Homeschooling Essentials

Explore a range of essential homeschooling advice and resources from a veteran homeschool mom. Our Homeschooling Essentials category covers beginner strategies, organizational tools, and insights for overcoming common homeschool challenges, and draws from personal experiences, including homeschooling a STEM gifted child and navigating the unique journey of homeschooling an only child.

homeschooling with bridgeway academy review

Homeschooling with Bridgeway Academy Review- The Most Flexible Accredited School

Post updated: August 2024 Inside: Discover an honest Bridgeway Academy review from a homeschooling mom of 6 years. Learn about their flexible programs, accreditation, and support. Find out if it’s the right fit for your family’s homeschooling journey. Navigating homeschooling can feel like exploring uncharted territory—there are so many choices,…

Homeschool Records online record keeping for homeschoolers

A Homeschool Records Review: Online Tools for Homeschool Records Keeping

Inside: Homeschool records keeping is essential for state compliance, college applications, and scholarships. As Marc enters 8th grade, managing high school credits becomes crucial. Homeschool Records is an online tool that simplifies this process with features like automated transcript generation, attendance tracking, and volunteer hour documentation. It’s user-friendly and ensures…

50 fun and affordable summer activities for teens

50 Fun Summer Activities for Teens | Summer Bucket List

Inside: Join me as we explore 50 creative and engaging summer activities for teens to reduce screen time and enhance their skills. From outdoor adventures to artistic projects, these ideas will keep your teen active and learning all summer. As a homeschooling mom of a 13-year-old, I understand the challenge…

Homeschool Planet review- the best online homeschool planner

The Only Online Homeschool Planner You’ll Ever Need | A Homeschool Planet Review

Inside: There are many online homeschool planners to choose from but what’s possibly the best homeschool planner? I think it’s Homeschool Planet because of its features and automation as well as its ease-of-use. Let’s talk about something close to my heart, planning. You know I love my paper planners but…

A guide to homeschool preschool

Starting Your Homeschool Preschool: A Child-Led Journey to Develop a Love for Learning

Inside: Ready to jump into homeschooling your preschooler with both feet? This guide’s packed with advice to make learning at home a long-term success for you and your preschooler. We’ll chat about why letting your kiddo lead the way with their curiosity can make all the difference but also about…

Can you homeschool an only child?

Benefits of Homeschooling an Only Child | Pros and Cons

Inside: Ever wondered what makes homeschooling an only child so special? Discover why homeschooling an only child tops the charts! Join us as we unravel the unique benefits and address some concerns. Learn why this might be the best decision you’ll ever make for your family’s future. Thinking about homeschooling…

Thematic learning- spring and valentine's day unit study and spring activity for kids
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20+ Delightful Spring Activities for Kids and Valentine’s Day Unit Study Ideas❤️ | Thematic Learning

Inside: Looking for engaging Spring activities for kids and a Valentine’s Day Unit Study to sprinkle some fun and learning into your homeschool day? You’re in the right place. From engaging activity ideas to learning about myths and developing literacy and numeracy skills, this post has it all! Spring is…

socializing homeschoolers - myths and reality

Stop Overemphasizing Socializing Homeschoolers | The Teen Edition

Inside: Tackling the hot topic of socializing homeschoolers, this article navigates the delicate balance between actively seeking social opportunities and honoring the unique individuality of each homeschooled child. “What about socialization?” This omnipresent, cringey socialization question is often the first one you’ll hear when you start homeschooling. It’s been dubbed…

The art of child led learning by monkey and mom

The Art of Child-Led Learning: A Homeschooling Trend Worth Following?

Inside: Ever wondered about the magic formula for instilling a lifelong love of learning in kids? The answer lies in balancing child-led learning with structured guidance. This approach creates a flexible yet focused educational experience that sparks curiosity and allows skills to develop at each child’s unique pace. When I…

Raise creators not consumers of tech- teach computer skills for kids monkeyandmom
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Raise Creators, not Consumers of Tech | Teach Computer Skills for Kids

There’s a common misconception that kids can pick up all computer skills for kids on their own. We might assume that because our little ones are tech-savvy with iPads or our teens breeze through video games, they’re already tech experts and computer literate. But here’s a different way to think…

How to teach multiplication to struggling students- dyscalculia math curriculum (1)
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10 Tips for Teaching Multiplication to Struggling Students

After going through Algebra 1 and elementary math in our homeschool, I can say with certainty that teaching basic math is sometimes more difficult than Algebra 1. We had our fair share of hurdles in math, despite my rising 7th grader getting ready for high school Geometry for the upcoming…

Top 5 Features all homeschool planners should have

The 5 Key Features A Homeschool Planner Should Have To Make Your Life Easier | Focused Planners

As homeschool moms, we all know how important it is to stay on top of things, to be organized, and to balance the various aspects of our life. Homeschooling is an amazing journey but also a big responsibility that requires planning and organizing. That’s why homeschool planners, whether paper or…

Our Planning Secrets | Homeschool Student Planner & How We Plan Our Homeschool Year  (part 2)

Our Planning Secrets | Homeschool Student Planner & How We Plan Our Homeschool Year (part 2)

Homeschool planning doesn’t have to be complicated or take a lot of time and I discovered that including kids in the planning process will make them more involved in their learning, giving them the opportunity to take learning into their own hands. My ultimate homeschooling goal is to get my…

10 Summer Ideas for Homeschooling Fun & Exploration Ideas

10 Summer Ideas for Homeschooling Fun & Exploration – part 2

Because I promised we don’t only do academic stuff during the summer, here’s part two of our plans for the next couple of months. I condensed them into 10 summer ideas for homeschooling fun and exploration. You can read about our planner, summer learning, activities, and why we chose to…

10 ways of binding homeschool books at home monkeyandmom

How to Bind Homeschool Books: 10 Affordable DIY Methods Every Parent Should Know

As a homeschooling parent, you’ve likely encountered the need to bind your children’s workbooks and books to keep everything organized and prevent papers from flying everywhere. Fortunately, there are several cost-effective DIY binding methods you can explore. In this article, we’ll delve into 10 different ways to bind homeschool books…

Minimal Expenses Homeschool

How to find cheap books and textbooks for homeschooling

Homeschooling internationally and particularly buying books and textbooks, isn’t cheap. But by researching and choosing wisely, you can keep your expenses minimal while still getting all the books you need. Because a new homeschooling year is looming closer, I decided to write about how I manage to keep costs down…

4th grade book reports template by monkey and mom
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How We Do Book Reports- 4th Grade Literature

What do you do for literature? Do you do book reports for 4th grade? This year, after discussing with our teacher, we decided to take a different approach to the traditional comprehension questions by focusing on book reports instead. Marc doesn’t like writing, and writing composition is difficult for him….

Homeschooling Beginner guide

Homeschooling 101 – The Homeschooling Beginner Guide

Inside: Beginning homeschooling might feel overwhelming and scary, but with a little research and armed with some good resources for both parents and kids, you can start to carve your own path in this wonderful world of homeschooling. In the current global climate, homeschooling has emerged as a viable and…

How to homeschool in Europe- Accredited Schools or Umbrella Schools

Homeschooling in Europe – Picking an Accredited or an Umbrella School

Inside: Considering Homeschooling in Europe? You might need to choose an umbrella or accredited school But among the many options, which one should you choose? This article explains the differences between the various types of schools and what accreditations to look for. Homeschooling in Europe isn’t always straightforward. Fortunately, if…