With free printables, this homeschool mom’s ultimate list of help for back to homeschool includes encouragement, examples of routines and more!
The Homeschool Mom’s Ultimate List of Help For To Back To Homeschool
I have found that easing into a routine and celebrating the simple successes to go a long way at back to homeschool time. I also found out the hard way that plunging ahead without resting myself was a set up for crash and burn.
You know yourself and your children the best! Start back to homeschool when it is best for your family. Starting in July may be great so that you can take time off in the fall. But if starting after Labor Day is better, then choose a later start date.
Celebrate Back to Homeschool Time!
Have a Back to Homeschool Planning Date with your child – this one on one time is so valuable! Go to lunch together.
Enjoy FREE ‘Not Back to Homeschool’ printables for celebrating the start of your homeschool year! Mini messages and cupcake toppers just for the fun of it.
Get your Not Back to Homeschool Party Pack, below! Includes cupcake toppers, a printable banner, door signs and pencil toppers and more!
Back to Homeschool FUN! Here at The Curriculum Choice we have many tips and ideas to help with your planning and curriculum selections, but we would also like to remind you of something very important – don’t forget to build in some FUN!
FREE Last Days of Summer Nature Study Printable – such fun prompts for getting outside from our sister site, Homeschool Nature Study.
Homeschool Picutre Books Just in Time for Back to School – This is a collection of books specifically depicting homeschoolers and the lives they lead. I created this collection of homeschool picture books so that homeschoolers can celebrate what their school journey looks like.
Back To Homeschool Encouragement for the Homeschool Mom
So, let’s take care of you, the homeschool mom, first! If you are equipped, then you are better able to take care of and serve your family and lead your children through their homeschool days.
Taking Care of the Homeschool Mom (YOU!) – As homeschool moms, we tend to forget ourselves and take care of everyone else in our families.
Brain Hacks for Homeschool Moms (Just in Time for Back to School!) – These brain hacks for homeschool moms are just in time for back to school! From a mind-mapping tool to powerful questions, we can all learn from Maureen Spell!
A Homeschool Mom’s Morning Routine Series – So what does a homeschool mom morning routine look like day to day?
Should I Homeschool My Child? Help for Getting Started – Because you have a family like no one else, you have the freedom to design a learning experience specific to learning styles and on your own schedule.
Everything You Need to Create the Perfect Homeschool Schedule for Your Family – You may be wondering how you will be able to teach your school age children the three “r’s,” fit in all the other subjects, and still have time for other things? Will you be able to get to the household chores and appointments AND pay attention to your younger children? Let me assure you that it is possible to homeschool and do all these other things. I’ve compiled a list of everything you need to create the perfect homeschool schedule for your family. But first… why a schedule?
School Books on the Mantel – this is actually one of my favorites for help for back to homeschool – place your homeschool books on the mantel right where you and your children will see them!
Help for Back to School: Examples of Back To Homeschool Routines
Here are some examples of starting a homeschool schedule or routine as well as examples of homeschooling boys, girls and multiple ages.
How to Start A Homeschool Routine – I am sharing some favorite tips and resources for how to start a homeschool routine. A dear reader, Kimberly, asked: “Any advice on starting a homeschool routine for the first time? For us, it’s kindergarten so our first “school” day routine ever! I’m wondering how to make the transition from six years of all day, all play!” Kimberly gave me permission to share her question with you, along with my answer for starting a homeschool day.
A Daily Homeschool Schedule at Hodgepodge – Find a sample of daily homeschool schedule for an age range of homeschool students from preschool to high school. Day in the life of an age range? Multiple Ages? Sometimes I think homeschooling has taught me more than the children. This season of my life is a constant refining by fire. I have so many chances to respond Biblically or to ask forgiveness and daily opportunity to live in His strength.
A Day in the Life of Homeschooling Boys – Here is an example of a daily schedule for homeschooling boys. This ‘A Day in the Life’ style will give you our unique homeschool day perspective with all boys.
A Daily Schedule for Homeschooling Girls – Here is an example of a daily schedule for homeschooling girls. This ‘A Day in the Life of Our Mostly-Traditional, All-Girl Home School will give you a unique homeschool day perspective with all girls.
from the days of Hodgepodge Homeschool at hodgepodge.me
Our Homeschool Routine with Multiple Ages: Preschool to High School
This is how we started back to homeschool with our five children! I hope these examples with be a help for back to homeschool!
Once again we are having a slow and steady start to homeschool. We are still hanging on to summer and dipping in the pool while getting our feet wet in homeschool. Last week we started with just math. Plus we started back to piano lessons. This week we have added another subject (of each child’s choice) and are getting back to using our student planners. I must confess that this year I have just needed the extra summer time.
We won’t officially be full time back to school until after Labor Day but we had to take our annual back to homeschool photo! And there is plenty to do and many learning opportunities! Many of the regular extracurricular activities have started back: piano, drama troupe, choir, youth group, praise band practice, park days with our homeschool group … and, what am I forgetting? Here’s a few snapshots of our week…
1. Love it! Caught giggling over the Audubon First Field Guide: Insects book. Reading aloud and the name and characteristics. | 2. Oh she is loving being like the big kids and doing third grade Teaching Textbooks on the computer. | 3. Having fun with Unit Studies Sensational Sharks! Watching videos of bull and tiger sharks plus exploring a cool interactive shark anatomy. Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea or walked in the recesses of the deep? Job 38:16 | 4. Celebrating a birthday and enjoying summer at the pool!
This is so exciting! Apologia’s Constitutional Literacy course by Michael Farris. A fantastic follow up to the civics and government course and trip to Washington, D.C. last year. And, we were so excited to get started with Constitutional Literacy, we went ahead and read the first chapter and watched the first session.
We had a great Shark Week! Not only did we enjoy Sensational Sharks but everybody picked a couple of tutorials from our Sharks: Chalk Art for All Ages and painted. You, too, can Dive Into A Shark Study!
More Help for Back to Homeschool
- Return of the Routine – an absolutely free ebook of our best slow and steady steps to success. You may still be feeling the weight of this past year. Or you may be facing the overwhelming responsibility of getting back into the school year. 15 pages of tried and true homeschool routines and habits. Reluctant return of routine-r? Download now and save it for when you are ready. Simply subscribe for this free download.
- Reserve all the books you can from the library and put them in a central location (we do the family room fireplace mantel and the coffee table) just so they are in sight and inviting.
- How to Start a Homeschool Routine with Little Ones
- I Can’t Homeschool Because of the Little Ones
- A Hodgepodge of Answers for the Homeschool Critics
- Annual Hodgepodge Homeschool Photos – I’m so glad we have done this since the year 2000!
- Weekly Homeschool Planning Meeting with Multiple Ages
- 10 Pieces of Advice I Wish I’d Known Before I Started Homeschooling
- Help! I’m Homeschooling! Helpful Habits for the Heart of Homeschooling
And remember my favorite quote that is the biggest help for back to homeschool: You can’t change what you have or haven’t done over the past year. Just start where you are, ask the Lord to make you a “joyful mother of children,” pray for grace and wisdom (and strength and patience), and move forward. ~ Vicki Bentley, HSLDA and Everyday Homemaking
Baby toes on my now high schoolers!
Those are just a few little tips and help for back to homeschool that helped us (me!) so much. Since 2001!
First shared August 2014 and updated a decade later.
….Ah…those photos of the “baby toes” of the now high school children…make me smile a wistful smile…..
Forever,
Nana
Me too. I am grateful that we started doing those photos back in 2001. Every time I look at it on the fridge it makes me smile!
I always feel happy and refreshed after seeing one of your weekly posts. I love and look forward to seeing your back to school photos. I love the way you ease into school and mix in some summer time as well. Many blessings on your new school year! Oh, and your kids are getting big!
Phyllis you are so sweet! I am so very thankful we can ease into school like we do and that it doesn’t have to come crashing in all at once. Thank you – yes, they are getting big – it really does happen fast!
Where has the summer gone? We start school the same way you do – slowly! Actually, we do part-time schooling all through the summer, but we will get back into full-time next week. We use and love Teaching Textbooks as well. That Constitutional Literacy curriculum looks good. Keep us posted on how you like it. Love the Vicki Bentley quote, the recommendation of Finishing Strong, and the reminder that I need to take more homeschooling pics. Thanks!
I agree Heather – summer went at lightning speed! We are already hooked on ConLit – and I am sharing a review in the next couple of weeks. Love Vicki Bentley – one of the best homeschool mentors!
Welcome to another year! We start 9/2. Maine’s summers are just too short to start until AFTER Labor Day! LOL I’m ready; I think. Great first week!
I hear you – make summer last as long as possible and take advantage of the sunshiney days 🙂
A great idea to have a photo taken each year – never thought of that – I guess the closest we’ve come to that is a yearly photo around the Christmas tree. It is so fun to see their growth each year. All the best as you head off into your new year. We are mid-way, and are doing our mid-year reviews at the moment (different school year in Australia.)
A yearly photo around the Christmas tree is great – see – we aren’t consistent with that! I love hearing about how different things are in Australia – one of my fellow authors at The Curriculum Choice is in Australia (Kendra at Aussie Pumpkin Patch) – is often reminding me of the opposite weather and different school schedules. Love homeschooling for that! Thanks Belinda 🙂