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10 Simple Homeschool Tips

Homeschooling - or thinking about homeschooling - can be overwhelming.

The curriculum. The schedule. The feeling that your child’s ENTIRE education rests on your shoulders.

I get it. I’ve been there.

Let me encourage you - homeschooling will be the BEST decision you have ever made for your children.

There are several small things you can do that will have a BIG impact on your homeschool.

10 Simple #Homeschool Tips - with a free printable

Let’s run through 10 simple tips that I promise will simplify your homeschool life.

(I first published these on Instagram. I knew immediately after publishing tip #1 that there was a need for simple, practical homeschool advice!)

After we’ve gone through the tips, you’ll have the chance to download the whole list in one easy printable (because I’m all about simple, remember?).

These tips come from my experience homeschooling my children at ALL ages and grade levels - and successfully graduating a child, too.


10 Simple Homeschool Tips

#1: Try not to replicate your child’s previous school experience at home. Learning is a lifestyle, not a formula.

#2: What will be your priority this year? Choose one thing and make it your focus. Do that one thing well. Remember, less is more!

#3: Develop a ROUTINE for school days (A strict schedule isn’t practical.). Children feel most secure when they know what to expect.

10 Simple Tips for your #Homeschool (includes a free printable)

#4 Write your reasons for homeschooling and refer back to them when times get tough. This will help you remember your WHY.

#5: Everyone (especially mom!) needs QUIET TIME. This non-negotiable time in the afternoon should be a part of your daily routine.

#6: Give yourself permission to take a break. Sometimes you need to complete housework, help a family member, or just rest. Kids learn a lot during these times, too.

#7: Praise more than criticize! It’s so easy to fall into the trap of seeing only what our kids do wrong. Words matter. Choose them carefully.

10 Simple #Homeschool Tips (includes a free printable!)

#8: Keeps BOOKS in every room of your home. Children who love to read love to learn. Give them the opportunity to read wherever they may be!

#9: Your child’s heart is more important than the knowledge you impart to them.

#10: PERSPECTIVE: Think of what life would be like in traditional school. Your home is a beautiful place to learn - even when you have a bad day (see tip #4).

10 Simple Tips for Homeschooling - includes a free printable

These tips will help simply your life, improve your relationship with your kids, and add to the success of your homeschool.

Nothing worth having is come by easily, right? Homeschool is WORK - but it is the most rewarding work I’ve done in my life and I wouldn’t trade it for a thing!

Download these 10 tips in a simple printable format.

(If you’re already a Homegrown Learners subscriber, I’m including this in your weekly email!)

Print this sheet - put it on your refrigerator - or put it in your homeschool mom binder. Refer to the tips often, because we inevitably forget when times are hard.

5 Good Things: Helpful Resources

Happy second week in July! The craziness continues…

School reopening is now at the front of everyone’s minds. (It also makes me think about what the future will be for homeschool co-ops and activities this year.)

I wrote a post about masks and young children returning to school. Wow. That’s a hot topic. Did you read the post? My focus here is and always will be what is best for CHILDREN.

I’m longing for things to return to “normal”, but I’m not sure if and when that will happen. Our homeschool group will begin again in about a month and we are longing for joy, friendship, and our familiar routine.

Who’s with me?

5 Good Things This Week:  Helpful #Homeschool Resources

I hope everyone had a restful 4th of July holiday. Ours was quieter than usual, but we made the best of it.

My daughter made a yummy peach cobbler for our celebrations.

(One of the best things about homeschooling is that it allows us to train our children in ALL areas - cooking, laundry, and cleaning are huge parts of life, right?)

We (along with millions of others I think) watched Hamilton over the holiday. I enjoyed it VERY much - but I would not have young children watch it, that’s for sure! I will be starting My Dear Hamilton this week, which I understand is a great book.

I also got a chance to publish the June 2020 reading recap - it was a wonderful reading month for me.

My husband and I will celebrate our 23rd wedding anniversary tomorrow.

Life marches on and we continue to find joy in the small moments.



This week’s good things are just basic helpful resources for your homeschool - and your development as a homeschool parent. Enjoy!

  • Introverted Mom

    This book by Jamie Martin, is free to read on Kindle if you are an Amazon Prime member. Especially in the beginning of our homeschool journey it was very difficult for me to adjust to not having quiet during the day - homeschooling can be taxing for an introverted mom, and Jamie’s book provides a lot of encouragement!

  • 100 Things Worth Memorizing With Your Child

    Memory work was (and still is at certain times) extremely important in our homeschool. This post from Sonlight will help spark some interest for what to memorize! We always had memory work as part of our Morning Time.

  • Issues Facing America’s Homeschoolers

    This podcast from Focus on the Family is the first of two - I highly recommend listening, especially if you are a newer homeschooler.

  • The Curriculum Choice

    Do you know about this site? If not, bookmark it and refer to it often! This is your go-to site for curriculum reviews - written by homeschool parents just like yourself. There is a wealth of information here.

  • Sneaky Summer Learning

    Open up your library’s website and start reserving some of these books. They are all great for some “sneaky” summer learning. I have recommendations for math, history, science, fine arts, and more in this post!


Do you have a resource that you would like to share with us?

Leave a recommendation in the comments below!

5 Good Things: Helpful #Homeschool Resources