Although you know exactly what you should be doing at a particular moment, on a specific day of your homeschool, do you still struggle to accomplish it? There are times when even the best-laid homeschool plans don’t work out. When this happens, it can leave you feeling stressed and anxious.
All of us have done it. Despite creating seemingly perfect plans, they get discarded after a few weeks. How come we spend so much time creating plans and then have trouble sticking to our homeschool plans?
In Episode 90 of the Raising Mums podcast, I share how you can stick to your homeschool plans.
Points to be taken away:-
The initial period requires some experimentation and time to figure things out. It’s ok if you don’t get it right the first time!
Are you being over ambitious or unrealistic considering the season of life you find yourself in
Do you tell yourself you never follow through on things? Do you tell other people you can’t stick to plans? If you want to, you’ll need to change that part of your identity!
Although the idea of getting ready to start homeschooling can be overwhelming, know that you can do it. Your first year of homeschool planning does not have to be overwhelming or frightening.
In Episode 88 of the Raising Mums podcast, I share what subjects you need to start with and show you the Easiest way to begin your Homeschool Planning!
This episode includes a clip from Day 2 of our recent 5-day Bootcamp – Start Your Homeschool Strong!
Although The Start Your Homeschool Strong Bootcamp is currently closed, Launch Your Homeschool students will be given access to the full boot camp.
Launch Your Homeschool is now open now and closes Friday 5th August, 2022 at 9pm (UK).
Launch Your Homeschool is an online course that will hold your hand and walk you through the beginning stages of homeschooling, built upon the framework of the Charlotte Mason philosophy.
I teach you how to choose the right subjects for your homeschool, how to choose the right resources, and plan out your year to create a homeschool experience that aligns with the values and beliefs of your family. Whether you are homeschooling in the UK, or elsewhere in the world, this programme will help you give your children an incredible education at home.
I show you the essential teaching techniques that you’ll need to know to get started. There’s even an entire module on how to manage your time so you can still cook, keep the house tidy and take care of yourself, all whilst homeschooling your children!
One of the bonus points of a homeschool life is being able to go on field trips during term time when it’s quiet! But what are you supposed to do on a homeschool history trip?
Do you have to take all your books with you?
Do your children have to complete a project?
Do you have to collect “evidence” to prove your visit?
This blog post offers advice for each age group when attending a homeschool history field trip.
Why are homeschool history trips important?
The first piece of advice is the most important – you don’t HAVE to do anything! If all you and your children do is attend a field trip, explore your surroundings, and have a great day, then class that as a successful field trip!
However, as homeschool mothers, we carry a heavy pressure to squeeze every learning opportunity as much as possible. So, how can you make the most of a homeschool history trip?
First, understand why a homeschool history trip is important. The Charlotte Mason philosophy encourages our children to build relationships with the topics they are studying. What better way to build a relationship with the knights of medieval times than exploring the ruins of their once-glorious castle? How better to understand the struggles of Victorian life than to trail through the London dungeons?
By exploring history through trips as well books, children benefit from seeing their studies come to life. It allows them to experience the information first hand!
What should you do before a homeschool history trip?
How do you prepare for a homeschool history trip? This part can create an overwhelming to-do list, if you’re not careful. So, it’s important to remember that we cannot possibly teach our children every single piece of information available. The aim of our homeschool is to create a lifelong love of learning and an appreciation of the journey. We need to spark our children’s interest.
So, before a homeschool history field trip, that is your only goal – spark their interest. Teach them just enough to create a buzz of excitement about your upcoming trip.
Read impressive battle stories from Arthurian legend before visiting a castle.
Discuss the struggles of Abdullah Quilliam before he established the UK’s first mosque.
Try a day living like Tudors before visiting the Tudor houses and museums.
By creating this sense of wonder in your children, you are prepping them to make way for any new experiences the field trip has to offer.
For your older children, encourage them to think about other things they would like to know. If they have their own set of questions they want answering during the trip, they are taking charge of their own learning and being responsible for the satisfaction of having their questions answered.
Maybe they can research the field trip destination beforehand, and they can be the tour guide. Allow them to research what is available, and they can oversee where you go and what you do on the day.
Homeschool History: Level 1 (Under 7s)
If following a Charlotte Mason philosophy, you’ll know the “requirements” for under 7s are minimal. The focus should be on being outside as much as possible, maybe a little arithmetic, and plenty of snuggles with living books!
But this is when a field trip comes in handy. A child under 7 can enjoy a homeschool history trip for exactly what it is – an adventure and a chance for more exploration!
Encourage your child to collect souvenirs, and I don’t mean the expensive ones from the gift shops! Maybe your child finds an interestingly shaped rock or a flower? Maybe they find it thrilling to follow a map of your location in a brochure!
Tip: Remember anything collected can either be sketched or stuck into their Book of Centuries to commemorate their historical trip through time!
To find out more about How to Use a Book of Centuries – CLICK HERE
The idea for this age group is to keep stoking the fire of curiosity and wonder. Children under 7 have a natural inclination to explore and ask questions. Your only job is to not get in the way!
When travelling home, or even the following day, ask your child to orally narrate what they did on their trip. Let them tell you what they understood and the connections they made.
Homeschool History: Level 2 (Ages 7-11)
Once your child hits this age bracket, the intensity of work steps up a little bit.
Please note: this is by no means a hard and fast rule for this age group. Judge your child’s ability based on their progress rather than their age. If your child is still at the freestyle-exploration stage, leave them there! Often, they’ll show YOU signs they are ready to upgrade their learning.
So, what can a child do on their history trip? If their trip includes a destination linked to a current area of study, your child probably already has some questions they need answering. Find out beforehand what they will have access to on your trip and help them come up with a list of questions they’d like answering.
Another hands-on idea for your child is for them to document their trip – whether a video or photo diary, keeping a written journal, or even just collecting memorabilia for a scrapbook!
Tip: Take your Book of Centuries with you! You will probably come across lots of new information and dates on your trip. Let your child check this information against things they have already recorded in their Book of Centuries! [Purchase yours here UKUSA ]
Homeschool History: Level 3 (Ages 12+)
Now is when we must get serious… right? Well, not necessarily! Once your child hits this age range, a lot of his/her studies may start to take a “serious” turn. Whether you’re thinking about secondary school or GCSEs, children will notice the expectations for their work are increasing.
A history trip is not that time. See your history trip as a blessing and a chance for your pre/teen to get back to enjoying learning and seeing what they can soak up without an official plan. Children absorb a lot more information when they don’t think they HAVE to!
However, if you or your child are eager for more, set a history trip as part of a greater research project.
They don’t just have to visit Stonehenge; they are researching the impact of religion and spirituality in pre-historic Britain!
They’re not just visiting Gettysburg National Military Park; they are creating their own timeline and map of the civil war.
They’re not just visiting Titanic Belfast; they are putting together an engineering report of the safety requirements for a cruise ship.
They’re not just visiting Mesa Verde National Park; they are researching the Native American contribution to civilisation.
Helping your child build connections with what they are seeing on their trip with other areas of study is a guaranteed way to embrace the Charlotte Mason mentality during their older years. Education is a study of relationships, and a history trip is a fantastic way for older children to appreciate how their different areas of study are interconnected.
Once you get home
The days after a homeschool trip are a great time to soak in what you have all experienced and learnt. Whether you have an informal discussion or even go as far as to put on a presentation for family members! Find a way to recap or narrate your experiences and spend time with what you have learnt before moving on to the next topic. And that means you too! Join in with the children and show them that learning truly is a lifelong pursuit.
Keep focused
As you can see, there is no right or wrong way to go on a homeschool history trip. But what is important is that you remember your focus as a Charlotte Mason homeschool:
Discuss how topics are related.
Facilitate your child building their own relationship with their topic.
Remind them of the disciplines and habits required when out of the house.
Narrate back what they have learnt in a range of creative ways.
What do you do on your homeschool history trips? Leave a comment with your history trip recommendations!
[Don’t forget to order your Book of Centuries here UKUSA .]
Launch Your Homeschool is an online course that will hold your hand and walk you through the beginning stages of homeschooling, built upon the framework of the Charlotte Mason philosophy.
I teach you how to craft a curriculum for your homeschool, how to choose the right resources, and plan out your year to create a homeschool experience that aligns with the values and beliefs of your family. Whether you are homeschooling in the UK, or elsewhere in the world, this programme will help you give your children an incredible education at home.
I show you the essential teaching techniques that you’ll need to know to get started. There’s even an entire module on how to manage your time so you can still cook, keep the house tidy and take care of yourself, all whilst homeschooling your children!
Our time is really valuable and we want to try to ensure we make the most of it. As Muslims time management is an integral part of our religion with the foundation of our 5 daily prayers helping us to structure our day. How do we build on this fundamental foundation and take ownership of our time in order to boost our productivity and get everything done in our homeschool?
In Episode 61 of the Raising Mums podcast, I share homeschool productivity hacks, to help you get it ALL done!
The key things to try and implement are to:-
Honour Your Homeschool day – say “No,” don’t schedule appointments or run errands during school hours, put away your phone.
Time block – Have a blocks of time for homeschooling, cleaning, cooking etc.
Be proactive, not reactive – Identify times in your day when things go wrong and ask why. Then you’ll be able to identify what you can do to prevent it.
Launch Your Homeschool is an online course that will hold your hand and walk you through the beginning stages of homeschooling, built upon the framework of the Charlotte Mason philosophy.
I teach you how to choose the right subjects for your homeschool, how to choose the right resources and plan out your year to create a homeschool experience that aligns with the values and beliefs of your family.
I show you the essential teaching techniques that you’ll need to know to get started. There’s even an entire module on how to manage your time so you can still cook, keep the house tidy and take care of yourself, all whilst homeschooling your children!
How long does homeschooling actually take? Do I really have time to home educate my kids? Here’s a real-life look at a Muslim Homeschool schedule…
When considering homeschooling, as parents we worry that we will have to fill so many hours of the day teaching our children. Homeschooling is not school, we are not replicating a school at home! The beauty of homeschooling is that we do not need to start at 9 am and finish at 3 pm.
In Episode 47 of the Raising Mums podcast, I share how much time homeschooling really takes!
Launch Your Homeschool is an online course that will you hold your hand and walk you through the beginning stages of homeschooling, built upon the framework of the Charlotte Mason philosophy.
I teach you how to choose the right subjects for your homeschool, how to choose the right resources and plan out your year to create a homeschool experience that aligns with the values and beliefs of your family.
I show you the essential teaching techniques that you’ll need to now to get started. There’s even an entire module on how to manage your time so you can still cook, keep the house tidy and take care of yourself, all whilst homeschooling your children!
Setting yourself up for success when you start homeschooling can be a challenge. As parents, we struggle with confidence when starting this journey. The key is to realise that homeschooling is a lifestyle. It changes the way you live and yet you need to design it around your family.
In Episode 46 of the Raising Mums podcast, I share ways to reframe the way you look at starting your homeschool journey.
Launch Your Homeschool is an online course that will you hold your hand and walk you through the beginning stages of homeschooling, built upon the framework of the Charlotte Mason philosophy.
I teach you how to choose the right subjects for your homeschool, how to chose the right resources and plan out your year to create a homeschool experience that aligns with the values and beliefs of your family.
I show you the essential teaching techniques that you’ll need to now to get started. There’s even an entire module on how to manage your time so you can still cook, keep the house tidy and take care of yourself, all whilst homeschooling your children!
Nothing sets your homeschool up for a good week like having a plan in place! Homeschool planning puts your mind at rest, help the children ease into the week, and actually helps you all to get more done.
Homeschool Planning: How to Get Ready for Monday Morning!
In Episode 42 of the Raising Mums podcast, I share the planning system I use on Sunday to get my homeschool ready for the week ahead.
Homeschool Planet– Get a 30 Day FREE Trial of this Online Homeschool Planner!
How to Start Homeschooling Course
Launch Your Homeschool is an online course that will you hold your hand and walk you through the beginning stages of homeschooling, built upon the framework of the Charlotte Mason philosophy.
I teach you how to choose the right subjects for your homeschool, how to chose the right resources and plan out your year to create a homeschool experience that aligns with the values and beliefs of your family.
I show you the essential teaching techniques that you’ll need to now to get started. There’s even an entire module on how to manage your time so you can still cook, keep the house tidy and take care of yourself, all whilst homeschooling your children!
As homeschooling mums, we’re constantly trying to find the right balance.We agonise over our homeschool plans and are always trying to learn how to homeschool better.
But some days homeschooling doesn’t follow the plan. On those days, when you’re tired, or you feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day, what should you prioritise? What is the ONE THING you MUST DO when you homeschool?
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I’ll be beck next Sunday 21st March 2021, at 4pm GMT, for another LIVE episode of the Raising Mums podcast on FacebookandInstagram , and the BIG RAMADAN ANNOUNCEMENT insha’Allah.
See you then insha’Allah!
Peace and Love,
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If you’re struggling to make sense of the 5 Steps to Start Homeschooling…then you’ve got to WATCH THE VIDEO!
How to Start Homeschooling Course
Launch Your Homeschool is an online course that will you hold your hand and walk you through the beginning stages of homeschooling, built upon the framework of the Charlotte Mason philosophy.
I teach you how to choose the right subjects for your homeschool, how to chose the right resources and plan out your year to create a homeschool experience that aligns with the values and beliefs of your family.
I show you the essential teaching techniques that you’ll need to now to get started. There’s even an entire module on how to manage your time so you can still cook, keep the house tidy and take care of yourself, all whilst homeschooling your children!
You’re busy…I know! But despite all the things you have to do already, you dream of homeschooling your children. But how can you?! How can you find the time to homeschool your children?
In this episode of Raising Mums I talk about how anyone can find the time to homeschool, or do anything else they need to do, with the right time management skills.
With a good understanding of how to manage your time, you CAN homeschool too.
If you can learn these time management skills you can create the life you have always dreamed of for your family.
Time management allows you to be present with your children. You can be that chilled out, joyful mum you’ve always wanted to be, because you know you’ve got everything covered!
This FREE eBOOK is full of information that you really need to know if you’re planning to homeschool you kids. I know that you’ve got a lot of questions, that’s why I put this ebook together for you! It will help you to lay a strong foundation n your homeschool and ( I hope) calm your worries!
Launch Your Homeschool is an online course that will you hold your hand and walk you through the beginning stages of homeschooling, built upon the framework of the Charlotte Mason philosophy.
I teach you how to choose the right subjects for your homeschool, how to chose the right resources and plan out your year to create a homeschool experience that aligns with the values and beliefs of your family.
I show you the essential teaching techniques that you’ll need to now to get started. There’s even an entire module on how to manage your time so you can still cook, keep the house tidy and take care of yourself, all whilst homeschooling your children!
