“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

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

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

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

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

Hope you had a great holiday!  All of our kids and grandkids came over on Christmas Day, and the kids enjoyed Ray’s traditional, sweet holiday ham – enjoyed it so much that none was left for left-overs!  Today is the beginning of 2011, and if you’re like me, you’re ready to put the old year behind and start [...]

posted by bethj
Tags: 2011, balance, homeschooling, new year, roles, routines
Filed under: homeschooling struggles, homeschooling-general, marriage and homeschooling, parenting, Prayer, spiritual gifts

Thanks so much to all of you who prayed for my speaking session this week at UHSE 2010 with publisher/author/speaker Felice Gerwitz! It was such a blessing and an honor talking with Felice and speaking for her! You know how sometimes you don’t feel very anointed doing something – but God shows up despite yourself? That’s how [...]

posted by bethj
Filed under: Charlotte Mason, homeschooling struggles, learning styles, marriage and homeschooling, new to homeschooling, Prayer, resources, socialization

Today I will be speaking at the Ultimate Homeschool Expo 2010. I would love to have all of you there joining Felice Gerwitz and me for support and prayer! My session starts at 9 a.m. central time (10 a.m. ET), and the show is for approximately one hour (that includes the intro and the Q [...]

posted by bethj
Filed under: Charlotte Mason, homeschooling struggles, learning styles, marriage and homeschooling, new to homeschooling, Prayer, resources, socialization

Need encouragement to center on Christ these coming holidays? Here is the schedule this week for the Ultimate Home School Expo 2010. Tuesday: October 19, 2010 at 1:00-2:00 ET on Blog Talk Radio Andrew Pudewa of Institute of Excellence in Writing joins Felice Gerwitz in an interview on the Effects of Music on Life October [...]

posted by bethj
Filed under: Charlotte Mason, homeschooling struggles, learning styles, marriage and homeschooling, new to homeschooling, Prayer, resources, socialization, spiritual gifts

Do you need the friendship and support of other homeschooling parents?  Are there homeschool topics you need to learn more about?  Is your soul thirsty for the Word of God?  Do you desire to keep Jesus Christ as the main focus of this holiday season?  Well, then, I have some good news for you!  The [...]

posted by bethj
Filed under: burnout, Charlotte Mason, homeschooling struggles, learning styles, marriage and homeschooling, new to homeschooling, Prayer, resources, socialization

Ants Is your child (or you!) getting antsy this spring? When the sun comes out and the flowers bloom after a long, cold winter, everyone just wants to get outdoors and play! And why not? Spring is the perfect time of year to put away the books, and get outside. Here are a list of [...]

posted by bethj
Filed under: burnout, homeschooling struggles, new to homeschooling