Homeschooling Tips from A to Z for 2023: The Letter M

I can’t believe we are already to letter “M” in the alphabet! It’s been really fun coming up with all these tips. I hope they have been a blessing to you in some way.

Homeschooling Tip #1: Middle Schoolers

In my school district, middle school is from grades 6-8. I call these kids, Middlers.

Middlers are fun to be with. Most of the time, they love to be with other kids in their age group. They’ve got their little pal to hang around with and life is good.

They like to share their stories to anyone who will listen (or even if that person is not), and of course their story has to be bigger and better than their friends’ in some way.

They usually are very competitive and like to win. But, they will give up easily in a competition if they are not comfortable or feel pressured in some way.

If you have a Middler in your family, just remember to have them keep good, well-behaved friends, have a comfortable, no-pressure atmosphere, an eager listening ear, and a little bit of competition and your child will learn, learn, learn. 

Homeschooling Tip #2: Methods

While the six methods that are listed below are not the only methods available, this will give you a good start in deciding what type of method will work best for your family. 

Traditional

The Traditional method is what most of us think of when we say school. 

It’s the teacher and student(s) with their textbooks, workbooks, quizzes and tests.

Usually the teacher follows the order of topics in the textbook and teaches what is written in that book, without much deviation.

Charlotte Mason

This method is based on Charlotte Mason’s ideas about how children learn. 

Living books are used primarily and the child is encouraged to retell what he/she has heard or learned. 

The first three images in this list are parent resources that you can read once you become a member of SchoolhouseTeachers.com.  They aim to make your homeschooling as easy as possible.

The Charlotte Mason Preschool is an actual course that you can find more information about by clicking on the image.

Classical

The Classical method is based on three phases of learning. 

1. The grammar stage of memorization and facts.
2. The logic stage of thinking critically.
3. The rhetoric stage of developing and defending ones ideas

Unit Studies

Using unit studies is a method of homeschooling that involves multiple ages and grades together. Everyone in the family studies the same topic but the assignments that are given, are based on each child’s capabilities. 

This one topic is then studied involving as many other “school subjects” as possible. 

You can see how I created Unit Studies using the fifty U.S. state quarters. It was really fun to do and the kids and I learned so much.

Montessori

The Montessori method is based on Maria Montessori’s ideas. 

With her approach, the teacher guides the child to help him/her understand a concept, while the child works, develops, and learns independently.

Peer-to-peer learning is encouraged through the use of hands-on, sensory based activities. 

Eclectic

An eclectic homeschooler pulls different strategies from all the teaching and learning methods, and adapts them to meet the childs and teacher’s needs. 

Homeschooling Tip #3: Multiple Ages

Are you wondering how to teach multiple children, of different ages, at once?

If you have more than one child, you are going to face this dilemma. 

My kids were all three years apart. So when my youngest was in first grade, I also had a fourth  grader, and a seventh grader. Some days were really hard, but not all of them.

My Homeschool Schedule with Unit Studies

The best advice, that worked well for me, was to start the school day with the subjects that we could do together. We took the Unit Study approach at this time. 

We all sat at the table, and I had my planner open. We would take turns reading the Bible passage, and then we would discuss or review the topic that we were studying.

We would also review our memory verses at this time. 

Then it was time for Social Studies. Since we were doing a Unit Study approach, there was probably a couple small supplemental nonfiction books to look at or read and maybe a short video to watch. Then we discussed what we learned and I gave the directions for whatever activity or assignment they had to do for Social Studies that day. (But, they didn’t do it yet.) It could be something like a coloring page, workbook page, reading pages in a living book, etc.

When it came time for Science, we followed the same procedure. We read, looked at, or performed whatever we could do together. Then we discussed it, and then I gave them their assignment, activity, or experiment for that day. (But, they didn’t do it yet.)

When we were finished doing everything that we could do together, we started a rotation system. 
Child 1 – Practice piano for half hour then do the Social Studies and Science assignments
Child 2 – Work on the chore list for half hour then practice the piano
Child 3 – One on one with Mom for approximately an hour (Math lesson, Spelling, Grammar, Handwriting, etc)

Once I was finished with Child 3 and the other kids were done their “to-do’s”, we rotated.

Child 1 – One on one with Mom
Child 2 – Look at the library books and then do their Social Studies and Science assignments
Child 3 – Work on the chore list and practice the piano

Then we would rotate again. 

I had to have the one on one time with each child alone, so that I could concentrate and think while I was teaching the skills that that child needed help with. 

After lunch was eaten and cleaned up, we finished up our school day. The kids finished their independent work and put it in the “To Check” box. I worked with whoever needed additional help with something and checked papers when the kids were finished. 

It didn’t always run smooth as silk, but it was the best system for us. 

If you have a toddler, schedule an older sibling to babysit, and put that into the rotation schedule.

Toy Rotations

I also rotated our toy boxes to keep things “new”. I had 5 large clear storage boxes that I kept in the hallway closet. No room for coats, just toy boxes. Each box had a number on it,  1-5. 

Every Monday morning we would make sure all the toys were picked and packed up, then take the next sequential numbered box out of the closet, and put the old one back in. It was like Christmas every Monday. 

I also rotated bigger sets of stuff like play-do was only in week one, TinkerToys were week two, Lincoln Logs were week three, Legos were week four and so on. I felt like it kept the pieces of our sets together better and not all of those building sets were out at one time. 

If you have other “sets” of toys, you can go more than just four weeks of rotations. It really does keep their interest better when they know it will eventually be put away for a period of time. 

Homeschooling Tip # 4: Missions

If you and your kids like to read biographies and study people, then I would encourage you to keep some present day missionaries on the minds of your kids. 

Gladys Aylward: The Little Woman With a Big Dream and Betty Greene: The Girl Who Longed to Fly, are perfect biographies for preschool and elementary ages. 

Youth With A Mission Publishing (YWAM) has wonderful missionary stories too. I am an affiliate for them since I love their books so much, so if you would buy a book through my link I will get a small commission. Thank you!

Homeschooling Tip #5: Memorization Ideas

The older I get the harder it is for me to remember something. I am constantly having to write stuff down. For me, that’s the key. Write it down.

I’ve encouraged my kids to write their subject matter down when they have to memorize something, but that’s not the only way to get something to stick in your head.  Here’s some ideas that may help your child. 

• Rewrite your notes with a different color pen
• Write out your own quiz questions & answers on index cards
• Read your notes out loud
• Teach the material to a stuffed animal or friend
• Record yourself teaching the material
• Have someone else quiz you orally
• If you have to memorize word for word then repeat, repeat, repeat – small chunks at a time
• Use an index card to cover up what you need to memorize. Start reciting and moving the card down through the material to check yourself. If you mess up, you have to start over.
• If there is a sequence, come up with handmotions to help you remember the steps
• Put boring facts to music, a rhythm, or a rhyme

To see even more memorization tips and ideas for all learning styles, just click on the title. Memorization Tips for all Learning Styles

Homeschooling Tip #6: Mail

Sometimes the most basic skills are easy to overlook.  

Addressing an envelope and putting on the return address are still good skills to know. 

Most kids enjoy getting mail, and they’ll get plenty of practice addressing their envelopes if they have a pen pal or two.

My Homeschooling Tips: The Letter P post has tips on how to get your child the perfect pen pal. 

Homeschooling Tip #7: Map Skills

Homeschooling Tip #8: Math, Music,
&
Money Management

Tips that begin with the letter “M’ this week, would not be complete without a list of resources for Math, Music and Money Management.

Some of the resources that are listed are affiliate links with SchoolhouseTeachers.com. Others in the list are curriculum reviews that I did with the Homeschool Review Crew. 

Just click on each image to find more information about each course. 

Music

Maestro Mastery (Game Review)

Here is a review of a matching-style game that has your kids learning music composers. 

If you would like to read my review, just click here Maestro Mastery.

Lori at At Home: Where Life Happens has been writing her weekly Composer ABC posts. 

They have been really informative and would make a great resource with your studies. 

Math

Money Management

Personal Finance Lab (An Online Game Review)

This online financial game was a lot of fun. My kids and I really enjoyed it. Click here if you want to read my review of Personal Finance Lab’s Budgeting & Stock Market Game. 

Homeschooling Tip #9: Myths

There’s a lot of homeschooling myths out there. We’ll tackle just a couple here today.

Myth #1: I need to know how to teach people before I can homeschool my kids.  
     FACT: Don’t worry, you’ll learn as you go. You are your child’s best teacher. Believe me. Did you potty train your child, teach them to use a spoon, or how to tie their shoe? If you did any of that then you are an expert already.

Myth #2: I need to be an expert at all subjects.
     FACT: Wrong. No one is an expert at everything. There are plenty of homeschooling resources out on the market today and on the internet that can help when you don’t know something.

Myth #3: Can you guess it? My kids won’t have any friends.
     FACT: They will not have friends if you do not allow them to have friends. 99% of parents are eager to encourage their kids to have extracurricular activities and outside-of-the-house activities or lessons to attend.  They will meet other homeschool kids out there, I promise.

Homeschooling Tip #10: Managing

Let me see….. what does a homeschool mom have to manage? Well, in my home, when my husband is at work, I am the:

• Academic Director
• Principal
• Vice Principal
• Assessment & Curriculum Coordinator
• Communication Specialist
• Director of Equity & Compliance
• Human Resource Director
• Human Resource Assistant
• Resource Coordinator
• Homeschool Community Relations Coordinator
• Supervisor of Instruction
• Behavior Analyst
• Behavior Specialist

• Coordinator of Behavior Programs
• Correctional Officer
• Life Skills Teacher
• Occupational Therapist
• Speech & Language Teacher
• Shoe-tier specialist (just buy velcro)
• Athletic Director
• Health/Physical Education Teacher
• Teacher of the Arts & Music
• Chief of Career Pathways
• Director of College Guidance
• Parent Involvement Specialist

• Student Assistance Counselor
• College Success Coach
• School Nurse
• School Psychologist
• School Librarian
• Librarian Assistant
• Technical Service Assistant
• Circulation Assistant

• WebMaster
• Bus Driver
• Transportation Coordinator
• Crossing Guard
• Custodian
• Maintenance Technician
• Loan Officer
• Lost & Found Attendant
• Fashion Stylest
• Hairdresser

• Party Planner
• Purchasing Agent
• Recreation Director
• Relationship Specialist
• Shipping/Receiving Agent
• Food & Beverage Manager
• Menu Planner
• Head Cook
• Prep Cook
• Fast Food Cook

• Waitress
• Busser
• Dishwasher, Dishdryer, DishPutAwayer 
• Laundry Lady
• Pest Control Technician
• Zookeeper
• Chore Manager
• Time Management Specialist
• Wife
• and MOM!

I didn’t realize I did so much! Wow! When you look at a to-do list this long, you have to make tip #13 a top priority. 

Homeschooling Tip #11: Mommy Care

If Momma ain’t happy, nobody’s happy. I don’t know who came up with that sentence but it is true.

Here’s one I just made up. If Momma ain’t well, then nothing gets done. 

Does that happen at your house, or is it just mine? 

When I was sick with CoVid, I was shocked to see how little the kids did.  Horror upon horrors, it was awful. I can’t even discuss the details. 

It wasn’t until I was headed to the hospital that I weakly, pitifully, pathetically requested that the kids clean the house. They must have really felt sorry for me, because when the ER sent me home late that night, the house was spotless. WoHoo! They redeemed themselves!

 I know that no amount of personal mommy care can keep you from contracting contagious viruses, but you do need to take time out for yourself so that you don’t make yourself sick.

Every day after our school day was over, I had one hour that I called my own. 

I did what I wanted to do. I felt best if I exercised, but some days, if I needed a nap then I would sleep. If I wanted to read a book, then I did that too.

Please give yourself time to pursue your hobbies and interests. Get plenty of physical rest, and get plenty of Spiritual rest with God’s help every day.

Your family will thank you for it. 

Homeschool Tip #12: Mistakes that Mommies Make

I’ve made a lot of mistakes over the years. Poor Zachery, he was my guinea pig. I put him through a lot more than I did the girls, but don’t tell him that.

But my worst mistake was comparing myself to others and thinking that I was a failure. For the complete story and how I overcame this just click on this title How to Overcome the Worst Homeschooling Mistake.

If you missed any of last week’s letter “L” posts, the list is below. They are all so good and filled with great resources and tips. I’d encourage you to take a look. 

Lego ABC’s: L is for Legoland from Desiree at Our Homeschool Notebook 
Language Arts from Chareen at Every Bed of Roses
Language Arts-Free Resources from Chareen at Every Bed of Roses
Language Arts-Virtual Curriculum Fair from Chareen at Every Bed of Roses
Texas Bucket List – “L” from Lori at At Home: Where Life Happens
New Mexico Bucket List – “L” from Lori at At Home: Where Life Happens
Favorite Books – “L” from Lori at At Home: Where Life Happens
L is for Learning Together from Lori at At Home: Where Life Happens
L is for Looking at Microscope Slides from Lori at At Home: Where Life Happens
L – Middle School Books from Lori at At Home: Where Life Happens
Liszt-Composer ABC’s from Lori at At Home: Where Life Happens
Language in High School from Chareen at Every Bed of Roses
L is for Laser Maze from Desiree at Our Homeschool Notebook
L is for Lee from Kristen at A Mom’s Quest to Teach
Learning Journals from Megan at My Full Heart
Learning Differences from Kristi at Bailey’s Homeschool Adventures
L is for Literacy During the Civil War from Kristen at A Mom’s Quest to Teach

If you would like to read more Homeschooling Tips from A to Z, just click on the alphabet letter below.