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Our Curriculum Choices – Year 3

sensible homeschool our curriculum choices year three on chalkboard background

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If you haven’t done so yet, read the first post in this series here and check out Our Curriculum Choices – Year 1 and Year 2.

Year 3 Snapshot

Each year seems to bring something new, and our 3rd year educating our kids at home was no exception. It was the first time I was homeschooling with an infant. And we were still grieving the loss of my dear mother-in-law who had passed away only a few weeks after I had our third baby. 

But God has always been our Provider, whether it’s in the form of new insights, tangible resources, or help from friends and family. He’s consistently given us hope and a way through difficult seasons, both in homeschooling and life in general. 

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Spotlight on School Supplies: Colored Index Cards

spotlight on school supplies colored index cards

Bright, Edgy and Surprisingly Useful

I never planned on using colored index cards – or any index cards for that matter – in our homeschool. I impulse-bought some in a weak moment as I wandered down the aisles of our local office supply store.

Side Note: If you read this blog for any length of time you’ll probably notice my fondness for office supplies. I’m not ashamed.  I’ll shout it from the rooftops…. “I LOVE OFFICE SUPPLIES!!!”  So many options! So many ways to be organized! So much potential in every package! 

*happy sigh*

Sorry, where was I? 

Oh. Right. Colored index cards. 

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Spotlight on School Supplies: Magnetic Whiteboard

spotlight on school supplies magnetic whiteboard background with markers and eraser

(There may be affiliate links in this post – click here to learn more. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.)

Never Bored with Your Board

My apologies to any chalkboard aficionados out there, but now that we’ve used whiteboards in our homeschool, I’ll never go back to chalkboards. Just imagine…..

  • No chalk-covered toddlers
  • No chalk dust in the air and in the carpet
  • No ear-piercing, goose-bump-causing SKREEEEEECH from nails scratching the chalkboard

*shudder*

Don’t get me wrong – I like a cute & trendy menu chalkboard in the kitchen just as much as the next Pinterest-perusing mom. And, of course, chalk still has its place for some activities (that place being outside). But for our day-to-day schoolwork we’ve preferred a different solution.

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Spotlight on School Supplies: Laminator

spotlight on homeschool supplies laminator with laminated printable

Melting Hearts of Homeschool Moms Everywhere

(There may be affiliate links in this post – click here to learn more. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.)

One of the first memories I have of my early homeschool research is reading a handful of homeschooler’s blogs and noticing the deep affection they all had for their laminators. 

I recall thinking this was strange.  

Yet now, here I am years later, adding my voice to the chorus of homeschool moms singing an Ode to My Laminator. 

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Homeschooling with… Aluminum Foil?

It’s been noted by some that I act a little like Dory from Finding Nemo and Finding Dory fame. I guess they think I’m a little forgetful and kind of distractible at times but I don’t really thi….

LOOK! Something shiny!!!

It’s… aluminum foil!!

I knew foil could keep my casseroles covered, among other household uses. And once I had kids and started scouring the interwebs for craft ideas, I came across a lot of foil-related art projects for my littles.

But, as it turns out, aluminum foil has been a surprisingly versatile supply for our homeschool studies, too! (I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… homeschoolers are resourceful!)

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Our Curriculum Choices – Year 2

sensible homeschool our curriculum choices year two on chalkboard background

Read the first post in this series here and check out Our Curriculum Choices – Year 1.

Year 2 Snapshot

Well, we made it through our first year of homeschooling and came back for more! Just when I was starting to figure a few things out, Year 2 brought new challenges. 

My oldest was now in first grade and our three year old wasn’t content to sit on the sidelines. Finding ways to engage them both was a trick. It wasn’t easy to find a balance where everyone was met at their own level and not frustrated (with work that’s too hard) or bored (by work that’s too easy).  

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Our Curriculum Choices – Year 1

sensible homeschool our curriculum choices year one on chalkboard background

If you haven’t done so yet, read the first post in this series here.

Year 1 Snapshot

This was our first “official” year of homeschooling. My oldest son was starting Kindergarten and our younger son was a toddler. 

I was excited to finally be homeschooling after several years of reading about it and trying to plan ahead for the unknown. We’d already done preschool at home and, of course, he’d been learning at home since he was a baby, but I felt like this was the moment I’d been waiting for. 

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Top 5 Must-Have Homeschool Supplies

top 5 must have homeschool supplies banner on paperclip background

Besides the basics (you know…. pencils, paper, chocolate, etc.), I’ve found there are a handful of relatively inexpensive items that have made our homeschool days go much more smoothly. 

No, these supplies aren’t going to teach for you. They won’t empty the dishwasher. And they won’t fold your laundry. But even though they can’t work miracles, I do sometimes feel a little like super mom when my Meltdown Radar* goes off and I swoop down with a sheet of Hole Reinforcement Labels and save the day… 

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Jumping Into the Deep End (but Not Really)

Jumping into the Deep End (but not really)

For some families, homeschooling has been the plan all along. 

They’ve seen it work for friends or family. They knew they’d homeschool their future kids before they were even married. They’re totally comfortable swimming against the societal current. They understand the benefits and they welcome the challenge.

If that’s you, feel free to skip this post.

If, on the other hand, you’re more like the main character from the PBS kids’ show Peg + Cat…

(that is, “TOTALLY FREAKING OUT!”)

…then read on, my frenzied friend, read on!

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