One of the main goals I set early on in our homeschool was to give my children a love of learning. Creative homeschooling is the mode I’ve used to successfully do that. Don’t think that you can never put your child in front of a textbook or computer screen to homeschool creatively! Instead, think of it as offering your children curriculum and styles to meet their needs. Sometimes that will be a textbook or computer class. Other times, it may be a unit study, living literature, field trips, games, project-based learning, co-op classes, or interest-based studies. These articles show you how. Be inspired!
Please welcome Courtney Day to the blog. She has found great success with eclectic homeschooling by adding various methods of hybrid homeschooling to her plans over the years. She has given you a nice overview of why and how she’s chosen to farm out some of the teaching to other people. I think you’ll be…
We’ve talked a lot about brain training for cognitive skills here at Our Journey Westward. Closely related to cognitive skills are social skills. This article focuses on some easy ways to improve social skills in the homeschool. Don’t get “social skills” confused with “socialization”. One of the biggest thorns in the side of any homeschooler…
It’s so easy to start your homeschool journey as an idealist. Beautifully-lit Instagram photos and Pinterest-worthy homeschool rooms are exciting to look at, and passionate, seasoned speakers have hundreds of podcasts for you to excitedly devour. Before you know it, you’ve ordered vintage chalkboards, antique schoolroom desks, and picked up a natural wood abacus. Visions…
Science and creativity seem mutually exclusive, don’t they? It makes sense that the two fields are so opposite of one another that they can’t possibly compliment one another, right? I mean, the idea of a creative and scientific study for children does sound almost comical when you consider the limitless range of creativity and the…
After a successful year of history with Ancient Civilizations and the Bible from Diana Waring’s History Revealed series last year, we are back at it with Romans, Reformers, and Revolutionaries. History Revealed works well for our unit study, project-based learning, literature-based loving family. In fact, it’s been a perfect transition for my older kids to…
During my workshops about creative homeschooling and living math, I often talk about incorporating games into the school schedule. If your family has an established game night, you probably already know how educational many board and card games really are. Math, language, history, science, logic and so much more can be practiced without your kiddos…
We are having an amazing time in the No Sweat Nature Study LIVE membership! If you haven’t joined us there yet, it’s never too late! What is No Sweat Nature Study LIVE? Twice a month, your 1st-8th graders can take part in fun, interactive, LIVE science lessons with a nature study twist. Within each 30-45…
Games are wonderful additions to any homeschool. In fact, we typically play at least one game a day – sometimes even gameschooling for an entire day! Not only do games bring joy and lightheartedness to the school day, they can help teach new concepts and practice old ones. One of the most important reasons I…
Christmas stockings are a long held tradition in the West household. Of all the gifts around the Christmas tree, it seems the stockings are the most anticipated – which is why we save them until the very last. I remember feeling the same way as a little girl. There’s just something extra special about finding…
At the IAHE Conference (Indiana Association of Home Educators), I taught four workshops. While they were all well-attended and well-received, one of the sessions sparked an emotional reaction like none other. My brain training session was the last on my schedule and one of the last of the weekend. I fully expected a low turnout…
Morning Time. Morning Basket Time. Circle Time. In our home, we call it Brain Training Time. Whatever you might call it, I have some great ideas to help you include nature study during the time you gather for family learning before jumping into the rest of your homeschool day. I bet you think I’m going…
Do you take a long summer break from homeschooling? If so, you NEED the I’M BORED Activity List! Because we live on a farm that requires a lot of attention in the summer, it’s always been necessary to take a “traditional” long break from school. Even though we stay busy with farm, mowing, and gardening…