5 Freedoms of Homeschooling

My family and I often appreciate the freedoms of homeschooling. I’ve been thinking on those quite a bit this last week. As we’ve started, slow and steady back to school, I’ve been pausing on the freedoms. Plus we’ve experienced some big milestones dropping our eldest off at college and starting 3rd, 5th, 9th and 12th grade years.

Have you found these freedoms to be true as well?

Late summer days and catching morning light with English.

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I’ve focused on the freedoms of homeschooling before in my 10 Great Freedoms of Homeschooling. Some of these I share today may overlap but I think it is always a good practice to be grateful for the chance to homeschool. Don’t you?

The Hodgepodge Homeschool 2016-17 officially started slow and steady August 17!
L to R: 5th grade, senior, freshman, 3rd grade. “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18 #HodgepodgeHomeschool ⭐️ #homeschool 📚🎶🎭🚴🖥🔬🔭📖✏️ #just4 ❤️ #16thYear #firstdayofhomeschool

We started back to homeschool the day after we dropped big sister off at college. And yes, we have another senior! This year two high schoolers and two elementary schoolers. The first year in a long while that we haven’t had a middle schooler. But that will change next year.

Freedom to Set Your Own Schedule

We are simply still in a summer frame of mind. So some days we are up and going early with the sun. Other days we don’t get started until a little after nine. We are also making time to run down to the neighborhood pool and enjoy it before it closes.

This homeschool high school organization brought to you by 9th grader. She was my 5th grade kinesthetic learner not too long ago. See how she likes to have her stack and do most of her school work on the family room couch? I love the binder she made!

I’ve shared about our homeschool learning spaces before. This week it was evident that they all like certain spots for certain subjects. New this year is the large, butcher block style kitchen table in our homeschool room. This table is the one that was our family table during my growing up years. It makes a great space to spread out. Fifth grader seemed to use it the most.

My littlest guy, now third grade, still likes his desk area plus has moved up to Teaching Textbooks 3 on the computer! He does like the morning light of the homeschool room window. Plus he’s been known to spread out on the floor on his tummy to do phonics and handwriting.

Freedom to Study and Learn Anywhere

I really noticed my children studying all over this week. And I loved that each one is unique and can study in a way that is best for each of them.

Freedom to Use the Curriculum and Tools that Work Best

We’ve always used a hodgepodge of resources and tools for our five children. Even more so as we’ve spanned the ages and stages from preschool to elementary to middle school, high school and off to college.

Of note this year…

Apologia Physics for my senior science and math guy. (Notice he tucked himself away from the others to read this chapter in a quiet spot).

Thanks Teaching Textbooks for spanning the ages and grades with math! When Pre-Calc arrives we will have worked through every year available. And our youngest just started with Math 3 last week 📚 We highly recommend! More on our experience with Teaching Textbooks.

Freedom to Spend the Time Needed

Even though we use Tapestry of Grace as our core history and literature curriculum (love it for our span of ages), we’ve also been learning with Night School and Compass Classroom’s Modernity. Dave Raymond offers our high school elective for this year. Yes, we chose history as an elective. Because we have the freedom to do that!

When big sister is on Skype from college ❤️ (and Hodgepodgedad is concentrating on helping her with something on her computer.)

Freedom to Have Freedoms!

I love technology for doing multiple subjects with multiple grades. I also love it for keeping in touch with my college freshman. Many have asked how we have been adjusting to the change of her being away at school. I did tear up once when we dropped her off. But I have just been overcome with the sheer joy of knowing she loves it. It has been a joy to see the Lord provide and guide her. I know there will be stressful days but for now I am caught up in her excitement and love of learning.

God is good. All the time. Here’s the ‘we just got her all moved in, walked to the falls, got caught in a downpour and we are all trying to fit under this tiny umbrella while giggling at it all’ selfie. 😊
My baby’s all grown up and starting a new journey. As a parent it is sheer joy to see how the Lord directs and provides. And I have no greater joy to hear my children are walking in the truth. 3 John 1:4 ❤️ #parenting #1000gifts #loveher #IonlyTearedUpOnce #HodgepodgeHomeschool

Of course I’ve done my own organizing and finding a new normal. With some birthday money, I purchased an amazing shelf to organize our essential oils. More on that and my new IKEA desk coming soon…

Did you catch that? We have another senior year. Savoring and enjoying!

Linking up and sharing in the fun with Mary’s Collage Friday, Kris’ Weekly Wrap Up and Finishing Strong.

Have you started your homeschool year yet?

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