Free and Frugal Homeschooling: Tips {Giveaway}

Welcome to the last day of my 5 Days of Free and Frugal Homeschooling!!  I hope you have enjoyed this series.

Today I'm going to be sharing some FREE and FRUGAL Homeschooling Tips!

If you missed it, here are the first four days along with their GIVEAWAYS, which at the time of this post, are still all open, so go and enter!!

Day 1 - Curriculum Plans and a Giveaway
Day 2 - Books and a Giveaway 
Day 3 - Printables and Planners and a Giveaway
Day 4 - Educational Online Games and a Giveaway

So here are a few Tips on Homeschooling FREE and Frugal:

Use the Library - If you have a well stocked public library nearby, this is a cheap way to find all those books on your reading list.  Also, take advantage of their inter-library loan system.

Buy Used, Swap, or Borrow - Buy, swap, or borrow from friends or shop your local used curriculum sale if you have one. 

Shop Sales - Buy school supplies when everything is on sale, and during the tax-free weekend if your state offers it.

Shop Online - I have found that if I can't find something used, I may be able to find it cheaper on Amazon or Books-A-Million.  Both offer free shipping if you buy over $25 and Books-A-Million and Barnes & Noble both have a 20% off educators discount for teachers. You just have to sign up for the card and then register the card number to your account.

Join a Co-op - Co-ops offer support and ideas that you would not have available otherwise.

Hand Down and/or Combine Kids- We only have one child so we sell things after we use them, unless they would be a good resource for the future or they were consumable.  But for bigger families, hand down books and curriculum to younger siblings or if they are close in age, combine their work.

Search FREE Sites - If I can find a free online site that has games, resources, or materials, I will try and incorporate it into our schedule. I try not to use too many, but they break up our day for time to time.

Netflix - Last year we decided to cancel our Direct TV and get only our local channels and Netflix. We LOVE Netflix!! There are many educational movies on there and you could probably find something to go along with any topic you are learning.

Amazon Prime - We don't have Amazon Prime at the moment but I've thought of getting it for the instant streaming of movies and TV episodes. Plus, there are over 350,000 Kindle titles to borrow for free. Still something we are thinking about.

Here are a few links to sites that help make Homeschooling FREE and Frugal

Homeschool Classifieds
Homeschool Buyers Co-op
Vegsource 
The Well-Trained Mind
FreeCycle
Ebay
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

The last of some great sites that offer free printables and more

Freely Educate
The Old Schoolhouse Magazine

GIVEAWAY #5

In keeping with the Free and Frugal Homeschooling theme, I'll be giving away some of my favorite homeschool products this week!!

Today you can enter to win a Six Month Membership to Reading Eggs AND An Autographed Copy of A Cry From Egypt!!

a Rafflecopter giveawayBefore you leave though, see what over 60 other bloggers at The Schoolhouse Review Crew have had to say, or start with these eight blogs below!

Anne Marie @ Future.Flying.Saucers ~ Christian Worldview 101
Marya @ Suncoast Momma ~ Homeschooling Special Needs
Kym @ Homeschool Coffee Break ~ Ordinary Homeschooling
Lisa @ Farm Fresh Adventures ~ Our Favorite Family Recipes
Dawn @ Double O Farms ~  Helping Your Struggling Learner
Gena @ I Choose Joy! ~ Homeschooling Middle School
Monique @ Living Life and Learning ~ Homeschooling with Lapbooks
DaLynn @ For the Display of His Splendor ~ Diagramming the Proverbs


Don't miss a thing! Subscribe to Our Homeschool Reviews and get our articles right to your inbox!

©2010-2014 Our Homeschool Reviews. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://ourhomeschoolreviews.blogspot.com/

Free and Frugal Homeschooling: Printables and Planners {Giveaway}

Welcome to Day 3 of my 5 Days of Free and Frugal Homeschooling!! Today I'm going to be sharing links for FREE Printables and Planners!

If you missed it, here's

Day 1 - Curriculum Plans and a Giveaway
Day 2 - Books and a Giveaway

Oh, my goodness, there are so many places online where you can find FREE Printables!!  I don't want to overwhelm anyone, so below are just a few that I recommend.

Some of these sites offer products that you can purchase, but I have linked only to the free sections.

Free Printables

Donna Young- free printables, planners, and more
Homeschool Share - free literature-based unit studies and resources
A Journey Through Learning - Free lapbook section
In the Hands of a Child - Free lapbooks and notebooking unit studies section
CurrClick - Free ebooks section
Teachers Pay Teachers - Free section
Lapbook Lessons -  Free lapbooks
Homeschool Freebie of the Day -  A new freebie each day
NotebookingPages.com - Free notebooking pages and resources
Notebooking Nook - Freebies by subject

Free Online Planners and Forms

Donna Young
New Bee Homeschooler
The Peaceful Mom
Living Well Spending Less
My Mardel Homeschool
Peace Creek on the Prairie
The Homeschool Mom
Highland Heritage
Notebooking Nook

A few great blogs with free printables {will feature more throughout the week} 

Confessions of a Homeschooler
Homeschool Creations
Five J's

GIVEAWAY #3

In keeping with the Free and Frugal Homeschooling theme, I'll be giving away some of my favorite homeschool products this week!!

Today you can enter to win TimeTrek: The Collection from Knowledge Quest {$44.95 value}!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway Before you leave though, see what over 60 other bloggers at The Schoolhouse Review Crew have had to say, or start with these eight blogs below!

Anne Marie @ Future.Flying.Saucers ~ Christian Worldview 101
Marya @ Suncoast Momma ~ Homeschooling Special Needs
Kym @ Homeschool Coffee Break ~ Ordinary Homeschooling
Lisa @ Farm Fresh Adventures ~ Our Favorite Family Recipes
Dawn @ Double O Farms ~  Helping Your Struggling Learner
Gena @ I Choose Joy! ~ Homeschooling Middle School
Monique @ Living Life and Learning ~ Homeschooling with Lapbooks
DaLynn @ For the Display of His Splendor ~ Diagramming the Proverbs



Don't miss a thing! Subscribe to Our Homeschool Reviews and get our articles right to your inbox!

©2010-2014 Our Homeschool Reviews. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://ourhomeschoolreviews.blogspot.com/

Free and Frugal Homeschooling: Books {Giveaway}

Welcome to Day 2 of my 5 Days of Free and Frugal Homeschooling!! Today I'm going to be sharing links for FREE and Frugal Books!

If you missed it, here's my Day 1 - Curriculum Plans and Giveaway.

There are a ton of free online book resources so if you haven't taken advantage of them, you should.  Here are just a few that I would recommend.

Free Online Books 

Project Gutenberg
The Baldwin Online Children's Literature Project
Children's Books Online
Children's Storybooks Online
Bibliomania
Amazon Classic Literature & Fiction Freebies

Free Audio Books

LibriVox 
Free Classic Audio Books
Books Should Be Free
Storynory
Librophile
Lit2Go
Open Culture

Free Book Quizzes

Book Adventure

Other Helpful Book Sites

Scholastic - Book recommendations and resources

Frugal Book Sites

Homeschool Classifieds
Paperback Swap
Half Price Books
Abe Books

A few great blogs with free printables {will feature more throughout the week}

Homeschool Encouragement
Enchanted Homeschooling Mom
Frugal Homeschool Family

GIVEAWAY #2

In keeping with the Free and Frugal Homeschooling theme, I'll be giving away some of my favorite homeschool products this week!!

Today you can enter to win a 1 Year Membership to SchoolhouseTeachers.com {$139 value}!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway Before you leave though, see what over 60 other bloggers at Schoolhouse Review Crew have had to say, or start with these eight blogs below!

Anne Marie @ Future.Flying.Saucers ~ Christian Worldview 101
Marya @ Suncoast Momma ~ Homeschooling Special Needs
Kym @ Homeschool Coffee Break ~ Ordinary Homeschooling
Lisa @ Farm Fresh Adventures ~ Our Favorite Family Recipes
Dawn @ Double O Farms ~  Helping Your Struggling Learner
Gena @ I Choose Joy! ~ Homeschooling Middle School
Monique @ Living Life and Learning ~ Homeschooling with Lapbooks
DaLynn @ For the Display of His Splendor ~ Diagramming the Proverbs



Don't miss a thing! Subscribe to Our Homeschool Reviews and get our articles right to your inbox!

©2010-2014 Our Homeschool Reviews. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://ourhomeschoolreviews.blogspot.com/

Free and Frugal Homeschooling: Curriculum Plans {Giveaway}

Welcome to Day 1 of my 5 Days of Free and Frugal Homeschooling!!  Today I'm going to be talking about FREE Curriculum Plans!  Yes, you can get complete curriculum plans online for FREE!!  Below are just a few.

Ambleside Online
An Old Fashioned Education
Khan Academy
Simply Charlotte Mason
Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool
Mater Amabilis 
Open Education Source 
Head of the Class
Hippo Campus 
Raising Sweet Blessings

Other sites that offer great curriculum resources include

Brightly Beaming Resources - Letter of the Week and more
VocabularySpellingCity- Tool for vocabulary, spelling, writing and language arts
Scott Foresman Reading - Full year of grammar and writing for grades 1-6
BigIQKids - Spelling and vocabulary
Art Projects for Kids - K-5 classroom tested art projects
Homeschool Share - Free literature-based unit studies and resources
Classics for Kids - Wonderful interactive site about the classics
Classic Science - Free year of Elementary Life Science
Deep Space Sparkle -  Art library

A few great blogs with free printables {will feature more throughout the week}

A Moment in our World
Only Passionate Curiosity
The Measured Mom

GIVEAWAY #1

In keeping with the Free and Frugal Homeschooling theme, I'll be giving away some of my favorite homeschool products this week!!

Today you can enter to win a 1 Year Premium Family Membership at VocabularySpellingCity!!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway Before you leave though, see what over 60 other bloggers at The Schoolhouse Review Crew have had to say, or start with these eight blogs below!

Anne Marie @ Future.Flying.Saucers ~ Christian Worldview 101
Marya @ Suncoast Momma ~ Homeschooling Special Needs
Kym @ Homeschool Coffee Break ~ Ordinary Homeschooling
Lisa @ Farm Fresh Adventures ~ Our Favorite Family Recipes
Dawn @ Double O Farms ~  Helping Your Struggling Learner
Gena @ I Choose Joy! ~ Homeschooling Middle School
Monique @ Living Life and Learning ~ Homeschooling with Lapbooks
DaLynn @ For the Display of His Splendor ~ Diagramming the Proverbs



Don't miss a thing! Subscribe to Our Homeschool Reviews and get our articles right to your inbox!

©2010-2014 Our Homeschool Reviews. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://ourhomeschoolreviews.blogspot.com/

Homeschool Technology - Got to Have it!

We are constantly using technology throughout our homeschool day.  When you think about it, it's really hard to get through the day without it.  Below are just a few of the resources we use day to day.

Computer - I don't know what I would do without my computer!  It's a lifeline to my friends and with that comes encouragement and help.  And I can't count how many worksheets, forms, documents, planning pages, and crafts I've created with it over the years.  Funny Bunny uses it to write stories and reports, and as she gets older, I'm sure she'll be using it for online classes as well.

Printer - As much as I hate wasting paper and ink, I absolutely need my printer! We have a love hate relationship. ;)

High Speed Internet - This is a must!  I just do too much online to not have it.

Netflix - Last year we decided to cancel our Direct TV and get only our local channels and Netflix.  We LOVE Netflix!!  There are many educational movies on there and you could probably find something to go along with any topic you are learning.

Amazon Prime - We don't have Amazon Prime at the moment but I've thought of getting it for the instant streaming of movies and TV episodes.  Plus, there are over 350,000 Kindle titles to borrow for free. Still something we are thinking about.

iPad - We use the iPad all the time for downloading books and educational apps.  It's also a great way to sit down and read lessons anywhere in the house.  This year we have been able to read Funny Bunny's watercolor instructions in the kitchen while she paints.  It's just so convenient.

DVD Player - Got to have this! Over the years some of our curriculum has come with DVDs to watch as the lesson.  As Funny Bunny gets older and the subjects get harder, I expect we'll be using more {especially with math}.

CD Player - Funny Bunny has had to use her CD player a lot this year since her curriculum came with an audio CD.

Facebook - Yep, it can be a time waster, but also a lifesaver!  I probably spend way too much time on it myself, but I've also made friendships I would have never made otherwise.  And we have joined several local groups because of it.

Pinterest - Another probable time waster, but Pinterest has so many ideas!!  We have used it for plenty of craft ideas, but it's also been helpful for homeschool ideas too.  I really only try to use it when I want to search for a specific topic, otherwise I could be on there all afternoon.  Oh, and it's great for menu planning too!

Laminator - I almost hate to admit it, but we have never had a laminator.  I don't think I would use it as much now that Funny Bunny is older, but I know I could have put it to good use when she was little.  I'm certain this is a must for many homeschool families, so I wanted to add it to our list.  And if you are looking for a good one, I've heard great things about the Scotch Thermal Laminator.

Modern Appliances - We don't cook together as much as I would like to, but we could never do the baking we do without modern appliances.  I know it seems silly, but a modern kitchen with good working large and small appliances is a necessity!

 
Sewing Machine - I'm not a sewer but hubby got me one when Funny Bunny was younger.  It's sat more than not, but I've used it way more than I thought I would.  I never know what it will be used for next, so it's nice to have on hand.

Keurig - I've cut down on the coffee drinking lately, but this has been an invaluable tool for my daily function for the past several years.  ;)

What technology do you use for your homeschool?  Go here to see the technology others use on the Schoolhouse Review Crew.



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©2010-2014 Our Homeschool Reviews. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://ourhomeschoolreviews.blogspot.com/

Hard Subjects to Teach

Over the years in our homeschool the subjects that have been the hardest to teach have changed.  Some years it was Math and some years it was Spelling.  This year those are actually going really well for us.

Of course, you have to keep in mind that my only child is just in 5th grade.  As she gets older I'm sure the subjects will change again.  I seriously can't imagine teaching Algebra and Geometry!  Thankful for teaching videos. :)

I would say right now that the subject I struggle teaching most has to be Latin.  I can teach the basics, but once we move past that, I just can't keep up.  :(

We've used several different curriculum, and thankfully they all come with CDs and DVDs.  I don't know what I would do without those.  But when Funny Bunny has a question that isn't in the book or DVD, I really can't help her.  Foreign language is just not my thing.

And unfortunately, she doesn't really like it either.  I'm hoping though, that as she gets older, I can find some kind of online or local class that she can take so she can be with other children or friends learning the same thing.  I think that will help motivate her with this hard to teach {and learn} subject!!

In the meantime, we are going to Keep Calm and Love Latin {well, at least we are going to try} ;)

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©2010-2014 Our Homeschool Reviews. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://ourhomeschoolreviews.blogspot.com/

Homeschooling Essentials: Flexibility

Today is the last day in the 5 Days of Homeschooling Essentials Blog Hop with The Schoolhouse Review Crew!  Each day 90 bloggers wrote about what they thought were the most important homeschooling essentials.  If you missed them, here are Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, and Day 4.

** Oh, and don't forget to enter my UNSTOPPABLE Giveaway!! **

Today I'm going to talk about:

FLEXIBILITY

Funny Bunny specifically asked that I add this to my list!  I admit that I'm not the most flexible person in the world.  When Funny Bunny was younger we took way more field trips and skipped school more to enjoy park days.  But now that her school load is larger, it's hard to take off too much, unless she wants to end up working through the summer.

But we still have to have some kind of balance between school and fun.  

So for the past few years, we only school at home 4 days a week.  Thursday each week we attend Community Bible Study and have since Funny Bunny was around 3 years old.  She really enjoys going and spending time with her friends.  For the past two years we've also gone to lunch afterwards with friends to extend their "play time."  By the time we get home, there are only a couple hours until dance, so we just enjoy the downtime.

Other activities include a once a month American Girl Book Club and various late afternoon and evening extra curricular activities. 

And then there are the times we have to be flexible for things that pop up like taking Maisy to the groomer, dentist visits, running errands, visiting grandparents, and illness.  There is always the unexpected right around the corner.

Now the type of flexibility Funny Bunny wanted me to write about is the type where we take lots of long breaks and finish school at 11am.  I'm not that flexible!  ;)  I mean, if we are having a really, really bad day and I can tell we just need a break, that is one thing.  But normally she has to get her school work done each day. 

Now I don't care if she does it on the floor,

or while she has a snack,

I just want it done.  That's flexible enough...right?!  ;)

Thanks for joining me all week to learn about our Homeschooling Essentials!

Before you leave though, see what nearly 90 other bloggers at The Schoolhouse Review Crew have had to say, or start with these nine blogs below!

Erica @ Be the One
Ellen @ Grace Tells Another Story
Jenn @ Treasuring Life’s Blessing
Michelle @ Delightful Learning
Sharon @ Life with the Tribe
Hillary @ Our Homeschool Studio
Melanie @ FinchNWren
Brittney @ Mom’s Heart
Heather @ Principled Academy



Don't miss a thing! Subscribe to Our Homeschool Reviews and get our articles right to your inbox!

©2010-2014 Our Homeschool Reviews. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://ourhomeschoolreviews.blogspot.com/

Homeschooling Essentials: A Library Card

Today is day 4 in the 5 Days of Homeschooling Essentials Blog Hop with The Schoolhouse Review Crew!  Each day 90 bloggers will be writing about what they think are the most important homeschooling essentials.  If you missed them, here are Day 1 , Day 2 and Day 3.

** Oh, and don't forget to enter my UNSTOPPABLE Giveaway!! **

Today I'm going to talk about:

HAVING A LIBRARY CARD

This is a major essential!!  AND IT'S FREE!!

We have been blessed with a wonderful library with a great children's program!  When Funny Bunny was little we practically lived there.  It was really a second home.  We went to all of the programs for her age {starting around 18 months old} and the librarians have literally watched her grow up.  There she is below at around 2 years old.

And of course we always brought back a load of books from our trips. Those were really special times.

Now we go to the library mostly to get books to add to our lesson or to research a certain topic.  It's still fun seeing the librarians...they all love to see Funny Bunny.  {I have always said one day she will volunteer there}

And if your local library is very small, check into buying a library card at a library in another county.  We have a huge library downtown in another county, and many families purchase the card to take advantage of their larger selection and extended check out times.

Come back tomorrow to learn more about our next Homeschooling Essential!

But before you leave, see what nearly 90 other bloggers at The Schoolhouse Review Crew have to say, or start with these nine blogs below!

Erica @ Be the One
Ellen @ Grace Tells Another Story
Jenn @ Treasuring Life’s Blessing
Michelle @ Delightful Learning
Sharon @ Life with the Tribe
Hillary @ Our Homeschool Studio
Melanie @ FinchNWren
Brittney @ Mom’s Heart
Heather @ Principled Academy




Don't miss a thing! Subscribe to Our Homeschool Reviews and get our articles right to your inbox!

©2010-2014 Our Homeschool Reviews. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://ourhomeschoolreviews.blogspot.com/

Homeschooling Essentials: Technology

Today is day 3 in the 5 Days of Homeschooling Essentials Blog Hop with The Schoolhouse Review Crew!  Each day 90 bloggers will be writing about what they think are the most important homeschooling essentials.  If you missed them, here are Day 1 and Day 2.

** Oh, and don't forget to enter my UNSTOPPABLE Giveaway!! **

Today I'm going to talk about:

TECHNOLOGY

Let's face it, it would be hard to homeschool without it!

Computer - I don't know what I would do without my computer!  It's a lifeline to my friends and with that comes encouragement and help.  And I can't count how many worksheets, forms, documents, planning pages, and crafts I've created with it over the years.  Funny Bunny uses it to write stories and reports, and as she gets older, I'm sure she'll be using it for online classes as well.

Printer - As much as I hate wasting paper and ink, I absolutely need my printer! We have a love hate relationship.  ;)

High Speed Internet - I just do too much online to not have it.

Netflix - Last year we decided to cancel our Direct TV and get only our local channels and Netflix.  We LOVE Netflix!!  There are many educational movies on there and you could probably find something to go along with any topic you are learning.

Amazon Prime - We don't have Amazon Prime at the moment but I've thought of getting it for the instant streaming of movies and TV episodes.  Plus, there are over 350,000 Kindle titles to borrow for free.  Still something we are thinking about.

iPad -  I left this off initially and can't believe I did.  We use the iPad all the time for downloading books and educational apps.  It's also a great way to sit down and read lessons anywhere in the house.  This year we have been able to read Funny Bunny's watercolor instructions in the kitchen while she paints.  It's just so convenient. 

DVD Player - Got to have this!  Over the years some of our curriculum has come with DVDs to watch as the lesson.  As Funny Bunny gets older and the subjects get harder, I expect we'll be using more {especially with math}.

CD Player - Funny Bunny has had to use her CD player a lot this year since her curriculum came with an audio CD.  

Facebook - Yep, it can be a time waster, but also a lifesaver!  I probably spend way too much time on it myself, but I've also made friendships I would have never made otherwise.  And we have joined several local groups because of it.

Pinterest - Another probable time waster, but Pinterest has so many ideas!!  We have used it for plenty of craft ideas, but it's also been helpful for homeschool ideas too.  I really only try to use it when I want to search for a specific topic, otherwise I could be on there all afternoon.

Sewing Machine - Not sure if this counts as technology, but it plugs in, so we'll go with it.  I'm not a sewer but hubby got me one when Funny Bunny was younger.  It's sat more than not, but I've used it way more than I thought I would.  I never know what it will be used for next, so it's nice to have on hand.

Keurig - No explanation necessary...

What technology do you use for your homeschool?  Did I miss anything?

Come back tomorrow to learn more about our next Homeschooling Essential!

But before you leave, see what nearly 90 other bloggers at The Schoolhouse Review Crew have to say, or start with these nine blogs below!

Erica @ Be the One
Ellen @ Grace Tells Another Story
Jenn @ Treasuring Life’s Blessing
Michelle @ Delightful Learning
Sharon @ Life with the Tribe
Hillary @ Our Homeschool Studio
Melanie @ FinchNWren
Brittney @ Mom’s Heart
Heather @ Principled Academy



Don't miss a thing! Subscribe to Our Homeschool Reviews and get our articles right to your inbox!

©2010-2014 Our Homeschool Reviews. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://ourhomeschoolreviews.blogspot.com/

Homeschooling Essentials: Supplies

Today is day 2 in the 5 Days of Homeschooling Essentials Blog Hop with The Schoolhouse Review Crew!  Each day 90 bloggers will be writing about what they think are the most important homeschooling essentials.  If you missed it, here is Day 1.  Next up is:

SUPPLIES

Oh I love school supply shopping!!  The smell of newly sharpened pencils and a brand new box of crayons!  What I love even more is that I don't need to follow anyone else's list but my own!!  :)

Funny Bunny and I shop together for school supplies each year.  It's a fun event, pacing the isles of Wal-mart for our favorite {and cheapest} supplies.

Got to have the essentials:  lined paper, printer paper, pencils, pens, markers, note cards, sticky notes, glue, highlighters, staplers, paints, tape, scissors, crayons, colored pencils, folders, binders, erasers, and of course, a cute puppy notebook.

But that's just the basic stuff.  What else is needed?  Here are a few things we can't seem to live without:

*  3-Hole Punch
*  Paper Cutter
*  Dry Erase Board
*  Chalk Board
*  Maps
*  Planner
*  The Best Pencil Sharpener Ever

Funny Bunny has a kitchen cabinet with all of her crafts, crayons, colored pencils, and more, so she can reach them easily when working on a project at the kitchen table.  The rest of the supplies are stored in the school room on shelves or in cabinets.  She also has a few things at her desk in her room.

Then there are the organizational products!   Shelves, bins, and cabinets.  Everything has its place. 

And of course, I need my own supplies...I'll take a little coffee with those books!

Oh, yes...and a BIBLE!

Come back tomorrow to learn more about our next Homeschooling Essential!

But before you leave, see what nearly 90 other bloggers at The Schoolhouse Review Crew have to say, or start with these nine blogs below!

Erica @ Be the One
Ellen @ Grace Tells Another Story
Jenn @ Treasuring Life’s Blessing
Michelle @ Delightful Learning
Sharon @ Life with the Tribe
Hillary @ Our Homeschool Studio
Melanie @ FinchNWren
Brittney @ Mom’s Heart
Heather @ Principled Academy



Don't miss a thing! Subscribe to Our Homeschool Reviews and get our articles right to your inbox!

©2010-2014 Our Homeschool Reviews. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://ourhomeschoolreviews.blogspot.com/

Homeschooling Essentials: Support

I'm so excited to be taking part in the 5 Days of Homeschooling Essentials Blog Hop with The Schoolhouse Review Crew!  Each day 90 bloggers will be writing about what they think are the most important homeschooling essentials.  First up for me is:

SUPPORT

Before homeschooling even becomes a reality, I think it is so important to have the support of your friends, family, and community!

Start with your family first.  Discuss it with your spouse.  What are your goals?  Are they in agreement?  Make a plan.  Will he or she help with teaching?  Are the children on board?  Are they excited?  Do you have the support of the grandparents?  Will they have a role?

For us, homeschooling was something we started considering when Funny Bunny was about three years old.  It of course didn't become a reality until she stayed home for Kindergarten and was only official when she didn't enroll in First Grade.  Hubby and I knew that this was the right move for Funny Bunny at the time and we were both in agreement.  Staying home indefinitely would be hard financially, but since it was on our radar since she was about three, we saved up.

The grandparents on the other hand, weren't quite as sure.  Homeschooling was new and never attempted in either family.  I'm not sure it made sense to either side at the time.  Both had many questions and weren't quite sure she would get the same kind of education as if she we in school {got that right}.  ;)  It took some time for them to understand our decision and become comfortable with it {and that's really all you can hope for}.

Find a local support group.   Search online for a support group in your area and get involved.  Groups are popping up all the time on Facebook, and make sure to check out Yahoo groups as well. Finding a well rounded and thriving support group will help you more than you know.

When Funny Bunny was three we joined a local homeschooling group which just happened to have a preschool subgroup.  Her and I both met some wonderful families that we are still friends with now over 7 years later.  I had so many questions back then and it was helpful to talk with moms who could steer me in the right direction.  By the time Funny Bunny was "official", it was a breeze.

That particular group is now dissolved, but from that started a local online Facebook group that currently has more than 200 families.  Inclusion in the group is by invite only and all new members have to be approved {mainly just verifying they currently homeschool}.  Any member can start an activity or smaller group and we have been able to become involved in many things we otherwise would not have been.  Oh, and the online support and encouragement is AMAZING!! 

If you aren't having any luck finding a local group, try searching for your state on Homeschool World.  This is the most comprehensive site I have found but you could always just Google homeschool groups in your city or state.

Join a Co-op.  Sometimes it's just easier for everyone when you have a group you are meeting with on a regular basis for accountability.  A cooperative, or co-op, is an autonomous association of persons who voluntarily cooperate for their mutual, social, economic, and cultural benefit.  Co-ops come in all shapes and sizes and finding the right one for your family is important.

We've been involved in many co-ops over the years.  Some which have included core subjects like math and history and others that just covered things like nature study and art.  Both have their pros and cons so it sometimes takes trying them out to see if it is a good fit.  We currently aren't involved with one now, but I'm sure we will be as Funny Bunny gets older.

So there you go!  Our first homeschooling essential is SUPPORT!  I think it's so important and will get you through those pressing questions and ups and downs you have over the years!

Come back tomorrow to learn more about our next Homeschooling Essential!

But before you leave, see what nearly 90 other bloggers at The Schoolhouse Review Crew have to say, or start with these nine blogs below!

Erica @ Be the One
Ellen @ Grace Tells Another Story
Jenn @ Treasuring Life’s Blessing
Michelle @ Delightful Learning
Sharon @ Life with the Tribe
Hillary @ Our Homeschool Studio
Melanie @ FinchNWren
Brittney @ Mom’s Heart
Heather @ Principled Academy



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©2010-2014 Our Homeschool Reviews. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://ourhomeschoolreviews.blogspot.com/

5 Days of Heart of Dakota: HOD Resources

Today is THE LAST DAY of the August 2013 Crew Blog Hop!  My five day topic is on the Christ-centered homeschool curriculum, Heart of Dakota.  If you missed it, here what I've talked about so far:

Heart of Dakota: Overview
Heart of Dakota: Nitty Gritty
Heart of Dakota: Learning Through History
Heart of Dakota: Day in the Life 

Our Homeschool Reviews Heart of Dakota Posts

Today I thought I would post some great Heart of Dakota resources because there are so many out there.  Below are just a few that I've found.

Heart of Dakota's Official Message Board - Start here!!
Heart of Dakota Blog Roll 2013-2014

Facebook Groups
Heart of Dakota Publishing
Little Hands to Heaven
Little Hearts for His Glory
Beyond Little Hearts for His Glory
Bigger Hearts for His Glory
Creation to Christ 
Resurrection to Reformation
Missions to Modern Marvels
World Geography
Heart of Dakota Buy/Sell/Trade

Yahoo Groups
Homeschooling Heart of Dakota Moms
Heart of Dakota Inspired
Heart of Dakota Buy Sell

Again, thanks for visiting!  I hope this Blog Hop topic has been helpful.  If you use Heart of Dakota with your family, I would love to hear from you.  Oh, and please click the banner below to visit some of the other great bloggers this week!


And you can click here for past Blog Hops I've participated in.



©2010-2013 Our Homeschool Reviews. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://ourhomeschoolreviews.blogspot.com/