Little by Little Homeschool - Christian Homeschooling and Motherhood

Teaching a child to read is full of emotions. One minute you are excited and the next minute, you wonder if this is even possible.  It's such an awesome responsibility and as homeschool moms, we take it very seriously. But then, the reality of the day in and day out of teaching and practicing happens. And you wonde r if you're even cut out for this. That struggling feeling can make you fee...

No one starts something with the intention of quitting. And that especially applies towards parents making decisions about their children. Of course, homeschooling is included in that! So, if no one plans to quit, why are there numbers of families doing just that? Could your family be next? Over the past decade, I've observed a few trends and one of them is the when, who, and why behind walkin...

As homeschool moms, we are usually very excited about anything and everything homeschooling. Is Dad just along for the ride? Or is he supposed to jump in and help run the show? Did you catch that phrase "supposed to?" I hope so. Because that is what we are going to cover today.  After all my years in the homeschool world, I think I've seen and heard it all. And today's episode is a...

Have you thought about the fact that your children are home with you and a bit of a captive audience at this point? It's true! And that means you can focus not only on academics, but on building their character too. Which means that to do that, it needs to be a focus for your daily lessons. With all the years of homeschooling and launching two of my children into the world, I have zero regrets...

Are you finding day in and day out going by and you are struggling to get your homeschool done? You aren't alone. It's so easy to keep busy each day and have a long to-do list. But, you've decided to homeschool and it's an important priority for your family. The day in and day out execution can be a struggle though as you suddenly find the day is almost over and you haven't got...

I haven't met a homeschool mom yet who doesn't desire joy in her homeschool. But how do you obtain and maintain that joy as you home educate your children? Today's guest, Leslie Martino, is here to help you to find that joy, even in the midst of consistent change as you raise your children. She sees that homeschool can be accomplished in a slower manner that allows for balance and wond...

It's funny how we think we have so much to keep up with before having children. Then, we add them into the mix. And oh, yeah...you're homeschooling too. And the messes pile up and the cleaning never ends. Where are you supposed to find the time to take back control over your home? Here's a hint: there is only so much you can do right now. But, I've got some practical tips you can b...

Everyone says homeschool should be fun. And you're over there slogging through the academics wondering if you're being lied to. You ask yourself often how you can keep your kids learning, but also create some fun memories that won't stress you out. Today's episode is here for you! We're going to explore some ideas to bring the fun into homeschool in a way that your kids might n...

Homeschooling is very uniqe from the classroom setting because...hint, hint...you aren't trying to recreate that, but you most likely have multiple children at different ages and abilities. All sitting (maybe) and looking at you for direction. And there is only one of you! {Or two if you count Dad.} How in the world are you supposed to teach one child to read, the other how to write a paragrap...

You are most likely a first generation homeschool mom wishing and hoping that someday your children will see the sacrifice and the effort you put into homeschooling and discipling them.  And maybe part of you is praying that your children will grow up to be parents who want to homeschool their children...your grandchildren! Today's guest, Kirsten Vossler, from Rejoicing in Motherhood podcast i...

Is fighting and arguing a regular occurence in your home? Are you trying to maintain the peace in your home and encourage good relationships among your children? Do you desire for your homeschool children to be the best of friends as adults? Well, it all starts and ends with mom and dad. You get to choose what this looks like in your home during their childhood. Eventually, they will make their ow...

"What grade are you in?" It's such a super common question in our society. Most people don't even flinch when they hear it. And kids in public school quickly give an answer.  But, if you've ever asked a homeschooler this question, some of them freeze like a deer in headlights. Others may slowly give a reply. Either way, it isn't a super prevalent question in the homeschool...

Just like life, homeschooling has it's ups and downs. It can be so hard at times and that's when we wonder if, as moms, we're actually cut out for it. Today's guest, Meg Thomas, of Called to Homeschool is here to share with you just what you should do when homeschool feels hard. And how about those days you think that you're going to lose your mind? Well, she's got somethin...

When you were little and thought about what you wanted "to be" when you grew up, homeschool mom probably wasn't top of the list. Or maybe not even on the list! But, here you are: a homeschool mom. Not only are you responsible for all the regular motherhood duties, now you've got education on your to-do list. I totally get it. It was never a part of my plan. And yet, here I am, a ho...

You're probably totally on board with your homeschool not needing to resemble a public school schedule. But, you have curriculum, goals, and great ideas that you want to make sure you actually get to. Do you need to buy a planner? Get super organized with a calendar? Write out detailed plans? Wing it every day? Well, it really depends. I'm sharing five options with you today. Take a few no...

What does it look like to change your view of learning? Most likely, you went to school. And that helped to shape your understanding of education. But now, you're hearing people talk about school and education and how it can look different. The benefits sound just like what you'd like for your children. And you're ready to take those next steps. You're in luck! I've got that ve...

Every day as a homeschool mom can be full with the regular to-do list, home education, activities, experiences, meeting personal goals, and so on and so on. This requires you to be fully present and on for all that is happening in your day. But, with a full day and many needs to meet, it can easily and quickly deplete even the most energetic homeschool mom. To be honest, I failed in this area of h...

We don't have to homeschool alone. Yes, it's just mom doing the day in and day out of mothering and home educating the children. But we can learn so much from each other. None of us will homeschool exactly the same way, but some of the best things happened in my homeschool when I learned from other moms. Today's guest, Katie Hedrick from Joy at Home podcast is truly an encouragement to...

Eek! Today is the day that I can finally spill the beans! And invite you to the very first Little by Little Homeschool Conference. This announcement has been a year in the making when my heart first began to stir with this desire to gather together. There have been ups and downs and a lot of God telling me to wait on his timing. And now here we are today...inviting you to join me, some amazing spe...

What if homeschool is also about learning how to navigate the world? I think many families are starting to realize this. Sure, there is much to gain from curriculum, but kids are so open to learning and we can open the world to them by being intentional about teaching them life skills. Most of us went to school and our days were filled up for all of those formative years. And then, poof...we were...

Normally, I keep my opinions about most homeschool topics to myself because we all need to come to our own conclusions. We each need to do what is best for our child, knowing there is no right or wrong way to homeschool, as long as each family is being true to their vision and goals. But now that we've been chatting here on the podcast for over 2 years, I thought a little candid breakdown of m...

As a homeschool mom, it can often feel intimidating to hear the jargon of the academic world. It can make you feel like you don't know enough to home educate your child. I felt that same way too. And it's my goal in today's episode to give you clear explanations for skill and content subjects. Then, we'll talk more in-depth on what this looks like in your homeschool family. Why doe...

The first question most homeschool families ask is something about curriculum and the academic part of home education. Sure, that has it's place. But, what if it isn't the most important thing about these years with your children at home? Today's guest, Yvette Hampton, of Schoolhouse Rocked is sharing what she discovered on her journey as a new homeschool mom. Her encouragement of shif...

So much about homeschool has to do with our children. And rightly so. But, did you know that when homeschool parents have the right perspective, it trickles down to their children? And then homeschool becomes more enjoyable for the entire family! One of the major sticking points for moms and dads is the relearning of what education really can be. We have years of indoctrination and conditioning to...

24 hours in a day, 7 days a week for 365 days a year and that is a lot of time to fill up, but also not a lot of time as a homeschool mom.  The home education of your children is a priority, but how can that fit into a family's daily life? And how does it become a center block to the day? If we fail to plan, we plan to fail. And this is so true for homeschool. Without a plan, you simply could...