making THESE CHANGES to create our ideal homeschool

We are making some changes to create our ideal homeschool and bring back the wonder and inspiration into our homeschool and creating a space where kids love to learn. I've been healing from some major homeschool burn out and I am excited for this refresh to bring new life into our homeschool.

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Hi! I'm Chantel and I live with my family over on the Canadian prairies. We love to snuggle up with good books all winter long so you'll see lots of books here along with our homeschool stuff.

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00:00 - newsletter changes
03:30 - homeschool burnout
08:15 - things we are quitting
13:00 - things we are adding in

DISCLAIMER: Links included in this description may be affiliate links, which means I would earn a small percentage if you decide to purchase one of the items, but it does not mean the price is any higher through them. Thanks for your support!

[AHeartForHomeEducation]

It sounds like you may like Learning Language Arts Through Literature!

Thank you for sharing about your burnout and need for a reset! Homeschool burnout is so real. Hoping you get a fresh start this year and find some new things that work for you!

[JoyAlisonF]

This was such a lovely video. Thank you for taking the time to make it. I love love love Sally and all of her words. She has been instrumental in my own journey. She is a gem. As far as content from you? This kind of content...heartfelt, sitting with ideas, what is working, bringing back the joy of homeschooling. All of it!
God bless you!

[erinkimmel]

We had really good success with Easy Grammar around 6th/7th grade. Highly recommend. We will be going back to it at some point in highschool to review.

[evelynmom]

I have really been enjoying the kids book recommendations. It has helped my kids read more and find books they like. ❤

[crystalh]

The Unhurried Homeschooler by Durenda Wilson is good. She has another book called Raising Boys to be Men (or something close to that) and I really enjoyed that one as well. Teaching from Rest is another good one.
Thanks for the video, Chantel! ❤

[chelseaandrews]

Hi Chantel! I HIGHLY recommend Durenda Wilson. She has wrote a few books, her many children are all grown, and her podcast is amazing! She is a believer and is so encouraging.

I love your videos ❤

[GinaRLacy]

On a whim I bought Wordsmith workbooks for writing and it’s been SO fun for my kids! It was written by a homeschool mama and has been a perfect change of pace from more rigid programs we’ve used in the past.

[gbcflower]

We listened to Pollyanna as an audio book this past summer and all of my kids really enjoyed it. (I have a wide age range.) We have also loved Treasures of the Snow and Deerwood Incorporated (from BJU Press). I'm not sure if either of those is an audiobook however. For nature study, we don't typically take journals outside. Instead, we will do a nature walk, and I will take pictures of anything my kids want me to. Later, we will nature journal around our dining room table.

[rlewis]

I found this so useful and inspiring! You have been so helpful to us over the years, thank you so much for all your content!

[abundanceintheson_]

This homeschool year has been a total odd ball so far. I am really learning how to balance things, hold things loosely, and be open to plans not working. So, I feel this year I have been Re-setting more than our normal for the last 4 years. The story: when, I gave birth to my 4th child (almost 4 years ago), I dropped group work to make things super simple. It worked in that sense. But, it also felt like some sweetness was missing from our days. It has been so so hard to put it back in (the kids got used to something different). After two years, We have it back and everyone seems to really enjoy it (I keep it simple, we listen to hymns/worship music, read a pictures book, our memory verse, and CC memory work). So, that is a win this year. We also tend to be more "relaxed" ~ Unhurried homeschoolers and yet we tried a block schedule this last couple weeks. So far, we enjoy it. Don't know how long that might work....but for now. I am trying to teach them independence on how think about their day and break up tasks into manageable chunks. So all in alll, things are going good. I have finally accepted that curriculum and I don't mix. So, we are doing curriculum for math, reading, and LA as those have not usually been the problem. I have issues with history/science....and everything else. We are mostly doing interest led either my interest that they also agree sounds cool or something they really want to dive into and I am only doing History/science one a week, Geography is a hit or miss, we do art/Science projects at our Co-op currently, and anything else depends on if I am actively paying for lessons that they said they wanted to learn (like Ukulele for my son).

[abundanceintheson_]

I like hearing your homeschool updates (how it is going, if anything is changing, maybe something really fun you guys learned/did). I also would enjoy Vlogs maybe if that isn't too invasive to your day or your kid's privacy. Something fun might be a vid. with a ton of quotes you like about homeschooling from various books. I really enjoyed when you read quotes from "Awakening Wonder".

[humblyhaley]

Awaking Wonder is so good! I need to pick it back up because I’m also feeling the burnout. Teaching from Rest by Sarah MacKenzie and the Read Aloud Revival (by her as well) are also some of my favorites. I love the changes you’re making to adapt to your family’s specific needs! 😄

[theselittlesprouts]

For middle grade read aloud I suggest Inkheart, it is a fantastic story and the way it is written is one of those books that roll off the tongue if that makes sense.

[thissimplelife]

I feel you on the newer picture books! My favorites will always be from when I was younger were the Russel Hoban and Lillian Hoban books! They had the prettiest pictures and the cutest stories for young kids! I honestly still love them!!

[ashleyirizarry-diaz]

I love Sally Clarkson but haven’t read her homeschool books so excited to start with this book thanks for the recommendation!

[thedefinitionofhomeschool]

Iew fix it grammar is awesome! But it's definitely for about 4th grade and up. My 6th grader has enjoyed it this year!

[mandyc]

I think re-set is on a lot of our minds. Going back to Awakening Wonder and getting inspired helps. I can't say enough good things about that book.
For us I am cutting out some things, that though they may be good, are not aiding my kids in the directions they need to go, and are taking that spark away. Letting go and doing things that inspire are necessary for us right now. On the forefront is Biblical knowledge and spiritual formation as well as reading books together that we enjoy. Oh yeah, and less screen time as well. 😅

[jennifermittler]

Thank you for this video! We are all feeling burnt out with what we are doing, and it’s definitely time to reevaluate. I think I also need to reread Awaking Wonder!

[meganrose]

We have used Learning Language Arts Through Literature and it served us well great while we did. They are very affordable and they have zero frills. Pretty much all encompassing as far as LA goes. 💛

[debbenna]

Chantel, thank you so much for this video. Our homeschool is also in need of a refresh for a couple of my kiddos. With regard to screen time, a year ago we completely eliminated it during the school week. It became their goal for finishing school. They are allowed to have screen time on the weekends, but our weekends are so full of soccer games, hikes, and other outings, that they are now barely on their screens for leisure and the change we've seen in our kids has been amazing. For language arts - check out Learning Language Arts Through Literature - a fantastic, no frills literature curriculum. For science and history, my son thrives on Notgrass and Dive Science, while my girls thrive on A.C.E. Paces. Both so full of information from a Christian perspective and have really grabbed their interest in a way that encourages them to pursue topics on their own without our prompting.