MY!

Keeping a memory book has been my favorite addition to our homeschooling. We work on it throughout the year. We add pictures and collect our favorite work samples. My children always enjoy looking through them and sharing them with grandparents and friends. I wish I would have started sooner. But I guess it is better late than never.

In regards to portfolios, I have never kept an official one. What I do is have a file folder for each child where I place additional work that they are proud of. For Science and History, I have always kept art notebooks where we place all of our corresponding projects (that is for another post however).

Here is a link to the article on memory books that you mind find helpful.

Materials and Supplies List

What Do I Do With School Materials That I No Longer Need?

There are so many options when it comes to leftover curriculum and books. Below is a list of options for you:

Give the curriculum away!

Are there any other homeschooling families that may be in need of the curriculum that you used with your children? Some families struggle to afford curriculum, so passing it on to them can be a true blessing.

Sell your USED curriculum

I often sell my used curriculum on Ebay.com. Listing it during the summer months is best because that is when other homeschool families are looking to get their curriculum for the next year. Your buyers are saving money by purchasing used curriculum and you are able to make money to purchase your new curriculum (or used :-))

Anther great place to sell your used curriculum is a yard sale or to a group of other homeschool families. You can organize a used curriculum sale and trade with one another.

Donate Your Used Books and Curriculum to Your Local Thrift Store

Get a tax deduction by itemizing your donations to your local thrift store.

Recycle Your Used Curriculum

If the curriculum is consumable, then it may be best to recycle it.

The Difficulty in Cleaning

One area where we continue to struggle is parting with art projects. My daughter who is super artistic gives special attention to the art she creates. Tossing any of them is not easy for her. I do encourage her to only keep her favorites, but I am allowing for slow growth in this area. Taking pictures of her creations does help. I do forget to put the pictures in her memory books, however.

Let me know of tips or tricks you have to cleaning up your homeschooling year and getting ready for the summer.

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If you are anything like me, planning for school (or anything really) is a highlight! Nothing brings me more satisfaction than filling in boxes and writing in my plans for school and for our year. I LOVE PLANNING!

“This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link. Please see my disclosure for more details.”

Simple Homeschool Planner

I just love the simplicity of this planner. I created this to include the basics of what a homeschooling mama would need to keep organized as she homeschools her children. Print it up and organize it in a way that suits you.

What is included in this freebie:

Front Cover
Page 2: Planning out your Educational Purpose and Mission
Page 4: Growing in your knowledge as a homeschool mom
Page 5: Child Information page. Use this to help your child achieve their educational and
personal goals, encourage habits, etc. Keep track of their curriculums as well.
Page 6: Blank Chore Chart
Page 7: Blank Assignment Chart
Page 8: Blank monthly planner. Print multiple copies of these.
Pages 9-10: These pages are your weekly lesson plans for your homeschooling and I think the
most important. Print up the corresponding number of weeks that you will be homeschooling.
You may want to print these up separately and print them Front and back so that they lay
nicely in your planning book.
Page 11: This is a Monthly planning page for all subjects. Having this on one sheet, allows you
to see how your subjects coincide for the month.
Page 12 : Lesson Planning Page. Use this page when you have your own lessons you want to
plan out and teach your child.
Page 13: Master Read Aloud book list to help you keep track of the books that you are
reading
Page 14: List your favorite websites here
Page 15 : Note taking page

Supplies to Help You Plan For Your Homeschool Year

I love having nice pens and paperclips to help me plan and organize for my year. Here are my amazon choices.

HP Paper Printer | 8.5 x 11 Paper | Premium 32 lb | 1 Ream – 500 Sheets | 100 Bright | Made in USA – FSC Certified | 113100R

SHARPIE Felt Tip Pens, Fine Point (0.4mm), Black, 4 Count

Samsill Earth’s Choice, 1-Inch Durable D-Ring View Binder 4 Pack, USDA Certified Biobased, Eco-Friendly, Boho Assortment

Avery 8-Tab Binder Dividers, Write & Erase White Big Tabs, 1 Set (23078)

Swingline 3 Hole Punch, 20 Sheet Capacity Three Hole Puncher 3 Ring, Paper Punch, SmartTouch Low Effort, Black & Silver (74133)

Some Suggestions for your Minimalist Planner:

I suggest printing up this planner on a high quality paper and binding it or placing it in a 3-ring binder with tabs to separate sections.

The Perfect Minimalist Homeschool Planner was designed with the busy homeschool mom in mind. I know what it is like to worry about all the tasks of home, a small business, and homeschooling. It helps to have a simple way to plan out the curriculum you are using and lessons needed for your child.

Looking for a more detailed planner?

Get the free Charlotte Mason Inspired Planner by subscribing today.

Looking for a Unit Study Planner?

If you are a homeschool mom that enjoys digging deep into subjects with your kiddos, you may find that this Unit Study Planner is just what you need to keep your unit study focused planned and organized. This Homeschool Unit Study Planner is available for Purchase in my TeachersPayTeachers and Etsy Stores.

NOW…. For your Free Minimalist Homeschool Planner. Simply Subscribe today and receive your FREE PDF Download.

Get the Free Minimalist Homeschool Planner and Get Organized Today!

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It is a new year, try keeping your homeschool year planned with this Perfect minimalist Homeschool Planner.

Why should I use a planner?

Using a planner in your homeschooling helps you to keep focused and on track. While we don’t always complete everything that we write down in our planners, it still helps us meet both short term and long term goals.

Join my mailing list for this limited time offer for the Perfect Minimalist Homeschool Planner.

14 amazing pages to keep you organized in 2023 and it is FREE!

How do you keep organized and ready for teaching at home? Do you have any tips or recommendations for other homeschool families?

Are there any suggestions that you have to make this minimalist planner even better?

Thanks again for stopping by!

IF you are new to homeschooling you may enjoy this post about the best books for homeschool moms!

You may also like:

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(actually both moms and dads can benefit greatly from these great homeschooling books :-))

When you choose to homeschool your children, questions race through your mind. LOTS OF QUESTIONS. Where do I start? How can I actually do this? Am I crazy? Will I mess my kids up? These questions are especially strong when you do not have a supportive family or friends and haven’t been raised in a culture where homeschooling is acceptable. Turning to books by respected authors in the homeschool community is helpful when you are trying to find answers to your questions.

I came from a background that didn’t think homeschooling was a good idea. Homeschooling first came onto my radar at church, when for the first time I actually met some homeschoolers and their. They were some of the most kind, confident, smart, and all around amazing kids I had ever met. At the time, I was teaching in a public school. In my mind, public school was the only way to go. Yet, when I started getting to know the homeschool families and talk with them about their “whys” and “hows”, the idea of homeschooling seemed really amazing to me for the first time. These same families recommended a couple of books to me to help answer my many homeschooling questions.

“You’re going to WHAT?!?!”

Fast forward several years… We made the decision to homeschool our children. I heard it all after that announcement and for years after. There were the discouragers, the naysayers, the “know it alls,” that questioned our decision to school our children at home. So, I was thankful for the encouragement I received from friends and I was also thankful for the vast information and encouragement I received from books. I devoured as many homeschooling books that I could get my hands on and many of them are in my list of 8 best homeschooling books for homeschooling moms.

Books are an amazing resource for homeschool families. They inform us, encourage us, and keep us going when we are feeling like giving up. Nothing beats a good book and a cup of coffee! I plan to continue to add to my list of best books for homeschooling as I keep reading more and more from authors that I respect.

While life is busy as a homeschool mom, we need to make sure that we get time to study and prepare not only our minds, but our hearts to teach and lead our children. Great books help us do just that!

While I read less during the school year due to busyness with my children and the fact that we read aloud a lot as a family and let’s face it, I get tired; I find that during breaks and in the summer, I do a lot of reading for myself. I keep a notebook with space for notes for each book that I am reading. I underline and highlight my books as well. My kids know that I am building myself up as their teacher when I am reading books about homeschooling.

I think that it is also a great example to your child when they see you reading to grow in your knowledge of something. Modeling this idea will encourage them to be lifelong learners. It also shows that parents don’t know everything and that we humbly need to seek out information and truth.

Here is my list of the 8 best homeschooling books that I recommend for moms:

The Homeschool Mom Booklist: The 8 BEST Books to Prepare for Homeschooling

The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home by Susan Wise Bauer

Actually ANYTHING by Susan Wise Bauer that I have read has been utterly fantastic! I have many of her books. What fascinates me about her is her intellect. This woman is brilliant! She was homeschooled herself and homeschooled her children as well.The Classical Learner is an amazing reference book for any homeschool family. I do not consider myself a strong intellect. I wasn’t taught classically. I have read very few of the classical pieces that classical education recommends, however the encouragement that Susan gives to someone like me, is that I can learn how to read difficult books such as…

You can find Susan Wise Bauer’s website by clicking here.

Consider This: Charlotte Mason and the Classical Tradition by Karen Glass

Again, anything by Karen Glass is worth your time to learn from. She has a brilliant mind and is great at explaining how classical education and Charlotte Mason are intertwined. While I am not a Charlotte Mason Purist, I tend to take many of my educational philosophies from her ideas. Karen expounds on Charlotte Masons philosophies in a brilliant, yet understandable way. I have read this one twice and refer to it often. I have given copies of this book away to friends because I thought it was so excellent.

You can find Karen Glass’s website by clicking here.

Rethinking School: How to Take Charge of your Child’s Education by Susan Wise Bauer

Rethinking School is a great resource for parents that are homeschooling their children and for parents of public school children as well. It has a plethora of information as to how as a parent you are in control of your child’s schooling and education. She challenges many of the widely accepted ideas about education. Like I mentioned earlier this woman is brilliant and she writes in such a clear and concise way. While she does cover a lot of public school issues, I think that it is important to understand what our rights as parents are in education. Plus it is a great book you can recommend to a friend who is struggling with their child in the traditional public school classroom. Here is a quote from the book cover: “Caught in this system, far too many young learners end up discouraged, disconnected, and unhappy. And when they struggle, school pressures parents, with overwhelming force, into ‘fixing’ their children rather than questioning the system.” WOW!

Living in a state that loathes homeschooling and charter schools (basically anything that challenges the traditional role of public education), I found this book to be quite helpful when discussing why I choose to homeschool rather than send my children away to the institution of school. You can even recommend it to those family members that give you a hard time about homeschooling. (Hmmm. Just a thought!)

Home Learning Year By Year: How to Design a Homeschool Curriculum from Preschool through High School by Rebecca Rupp

This is a great reference book for the new and veteran homeschool mom. Rebecca Rupp wrote this book as a template to follow as you plan instruction for your children. I like many of her book recommendations and advice on what is appropriate to teach at each grade level. It is written in a very reader friendly way. This is a good resource for a parent who likes to design their own curriculum for their child. It covers Preschool all the way to High School. Each grade level is broken down by subjects such as math, language arts, history, and science. While I use this periodically as a reference, it is not completely what guides my instruction.

Best Homeschool Encouragement Books for Moms

Here are a couple of the books that have encouraged my soul when it comes to homeschooling:

Mere Motherhood: Morning Times, Nursery Rhymes, and my Journey Towards Sanctification by Cindy Rollins

and

A Handbook to Morning Time by Cindy Rollins

So, I am combining the Mere Motherhood book and handbook into one section. What I have pictured below is my handbook to morning time. It is marked up, filled with post-its, and one of my favorite references. (I gave my original book away, so I need to buy another copy, lol)

Mere Motherhood (the original book, not the handbook) is one of the only homeschooling books that has made me cry. And, by the way, I would not say that I am a big crier when it comes to books. Cindy Rollins is an amazing writer and her book was one of the most beautiful, encouraging, and inspirational books that I have ever read about homeschooling. I think it goes down as one of my favorites :-).

I had never heard of “morning time” or its benefits until I read this book. I was at a homeschool convention when I randomly came across this book. I liked the cover and what the first couple of pages had to say, so I purchased it not really knowing what it was about. I am so thankful I did.

Her Morning Time Handbook has helped me to implement a Christ-centered morning time so that we are focused on what is most important to us. This book by far has changed my thinking about how important this consistent morning time is. I highly recommend this amazing homeschooling book by an amazing woman and author.

For the Children’s Sake: Foundations of Education for Home and School by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay

This is a very gentle and warm book to encourage the mother in why and how she educates her children. This is a Christian book and therefore gives Christian principles that should guide educating our children. The experiences that you give your child should be rich, stable, and filled with joy and their education should be built around that. The principles of this book can be applied to all types of education. The goal of your education should be to provide a pleasant child-centered learning experience in your homeschooling (or any education).

The Call of the Wild and Free: Reclaiming Wonder in Your Child’s Education by Ainsley Arment

I checked this out from the Library! I was so excited to see it there. Usually my public library does not have homeschooling resource books, so I end up buying all of them. I will eventually purchase this one for myself at some point, but for now, I am happy to get it from my library.

The philosophy of a Wild and Free is to allow your children to experience the adventure, freedom, and wonder of childhood without being confined to a rigid system that values who they are. This book is very practical and gives a lot of insight, wisdom, and encouragement to the homeschool family.

This has started an entire movement that I believe has grown exponentially in the last couple of years. They also have their own magazine that you can subscribe too as well as other books in their collection.

You can find the Wild and Free Website by clicking here.

I like to hold on to the books I love. I re-read many of my favorites and eventually I give them away to other mothers or parents who are new to homeschooling.

The 8 Best Books Every Homeschool Mom Should Read

I am so thankful for the other homeschool parents that have made it to the other side and for writing in a way that educates gently and encourages greatly. Thank you fellow home educators for paving the way for us newbies and giving us the encouragement we need!

If you are a new homeschooling mom, check out this article, “14 Helpful Tips for the New Homeschool Mom.”

On My Future “Books to Read” List

These are the books I have in my personal reading basket. I look forward to reading them in the near future and gleaning from them! Have any of you read these books? If so, what did you learn from them?

The Lost Tools of Learning: A Symposium on Education by Dorothy Sayers

The Read-Aloud Family: Making Meaningful and Lasting Connections with your Kids by Sarah Mackenzie

The Brave Learner: Finding Everyday Magic in Homeschool, Learning, and Life by Julie Bogart

The New Read-Aloud Handbook: Including a Giant Treasury of Great Read-Aloud Books by Jim Trelease

In Vital Harmony: Charlotte Mason and the Natural Laws of Education by Karen Glass

Know and Tell: The Art of Narration by Karen Glass

Ten Ways to Destroy the Imagination of Your Child by Anthony Esolen

The History of the Medieval World: From the Conversion of Constantine to the First Crusades by Susan Wise Bauer

Do you have any recommendations for the best homeschooling books to read? If so, leave them in the comments below

Watch this YouTube video to see how to find good books at great prices. (I know that I love getting good deals :-))

One more thing about best books…

I am a “write in my books” type of girl. So I wanted to share with you these great pens and highlighters that are erasable, don’t bleed through, and are thin line for beautiful writing. I like taking notes for each book that I read as well, so I use smaller notebooks that I can bring along with me.

Thanks for joining me! Let me know what your reading list looks like!

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Do you enjoy planning homeschool lessons around your children’s interests? I know that I do. However, sometimes it can feel overwhelming. Where do I begin with planning? What should I include in my unit study? How can I keep track of supplies, books, crafts, and websites?

I developed The Perfect Unit Study Planner to help organize and answer all of these questions.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link. Please see my disclosure for more details.

The Perfect Unit Study Planning Packet Printable!

Specific directions for this planning packet can be found at the end of this post. Don’t forget to subscribe for more homeschooling tips tools.

What is a Homeschool Unit Study?

Unit studies (also known as thematic unit studies) are a popular tool for teaching around a particular subject of interest. They allow students to see what they are learning as a whole and they provide an excellent alternative to textbooks.

Why Should I add Unit Studies to my homeschooling day?

Are you looking for a way to teach multiple children at different grade levels? Do you want to encourage a love of learning and engage your child’s interests? Homeschool Unit Studies are the answer!

What Are the Benefits of a Homeschool Unit Study?

My kids and I love Unit studies! It allows us to dig deeply into subjects that we are interested in. We are able to integrate so many of our subjects into our unit study. It not only encourages a love for learning, (sometimes my kids just can’t get enough) and it actually saves time in our schedule. For example, when we centered our learning around deep sea adventure, writing, spelling, reading, science, history, and even math were integrated all together, saving us time when compared to our normal homeschooling schedule. My children are able to learn together as well.

Why I Love Homeschool Unit Studies:

Perhaps my favorite part of Homeschool Unit Studies is that it allows my children to be creative and be hands-on. I make sure that I include free time in my unit study plans so that my children can play or create around the subject we are learning about. For example, for the deep sea unit, I may give them a large cardboard box to create a deep sea submarine or provide crafting material so that my children can make the animals or deep sea exploration tools for survival. This is really a child-focused free time, let them decide what they want to create and how they want to create it.

Here is a List of Some of the Benefits of a Homeschool Unit Study:

• less expensive than traditional curriculum and more tailored to your child’s interests
• freedom for children to take their time and learn at their own pace
• learn as a family- all ages can learn through unit studies
• hands-on learning is primary- this is proven to be the best way for children to learn
• in-depth learning
• Creating lasting memories
• Opportunities to learn in a less traditional way

How Long Should a Unit Study Last?

A Homeschool Unit Study can last as long as you and your kiddos want it to last. When we covered a unit study on birds, it seemed to last for months because my kids fell in love with birds. In fact a year later and my daughter still asks for bird learning. Some unit studies can be quicker: a couple of days or a week. Plan according to your children’s abilities and interests. Also, know when you stop your unit study and don’t drag it on longer than you need to.

How often should I plan out unit studies?

This is just my opinion, however, I suggest only planning out 4-5 unit studies a year. Sometimes they will last several weeks, depending on how much depth you and your children want to go into. They can work around you and your children’s schedules. Depending on the type of educator that you are, planning a unit study that you are happy with can take a good amount of time, so start planning ahead. Complete the planning of your unit studies during a time where you are less busy.

Homeschool Unit Study Ideas

Topic Based

• Space
• Exploration
• Civil War
• Mammals
• The Ocean
• Pets
• The Civil Rights Movement
• Government
• Habitats
• Insects
• Dinosaurs
• Dragons in History
• Honeybees
• Australia
• Shark Week
• Weather
• Missionaries in China
• Microbes
• The Constitution
• Money
• Finance

Literature Based

• Anne of Green Gables
• Pedro’s Journey
• Shakespeare
• Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh
• Charlotte’s Web
• Little House on the Prairie
• Any C.S. Lewis Book
• The Hobbit
• The Green Ember Series

Directions: How do I use the Homeschool Unit Study Planning Packet?

Thank you for downloading the planning packet. Here are the directions for using this tool:

Step 1. Look at the topics you will be covering this year with your children. Talk with your kids about their interests and what they would love to learn about. Feel free to give them ideas and ask guiding questions.

Step 2. Decide on your topic/theme. We chose the “Deep Sea” for ours. You can go many different routes. For example, you can base your unit study on a piece of literature and then learn around that or you can choose a specific topic and check out a variety of books on that topic. For the Deep Sea, I did not use a piece of literature to guide our unit study, instead I chose a variety of books that were interesting to my kids and we learned that way. Both ways are great, so choose what you think will work better for your family.

Step 3. Go over the KWL chart with your children. Fill in the first two columns: What you know already and what you want to learn. You will fill out the final column, “What I learned” at the completion of your unit study.

Step 4. Take some preliminary notes as you prepare your research (this you will do without your children). What should you know as background knowledge as you guide your children through this study. What do you need to research further? Take learning notes on your planning page. You can also record ways to integrate all subject areas into your unit study. How can you intertwine writing, reading, spelling, phonics, history, and science? Unit studies can be a very efficient way to integrate cross-curricular study.

Step 5. Start filling in what you need to accomplish for your unit study. Do you need to purchase books or check some out at the library? Do you need to shop at the Dollar Tree or Amazon.com? Do you need to research field trips or talk with another homeschool family who is learning the same thing?

Step 6. Research good quality books that you can use. Take an inventory of those books that you will use in your unit study. Write them on the planning sheet. I suggest keeping these books in a specific place, such as a basket or space on the shelf. This allows you to find them quickly when you need them.

Step 7. Research Youtube and Pinterest for ideas. You can create a playlist on Youtube and a board on Pinterest to keep track of what you want to use. Fill out the planning form as a reminder.

Step 8. Brainstorm board games and card games that correlate with you unit of study. Record them you your planning sheet. You can even create your own. For instructions on making your own educational card game, click here.

Step 9. Research and jot down any websites that might be helpful as you study your unit. For example, we visited Nationalgeographic.com often when we studied the deep sea.

Step 10. Keep track of movies, audiobooks, dvds or online movies that are useful for your study. Are you kids going to watch “Wild Kratts” on Netflix as they study? Write that down on your planning sheet.

Step 11. CRAFTS and HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES!!! This is my favorite part. I spend a lot of time correlating what we learn to hands-on activities. I have books that

Step 12. Field trip ideas and notes. Where can you go to support the learning that has taken place? Take lots of pictures when you go

Step 13. How can you integrate yummy food and recipes? Are you learning about the Goldrush? Could you learn how to make coffee or the bread that they used to eat? You can center a meal or a tea party around your unit/theme. Don’t forget to take pictures!

Step 14. Having an idea of how many days you want your unit study to be is a good idea. But make sure that you are flexible and know when to either end it or extend it. Use the Unit study daily overview planning sheet to start taking all of the ideas you have found and record what you want to accomplish or cover each day.

Step 15. Keep track of the supplies you will need for each day and keep them in a tub or basket.

Step 16. Create Daily lesson plans. While I do not use these for each lesson I teach with my children, sometimes I like to organize my thoughts and how I want to teach, so I use the daily lesson plan template. You can use this template for any subject and for any grade. You can also use it as a guide if you teach co-ops or in a classroom setting.

Step 17. Have fun, be creative, and enjoy learning with your kids!

Other Amazing Homeschool Websites for your reference when learning about unit studies

OurJourneyWestward.com has good introductory information on Unit Studies.

Homeschool-your-boys.com has a great article on the benefits of Unit Studies as well.

Links to Free Unit Studies

Faith and Good Works is a great website that features a “Giant List Of Free Unit Studies”

It’s a Mother Thing is a website that has a “100 Free Unit Study for all ages.“

Some Paid Unit Studies

CareitPatch.com has an Apple Unit Study available for purchase on Etsy.com

Do you and your family use unit studies in your homeschooling? Do you have any suggestions for planning a homeschool unit study? I look forward to hearing from you.

The post Simple Steps to Plan the Perfect Homeschool Unit Study – Unit Study Planner appeared first on .

Are you new to homeschooling? Are you wondering what to consider before you begin this journey? Here are 14 homeschooling tips that will encourage you and set you off on the right path! Interested? Keep reading.

These tips would have really been good to know 6 years ago when we made the decision to homeschool our first child. You see, I was a former public school teacher turned homeschool mom. I thought I was super equipped to teach at home. I literally put my supplies, books, and teaching style on a conveyor belt to my home. Wasn’t what I was doing “homeschooling?”

Turns out, it wasn’t.

Homeschool is not public school at home. It is, however, a beautiful addition to your family where a culture of learning is a part of daily life. It is kind, personal, and focused on your children’s personal growth as well as their academic growth.

Before we jump into the tips, I want you to know that you can do this!! The steps you have taken to homeschool your precious children will be the most amazing gift to you and your family. It is a tough job, BUT SO worth it!

This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link. Please see my disclosure for more details.

Tip #1 Nourish Your Relationship with Your Kids

Homeschooling is a beautiful thing. It is in homeschooling where you get to enjoy all of the “Aha” moments of your child’s milestones and achievements! Because homeschoooling isn’t just focused on academics

The drawback to homeschooling can sometimes be getting stuck in the traps of check-off lists and daily routines, sticking to a curriculum that isn’t working, etc. that you can hurt the relationship with your kids.

Homeschooling is going to cause you to spend a lot of time with your kids. It will be easy to get caught up in the motion of your daily routines, to-do lists, and meeting all of your educational planning goals.

However, do not let any of that get in the way of your relationship with your kids. If your schedule is too busy or you are trying to fit too much into your day, you may find yourself annoyed or short-fused with your children. It is at this point you should reassess what you are doing with homeschooling and how you can adjust it so that you feel less overwhelmed.

Evaluate the decisions you make? Are these helping our relationship?

When I began homeschooling, I signed up for every co-op and learning opportunity that presented itself. I found myself teaching multiple classes, going out 3 days a week, and feeling like I was burning out. I became short with my kids, annoyed at my lack of time at home, and frustrated that my house was falling apart. And to make matters worse, my kids didn’t seem happy.

Now I would like to say that I stopped everything (like what I am suggesting you all do) to reassess my schedule and goals. However, I did not. It took special circumstances to take these things away from us to open my eyes to how I wasn’t putting the relationship with my kids first.

Fast forward to today… I have learned to start saying no to good opportunities if they didn’t fit into our homeschooling goals. I have learned to “protect” my schedule so that I can protect my relationship with my kids. I am so glad I did and so are my kids.

Are you task oriented or relationship oriented?

I tend to be very task oriented and sometimes I throw my children’s emotions out the window in order to hurry them along so I can check off a box. This sounds so harsh and admitting it makes me sad. But I know that I am not the only one who does this.

Let me give you an example of what I mean. Let’s say my child is writing their journal entry of the day. They keep misspelling the same word and writing letters backwards that we have gone over and over. They seem like they are never going to finish writing 2 simple sentences. They are spending more time on the picture than the writing itself. I start to feel annoyed because we have to move on with our day. I hurry them and I know that the tone of my voice is obviously one of impatience.

I don’t patiently redirect them, instead I bark commands at them to stop being sidetracked and focus. FOCUS FOCUS FOCUS!!! How can I remember in my annoyed moment that this is my precious (and young) child and that maybe we need to slow down and learn how to write the “S” correctly?

Because I know a weakness of mine is to be task oriented, I am continually asking God to help me in this area. I spend time in prayer, studying scripture, and asking my child’s forgiveness when I mess up.

These years that you get to spend with your child, homeschooling, are laying the foundation for your lifelong relationship with them. Be patient with them, listen to them, and learn with them. Be aware of their strengths and weaknesses and meet them where they are in every aspect of life.

Your Child needs to know that you love them no matter what. If they struggle with math, aren’t good about cleaning their room, or struggle with peer relationships, they need to know that you will love them through their shortcomings. One thing you can add into your homeschooling day is Morning Time. Click here to learn more about morning time and how it can benefit your homeschool day.

Cherish this time with your child and create a solid foundation for a lifelong relationship.

I know what I am about to write seems obvious, but I forget this simple act of love so often… Ready for it? Smile and make eye contact. Nothing beats the emotional connection of looking into the eyes of your child and smiling and being at the receiving end of their sincere and warm smile. So while you are working through a history lesson, pause and connect with them through a sincere smile. Then tell them how much you love being with them and learning with them.

Here are 8 simple ways to show your child that you love them:

• Read a book with them cuddled up on the couch
• Put down your phone and engage with them
• Plan a special date with your child and have a picnic at the park (make sure you include them in the lunch making)
• Play or pretend with your kids
• Instead of saying “just a minute” when they ask you to do something with them, say “yes”
• Give them a hug and tell them you love them often
• Sit down and watch a movie with them
• List all the reasons why you are glad that they are your child.

Tip #2 Create a Peaceful Home Environment

This does not mean that you spend a lot of money on decor. However, add simple touches that create a warm and inviting atmosphere. Here are some easy ways to accomplish that.

• Use a string of lights or candles to give warmth to your dining room or area that you homeschool.
• Add a beautiful table cloth to your table (I keep my eyes open at thrift stores and yard sales that way if they get ruined, it is okay.)
• Purchase some beautiful pieces of artwork, natural history prints, or maps and hang them on the walls- these are great decor but also can be used for the kid’s studies- I actually found a company that makes beautiful “wrapping paper” but I use it as wall hangings
• You can print up famous artwork that is free of copyright laws (like my Albrecht Durer “Hare” print.) Having a good printer helps it to turn out great!
• Hang or display your child’s art work around your home
• Add cozy pillows and throw blankets to the areas where you do your read-alouds or morning times (you can even add making pillow covers if your kids are old enough to use a sewing machine)
• PLANTS! Oh I love plants! They add so much warmth and dimension to a room, not to mention they are good for the air. I never spend more than $6-$10 on a plant and now I am working on trying to transplant clippings of plants I already own. – Hey, isn’t that a homeschooling science lesson?
• Comfy seating (I got my current homeschool cozy seating from a yard sale. )

Tip #3 Know Your Purpose for Homeschooling

Why are you choosing to homeschool? Answering this question will help guide you in your homeschooling decisions.

Knowing the answer to this question will also help you when things get tough (and there will be tough days). I have many reasons why I chose to homeschool and it helps to write these out in a journal and reference them occasionally. Sometimes you will even add more reasons as the years pass and you see ALL of the benefits of choosing to homeschool your children. Here is my list (not comprehensive- my list is very long):

• Teaching them a Christian Worldview
• Teaching in a cohesive and natural way
• Building a solid relationship with my kids
• Creating lifelong learners
• Showing them how to love learning
• Building on their strengths
• Encouraging them through their weaknesses
• Learning in the real world
• Giving them an individualized learning plan that meets their needs and interests
• Preparing them for the world

While your list may be different from mine, writing it out will help you as you teach your child at home. It will help you to when you have to make critical decisions about your homeschooling journey and plan. I have created a planner that will assist you in writing out your goals and planning out your perfect homeschool year.

Tip #4 Have Confidence in yourself- You CAN Teach your Child

While you may not have a teaching credential (or maybe you do), know that you are fully capable and equipped to teach your own child.

Because I went through the teaching credentialing program and also spent so much time in the classroom, I can tell you that what I had to know in order to teach was specific to teaching large groups of children. I was trained to manage a class of 30-35 students behaviorally, learned about the laws for California Education, how to differentiate instruction, how to formally assess, etc. None of this in which is pertinent to teaching your children at home. As the parent, you know your child best. You know how they learn, what their strengths and weaknesses are, and how to manage them in your family household. You get to spend time with them to understand and know them.

You DO NOT have to possess a teaching credential to be qualified to teach your child.

Do you want the best for your child? Can you read and research? Are you a teachable person? If you answered yes to these questions then you can successfully teach your child. You can study up on homeschool teaching philosophies, curriculum, and different strategies. If you are willing to learn and ask questions as you begin your homeschooling journey then you can be successful.

Homeschooling is so popular now that the resources available are abundant.

Tip #5 Your Curriculum is a Guide, NOT a Law to Follow in Homeschooling

When I look back at my first years of homeschooling, I wish I could go back and tell my daughter that I am sorry for being a stick in the mud. I was just coming out of the classroom and I was task oriented and worksheet driven. I literally made my 4 year old complete worksheets! SMH! I didn’t follow the cues of my child’s learning, I simply stuck to my curriculum, scope and sequence, and list of check-offs. Oh poor girl, I am sorry! It took me about 2 years and a kind older mother’s words and wisdom to help me to see what I was doing wrong.

Now, I am proud to say that I use my curriculum as a guide and not a law. (Patting myself on the shoulder now). In fact I actually create my own curriculum for my children that is focused on helping them be independent learners and creating an atmosphere of lifelong learning. Creative time has become an essential part of our homeschooling as well!

There are times when I skip lessons, or speed through them depending on the academic needs of my children. This is so freeing. There are also times that we stop what we are doing to go on a field trip or do a special activity and it is okay to skip lessons in your curriculum.

Tip #6 Lead by Example- Never Stop Learning Mom!

The Amazing thing about homeschooling is that you and I get to learn too! I actually feel like I am in school too and this is perfect because when our children see us learning and getting excited about it, they are encouraged to have a lifelong love of learning.

As I have gone through homeschooling my children I have discovered passions that I didn’t know existed. My children often see me going off and researching further on a subject we covered in their history or science time.

By being an example of lifelong learning, we give our children the best homeschooling lesson possible, that we are never finished learning. That this world is so complex and mysterious and that our life’s goal should be to learn about what our creator has made.

Tip #7 Be Prepared For Doubters

Oh the stories I have…. I could write a book about naysayers. A stranger at a yard sale telling me that my child would not be prepared for high school if I continued to homeschool them, the pharmacist letting me know I was raising socially awkward kids, my in-law’s family friend grilling me at El Torito letting me know that my child has to live in the real world, my own family telling me that I can’t shelter my kids from reality… Those are just a handful of the things people have said to me and might say to you as well. The unknown or any new idea (what homeschooling is to many) is frightening. They do not know much about this way of education, so they judge and condemn even though what they know is hearsay.

As a new homeschooling mom, you may feel like I did when I started: unsure about the results, unlearned about education statistics, and flustered when confronted. With time you will gain confidence in your responses, but for the time being it is good to have a quick “shut down” response.

You DO NOT have to explain yourself to a stranger or even a family friend. Now, if they want to truly discuss why you homeschool and they are open to hearing your reasons, then go ahead and have the discussion. But if their sole purpose is to change your mind (without even knowing your choice and purpose), then there is no point in talking about it. Move on and change the subject.

Down the road if you feel like it is your purpose to defend homeschooling and be a source of change in the way this education is viewed, then do your research and have a list of answers to the questions we most often face. I like how Ainsley Arment approaches this issue in her homeschooling book “The Call of the Wild and Free: Reclaiming Wonder in your Child’s Education”.

Tip #8 Get to Know Your Child’s Learning Style

Children are so diverse in how they learn. One child may be an auditory learner, the other a kinesthetic learner, and the other a visual learner. There are assessments you can informally do at home to inform you of your child’s learning style or you can just observe them as you work with them and begin to teach them at home.

My daughter is a quick learner. If she hears something in a lesson or you explain a math concept to her, she gets it right away and remembers the skill long term She is predominantly an auditory learner. My son, on the other hand is a visual and kinesthetic learner. He has to see the concept I am teaching visually and then he has to interact with the concept physically. For example, when I taught him addition. I knew he would need to see physical objects being manipulated to represent the addition problems we were doing.

What is your child’s prominent learning style? How do you try to adjust your homeschooling lessons to their learning style?

Tip #9 Teach Good Habits and Skills to your Kids

Don’t get stuck in academic skills only, use the opportunity that homeschooling allows to get your children to have good habits and lifelong skills for success. For example, a morning routine where they make their bed, get dressed, brush their teeth, and do their chores. I also love that my kids can start a load of laundry, weed, sweep, mop, and put dishes away. We make it fun by listening to catchy dance music.

Tip #10 Allow Time For Exploration and Creativity

This is an area that I am super passionate about. Children need this set-aside time to simply explore with their imaginations and to also use their creativity. I haven’t always done this because I didn’t know how important this was in childhood development until about 2 years ago. This time of the day (which I actually schedule in just like I do math time and reading time) becomes their favorite part.

We have created special work stations both in the house and in the garage for our children to explore with materials and supplies and to create their wild thingamabobs. I am always on the search at yard sales for cheap crafts, tools, and contraptions that my children can explore and create with.

Tip #11 Begin to Study Educational Philosophies

Take me back several years to when I made my mind up that I was going to homeschool my first child. It seemed that no matter where I went, the question that I kept getting was, “What is your homeschool philosophy?”. I admit, this question would always take me by surprise. I didn’t know what philosophy I was going to use, in fact I didn’t even know what that really meant. My response usually went something like this: “I plan to teach my child in a way that they will understand and I think we will have fun doing it. I mean I did teach in the public schools for 8 years, so I will probably just do something like that…”

And let me tell you, that is what I started out doing. I replicated my classroom teaching days with my daughter. Flash cards to learn letters, worksheets to practice writing her name, blocks to learn numbers, etc. This all worked fine and she started to learn quickly, but as time passed I started looking into different homeschooling philosophies. I wasn’t happy replicating what I did with 30 students every day for the last 8 years with my child. It wasn’t engaging, challenging, or what I even felt was right. This is where I love the fact that more experienced homeschooling moms are always ready to help and encourage.

I remember hearing the name Charlotte Mason for the first time from another homeschool mom. So much of how Charlotte Mason taught her students and even how she viewed them really challenged me to rethink how I was approaching the education of my own child. I love the idea that Charlotte Mason viewed each student as a whole person that deserved respect. She believed that education should be a rich with beautiful ideas and naturally engaging.

Reading great homeschooling books will encourage you in your teaching style. I love gleaning wisdom from other homeschool moms and educators. Susan Wise-Bauer, Karen Glass, Cindy Rollins, Andrew Pudewa, and so many other educators have helped to shape my educational philosophies as I teach my children at home. I want to do the best job that I can and provide my kids with the best education possible. That is why I am constantly learning and trying to refine my skills and I encourage you too as well. I love learning more and it is important for you to always be learning beside your child.

Ambleside online is a great resource on the Charlotte Mason Philosophy of education. Or you can check out my brief overview of the Charlotte Mason philosophy of homeschooling. Simply Charlotte Mason is another website that has a plethora of Charlotte Mason information for beginners.

While I call myself a Charlotte Mason Homeschooling Mom now (with a pull toward classical education as well), I tend to incorporate other philosophies as well. I love the sciences and so while many “Charlotte Masoners” (and classical educators) don’t place an emphasis on science study and curriculum in the early years, I definitely do. We do have our nature journaling time (and we love that), but I have come to a place where I believe it is essential to form a strong scientific foundation in my children. So we spend a good amount of time learning about the sciences.

In fact, I often bring out our high powered microscope and we complete biology and chemistry labs. We use living books to teach science as it’s own subject. While I do not use textbooks at this young age to guide our science, I do teach it systematically. For example, we went through a basic biology unit (that I designed) where I followed a scope and sequence of basic biology topics. It was hands on and I integrated writing, math, and reading into our science learning. It was funny to hear my kids talking about bacteria and other unicellular organisms after we viewed them under the microscope and read books about them.

The great thing about homeschooling is that you get to choose how you educate your child. As each year passes, you may find your philosophy changing and varying from how you began it. That is okay. I recommend always being open, researching, and discussing the hows and whys of homeschooling. Keep challenging and educating yourself.

Tip #12 Take Care of Yourself

If you do not take care of yourself, then you cannot take care of others.

Being a mom is the most rewarding, but also the most demanding. When you have kids, you rightly put them above yourself as you seek to love them, teach them, and take care of them. Even as I try to write this article, I know that I need to get up at 5AM because if I don’t then my time will be focused on them rather than what I am trying to write. We make sacrifices as mothers because we love our children so much. We need to set aside time whether it is going out for coffee with a good friend or asking your husband to take over for a couple of hours so you can go on a run or read in the bath tub with some classical music. Whatever it is that leaves you feeling rejuvenated, make sure you carve out some time to do this important task.

Personally I don’t need to leave my home or go somewhere away from my family to feel refreshed. I feel renewed even if I get a couple of hours uninterrupted to play around with my goauche paints or to garden alone for a bit.

Taking breaks during the school day is important too for you and your children. We take many breaks during our school day (click here to see my free printable daily schedule). We enjoy tea time and snack time occasionally and it helps us to get ready for the rest of our homeschooling day.

We always feel refreshed and ready to take on more after a nice break. I try to also pencil into our schedule a “Quiet” time for my kids and I. They choose a quiet activity and I usually make a cup of coffee and sit down and either read or work on the computer. This lasts about an hour now, but when my children were younger, our quiet time was about 30 minutes.

Tip #13 Some Days will Just Stink… But don’t Give up, There is Always Tomorrow

Not-so-great days happen when you are homeschooling. One kid is cranky, another kid woke up sick, and you ran out of your favorite creamer. Ugh! You can’t seem to get through morning time without the kids bickering, school lessons are just unsuccessful for some reason and you just want to throw your hands up in the air and give up.

I cannot tell you how many times this has happened, but let me encourage you that we have had so many amazing days that it helps us to get through the stinky ones. There are occasional times when it is best to end the school day early and go refresh. Tomorrow will be better!

Here are some questions you can ask yourself if you notice you are having too many of those days that just stink:

• Is there someone that I respect that I can go to and have a heart-to-heart talk?
• Am I preparing for each day spiritually, emotionally, and physically?
• Does my curriculum match the needs of my children?
• Am I expecting too much or too little of my children?

Answering these questions can help guide you as you reassess your homeschooling goals.

Tip #14 Have Fun and Enjoy Your Children!!!

I cannot stress this tip enough. After a couple of years fine tuning what homeschooling meant for our family, I can now say that we have fun while we learn. To really smile at your child and to look deep into their eyes to see their joy and love for you is priceless. That is one of the main reasons we homeschool.

Our relationships are deep and connected because we seek to truly know each other. I continue to read up on how I can best teach my kids at home. I am constantly growing in my knowledge of homeschooling and growing in how to be the best teacher for my sweet kiddos.

Do you have any lessons that you have learned while homeschooling your children? What tips can you offer to the new homeschool mom?

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How I began Using Morning Time in my Homeschooling Routine

How I began Using Morning Time

I was in my third year of homeschooling when I first heard about “morning time”. I was reading Cindy Rollins Book “Mere Motherhood” that I picked up at the Great Homeschool Convention and I immediately fell in love. I purchased her “Morning Time Handbook” the second I realized it was available and we have been doing Morning Time consistently ever since. Morning time is amazing in that it allows you to come together for family time at the beginning of your day. We talk about our daily plans, pray together, read, memorize together, and have an enjoyable and relaxed time listening to various read alouds. It usually takes about an hour. Sometimes more if we are really having fun with the read aloud. It has become a sweet time of togetherness before the other school work begins. This is such a relationship building time.

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What is Morning time?

Morning time is a part of your day that is set aside to certain routines. It can be different depending on the homeschool family. But the consistent part is that it is done together as a family (all ages) and it is usually done first thing in the morning before you start your official subjects and independent work.

Morning time has been around for about 30-40 years. It however has had a strong resurgence in the last 5 years in the homeschooling world. And I am so grateful to the women who brought it back to the forefront.

How Do I Get Started With Morning Time?

I started morning time full force and tried to get way too many things in at first. Over time, however, I started to realize what would work for our family and you will too. I came up with a Weekly Morning Time Planner to assist and keep me on track while doing morning time, feel free to use it if it is something that can help you. Sometimes, however, we sway from the plan (I am good at that….I don’t always like to follow the directions I give myself). But having some type of plan is good to have which is why I created one.

What do I Need for Morning Time?

I also learned that it was important for me to be organized and ready for morning time when it began. Thus I put together a morning time binder and a basket with all the supplies I would need. You do not have to use a basket. You can put all of your morning time items on a shelf, in a tote bag, or anywhere that you might like. What is essential is that all of your materials are together and ready to go before you start.

Take the time to prepare for your morning time so it will be successful.

You do not want to sit down to do your morning time and realize that you can’t find what you need. Taking time to search for books, your water, or other necessary items can disrupt your morning time. Sometimes it can even throw the whole morning time plan out the window; trust me from experience. I am sitting down with my coffee (I didn’t forget that ) but then I can’t find the read aloud book, so I get up and start looking for it. When I am up and about, I am easily distracted. I can go from focused on teaching and morning time to “oh, I forgot to switch the laundry to the dryer…” and all of the sudden I am putting off the most important time of our homeschooling day. I have learned that preparing my morning time basket with these essential items ensures its success.

What should I include in my Morning Time Basket?

Your Morning time schedule (I keep a 6×9 binder with my schedule, memory verses, read aloud list, catechism questions, poetry, etc. so that it is all in one spot. No matter how many days I have completed morning time (usually 3 days a week) I sometimes lose sight of what comes next in our morning. Having a schedule keeps me on track and focused. You can even make a binder for each of your kids, especially the ones who are good readers. They can follow along or take notes using their own notebook.)

8 Essential Items for your Morning Time Basket

Your essential  books (Each family will have a different set of books that they choose for their morning time basket. Mine are: Bible, Catechism, devotional, philosophy book, logic book, Shakespeare, etc.)

Manipulatives and quiet toys (small bin Legos, Rubiks Cube, Magformers, thinking games like Kanoodle)

Your read-aloud book(s)

Art Notebooks (we like Strathmore sketch books at least 50lb weighted paper)

Coloring Supplies (I put mine in a small pencil box and make sure I have a pencil sharpener as well)

Nature books (Audubon, animals books, how to draw books)

A bottle of water and/or cup of coffee.

Strathmore 200 Series Sketch Pad, 8.5×11 inch, 100 Sheets, Side Wire – Artist Sketchbook for Drawing, Illustration, Art Class Students

Magformers Basic Set (30 pieces) magnetic building blocks, educational tiles, STEM toy – 63076 , Rainbow

LEGO Classic Creative Bricks 10692 Building Blocks, Learning Toy (221 Pieces)

Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils, Soft Core, 12 count

Educational Insights Kanoodle 3D Brain Teaser Puzzle Game, Featuring 200 Challenges, Gift for Ages 7+

Birds (National Audubon Society First Field Guides)

Reptiles (National Audubon Society First Field Guide)

Wildflowers (National Audubon Society First Field Guide)

National Audubon Society First Field Guide Mammals (National Audubon Society First Field Guide)

Drawing Birds

Can I see your Morning Time Basket?

So here is what my morning time basket looks like. I wanted mine to be cute because I always leave it in the living room. It is tall enough to where everything fits in it nicely. My house is a 1950’s house and we have so little storage space. I suppose if I had a closet or something, I may store it in there. But…. No storage closets here.

What does a sample schedule look Like?

Like I mentioned earlier, when I started morning time, I tried to do way too much at first. My kids are young and I was overwhelming them. But being a homeschool family, we are always assessing and reassessing what we are doing and how we can do it better. I may plan to do several things during morning time, but if my kids and I start having an amazing conversation, I let that play out over getting to my next scheduled item. Once we hit the 45 minute to 1 hour mark, I can usually tell that my kids have had enough. It is break time!!!

Here is how my morning time goes: (I try to keep it simple:-))

              1.  We are a Christian family so we always start our morning time with our devotional, Bible Reading, Memory verses, prayer time, Catechism, and hymn singing.  This usually takes 10 minutes or so.

              2. We also alternate reading a logic book, a philosophy book, a biography of a composer, or great speeches, and an artist biography.

              3. We end our morning time with a read aloud. Sometimes I grab a read aloud that coincides with history, but sometimes it is just a fun enjoyable story. I always let my kids draw in their nature journals as I read. I keep a variety of nature books for them to peruse and copy from.

You can download my free PDF sample fill-in schedule here or go to my TeacherspayTeachers page and download it for free there. Keep in mind that it is a template and that there is always more than what can fit in a day . I am always more optimistic and put way too much in.

Inspirational Homeschool Mamas

So many of the veteran homeschool moms that I admire and follow have excellent resources on morning time: Pam Barnhill, Cindy Rollins, and Sarah Mackenzie. Each has a lot of experience and expertise to add to your knowledge of morning time. Here are some links to these amazing morning time resources:

Cindy Rollins with Circe Institute at CindyRollins.net

Your Morning Basket by Pam Barnhill at PamBarnhill.com

Read-Aloud Revival with Sarah Mackenzie at ReadAloudRevival.com

I hope that you have been inspired to look into morning time for your homeschooling day. I have been so thankful for what this treasured time has brought to my family. It is helping not only my children, but also myself to establish great routines for life joy and success.

Do you include morning time into your day? Do you have any tips for someone just starting out? Leave your response in the comments below.

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Recently, I had a friend ask me about my daughter’s card making “business”. My daughter is 8 and she has become known as a pretty good greeting card maker. She is artistic, so when the opportunity for an entrepreneur fair came up, we signed her up. “Cutesy Cards” is her business name (she came up with that one on her own :-)). This got me thinking that I could integrate writing instruction into greeting cards.

Writing hasn’t always been the easiest subject for me to teach. The use of workbooks and writing lessons that were out of context has often made writing my daughter’s least favorite subject in school. I knew I had to approach writing in a more creative way if I was going to get my younger children to enjoy learning how to write. That is why we started to incorporate writing with a purpose. I take age appropriate writing standards and integrate them into simple writing lessons. Making greeting cards is one of the creative ways that I teach writing.

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Making greeting cards is a great way for your child to learn creatively and maybe even make some money.

Most recently my daughter made a “Lord of the Rings” inspired birthday card. It featured the beloved Gollum holding his ring saying: “My Precious wishes you a happy birthday.” My friend commented that the card was her favorite part of the gift.

Making greeting cards not only teaches my daughter about being an entrepreneur, it allows her to write with purpose. It also teaches her that it is important to bless and encourage others using our talents and gifts.

Why Should Your Children Make Their Own Greeting Cards?

Making greeting cards with a purpose allows you to hit certain teaching standards in a way that is authentic and organic. Your children are learning with out using a “curriculum”. Standards such as penmanship, brainstorming, writing a draft, captitalization, spelling, creating greetings, doing research, etc. are covered using this technique. You can even focus on a read aloud that you are going through. My children had been listening to “The Lord of the Rings” by J.R.R. Tolkien on CD. That is what inspired many of my daughter’s cards at first.

More inspiration:

For her good friends birthday she decided to go with a rabbit theme. In this “writing with a purpose lesson” we covered the difference between hopping and hoping, adding ‘ing, spacing, writing a greeting, and penmanship. The greatest part was that my daughter had so much fun and was filled with joy at her final product.

You can even make funny greeting cards using science or history concepts. For example, if you are learning about the cell in anatomy, you can draw a picture of different cells found in your body and then write: “Have fun CELL-abrating your birthday!” This is a fun way to encourage your kids to think out of the box, come up with ways to use concepts they are learning to make a greeting card or birthday card. You can always search for inspiration online as well.

What if my child is not that great at art?

Online drawing tutorials are another option if your child’s strength is not art. We love Art Hub for Kids and Draw so Cute for inspiration or drawing lessons in general! You can use these websites for guidance with fun art ideas!

What to do With Your Child’s Greeting Cards?

I now shop at my daughter’s card shop whenever I need a birthday card or greeting card and she gives me a pretty good deal. I can’t beat $1.00 a card (that is mom’s special price); and the reactions I get from our friends and family are priceless.

You can also encourage your child to sell their cards at fairs or online. There are so many platforms where your child can try to sell what they make. It is so rewarding when your child sees a true purpose for their work. And what a great way to start teaching about financial principals in business. See my daughter’s greeting cards in my Etsy store here (coming soon). You can purchase one, or just look for fun ideas.

SO, what do you need to create your own greeting cards? Here is my essential list of items that your child needs:

1. Blank greeting cards. We like the ones below because they are thick enough to use markers and you can also throw them into your printer to copy onto them. They are also the best priced per card that we have found.
2. Markers to illustrate. My daughter likes having the option of fine tip for precise coloring and a broader tip for filling in larger areas.
3. Nice black marker to trace and write with. We use Prismacolor pens, they are amazing!
4. Creative slogans. I like to search whatever topic that I am using for creative slogans. The sillier, the better.

This is a Great Time to Send Some Encouragement

Even though things are getting a bit more normal due to Covid restrictions being let up, there are still many people who are stuck in their homes or in hospitals. You can create cards to encourage some of the people that you know who are lonely. What a great idea and purpose to make our writing about something that matters.

Steps to Follow When Making Cards

Following these simple steps will ensure a positive card making experience.

First, brainstorm the type of card you want to make.

Second, write a draft on a separate sheet of paper of what your child wants to write on their card.

Third, always start with a pencil tracing of your idea on your card. Encourage your child to draw and write lightly that way you can erase and mistakes on your final product.

Finally, trace your work with a black pen. If you want to make multiple copies of your cards, don’t color it quite yet. Make sure you photocopy your card design onto multiple cards, then color them after using your good quality markers or colored pencils.

Pass out or mail your cards to friends and family. If your child wants to sell them, look for free entrepeneur events or create one yourself and invite friends and family. Also, look at different online platforms such as Ebay.com and Etsy.com to help your child sell their creations.

Let me know how your child’s cards turned out. Did your child enjoy creating their cards? Did they pass some out, did they sell them? I am so excited to hear about your Creative Learner!

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