Homeschooling can be a wonderful experience for both moms and kids, but it’s important to stay organized. One of the biggest decisions you’ll make as a homeschooler is what curriculum to choose. Here are some homeschool organization and curriculum tips to help you make your journey in homeschooling a beautiful one.
Homeschool Organization: Finding Beauty
Are you overwhelmed by curriculum choices for elementary kids? There is so much BEAUTY in homeschooling… I read the below advice from a seasoned homeschool mom with MULTIPLE children, I am sharing many of her tips sprinkled in with other tips I have personally experienced and learned from as well as other mentors I have had pour into me over the years!
Do You Need Boxed Curriculum?
I am going to ROCK your thinking! With elementary children – I personally don’t think you need one set or boxed curriculum that covers every subject. I guarantee you that Jesus’ mom didn’t have one. Neither did the apostle’s moms who were mostly homeschooled. They just came alongside their parents and learned from them. You can do this too Mom and Dad!
Boxed curriculum seldom works for new-to-homeschooling families, families with multiple children who have large age gaps, or those with special needs. Trust me I have been there and have bought expensive curriculums touted to solve all my problems and then have been unable to use them.
What Is Your Child’s Learning Style?
First thing is to determine your child’s learning style and this quiz will help!
Once you know this, you will have a better idea of how you and your child will THRIVE! The goal is for your child to LOVE learning and knowing HOW they enjoy learning will help foster this love!
Getting The Curriculum You Need
Next, you can try Easy Peasy or Ambleside online. They are both free and you can simply choose the subjects you need. Elementary students need math, reading, and writing daily… that is all! You will sprinkle in other subjects based on their interests!
You may also research different curriculums using Cathyduffyreviews.com. Cathy is a fabulous mentor who breaks down each curriculum so you get an idea of what you need.
So I recommend at first that you either do Easy Peasy, Ambleside, or DIY it. Especially for Elementary and first-time homeschool experiences!
DIY Homeschool Curriculum & Organization
- Bible: Read a chapter or half a chapter a day and discuss it. Have kids memorize key verses using a whiteboard. Read the whole verse aloud together. Then erase one word and read it aloud again. Repeat until they know it. One to two verses a week is good for elementary.
- Writing: Purchase a writing notebook. Have kids copy quotes and cursive letters!
- Spelling words: look up words and definitions in the dictionary and copy them, or do creative writing. Start where they are… If they are little they can copy letters, once a day for a few lines. If they are older, google creative writing prompts, spelling word lists, etc. For spelling, correct their writing and have them write the words they got wrong 5x or 10x each. Or you can use a cheap spelling workbook like Spelling Workout. We loved Spelling Workout.
- Grammar: You can teach the basics using printouts online or try “Fix it Grammar” which is cheap/easy and was our favorite! You’ll need a dry erase board or chalkboard. A good investment anyway.
- Reading: Go to the library and get books your child(ren) like. Allow them to get lots of genres – including comic books! The goal is a LOVE of reading. Require reading for 1/2 hour – an hour a day. Use this time to personally REST + read!
- History: Use the library and do read aloud. Or use a free site like Ducksters.com which has bite-sized history information as well as geography and science. We LOVED and still love Ducksters.
- Science: Use Pinterest and do hands-on experiments – let your kid’s interests and questions guide you.
- Social Studies: Look up travel videos online or at the library. Again, let your child’s interests and questions guide you! Go to the library or a book store to the travel section and have each child pick out what looks interesting to them! Snuggle in together to read and then look up videos once home!
- Geography: Get a globe and maps. Memorize the state song which you can find on YouTube. Use free, printable blank maps and have kids fill them in for each continent.
- Math: Use free, online math worksheets like Captain Salamander and Math Antics videos. I also highly recommend the program Learn Math Fast. You might also find gently used on Thriftbooks.com. You can use cooking to help learn math such as fractions and measuring. Legos are also a great manipulative to teach math. Google teaching fractions with legos, so much fun stuff!
- Art: You can look up artists online, study their bio and then do a project based on their style.
- Music: Listen to different composers from different eras. Talk about them and read their bio.
- Gym: Go play at a park or outside. We got a trampoline which was the single best investment I ever made. Alternatively, a swing set.
A “Typical” Day of Homeschool Organization
LISTEN, MOMs….You don’t have to do everything each and every day ~ in fact, it’s NOT recommended. Simply do reading, writing, math, and bible study every day. Then add in other things sporadically!
Make sure you leave enough time for unstructured play! Have Legos and art supplies handy.
Best Advice Ever For Homeschooling
The best advice I can give is to PRAY, homeschooling brought our family so much closer and closer to Papa God! I have never heard Him clearer than when I was praying about whether to homeschool or not – it was quite obvious He loves homeschool and will equip you to do it and do it well!
If you are a homeschooling mom, take heart! You can do this. It is going to require some effort and organization on your part, but it will be worth it. And if you’re interested in learning how to make money as a homeschool mom while still fulfilling your important role as a mom, I’ve got you covered. Take a look at this short 4-minute video I created for you HERE.
