Our Daily Homeschool Rhythm PLUS My Secret to Getting School Done Every Day

[@jessicalee3815]

Yes to brain balancing resources! Ty for your content. As a first generation homeschooler your content is helpful and inspirational.

[@simplewondersacademy]

Thank you! I linked a couple BB resources in the comments above. Let me know if you can’t find them 😃

[@raising_arrows_mama]

What?! Jessica, I did not realize you had youtube channel! So cool to see you here! I've been blogging for a while but just starting out on here and TPT materials. So excited to connect with you more

[@simplewondersacademy]

Hello Heather! I didn’t realize you blog, it will be fun to connect online as well as real life!

[@ashleymurphy4813]

Just found your channel, love it! We are new homeschoolers but very similar- great balance of unschooling and a feast of ideas and very Charlotte Mason influenced!🫶🏻

[@simplewondersacademy]

I’m glad you found my channel! Thanks for following along 😃

[@elliegrace3032]

I LOVE this!!! Could you make a video on homeschooling pre-k / kindergarten & teaching your child to learn to read? I would love to hear how you did phonics/reading!

[@simplewondersacademy]

Both of those are in the works! I’m currently teaching my 6 year old to read, and I’m using the same method I used for my older two. It’s been so effective and I’m excited to share it!

[@chrissypacheco9635]

I loved this! Really realistic and doable. I love that you allow your kids lots of time to be kids, while also having to ensure that school work is getting accomplished.

[@simplewondersacademy]

Thank you!

[@laurimuse1390]

I also love the little bit of both approach. I have been homeschooling for 25 years and I am still homeschooling people. And I also do family gather time and follow the child’s passions and interests. I’m glad to find a like-minded person who also sees the value of both styles of education.I would say Eileen towards Unschooling as I’ve gotten older, but I still have a signed things and I still work one on one with my children even on tasks they might not want to do but I think they should.

[@simplewondersacademy]

Way to go! That is a long time to be homeschooling 🙌🏻I feel like my mom leaned more towards unschooling as she got older. She realized that there are a lot of things that don’t really matter and kids learn a lot without direct instruction.

[@ttsk]

Ohhh the brain balancing exercises sound lovely. Yes, please to more resources 🙏

[@simplewondersacademy]

The book Disconnected Kids is a great start! amzn.to/3RQV7uQ And this site shows the exercises: www.brainbalancecenters.com/blog/daily-kid-friendly-exercises-to-promote-brain-balance

[@Breanna18.3]

@@simplewondersacademyThank you so much!

[@mrsrgardner]

I really like this Jess! It’s very doable but also holds you and your kids accountable. Thanks for sharing!

[@shelleyscoll6427]

I always look forward to your videos. They inspire me and help me to slow down and simplify. Thank you for taking the time to make and post another one!

[@simplewondersacademy]

Thank you!

[@thaniaxo]

I love the idea of copywork from the read aloud book. I will try this with my second grader!

[@simplewondersacademy]

Great! My boys love picking out their favorite phrases. They’re usually funny ones, but as long as it’s correct grammar and they’re excited to write then I’m happy ☺️

[@whitneyleon-peruanaensudaf364]

So inspiring! I have 2 boys and we have a very similar dynamic, between charlotte mason and unachooling 😂. LOVE your content, please share about the brain exercise activities ❤

[@simplewondersacademy]

The book Disconnected Kids is a great start! amzn.to/3RQV7uQ And this site shows the exercises: www.brainbalancecenters.com/blog/daily-kid-friendly-exercises-to-promote-brain-balance

[@marehocull1800]

Yes, I’m interested in brain balancing resources. Thank you!

[@simplewondersacademy]

Great! I linked to everything in previous comments. Let me know if you don’t see it.

[@chelsiemarieduhh]

Thank you so much for the inspiration and insight ❤

[@simplewondersacademy]

You are so welcome!

[@laurimuse1390]

I just found your channel. I’m sharing it. I love what you’re doing. I have a couple questions. Where did you get your bookshelves? Are they built in? And where did you get your dining table? It’s so beautiful. I’m actually shopping for a table??I love your room set up. Do you ever do a room tour?

[@simplewondersacademy]

Thank you so much! I’m so glad you found my channel 💖 the bookshelves are an ikea hack! They are BILLY bookshelves with a shelf extension on the top. Then my husband added the picture lights at the top and trim/molding around to make it look built in. The table is also from IKEA, we LOVE it! I recommend it 👍🏼👍🏼 the closest thing to a room tour is my video on how to set up a school room kzbin.info/www/bejne/iX-qiGOuecmEb7csi=GOoE3ITeyIgxz0Cz

[@SaraAmos]

Thank you for sharing! So helpful as I am homeschooling. I am interested in learning about the brain balancing exercise you recommended in video please. Thank you!

[@simplewondersacademy]

The book Disconnected Kids is a great start! amzn.to/3RQV7uQ And this site shows the exercises: www.brainbalancecenters.com/blog/daily-kid-friendly-exercises-to-promote-brain-balance

[@MamaJeanMontessoriMusic]

Thanks for sharing! Love that you have four boys! :) I have three boys (one is a newborn too) and interested in the concept of homeschooling so loved to see your realistic life! Yes please share about brain balancing, looks interesting

[@simplewondersacademy]

I love meeting other boy moms! Homeschooling has been great for my wiggly, curious boys. The book Disconnected Kids is a great start! amzn.to/3RQV7uQ And this site shows the exercises: www.brainbalancecenters.com/blog/daily-kid-friendly-exercises-to-promote-brain-balance

[@shellemybelle1574]

Hi! Love your videos. They are inspiring me to transition homeschooling to traditional/mason method. Im still very new to homeschooling we are 2nd year. I checked on your website for curriculum guides but it has a ooops page with information. Ill check back hopefully it can be solved. Thank you!

[@simplewondersacademy]

Oh no! Thanks for letting me know. Hopefully it’s working now.

[@girl4granted]

Thank you, I love the idea of high ceiling and low ceiling goals. I severe PMS and for 10 + days teaching the kids are hard and feel so guilty that we do not get eveyhing done so I push through but ultimatly those days end in tears. You mentioned PDF with your schedules were can I find it. I would love to just get an idea what it look's like. I have been homeschooling in a very Traditional way for the last 5 year follow a South African Caps Curiculum and lately been feeling that something needs to change. CM and unschooling both seem very appealing.

[@simplewondersacademy]

That is rough! That long monthly disruption makes homeschooling so difficult. The "floor" goals has definitely saved my sanity, and I'm amazed at how much my kids have learned with small, but consistent lessons :) Here's a link to my free planning mini-course, it has all the PDFs as well as videos to show you how I use them and plan my homeschool day, week and year! Enjoy! simple-wonders.ck.page/fdb777c2da

[@marriedinmedschool]

Hello!! I would love more resources on brain balancing exercises. Thank you!

[@simplewondersacademy]

The book Disconnected Kids is a great start! amzn.to/3RQV7uQ And this site shows the exercises: www.brainbalancecenters.com/blog/daily-kid-friendly-exercises-to-promote-brain-balance

[@ashleyhume7402]

Love this!! More homeschool videos please! ❤

[@simplewondersacademy]

Thank you! I have quite a few in the works. I’m so glad you enjoyed it ❤️

[@rachellebrooke4614]

Good tips

[@simplewondersacademy]

Glad you think so!

[@rkubss]

We started a CM curriculum this year and have not yet introduced handicrafts. I’d like to see what your boys do and how it’s taught!

[@simplewondersacademy]

I’d love to make a video about that! Honestly, my boys aren’t big fans of the traditional handicrafts (knitting, crochet, sewing). So we’ve branched out into more boyish handicrafts, like: sloyd, whittling, and clay modeling.

[@rkubss]

Please do!! Neither of my kids seem interested in crochet or other art things

[@laurenrasmussen7997]

Interested in the brain balancing!!

[@simplewondersacademy]

Check description and comments for links!

[@juzanne]

Hi what are the ages of your children? I have a newborn now too. Enjoying your channel. Thanks.

[@simplewondersacademy]

My boys are 11, 9, 7, and 1 now :)

[@sarahfassmann7982]

Thank you for sharing your day! You've inspired me many times to simplify our schedule. I saw the brain break resources above. What is the book about the heart? I have had a hard time finding a good anatomy book for the elementary ages.

[@simplewondersacademy]

We really like this anatomy book, but it does have pictures of reproductive parts, in case that’s something you’re avoiding. Not super graphic, but they’re there. amzn.to/48Z3fzv

[@mrssarahcameron]

Thank you! This information was concisely presented and full of resources! I am considering homeschooling my 4 young children but I am afraid I will burn out. You make it look doable. I also love the aesthetic of your home. Where did you get your couch? It looks like a good one for messes 😅

[@simplewondersacademy]

Homeschool is difficult and Burn out is real! But if you simplify each subject and make lessons short it’s totally doable 💯

[@laurimuse1390]

What do you do to teach language arts? Writing writing, paragraphs, etc. for the upper grades

[@simplewondersacademy]

My oldest is 10 so I haven’t personally taught LA in the upper grades, but from what I’ve read you do grammar and writing. Specifically teach them how to turn their written narrations into five paragraph essays and other compositions.

[@selvarivera9163]

I just started homeschooling and I wish I could spend this amount of time a day for school work. For one child I’m spending nearly a whole school day. It’s becoming a bit frustrating. I’m a mom of two boys 4 and 6

[@simplewondersacademy]

The most influential thing for me is to structure time, not content. And do age-appropriate work. Instead of doing 1-2 lessons in math we do 15-20 minutes of math. They may finish one lesson, or only half a lesson, but after about 15 minutes their attention is gone anyway. That way I know our school day has a time limit and we are done by noon. Have you taken my free planning mini-course? I have example schedules for different ages.

[@LoreleiAileen]

Can you please share where I can find your copywork notebook? 😊

[@LoreleiAileen]

Oh, I just found your notebooking video, so my inquiry is answered! Thanks!

[@simplewondersacademy]

Yes! It’s the SchoolNest Primary Copywork Notebook available on Amazon.

[@ApprendreSansEcole]

I would be interested in what you do for brain training. Thanks !

[@simplewondersacademy]

The book Disconnected Kids is a great start! amzn.to/3RQV7uQ And this site shows the exercises: www.brainbalancecenters.com/blog/daily-kid-friendly-exercises-to-promote-brain-balance

[@sharpfamily4938]

I have 4 boys, and the oldest will be 7 in a few months. We haven't yet started teaching him to read. He waivers between impatience to begin, and anxious (he is very competitive). How did you approach it?

[@simplewondersacademy]

We do it very slowly and playfully. 1. Learning to recognize the different sounds that make up words (just aurally). 2. Learning what those sounds look like (through letter recognition) and then combining those sounds to make simple words. I use a moveable alphabet to show them how to build words using sounds.

[@ticiagorney8708]

I love this! Do you write each childs individual lessons in his own notebook?

[@simplewondersacademy]

I do! It takes 10-15 minutes each night. I tried using a general weekly schedule, but they eventually ignored it. They do much better when the daily tasks are written out with exactly what they need to do.

[@karynnekrasowski3525]

Where is the pdf schedule you were referring to? I couldn't find it.

[@simplewondersacademy]

I’m sorry! I neglected to add it, here’s the link: (the pdf link is at the end of the post) simplewonders.org/2023/08/16/a-simple-method-to-plan-your-homeschool/

[@Danceologyforlife]

Did I notice your quad scriptures and come follow me manual on the table? Curious if you guys are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints? If so, I would love to see content surrounding how you combine Charlotte Mason with studying the gospel!

[@simplewondersacademy]

Yes you did! Haha we are members of the church. I’ll put that topic on my list! I currently have an article on that very subject on my website, www.simplewonders.org. It’s in the “library” section

[@Gymgrl940]

Wondering when you do chores?

[@simplewondersacademy]

We do chores, or “zones,” in the afternoon. Each boy has an area of the house that they’re responsible for tidying up. On Saturdays they deep clean that area (wash windows, dust, vacuum, etc)

[@chelsiemarieduhh]

What is a certified family life educator?

[@simplewondersacademy]

A Certified Family Life Educator works to strengthen families through teaching parents the skills they need. I’m certified through the National Council on Family Relations. The exact definition from the website is: “Family Life Education is the professional practice of equipping and empowering family members to develop knowledge and skills that enhance well-being and strengthen interpersonal relationships through an educational, preventive, and strengths-based approach.” You can read more about the certification process at ncfr.org. I’m only provisionally certified as I’m working toward my 1600 work hours required to become fully certified.

[@Sancho.jd2]

What is CTC?

[@simplewondersacademy]

CTC Math is the online program my older boys use for math

[@vanessamarra4186]

Yes to brain balancing😊

[@simplewondersacademy]

The book Disconnected Kids is a great start! amzn.to/3RQV7uQ And this site shows the exercises: www.brainbalancecenters.com/blog/daily-kid-friendly-exercises-to-promote-brain-balance