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Home | homeschool | “No-Pencil” Day

“No-Pencil” Day

homeschool, Homeschool Methods

Here we are. It’s the beginning of Februrary. Christmas and New Year are over. It’s cold outside. And your homeschool is back in session. You’ve got great plans and ideas. But either you or the kids (or maybe all of you) have the blahs. Maybe you have cabin fever. It’s getting hard to focus on math drills and science textbooks.

Maybe you need something crazy to liven up your school routine for a bit? Imagine leaving the books on the shelf, the pencils in their places, and the worksheets out of sight. Imagine creating a fun learning environment that shakes up your school day…just for today, or maybe once a week!

You’ve probably heard some great advice for days like this.

“Let the kids build Legos.”

“Watch an educational video.”

“Go to the park.”

And my favorite: “Just catch up on housework.”

Thee are all great and I’ve definitely used them. But with a tiny bit of planning, you can go beyond Legos and laundry, and keep the kids learning while taking a fun break. I call it “No-Pencil Day.” In 18 years of homeschooling my five kids, I’ve learned a few tricks, and this one is one of my favorites.

I’m excited to be joining Tiffany at Outmatched Mama for her 31-day Conquer the Homeschool Slump blog party. There are 31 homeschool bloggers sharing their inspiration for getting through the winter slump, or the blahs, or cabin fever, or whatever has hit your house! Head on over to read my full post, packed with ideas for all ages and all subjects, and links to many great how-tos.

 

After-Holiday-Homeschool-Slump-14

So, put away the pencils and prepare to think outside the box for a day. Click over to Outmatched Mama to read my post, and see all the other great blog posts while you’re there! There’s even a Facebook Group for this great blog party, so what are you waiting for?

 

Nicki Truesdell is a 2nd-generation homeschooler and mother to 5. She is a homemaker at heart, and loves books, freedom, history and quilts, and blogs about all of these at nickitruesdell.com. She believes that homeschooling can be relaxed and that history is fun, and both can be done with minimal cost or stress, no matter your family’s circumstances. Nicki is a member of the Texas Home Educators Advisory Board. She also teaches ESL online from home. You can follow her on  Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.  

 

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February 4, 2018 · Leave a Comment

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I have two very different sons. One has been an extrovert since he could talk. The other has been an introvert for just as long. The thing about home education is that it doesn’t have to happen at home. What it really means is “not public school.” Not stuck in a classroom all day. Not confined to a government calendar. Not a slave to the system. 23 years ago I helped my aunt Kari start a homeschool co-op. At that time, I had one child and she was three years old. If you have a child that struggles to read, read to them. Read aloud every day. That’s the best advice I can give. New year. New house. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION: How do I homeschool with babies and toddlers in the mix?? Don’t let people tell you that “you can’t shelter your children.” Yes, you can. And you absolutely should. Mothers have a crucial role to play in society, although their job doesn’t always feel very “crucial.” Wiping baby faces, repeating instructions, settling squabbles, and making food is repetitive and doesn’t always seem important. For 2023, I’ll be preaching the same ol’ message that I can’t stop saying: “education is discipleship,” and “you can do it” homeschooling encouragement. Not gonna make the message easier to swallow when the world is attacking children on a grander scale every day. I’m also not going to tell you that homeschooling is a breeze, but I will keep saying that it’s worth every minute.

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