These are the MOST asked questions that I receive

I get a lot of the same questions on my videos, and I wanted to address some of the main ones that I get asked often. I also wanted to answer some questions that I have gotten recently that would take too long to type out an answer, and it's easier for me to answer them here in this video! If you are interested in specific curriculum videos, here are some of my curriculum playlists so that you can do a deeper dive that way!
BJU Press playlist: • BJU Press
The Good & The Beautiful playlist: • The Good & The Beautiful
Abeka playlist: • Abeka
✨ BJU Press curriculum: www.bjupressho...
✨ Where I purchase most of my curriculum - www.christianb...
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homeschool q&a, abeka homeschool curriculum, bju press curriculum, tgtb curriculum, the good and the beautiful, homeschool mom, christian homeschoolers, christian homeschool curriculum, homeschool curriculum, homeschool mom of four

[@Analysemarie]

Love this video!! Thank you!! Love that you say that about being a patient mom 😅 Great tips!! Looking forward to the comparison videos for TGATB and BJU. Thank you!!

[@pajamamama5965]

Fun video! Good for you answering these questions. I've homeschooled for 12 years and my youngest two are eighth and ninth grade this year. I like your suggestions about when the kids aren't paying attention or doing their school work and those are what I used especially when the kids were younger.. This is what has been successful for me as they get older. I have a list of consequences that I pull from. First of all they have to do school before they get any screen time, call friends or get to do any fun activities. They check mark each subject off on their planners and show it to me when they are done. As the day goes by I start using consequences such as oh you don't feel like doing school...then you can do chores instead and I have things in mind that they can do. Or you won't get any screen time today. Or if there was an activity planned such as a dance class then we won't go tonight. Another one I use is if you don't do the subject now, you will have to do double lessons on Friday. It might sound threatening or mean but it's all about the parents attitude. It's like this is their work, they have to do it, and they don't have options. Just like in the real world when we don't do our work there are consequences. There can also be rewards for a good school week such as something fun on a Saturday afternoon lined up.

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

@@pajamamama5965 great tips! And no it’s not threatening either…I tell them that too. “Hey do you think dad wanted to get up at 6 am and work outside for 8 hours in the cold, rain, heat, etc?” Setting the expectation that this is their job is very important

[@pajamamama5965]

@@thepracticalhomeschooler Exactly! Doing school is training for their successful livelihood. Unfortunately Ive known a number of home schoolers that just haven't prioritized the curriculum, learning, and the daily discipline of doing the school work. Ultimately that shows up in our character such as delayed gratification, perseverance, as well as handling multiple responsibilities. All of that starts with us as parents and enforcing it for our kids. The consequences are actually an easy way of enforcement. Consistency is key.

[@tanyacagle2423]

Thank you for your advice because I need that more in my homeschool. I’m going to take it.

[@pajamamama5965]

@@tanyacagle2423 I hope it works for you and your kids too. It gives me peace of mind to know that I have a list of ideas in advance of how to handle situations as they arise. You can even write consequences down and look at your list in case you forget. Sometimes in the moment I will say "if you don't do this, there will be discipline". That buys me time to think about how I want to handle things. A lot of times they will say "what will happen"? I tell them "I'll let you know." 😆 Sometimes that's enough to motivate them LOL

[@CKClevmama]

I appreciate your videos so much! Thanks for sharing your wisdom.

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

@@CKClevmama thank you for watching ❤️

[@marissathompson3216]

“Please do more homeschool videos.” 😂😂❤️

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

@@marissathompson3216 so cute 🥰

[@lindsaysimplified]

I’ve ran the gamut with curriculum. Sonlight, Memoria Press, TGATB, Abeka and BJU Press. We’ve settled on BJU Press because my kids enjoy it, it’s flexible, not overwhelming, doesn’t break the bank and doesn’t require sitting at the table for 7 hours (ahem, Memoria Press 😅). Plus we love their Distance Learning option. All that to say is it’s okay to change your mind, pivot, and do something different. I am also not a “piece it together” with multiple different curriculums so I just found one that we loved, and even if they’re not the best in every subject that’s okay - consistency goes a long way.

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

@@lindsaysimplified that keeps things simple too when you do it all the same, as well as less decision fatigue for moms doing the curriculum shopping. so i definitely see the positive in that approach

[@SkylarWhitmire]

oh man I just looked at their Grade 1 kit and it's sooo expensive.

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

@@SkylarWhitmire you don’t need to get the full kit. You can purchase just the essentials

[@earthymama1582]

I settled on BJU English for 4th & 6th grade this year thanks to your videos. That adorable baby was just the cutest cherry on top for this video. ❤

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

@@earthymama1582 that’s so awesome! Glad you found curriculum that worked And thank you 😊😊

[@tanyacagle2423]

We quit Abeka. It was really repetitive. And I felt I wasted money on it because I found out my daughter didn’t need all that. Plus the handwriting was a lot when there was a lot of writing in all the worksheets. Good and beautiful we are sticking with for now. And starting spelling you see for handwriting/ spelling. That’ll be new for us because my kid hates handwriting. Haven’t found something fun until now so I’ll see how that goes. I liked the Abeka phonics cards and the way they taught reading but I like the good and beautiful one too. But you’re right in your old videos when it came to handwriting with Abeka , it’s a lot.

[@hannahwilliams5394]

Lol that was my comment and yes I'm British! Thank you for the advice

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

@@hannahwilliams5394 hi! Thanks for the support from across the pond 😀

[@jennakelly4446]

I’m laughing at the whole ending 😂 what a fun video. “Ok thanks”

[@user-fb5ze9fx7e]

Terrific ending. Baby should have a cameo in every video :-)

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

@@user-fb5ze9fx7e my new cohost 😆

[@Homeschooling.with.Ginger]

Love getting a surprise Baby Mia at the end!

[@Blessedwithmightyarrows]

Love this video! Your little one is precious!

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

@@Blessedwithmightyarrows thank you 🥰

[@Blessedwithmightyarrows]

@@thepracticalhomeschooler you're welcome

[@lisaroper421]

Best helper ever!

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

@@lisaroper421 🥰🥰🥰

[@kristinabecerra4068]

I am so stuck in between using BJU and TGTB. I have watched both your videos on them. I have been using TGTB but outsourcing spelling to All about spelling because spelling has been a struggle but also using, Fix it Grammar and a different writing curriculum and now moving to Level 4 idk if its worth continuing to TGTB level 4 with outsourcing or switching BJU English 4.

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

@@kristinabecerra4068 you could always try it for a year (BJU), since you’re supplementing/switching so much, and if it’s not a good fit then you can go back. That’s initially why we went to BJU because by the time I changed spelling and reading and writing there was really no point in continuing TGTB

[@bethyjg87]

Do you prefer Abeka or BJU? We have used Abeka but have been very interested in BJU.

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

@@bethyjg87 I’ve used Abeka k-3rd and BJU 4-6 so I can’t compare those two on equal fields really. We did do BJU level 2 reading program this year and it was FABULOUS! Also, for writing I did Abeka growing up and can say hands down, BJU has better writing instruction! We turned a big corner this year with my 4th and 6th grader for writing

[@srb218]

Not homeschool related, and maybe you’ve addressed this before but I’m a relatively new subscriber. What nationality is your husband? Your daughters are all so beautiful!

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

@@srb218 aww thank you! His heritage is Mexican and Spanish (which I know is part of the Mexican heritage but one of his grandparents’ family was from Spain)

[@homeschoollifemom]

I would have thought that Abeka and BJU would more be in the same vein. I wouldn’t have really thought that TGTB would be comparable. A comparing apples to oranges situation. Maybe I should look into BJU more. I grew up on Abeka so I know well what that is and what it entails.

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

@@homeschoollifemom I agree that Abeka and BJU are more similar because they are both traditional and are used in Christian schools. But many of my earlier videos compared Abeka and TGTB and I’ve used both in the younger years that’s why I get that question