Useful Apps for Parents

Here are the apps I'm using lately that help me in my child raising and household management.  They really aren't specific to homeschooling: 

Google Calendar:  I put every activity in it.  I have it set to automatically give me a reminder an hour before an event.  I look at it every day and jot down in my bullet journal the events for that day and the next. 

AllowanceBot:  How I love allowancebot!  It automatically adds the kids' allowances and allows me to reward them for chores or punish them for not doing chores.  How would I keep track of their allowances otherwise?  My husband and I have even begun giving ourselves allowances to limit our personal spending.  My allowance goes to things like clothes, shoes, books, yarn, and other crafts supplies.  All things I tend to overspend on! 

Chatbooks:  This app automatically makes and sends me photo books from my favorite photos on my phone.  Dot especially LOVES looking at them.  And I don't have to feel guilty anymore for not making books or not printing snapshots. 

Audible:  This is used massively by Bug, our obsessive reader.  Husband also uses it, especially for his awful commute.  I use it sometimes, probably will use it more as Dot gets older.  

Overdrive:  This is also used massively by Bug, who checks out audiobooks from our local library on it. 

Keepy:  I've started using this, especially for Dot.  I'm so tired of feeling like I need to keep artwork.  Now I can take pictures of her scribbles and throw the papers away, guilt free. 

Homeschool ID's

In case you ever wondered what we look like...

I don't post a lot of pictures on this blog, but I made these homeschool ID's just for fun, and they are so cute that I had to share.  It is easy to make them at homeschoolbuyerscoop.com, and I have definitely used it in the past to get teacher discounts.  (I also keep a copy of my letter of intent to the state in my purse, in case that is needed as proof of homeschooling).  I'm sure my younger 2 won't need to use them, but my oldest might need one to get a student rate somewhere.

At the end of the year, I will tape them into the 2018-2019 section of my homeschool records binder, for a cute reminder of how we looked that year. 


[By the way, I have no relationship with Homeschool Buyer's Coop, except as a very occasional customer!]

Homeschool Plans 2018-2019

I can't believe that Bee will be in 9th grade (high school!), and Bug will be in 5th grade!  Dot is 3 years old.  I made some really cute ID's (teacher for me, student for them) at Homeschool Buyer's Coop.  I'll try and share them if I can figure out how best to cover the identifying information. 

This past year was really, really hard for me, but one where I grew a lot.  I've been in therapy for anxiety and OCD and have been taking an SSRI for several months to help with my lifelong issues with intrusive thoughts and anxiety.  I am feeling better than I have in as long as I can remember, and certainly vastly better than I felt last summer after 2.5 very difficult years that included two incredibly stressful moves, one out-of-state and one local, a new job for husband, a new baby, a family member with cancer, and a dear friend who died from suicide.  And a religious conversion.  All while homeschooling. 

I am loving being a stay-at-home mom again.  I am loving homeschooling again.  I finally have friends here and feel like part of the community.  I am also prayerfully and thoughtfully considering making some major life changes in the next few years that would involve me going back to school and into a vocation that would take me outside of my home and family more.  I plan to continue homeschooling our children, but it may take a different form, and I may very gradually become less involved. 

Next year, I am moving to more of a role as a facilitator (transcript maker) in Bee's schooling.  I will not be the primary teacher for ANY of his subjects.  We are ready for this transition! 

Here is our plan for the school year: 

Bee (9th): 

• English (outside classes in World Lit and Writing)
• Math (outside class in Algebra II)
• Social Studies (outside class in World History)
• Science (Thinkwell's college biology, and some kind of laboratory kit)
• Spanish (continue lessons with Homeschool Spanish Academy and continue language exposure via youtube gaming videos in Spanish).  
• Electives will include a debate class (if it makes), climbing team, and hopefully some music.  

Bug (5th)

•  English (outside class in World Literature, All About Spelling level 5 [done in a very loose manner], Jump In! Creative Writing Workbook, & Spectrum Language Arts.  Multiple hours a day of personal reading time by choice). 
•  Math (Dreambox and Khan Academy)
• Social Studies (outside class in World History)
• Science (outside class in Engineering)
• Electives will include an outside foreign language class (if it makes), swim team at the Y, and hopefully some music.  

Dot (PK3)

• Playing at the park!
• Story time at the library
• Playdates
• Playing at home
• Listening to stories read by mom and dad
• Drawing and stickers and cutting and gluing and playdough
• Hugs and kisses
• LIFE

MOM (post master's)

• studying modern and Biblical Greek
• knitting and crocheting
• lots of volunteering
• taking year 3 of the Episcopal church's Education for Ministry
• many fun days with friends and family; so thankful to God that I feel rooted in our new community
• bullet journaling
• blogging