Category Archives: New homeschoolers

Homeschool Field Trips

11 September 2016

In addition to reading a chapter book to your child, finding a park day, and baking a double batch of cookies or pizza (for some math fun), a great way to start your homeschooling year is by participating in a field trip with other homeschoolers! You’ll have both socialization and education worries checked off in […]

By Karen Taylor | Also posted in Homeschooling |

No Regrets, It Was Worth It!

23 March 2016

This was originally published at UniversalPreschool.com’s blog in 2012, shortly before we dropped our son off at UC Berkeley and all too quickly said good-by. He was on his own, and our days of homeschooling him were over. Two years later, we watched him graduate with a degree in molecular and cell biology. It was […]

By Karen Taylor | Also posted in Encouragement, Preschool |

A lightbulb moment from a homeschooler

3 March 2014

I love witnessing “lightbulb” moments in homeschooling parents.  It happened again recently to a mom who returned her child to school after trying homeschooling a few years ago.  She has started homeschooling again, and wrote the following note to me. I’m sharing it with her permission, and with her child’s name removed.  Her struggles with […]

By Karen Taylor | Also posted in Encouragement, Unschooling |

Working on Physical Skills Helps with Reading, Writing, and Learning!

6 January 2014

Updated 9/30/2022 Helping your child develop their fine and gross motor skills is critical, yet often overlooked. It’s not on the end-of-the-year public school standardized test, so there may not be time in school unless a child is labeled as having special needs. Learning to hop, balance, catch, skip, and cut are just a few […]

By Karen Taylor | Also posted in Learning Ideas, Preschool, Unschooling, Worries and Obstacles |

How to Begin Homeschooling When You Don’t Know What to Do!

18 August 2013

Updated 9/30/2022. Just do it. You think you want to homeschool, but you’re not ready. You may never be. And if you’re a perfectionist, it’s even worse, because your plans will never be perfect enough. So just do it. Jump in and declare that you are homeschooling and then worry about the rest after you’ve […]

By Karen Taylor | Also posted in Unschooling |