As a homeschooling mom of 20+ years and a HomeWorks by Precept Consultant, I get many phone calls from moms (and sometimes dads) about how to start homeschooling. Having a grasp on why they want to homeschool is often the starting place for making decisions going forward. If you are considering homeschooling, asking yourself some of these questions might help you make some clearer choices for your family.

Are you thinking about homeschooling? Looking for where to start? Let me help. I am a homeschooling mom of over twenty years who feels called to encourage other homeschooling families as they begin and travel through their homeschooling journeys.

We are introducing a four-part series on the considerations and benefits of homeschooling. The first two posts will address things to consider and the last two will address the benefits of homeschooling. Please share this information with friends and family that are thinking about whether or not to homeschool their children. Please make comments and share your experiences with us.

Happy New Year! It’s always a trick to remember to write down the new year when writing the date on a check or filling out paperwork, isn’t it? Seems like it takes a few weeks to adjust to writing 2017 on things. Every new year brings its own set of adjustments. But before long, we are well on our way into the new year. And with the new year comes a bounty of wonderful opportunities- a clean slate wherever you need one. You might need to start a new regimen in your household, re-organize things, or make some new plans. Maybe you just pick up where you left off before the holidays and keep going.

Many years ago (I won’t tell you how many), I volunteered with my church youth group at the homeless shelter where we served Thanksgiving dinner. It made quite an impression as I continued to volunteer there throughout the rest of that school year. I even remember my parents pushing back dinner on Christmas day so that I could serve at the shelter. God placed a passion for serving others in me through these experiences. That passion to serve others is something I try very hard to ignite in my children. And homeschooling allows my family the ability to make time to serve and learn together.

One of the benefits and the blessings of having a homeschooling lifestyle is that day-to -day activities and extracurricular events, vacations, and holidays all work into your lesson plans! So, how do you plan for holidays? Do you take time off completely to enjoy family or travel, or do you incorporate baking, shopping, craft making, and special lessons into your lesson plans? There is no right or wrong way to handle the holidays as far as taking time off or incorporating them into your lessons, so enjoy whatever your family decides is best for you this holiday season.

What kind of cook are you? Are you a person that follows the recipe exactly? Do you level off your dry ingredients in the measuring cup to make sure everything is accurate and shop exactly to match the recipes?

It’s that time of year. Fall is settling in and the public schools are breaking for parent/teacher conferences. In our house, we incorporated a conference day. What? How is that possible? Why is that necessary? Well, if you ask my witty 16 year old son, he’ll sing you Tim Hawkins’ Homeschool Blues song. His favorite part… “when my momma’s talking to herself, it makes perfect sense. I say she’s only in a parent teacher conference.” He’d also tell you I have a lot of these conferences.

As a child I always remember making the drive from Nebraska to Minnesota to see my dad’s family each summer. There was always summer roadwork as evidenced by the bright orange signs that read “Under Construction.” It slowed us down, was bumpy, and made us take detours at times. It’s fall right now so why am I thinking about summer construction?

Fall is finally in the air, and with it comes distinct tastes, sounds, and fragrances! It’s time to put away the summer clothes and bring out the sweaters and warmer clothes. Apple cider and fall fruits and vegetables have replaced watermelon and lemonade in our fridges. We start to feel more family-oriented and cozy this time of year. Time to take a break from all the summer activities and focus on other things.