Homeschool Encouragement Archives - Techie Homeschool Mom

25 Apps for a Techie Family Game Time

People complain that technology isolates people, but I disagree. Yes, there’s potential for isolation, but we can combat that by teaching our kids healthy tech habits. As the first generation of digital moms, we need to figure out ways to guide our kids towards healthy habits and attitudes about electronics usage. And one way to do this is offering screen time that brings families together. My girls have a blast playing multi-player apps. I like them using apps instead of board games because the multi-player apps… take up less space are more portable don’t have crucial pieces to lose are less … [Read on, my friend]

A Homeschool Mom’s “Must Have” Webtools for Teaching Writing

This week I read a post at My Learning Table with ‘7 Tips for Teaching Teen Writers’. As a former English teacher and current facilitator for a homeschool teen literature group, Anne shared her discovery that ”many homeschool moms don’t even know where to begin teaching writing to their teens.” In her post, she identified two types of writers and ‘7 Tips for Teaching Teen Writers‘ through the writing process of Prewriting, drafting, editing, revising, proofreading and publishing. You may remember the good ol’ writing process from your days as a student. However, you may not realize that the “how … [Read on, my friend]

How to Choose a ‘Just Right’ Unit Study

“Goldilocks and the 3 Bears” was my daughter’s go-to story when she was little. You know, the one she asked me to read over and over (and over and over and over) again. My little blondie even had a “Goldilocks and the 3 Bears” 3rd birthday party. How cute is that?!?! I remember her cute little voice quoting Goldilocks …”Too soft. Too hard. Just right.” “Too hot, Too cold. Just right”…over and over (and over and over and over) again. Choosing a unit study can feel like a Goldilocks experience. “Too long. Too short. Too dry. Too fluffy. Too rigid. … [Read on, my friend]

How I Answer When Asked “Why Do You Homeschool?”

“Why do you homeschool?” That is a question homeschooling families can’t avoid. Early in our homeschool journey, I would flounder when asked and throw out a random answer. “So that we can be the greatest influence in our kids’ lives.” “To strengthen our family” “Because I know my child best.” “So our kids can learn freely about God.” We had decided to homeschool even before our oldest daughter was born. We felt it was best for our family. I had taught school for a few years and knew that I didn’t want our children to attend school. There were lots … [Read on, my friend]

What I Discovered on My Teen Daughter’s Pinterest

Recent conversation with my 14-year-old… Me: “What are you working on, Sweetie?” Her: “Oh, I’m just on Pinterest.” Me: “Really? What are you doing?” Her: “Just getting ideas” Doubts that hit my brain…. “Again? She’s always on Pinterest.” “Should I let her be on so much?” “Is she being productive?” “Is this helping her grow?” (These is the same “in-my-head” conversations I had when she was younger and always had her nose in a book.) We’ve been teaching our 5 daughters to develop healthy tech habits. [Read 5 Tips for Healthy Tech Habits in Your Family] So, I needed to … [Read on, my friend]

Are Your Kids Wasting Time on Electronics? 3 Questions to Ask

Here we are, all home on a Sunday afternoon, most of us cozied up on the couch….and there are six screens glowing. Daddy’s researching products for a client, I’m writing a blog post, two girls are playing Minecraft together, two girls are watching YouTube and one girl is jamming to some tunes while she washes the dishes. Some people look at our family and think “They are on electronics all the time. They should be doing something more productive.” And, honestly, I think that myself sometimes and start doubting our unlimited tech time policy. But, my children are digital natives, and using … [Read on, my friend]

5 Tips for Healthy Tech Habits in Your Family

I am “that mom” You know, the one who wouldn’t feed her kids junk food when they were little. I’m a firm believer that if you’re going to put something in your body, it should be worth it. It should be full of nutrients that will sustain you and help you grow. I did this in hopes that when my girls grew up, they would make good food choices (because they certainly aren’t going to be eating only at my table forever). I was also diligent about teaching them to make good reading choices when they were young. As a … [Read on, my friend]

A Mom’s Greatest Struggle in This Tech-Driven World

“They’re always sitting in front of a screen. That’s all they want to do. I’m tired of nagging them to get off. Things are so different than when I was a kid. I wish they would just play or read a book or do something unplugged.” Sound familiar? Those are the words in my head. And the conversation I have had with many of my friends. And the complaint I read about online. It’s a big issue for us moms, trying to figure out how to guide our kiddos’ media consumption and electronics usage. And to balance the good of … [Read on, my friend]

When Homeschooling Doesn’t Work (for just one of your kids)

True confession time….When I was a young, idealistic homeschooling mom with three kids, I dissed traditional school. However, one day, my mom offered this advice. “You shouldn’t badmouth school in front of the girls because someday one of them may need to go to school.” My initial reaction? “My kids go to school? NEVER”. What did my mom know? She had never homeschooled…she didn’t understand the “evils” of traditional school…these are my girls (not hers) that she’s talking about. But, my mom’s words resonated. And the advice sunk in. And I realized I shouldn’t speak badly about institutional education in … [Read on, my friend]

5 Quotes for Homeschool Moms from Martin Luther King Jr.

While working on the new Martin Luther King Jr. Online Unit Study , I came across this quote from Martin Luther King Jr. This quote resonates with me. Dr. King may have written it in 1947 in a context of racial tension, but his words are still powerful for 21st century learners. Critical thinking skills are crucial in the Information Age. We need to know how to process large amounts of information and discern fact from fiction. And when it comes down to it, character will get someone farther in life than any amount of intelligence. Reading this wisdom piqued my … [Read on, my friend]