More than ever before I have seen a surge in parents homeschooling for the first time. Maybe this is you. Are you looking for support as you step into new territory? Are you having trouble finding a homeschool community that fits? Consider this!

According to this article from HSLDA, the number of parents choosing to educate their children entirely at home has doubled in the past year from 3.2 million to nearly 6 million nationwide.

I can’t speak for co-ops in other localities, but our co-op is bursting at the seams! We experienced a larger than average influx of students last year due to COVID, but this year we had to close our registration at the end of April because we had so many applicants. For two years in a row, our co-op has grown by more than a third of our size! Additionally, we have 10 families on our waiting list and this registry continues to expand.

It is SO hard to turn away families who are looking for support, HOWEVER, it can easily change the environment of a co-op to grow too quickly and this is what we want to avoid.

Start Your Own Group

This is what I have wanted to tell so many of the applicants on our waiting list.

Consider meeting up with other parents to start your own group. This is exactly how many homeschool co-ops have started.

Most new homeschoolers understandably feel more comfortable finding a community that is already established. While there are many benefits to joining a co-op that is organized, it may be hard to find exactly what you are looking for in your area or, like our co-op, they might have a waiting list.

Starting a group with a couple of other parents can be just as good! In fact, you might like it better. One important benefit to starting a co-op with a few other parents is that it enables you to influence the direction of the group.

Our co-op started with five families eleven years ago. In the beginning, we were just a couple of moms stepping out of our comfort zones, not necessarily committing to anything long term. We loved the possibilities of homeschooling and wanted better options for our kids.

Because we were small, we were able to tailor our activities, field trips, and classes to the interests of our group.

We made personal connections. Often we were in each other’s homes. We spent our summers creek-stomping and picnicking. Consequently, we were a tight-knit family with our children’s future as our driving purpose.

And that community grew.

And grew.

It is still growing.

Watching Our Co-op Grow

I want to share with you a memory from our first day of co-op a few years ago.

When I walked into our new facility on the first day of co-op, I could feel the energy. This is an exciting place to be!

Seeing my kids meet up with their friends. Hearing the chatter of excited voices finding their new classes. Walking by the art room observing the creative hands at work. Seeing the action on the soccer field. Watching my three year old in his Kindermusik class. Connecting with moms during break. Walking into the youth room and joining with the middle and high school kids as they led the worship time. They were loud. It was vibrant!

It all warmed my heart.

Seeing all the classes that we, the parents chose, based on the desires of our group and the interests of our kids…Charcoal and Graphite Mixed Media Drawing, Church History, Card-making, Black American Literature, Science Experiments, Soccer, Cultures and Geography, Drama, Theatrical Design, Future Nurses, Science in the Garden…

This. is. good.

The freedom, the excitement, the community.

You know how this all started? It started with just a few parents who wanted something better for their kids. We were unsure. We were hesitant. It would have been so much easier not to step out…to choose the safer, default option.

But we took the risk. And I’m so glad we did.

Take the Next Step

Having trouble finding a homeschool community that fits? Consider meeting up with other parents to start your own group! Does this sound too daunting? Homeschooling in itself is a huge learning curve for any parent, but you may be surprised to find that the support you get from your small circle of purposeful parents outweighs your feelings of inadequacy. It might not be as hard as you think and it might just be a huge blessing to you and your family.

The post Having trouble finding a homeschool community that fits? Consider this! appeared first on Our Life Homeschooling.

Homeschooling can be all-consuming. It can exhausting being with kids all day. Regularly carrying the weight of their education can be heavy. It’s important to take care of yourself, homeschool Mom. Here are some thoughts on personal wellness and homeschooling.

It’s easy to become obsessive about planning, looking into new, exciting curriculums and enjoying this new-found freedom.When I started homeschooling, my girlfriends and I would bounce ideas off each other, talk about our schedules, what was working/not working, the beauty of learning at home, giving our kids a wild and free childhood, and spending long hours with them outside.

In the beginning, I was so excited (and intimidated at the same time!) about our new lifestyle…homeschooling WAS my hobby.

This initial excitement is important and maybe necessary at the start. It helps plunge you into a whole new way of thinking and living. Over time, however, and as you progress, the excitement sometimes wanes and the demands of homeschooling can become overwhelming, exhausting, engulfing.

Do you feel yourself slipping into the dark hole of fatigue and monotony? The questions I’ve listed below are questions to ask to help keep yourself inspired, positive, and purposeful.

Questions to Ask Yourself

What’s your Source?

Don’t neglect time alone with God. E.M. Bounds said, “To be much alone with God is the secret of knowing Him and of influence with Him.” You can only pour out when you are full. What is the first thing you do when you get a free moment? That is a moment you can run to the Source!

How often do you spend time doing things you enjoy?

What hobbies do you have? Make the effort to stop everything a spend time doing something you love EVERY day. After all, what are we teaching our kids if we aren’t modeling our own personal growth?

Are you getting enough sleep?

If you are in the temporary season of having an infant or if you are pregnant, you are probably sleep deprived! If are up during the night with your little ones, make sleep a priority. Have the kids do an afternoon quiet time so that you can lay down for a few minutes.

Are you taking care of your body?

Exercise! Exercise not only for your body, but also for your mind! This recent article Need to Spark Creativity? Go On a Walk inspired me to try to go for a walk every day.

Is your marriage a priority?

Don’t neglect your spouse. Make time for each other without the kids. As good as we all believe homeschooling is for our kids, a healthy marriage is much more important.

With what are you filling your mind?

Beware of the trap of mindless entertainment. Scrolling endlessly on social media is draining, not fueling. Instead, read a good book. Work on a project. Journal. Watch a good flick with your husband.

Is homeschooling consuming your family life?

Keep “academic” school hours during school hours. When you are finished for the day, BE DONE. Move on to living life with your family.

Do you spend time with encouraging friends?

Go out with your girlfriends. Sometimes it’s just easier to stay at home, but spending time with good friends is life-giving. Encouraging friendships keep you going on the hard days!

Do you and the kids need a break?

Take a day (or more!) off. There’s something to be said for just giving everybody the day off. Walk away for a little. Maybe everybody needs a reset.

What are some things that you do to stay positive and purposeful?

Pin It! Personal Wellness and Homeschooling

The post Personal Wellness and Homeschooling appeared first on Our Life Homeschooling.

A homeschool portfolio can be put together at any time. You don’t have to start it at the beginning of the school year, but some years I have done that. You can wait until the very end and put it together in a day and it can be just as good. So, just know that a portfolio is something you can start at any time of the year and it doesn’t need to take a lot of time.

*This post contains affiliate links which means I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you.

I really think the first step for organizing a homeschool portfolio consistently from year to year is to keep it very basic. Homeschooling is tough. Some years, I don’t feel like doing ANYTHING extra. If putting together a portfolio is going to feel like a major project, I’m OUT!

If you like adding pictures and Cricut designs, by all means, indulge yourself! But be aware that you may come to a year where all that just feels like too much. Your child’s portfolio can be unadorned and still be special to them and you.

Our Homeschool Portfolios

Notebook Cover

I choose 1/2 inch binders with the slipcover in the front. I ask our kids to design their own covers. Some of them choose to draw their own and others have designed them on the computer. I encourage them to take their time, use color, and make it beautiful. Sometimes, especially for younger children, I will print in large letters the child’s name and grade level on a blank sheet and have them design around it.

Older kids may want to write their own name and grade level in large, colorful letters.

Cover Page

This is the first page you see when you open the notebook. It is a one-page, typed summary of their school work for the year. This is the only page of the book that actually requires work on my part.

I do my best to keep it only one page so it doesn’t seem like too demanding of a task from year to year. (The rest of the portfolio is as easy as punching papers with a three whole punch and putting them in the notebook.) Using slipcovers is a nice touch to help the final product look clean and durable.

Here are some examples of what I might put on the cover page.

-Begin with a short paragraph about your child summarizing their accomplishments and interests for the school year. I like to put specific things that they were interested in for that year. Maybe they learned to crochet or caught their first fish. What is their favorite book at this age? What do they want to be when they grow up?

-Briefly summarize what they learned in the main subjects.

-Field trips. Keep a list of all the places you have visited throughout the year- either with co-ops or on your own. I include state parks and educational places we have stopped at on family vacations.

-Any music lessons, art lessons, clubs, sports they were involved in.

Book List.

The second page of our portfolio notebook is their book list. I give a clipboard to each of our kids with an empty booklist template for them to complete throughout the year. It has a section for books they read and a section for books read aloud to them either by myself or audiobooks.

Often, when I look at the kids’ portfolios at the end of the year and pull out the booklist, I am pleasantly reminded of books we read at the beginning of the year that I had completely forgotten about.

Quality Samples of Work from Major Subject Areas

I usually pick samples of student work from the beginning and end (2 samples) of the school year. It’s a good idea to do this for major subjects like math, English (including samples of any writings), history, and science. Labeling them by tabs is a nice touch, but not necessary.

You can slowly collect things throughout the year and stick them in your notebook OR you can gather them in one day at the end of the year. I have done both.

For other subjects, I only include subjects in which that child has especially shown interest. This may be art projects, foreign language, pictures of projects or extracurricular activities, test scores, science experiments, etc. Make sure to include any test results your child might have according to your state’s requirements.

It’s also nice to include one or two special writing assignments like a research paper or book report or other writing assignments. The pockets of the 3-ring binder are a good place to keep these. I might stick bulletins from performances or orchestras they attended, certificates from camps or other events in which they participated.

Pin it! How to Make a Simple Homeschool Portfolio

Benefits of Making a Homeschool Portfolio

A portfolio is also a great way to show grandparents what the kids are learning while they are at home. Do you have family members who question whether or not your child is receiving a quality education? Share their end of the homeschool year portfolios!

The kids will proudly stand beside and tell about all the things in their book. It could help a family member see your homeschool effort in a completely different light.

If you have not before, I encourage you to try keeping a portfolio this year. It is a project your kids will take pride in!

And you might find that keeping a portfolio is a huge confidence booster for you as well! When you start doubting yourself and how much you are accomplishing this year, look through last year’s portfolio. When you see all you completed in one year, I think you will surprise yourself with how good it makes you feel.

If you have been keeping a homeschool portfolio, I’d love to see pictures and hear how you put yours together!

Looking for more?

Find inspiration for your homeschool by checking out my gallery of MOM INTERVIEWS!

Simple Morning Time Notebook

Our Large Family Homeschool Curriculum

50 Life Skills That Should Be Taught At Home

Ambleside Online Homeschool Curriculum For a Large Family

The post How to Make a Simple Homeschool Portfolio appeared first on Our Life Homeschooling.

Still on the fence about what you will be doing next year? Here are some thoughts to consider.

Reasons Homeschooling Might Not Be a Fit For You

-You are happy with your child’s progress and overall experience in his or her school.

-Your child is happy with his overall school experience.

-You feel more comfortable putting your child’s education into the hands of a trusted teacher than trying to forge your own way.

-You don’t want to homeschool, but you feel pressured by friends or family to homeschool. (Being pressured to homeschool is never a good reason to do it. Be bold enough to tell them that homeschooling is not a good fit for you or for your family.)

-School is the best option for the needs of your family.

Reasons Homeschooling Might Be a Good Fit For You

-You are concerned that your child does not love learning.

-You would like your child to have one on one help in areas of struggle at a pace that is right for them.

-You like the flexibility homeschooling would contribute to your family life.

-You like the idea of your child learning about things that interest them.

-Even though it might be more of a time commitment, you like the thought of learning WITH your child.

-You like the possibility of a shorter day with NO homework.

-Your child has asked to be homeschooled.

-You like the opportunity for your child to learn in many different environments rather than being confined to one building at certain times.

-You want more time together as a family.

NOT Reasons NOT to Homeschool

-You don’t feel qualified.

-You think someone else could do a better job.

-You don’t know if you can do it.

-You are afraid of making mistakes and failing your child.

You are the parent. There is no person alive who is more concerned about your child’s long term success than YOU. Although there are many homeschoolers who were former teachers or their spouse was a teacher, some of the most amazing homeschool parents I have met have had NO teaching experience!! They are just passionate about their child’s success! They love to learn. They will go to great lengths to find the resources to enhance their child’s experiences. Do not believe the myth that you aren’t good enough to teach your child!!

Reasons Homeschooling Might Be a Good Fit Long Term

-You are excited to watch the momentum of the fastest growing educational movement in the country. (And that was pre-COVID!)

-You have observed that colleges are actively seeking out homeschoolers because they are unique with highly varied experiences.

You have to be yourself. If you are a contented parent of a schooled child, continue to do what is best for your child and for your family!

If you, however, are drawn to homeschooling and would really like to try it, but are hesitant to step out, do not doubt yourself! You are one of a large and growing number of parents who are discovering the freedom and connectedness homeschooling affords for the whole family. This could just be the best decision you ever make!

How can I say that with certainty?

Because it was for me.

The post Should You Homeschool Next Year? appeared first on Our Life Homeschooling.