BookShark Homeschool Curriculum

During the school year, homeschoolers in public stick out like a sore thumb. We’re the only ones in the warehouse club, leading small, elementary-age armies through a minefield of produce. We’re the only ones in the cookie aisle, encouraging mussy-haired moppets to determine ratios of cost to value.We’re the only ones in the library fielding questions from second graders about the breeding habits of aquatic mammals.

It’s like wearing a target on your back: “Homeschoolers, eh? And what are we learning about today, children?”

Homeschooling is full of challenges from choosing curriculum to managing multiple lesson plans for different ages. But one of the biggest obstacles for many homeschool moms is dealing with negative feelings about their choices. There’s reason to take heart, though. Feeling self-doubt as a homeschooler can actually be a good sign. Here are four uncomfortable feelings that mean you are actually doing a fantastic job as a homeschool mom.

As a homeschooling parent, you’re in charge of teaching everything to your kids, right? Not necessarily. Here are five situations where it might be best for you to back off from teaching a certain subject to one of your children.

As a homeschooling parent, you may discover that a subject you found difficult in school is suddenly easier to understand as you’re teaching it to your own kids.

Of course you have already heard a myriad of reasons why homeschooling is such a great educational option. Your probably have your own extensive list of the advantages you've discovered through personal experience. On my own list, I would cite these perks of homeschooling:the freedom to teach what I want when I want, time to allow my children to learn at their own pace, and increased family time.

There is one reason that doesn't always make it on the lists of reasons to homeschool. But I think it's one of the biggest advantages homeschoolers have over those who educate in a more traditional setting.

Homeschooling parents may rely on routines to keep their children organized and on schedule. After a while, though, even the best homeschooling routine can begin to feel a bit stale. And that’s the time when parents (and children) are the most likely to experience homeschool burnout.

An easy way to break out of a homeschool rut is to shake up the routine. A simple change or two can breathe new life into homeschooling even if it’s only used for a few days. These five ways to shake up a homeschool are easy ways to get everyone excited about learning again.

We are a Christian homeschooling family, but you won’t find our bookshelves lined with books from Christian publishers. The majority of our home library is made up of curriculum choices which are neutral on things of faith. Here are reasons why I lean towards secular materials for my homeschool.

If you’re using BookShark as your main homeschool curriculum, you and your children likely love to read inspiring, educational literature. While BookShark provides plenty of literature as part of the curriculum, some homeschoolers also enjoy incorporating a morning basket into their daily routine.

A morning basket is simply a collection of books on a variety of topics (beyond the ones you’re already using with your curriculum) that you store in a basket and work with daily.

A child who loves to read usually grows up into an adult who loves to learn. While all school children receive instruction in reading from their teachers, homeschool families have a unique opportunity to encourage an enthusiastic love for reading at any time.

Despite this flexibility, it can be challenging to help kids develop a genuine love for reading, especially as a pastime. Try these surefire ways to raise a child who loves to read! (Of course, nothing is guaranteed, but these will help you get closer to the goal.)