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Weekly Homeschool Roundup - 9/14/19

I’ve been struggling in this space.

You see, my life as a homeschooling parent has drastically changed since this blog began 10 years ago.

I now have a homeschool graduate and a high schooler. My role is shifting to one of counselor, mentor, encourager - and (my favorite) cheerleader.

So often I come across things during the week, or remember something that really worked in our homeschool. I want a way to share this information with the Homegrown Learners community, but social media is so…. well…. social media. Know what I mean?

I no longer have the cute lesson plans and pictures of happy children living that carefree interest led lifestyle. I now have one teenager at home who works independently - and most often that isn’t very blog (or photo) worthy.

So this space remains of value to you, I’ve come up with a solution: each Saturday I will post a weekly homeschool roundup - interesting articles, posts, books I’m reading, homeschooling tricks that work - you name it - if I think you need to know about it, I will share it here.

Each week I will post FIVE things that have stuck with me during the week.

I’d love for this roundup to be something you look forward to with your Saturday morning coffee.

So stick with me, and let’s get going with the first weekly homeschool roundup!

Weekly #Homeschool Roundup - curated content each week for the homeschooling parent

Teaching Diligence to My Teen is a Hill I’m Willing to Die On

Wow, this post from Annie & Everything is exactly how I’ve been feeling recently.

We’re going through that oh so lovely time in our household when my youngest seems to have lost his mind. He’s a good kid, but let’s just say a lot is escaping him right now. I remember this phase with my daughter, too.

If what it takes is being the water that drips and drips and drips on the rock until it forms an impression, then I will be that drip. I will be a gentle drip, a more sensitive sergeant, if you will — but I will just keep dripping, just keep dripping, what do we do? We driiiiiiip.

I agree with Annie - it’s a hill worth dying on to teach our children diligence. So let’s be diligent about this, shall we?


A Wonderful Historical Fiction Author

We’ve now read two books by Steve Sheinkin.

Both Undefeated and The Mysterious Benedict Arnold were wonderful read alouds for my 9th grader. I suspect they would even be good for your upper elementary and middle grade students, too.

Your children are never too old to share a read aloud with.

Remember that thing about diligence from Annie’s post above — do that with reading aloud, too. (wink)

There Are No Words

I wish I wasn’t posting this as the thing of beauty this week, because it is in remembrance of September 11, 2001.

This posting on Facebook from the United States Air Force Band is truly beautiful.

Take a few minutes to share this with your children.

What Should I Read Next

My go-to person for all things books and reading is Anne Bogel. I’ve been listening to Anne for a couple of years now, and had the chance to meet her in person last year - she’s lovely, by the way.

Her 200th episode of her podcast, What Should I Read Next, aired this week.

This list of 12 Favorite Episodes of What Should I Read Next makes for a lot of good listening.


Five In a Row

We have so many precious memories of the Five in a Row books in our homeschool.

If you don’t know what Five in a Row is - you need to!

If you have been rowing books, then I hope you know about Blog, She Wrote and all of the FIAR resources there.

Our favorite FIAR title has to be The Story About Ping (oh, this is such an old blog post!)…. I’ll never forget the week we spent schooling at a local lake to make the most of this story.

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Did you spot a good thing this week?

Feel free to share it in the comments below!


Making Time To Read - Recent Favorites

The goal this year has been to read widely and well.

I’ve noticed an improvement in my ability to home educate because I am making time to read.

Not only am I improving my knowledge (which can then be passed on through home education), but I’m also improving my general feelings of happiness and well-being. Books are a worthwhile escape - my faithful friends at all times.

(If you’re the bookish sort I’m sure you can relate.)

Making Time to Read - Current Favorites

Let’s get to the update - the last time I updated you was in May - an entire summer has gone by and I’ve done a lot of reading!

I’ll keep the categories the same as I did in the May update - so that you can see my efforts to read widely and well - and my efforts to include more nonfiction in my reading life.

There are probably only one or two books on the list that I wouldn’t recommend to you: The Martian (I just didn’t care for it - and too many f-bombs throughout) wasn’t up my alley. Additionally, I listened to Nora Ephron’s Heartburn on a road trip and have mixed feelings about this one. I’m not sure I recommend you spend your time on it.

Read-Alouds/For Homeschool

This year (9th grade) my son is studying American History.

I’m trying to incorporate some interesting stories from American History, as well as stories of faith.

I had never heard of Steve Sheinkin until this summer, and both of his books have been excellent! You’ll want to check them out (especially if you have older boys).

I also received a huge box of books from Voice of the Martyrs this summer - and in that box was a Christian Heroes book about Adoniram Judson. We have loved all of these missionary biographies, and this one didn’t disappoint us.

Personal/Professional Development

A lot of my reading the past few months has centered around my oldest leaving home for college.

The anxiety and grief I felt was surprising to me. I honestly thought I would be “ok” - but her leaving threw me for a bit of a loop. Listening to Anxious for Nothing and then reading Release My Grip were truly helpful during this period of time.

Mere Motherhood was a re-read for me. This is just such a beautiful book. I remember it giving me peace when it first came out, and reading it again instilled that same sense of educational peace in me again.

Historical Fiction/Classics/Memoir

My husband challenged me to read Lonesome Dove after our trip out West this summer. Well - I read it. I’m glad I did, but it’s not my favorite thing ever. I would say read it if you ever have time, but it’s not one I will heartily recommend.

I do think, however, that everyone needs to listen to Sissy Spacek read To Kill a Mockingbird. This is probably my favorite literary experience of all time!

I am also very thankful I read The Gown (a Modern Mrs. Darcy book club selection this summer) - such a great piece of historical fiction and just a lovely book in general.

Literary Fiction/Other

I had a lot of light reads this summer - probably you could categorize them as “fluff”. As I look back I think I was just escaping into my books as I prepared to send my daughter to college. I simply needed easy and fun - and there are a lot of those books in this list.

I think my favorite of the fluff was Jane of Austin - pure enjoyment.

Once Upon a River was probably the best book I’ve ever listened to - Juliet Stevenson is a brilliant narrator and I highly recommend listening to this book if you get a chance!

Susan Meissner is quick becoming one of my favorite authors. I’ve read three of her books now, and I think Why The Sky is Blue has been my favorite. This one tugged at my mama heartstrings and was just such a beautiful story of hope and redemption.

I’d love to talk books with you.

Leave me a comment and let me know what you’ve been reading and if you have a recommendation for me!

You might also like:

The 50 Books I Read in One Year

Three Reasons to Read