Homeschool : A day in the life of a secular homeschooler

Hey guys! So glad to be back and ready to show you how my teaching methods have changed since beginning our journey called "homeschooling" nearly a year ago. 

When I first began, I had the vision of a classroom and school set up like the public schools I had taught at for nearly six years. Why would I want that? I'm not even sure, I really didn't enjoy being micro-managed or scolded over mismatched chairs and curtains that were hanging long enough. It was exhausting how much was expected to be shoved into a day, and what was not included.

So, as the months progressed I came to the realization that this was my chance to make school whatever it was that worked for us. 

Homeschool Wk. 1 Lesson Plan All About Your Body

***Disclaimer*** this is not how I schedule homeschool anymore. I really want to show how I have grown even after less than a year of homeschooling***
This post was saved from almost a year ago, and looking back at it makes me EXHAUSTED.
I spent a lot of time in the evenings preparing my lessons, finding websites, resources, etc etc...

That is in no way how I choose to homeschool now, but you can see where I began. (now back to the original post)


Hello !!  I'm sure I have mentioned this before, but for this post it needs to be repeated: I have an exceptionally smart little girl. Yep, that's it. Bet you thought it was going to be a bit more profound, huh? 

I point this out because this post is the first of 5 discussing how I homeschool. I have wanted to create this series long before I began keeping her home. Partly because I feel that I don't homeschool quite the same as other mommies and also because it is SO DIFFICULT to find curriculum to keep an exceptional student engaged. I especially find it difficult to locate curriculum that is void of religion. I do teach my daughter that religions exist, but not that one is true compared to others.  I began my planning (curriculum planning) a month before she started to stay home, which was May 1, 2012. It was tedious and fun and frustrating and liberating all at the same time. 

I certainly don't mean to discourage anyone, instead I'd like to do my part in helping other parents who have a smarty pants at home.  ALSO- I AM NOT AN EXPERT. I don't claim to be and don't want anyone to think otherwise. I'm just a mommy who wants to teach her child as best she can& I strive to give her lots of knowledge! I pull things from online, in books, and right out of my old noggin' to do with her. 

New GOoDieS = Fun Card!

I absolutely LOVE getting goodies in the mail. It's a great way to get inspired. 

First I got a package of awesome paper products from Made By Mish, a woman who's blog is full of great cards using the products she has in her shop. I'm not even sure how I came to follow her, but it's been one of my favorite blogs to read. She recently did a post on combining border punches to add fun elements; ugh so cute! 

Then, I got a package today of stamps from Sweet Stamp Shop. I saw some creations on another blog I follow and just had to order some of their products. I bought four stamp sets: 

1: It's a Man's World

2: Spectacle 

3: Old School Rock

4: Watchin' Tv

I was super excited to use them, especially with the great paper goodies. 

Here's what I made: 

I'll be adding a bookstore gift card to this tiny bag.

Grandma's St. Patrick's Day Birthday Album :: Projects Of Recent

Something Wicked This Way Comes By Ray Bradbury

Something Wicked This Way Comes 

By: Ray Bradbury

The selection of books I read come directly from my personal librarian. Although this sounds quite fancy, it really isn't. I just happen to have a great best friend who is the biggest book-reader out there. Yeah, and he's my age. People who enjoy a good book still exist, though few and far between in my experience. I just don't come across a lot of twenty-somethings that say :hey did you read that new book that came out?: or :Can you believe _________ won the Pulitzer?: Not saying I'm a super smarty by any means. I like reading,& love going to school (can't wait to go back), but information doesn't just stick to this brain. It's extremely difficult for me to retain information and I have to continuously work at it.... no seriously, it CONTINUOUS. I would have to brush up on simple multiplication if I knew you were about to ask me too many math questions. 

Anyways, I really enjoyed this book about two boys who get entangled in an ordeal with a traveling carnival. Did I mention that it was an EVIL traveling carnival? It was an easy read that kept me entertained. Only toward the end when Will's dad goes into a long speech about evil and what it is in the world etc etc did I go, seriously? 2 more pages before he stops? Otherwise it was fun. Definitely off the beaten path of what I would normally read. Like I said though, if my librarian recommends it I know it can't flop.