I homeschooled my two now-adult children through high school. So I’ve experienced both the ups and downs of homeschooling. For my family, the ups by far outweighed the downs. I want to give you encouragement as well as helpful resources on your homeschool journey. I’ve organized my main homeschooling posts so they’ll be helpful resources.
I’m publishing this today in honor of Homeschool Teacher Appreciation Day, which is April 27 this year. And don’t miss a fun event for homeschoolers in the fall … International Homeschool Spirit Week each year in the 4th week of September. Be sure to follow the International Homeschool Spirit Week Facebook page for free activities and resources throughout the week.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links (at no cost to you).
My Family’s Homeschooling Story
In case you’re not familiar with my family’s story, my husband and I homeschooled our two children through high school. We started homeschooling back in the 1980s and 1990s before homeschooling was as popular as it is today.Will is now 32, and Christina is 27. They both have bachelor’s degrees, earning straight A’s throughout college (even though we didn’t use grades in our homeschool). Will’s degree is from the U.S., and Christina earned her bachelor’s degree in England at age 19.
Both Will and Christina had wonderful university experiences and now have successful careers, happy marriages, happy family relationships, and positive social interactions with a wide variety of people. Will and his wife even have a 3-year-old daughter, Zoey. You can often read about Zoey here and at Bits of Positivity (my other blog) and watch Montessori-inspired videos of her on the Living Montessori Now YouTube channel. You can read more about Will and Christina in my About page at Bits of Positivity.
We used Montessori education totally during our kids’ preschool years and Montessori principles along with unit studies, some traditional subjects, and Montessori activities where they fit in as our kids grew older.
Even if your style of homeschooling is quite different from my family’s, what’s most important is that you fit your homeschooling to your own unique family. I hope you can find encouragement and some help in what worked for my family.
Some Posts about My Family’s Homeschooling Journey
- When We Decided to Homeschool
- How We Homeschooled
- Homeschool Freedom from Uniforms and Uniformity
- Homeschool High School – What We Did
- Homeschool High School Graduation
- Homeschooling Fears – Will My Children Regret Being Homeschooled?
- Top 5 Homeschool Lessons My Children Taught Me
Suggestions Based on What Worked for My Family
- Discover Your Family’s Natural Learning Style
- Become a More Successful Homeschooler By Using Montessori Principles
- My Children’s Favorite Books from Their Childhood
- How We Used Gentle Discipline in Our Homeschool
- How to Help Your Child Through Natural Learning
- How to Be a Relaxed Homeschooler
- The Overwhelmed Mom’s Guide to Montessori Homeschooling
- Simple Tips on Organizing Your Homeschool Library
Subjects
- A Montessori Approach to Homeschool Art
- Can Montessori Principles Be Used to Teach P.E.?
- Homeschool Science Fair Fun
- Experiencing Nature and Growing Plants Outdoors without a Garden
- Montessori-Inspired Photography for Kids
- How We Homeschooled
- Homeschool High School – What We Did
Holidays and Celebrations
- Homeschool Valentine’s Day
- Homeschool St. Patrick’s Day
- Homeschool Lent and Easter
- Follow Your Kids’ Interests through Summer Day Camps
- Summer Homeschool Fun at Camp Review
- Child-Led Patriotism
- Start the School Year with a Celebration!
- Birthdays as Homeschool Holidays
- International Homeschool Spirit Week (4th Week in September)
- Homeschool Halloween
- Homeschool Thanksgiving
- Homeschool Christmas
- Family Christmas Celebrations through Epiphany
Homeschool Resource Posts
- Become a More Successful Homeschooler By Using Montessori Principles
- Why I Love Homeschooling Conferences and Seminars
- Easy Homeschool Lunches and Kids in the Kitchen posts
- Help Your Child Create Unforgettable Cards and gifts through Digital Scrapbooking
- Enliven Your Homeschool with Some Calendar Fun
- Monthly Themed Activities (and Calendar Observances throughout the Month)
- Should You Use Unit Studies?
- How to Create a Unit Study
- Montessori-Inspired Unit Studies + Seasonal and Holiday Activities (LONG list of unit studies and themed activities)
- How to Homeschool without Spending a Fortune
- Free Educational Songs for Circle Time (includes links to LOTS of free educational song posts for a variety of holidays and character virtues)
- Free Preschool Printables for Activity Trays
- Free Printables for Montessori Homeschools and Preschools
- Simple Tips for Organizing Your Homeschool Library
Montessori Homeschool Resources
For resources specific to Montessori homeschooling, see my Montessori Resources page (with LOTS of posts with resources such as how to start using Montessori at home, how to set up a Montessori preschool homeschool classroom, where to buy Montessori materials, DIY Montessori materials, Montessori elementary homeschooling, and free Montessori materials online).
Free Homeschool Report 2017 (Homeschooling Research)
If you’d like to see what research says about homeschooling, check out “Fabulous Insights into Home Education – Homeschooling Research 2017” at Wisdom Ninja. You can get a free 122-page copy of the results of a homeschooling survey with 1506 respondents from around the world. You’ll find lots of fascinating information in the report, and you could find the answers to your questions about what works and doesn’t work for other homeschoolers.
Have a wonderful homeschool journey! 🙂
Learn more about my eBook Montessori at Home or School: How to. Teach Grace and Courtesy!
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cathie j says
I have 2 of our 4 children who were homeschooled for awhile. They did very well in school. One just got her MS and the youngest is in college and carrying quite a load.
Thanks for sharing.
Cathie at toddlersthroughpreschool.com
Deb says
Thanks for your comment, Cathie. It’s awesome to hear that your children are doing so well! 🙂
Discovering Montessori says
Love reading this! Your family is definitely a great role model for mine. Thank you for the inspiration and for sharing.
Deb says
Thanks so much for your sweet comment, Discovering Montessori! I love what you’re doing with your homeschooling, too! 🙂
Allison says
I loved that your children received graduation photos for their highschool graduation. It’s important that homeschool children feel as if they didn’t miss out on the “little things”. Love this!
Somia says
Such a great article! i just love reading it. Home schooling could be good if your parents made effort on you and you just proved it.
Thanks for sharing such an inspirational stories.
Leah Courtney says
I always love seeing the stories of how others have homeschooled. We’ve homeschooled our four children all the way through, and I’m about to graduate my first! It’s so exciting to have been a part of all she’s learned all the way through. 🙂
Ryan says
Such a great post!I totally love reading others experience of Home schooling. Parents definitely make great efforts in up bringing their child it’s we who have to prove and respect their love. Thanks for sharing such an inspiring stories Deb.
Monica says
Hi, Deb!! What a great article, thank you so much for sharing your beautiful experience! I’m a new homeschooling mother of four and I was looking for some montessori and relaxed homeschool resources when I found your blog… And just can’t stop reading! That’s why I love learning and that’s what I trully wish my kids to keep in their hearts: that learning is such a pleasure and it’s endless!! Blessings to you and your family!