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tips for starting your first year of homeschool

It’s August and time is dwindling before the start of school is upon us, maybe for some of you it already is! Most homeschooling moms are in the throws of finalizing curriculum and resources for the school year right now (if you haven’t already).

If you are a first time homeschooling mom, I want to give you some tips on starting out!

  1. Start slowly. And I mean this in regards to choosing / ordering curriculum as well as finding your groove. Don’t buy all your manipulatives and supplies and resources right off the bat before you have your homeschool style figured out. Start with the basics: a reading / writing program of some sort and a math program. These things alone allow you to cover the basics without spending a lot of money and also allows you to ease into your homeschool routine with a shorter daily schedule. Reading a book out loud while the kids eat lunch is a great way to introduce literature and talk about different elements of a story. I am here to tell you that an effective program can be delivered without a multitude of extras! It will be easier to add more curriculum as you go then to purchase a whole bunch right away and realize you don’t like it or it’s too much.
  2. Use discernment. It can be extremely easy to get sucked into “curriculum envy” and end up ordering an excessive amount of resources because you see other people using them and they look awesome. DON’T DO THIS. This is a sure fire way to end up with closets full of curriculum that will not be used. Every homeschool mom has a different style and vision for how you want your schooling to look and every child has a different learning style and needs. It is not one size fits all and what looks amazing for someone on instagram may end up being a source of stress for you! It is helpful that people share their resources online so you are able to “see” through them and have a better idea if they fit with your vision. Some companies show sample pages on their website, you can search a certain curriculum on youtube to see if there are flip throughs, and lots of homeschoolers on instagram show flip throughs as well (myself included). If it seems to not be your style even though it looks fun, pass on it. For me, I know if something has too many pieces, I won’t use it. I am a minimilist when it comes to homeschool supplies since we have such limited space. Once you get going you will easily recognize your style and what you like.
  3. Hold your plan loosely. Not my strong suit to be honest but I have really grown in this area when it comes to homeschooling. I don’t want to force something that no one is enjoying as that just makes for a long year. I want to find something educational that we can all enjoy. It is far more pleasant to teach someone who is enjoying, or at least engaged, in what is being taught. If you buy something and a couple weeks or a month in you hate it or its resulting in frustrations or arguments, consider scrapping it and trying something else. There is nothing wrong with realizing a certain resource isn’t working and moving on.
  4. Don’t plan out your whole year or super far ahead. If you are a veteran homeschooler and this works for you, by all means go ahead. However I would not recommend planning your full year in the beginning unless you are ok with erasing! You don’t know for sure if you will like the curriculum you got, you don’t know how long concepts will take, you don’t know how much you will get through each day, etc. If it helps you to look ahead you could do a really general overview in pencil and then save the nitty gritting planning for short term. Even as a school teacher I often only planned one day in advance because you just never know how things are going to or if you might get off on a rabbit trail following somone’s interest. Typically now as we finish one subject I jot down in my planner what I want to do in that subject the next day. It’s fresh in my mind and I know exactly where I am leaving off. Give yourself some grace to figure it all out.
  5. Have fun! Enjoy learning together and delight in the presence of your children!

I hope that these tips can take some of the stress away if you’ve been having some pre – homeschool stress. Pour some tea, put out some cookies and read a good book. Build memories to cherish together. Homeschooling produces beautiful moments!

If I can be of any help to you as you choose curriculum or prepare yourself to start your year, please reach out. I have various consulting packages available as well as an hourly rate if you need to bounce a bunch of ideas. Of course, I am always just an email away if you have a question or need some advice!

Happy school prepping!

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About Me

Hi I am Kristin Stewart. I consider myself so lucky to be a homeschool mommy! Before I was a mother, I was a teacher in both public and Christian boards and I loved teaching so much. However, once my first daughter was born I knew God was calling me to be at home with her. So when it was time for her to start school, homeschooling was a natural fit for us. Read More…

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Kristin Stewart
✨better together✨ Another week of school done ✨better together✨
Another week of school done and enjoying the beach on this beautiful Friday afternoon.
1ish week of school to go.
#raisingreaders #alwaysbringabook #raisingreaders
#alwaysbringabook
Homeschool perk- the freedom to travel. Packed up Homeschool perk- the freedom to travel. Packed up our books and brought them to the land of the red sand. The beach is calling, we must go!
Friends, popsicles, butterflies and tiny pools…. Friends, popsicles, butterflies and tiny pools….we love summer ❤️
Starting our study of Numbers today for Bible time Starting our study of Numbers today for Bible time. It’s important to me that the girls understand the importance of looking at a whole book of the Bible for context and understanding of how each event fits into the bigger picture of Gods salvation. 

The Bible Handbook from @thedailygraceco to overview and introduce the book.

The Story of Numbers by @readkaleidoscope writes it geared toward kids.

And not pictured, our Bibles. We frequently go over checking back to our Bible if we arent sure about something in another book. 

What are you studying?
Cheers to the other mamas just finally getting the Cheers to the other mamas just finally getting their quiet time at 10:15 am because they’ve been in diffuse and correct mode all morning. 

Here’s to the mamas with a child who needs a little “extra” in the regulation department. (If you know what I mean, you know). 

To the ones taking deep breaths and calling on the fruits of the spirit to help her deal with the current “explosion”. 

To the mama who wonders if she’s doing it right but knows it’s worth it. 

God chose me to mother her and He chose you to mother yours. He did that purposefully and He will equip us. If you are a Christian, you have the fruits of the spirit and the help of the Holy Spirit. 

Take a deep breath, a quiet minute and ask God for wisdom and help for this day. It’s an honour and a privilege to have this job of mama.

Hard doesn’t equal bad. 

Here’s to you mama! Keep going. ❤️
All About Reading tip: give them last years reader All About Reading tip: give them last years readers for independent reading.

 She always wants a few minutes to read on her own before bed and she likes to read last years AAR readers because she knows she won’t get a story that’s too hard. 

There’s nothing wrong with letting kids independent reading material be below their instructional level.
It’s a great way to build fluency and confidence and avoid frustration.

Thankful for these readers with interesting stories and colourful pictures @allaboutlearning ❤️
We had a great hike adventure on this beautiful sp We had a great hike adventure on this beautiful spring day!
A look through, and long explanation of, Learning A look through, and long explanation of, Learning Language Arts Through Literature grade 4. 
Let me know if you have any questions!
Sharing the math manipulatives I used today in my Sharing the math manipulatives I used today in my stories. My youngest really thrives when she learns hands on. These are from amazon, except the animals that are from the dollar store.
Read with your kids! 👏🏻Read to them. Let the Read with your kids! 👏🏻Read to them. Let them read to you. Take turns share reading. Read your own books beside each other. READ!

The benefits of reading to your kids are staggering. Not only are there crazy academic benefits, there are also relational benefits. Reading together is such a bonding experience. It helps calm your tiny ones and it brings your older kids to you. 

She’s almost 10 and she’s been reading since she was 4. She’s a voracious reader, reads constantly. I might need a job just to keep her in books. She can read as well as people twice her age. Some might naturally think there’s no point in reading to her anymore. She doesn’t need me to, she’s capable on her own. 

I disagree! We always have a book on the go together. It’s so bonding to be mutually enjoying a book and into it together. It allows her to relax or draw while I read to her. It gives us something to do just the two of us when we have time but I’m tired. Sometimes we just snuggle up like this reading our own books, pausing when she wants to talk about her book. Benefits here are we are physically connected and I get to know what shes reading and be available for discussion. 

All that to say, read with your kids!! Even when they’re older!! 

Together, she and I are loving the Tuesday’s with the Castle series. We’re on our last one!! What are you reading with your big kids?
What a great fsmily hike today to the southern tip What a great fsmily hike today to the southern tip of our island! 75 ish min hike for the whole crew!
Mystery of History Level 1. This is the history p Mystery of History Level 1. 
This is the history program we are using this year and I love it. This is likely what we will use for the next few years. I think this level will last us 2 years since we don’t do History daily.
This is a Bible based curriculum. It begins with creation and goes through history chronologically from there. Each lesson is short with a lesson in the text to be read (I read it out loud) and then a selection of activities. Each lesson has an activity for younger students, middle students and older students. 
There are some written components you can choose, such as matching characters with descriptions or answering comprehension questions. But as the teacher you can pick and choose what you want your kids to do. It can all be oral if you prefer. 
You can order timeline images and work throughout this whole curriculum to make a timeline. This is neat as it allows the kids to see how it all first together.
I love using this resource to learn together as a family!! 

#mysteryofhistory #homeschoolhistory
Merriest Christmas from our house to yours!! Looki Merriest Christmas from our house to yours!! Looking forward to this week off of school and next week we will be back at it!! My plans this week are mostly to read! How are you spending this week?
We are all so excited to see the snow and hope it We are all so excited to see the snow and hope it stays for Christmas
Grumpy mom goes to the beach. If you hear report Grumpy mom goes to the beach. 

If you hear reports of a crazy lady walking Stanley beach in the downpour and singing at the top of her lungs, have no fear, ‘twas just me. 

Do you know the best part of homeschooling? Being with your kids all the time. Getting to make so many memories and develop a strong bond, laugh together, train them, shape their character, disciple them, see them grow up….

Do you know the hardest part of homeschooling? 
Being with your kids all the time. All the mess, all the noise, all the discipline and discipling and correction. Not being able to outsource the tiring and hard parts of parenting. 

Homeschooling isn’t neat and tidy that’s for sure. It’s loud and messy and tiring and hard. And it’s beautiful and rewarding and bonding and the best decision we ever made. 

Doesn’t have to be one or the other. Both can be true. I can love it and think it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done all at the same time. 

So that’s what brings me in my raincoat and boots, worship music blaring out of my pocket and out of my lips, to the beach…getting myself ungrumpy and ready for another week of the hardest and best thing I’ve ever done. I wouldn’t change it for all the money in the world. ❤️

@valmariepaper a nod to your grumpy mom takes a holiday book. ❤️
“I believe in God the Father, I believe in Jesus “I believe in God the Father,
I believe in Jesus Christ,
I believe in the Holy Spirit
And He’s given us new life.
I believe in the crucifixion, 
I believe that He conquered death.
I believe in the resurrection
And He’s coming back again
I believe.”

Last Sunday our oldest daughter publicly declared her saving faith and allegiance to Jesus through the act of obedience through believers baptism. What a glorious day! And for her daddy to do the honours was even more special. 

We will continue to disciple her as she grows in knowledge, understanding and love for God. 

You do not need to share my beliefs to be welcome here. I’ve got a seat for you at my table regardless of your religious views. But may where my belief, love and allegiance lays never be in question. 

We love you Hailey girl ❤️
One row of carrots and a few onions harvested. Abo One row of carrots and a few onions harvested. About 1/3 of what’s there so lots more work to do.
Thank you God for this harvest and it’s provision for our family
I accidentally cut myself off! Here is part 2! I a I accidentally cut myself off! Here is part 2! I also forgot that there are usually individual white boards down below with the binders but they used them this morning and they’re not put back yet!
Showing the rolling cart we use for school this ye Showing the rolling cart we use for school this year
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