Homeschooling is growing dramatically as families are opting to educate their children at home. The Census Bureau recently reported families who are homeschooling doubled between the Spring and Fall of 2020. Growing from 5.5% to 11% percent. The two states that grew the most were New York and Massachusetts. Florida tripled their homeschooling families, and Texas nearly doubled. These numbers are expected to continue to rise. Some experts are going so far as to say there will be an exponential boom in homeschooling in the coming years.
Homeschool Families
No two homeschooling families look the same. The great thing about homeschooling is it is very individualized so each family does it a little differently. Some families find online programs and others go out and buy books and use those to teach their children. Since everyone homeschools differently, blogs can be a great way to source new topics and resources and see how others are homeschooling.
Homeschool Blogs
There are many great homeschool blogs online. These bloggers offer advice and support, share their personal experiences, and provide encouragement to their readers. Many also offer valuable resources like lesson plan ideas, curriculum reviews, printables, book lists, and a lot of teaching tips.
Homeschool blogs are a great way to connect with other homeschooling families and navigate the homeschooling world. Whether you’re just starting out your homeschooling journey or are a veteran, the below blogs will provide you with a wealth of information and inspiration.
1. Simple Homeschool
Simple Homeschool is run by Jaime. Jaime is a passionate mom of three children and the author of multiple books about parenting and homeschooling. Simple Homeschool is updated each day with relatable, real-life posts from Jaime and fellow moms who share the daily ins and outs of being a homeschool parent.
The site also has a great collection of resources to give you the low-down on everything you need to know about homeschooling. Plus, they have a podcast with a lot of info relevant to homeschooling parents, covering a different topic each week.
2. Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers
Wendy Hilton and Trish Corlew, are the owners of Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers. They share a lot of homeschooling tips, resources, and encouragement. Their goal is to be real and to write about the good, the bad, and the ugly of homeschooling. They both love homeschooling their children and wouldn’t trade their lives for anything, but it’s not all rainbows and unicorns, and they won’t try to convince you otherwise.
Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers is packed with so much valuable information. I love that they smash the stereotypes of homeschooling. I was homeschooled so I personally know there can be a lot of stereotypes. One of my favorite articles is, 50 Reasons Homeschooled Kids Love Being Homeschooled. It’s a great look at homeschooling from a child’s perspective. I loved being homeschooled and these are some of the reasons.
3. My Little Homeschool
Charlotte, the founder of My Little Home School, is a working homeschool mom. She knows that it is hard to juggle being a mom who works and homeschools. My Little Homeschool has content to inspire, help and motivate you along your homeschooling journey. I like this blog because it is geared more toward homeschooling working moms (though there is a lot of great homeschooling content too!).
When I was homeschooled both my parents worked. Fortunately, my mom was able to work from home. I know balancing work and homeschooling was a bit tricky. It’s hard to strike that perfect balance. If you are a homeschooling mom who works, be sure to check out Charlotte’s latest post, Finding a Homeschool Schedule for Working Moms that Actually Works.
4. Raising Lifelong Learners
Colleen Kessler, on her blog, Raising Lifelong Learners, has been inspiring families to create, discover, and grow together. She helps families like yours trust themselves to embrace the adventure of a delight-directed approach to education with lessons, challenges, tips, and classes. She is passionate about raising children to be critical and creative thinkers, lifelong learners, and to pursue their passions. Colleen is an advocate for gifted children and believes that those who parent bright {and intense} children need support and understanding – and chocolate.
Colleen is the author of dozens of books for teachers, parents, and children, most recently Free Resources for Elementary Teachers {Prufrock Press} a compilation of over 200 pages of links and addresses for things K-8 homeschoolers and classroom teachers can get to use in their classrooms for free.
5. Techie Homeschool Mom Blog
Sara, the owner of Techie Homeschool Mom, is a teacher-turned-homeschool-mom who loves the benefits a balanced approach to technology can bring to homeschooling. Her goal is to inspire and equip families to add valuable digital learning experiences to their homeschooling.
Techie Homeschool Mom has a great layout. If you’re looking for homeschooling information, tech advice, curriculum, or STEM activities it’s very easy to find. Her tech advice is invaluable! With articles like, Best YouTube Parental Controls that Help Keep Your Kids Safe and The Best Devices to Use for Online Learning, there’s bound to be something for everyone.
Concurrent Enrollment Is Very Beneficial For Homeschoolers
I don’t want to end this article without mentioning concurrent enrollment. I encourage all homeschooling families to look into concurrent enrollment. Concurrent enrollment was how I started college at 13 and graduated with my MBA at 20. It was also how I was able to graduate college with a master’s debt-free. There are just so many benefits to it.
Concurrent enrollment puts you on an accelerated academic path and is my number one recommendation for all students, both public and homeschooled. It is the fastest way to earn a college degree in the shortest amount of time for anyone going into high school or still in high school. At 16, I received my high school diploma and at 17 I earned my AS in Business Administration. I had an associate degree before most students graduated from high school with their diplomas.
I explain the process here, What Is High School Concurrent Enrollment And How You Can Make The Most Of It and High School And Homeschool Students: Concurrent And Dual Enrollment. There is a wealth of information in the two articles if you want to learn a little more about the process.
—Sensei
