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Do you have a suggestion for where we should go next on a field trip?

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Whatever it is, the best way to reach me is Instagram @a.homeschool.mom!

a.homeschool.mom

Lauren | New to homeschooling? Curious about it? Let's Connect! Sharing Homeschool Info, Activities, & Tips for Happier Homeschooling!

An honest take on this trend 🙈 I’m proud of

An honest take on this trend 🙈

I’m proud of y’all for keeping your peace, but I do like to know what’s going on outside of my little homeschool momma bubble, for better or for worse. 😅

Most days the only drama I see is over Legos or Nerf guns.

Give me some real adult conversation. Something to think about. Something to form an opinion on. A story to laugh or cry about. Share the details, bring me up to speed. ✌️🙃

The vibes: Playing in the yard. Homeschooling. Bro

The vibes: Playing in the yard. Homeschooling. Brothers that are best friends. Home-cooked meals. Books with mom. Kitchen dance parties. Nerf battles. Campfires. Laughter and grace. Fireflies before bedtime. Family first, always. 💕

Where’s your little alive of heaven?

As much as I love a good adventure, I find my peace on the slow days at home with the kids. ✨

#homeschoolmom #homeschoollife

If you’re starting your homeschool journey this

If you’re starting your homeschool journey this fall or curious about homeschooling, follow along as I share the joys and challenges of homeschooling!

There’s no place I’d rather be than home with these two. 🫶🏻 We knew that we’d homeschool from the time we got married. We’re now a few years in and I wouldn’t change it for the world!

Is it a lot of work? Yup! Does it have its highs and lows? Absolutely. But at the end of the day, there is no greater joy than spending our days learning and growing together.

Homeschooling is an adventure for the whole family. We get to learn, grow, play, and explore together every day! It’s been incredible to watch as my son’s knowledge grows. I’ve loved seeing how much the kids learn from each other. I’ve been surprised by how much I’ve been learning as their guide!

I hope you enjoy following along on our homeschool experience! I promise to share an honest peek into homeschooling with tips, ideas, and resources along the way. 🫶🏻

We all love making sandcastles, collecting shells,

What are some of my homeschool struggles? Let’s

What are some of my homeschool struggles? Let’s jump right in:

1. Homeschooling gives you a lot of flexibility and freedoms to spend your time how you wish! Which is awesome, except it means that people come and go more frequently. It’s a bummer to build relationships with a family and then have them drop your shared activity. Yeah, you can stay friends but it’s nice to see them regularly!

2. It’s a huge benefit to be able to customize your child’s education and do what works for your family. However, finding what works takes effort and sometimes that means trial and error. The trial and error part is annoying.

3. Since I stay home, I take on most of the daily household chores like cooking, cleaning, and laundry. It can be hard to find the balance between a good homeschool day, a present mom, a well-managed home, and my sanity. The house is usually lower on the priority list. 🙈

If you made it this far, you must be curious about homeschooling! Give me a follow for more homeschooling info, tips, and helpful resources! ✌️

#homeschool #homeschoolmom #homeschoollife

When my son was first learning to read, we realize

When my son was first learning to read, we realized that he needed a lot more practice with his alphabet.
We needed a strong foundation of each letter sound before we could move forward. So, we put down the English curriculum and spent a few weeks doing nothing but phonics flashcards!

It worked wonders.

Here are some fun and active ways to get your kids more phonics practice using simple flashcards:

Flashcard Runaround: set up a designated ‘running course.’ Each time your kiddo passes a check point, have them read a few flashcards before passing!

Simon Says: place the flashcards face-up on the ground. Give Simon says commands related to the cards like “Simon says hop to the h- card.”

Sensory Bin Phonics: hide the flashcards in a sensory bin (beans or rice work, but check out @threepeasplay for some spectacular sensory filler if you haven’t already). Have the kiddos make the sounds or read the words as they find them.

Scavenger Hunt: hide your flashcards around the house or yard. Have your kiddos sound out or read the cards as they find them.

Flashcard Ball Toss: take turns tossing a ball back and forth. Practice a letter sound or word with each turn.

IDK about you, but I love being able to make these fun activities for my busy little homeschooler! 🫶🏻

See more fun with the #playfullearning mamas! 💕✨Follow along with:

@asenseof_home
@ahomesweethomeschool
@aspen.schoolhouse
@acozyhomeschool
@beautyandblake
@goldcountrymotherhood
@raising_critical_thinkers
@smilethru_
@threepeasplay
@a.homeschool.mom
@the.poets.pantry

#homeschool #homeschoolphonics #homeschoolenglish #homeschoolfun

Homeschooling 🤝 Gardening How’s your summer

Homeschooling 🤝 Gardening

How’s your summer garden, homeschool moms?

When my husband said the kids needed their own gardens, I honestly thought “cool, more work for us” 😅 It turns out the kids are really into gardening.

This year and the last, we’ve done gardening as our gentle summer science and it’s been beautiful! My husband built new beds for the kids this year. Last year their interest came and went, but this year?! They’re all in, especially now that they have fruits and veggies to pick!

The kids are using their gardens as excuses to play in the hose. They’re making cucumber salads, snackin’ on berries, and sautéing their own squash. My eldest even built a little fence around his raised bed after it got mowed down by some deer. Science? Problem solving? Patience? ✅✅✅

If you have a summer garden and a little, check out my new garden scavenger hunt listed in my bio 💕🍅🥬 I did it with my youngest and it was so sweet 🥰

#homeschool #homeschoolfamily #homeschoolgarden

Homeschooling can happen anywhere, but our favorit

Homeschooling can happen anywhere, but our favorite place to learn is outside 🫶🏻✨

Did you know that the average child in America has under ten minutes of ✨unstructured play✨outside a day?! Homeschooling allows our kids to have so much more. With schoolwork out of the way early, most of days are spent playing.

If you’re looking for gentle ways to spend more time outside with your kiddos, download my “Outdoor Scavenger Hunt Bundle” or “Art in the Park” for easy outdoor fun! They’re linked in my bio! 💕💕

If you’re curious about homeschooling, follow along on our homeschool adventures for mom-to-mom support, fun ideas, & helpful resources!

#homeschooling #homeschoolmom #homeschooloutside #getkidsoutside

Holidays make for such great learning opportunitie

Holidays make for such great learning opportunities! One of the fun things about homeschooling is how life integrates with learning. Holidays are such a wonderful part of life, so naturally they’re perfect for fun learning!

This week we’re reading “The Fourth of July Story” by Alice Dalgliesh and enjoying the @ahomesweethomeschool Fourth of July Smash Pack 🫶🏻💕

Are you learning about Independence Day this week?

#homeschool #homeschoollife

20+ creative outdoor activities for you and your k

20+ creative outdoor activities for you and your kids to enjoy together 💕 My Art in the Park printable is linked in my story and bio!

I know these summer days are long, but just getting out in that sunshine for a bit and doing something together is so worth it!

I made this printable for my own kiddos so we could do an activity or two everyday for gentle learning outside. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

A few of the included activities are:
- Bark rubbings
- Leaf rubbings
- Tracing a shadow
- Nature collages
- Color scavenger hunt
- Texture scavenger hunt
- Nature faces
- Match the length
- Nature patterns
- Writing a poem
- Doodling
- Drawing Symmetry

Happy homeschooling 🫶🏻🫶🏻

#homeschool #homeschoolmom #homeschoolresources

Cheers to your homeschool summer and whatever shen

Cheers to your homeschool summer and whatever shenanigans you’re getting into!🍦🌊

It’s okay to take breaks. It’s okay to keep schooling. The beauty of homeschooling is being able to do what works best for your fam.

For us, our summer is one full of pool days, treats, little adventures, Nerf Battles, and movies. We’ve been having fun and taking a REAL break from school. Like yeah, we’re learning, but in fun and organic ways. We’re mostly just out here having a good time and I think we’re all better for it. 💕

#homeschool #homeschoollife #homeschoolmom #homeschoolsummer

It’s a serious responsibility to educate your ch

It’s a serious responsibility to educate your child at home. We want to do our best! But if I could go back I’d tell myself that I could relax, like a lot.

Thankfully no spirits were crushed, but I did stress myself out a lot unnecessarily. 😆 The good thing about mistakes? We learn from them, we grow, and we adjust! Our next year was so much better!

I was too focused on knocking off lessons out of the workbook each morning that I overlooked what we were really doing. We were establishing our homeschool. We were building rituals and routines and habits.

The real work of our first year wasn’t in the workbooks. It was preparing are hearts and minds and home for a new journey. Once I learned that lesson, our homeschool flourished! 💕

If you’re curious about homeschooling, follow along on our homeschool adventures for mom-to-mom support, fun ideas, & helpful resources!

🙈 What was your first year mistake?

#homeschoolmom #homeschoollife #homeschooling

Gahh! I’m so excited to share this nature-inspir

Gahh! I’m so excited to share this nature-inspired download with you!! 💕✨

Introducing ‘Art in the Park’ - a compilation of over 20 nature-inspired, creative, and engaging activities to enjoy time outside with your kiddos! 🌳🍄

No planning. No prep. No costly art supplies.
Just creative fun together in the sunshine!

Moms will appreciate this: the only required materials to complete each activity is a pack of crayons. 🙌

Simply print, grab a pack of crayons and enjoy exploring your favorite park or the backyard together! Not excited about crayons? You can totally add markers or watercolors, too!

A few of the included activities are:
- Bark rubbings
- Leaf rubbings
- Tracing a shadow
- Nature collages
- Color scavenger hunt
- Texture scavenger hunt
- Nature faces
- Match the length
- Nature patterns
- Writing a poem
- Doodling
- Drawing Symmetry

✨✨Comment ‘art’ and I’ll DM you a direct link to the download. If you like to do things yourself, check the link in my bio or story! 🫶🏻

Enjoy getting creative outside with your kids!!

#homeschoolmom #natureactivitiesforkids #natureactivities #getkidsoutside #homeschoolart #homeschoolnaturestudy

This has been my lesson of the summer. My kids h

This has been my lesson of the summer.

My kids have surprised me so much the past few weeks with their huge leaps of learning and personal growth. They’ve handled situations that made me feel anxious beautifully. They’ve reminded me time and time again that they are capable.

Today I’m impressed with a boy who practiced and practiced to pass his swim test and another that is now jumping in the water after weeks of sitting with his toes in the water.

I’m celebrating a boy who didn’t hesitated to hop on a kayak and paddle down the creek without ever doing it before. His only boating experience was on a canoe moments before! He had the time of his life while his anxious momma cheered him on!

I’m proud of a boy that heard an older kid speaking rudely at the playground and decided not to confront him or get upset, but to find another group of friendlier kids to play with.

I’m celebrating making new friends at the pool. Building amazing and difficult Lego creations. Reading books beyond his grade level. Taking disappointments in stride. Helping around the house more. Teaching himself chess 🤯And so much more.

Did I say there was a lot of personal growth this summer 😅

Here’s to giving our kids the space to do hard things. To try something new. To push the limits. To experience some freedoms and exercise discretion.

What’s something that your child has done recently that showed you just how capable they are?

#playfullearning mamas are getting creative with c

#playfullearning mamas are getting creative with chalk this week!

Chalk is classic childhood fun! However, not all kids are happy to just doodle freely! If you’re looking for ways to engage your kids with simple fun, make a town and play cars!

For more wonderfully creative ideas, follow along with the #playfullearning mamas!

@asenseof_home
@ahomesweethomeschool
@goldcountrymotherhood
@aspen.schoolhouse
@threepeasplay
@beautyandblake
@raising_critical_thinkers
@a.homeschool.mom
@acozyhomeschool
@the.poets.pantry

#homeschoollife #summerfun

Yes to moms supporting moms. Motherhood and homes

Yes to moms supporting moms.

Motherhood and homeschooling aren’t meant to be done in isolation. We need connection. Moms need community. When we’re feeling overwhelmed or under supported, we need people that we can lean on.

If you haven’t found your community of moms yet in homeschooling, don’t be discouraged. They say it takes a village, but I think it only takes a trusted few. 💕

Here’s to the moms that ‘get it’ and are there when we need them in the big ways and the littlest most powerful ways, too.

#homeschoolmom #momssupportingmoms #homeschoolcommunity

Our homeschool communities are awesome, supportive

Our homeschool communities are awesome, supportive places. However, you can’t avoid all of life’s conflicts! Conflict can arise anywhere.

Here’s the difference though: homeschooling allows families to deal with issues more directly than other school settings. We have easier access to see what’s really going on and talk with other parents.

Parents are often involved in homeschool activities, which means we see more of what’s happening in our kids lives. We don’t have to hear second-hand what happened if we’re already there. This makes it easier to nip an issue in the bud before it grows to something bigger.

Anytime I’ve seen an issue come up, moms communicate with each other. There’s no middle man, warning systems, or lengthy meetings. It’s just two or more parents solving a problem together. Does that sometimes mean we have to have awkward or tough conversations? Yup! But there’s really no avoiding those in life anyway.

What’s more, is that we have the ability to quickly make changes if needed. If we no longer feel safe or welcome somewhere, we can easily move on. So many families can feel trapped in bad situations because changing schools isn’t a viable solution for them. Most homeschool gatherings are done in groups, co-ops, sports, or other activities that are much more flexible with enrollment. There’s no reason to stay somewhere that’s no longer a positive place for your family.

So yes, our homeschool communities are wonderful. We care and lookout for each other. However, we aren’t perfect. Our kids are kids and sometimes that makes life a little messy.

#homeschooling #honesthomeschooling #homeschoolstruggles #homeschoollife

On the list of things you need to homeschool, you

On the list of things you need to homeschool, you will not find a designated homeschool room! Are they helpful to have, probably! I wouldn’t know. We use our dining room table, patio furniture, picnic tables, clip boards, Mimi’s house, etc!

You don’t need a designated homeschool room. What you do need is a space that’s conducive for learning. That can be anywhere, really. But for helpful writing posture (and space for snacks) a table with chairs is best. Admittedly, you’ll also need some storage room for your new books and resources.

How do you homeschool? Do you have a room or do you use the good ol dining room table?!

#homeschoollife #happyhomeschooling #homeschoolmom #homeschoolroom

Curious about homeschooling? I’d love to share o

Curious about homeschooling? I’d love to share our journey with you, offer encouragement, and share fun resources!!

Here are some tidbits about our homeschool lifestyle so you can get to know us better!:

1. Our homeschool style is eclectic. We’re still defining what works best for our family so we enjoy using different approaches! We do a rich mix of workbooks, literature, life skills, and child-led exploration.

2. We love adventures, whether it be finding a new playground or visiting a cool children’s museum ‘in the city.’ We can turn any outing into a field trip!

3. We prioritize spending lots of time outside. The kids need it and I love it. 🌱 Fresh air is the greatest mom hack.

4. I truly think it’s important for moms to have fun in their motherhood journey, alongside their kiddos and in their own ways. In the end, the whole family benefits.

Do we have anything in common? Share something about your homeschool life or plans!

Check out my homeschool resources, linked in the bio 🫶🏻

Have you experienced a moment like this? Please sh

Have you experienced a moment like this? Please share your story 🫶🏻 💕

In the throws of motherhood, we can feel overwhelmed, tired, and just depleted. Our kids needs take priority and sometimes, we need someone to help take care of us!

As my kids have gotten a bit older, I’ve noticed that my capacity to help other moms has increased. Instead of being overwhelmed with my own two boys, I can take a few moments to hold a baby, clean a mess, or return a cart.

These things might seem so little, but through them, we help moms feel seen and supported.

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