Resources for Homeschool + Loving Yourself
Over the past four years, I have dug into what resources are available to Texas homeschool families. I have found that community, flexibility, and environment are a few of my favorite things in doing the homeschool life. We end up blending textbooks, online classes, and in-person experiences to create our flow and this year is new to us. We are starting a three-day-a-week co-op school day to be in a rich and diverse learning environment with other children and families. As a community, we are putting our resources together to bring teachers in and expand on possibility.
Thinking over the past year of our first official year of homeschooling I received an outpouring of sage advice from families that had been doing this for years, from teachers who had worked with my children, therapists, and consultants who start schools. I even sought counsel from my old college professors. This information is a consolidation of those points of wisdom. If you are starting out, you may find some of these resources helpful.
The overlapping advice I got was DON’T OVERBOOK. I would add: LEARN TO TAKE CARE OF AND ACKNOWLEDGE YOURSELF.
Create a space for learning that nurtures curiosity and open play. Grow a love for reading and be willing to pivot. Here are the resources we depend on in our environment.
Curriculums
Online Tools
Online Community
Facebook Groups
Secular, Eclectic, Academic (SEA) Homeschoolers
Tools
STEAM Boxes. Put together a handful of these. The kids love them and we have a collection of 12 at the current moment. They can be filled with legos, play-do with toothpicks, index cards with tape, kinetic sand with plastic animals, and magnetic blocks.
Gardening. All of life’s lessons can come from a garden. Even if you live in an urban setting you can house a small garden.
Noise Canceling headphones. My 8-year-old depends on noise protection to do her math. Have a few pairs on hand so when your kiddo complains about the noise that a small room can bring, they have a sanctuary and can learn to resource a way through their irritation versus breaking down emotionally.
Musical Instruments. Keep a basket of noisemakers on hand and some self-guided instruction books. We like having a recorder, keyboard, and steel tongue drum just to name a few.
Laminator. Any practice sheets for math and handwriting can be used and practiced over and over. If you can laminate them, they can use dry-erase markers to practice over and over.
Library Cards. A visit to the library is a critical staple of our bi-weekly routine. It helps us practice manners, being responsible for borrowing things, learn to use off-line resources and when we go during the day hours we usually meet other homeschoolers.
Sketch pads. We use these for everything. Making our learning journals, processing feelings, and art projects. We keep a big basket on hand.
Being a homeschool parent can come with struggles both expected and unexpected. It can be lonely and isolating left to wonder if what you’re doing is the right thing to do. Being a parent brings up all of the parts of us we have yet to heal and spending time day in and out surrounded by our children can immerse us in emotional, psychological, and physical tensions.
I have a handful of practices I’ve found along the way to help take care of me. I have challenged myself to find things that I don’t have to depend on money or another person to provide so that I have little excuse for letting myself suffer.
Journaling
Yoga
Taking time away for myself to be alone
Keeping a circle of friends I can connect with in person or virtually
Prioritize sleep and have ZERO guilt about it.
Therapy
Nature baths
Ask for Acknowledgment- teach children appreciation.
Refuse to hide the struggle. Be compassionate.
Lock the door for a hot bath or steam shower.
Create a musical playlist that brings you joy.
Pick field trips YOU look forward to.
Have a substitute stand in your packet. Perhaps a family member or another HS parent.
Understand that you are wonderful.
Commit time to grow as someone who can hold a safe space for developing children. I have enjoyed the online classes from Collectively Rooted.