Pam Barnhill is a veteran homeschool mom and mentor focused on helping homeschooling moms and dads with practical homeschool help and innovative homeschooling ideas, helping families to thrive. Get the best simple homeschool planning help and homeschool curriculum suggestions to fit your unique family. Subscribe for brand new videos every Wednesday.
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Haha. I loved the character building comment. Yes, you can sit quietly, and that’s hope you’ll learn patience. Character is easily taught as the subject arises! Which is OFTEN! At least in our house! We ALL need lots of character building! lol
I’m looking for fresh ideas. However, we have always started after Labor Day. We do this lunch thing called “Mommy Lunchables” and when we first started I’d get lunchables for their lunch it was only for school days and as they’ve gotten older it became more of a mid morning snack. Now, I make them, hence the new name lol each home made small plate is filled with various fun mix of healthy and craving snacks they get as a mid morning snack or lunch they get to enjoy while working. They get to choose extras to be added such as seasonal candy like candy corn for fall and candy canes at Christmas. It’s seasonal fun foods like apples, and then filled up with pretzels, cheese blocks, lunch meats, carrots, etc. it’s not too expensive it’s something they love eating and having. It’s our school day foods.
We always had a camping advatunre at my brother in laws homestead it’s a 100+ year old old home and it has a pump for the sink. My sister married a 5th generation Montana !!! So we shoot, we ride side by sides, we have so much fun.;; Unfortunately this year we are homeschooling with CC which starts the week before!!!! But my sons so exited about home school he’s already done the homework !!! Our old private school always started the two days after Labor Day.::: Now I want to start something else we have a celiac child, two different co-ops… So I’m listening I’m thinking and let’s see why my kids want to do or not do??!! We alway took photos with the super cool Griffin that was one school mascot … Soo…. Hmm…. I might do a jumptimr Friday first week of school !! And take photos (I’m a photographer so I love photographing my kids)
We always had a camping advatunre at my brother in laws homestead it’s a 100+ year old old home and it has a pump for the sink. My sister married a 5th generation Montana !!! So we shoot, we ride side by sides, we have so much fun.;; Unfortunately this year we are homeschooling with CC which starts the week before!!!! But my sons so exited about home school he’s already done the homework !!! Our old private school always started the two days after Labor Day.::: Now I want to start something else we have a celiac child, two different co-ops… So I’m listening I’m thinking and let’s see why my kids want to do or not do??!!
Hi there, I have a soon to be 5, 3, and 1 year olds and my husband wants me to homeschool and I'm feeling very overwhelmed at the thought. I am a stay at home mom but I don't want if they go into public school that their not behind and I'm a Christian mom and have dyslexia and autism myself and don't want to mess up my kids. What is the best curriculum you suggest that covers every like language arts, math, science, art, music, PE, or curriculum that helps teach on computer some things? Please help...
Im wondering if there are appropriate ages for the explorations? Also are these materials all provided in a digital format? I am completely new to your channel. Thank you
Add extensions for middles school and high school and I'm sold. My kids are middle school and up, and due to priorities and learning difficulties, family style works best for us.
This is a great video. Lots of good information, good reminders too! Teaching writing…the thought terrifies me. Have you got videos/recs for that area?
Here you go. This is older but still relevant. Also I don't begin teaching writing formally until about age 10 or 11. Before that what we do in Wonder Studies is enough. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-otKFr6sOF3E.htmlsi=D--uuoMGNtzAfazZ
Can I just say that I appreciate that your videos/podcasts always jump right in! ❤ I'm busy mom and your podcast/products are my favorite because of that.
I have just recently found you on RU-vid and you have answered all my prayers about making homeschooling fun, enjoyable and as little stress as possible! I am fairly new to homeschooling, I’m one of the ones who started homeschooling after 2020. I was wondering if this would by any chance work as a Chemistry class for my 10th grader? I have a 12 year old and 15 year old daughter and was hoping to do Chemistry this year with my 15 year old and have my 12 year old follow along and tailor to her age. I was hoping this might work but wanted to see what you thought? I love all your videos you are the only one I have found that really talks real life and makes me feel better about what I am doing and not worse. Thank you for all your videos! 😊
Kim. No this would not meet the needs of a high school student for any subject, most especially chemistry. Check out Guest Hollow's Chemistry in the Kitchen or some of Ellen McHenry's chemistry materials for chemistry for a non-sciency kid that your middle schooler could join in with.
Hi! I went to the website and I think there is a misprint for the Quarterly option This is what it says: quarterly $57 per month Should it say per quarter?
Yes totally agree about learning homeschool method at the beginning. I was soo overwhelmed at the beginning. But the benefit of learning homeschool method is knowing what they are and taking what you like and leaving what you dislike. This has helped me soo much as a Muslim homeschooler. For example, from Charlotte mason I love narration and living books. But we don’t do poetry, music or arts at all. And from Montessori, I love building habits and independence from a young age. I consider us to be electic.
4:18 Yep. I have never heard this statement and it is absolutely true. Not worried at all about what you're doing. Cheerleading you and your fantastic job with your kids, and not worrying at all about what it is because I'm just trying to do a good job over here in my own house. Weeding my own garden, if you know what I'm saying.
Thank you so much for this! I've been homeschooling my young children (6 and 8) for a couple years now but now I'm planning on taking in a niece who needs some help catching up in high school (16!). I want to make sure I do right by her and this will really help me get some good habits going all around. Support like yours has really made this journey a lot less intimidating. Currently I just keep a notebook (some weeks better than others) and the little's programs track grades for me as well, but I want to start an excel sheet to make sure I track things more closely for niece.
Would you care to expand on why you’re seeing more and more parents not having the time to research and plan as we did in the beginning? You repeated, “Parents don’t have the time…” several times and I’m curious what reasons you’re seeing for this.
What if my two and a half year old doesn’t nap? 😂😭😭😭🙃🥸 I have a 5th grader and a 3rd grader this upcoming year. All girls, both school aged ones have adhd (as well as me) Any advice? ❤
Thank you for this! You definitely described me, especially the perfectionism and not being encouraged by “it’ll work out!” Not that I’m so organized, but I really try so hard, and it sometimes feels like others seem to put less effort in and get better results. I really have to not compare…
This is exactly what I need! My husband tries to be so encouraging, but it’s always the don’t worry everything is fine type. Now I can explain what I really need! A lot of the time I need someone to listen while I talk through problem areas and brainstorm possible solutions. Hearing everything is fine just feels invalidating.
YES, 100% YES!! Thank you for this video. I've never heard this from anyone, but its definitely been me for all these years of homeschooling my kids. I've never fit in with any homeschool friends around me. Definitely not a perfectionist, though...but in other ways this fits me. Thank you for shedding light on this. ❤
Thank you, Pam! This is me and exactly what I need to hear. I too tried listening to the "don't worry" videos out there and my homeschool suffered. I'm so happy I found you❤
So glad to see there are others like myself in this homeschool world ❤ I’m being very intentional and when people say to relax it’s not helpful at all. I actually love doing this.
Oh this is perfect! Totally- I have a list for everything that gets done in my home! And I want to be told I am doing a good job. I dont need the "you are doing enough" line, I know I am lol. I love that you perfectly identified mamas like me.
I feel like homeschooling is one of my hobbies, I love doing it and learning how to homeschool more efficiently and thoroughly for each of my kids while catering to their particular learning styles. I love that you're addressing those of us who do like to homeschool this way.
I totally understand at what you’re getting at and I think it’s great. I have to point out though that the homeschool moms who might struggle with perfect routines and checking off the list are also intentional moms. I would like to think most parents who care about their child’s education enough to put it on their own hands, are being intentional even through the struggles and weaknesses they have.
You are right of course and Pam never insinuated that type B moms are not intentionally. But there has been an almost shaming of moms who are perfectionist and like having ridged schedules. Neither type A or B is bad and they both need & deserve to be encouraged.
This is so me! I have a checklist for homeschool and for the chores. When we know what we need to do, it helps so much with what is expected and our flow is so much better.
Thank you so much for all your tips and sharing what you’ve found most helpful! Is there a way to use a different link for the supplemental material for the Lively Art of Writing? The link in the description doesn’t work because I don’t have access to that forum. Thank you again!
I'm surprised that you endorse 1 1/2 of education for a 7 year old. This is against the law in many states (when we started, our state required 900 hours a year - which is a lot more than 1.5 hours/day) . Having homeschooled for a long time now, I cannot imagine getting "everything" done in that little time. We have never had a year with fewer than 900 hours - most years, we've gone substantially over.
I stand by that endorsement, but we may need to define terms. 1.5 hours is direct instruction (sitting at a desk, doing "schoolwork"). When you count your educational hours, much more than "schoolwork" counts. Things like Morning Time, reading aloud, outdoor play, chores, outside activities like field trips, classes, etc., all the little art projects you do, nature walks, storytime at the library, co-op, even documentaries, podcasts, and Wild Kratz. I don't include those things in the 1.5 hours a day. Homeschooling is a lifestyle. Learning is a lifestyle. Almost everything you do in a day counts towards that 900 hours. Not just the time you spend sitting and doing "schoolwork."
@@PamBarnhill Agreed! It never occurred to me to consider part of the day's instruction to be "not schoolwork" It is all educational - and I log it all as such😊
Yes… Pam’s “Autopilot” course is fabulous and a bargain because you can use it every year! This is my 3rd year with it and it’s been life-changing! I call it “Planning with Pam” 🥰 It is a wonderful way to organize your own homeschool, your way. Pam does an outstanding job coaching without telling us *exactly* what to do. She just walks you through the steps and you do it how you like it. You can also skip a step as needed and come back to it later. It’s very flexible and do-able.
I love that - homeschooling methods are just a tool, what works best for your family has to come first, and don’t let the methods other families are using become a way to look down on others (or feel bad about yourself)
Lmao why am I watching this, I’m Non-Christian, against unschooling, person with no kids. Why did RU-vid recommend this. Good video tho, your video has great quality and is very professional
Thanks Pam! Going on our 6th year of homeschooling and love all you pour into homeschooling, without adding stress to my mess! We got side tracked into a certain popular homeschool philosophy that my kids ended up not liking at all, so circling back to their interests and doing less lesson planning myself. Refocusing on our vision and our why was very helpful. Truly appreciate all you do.
My biggest frustration with the homeschool community I see is this desire to duplicate government schools via co-ops. It’s really sad that so many cannot get away from the brainwashing that has convinced them that learning is only done in a “school” way. Also no you do not want government funds, that will just come with strings attached. It’s not school “lite” it’s home education and there is and should be a big difference.