Finding the right resources for homeschooling can feel like a treasure hunt. One where you dig and dig but don’t find things that work for you. Or you dig and find some resources that are more like fools gold. They look shiny and pretty and you use them for a while only to realize they don’t work as well as real gold. Every once in a while you find something that’s amazing and works like a big beautiful diamond. Shiny, fun, and the perfect fit for your needs.
As a mom that has homeschooled her four kids for over 10 years, I’ve found some fool’s gold as well as diamonds. I’d love to share some wisdom with you.
Finding those diamond-like resources when you’re a busy mom needs to take as little time as possible. Here are some of my top tips:
- Take time to prep and review
Find out what works for you and your kids. No seriously. I know everyone says it. But taking 1 hour or less to write down some things and get it organized in your mind (and on paper) will help save you time in the future. It’s like figuring out a meal plan for the week instead of scrambling every night when dinner time rolls around. It will save you SO MUCH time and effort. If you’ve been homeschooling already, double check your answers and take time to review what worked and didn’t work last year. Want a printable with this info? Email us here and we’ll get it to you!
Answer these questions:
- What learning style works best for your kids. Take this quiz to help you figure it out.
- What learning style works best for you. Take this quiz built just for homeschool moms!
- What space you have available. Do you have a whole room? Are you using your kitchen table? What storage space do you have available? There are so many blog posts and ideas on this. Figure out the answers to these questions, then get creative!
- What your money budget is and what your time budget is. Do you have the time or money for a lot of outside classes? Do you have the time or money to sit down with each child for math, writing, reading, science, history, etc?
- What worked and didn’t work last year. Go through each child and each subject. This doesn’t have to take a long time.
- Mix it up
Some kids may THRIVE on mostly books and worksheets! But they also are kids and need to move around. So make sure whatever you do has enough of a variety that you don’t get bored or simply end up going through the motions.
- Involve your kids
They have so many ideas and get so excited about things! So let them have some involvement with picking out what they learn and how they learn it. Ask them to create their own lists of things they want to do. Which leads to…
- Leave room to explore.
Have your main curriculum, but leave space for learning topics your kids are interested in and let your kids help you find those resources! One thing I require of my children is to do one “fun learning activity” a day. This can be anything from reading a book to learning a new song on the piano to watching and painting along to a Youtube video to doing a science experiment. They get to choose the topic and the activity they want to pursue.
When looking for ideas and resources I like to use the following resources:
- Cathy Duffy Reviews. I LOVE this website! Cathy reviews thousands of homeschool curriculums and gives detailed descriptions of each. It’s almost as good as looking through books yourself. But with a professional and extra opinion.
- Teaching in the Home is a newer marketplace for homeschool resources. Similar to Teachers Pay Teachers but just for parents. You can search many different ways for the resources you need including how long it takes to prep, printable options, and lots more that us homeschoolers use. Teaching in the Home has complete curriculum, unit studies, and one time lessons/activities.
- Pinterest is a wonderful website but it can definitely easily suck hours of your time away. Using it with a good helping of discernment can be a great blessing for your family! Search for specific topics and CAREFULLY pick ideas that will work for your family. Follow other homeschoolers or homeschooling and educational boards. This can help when you feel stuck or need fresh ideas!
- Homeschool Facebook groups. Look for groups based on your homeschool philosophy, religious philosophy, or physical location. THey can have great ideas that can cater to your specific need and can be supportive in your homeschool journey with that curriculum.
The homeschool journey is unique for every family. Embrace the creativity and the incredible resources available at your fingertips. You’re AMAZING and will rock this year!
