Homeschooling A Houseful

What's for Dinner? I ask this often, too often. I am not always the most on top of our meal plans... and sometimes I have no idea what I'm making when I go shopping. Yes, I know what I need to make something, but I don't have any creative, yummy meals planned. I know it's bad... ends up with me running to the store way too often to get that one item, that ends up being 10 items, and then I'm out $50... when the item I needed was only, $5.... Please tell me... you know what I'm talking about!?!?! So if I don't have anything planned, I simply have meals I know I have the basics for and can typically put together, with everyday items I would buy.  Entering one of "those" meals... the no stress, no thinking, simple dinner but everyone loves, kind of meals.  TACO SALAD This is a picture of a very simple taco salad, but here's the thing, it's has so many variations, so many optional ingredients. Which may or may not c...

Anyone else on the lookout for some St. Patrick's day fun?   Education.com has offered my readers with another spelling freebie. These are such great ways for kids to work on so many of their language arts skills.  Gear up for St. Patrick's Day with this themed crossword. Put your knowledge and spelling skills to the test with other spelling resources at Education.com  Clover Crossword Answer Key Enjoy! And an Early Happy St. Patrick's Day to all!

Hey everyone, just wanted to take a moment to mention our new Language Arts Program, and may I add one of the best decisions I've made in my homeschool career. We LOVE the Good and Beautiful Language Arts Program!  After 15 years (give or take) of homeschooling I finally found a curriculum that is the right mix of structure,  review, and phonics blends for our family. Not only that, but it's kid approved! The following is from a recent email sent to all users of the curriculum, from the founder of the curriculum, yes a homeschool mama. This is so honestly spoken! I feel her testimony and her love for this, along with the everyday burnout and overwhelming feelings that homeschool mama's feel. We love the good and the beautiful company, and all the work they put into every sing piece of curriculum they offer. This is not something that is just thrown together or simply reproduced through the grades. This is ..... amazing! Here's my Kindergartener, reading his ...

Hello Mama's!!! I was recently approached by Education.com, to share with my readers a FREE Word Scramble Worksheet! These came at just the right time, as I currently have a 4th grader, that is FINALLY coming around to reading, and found an old word scramble book. He has been having so much fun with it! I also have a 1st grader who likes these, and you know he has to keep up with his brother. Then lastly I have a Kinder, who needs to keep up and do everything they do too. Plus the reading practice is, well FUN when its in a scramble!!! So guys, check out this website, education.com and nurture your child's language skills with this kayak-themed word scramble. Make learning fun with an assortment of spelling games available at  education.com/ ! Word Scramble Worksheet Word Scramble Answer Key ENJOY!

and Girls!!! So those of you who don't know me personally don't know that I have 4 boys in a row. Ages 8, 6, 5, 4 and a toddler 20 month old girl.... who might be mistaken for a girl in a skirt! What can I say, she was raised by those 4 boys! Plus I have 2 older boys, who use to be little boys. And a couple other wiggly girls all in one house!!! In my opinion it's fine to let them be wiggly, to let them use that energy they have, because a lot of the time they just have a ton of built up energy they need to have used! I thought I'd collect a few tips and ideas for teaching wiggly kids. *If you are trying to practice reading with them, and they can't sit still long enough to do a lesson, make a deal, for every page they read they will earn 2-5 minutes of "recess" or "free play" right after their lesson. This should be changed to their age and ability. So it could be page, paragraph, sentence- word or flashcard. I like to say you have to si...

When you tend to be an OCD Planner Mama, it's difficult to work with the normal chaos of a homeschool life. Babies and Toddlers, Illness and Sick Days Vacation and Spontaneous Activities Feeling Overwhelmed and Burned Out Can you honestly plan those things into your day, into your life? NO..... because would you plan those things into your life, if it was your choice! Well I'm sure we'd all plan babies and toddlers, but they'd have their behavior more on our schedule! I love having a plan, I love knowing my plan, but having that plan and knowing that plan, can also cause such a stress when things, aka life, happen. Over the years of homeschool I have learned, I need a plan and a routine, I (along with some of my children) really work better with that in place, yet when my plan is out of sequence, or off schedule, it feels like a weight or a burden. My answer is simple, because when you live in organized chaos, like I often feel, I need simple, I crave simple...

Well it seems to be the time of the year when many are homeschool planning. I am seeing posts and links everywhere, with tips and advice and so many ideas! Yes, even I am in this mode here. It just must be that time of the year! So as I'm planning, the first day is always hard. I have dreams, I have visions, I have ideas and....well Oh so many!!! I literally start thinking, how can I add more hours to my day? Let's see we could start our day, at 4:00, no that doesn't mean everyone will be cranky and tired. Definitly  not, and especially not me! Then we could school until 4:00- I mean the neighbors can't really plan until then anyways, by the time they get home, have a snack and work on school or home responsibilities, right?!?! REALLY, REALITY CHECK!!! Then I decided, no what I need to do is edit, sort and maybe even subtract!!! For some reason as a homeschooler, I think that our school needs to be extra special, at all times and...