Through the Years

Learning with littles is where our home education journey began. We carried that interest-led, relaxed approach into the early years education. Our philosophy remains the same but due to a life changing move and our children's growth and development, we are now progressing in the middle years. High school is one year away for our oldest and we plan to homeschool through those years as well.

Help for Your Homeschool

I have done group teaching on the preschool and early elementary years.

The information was really comprehensive and practical. One thing I can get tired of after a while is the philosophical side of homeschooling. I understand the concepts, but what those of us who are rather new to this need is practical application, which is exactly what was provided. It went a long way to allaying the fears I try NOT to bring to our learning efforts—so thank you! ~ Melissa D.

My teaching will encourage you and give you practical tips for your homeschool.

I also offer one-on-one homeschool coaching.

Before the coaching session with Renee I had a lot of doubts about our homeschooling journey. Moving from traditional homeschooling to a more relaxed joyful way of life was a daily struggle, but just a few weeks after those 60 minutes of conversation, I am OK with letting go.

The difference Renee makes is that she lives this life every day. By reading her blog and listening to her words of encouragement I find that it is an attitude that she imparts. An attitude that gives the confidence to live our own lives. Fully. Not necessarily breaking the rules - but making your own flexible ones according to the life God has gifted us and our family. There is no formula. She tailors the session to help you find the answers to your particular questions. ~ Dorla A.

Over the years I've written many posts about homeschooling. This page is a sampling of posts that provide everyday examples to the why's and how's of our particular homeschooling experience. 

Learning Philosophy

• What About High School (some brief thoughts)
• Take me to Your Dungeon Master
• Homeschooling for the Long Haul
• When To Stay the Course *
• All You Need is Love
• Growing Up Looks Like... (in the middle years)
• My Biggest Homeschool Mistake: Giving In To Fear *
• Waldorf Inspired Homeschooling ~ An Interview
• Holiday Un-School
• 3 Lessons Learned for the Beginner Homeschooler
• Project Learning
• Insecurities and Graduation Goals
• Summer Non-Boredom
• Confessions of an Errant Homeschooler
• Kindergarten, Easy Does It

Family Life

• Teaching our kids about God, our faith, and the Bible
• Am I Living it Right (is the wrong question to ask)
• Dealing with Naysayers & Negativity
• The New Normal is Flux
• When You Feel Inadequate
• Changes in These Middle Years ~ Defining Structure (video)
• Helping Children Embrace Lifestyle Change **
• Why we Homeschool ~ An Outdoors Perspective
• Be your own Family
• Involving Dad in Your Homeschool *
• Defining Priorities to Make a Family Schedule

Organization & Assessment

• Digital Organizing - Ideas & To-Do's
• Small Space Homeschooling
• Craft Storage in a Small Space (video)
• My Five Favorite Time Management Strategies
• Resources to Help You Get Organized
• Getting Organized for the Upcoming School Year *
• Anchoring: An Organizational Tool *
• Homeschooling on a Budget
• Weekly Blocks, A Planning Tool
• Homemaking and Homeschooling
• Portfolio Review (an assessment tool)

Curriculum & Schedules

Elementary Homeschool Curriculum Series  - please see this post for how I define curriculum

• Late Elementary Learner-Centric, Family-Friendly Homeschool Curriculum
• A Winter Schedule for Life & Learning (I seem to like these winter schedules)
• What our days really look like in the mornings and in the afternoon (late elementary, emerging high schooler).
• An Emerging High Schooler, Interest-led, Learner-Specific Homeschool Curriculum
• Usually, Not Always
• Transition From Interest-Led Elementary to Middle School Years *
• A Barebones Homeschool Schedule
• Finding our Late Elementary & Transition Years Homeschool Groove
• Our Homeschool Day in the Life (at 9, 10 & 12) *
• Relaxed Elementary Education *
• Our Homeschool Day in the Life (at 8, 9 & 11) *
• Wednesday's Journal ~ A Day in Our Life (what a schedule looks like in real life)
• Summer School
• A Learning List for Spring
• Homeschool Schedule Fall 2008 (at 9, 7 & 5)
• Our Winter Schedule Jan 2010

Creativity

• Raising Kids that Craft (or not)
• Supplies to Stock the Craft Cupboard
• Encouraging Creativity in Your Homeschool *
• Supplies for Creativity ~ Paper Crafts
• Creativity in Our Homeschool ~ A Little History
• A Cardinal in an Evergreen (Laurent's artist talents)
• Paper, Prints, Pen & Paints
• Planning, Sketching, Dreaming
• Fantasy & Learning
• Education and Doll Making
• Creative Freedom (& and TED talk)

In the spring of 2012 I published my first e-book ~ Nurturing Creativity: A Guide for Busy Moms.

Nurturing Creativity is about embracing the seasons of motherhood and appreciating where you are, while helping you make creativity a priority in your life. Although written for moms specifically the practical advice and encouragement  in this book will help you nurture a creative homeschool environment also.

To buy or read more click here. 

Reading & Writing

• Homeschool Writing with Patricia Zaballos, author of Workshops Work!
• Finding Time to Read When You're Mothering Littles
• Freewrite
• Reading Horizons for Struggling Readers
• Our Journey (so far) with Dyslexia
• Becoming an (e)Reader
• Learning to Read Part 1 & Learning To Read Part 2
• How to Use The Library in Your Homeschool *
• Audio Books ~ A Mother's Sanity Saver
• Spring Reading at the Library
• A Bare Bones Home Library and Reluctant Readers

Outdoors

• How to Start A Homeschool Hiking Group ~ An Interview
• Lessons Learned while Camping *
• Great Books for an Outdoors Education
• Adventure Education
• An Outdoors Education

Nature Study

• Child Led Nature Study
• Monarchs
  • Raising Monarchs
  • Monarchs in my Back Yard (with book list)
• Pond Study

Math & Science

• Spring is For Science & More Spring Science
• 4 Simple Methods for Teaching Elementary Science *
• Sick Day Science
• Easy Science
• Early Years Math
• Take Apart Science
• Homemade Silly Putty (Chemistry)

World Study

• Celebrating Chinese New Year
• Studying the World through Reading and Creative Play
• Medieval Studies & Medieval Party Play
• Victorian Dollhouse Tour

Community, Art & Music

• New art supplies and Drawing with Children
• Culture in your neighborhood
• Cooking with Lots to Gardens

Go With The Flow

• The New Normal is Flux
• Sweet Breaks
• Three Days Till Christmas: Three Activities Worth Doing*
• Not Back to Homeschool
• Doubts and Reassurances
• Fun & Games
• A One Room School House and Christmas Break
• Free Rainy Day activities

Video

• Craft Storage in a Small Space
• Changes in These Middle Years ~ Defining Structure
• In The Middle Years ~ Our Homeschool Philosophy
• The Good, The Bad, The Embarrassing (I'm not all put together)
• Getting Organized for The Upcoming School Year
• Homeschooling in the Early Years

* My posts at Simple Homeschool.

** Guest posts published on other blogs.