Using a Bullet Journal in Your Homeschooling

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I have been homeschooling for close to fifteen years. It has been quite the journey...one that changes with each semester and child. One of the most important aspects in getting homeschooling done is to be organized and to make sure I plan out our weeks. When there is no plan, not much will get done. Over the years I have used all kinds of homeschool planners. They have been good, but I have noticed that they mostly go unused. That isn't to say that I don't plan out each week, but rather that planners tend to have more pages than I would use. This year I wanted to customize my planner and have only pages I would really utilize. So instead of using a planner I have decided to create a bullet journal to keep us on task.

What is a bullet journal? It is a hand-written way of keeping everything organized. Here is probably the best post on the internet on how to set up a bullet journal. Keep in mind that in this post the author is showing you how to set up a bullet journal to replace your calendar or daytimer. Here I am going to show you how I set up a bullet journal just for our homeschool planning...

To create a bullet journal, you need a few items...a journal, some pens, and a ruler. You can get fancier with decorating it, but remember, that beautiful is not necessarily the goal...functionality is. I do add a little color to my homeschool bullet journal with Prismacolor pencils, but that is about it. As far as the journal goes, this one is my favorite, the Moleskine Squared Notebook (Extra Large), because it has tons of space and the paper in it is like graph paper which makes it easy to set up pages.

Here's a quick look at my set-up:

I start with an index page (actually I give my index about three pages). These pages are vital to any bullet journal as this is where you record where things are in your journal. As I write on another page, I make sure I number the page down at the bottom and then record in the index what is on that page.

The next page in my journal is a "Year-at-a-Glance" page. I start it in July and finish it in June since that works better for the school year. This page is great as you plan throughout the year. You don't have to go looking for another calendar as you setting up your months and weeks.

I then created a page that will list the classes or subjects my son will be doing. It will include space to list the curriculum I will be using for each class.

 After that page, I have a page for grades for the fall semester and another page for the spring. Because my son is high school I have to be more diligent about recording how he is doing. Even so, the only thing I really do is create a row for the class and then record the individual grades in that row. When I need an official grade I will average the numbers for that class.

When we start a new month I will create an overview page for the month. On this page I will write overall goals for the month, days when won't do school, and any special events. I will also include tasks I will need to do for the month in regards to our schooling...like, for example, in July, I will write a list of curricula that I still need to order.

The weekly pages will be the heart of my homeschool bullet journal. Across the side, I list the days of the week; at the top of each column I write the classes (one class per column) and then I can fill out each square on what we need to accomplish in each subject. The weekly spread can be formatted differently if you are homeschooling more than one child or you can create separate weekly spreads for each child. Do what works for you!

So those are some examples of what my bullet journal looks like, but the beauty of a bullet journal is that you can create pages for almost anything! Maybe you need a list of books you are going to read. Or you need a field trip schedule. Maybe you need to have planning pages for a unit study. You can create any type of page you could possibly need!

Tips for Staying Sane as a Mom

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As Moms we play a lot of roles. We are teachers, chefs, counselors, launderers, maids, etc. The list could go on and on. I have struggled over the years to stay on top of things as I homeschooled my boys, ran an in-home business, and tried to maintain a household. There were times I barely kept up. There were other seasons in life when everything went as planned. It has been a roller coaster ride of ups and downs. So here's a look at how I do it all... or rather here's a look at what I use in my life to try to maintain some sanity...

-Start and end your day right. I am an early riser, not because I want to be, but because of the anxiety I struggle with. Sleep is elusive for me in the early morning hours. However, I have found this to be a benefit. I can have some quiet time to myself for Bible study and get a jump start on housework. If you "awake time" is more in the evening then use that time after the kids go to bed to get some chores done so that tomorrow doesn't look so scary. Even taking fifteen minutes to do one extra item on your list helps. I have noticed that when I get up late and don't have my quiet time in the morning things don't go as well throughout the day!

{My bullet journal.}

-Plan ahead. I have always been a daytimer kind of girl. I have to write everything down or I forget. Recently, I have switched my method of keeping track of what I need/want to do by using a bullet journal. You can go to this post to read more about it. Your method doesn't have to be a bullet journal, but using some kind of system to keep track of what you need to do helps tremendously!

-Streamline Meal Prep. I have been doing freezer cooking for years now. It is about the only way my family has received nutrition over the years! I love how I can prep meals on the weekend and then just pull them out of the freezer during our busy weeks. I have a ton of posts on my site on freezer cooking. You can find them here if you are interested in doing some of your meals ahead. Another lifesaver has been the Instant Pot I recently bought. OH MY! I could literally sell these things door-to-door! LOL! I have loved how easy it makes my cooking experience! It hard boils eggs you can actually eat. It does pasta to perfection. It cooks frozen foods quickly. I just can't say enough about how it has made my life easier in the meal department!

-Take time for yourself. This is so essential! So many times as moms we get lost in the lives of our families and take little time for ourselves. I have found over the years that if I take some time for myself even if it is a little snippet of time life goes better for me. I do this through my quiet time with God, getting together with a friend from time to time, and being creative (I love coloring! Here is a list of posts of great coloring books.) Find something that you enjoy doing and make time for it during your week. You will be a happier mom in the long run!

-Give yourself grace. We all fail. We all have terrible days when we seem to do nothing right. We yell at our kids. We burn dinner. We forget to do a load of laundry and there is a lack of underwear and socks (This is a true confession on my part!). Whatever the mess-up, give yourself grace. You do yourself no good by constantly beating yourself up. Figure out how you can do that task differently next time and let the disaster go!

The Homeschooling Journey: What has worked for us

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Years ago I heard Steve Lambert, the publisher of Five in a Row, say that "Homeschooling is a marathon, not a sprint." {I would have to say parenting is the same deal.} For a person that likes to race through all her tasks, these were words I needed to hear. Raising kids is not something you do and then check off your list. It's a lifetime of teaching, helping, and guiding. It doesn't happen overnight. It takes patience and care...and a whole lot of guts!

Over the years, I have tried to remind myself that it is a marathon. I wouldn't be able to teach my boys all they needed to know in a short amount of time. It was going to be fine if they didn't get a concept the first time out. I didn't need to fret if we had a rough day, week, or YEAR. Over time, they would learn and grow. It wouldn't be perfection, but rather a gradual moving forward. These days I have one son in college and the other will be a sophomore in high school in the fall. What Steve mentioned all those years ago is true. It has been a marathon in which to finish you just have to stay to course. We have had successes and failures. I have had to learn that my boys don't learn in the same way. We have had to switch methods and curricula to fit their needs. It hasn't always been pretty, but we have flourished. I am so thankful that we have had the opportunity to grow and learn together...

So as I look back to what has worked, I thought I would compile a list of what we have used to help us along our journey. Not all programs and materials fit all families, but it is my hope that some of these suggestions may help you if you are in the "marathon of homeschooling."

By far, Five in a Row will always be the curriculum I look on in fondness. It is the one that created memories for us in those early years. If there was only one homeschool item I could recommend this would be it! Five in a Row takes  wonderful children's books like Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World, Cranberry Thanksgiving , and Truman's Aunt Farm and uses them to teach lessons for five days {Hence, Five in a Row}. Each day you do a different lesson in a different subject {Social studies/Geography, Applied Math, Science, Language Arts, and Art}. It's best for ages 4-8. All that really needs to be added to your day is math and phonic/reading instruction. I loved this curriculum so much that I have kept the books and the teaching manuals for them! Maybe I will get to use them with grandkids.

Language Arts

Explode the Code- We used books one through six to help the boys learn to read. I loved these books because they were straightforward and easy to implement. The only other thing we added was reading practice with mom.

{Reading Bob Books}

Bob Books are great for new readers! Both my boys read their first books with these. They are simple enough for young readers and yet entertaining!

Reading Rescue 1-2-3: Raise Your Child's Reading Level 2 Grades with This Easy 3-Step Program-One of my boys struggled with reading fluency early on. I read this book and followed the system. It greatly improved my son's reading! Today he is an avid reader! If you have a child that is struggling, this book is worth checking out.

Institute for Excellence in Writing- I LOVE this writing curriculum! We started using it when my oldest was in fourth grade. It has even taught me to be a better writer. By teaching kids ways to "dress-up" their writing, student learn how to vary their sentences. Another key element in this program is learning what information is important and how to take notes. We have used several of the theme-based writing books after teaching my boys the basics of the system.

Progeny Press-We have used these for some of the novels the boys read in junior high and high school. I love the Biblical perspective that is brought out especially if a book touches on hard subjects. However, we haven't used these for every novel. Take a look here at how I teach literature in high school.

Math

Math-U-See- We used this curriculum in the elementary years. It is excellent for the simple fact that kids really get to focus on a concept and learn it well before moving on. We didn't, however, use it in the upper grades. While I think it gives a wonderful foundation for kids, we decided to go with something more rigorous in high school.

Teaching Textbooks- I used this with one of my boys during high school who struggled with math. The teaching is done on the computer {through a set of CD's}. I loved that the program did the grading for me! If you have a student that is struggling in the later years I would highly recommend Teaching Textbooks!

Saxon Math- Ok, I am about to be real...I HATE math. When I was in junior high and high school some of my math was done with Saxon. I detested it! But here's the thing...we are not all the same. Some people do well in math. They don't struggle with it like I did. They can handle a rigorous learning program. If that is the case for your child, then Saxon is the way to go! I have one son that has flourished and done well with Saxon. He has used the  DIVE teaching videos that go along with it, and it has worked for him. Be flexible if you have more than one child...what works for one may not work for another. Also, what didn't work for you in school may be the very thing your child needs!

Social Studies

Biblioplan- When the boys were younger we used this four year plan for history. We loved the literature selections that went with it! I loved that it gave you different options for the "spine" (the core text) that you would read along with the literature. You could choose from programs like Story of the World, The History of US, and Mystery of History.

Notgrass History-We have loved this program for high school. We have done World and American history, economics and government. All of them have been great and come from a Christian perspective. While they do incorporate literature and writing, we have only used them for the social studies aspect.

Science

Apologia- When my boys got too old for Five in a Row, we moved on to Apologia science and have never left. In the early grades, there are the "Exploring Creation With..." books which cover different topics. We have also found the junior high and high school materials to be well worth it! We have used the lab kits that go with each book from Nature's Workshop Plus!

Foreign Languages

I am a certified Spanish teacher, and for years people have been asking me what language curricula I would recommend. We have used Muzzy and Rosetta Stone. While certain aspects of them have been excellent, we struggled with both. Learning another language works best if you have a teacher who knows the language. I know there are some online programs that have language teachers you can access or if you can find someone in your area to teach your kids the language of your choosing that is ideal. For years now, I have taught homeschoolers Spanish. I do have a blog on teaching Spanish. You can check it out here. If you are teaching your kids the basics of Spanish my blog might help give you some ideas.

In the future...

I only have a few more years of homeschooling to go. The marathon is almost over. Here are a few things I am looking at for my youngest as we near the finish line...

Philosophy Adventure-My son will be using this next year to go along with his World History. I have read through big portions of the curriculum and love it! Through looking at the lives of philosophers, students learn more about what it means to have a Biblical worldview. There are great writing exercises in it also! My son loves everything to do with social studies so this is going to be a great fit for him!

Lightning Literature-I am toying with the idea of using this program {only for the novels we choose} to do British Literature with my son next year. If you have an opinion on it please leave me a comment!!

So what has worked for you and your kids?

Teaching Tips for Language Learning

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For those of you that homeschool I thought I would take a moment to let you know about a series of posts I just finished on my other blog, Debbie's Spanish Learning. If you are in the process of teaching your kids another language you might find some helpful tips in these posts. I taught my two boys Spanish as I homeschooled them (Acutally, I am still teaching my youngest). Currently, I teach homeschoolers and some private school kids the language. In the series, I touch on how to use children's books, stickers, and even Story Cubes in language teaching. Here are a few of the graphics from the series to give you an idea of what I have covered. You can find all the posts here.

Hope to see you there!

Gift Ideas for Bilingual Kids

If you have bilingual kids in your life or if you are raising your own kids with more than one language, check out this post on my Spanish blog with ideas on what to get them this Christmas!

Gifts for Bilingual kids...

Encouragement for a New School Year

This year will start our 14th year of homeschooling. I am shocked to even type the number 14. How did we get here? There are big changes...my oldest has graduated, and I am left to homeschool only one. It's how I started out homeschooling...only teaching one until the youngest was old enough. It's a strange feeling mixed with happy and sad emotions. Yet, even with the changes some things never change. I still need the motivation and the encouragement to get through the year. I need to know I am not alone. I need a few new tips and tricks to incorporate into our daily learning lives. So here is a look a some great posts that  encouraged me and hopefully you, too.

Marcy over at Ben and Me share something in common...we both have boys the same age. Hers in an only child. Mine is the youngest. I love her heart and her commitment to encouraging homeschool moms. If you have never checked out her site you are missing out!! Here is a post about what you need to know if you are thinking of homeschooling. Honestly though this one gave me helpful reminders even though we have been homeschooling over a decade.

This past July Marcy did a series on delight-directed learning. There are 31 posts with all the information you need to spark a love of learning in your kids!

Candace over at His Mercy is New could probably be my twin. No, we don't look alike, but we have similar hearts and struggles. Being a homeschool mom is not for the faint of heart. It takes sacrifice. It can be particularly hard if you struggle with depression like Candace and I do.

Here is Candace's post about how homeschooling is not "all about me" and how the very act of teaching our kids day in and day out has the potential to make us more like Jesus.

Being with kids all day long and struggling with depression...I have lived that life. I know how hard it can be. There are days when every moment is a struggle. Candace has a five-day series on her blog about homeschooling and depression. She also has a complete page with resources if you are struggling. You can find it here.

Homeschooling can be a lonely business. Since we homeschooled from the beginning I have found that the later years were more lonely for me. When the kids were young there were co-ops to attend, play dates, and fun activities at the library. All those ways to connect have gone by the wayside as the boys have gotten older.  I love Wendy's post on lonely homeschool moms. She also gives some tips for combating the loneliness. Wendy also has two other posts you will want to check out...5 Things dad should do for his homeschool children and 5 things mom should do.

Another awesome site for all things homeschooling is Homeschool Encouragement. Since I lean towards perfectionism this post on how it can damage your homeschool was extremely helpful. And here is another post from Amy, the author of Homeschool Encouragement about being organized when you are not.

And how about a couple of posts from me?
Five Homeschool Lessons for Moms - Sometimes the lessons we learn when we homeschool surprise us.

Five Ways to Improve Your Teaching - Especially if you are entering the high school years.


Have you read any awesome posts or articles that have encouraged you in your homeschool journey? I would love to hear about them! Maybe share a link?

What about Delight-Directed Learning in High School?

Entering the world of homeschooling high school can bring extra work and stress to a mom. There are more obligations to fulfill when you have to make sure your child has enough credits and is getting through all the material they need to receive those credits. So how could there be room for delight-directed learning? How can your teen take time to study what he or she really loves when there are certain requirements to get a diploma?

Delightful learning can happen in high school. It is just a matter of looking for opportunities to creatively follow your teen's interests. Here are a few ideas on how to incorporate delight-directed learning into the high school years...

Join me over at Ben and Me as I discuss how to incorporate "delightful learning" into homeschooling the high school years.

Teaching Spanish in Your Homeschool

Are you a homeschool mom that wants to introduce your kids to Spanish? Are you unsure where to start or how to go about it? For about two decades I have taught my own sons Spanish in our home and other homeschoolers. I started out as a high school Spanish teacher in the early nineties, but came home in 2001 to be with my boys. A few years after that I started an in-home business teaching other homeschool kids the language.

In 2013, I started the blog, Debbie's Spanish Learning, to collect all my resources and ideas for teaching the language to young kids. So if you are looking to teach Spanish in your home I would love to share with you all the resources available to you on my blog. Here is a quick look at some of the ideas you can use as you introduce Spanish to your children...

Join me over at Paradise Praises to see all the resources available to you if you would like to introduce Spanish to your kids.

Delight-Directed Learning {A New Series}

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Have you ever heard of delight-directed learning? Basically, it is a way to help your kids learn without realizing they are doing the hard work of learning. It means running with a topic that truly interests them and diving deep into it. Over our years of homeschooling we have used delight-directed learning mostly in the form of unit studies. It was during these times that my boys came alive and were eager to learn more. While there will always be subjects my boys struggle with {like math}, delight-directed learning can help keep them curious about the world and retain that love of learning.

My friend, Marcy, over at Ben and Me is doing a month-long series on how to use direct-delighted learning in July. You can hop over here to see what each day's topic will be. Marcy will have several contributors to these posts {including myself} so you will get to hear from different homeschooling moms and how they incorporate unit studies, rabbit trails, and "delightful" learning into their days with their kids. There will be posts on using curriculum as a jumping off point, gaps in learning, the book basket technique and so much more!

If you are interested, Marcy has also created a planner for this type of learning. Last month I had a chance to go through it and review all the great pages and information she provides. If you are interested in purchasing Delightful Planning, just click here!

I can't wait to read all the posts in this series! How about you? Are you interested in incorporating a bit of delightful learning this coming school year?

Delightful Planning: A Unit Study Planner

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When my boys were younger we did unit studies for most of their learning. I truly think unit studies are the best way to go. Even in my home-based business of teaching Spanish to elementary kids I create three to four unit studies to do in Spanish with them each year. We have studied pumpkins, insects, polar animals and so much more all in Spanish. Marcy over at Ben and Me uses unit studies and delight-directed learning to homeschool her son and has recently created a planner to help other homeschool moms create unit studies for their kids.

What is delight-directed learning? It is allowing your child to learn about a topic that interests him or her. It is a time to dive deep into what ignites their imagination and minds. It creates excitement for learning instead of drudgery.

Delightful Planning includes several pages of explanation on the following topics:

• What is delight-directed learning?
• How do I set up a unit study?
• How can I plan field trips that fit my unit study?
• Can I use the concept of delight-directed learning with multiple children?
• How can I use unit studies in high school?
• What is the "Fun School Jar" method of schooling and how do I do it?

The e-book also has several planning pages for you to use in order to set up your unit studies:

• Brainstorming pages 
• Monthly and Weekly calendars
• Supply list
• Reading log
• Book report pages
• Learning journal pages
• Field trip idea pages
• "Rabbit Trail" study page
• Fun School Jar idea pages

There is a TON of resources packed into this book! The introductory price for Delightful Learning is only $5.95!  I am planning on using it to help me set up my Spanish unit studies and a few delight-directed units with my youngest son this school year. Such an awesome resource if you are wanting to do unit studies with your kids!

Faith-based Reading for Your Teen

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During the high school years (some of these they read in the Jr. High years) I have my boys read certain books that I feel will guide and grow their faith.  Some of the books are about missionaries' lives.  Others center on dealing with relationships and worldviews.  Here is a list of some of the books that we have found helpful.

The Deadliest Monster: A Christian Introduction to Worldviews- This book references Frankenstein  and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde .  I am going to have both my boys read the two classics and then The Deadliest Monster.  The Deadliest Monster compares and contrasts the worldviews in Frankenstein and Dr. Jekyll.  One of the books is from a Christian worldview whereas the other is not. I found all three books to be fascinating and a great way to introduce to teens that not all worldviews are the same. 

Unglued: Making Wise Choices in the Midst of Raw Emotions- This book is for women, so my boys won't be reading this one.  But I have added it to the list because I think EVERY woman should read it including high school girls.  Women are such emotional creatures, and more often than not we struggle to hold ourselves together.  Here are several of my posts about this awesome book:

Post #1 

Post #2

Post #3

The Hiding Place - The true story of Corrie Ten Boom and the truth that "There is no pit so deep that God is deeper still."  This is not only a story of extreme faith, but it would fit in the history category as it deals with World War II and concentration camps.

Bruchko: The Astonishing True Story of a 19-Year-Old American, His Capture by the Motilone Indians and His Adventures in Christianizing the Stone Age Tribe- The title says it all, don't ya think?  Here is my review of the book and its sequel.

The Devil in Pew Number Seven. The true story of a little girl's family who was terrorized by a member of their congregation. An excellent story of forgiveness. One of the last chapters talks about forgiveness in detail.

Enemies of the Heart: Breaking Free from the Four Emotions That Control You- This one can be for either guys or girls.  I HIGHLY recommend it!  It has such great information in it that I turned it into a teaching series for the youth I teach at church.  The author, Andy Stanley, goes over anger, guilt, greed, and jealousy and how to deal with them.  It is biblical and yet very practical. Besides teens, I think every adult should read this at least once.

Don't Check Your Brains at the Door- A great book about the "myths" out there concerning Christianity and life in general. The chapters are short and to the point.  Love how this one is written.

Other great reads...

Boy Meets Girl: Say Hello to Courtship

How to be Your Own Selfish Pig: And Other Ways You've Been Brainwashed-Doesn't sound like a Christian title, but it is!

Not a Fan: Becoming a Completely Committed Follower of Jesus

Also, here is a list of Bible reading plans that your teen could possibly use. Also, if you have a strong reader they can take the ultimate challenge of The Bible in 90 Days.

Any other great books that should be added to the list?