Little House Learning Co. — Motherhood

If you listen to the stories of homeschool graduates, as well as experienced homeschool moms, there is one thing that sets each homeschool apart from all others. I wish I could say it is the curriculum that was chosen, how the school room was organized or even which co-op or education method a parent used but it really isn't. It's not even the books! The biggest defining factor of a homeschool is the homeschooling parent. The homeschooling parent (usually the mother) influences the atmosphere of home more than anything.  Charlotte Mason emphasized atmosphere as one of her three main tools for education. She is quoted...

It was Time for a Technology Reset  At the end of our school year this spring I kept hearing "When is it time to watch cartoons?" and by the time one of my children was upset because "We didn't watch any TV today!" I knew it was time for a technology reset.  For one month we didn't watch any tv except for a weekly family movie. I wasn't allowed to be on my phone or computer except during my designated "office hours" and my husband and I vowed to cut back on screen time after the kids went to sleep. As someone...

What is a Quiet Rest Time? For the last 6 years we've practiced this rhythm of rest time. For 60-90 minutes a day each of us goes into a separate room of the house to be alone and rest. Sometimes we nap, but most of the time we just play or work on our own things. Since we're together so much of the day with homeschooling, this rhythm is recharging for my introverted children and it allows for quiet processing of all the information we've learned in the morning together. Why Summer is the Best Time to Begin a Quiet Rest...

How to Find a Homeschool Co-op in Your Area Homeschool co-op has been one of the best things about homeschooling for us. We love the community aspect and I love that it lessens my load of subjects that I need to teach at home.  Finding a co-op can be so challenging, especially if you live in a rural area. If you're looking to get plugged into a co-op start by asking homeschool parents in your area. If you know someone who home educates, don't be afraid to grill them about every club or group in your area at they're aware of....

Have You Heard This Before?  Have you ever met a veteran homeschooling mom who, right after she tells you how many years she has on her "homeschool mom punch card", gives you the litany list of each of her children's' accomplishments? It sounds something like this... "Well, my Gilbert studied at Oxford and now teaches full time at Hillsdale, has completed seven Iron Man competitions and just finished completing his goal to visit to every country in the world before he turned thirty. Agatha got married at twenty after getting a double degree in Ancient Languages and Bible and now has six children under age five and has...