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What Are Your Most Helpful Posts?

By Kendra | July 23, 2010

Hi Kendra-

I recently discovered your website. I’m working on making a “battle plan” for our upcoming school year. I’m homeschooling a rising 3rd grader as well as raising and caring for my twin two-year-olds. What a blessing! I need all the help I can get to figure out how to attend to my preschoolers while homeschooling and maintaining for my home (among other things). Please point me to some of your favorite posts on the topic. I’ve listened to your MP3 downloads and they helped tremendously.

Thanks!

Wendy

♥

Hi Wendy-

Welcome to craziness!  I wouldn’t trade this life for anything, but it is crazy and exhausting and sometimes downright frustrating.  I don’t think it’s helpful to pretend every day is a walk in the park.  I do think it’s helpful to try and give you some tools to make the days more peaceful.  In that spirit, here are some you may find most helpful:

A homeschooling mom needs help with the housekeeping, because kids who are home all day long make messes at home all day long. They’ll also gain great skills if they’re taught to help out.  Start with a chore plan. 

Read the next chore post.

And then this one.

And then finally this one, which gives you free chore charts to download and use in your home.

♥

Circle Time is the biggest weapon in my arsenal. You can read all about Circle Time here, and link to copious posts on the subject.  You can learn some little tricks for keeping those busy two-year-olds occupied during Circle Time here.

♥

If you’re looking for school help, learn my BIG SECRET here.

♥

But most importantly, bring your children to the Gospel every day.

Hope that’s helpful-

Kendra

Topics: Chores, Circle Time, Educating at Home, Home Organization, Life with Preschoolers, Resources, School Organization, Training Little Ones | 10 Comments »

10 Responses to “What Are Your Most Helpful Posts?”

  1. Jen Says:
    July 23rd, 2010 at 7:52 am

    Kendra,

    It was so great to talk w/ you at the SR Homeschool Convention! I would still love to talk with your friend who also adopted 6 children (if she ever has the time! LOL!)

    I think the points you made here are definitely true (especially the last one).

    We recently “re-did” our chore lists and routine plans and it TOTALLY makes a difference in our day. We’re trying to have all of these things really well established by the time we being more of our focused academic learning in the fall.

    I’m going back now to re-read your posts on what to do w/ 2 and 3 year olds during the more focused learning time. I’m thinking our “read and rest” time might increase from 1 hr. to 2 hrs. this year.

    Love,
    Jen

  2. Jennifer Ott Says:
    July 23rd, 2010 at 10:56 am

    Thank you for this post! I’ve read and reread your blog, but to have this in one spot has refreshed my mind heading into the new school year (kids are 5, 4, 2, and due-in-December)! Thank you! And I needed the reminder to take our kids back to the gospel. My son has been…discovering more of his sinful nature lately, and it has bewildered me. Thanks again for helping out newer moms like me!

  3. rebecca jones Says:
    July 23rd, 2010 at 11:14 am

    Wise advice Kenj.

    The only thought I might add is– it can be helpful to set in our minds exactly WHY we are doing what we are doing before we jump in.

    For example, if the goal is to direct our children to the gospel everyday (love that wording) then if math doesn’t happen one day all is not lost!

    It is very good to content ourselves with PROGRESS in the lives of each child rather than compare ourselves to others. Sometimes we are in such a rush to accomplish everything academically that we miss the real thing– Jesus. ; )

    Much love to you!
    RJ

  4. Shannon Says:
    July 26th, 2010 at 9:07 am

    Always so good, K!
    Hope you’re great!
    xo

  5. Angela Says:
    August 1st, 2010 at 1:57 am

    Hi Kendra, did you know the ‘and then this one’ comes up as broken. Thanks for all the links, it has been very timely for me.

    Angela

  6. Kendra Says:
    August 1st, 2010 at 12:10 pm

    Thanks, Angela!

  7. Rébecca Says:
    August 1st, 2010 at 12:25 pm

    I had read your post about planning the whole school year in a week-end or two and think it is a great idea. However, I was wondering what you do about children who may not follow the pace you planned for them. What do you do if a child does not master a math concept for example and need to work longer on that particular concept before moving on ? Doesn’t that mess up all the planning you had done ? Also, how do you follow your kids’ interests if every subject you are going to cover is already all laid out for the whole school-year ?
    I’m about to get everything ready and plannaed out for this coming year, but I am nervous things might not go a

  8. Kendra Says:
    August 1st, 2010 at 11:54 pm

    Just change it as you go and move on. If there isn’t a battle plan in place, though, it’ll sink you. Better to have something you can change than nothing at all.

  9. Wendy Says:
    August 3rd, 2010 at 8:11 pm

    Kendra-

    Thank you so much for this post! You are a terrific help!

    Blessings!
    Wendy

  10. Jena Says:
    August 7th, 2010 at 6:10 am

    Hi Kendra,

    Thanks for leaving a comment on my blog! so nice to meet you. I love your blog–great stuff here. I really need to organize my posts, and you are giving me ideas. :) Many blessings to you and your little ones!!

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