“If you had a chance to change your fate, would you?” – Merida, Brave movie Yesterday I was wracking my brain, trying to think of something FUN that Leah and I could do for a field trip for her last homeschool day before she graduates tonight. I had googled Missouri, Kansas, homeschool field trips, events, [...]

posted by bethj
Filed under: homeschooling struggles, homeschooling-general, new to homeschooling, parenting, personality types, Prayer, resources, spiritual gifts

Tonight is our youngest daughter Leah’s high school (homeschool) graduation. I haven’t been blogging lately because I’ve been too busy living life. The last two weeks I’ve been running around like crazy, getting things ready for Leah’s homeschool graduation, which I am so dreading! Everything is almost done now. I’ve missed you, though! I’m still [...]

posted by bethj
Filed under: Charlotte Mason, homeschooling struggles, homeschooling-general, learning styles, marriage and homeschooling, parenting, Prayer

Graduation is around the corner for many public school and private school students. Originally I was planning to graduate Leah in May or June this year, but after praying and thinking about things lately and talking with Ray, we are postponing her graduation until later this summer. Of course, Leah isn’t exactly thrilled about this [...]

posted by bethj
Filed under: Charlotte Mason, homeschooling-general, learning styles, parenting

Recently I resigned from a work-at-home position as a Blog Editor (editing articles, posting blogs on a WordPress site) and personal assistant, that I had been doing for 9 months, to focus more on Leah’s homeschooling. This is her last year of homeschooling; she will graduate later this summer. I want us to go on [...]

posted by bethj
Filed under: Charlotte Mason, homeschooling-general, marriage and homeschooling, new to homeschooling, parenting, Prayer, resources, socialization

When Leah and I went  on a field trip to the Kemper Contemporary Art Museum in Kansas City, we stopped by the little gift shop before we left to browse. They had pottery, art books, carved statues, and other beautiful things. Leah and I were looking at the jewelry, when she noticed one with blue [...]

posted by bethj
Filed under: homeschooling-general, parenting, personality types, spiritual gifts

This year has been so busy that I haven’t posted much here, and I apologize. Too busy. I’ve had to slow down and pull back, praying and asking God what to do. I just resigned this week from a position as blog editor that I’ve had since June of last year, editing articles and blogs [...]

posted by bethj
Filed under: burnout, Charlotte Mason, homeschooling struggles, homeschooling-general, new to homeschooling, parenting, Prayer, resources

This week has been fun with a couple of field trips with Leah to the Arabia Steamboat Museum and the Kemper Contemporary Art Museum, both located in Kansas City. The Arabia was a steamboat which hit an oak tree snag in the Missouri River on September 5, 1856, and sank into the mud. Years later, [...]

posted by bethj
Filed under: Charlotte Mason, homeschooling struggles, homeschooling-general, learning styles, new to homeschooling, parenting, resources

I know it’s been a long time since I’ve posted. I apologize – just the busyness of homeschooling, cleaning the house, groceries, a new job over the summer editing articles and posting them on the website for the CEO of an organization – an opportunity which fell into my lap, unsolicited by me, in June [...]

posted by bethj
Filed under: homeschooling-general, marriage and homeschooling, new to homeschooling, parenting, Prayer

Some homeschoolers “school” all year round, some parents closely follow the public school’s schedule and take a break during the summer months, and other homeschoolers take a break every few months – whenever they want. We usually begin our homeschool in August or September, and then take breaks during holidays or whenever we’d like as [...]

posted by bethj
Filed under: burnout, Charlotte Mason, homeschooling struggles, homeschooling-general, marriage and homeschooling, new to homeschooling, parenting, Prayer, resources, socialization, spiritual gifts

It’s back to school time for most public and private school children, and many homeschoolers as well. Last year we took off some extra days for holidays and other events, so Leah’s homeschooling went through some of this summer. Right now she is still on “summer break.” We will start her homeschooling about the second [...]

posted by bethj
Filed under: burnout, Charlotte Mason, homeschooling struggles, homeschooling-general, learning styles, marriage and homeschooling, new to homeschooling, parenting, personality types, Prayer, resources, socialization, spiritual gifts

Homeschooling parents sometimes want to know where their child would place grade-wise to either satisfy their own curiousity (or to ease concerns or anxieties of relatives/in-laws!). One of the best ways to do this is through standardized testing. Two years ago, a homeschooling mom told me about an online website, the Family Learning Organization, which [...]

posted by bethj
Filed under: Charlotte Mason, homeschooling struggles, homeschooling-general, learning styles, new to homeschooling, parenting, resources

Our school year tends to follow the public school system’s schedule, but we take off longer for some holidays and usually wind up schooling during some of the summer. We’re wrapping up this school year, will take off the month of August, and start again in early September. Last week we went on a field [...]

posted by bethj
Filed under: Charlotte Mason, homeschooling struggles, homeschooling-general, learning styles, marriage and homeschooling, new to homeschooling, parenting, resources

Tired of hearing, “Mom, I’m bored?” Or maybe you’re the one who’s bored! Here are some tips to enjoy your summer: Go swimming at a lake or pool; rent a paddle boat, ski, or try a wave runner Go to a nature reserve, amusement park, petting zoo or zoo with your kids or grandkids Have [...]

posted by bethj
Filed under: burnout, homeschooling-general, parenting, personality types, Prayer, socialization

A lot of people feel that the summertime is all about going on vacations, tanning and spending lazy days swimming. While these are great summer activities, there’s much more that can be done during summer. This is especially true for those of us with kids. Below is a list of small summer activities that you [...]

posted by bethj
Filed under: homeschooling-general, learning styles, marriage and homeschooling, parenting, socialization

Do you homeschool all year long, or take a break in the summer (or at different times of the year)? Many homeschooling families opt for the summer break so their kids won’t resent the public school kids having “freedom” outside, while they’re indoors having to study. But you don’t want your child to go all [...]

posted by bethj
Filed under: homeschooling-general, learning styles, parenting

One of the subjects we as homeschooling parents GET to teach   is Driver’s Ed. If you’re a math-phobe  like me or the Periodic Table Of Elements makes your eyes glaze over like mine, then teaching your child how to drive SHOULD be fun, right? Well, I wouldn’t exactly use that word, but let’s just [...]

posted by bethj
Filed under: homeschooling struggles, homeschooling-general, new to homeschooling, parenting, Prayer, resources

It’s getting toward the end of the school year, but some homeschooling parents are thinking about next year’s curriculum. One very reasonably priced copywork curriculum is Copycats at www.copycatbooks.com. Copycat Books are economical copywork e-books with models in both manuscript and cursive, in traditional, modern, and italic handwriting styles, with Biblical and academic themes. I [...]

posted by bethj
Filed under: Charlotte Mason, homeschooling-general, learning styles, new to homeschooling, parenting, resources

This is the Ultimate Homeschool Expo week with Felice Gerwitz and guests. Felice has an incredible lineup of speakers. Here is the schedule for the rest of this week. May 3 at 1pm (Central Time) Debbie Strayer: Reviving Your Teaching and Your Students. Homeschooling can seem like an overwhelming and exhausting task, with one of [...]

posted by bethj
Tags: Beth Jones, Felice Gerwitz, UHSE 2011
Filed under: burnout, Charlotte Mason, homeschooling struggles, homeschooling-general, learning styles, new to homeschooling, parenting, Prayer, resources, socialization, spiritual gifts

One of my favorite events throughout the year is the Ultimate Home School Expo. This year’s theme is “Making A Difference One child At A Time.” The live preview chats are every Thursday, counting down to the expo week May 2-6. Felice Gerwitz has an amazing line-up of speakers, and there will be 100 audio [...]

posted by bethj
Filed under: burnout, Charlotte Mason, homeschooling struggles, homeschooling-general, learning styles, marriage and homeschooling, new to homeschooling, parenting, personality types, Prayer, resources, socialization, spiritual gifts

Spring is here, and oh the sunshine and cool breeze feel great! This morning I opened nearly all the windows of our house and cleaned the dirt and dust in the window sills, letting the fresh air and sunshine into our home! This week I also picked up some indoor starter kits for Leah and [...]

posted by bethj
Filed under: Charlotte Mason, homeschooling-general, new to homeschooling, parenting