Homeschooling Day in the Life: Elizabeth, Homeschooling Mom of Three Children Who Loves Gathering People Together in All Areas of Life
A homeschool day in the life looks different almost every day, right? Over on our Instagram page, we love to give you a peek into lots of homeschool days regardless of how they change day to day.
Today, we’re going to give you a peek into the homeschool day in the life of Elizabeth, homeschooling mom of three who loves gathering people together in all areas of their life.
We can all learn and be inspired by one another, regardless of our homeschool approach. It’s not about looking good for social media, it’s about the connection going on inside our homeschool walls and sharing with others what works for us.
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We might all homeschool a little differently, but we can always look for ideas from each other that inspire, encourage and equip us in our own homeschool days. So each week we create blog posts for you to access later of each of those “days in the life”. We hope you keep coming back for more inspiration. Keep going, mama! These days at home are so worth it!
Meet Elizabeth
Hi, I’m Liza!
Homeschooling mom of 3 kiddos -2 girls (ages 9 and almost 12), and a 2 1/2 year old boy! I’ve been married 15 years, and have been homeschooling for 6. We live on 15 acres in the northeast with a barn my husband built where I love gathering people together—whether through our monthly homeschool book club, “Art in the Barn” classes, or themed birthday celebrations (think “Narnia” and “Little Bear”) — all my creative endeavors usually mean a big mess afterward, but it’s always worth it!
About 2 years ago I started my blog, LIFEONFERN.com where I love sharing all these things, homeschool encouragement, and more! I also have an Etsy shop now, which is an extension of the blog. I’m learning to balance homeschool, working from home with a toddler, and everything else I’m passionate about— only by God’s grace!
How We Started
Homeschooling was definitely a “calling” from the Lord. Early in our marriage, my husband and I experienced tremendous tragedy and loss in our personal lives, so I know very well that each day is truly a gift from the Lord and time is precious. For this, and so many other reasons, I chose homeschooling as a way to spend as much time with my children as possible, helping point them to Jesus! I’m so thankful for the Lord’s leading me into this lifestyle. I feel extremely fulfilled in doing so.
Book Club
Over the years I’ve learned the importance of “living books”. The goal was to get my family reading more — so we committed to doing one book per month as a family read-aloud, asking other families to join in with us whenever they wanted. We’ve kept it super casual. Our book club has honestly become the highlight of our homeschool, and our community has grown so much through the years. I also just love getting behind a “theme” so it serves as a creative outlet for me, and my kids love brainstorming and helping setup each month. They have even run one of them for us this past year along with some of the older kids in our group!
Our DITL Looks a Lot Different Now
This past year has been interesting to say the least, as I now have a toddler BOY in the mix. My girls are so helpful and like his little “moms”, and I know one of the biggest blessings of homeschooling together is that my girls get to experience helping take care of their little brother, and each other! The bond they all have is the absolute sweetest!
However, it’s been way more challenging trying to get through our lessons. As someone who likes to check off boxes, I remind myself often that this is one of the blessings of homeschooling – we can be flexible, and schooling year-round in certain subjects if need be.
Homeschool Space
A few years ago, I asked my husband to convert our dining room that was rarely used for eating into a homeschool room since I plan on doing this for the long haul. It’s been a tremendous help to have set storage areas (cabinets, etc). Before that we would bring our work back and forth to different tables and rooms, which was fine – but it’s been really helpful to have everything in one place. I also loved carving out a little corner for my son with his own little desk area this past year.
Most of the year, we school at home Monday-Thursday, but Fridays are our day out with our homeschool arts community. My kids take back-to-back classes all day. They take guitar, studio art, choir, drama, and dance classes! Once a week I’ll have my mommy’s helper come for the morning to give me a break with my son, and she also gives my girls a piano lesson.
Not every day looks the same for us but this is generally the rhythm that our day follows:
5 AM Wakeup
I joined the 5am wake up club about 2 years ago when I realized how much I could get done uninterrupted in the quiet of the morning. Now I’m hooked! Every morning I make my smoothie first, followed by a matcha latte while I read or listen to the Daily Audio Bible, spend time in prayer, then catch up on any Etsy/blog work that needs to get done. Next I’ll jump on our exercise bike for about 20 minutes… just enough to get the blood pumping, a good sweat and my brain thinking more clearly! Health is very important to me —I’m actually a certified health coach. I like to set a good example for my kids in eating well and moving often! Also, if one of my kids wakes earlier and wants to get a head start on some of their schoolwork, I won’t complain!
Breakfast + Bible
Most days my girls wake with an alarm clock unless they’ve had a really late night the night before, and then I let them get all the rest their bodies need. They’re usually up by 7:30ish though, and they’ll make a healthy breakfast, do their morning chores and help watch their brother if I’m still showering or getting ready for the day. Recently I have a chart posted with their responsibilities such as who’s on breakfast duty, who’s doing their laundry that day, and whatever other chores they have. We get going with eating breakfast together around 8:30 while we do our Bible study and pray together, sometimes sing a hymn with “Happy Hymnody”, then watch World Watch News! We also love using the Not Consumed Bible studies and are currently enjoying the “Heavy Feelings” Series.
Independent Work
Next, my girls break off to do their independent work – one takes my computer for math, while the other starts their independent Language Arts. This year has been very different for us as we have had to adjust some of our curriculum choices. I’ve personally always loved using TG&TB, but it was requiring too much time for me to be sitting with them for math lessons while juggling my energetic son. “Teaching Textbooks” has been a total game changer – opening up more time for me to spend with my son during that time I would’ve been doing math. We read, play outside, bake, do artwork together, etc!
Snack + Outdoors
Usually by 10:30 my girls are done with their first subject and help themselves to a snack. They’ll take a break out on our trampoline or playground. Basically my toddler wants to be outside from the moment he wakes up so when the weather permits, we’ll take our studies outside to accommodate and let him run around and follow him while we read or if I’m quizzing them on something. It’s not ideal, and there are plenty of interruptions but ’tis the season! We’ve learned to adjust!
After a short break, there’s more independent work to be done. Girls swap and the other goes to math while the other picks up with Language Arts. Once finished and before lunch, they’ll move to piano and guitar practice, typing and handwriting! We use a beautiful typing program that has the girls reading and typing through scripture.
Lunch
Usually I’ll have a big batch of our favorite quinoa-bean salad on hand that I make at the beginning of the week so it’s quick and easy. I love that with homeschooling everyone gets fresh, homemade food on the regular!
Reading + Naps + Science/History
After lunch, it’s personal reading time and/or they’ll finish up with any work that they haven’t completed yet while I try to get my son down for a nap. The only way I can get him to sleep now is to take him for a quick drive so I literally trick him every day! I’m not ready for him to lose that nap yet! Once he’s down, we’ll do a science or history lesson family-style 1-2x per week. I use TG&TB for both. If there’s any time left afterwards I’ll throw in some laundry, get housework done, or catch up on anything work-related.
Free Time
Afternoons are all about being outside and having free time to pursue personal interests, hobbies and projects. It’s so beautiful to watch my girls still playing with toys and being so imaginative. More and more I feel homeschool has become the best way to help preserve childhood and make it last longer. Some afternoons we have plans with friends, and other times kids hang home while I prep dinner since most nights lately we are out of the house for youth group, soccer, and horseback riding lessons.
Dinner
Sitting together for dinner is very important to us! I treasure the nights we are all together and not rushing around to different places. On that same chore chart I mentioned earlier — Well, it’s not just for the kids! I tend to get very stressed with figuring out dinner in this busy season. I’m not great at meal planning, but listened to a great podcast recently by Raising Arrows where she suggested picking a different theme for each night so you’re not always cooking the same thing, but at least it provides me with some direction. To me that idea seemed very doable, and so far it’s helping me tremendously!
Evening
After dinner, it’s usually off to a soccer practice, youth group or horseback riding lesson. By this time of day, I’m honestly so ready to stay put, so if my husband is able to bring them I’ll happily stay home and get much-needed one-on-one time with my son. We’ll play, then bath time and bed for him. Next, it’s time for me to clean up, reset the kitchen for the morning and do whatever last things before getting myself ready for bed. When my girls come home, if it’s not too late they’ll usually watch a show or a movie for a bit, then my husband reads the Bible to them and tries his best to answer all their deep theological questions before we pray with them, do a tick check, and lights out.
Our days feel very full in this season, mostly due to our on-the-go toddler who rarely stops. So often I feel the time is flying by, and so I’m trying my best to stay present and to appreciate each moment as it passes, because I know how fast it goes!
One of my favorite homeschool books that I’ll re-read before every homeschool year is by Sarah Mackenzie, “Teaching from Rest”. Just one of her many quotes that I love:
“What better education can we offer our children than the shaping of their hearts to love others as we have been loved by God ourselves?”
