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You are here: Home / HomeSchooling / Helpful Habits / Help! I’m Back to School!

August 15, 2014 by: Hodgepodgemom

Help! I’m Back to School!

Once again we are having a slow and steady start to homeschool. We are still hanging on to summer and dipping in the pool while getting our feet wet in homeschool. Last week we started with just math. Plus we started back to piano lessons. This week we have added another subject (of each child’s choice) and are getting back to using our student planners. I must confess that this year I have just needed the extra summer time.

Slow and Steady Back to Homeschool - Tips, Encouragement and Helps at Hodgepodge

We won’t officially be full time back to school until after Labor Day but we had to take our annual back to homeschool photo! And there is plenty to do and many learning opportunities! Many of the regular extracurricular activities have started back: piano, drama troupe, choir, youth group, praise band practice, park days with our homeschool group … and, what am I forgetting? Here’s a few snapshots of our week…

A hodgepodge of back to school 1. Love it! Caught giggling over the Audubon First Field Guide: Insects book. Reading aloud and the name and characteristics. | 2. Oh she is loving being like the big kids and doing third grade Teaching Textbooks on the computer. | 3. Having fun with Unit Studies Sensational Sharks! Watching videos of bull and tiger sharks plus exploring a cool interactive shark anatomy. Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea or walked in the recesses of the deep? Job 38:16 | 4. Celebrating a birthday and enjoying summer at the pool!

Constitutional Literacy by Apologia

This is so exciting! Apologia’s Constitutional Literacy course by Michael Farris. A fantastic follow up to the civics and government course and trip to Washington, D.C. last year. And, we were so excited to get started with Constitutional Literacy, we went ahead and read the first chapter and watched the first session.

hammerhead shark chalk pastel art by Southern Hodgepodge

We had a great Shark Week! Not only did we enjoy Sensational Sharks but everybody picked a couple of tutorials from our Sharks: Chalk Art for All Ages and painted.

Return of the Routine at Southern Hodgepodge

More Back to Homeschool Helps for You

  • Return of the Routine – an absolutely free ebook of our best slow and steady steps to success. You may still be feeling the weight of this past year. Or you may be facing the overwhelming responsibility of getting back into the school year. 15 pages of tried and true homeschool routines and habits. Reluctant return of routine-r? Download now and save it for when you are ready.
  • Reserve all the books you can from the library and put them in a central location (we do the family room fireplace mantel and the coffee table) just so they are in sight and inviting.
  • How to Start a Homeschool Routine with Little Ones
  • I Can’t Homeschool Because of the Little Ones

Be sure to laugh lots at back to school time!

  • A Hodgepodge of Answers for the Homeschool Critics
  • Annual Hodgepodge Homeschool Photos
  • Weekly Homeschool Planning Meeting with Multiple Ages
  • 10 Pieces of Advice I Wish I’d Known Before I Started Homeschooling
  • Help! I’m Homeschooling! Helpful Habits for the Heart of Homeschooling

And remember my favorite quote: You can’t change what you have or haven’t done over the past year. Just start where you are, ask the Lord to make you a “joyful mother of children,” pray for grace and wisdom (and strength and patience), and move forward. ~ Vicki Bentley, HSLDA and Everyday Homemaking

firstdayofschool

Baby toes on my now high schoolers!

Many thanks to these kind hostesses:

Weekly Wrap-Up

 

  • Finishing Strong – Homeschooling the Middle & High School Years
  • iHomeschool Network’s Not Back to School Blog Hop – Student Photos week

Those are just a few little tips that helped us (me!) so much. Since 2001!

sharks-lb-ad

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About Hodgepodgemom

Tricia faces a daily dose of chaos homeschooling five children. The biggest lesson she’s learned? At the end of the day – when the dishes are put away and the children are tucked in bed – truly what matters is each child’s relationship with the Lord. Raising children is a God-given privilege and, folks, the time is short.

St. Simons Island Georgia – Historical Sites to Visit
Technology at The Ultimate Homeschool Pinning Party!

Comments

  1. Nana says

    August 15, 2014 at 9:20 AM

    ….Ah…those photos of the “baby toes” of the now high school children…make me smile a wistful smile…..

    Forever,
    Nana

    Reply
    • Hodgepodgemom says

      August 15, 2014 at 10:36 AM

      Me too. I am grateful that we started doing those photos back in 2001. Every time I look at it on the fridge it makes me smile!

      Reply
  2. Phyllis at All Things Beautiful says

    August 15, 2014 at 9:53 AM

    I always feel happy and refreshed after seeing one of your weekly posts. I love and look forward to seeing your back to school photos. I love the way you ease into school and mix in some summer time as well. Many blessings on your new school year! Oh, and your kids are getting big!

    Reply
    • Hodgepodgemom says

      August 15, 2014 at 10:37 AM

      Phyllis you are so sweet! I am so very thankful we can ease into school like we do and that it doesn’t have to come crashing in all at once. Thank you – yes, they are getting big – it really does happen fast!

      Reply
  3. Heather @ My Overflowing Cup says

    August 15, 2014 at 6:57 PM

    Where has the summer gone? We start school the same way you do – slowly! Actually, we do part-time schooling all through the summer, but we will get back into full-time next week. We use and love Teaching Textbooks as well. That Constitutional Literacy curriculum looks good. Keep us posted on how you like it. Love the Vicki Bentley quote, the recommendation of Finishing Strong, and the reminder that I need to take more homeschooling pics. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Hodgepodgemom says

      August 18, 2014 at 1:13 PM

      I agree Heather – summer went at lightning speed! We are already hooked on ConLit – and I am sharing a review in the next couple of weeks. Love Vicki Bentley – one of the best homeschool mentors!

      Reply
  4. Jessy from Our Side of the Mountain says

    August 16, 2014 at 6:55 PM

    Welcome to another year! We start 9/2. Maine’s summers are just too short to start until AFTER Labor Day! LOL I’m ready; I think. Great first week!

    Reply
    • Hodgepodgemom says

      August 18, 2014 at 1:14 PM

      I hear you – make summer last as long as possible and take advantage of the sunshiney days 🙂

      Reply
  5. Belinda says

    August 18, 2014 at 4:16 AM

    A great idea to have a photo taken each year – never thought of that – I guess the closest we’ve come to that is a yearly photo around the Christmas tree. It is so fun to see their growth each year. All the best as you head off into your new year. We are mid-way, and are doing our mid-year reviews at the moment (different school year in Australia.)

    Reply
    • Hodgepodgemom says

      August 18, 2014 at 1:17 PM

      A yearly photo around the Christmas tree is great – see – we aren’t consistent with that! I love hearing about how different things are in Australia – one of my fellow authors at The Curriculum Choice is in Australia (Kendra at Aussie Pumpkin Patch) – is often reminding me of the opposite weather and different school schedules. Love homeschooling for that! Thanks Belinda 🙂

      Reply

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