Raising Arrows - Large Family Homeschool Life

How to focus and move your homeschool forward this next school year without a lot of stress and worry that expectations won't be met.

Get my ecourse! - Creating a Homeschool Schedule You Love!

In this episode:

• How I am homeschooling high school.
• How I am preparing my jr. high student for harder work.
• Our new Bible curriculum!
• and much more!

Resources mentioned:

• Creating a Homeschool Schedule You Love! (ecourse)
• My YouTube Channel!
• Homeschool Graduation Requirements - A Simple Plan (post)
• Preparing Your Homeschooled Child for College (Podcast #44)
• Preparing Your Homeschooled Child for College, even if they don't go! (post)
• Tapestry of Grace
• Graphic Design class (my review)
• You ARE an Artist chalk art class (my review)
• Peaceful Press
• Dave Ramsey's Foundations

Come see what our December 2021 homeschool week is like as I take you on a walk from Monday through Friday in our large family homeschool life!

FREE -> Christmas Eve Candlelight Service for your Family!

Get my Holiday Homeschool Planners HERE!

Also see my HUGE Advent Devotional Post!

Other resources mentioned:(may include affiliate links)

• Day in the Life (blog posts)
• Simple Morning Time (podcast #86)
• Living the Christian Year (devotional)
• Flexible Homeschool Planning (my simple planning method)
• Minno Advent Devotional
• Advent Candle Holder (etsy shop where I purchased mine)
• Every Good & Perfect Gift (family devotional)
• Music of Christmas (online class)
• Peaceful Press Christmas book list
• The Story of Holly & Ivy
• Gentle + Classical Press
• Where the Mountain Meets the Moon (our current read aloud)
• Teaching Textbooks 4.0 app Review (post)
• Reading Eggs app (for math and spelling and phonics review)
• How to Have Mom Breaks (video)
• Lunch Made Easy (post)
• Themed Christmas Presents (video)
• Graphic Design Class (review post)
• Cooking Rotation (podcast #109)
• Special Night (post)
• Jacquie Lawson Advent App
• Character of Christmas (morning time option)
• Pierre Robin Sequence and Stickler Syndrome information
• Unwrapping the Greatest Gift (Advent devotional)
• Watercolor Class from Lily & Thistle
• Home Blessing (podcast #49)
• Dashing Diva (Gloss nail stickers)

You don't need a designated homeschool room to homeschool! Learn how we have stored and organized supplies and homeschooled from room to room over the years!

Check out the Compass Classroom Black Friday Sale! Nov. 26 - 29, 2021

In this episode:

• Why a designated homeschool room may not fit your life and family.
• Where to store all of your homeschool stuff.
• The key to keeping supplies organized when you don't have a school room.

Resources mentioned:

• Compass Classroom Black Friday Sale
• Organizing Your Large Family Homeschool (post)
• Workbox System for a Large Family (post)
• Mom's Command Central (post that shows my mom's basket)
• Nursing Basket (post)

Ideas for adding your children to the everyday cooking and meal planning in your home.

Check out Canary Academy Online!

In this episode:

• My 2 rules for a cooking schedule that works!
• Why I didn't make a cooking schedule sooner.
• Step-by-step instructions to create your own schedule that works!

Get my Cooking Schedule Template here!

Resources mentioned:

• Share the Weekly Cooking with Your Kids (post)
• Kitchen & Dining Room Chores for Children (post)
• The Foods I Buy in Bulk (podcast #108)
• Cooking Schedule Template
• Kids Cook Real Food class

As a large family, I often buy things in bulk; however that doesn't just mean buying large bags of flour and oats - it means stocking up on smaller cans and boxes too! Here are the things I buy to keep our pantry well stocked!

In this episode:

• Why you should think outside the #10 cans and 50# bags.
• Why you should never buy food you don't usually cook.
• How I choose what I stock up on.

Resources mentioned:

• What I Buy in Bulk (post)
• ALDI Grocery Budget (post - obviously has changed a bit since prices have gone up)
• Making a Menu Plan Your Family Loves (30 day meal list podcast #41)
• Large Family Meal Planning (resource page on RaisingArrows.net)
• Mockmill Grainmill (aff)
• Gamma Lids (aff)

Recipes mentioned:

• Hot Punch
• Sandhill Plum Jelly

When the world rages, you can create a peaceful place for your family within your own home with these simple, practical tips!

Get my book: Creating a Peaceful Home

FREEBIE: Fall Family Traditions Bundle

In this episode:

• How to dig deep spiritually, so your home reflects your heart.
• Where you should spend your time to allow for more peace in your life.
• Little things you can add to any home to create more peace and calm.
• How "steady days" and "gathering times" build peace within the home.

Resources mentioned:

• Creating a Peaceful Home (book)
• Fall Family Traditions Bundle (FREE RESOURCE!)
• Homeschool Schedule eCourse
• Thanksgiving Holiday Homeschool Planner
• Christmas Holiday Homeschool Planner
• Jesus, Fill My Heart & Home (devotional)
• Family Worship Time (post)

As a mom of 10 who has been homeschooling for almost 2 decades, these are 5 hacks I think every large family mom ought to be aware of to make her homeschool run smoothly!

Take my class! How to Create a Homeschool Schedule You Love

Get my FREE 4 Steps to a Better Homeschool Day! eCourse or Free PDF

In this episode:

• How to avoid spending time and money on curriculum.
• How to keep your kids (and yourself!) on track all day.
• How to keep your homeschool stuff organized.

Resources mentioned:

• How to Anchor Your Homeschool Day (podcast)
• 4 Steps to a Better Homeschool Day (PDF)
• 4 Steps to a Better Homeschool Day (ecourse)

Did the homemakers of the past struggle so much with meal planning, and shopping, and cooking? The simple answer - no. This podcast (#2 in the Meal Planning Series) digs into the past 100 years and my own grandmother's and mother's style of meal planning and cooking.

Get your FREE Large Family Master Grocery List HERE! (explanation of how to use it is HERE)

In this episode:

• The Meat + Potato + Veggie + Bread equation.
• The food NO ONE ate that is considered a MUST HAVE today.
• How to simplify your grocery list!

Resources mentioned:

• Creating a 30 Day Master Meal Plan (podcast #25)
• Tips for Eating Healthy with a Large Family (podcast #78)
• Making Lunch Easy (post)
• Changing Routines as Your Kids Get Older (video)
• Large Family Master Grocery List

Your family needs to eat, and you need to find a way to manage all the menus, shopping, and cooking! This is the first podcast in a series all about meal planning for your large family!

Sponsored by: Homeschool Magnet

In this episode:

• Questions you need to ask yourself when finding a meal planning method that works for you.
• Why you should avoid comparing your grocery budget to someone else's.
• My meal planning methods over the years.

Resources mentioned:

• Large Family Meal Planning (blog post)
• How to Use Evernote to Meal Plan (video)
• Family Favorites Meal List (blog post with video!)

What should homeschooling look like if you only have kids ages 6 and under? How much time does it take and what subjects should you cover?

Need help homeschooling? Check out: Homeschool Magnet

Get my FREE HOMESCHOOLING CLASS! 4 Steps to a Better Homeschool Day

In this episode:

• Why age 6 is scary for homeschool moms.
• The one thing your child needs most in his or her education.
• Why a 6 year old only needs an hour of schooling - and what that looks like.

Resources mentioned:

• A Year of Playing Skillfully (read my REVIEW)
• Peaceful Preschool (read my REVIEW or watch the VIDEO)
• Tapestry of Grace Primer (review coming soon!)
• Easy Morning Time (post & podcast)
• Avoid Mom Burnout (post & podcast)