Raising Arrows - Large Family Homeschool Life

What do you think of when I say Homeschool Schedule? A rigorous, segmented schedule that must be followed exactly or you will fall miserably behind? Let's change that! Get my homeschool scheduling books: Creating a Homeschool Schedule You Love and Flexible Homeschool Planning Resoures mentioned: Podcast 07 - Should You Homeschool Year Round? Podcast 10 - Schedules for Homeschooling Year Round Podcast 50 - How to Put Your Homeschool on Autopilot Podcast 77 - How to Anchor Your Homeschool Day Podcast 83 - How to Set Up a Simple Homeschool Schedule Podcast 86 - An Easy Morning Time Routine Podcast 125 - Ideas for Homeschool Schedules Morning Time with Multiple Ages - post Year Round Homeschooling page on Raising Arrows Autopilot Homeschooling - post Are Homeschool Groups a Waste of Time? - post

Large family methods for getting your kids in the kitchen helping with daily meals. Resources mentioned: Podcast #189 - Creating a Meal Rotation that Isn't Boring Kids Cook Real Food curriculum

I don't love to cook and I have a very busy life, so I had to find a way to make meal planning less stressful and time-consuming. Resources mentioned: Our Blackstone Griddle Special Night Large Family Meal Planning

3 simple hacks to get back on track when you are overwhelmed and don't know where to start. Resources mentioned: Podcast #50 - How to Put Your Homeschool on Autopilot Podcast #184 - Living in the Sandwich Generation

We all want to enjoy the little years of homeschooling, but we also have this nagging feeling we aren't doing enough. When do we need to get serious about when and what we are teaching? Get my book: Flexible Homeschool Planning to make your plans work no matter what kind of week you've had! Resources mentioned: Podcast #26 - How Many Hours Does It Take to Homeschool? Podcast #138 - Tests Don't Teach Podcast #178 - Testing Your Child's Knowledge Without Tests Podcast #183 - Creating a Homeschool Transcript How Many Hours Does it Take to Homeschool? (free download) Preschool & Kindergarten Curriculum for Large Families Wonderment Curriculum Review of Peaceful Preschool Tapestry of Grace (page full of resources on my blog) How we use Apologia Science Berean Builders Science  

We all intend to be great at this mother-in-law thing, but it tends to be a bit of an ugly mess as we learn a whole new parenting role. Resources mentioned: Podcast 185 - The Black Wedding Dress Podcast 80 - Mistakes We Made Parenting Our College Student Who Lived at Home Podcast 102 - Homeschool to College Podcast 161 - Mothering Sons into Adulthood Podcast 163 - Spending Time with Your Teens More Than Grand website

My daughter's black wedding dress shocked a lot of people. Some comments were downright ugly, but they sparked a conversation that needs to be had in the conservative homeschool world - What are we teaching our children about appearances and "fitting in." Original Facebook post She Wears Skirts Series Jinger Dugger's Book - Become Free Indeed  

Caring for aging parents while still caring for young children at home is happening more and more to my generation. This is my story and my way of managing it all. Resources mentioned: Home Blessing (once a week house cleaning) Massage Chair we bought for my mom  

Take the mystery out of making a high school transcript for your homeschooler! Resources mentioned: Homeschool Graduation Requirements - A Simple Plan (post) Lee Binz The HomeScholar (Total Transcript Solutions) Homeschool Hall

Have planners never worked for you? Wish you could figure out a way to make them work or at least get your life organized? This podcast is for you! Get the book that revolutionized my homeschool planning! Flexible Homeschool Planning Resources mentioned: Podcast #4 - Making Homeschool Planning Easy  Tapestry of Grace Peaceful Press

Do you long for perfection in your homemaking?  Do you efforts never seem good enough?  It's time we look to the Bible for the truth about this longing for perfection. Get the book on realistic homemaking: Home Management for the Homeschool Mom Resources mentioned:  Podcast 181 - Messy Mommies The Sabbath by A. Heschel Theology of Home The Bible Project - Genesis

Are you a messy mommy? I certainly qualified for that title for many years. This podcast dives into how I turned that homemaking ship around! Get the book! - Home Management for the Homeschool Mom Resources mentioned: Cleaning with Children Podcast Series: Podcast #46, Podcast #47, Podcast #48, Podcast #49 Half My Stuff Saturday (blog series from 2010) FLYLady.net Jesus Doesn't Care About Your Messy House (book by Dana K. White)

Homeschooling the high school years feels like serious business that should have your undivided attention, but what if you have a lot of little ones in the house?  How do you balance it all? Get the book! - Large Family Homeschooling Take the class! - Creating a Homeschool Schedule You Love Resources mentioned: Homeschooling High School in a Large Family (post) How Many Hours Does it Take to Homeschool (Podcast #26) Occupying a Busy Preschooler (Podcast #16) Preparing Your Homeschooled Child for College (Podcast #44) Independent Learning - Teaching Kids to Homeschool Themselves (post) How to Put Your Homeschool on Autopilot (Podcast #50) How to Anchor Your Homeschool Day (Podcast #77) An Easy Morning Time Routine (Podcast #86) Morning Time Basket with Multiple Ages (post) How to Make Read Aloud Time More Peaceful (Podcast #13) Homeschool Graduation Requirements - A Simple Plan (post) Toddler Box (post)

Traditional testing is not the best way to discern what your child has learned.  In this episode we'll talk about other (and better!) ways to find out what your child knows. Subscribe to the Raising Arrows Newsletter! Resources mentioned: Notebooking in a Large Family (post) Notebooking Made Easy (Podcast #42) Teaching Textbooks (Review and Tips) Apologia Elementary Science (Review & Tips) NEA Timeline of Standardized Testing

For many years, I lived in the season of toddlers and babies. How do you navigate the end of the season when it's all you've ever known? Subscribe to the Raising Arrows Newsletter! Resources mentioned: It's Not a Season I'm In (post) Podcast 128 - Holier Than Thou Homeschoolers Peaceful Preschool (curriculum) A Year of Learning (curriculum)

How to truly make your homeschooling journey your very own experience alongside your unique family. Subscribe to the Raising Arrows Newsletter! Resources mentioned: Podcast #124 - How to Take a Jubilee Homeschool Year Modern Miss Mason by Leah Boden Pocketful of Pinecones by Karen Andreola Tapestry of Grace homeschool curriculum Teaching Textbooks homeschool math curriculum Educating the Whole Hearted Child by Clay & Sally Clarkson

As I prepared for my husband to return from a year long deployment, I began to contemplate the future of the blog and podcast... Subscribe to my email list HERE! Read the Large Family Homeschool Life posts HERE!

Every Autumn, my homemaking habits change with the season.  Here are a few cozy ways I celebrate the Fall season in my kitchen and elsewhere! GET IT NOW FOR FREE! Fall Family Traditions Bundle! Resources mentioned: Corinthian Bells Farmhouse on Boone - Sourdough Starter, Sourdough Rolls, Sourdough Loaf, Pumpkin Spice Latte Concentrate RoseRed Homestead on YouTube Whole Wheat Bread Recipe 30 Minute Pizza Recipe White Pizza Recipe Hearty Winter Oven Stew Recipe Winter Soup Recipe Taco Soup Recipe Sourdough Discard Apple Fritter Bread Recipe Pumpkin Crumble Cake Recipe Taco Seasoning Mix Recipe Podcast #173 - Large Family House Sizes & Layouts Decluttering Template (free download)

Over the years, our large family has lived in many different sizes of homes.  A listener asked me to share what I've learned from living in large and small homes and what I feel is crucial space to have in a large family home! Mentioned in this podcast: Max & Lilly Bunk Bed Trifold Mattress Podcast #66 - Maximizing Space in Kids' Bedrooms Large Family Bedrooms (post) Living in a Garage While Building Your House Debt Free (post) Large Family Organization page on Raising Arrows

How to make your kitchen work efficiently and effectively while you homeschool! Today's Sponsor: WriteStories by Scriptive Encourage reluctant writers and emerging storytellers to write their own stories using illustrations from children's books! Resources mentioned: Table Chores (post) Master Grocery List

A listener asked if I "make" my kids go outside, and the answer is a resounding YES!  If you struggle to get your kids outside, this podcast is for you! Resources mentioned: Our Charlotte Mason Nature Bag (post) (podcast) Autumn Homeschooling Ideas (post) Tapestry of Grace (curriculum overview) 1000 Hours Outside (podcast) (trackers)

If you know you are going to have a busy homeschool year or if you just want to keep your homeschool schedule open and flexible, here's how you can plan for the upcoming year without stressing yourself out!  This is the method I have been using for years with great success! For more help, get my book: Flexible Homeschool Planning Resources mentioned: Flexible Homeschool Planning (book) Are Local Homeschool Groups, Co-ops, and Classes a Waste of Time? (post) How to Put Your Homeschool on Autopilot - Podcast #50 Five in a Row (curriculum) Rod & Staff ABC Series Workbooks (curriculum)

Not every homeschool mom is excited to start the new school year.  Here's what to do if YOU are that mom! Get these books to help you manage this homeschool year! Homeschooling with Purpose Home Management for the Homeschool Mom Resources mentioned: The Truth About Burnout (post) (podcast) Burned Out Mom (video) A Mother Who Never Burns Out (post) How to Put Your Homeschool on Autopilot (post) (podcast) (video) Simply Convivial classes How to Take a Homeschool Mom Sabbatical (post) How to Take a Jubilee Homeschool Year (post) (podcast) Year Round Homeschooling page on Raising Arrows Homeschool Planning Inspiration (podcast) (video)

Need a little inspiration to get started (or keep going!) with your homeschool planning?  This podcast is full of ideas to make it efficient, easy, and enjoyable! Resources mentioned: Creating a Homeschool Schedule You Love eCourse - use code: 2024HSPLAN for 20% off! (ends 8/1/24) Flexible Homeschool Planning (book) Tapestry of Grace page Music in Our Homeschool You ARE an Artist (chalk art lessons) Independent Homeschooling (post) Modified Workboxes (post) Homeschooling & the 3 Year Learning Curve (post) How Many Hours Does It Take to Homeschool (post) Delight Directed Homeschooling series Investing in Real World Homeschooling (post) CompuScholar Homeschool Graduation Requirements - A Simple Plan (post) Preparing Your Homeschooler for College (post) Homeschool to College - Transitioning your teen (podcast #102)

For more than a decade, we have been doing some form of "Special Night" with each of our children one night a week.  In this podcast, I share how that tradition has morphed over the years to accommodate our growing family and why this has become such a special night for all of us! Resources mentioned: Special Night (post) Chocolate Chip Scones Recipe Special Night plate

When you need margin in your day are you seeking breaks or escapes?  Recognizing the difference is crucial to your job as a mother and homemaker. Resources mentioned: The Me Time Myth (post) Caring for Yourself - The Me Time Myth Revisited (post)

When you have big kids and little kids and even young adults living in your home, how do you handle all the different screens and rules for being on devices?  Here's what's worked for us! Resources mentioned: Podcast #74 - Screen Time Limits in a Large Family Do Your Homeschooled Kids Need a Cell Phone? (post) Creating a Special Night for Each Child (post) The Anxious Generation (book) VidAngel (movie and television filtering service)

Simple organizational ideas for homeschooling in small spaces using what you already own! Resources mentioned: Organizing Your Homeschool with Backpacks & Tubs (post) Simple Organizational Systems for Your Homeschool That Work! (post) Homeschool Mom Basket Organization (video) Shelf System with Doors

A plethora of ideas to help you spend quality time with your teenagers as they move from childhood into adulthood. Resources mentioned: Boys & Their Attitudes - Podcast #54 Girls & Their Attitudes - Podcast #56 Homeschool to College: Transitioning Your Teen - Podcast #102 Mother Daughter Journaling (post)

Don't let your marriage slip through the cracks of your homeschooling day! Resources mentioned: The 5 Love Languages (book) Just Between Us (app) Driveway Dates (post) 12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson (book)

The relationship between a mother and her son is special, but it also changes as he moves from being a little boy, to being a teenager, to being a man.  As moms we need to learn to accept these changes and grow and change with them.  Resources mentioned: Boys and Their Attitudes (Podcast #54) How to Parent and Discipline Boys and their Attitudes (post) Kristin Lavransdatter trilogy

Tactics for keeping the house clean with a bunch of kids underfoot! Get my book - Home Management for the Homeschool Mom Resources mentioned: 4 Steps to a Better Homeschool Day (free class) Mom's Daily Checklist Cleaning with Kids Podcast Series - #46-49 How to Put Your Homeschool on Autopilot - Podcast #50

Are your Sundays anything but restful?  Are you tired of trying to get Sundays "right?"  When you have a lot of kids, Sundays can be hard - getting everyone ready, keeping everyone calm during the service, and then they still expect to eat when you get home!  It's time we changed how we see Sundays and lean into Jesus as our Sabbath rest! Focus you calendar on Christ! Celebrating the Church Year Online Guide BUY NOW and start CELEBRATING!    

Homeschooling a lot of different ages and stages presents a unique set of circumstances and challenges.  In today's podcast, we'll walk through several of these with real world solutions! Teach your kids to dig into Scripture with games, puzzles, and more in the brand new Bible Investigators: Creation! Need help creating a homeschool schedule you can stick to? Take my class! Creating a Homeschool Schedule You Love!   Resources mentioned: How to Add Another Child to Your Homeschool (post) Simple Morning Time (post0 Simple Morning Time (podcast #86) Morning Time with Multiple Ages (post) Independent Schoolwork (post) Teaching Textbooks Large Family Review (post) Secrets for Handling Attitudes in Girls (post) Girls and their Attitudes (podcast #56) How to Parent and Discipline Boys and Their Attitudes (post) Boys and their Attitudes (podcast #54) Homeschooling When Everyone Needs You (post)

How do you find time to clean the house while you homeschool? In this podcast, we'll talk about keeping up with the housework and schoolwork using simple routines and systems! Useful resources for managing your home and homeschool: Creating a Homeschool Schedule You Love (ecourse) Home Management for the Homeschool Mom (book) Other resources mentioned: How Many Hours Does It Take to Homeschool? (post or podcast #26) One Day House Cleaning (Home Blessing) - post Cleaning with Children Podcast Series: #46-49 Mega Laundry Post Morning Routine Table Chores Morning Time Teaching Your Kids to Work Independently 15 Minute Tidy Up Evening Routine

How to use the Christian Church Year to focus your heart and mind on Christ as year long! Get my Liturgical Calendar Guide for Protestant Families HERE! use code: LITRURGY10 for 10% off! FREE Liturgical Calendar Wheel - https://raisingarrows.net/liturgical-church-year-protestant-family/ Resources mentioned: Celebrating the Biblical Feasts by Martha Zimmerman Celebrating the Christian Year by Martha Zimmerman Unwrapping the Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp Living the Christian Year Devotional by Bobby Gross Podcast #28 - Having a REAL Sabbath Rest Emily's Story Christmas Homeschool Ideas Free Easter Devotionals for Children

My personal journey of losing and gaining and losing again throughout 20 years of multiple pregnancies. Resources mentioned: My Diastasis Recti Journey - Healing my Core Emily's Story

Your favorite homeschooling method may not fit your large family, but a few small adjustments can work wonders!  In this episode, Amy shares how to tweak 5 popular homeschooling methods to make them work for a large family. Get the ebooklet mentioned in this episode! How to Make Any Curriculum Work for Your Family Resources mentioned: Charlotte Mason Homeschooling in 18 Easy Step-by-Step Lessons (ebook) Notebooking for the Large Family (post) Tapestry of Grace (page on Raising Arrows) How to Have a Jubilee Homeschooling Year (post) Music In Our Homeschool (online learning platform) Morning Time with Multiple Ages (post) Karen Andreola's books Julia Rothman's "Anatomy" books Related Podcasts: Podcast #124 - Taking a Jubilee Homeschool Year Podcast #70 - How to Use Workbooks to Lighten Your Homeschool Load

Homeschool moms have a lot to do in a day, including trying to keep the house clean! WHEN do you find the time to clean? Let's talk about what works best and why! Buy the Book!Home Management for the Homeschool Mom  Take my FREE Class: 4 Steps to a Better Homeschool Day Related Podcasts: Podcast #46 - Weekly House Cleaning Without Help Podcast #47 - Creating a Chore Board Podcast #48 - Weekly Chore Rotation Podcast #49 - Weekly House Cleaning with Older Children Related Videos: Weekly Rotation Cleaning List Chore Boards Friday Home Blessing How to Anchor Your Day Tidy Up Time Table Chores Related Blog Posts: Home Blessing (cleaning your house in a day) Kitchen & Dining Room Chores for Children Morning Time with Multiple Ages How to Put Your Homeschool on Autopilot

Practical tips to help you help your children walk through the grief of losing a loved one, even when you are also grieving. This week's sponsor: I. W.R.I.T.E - online writing class for teens by E.J. Kitchens Resources mentioned: Psalms for the Grieving Heart (a free 30 Day Devotional) Grieving Mothers page on Raising Arrows 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

A listener asked my thoughts on minimalism as a large family mom. This is my candid answer as well as a fresh perspective on "stuff." This week's sponsor: Night Zookeeper Get a 7 Day FREE TRIAL and 50% off your Annual Subscription! Resources mentioned: FREE Decluttering Template Creating a Peaceful Home (book) Weekly Home Blessing (post) Half My Stuff Saturday (blog series from 2010) Tidy Up Time (post) Nature Table (post) Simply Convivial (Mystie Winckler's membership site) Send your questions to [email protected] and it may end up featured here on the Raising Arrows® Podcast!

If you are teaching a child to read this year, you'll need these great ideas for getting the job accomplished! This week's sponsor: Common Sense Press Publishers of Learning Language Arts Through Literature Use code: RaisingArrows20 for 20% off  Resources mentioned: Podcast #13 - How to Make Read-Aloud Time More Peaceful Send your questions to [email protected] and your question may be featured here on the Raising Arrows® Podcast!

Instead of just trying to keep your toddler out of your hair during homeschool hours, what if you tried including them in the homeschool lessons?! Here's how! Our Sponsor: Give your children a well-rounded education with Classical Conversations http://classicalconversations.com/arrows Resources mentioned: Podcast #16 - Occupying a Busy Preschooler Podcast #77 - How to Anchor Your Homeschool Day Podcast #148 - Homeschooling Boys Who Can't Sit Still 10 Ideas to Keep Toddlers Busy During Homeschooling (post) Playdough Recipes - Natural Playdough & Chamomile Playdough

Worried about homeschooling a child who can't sit still?  This podcast is for you! Our Sponsor: Help your children learn HOW to think for themselves with Classical Conversations http://classicalconversations.com/arrows Resources mentioned: Better Late Than Early by Raymond & Dorothy Moore Desk Ball for kids Fidget Bands for kids' chairs A Year of Playing Skillfully (curriculum review) Peaceful Preschool (curriculum review)

This summer make your vacation (no matter where you go!) an educational experience that doesn't feel like school and doesn't require lesson plans! Our Sponsor: Squeaver Tales Get the FREE Squeaver Tales Coloring Book at: SqueaverTales.com  

How do you teach the Bible in your homeschool when you feel like you're still a baby Christian?  This podcast is full of resources and ideas to encourage you to dive in right where you are! Homeschool with Classical Conversations! To find a community near you, go to: ClassicalConversations.com/arrows   Resources mentioned: Hurlbut's Story of the Bible (older edition) Mighty Acts of God by Starr Meade Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones Unwrapping the Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp Stories of the Resurrection by Tauna Meyer Living the Christian Year by Bobby Gross Celebrating the Christian Year by Martha Zimmerman

Homeschooling with a new baby can be challenging, but it isn't impossible!  This podcast will give you practical ideas for surviving and thriving while you homeschool with a newborn! Resources mentioned: Large Family Homeschooling (book) Year Round Homeschooling Page on Raising Arrows Homeschool Mom Basket Morning Time Family Favorite Meal List Baby Mercy's Diagnosis Made 2 Homeschool Community

Got questions?  I'll answer them in the next Podcast Q&A! Email your questions to [email protected] In this episode: Get a glimpse into a day in my large family homeschool life! Resources mentioned: Podcast #124 - Taking a Jubilee Homeschool Year Playful Pioneers (curriculum) Flip Flop Spanish (curriculum) Table Chores (post) Special Night (post) Adventures in Odyssey Club (post) Enya Radio on Pandora

Interested in homeschooling? Check out Classical Conversations! https://www.classicalconversations.com/arrows You are a busy mom with lots of different ages and stages to mother!  This podcast will help you untie the knots you are in and let God work in and through you as you mother them all! Resources mentioned: How to Have Your Quiet Time All Day Long (post) Podcast #97 - Things Large Family Moms Can't Do Podcast #141 - Homemaking with a Purpose Managing Your Home Well (video) Podcast #115 - The Truth About Homeschool Burnout The Truth About Homeschool Burnout (post)  

Need to create a little order in the chaos of your daily homeschooling?  This podcast is full of simple ideas you can implement today to make your day run smoother! Today's Sponsor: Classical Conversations presents a new curriculum for your little ones! Scribblers at Home: Recipes from Life Long Learners Learn more at www.classicalconversations.com/scribblers-arrows Resources mentioned: Podcast #77 - How to Anchor Your Homeschool Podcast #50 - How to Put Your Homeschool on Autopilot Podcast #139 - Discussion Based Education Seating Chart post Homeschool Mom Basket (scroll toward the bottom of the post for examples) Morning Time (read the beginning of the post for examples)