The Homeschool Mother's Journal

In my life this week…

I'm feeling overwhelmed right now. So much going on with the kids and their schooling and activities and oldest's job. The whole fourth grade to eleventh grade spread is really taking a toll this year. 

In our homeschool this week…

I am trying to catch up on my grading. This is a never-ending task for me. I need to re-group. I am doing some reassessing of what we've done this year with the idea of making changes.

I am inspired by…

literature - always.

My favorite thing this week was…

finding out that my daughter made it to state for piano competition.

What’s working/not working for us…

Not sure exactly what threw us off this year -- looking at everything to figure it out.

Things I’m working on…

As stated earlier --- grading, grading, grading.

I’m reading…

The Thirteen by Susie Moloney. Just finished Hide Me Among the Graves by Tim Powers. Looking forward to reading The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

Our new puppy, Watson.

The Homeschool Mother's Journal

In my life this week…

We have had the week off from homeschooling, from ballet and from work. We did have guitar lessons, a birthday party, a sleepover to attend and the heater tuned up.

We basically were as lazy as possible.

In our homeschool this week…

We have had the past two week off from school. We will start back up on Monday.

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…

I have learned over the years that it is better to take time off during the holidays than to try to work through weeks that you know are going to be very busy or stressful. That time off will pay for itself several times over.

My favorite thing this week was…

Time to read for pleasure. I have really taken off this week -- no grading, no planning, nothing. And I refuse to feel guilty for it either. There will be plenty of time in January to catch up on my grading.

Things I’m working on…

No projects at the moment. But I am trying to be more organized with my blogs. This will be a work in progress though.

I’m reading…

Graveminder by Melissa Marr and Climbing Parnassus by Tracy Lee Simmons.

The Homeschool Mothers Journal (4)

In my life this week…

Halloween was fun, but so busy. Halloween being on Monday really threw a wrench in our school week though.  Oh well, go with the flow.

In our homeschool this week…

This week is just another shortened week due to Halloween. My older daughter is participating in NaNoWriMo this year, so she has been writing furiously. She worked through the workbook before and had her characters all planned and an outline of her novel ready to go.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

We are all about Nutcracker rehearsals these days. A large chunk of our weekends are being spent in ballet rehearsal. The girls love ballet and I love that they love it.  But as we get closer to Nutcracker season, the rehearsals start coming fast and furious. One plus, I have lots of reading time.

My favorite thing this week was…

Well, it was technically last week, but I really loved Milwaukee Ballet's Dracula on Saturday night.

Things I’m working on…

I'm working on giving myself a break. I am trying to give up some of the pressure I put on myself to be constantly "caught up" on all the grading and planning for our homeschool. The planning is pretty much done for this year, but the grading is never-ending.

I’m reading…

Bunheads by Sophie Flack and Stasiland by Anna Funder. I just finished The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman and I really liked that one.

I’m cooking…

ha! As if. (My husband does most of the cooking around here.)

I’m grateful for…

my husband - for being such a kid and loving Halloween as much as the kids. Also, he indulges me when it comes to books and technology. Gotta love that.

The Homeschool Mother's Journal (3)

In our homeschool this week…

We are finally getting into a routine for this year. This was our first full week of school. We are adjusting to our new schedule and I've added weekly chore lists to the routine instead of just randomly assigning chores as needed.

I am inspired by…

my homeschooling friends.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

My daughters have auditions for The Nutcracker this weekend. They get so excited every year.

My favorite thing this week was…

My new Erin Condren planner!  I had to go back to my own planner -- I just cannot do the homeschool planner thing. I love my new planner! It has everything I need -- which includes tons of space for writing my schedules, to-do lists, etc. I know they are rather expensive, but I think they are totally worth it. I put some clear packing tape on the month tabs and it is holding up well.  This is the planner style I bought. I just love the quote on the front.

What’s working/not working for us…

For the last several years, I have printed out daily school lists for the kids. At first, this worked well, but as the kids have grown up, it has become just too much added work for me. So, this year, I made up lists of weekly assignments for each course and each kid is responsible for keeping track of what they worked on in their individual planners. So far, this is working pretty well. This gives me the freedom to grade their work when I have time rather than rushing around and being stressed each morning.  

I’m reading…

War and Peace (still)

A Feast for Crows

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (long term reading project)

I’m grateful for…

our homeschool group. We had our first ever Mom's Night Out last night and it was so nice to sit around and just talk with other homeschooling moms. We made a point of not talking about the kids for the first couple of hours and just focusing on ourselves, eating some yummy snacks and drinking a lovely sangria.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined. ~Henry David Thoreau

The Homeschool Mother's Journal (2)

In my life this week…

This week I'm just trying to relax emotionally as I prepare for our new school year. The oldest is finishing up his driving school classes, middle kid is finishing up summer ballet class, the youngest is reading - a lot.

In our homeschool this week…

I have been trying to get organized for the new school year and at the same time finish up the few remaining things for the current year -- we homeschool all year with short breaks throughout the year.  I'm doing some things differently this year and I am working on the kids' weekly schedules for the coming year.

Things I’m working on…

the kids' weekly schedules for the new school year. Organizing the school room.

I’m reading…

A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

I’m grateful for…

the ability to homeschool my kids.  Gratitude for this hits me every year around this time.

The Homeschool Mother's Journal - 1

This is my first ever The Homeschool Mother's Journal entry! This lovely meme is hosted by The Homeschool Chick.


In our homeschool this week…
We are enjoying a slower pace in our homeschool. Even though we do schooling year-round, we are finishing up and taking time for fun stuff too. My oldest is in jazz camp for half a day for two weeks, so it's been kind of quiet around here.


My favorite thing this week was…
Due to our more relaxed pace, I have had so much more time for my own reading. I love that.

Questions/thoughts I have…
I've been thinking that I need to focus more of my reading time on reading the classic books I have been meaning to read and just haven't. It's time.


Things I’m working on…
I've been working on our school plans for next school year. 



I’m reading…
I'm reading A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin and The Priest's Graveyard by Ted Dekker.