homeschool stress Archives

How to Homeschool Multiple Kids Without Losing Your Mind

by Lindsey, Head of Curriculum at Schoolio

This has been on my mind today…

Homeschooling even one child is a full-time emotional and mental job. Homeschooling two or three? That’s a whole circus. And if they’re at different grade levels? Let’s just say it took me a while to stop waking up already overwhelmed.

I remember those early years when I felt like I had to mimic a real school day. Everyone had to be at the table at the same time, working on math at 9, reading at 10, science after lunch. It was rigid, exhausting, and full of frustration. Someone always needed help, someone else was bored or acting out. There were tantrums. Sometimes theirs. Sometimes mine.

What saved us was realizing that homeschooling doesn’t have to look anything like public school. And honestly, it probably shouldn’t.

One of the biggest mindset shifts we had was dropping the idea that everyone had to do the same subject at the same time. That’s not how real life works, and it’s not how learning naturally happens. So I started calling the kids to me one at a time. When one was off playing, I could work through a new math concept with the other. Once they had the hang of it, I’d set them up with independent work and call the next one in for reading time. It wasn’t about multitasking anymore. It was about focused, calm, short bursts of one-on-one time.

The second big shift came when I stopped letting grade levels rule our world. At first I was clinging to the public school timeline — this topic in science at this age, this history chapter in third grade, and so on. But it didn’t make sense anymore. Why teach something just because the curriculum says it’s “time,” if they’re not curious or ready? So we started learning science and social studies as a team — everyone at the same time, just at different depths. We’d dive into volcanoes or ancient Egypt or the weather together, and I’d tweak the activities up or down depending on the child. They started helping each other, sharing facts, building projects side by side. The learning stuck. And I wasn’t exhausted.

I used to feel guilty every day. Guilty that one child got more of my attention. Guilty we didn’t finish the lesson plan. Guilty I wasn’t following the school’s rhythm. But I’ve learned that flexibility is not a failure. In homeschooling, it’s a strength.

We use our homeschool planner loosely now — more like a compass than a stopwatch. And the beauty of online homeschool programs is that they let you set your own pace. With Schoolio, I can see where each kid is, pick the lessons that matter most for them right now, and let go of the rest.

So if you’re in the thick of trying to homeschool multiple kids and feeling like you’re falling apart, I promise you’re not alone. The magic isn’t in doing it all at once. The magic is in tuning into your children, one by one, moment by moment — and building a life that works for your family.

And guess what? That’s more than enough.

Lindsey

certified special-ed educator & co-founder, Schoolio

Curious how Schoolio helps families balance learning for multiple kids? Start a 7-day free trial or explore our all-in-one planner built for real homeschool life.

Start your FREE TRIAL.

Celebrate the little things

Has homeschooling been giving you a lasting amount of anxiety?

So many parents are now struggling with this new normal of homeschooling their kids while balancing work, and home life. It’s a challenge, a huge under taking that unfortunately is causing a lot of anxiety for many parents.

2020 was a year of ups and downs, a year that we learned how to live differently from what we had become so accustomed and comfortable with. Many of us are still wishing they could go back in time and land in a place where things were the way they were pre-2020. I totally get that, but the sad truth is – it will never happen. So, listen, you have to learn to take on this new normal and embrace it. Yes, you’re going to have days that leave you feeling overwhelmed, exhausted and dreading another math lesson. But you’re also going to have days that leave you feeling accomplished, satisfied and extremely proud of you and your kids!

In Episode 12 of The Schoolio Podcast, Sathish and I share our 5 tips for a more peaceful Homeschool year in 2021. One of my absolute favourite things that Sathish shared on the show: Celebrate the little things! Do you do that? Or do you discount all the things that you accomplish in a day, and then mentally beat yourself up for not getting more accomplished. I’d say I land in the ‘hard on myself’ category. And sadly, I actually always have. I’ve struggled with never feeling like I get ‘enough’ done, this never-ending feeling that I have to accomplish more, more, more. But, when will it be enough? At what point can we relax and just be happy with what we did accomplish? The answer: When we celebrate the little things.

How can you celebrate the little things? You and your child completed a chapter book? Celebrate that! Show them that everything they do is important, even when it’s considered small. Your son just learned his times tables? Celebrate that! You just accomplished your third day of homeschooling?! You better celebrate that. Each moment, each accomplishment is huge, important and special. All these little moments are playing into the grand story of yours and your child’s lives.

Many of us were taught from a young age to always think we should be doing more. While we aren’t advocating laziness, we are in full support of celebrating those little moments and little victories, especially when it comes to homeschooling. When we do this, we aren’t just making ourselves feel better, we are also modeling to our kids how to be kind to ourselves. When we do this, we are teaching them how to be kind to themselves as well.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want my kids growing up with low self-esteem, feeling like they’re never enough, and never accomplishing enough. So, let’s break that cycle! Right now, in this moment, choose to be kind to yourself. Choose to celebrate all the little accomplishments, because while they may seem small and mundane, they are actually so much greater than you realize. Choosing to celebrate, and choosing to be kind to yourself is a huge victory for you and your family.

Our hope with the newest episode of The Schoolio Podcast is that you will listen and feel better, utilizing the tools and tips that we equip you with to then improve your homeschool year and life. We care so much about you and are always here to help you.

Enjoy today’s episode of The Schoolio Podcast and share it with your friends! And please, let us know what you think of this episode!

Stream Episode 12 on your favourite Podcast Streaming app, or listen directly below:

Read: That Homeschool Stress Though for more help with your homeschool year.

5 Tips To Avoiding Homeschool Burnout | How To Avoid Homeschooling Burnout

How To Avoid Homeschooling Burnout

You probably already know that parenting is not easy! It was tough, long before the year 2020. However, this year has taught many parents how to be more adaptable, homeschool, and how to keep your kid calm when you feel like you’re going to freak out at any given second. This year has been a bust on many different levels. If you are having a difficult time with COVID and feel like you are struggling to maintain sanity at home, we have a few tips to share from our experience.

Since we won’t be entering the new year with a solution to all our problems, let’s start it off with some excellent tips for giving ourselves an adequate dose of self-care. What does self-care look like anyway? When I hear those words, I think of a person with a mint face mask, cucumbers on their eyes, hair in a towel, wearing a white house robe and being too pampered. I’ve never actually had this happen to me, but it’s where my mind goes when I think of ‘self-care’. What does self-care look like for a homeschooling parent? You may try to lock your door and hide from your kids for a few minutes. But does that help?

For some people, self-care and self-love look like: Laying on the couch, watching a movie while your kids mess up the basement. Or cleaning and organizing all the cupboards in your kitchen. For some, it’s painting the dining room so that when you walk in the room, the burst of fresh colour helps lift your spirits. For some, it’s a bath with Epsom salt and lavender. Maybe for you, it’s taking a walk or a long run. Or locking yourself in the bathroom with a box of chocolate to soothe the anxiety you’re feeling. There’re many different ways that people medicate with Self-care and love. How do you?

Top Tips

Let’s start with the symptoms. These indicators are warning signs; please pay attention to them.

· Crying randomly
· Lack of patience with daily tasks
· Overeating or no appetite
· Overreacting
· Irrational decisions

A few tips,
· Lower your expectation. You cannot be the parent, the teacher, the wife/husband and the other ten roles you need to play. It is ok to lower your expectations and underperform.
· Build a community. Create a small circle of strangers with whom you can share and be transparent outside of your family. Sometimes, it is hard to communicate with the ones you love and having this outlet will help you share the burden.
· Create a schedule and get the family to involve in all aspects of running the house. Please don’t do it all yourself.
· Get out of the house. Take a walk, go for a drive – something.
· Do ‘your’ thing. What is the one activity that you can do by yourself that makes you happy? Reading? Painting? – find something that gives you alone time and some mental break

On the newest episode of The Schoolio Podcast, we discuss how different self-care and love can look for many of us. Laughter being a huge one, have you ever thought of laughter as a way to remedy the blues? Have you ever heard of writing letters to yourself? Today we talk about both these interesting self-care ideas and so much more.

The laughter in this episode is contagious, so beware! And please, share with us your go-to self-care tips! We would love to hear them.

Listen to episode 11 of The Schoolio Podcast now on your favourite podcast streaming app, or listen on Spotify.

Let us offer you a slice of peace of mind. We know that right now, many kids are bored from the lack of routine that they’re experiencing. So, we have a brand new FREE mini unit about New Year’s for your sweet kids to do when they’re ‘bored’.

You can pick up your FREE Mini Unit here: https://schoolio.io/newyear/

P.S are you on the fence about homeschooling? Have the newest lockdowns made you frustrated that your child’s education has been interrupted yet again? Maybe you really aren’t a fan of virtual learning but you aren’t sure where to start, or how?

We have all the tools you need to start your homeschooling journey at: https://schoolio.io

Finding Joy During the Holidays

What does Homeschooling during the holidays look like? Many new homeschooling parents are wondering the same thing. Do you take a two-week break like the school-boards do? Or you do take the full month of December? Should you homeschool right up until Christmas and then take a day or two off? What’s the best way to approach the holidays?

This year is especially weird. Normal holidays during a global pandemic – that’s just not going to happen. How can you keep things fun and light for your kids despite the fact that there’s no Christmas plays, visits to grandma and grandpas house, and holiday parties with friends?

Our best advice: Make little things fun. Put huge hype into things like ‘Pizza night’, driving around looking at Christmas lights, baking Christmas cookies together (unless baking with your kids stresses you out – no judgement here). Spend time reading Christmas books together, watching Christmas movies and talking about the plot of each story. On the latest podcast Lindsey and I talk about just that. Because, just like you, we are homeschooling moms living through a global pandemic and trying to find some semblance of balance through all the chaos around us.

Whether you celebrate Diwali, Hannukah, Lunar New year, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice or Christmas, I’m sure you want it to be a special time for your children and you. So, let me remind you, that just because life is vastly different now, and things are unreservedly different than they were before, it doesn’t mean that you can’t still enjoy the holidays and cater to your children’s sense of magical peace.

Light a few candles, make some hot chocolate, snuggle up close and enjoy this special time with your children. Yes, things are not the same. But in everything and every situation, there is something positive. Like the fact that this holiday season, the lack of business translates into more time spent in a peaceful state with your family. The hustle and the bustle are on the back burner, and peace and quality time are front and centre.

So, enjoy it. Enjoy these little moments, enjoy the sound of your child reading. Enjoy the glow of the candles or Christmas lights. Enjoy the stories, enjoy the time. Because time is something that is taken from us all too quickly. My hope is that despite the difficulties of 2020, and the changes that have been brought as a result of it. You and your children will look back at this year with fond memories of all the time that you got to spend together. Lindsey and I truly believe that this holiday season is one that you both will always remember.

Listen to this week’s podcast to hear Lindsey and my best advice when it comes to homeschooling and the holiday season. We talk about things like when you should take a break, what you can do to keep your kids up to date with their learning skills, fun things you can do together and more.

We genuinely hope that you will enjoy this week’s podcast and find a sense of wonder in the mundane. And happiness in the crazy.

Find The Schoolio Podcast Episode 9 ‘Homeschooling and the Holidays’ on your favourite podcast streaming app.

Or click the link below to listen directly on Spotify.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2vTUFzvaejHB9bYc0uCA1n

What’s a Learning Pod?

Whether you are a new homeschooler or an old homeschooler, “Learning Pods” seems to be a ‘new’ aspect of homeschooling for everyone. So, what is a Learning Pod?

According to study.com, Learning Pods are characterized as being, “Small group learning with an experienced teacher for a whole-child education from the safety of your home.”

Many seasoned homeschool parents are now thinking to themselves, ‘But that’s a Co-Op!’

A Learning Pod and Homeschool Co-Op have many similarities, and honestly, I was just as confused as many other families when I heard of Learning Pods. So, what’s the big difference?

According to www.thehomeschoolmom.com, “A homeschool co-op is a group of families who meet together and work cooperatively to achieve common goals.” Like Geography, Art, Crafts, Science, Music.

The main differences that I can see between a Learning Pod and a Class Homeschool Co-Op would appear to be the content being taught. In a Learning Pod, you have basically one person responsible for teaching children. Creating a little pod of learning, thus the name: Learning pods! Learning pods appear to be a new way for families to keep their children safe from the pandemic that is raging outside. Co-Op is a shared experience between many different homeschool families, where they join together to teach their kids fun classes, like art. Leaving the core subjects, like math, and language arts for the structured classes at home.

Along with that information, I’m pleased to inform you that on the newest Schoolio Podcast we interviewed Marie Pihl. Marie is a first-time homeschooling mama who is managing her own Learning pod successfully. Marie Pihl has three children, ages, 8, 7 and 5. She worked as an Event Coordinator for Children’s Aid for many years before deciding to stay home, full time with the kids. Currently, Marie works part time as the Community Development Manager at Schoolio and is homeschooling her 3 kids at the same time while also managing a Learning pod. (Where is her super hero cape?)

Today we asked her lots of questions about what Learning Pods can look like, and we even got some awesome legal information from Sathish Bala regarding how to have a safe, legal, pod. We hope that you enjoy this new Episode of The Schoolio Podcast!

Stream it now on your favourite Podcast Streaming app, or click the link to find it directly on Spotify!

The Canadian Homeschooler

You aren’t the only one who feels like they just aren’t mastering this homeschooling gig. In fact, there’s hundreds of parents who are second guessing themselves and feeling super low. It’s really hard to manage life, work and homeschool on top of all of that. Thankfully for you, there are amazing people who know that you might be struggling and want to help you through it. One such person is Lisa Marie Fletcher, founder of The Canadian Homeschooler. Lisa Marie Fletcher is a homeschooling mom of 5 kids ranging from preschool to high school. When her homeschooling journey began, she searched for Canadian homeschooling resources and started to share them online. That was the beginning of The Canadian Homeschooler – whose mission today is to connect Canadian homeschoolers with each other and with resources to help them on their journey. She knows how you feel, and she doesn’t want you to get stuck in those feelings of inadequacy, overwhelm and frustration. She instead wants you to feel all the good feelings that you truly should be feeling.

During our recent podcast interview, Lisa Marie talks about ‘Backwards planning’ which is a really cool concept! You write down what you did, after you did it. Rather than writing a list of things you need to accomplish for each day and then feeling guilty when you don’t get to all of them, you instead will just jump to your morning, accomplish the things that need to be done and write them down. Talk about a stress reliever. Lisa Marie also shares her 6 steps for starting homeschooling. Because she understands just how overwhelming it can be to start homeschooling. She aims to keep you from feeling overwhelmed and to instead have a direct plan to help you get through the first few months of homeschooling.

During the episode Sathish Bala (CEO of Schoolio) asks, how a partner can be more involved with homeschooling, or be more involved at home to help the parent that is taking the brunt of homeschooling on. Both Lisa Marie and Jaymee help him with this question. Giving advice to help him and others find ways to help their partner during this new homeschooling chapter. It’s our mission at Schoolio to bring you the best, content which is relevant to your Canadian Homeschooling journey which is why The Schoolio Podcast episode 7 is dedicated to helping you have the best homeschooling journey, here in Canada.

To listen to The Schoolio Podcast Episode 7 click on the link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7I41lZAzh0Ik6Bf5xYaoI0

Or find it on your favourite podcast streaming app.

To learn more about Lisa Marie Fletcher and The Canadian Homeschooler, check out her website: https://thecanadianhomeschooler.com you’ll find an amazing blog, tons of resources and more about The Canadian Homeschooling Conference.

That Homeschool Stress Though!

When you first thought of the idea to homeschool your children you probably imagined yourself being the next Elizabeth Thatcher, cultivating a great relationship with your kids. Helping them learn in a fun way with a big smile painted across your face at all times. Patience abounding from every corner of your heart, as you teach with deep understanding and constant kindness. But, two months into it you find yourself wearing your pyjamas for the entire day. You don’t remember when the last time you brushed your hair was, shower? Let’s not even talk about a shower. And, that patience and happiness that you thought you’d portray? Ya, you’ve currently placed your children in their room prisons because their attitudes have caused great irritation in your mind. All those activities and art projects you saw on Pinterest and thought ‘We’re going to do these!!’ Are now crumples of paper and popsicle sticks and one is currently glued to your first grader’s math while the other art disaster is stuck to the table. Your house hasn’t been properly cleaned since ….September? And, your favourite meal is cereal.

You sit down for a break and open up your phone to see another homeschooler on Instagram. Her hair’s done, she has make-up on, she’s posting pictures of her clean house, her perfectly set-up classroom, and her perfectly dressed children. Suddenly, you think ‘What am I doing wrong?’ Suddenly that stress that you were feeling has been impacted and now you feel not just the horrible stress but the feeling of inadequacy. The thoughts ‘Why can’t I do a good job like her?’ ‘Should I even be homeschooling?’ ‘What am I doing wrong?’ Are all flashing through your head. This stress just adds another layer of tension to your already tense shoulders and you feel much more snappy than you did this morning when you woke up.

Before you get to that point, I want to stop you right there. I want you to remember -before you look through the series of perfection Homeschooling parents on Instagram- that you are doing an incredible job. Parenting is hard, parenting during a pandemic is hard, taking care of a house is hard, working is hard, working from home is especially hard. But, you’re more than likely doing most of -if not- all of these things. You are incredible! You have to stop looking at all the things you ‘aren’t’ getting done and start looking at all the things you are accomplishing! Most people would look at your daily life and just curl up in a ball and say ‘NOPE.’ But not you. You’re tackling it all.

But stress, stress is the hardest part of all of our lives. So, what are some tips that we could use to calm down the Homeschooling/parenting stress and instead give us a small dose of peace?

If you haven’t already, listen to The Schoolio Podcast -Episode 5- ‘Tips to Help you Navigate the Stress’ on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1tnFc9JUnzHQ4C7zWtRHbB

or find The Schoolio Podcast on your favourite podcast streaming app.

P.S Don’t forget to subscribe!