Resources

What is homeschooling?

Homeschooling typically means choosing to educate and instruct your child or children at home instead of placing them within the public school system or in a private school. New Jersey currently enjoys wonderful homeschooling freedom. The parents or caregivers have the freedom to choose the method of teaching, school subjects and the type of schedule that best suits your family’s needs. This allows for your child’s learning abilities, special needs and even interests to be taken into consideration for a unique and personalized hands-on approach. 

Can I homeschool?

New Jersey law currently protects your right to provide “equivalent instruction elsewhere than at school” (N.J.S.A. 18A:38-25) for children between the ages of 6-16. These rights also apply to homeschooling a child with special needs. New Jersey law does not require that you be certified as a teacher or hold a college degree in order to homeschool. There are no set requirements of what topics must be covered or the amount of time you must spend teaching each day. You have the freedom to make your schedule fit your family’s goals and routine. 

Overwhelmed by choosing a program or curriculum?

This may seem like the confusing part, but it should be the most exciting! YOU get to choose what YOU like. Homeschooling is about choosing what works best for your child and who knows them better than you? The amount of programs, books, curriculums and learning opportunities is almost endless. The most important part is YOU. You get to provide the one-on-one attention that will help them thrive. Some helpful methods for finding the right books and programs are listed below.

– Join local homeschool groups on Facebook and ask for recommendations from families with children in similar age or grade levels. Their experience can inform you if a program sounds like a good fit for your child.

– Check Youtube for reviews that give you a demonstration of how a program or curriculum works. Does it involve sitting and reading for an extended period each day? Does the science program require extensive prep work and supplies that your family is not able to commit to right now? This helps you avoid spending money on programs that you’ll end up not using or struggling each day to complete because it is not enjoyable for you and your child.

-Check the program or curriculum’s direct website in case they have placement tests to help you figure out what level is the appropriate one for your child. The sites often have videos and additional views of the program to give more information about how the subjects are taught.

– Timberdoodle.com is a website that offers hundreds of curriculums and teaching resources for all grade levels! Detailed descriptions of each product help inform whether this is an item that would meet your homeschool needs. They offer full grade level curriculum kits which come with different price point options (non-religious kits are also available at each grade level) but the handbook and scheduler may be the most useful part for homeschoolers as it takes some of the guesswork out of when to do what lessons/courses/topics to stay on course through the school year. Another benefit is the convenience of purchasing most of if not all your homeschool helps from one site to save on shipping. If you sign up for their rewards program you will also quickly accumulate points to save on future orders. Who doesn’t love saving money?!

-Purchasing used books from other homeschoolers or sellers on eBay, Facebook marketplace and other sites. This may be easier to manage when you are more settled in your homeschooling journey, but great deals can be found on textbooks, DVDs, un-used workbooks, teacher guides…you name it! Homeschooling can be done without tremendous financial burden.

A Million Monday Mornings

Some seasons feel like an endless loop of Monday mornings—exhausting, overwhelming, and full of never-ending tasks. Whether it’s homeschooling, work/gigs, parenting, or just the daily grind, those “Monday” feelings can creep in and make even the simplest tasks feel overwhelming.

When life starts to feel that way, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut of frustration, but true peace isn’t about perfect circumstances. It’s about shifting our focus and finding calm in the chaos.

Here’s how to embrace P.E.A.C.E. even on the hardest days:

P – Pray first and center your heart. Start with prayer, grounding yourself in faith before the stress takes over. Hand over your worries and let God carry the weight.

E – Embrace the moment, even the imperfect ones. Life can be messy, and that’s okay. Instead of fighting the chaos, lean into it and find the beauty in the ordinary.

A – Adjust your perspective and give yourself grace. Not every day will deliver rock star mom productive outcomes, and that’s normal. Shift your focus from perfection to progress, and remind yourself that you are doing enough.

 C – Celebrate the small wins and everyday joys. Did you check one thing off your list? Laughed with your kids? Take a deep breath! Those moments matter. Recognize and celebrate them.

E – ENJOY the journey, not just the destination. Peace isn’t found in getting everything done—it’s found in slowing down, savoring what’s in front of you, and trusting that the hard days won’t last forever.

So when life feels like an endless Monday morning, take a deep breath and remember: peace is possible, even in the midst of chaos, exhaustion, or difficulty. 

Blog Post 3 – Practical Tips  to Bringing Back the Joy in Your Homeschooling Journey

Homeschooling is an incredible opportunity to create a rich, personalized learning experience for your children, but it’s not without its challenges. Many families thrive when learning is flexible, engaging, and connected to real life. By building a routine that allows for breaks, incorporating hands-on experiences, and remembering your “why,” you can create a learning environment that fosters curiosity, growth, and joy.

NOTE: There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to homeschooling. Every family is unique, so incorporate the tips that work for you and leave the rest!

Here are eight practical tips to make homeschooling more effective, engaging, and enjoyable.

1. Establish a Daily Rhythm (Not Just a Schedule)

• Create a predictable routine that balances structured learning and free exploration.
• Consider time blocks instead of rigid schedules to allow for flexibility.
• Incorporate breaks, movement, and hands-on activities to keep kids engaged.

2. Prioritize Core Subjects & Rotate Extras

• Focus on math, reading, and writing as daily essentials (the core).
• Rotate science, history, and art throughout the week to avoid overwhelm.
• Consider unit studies to explore topics deeply across multiple subjects.

3. Use Living Books & Real-World Learning

• Choose engaging, story-driven books instead of dry textbooks.
• Take learning outside through coordinated field trips or spontaneous visits to museums, parks, and historical sites.
• Incorporate life skills like cooking, budgeting, and DIY projects.

4. Keep Lessons Short & Focused

• Young children learn best in short bursts (10–20 minutes per subject).
• Older students can handle longer lessons but benefit from variety.
• Break up difficult subjects with hands-on or creative activities (or just a break!)

5. Build a Strong Community

• Love being around people?
  • If you thrive on group engagements, join local homeschool groups or coops for support, consistency, and accountability.
• Enjoy people in small doses?
  • Participate in free library programs and extracurriculars.
  • Connect with other homeschool families for group learning experiences and meet ups.
• Quarantine was your best life ever?
  • Find a mom friend you can call when you need encouragement.
  • Listen to homeschool podcasts, read blog posts, or watch YouTube shows for inspiration.

6. Embrace Flexibility & Grace

• Plans don’t always go as expected—be willing to adjust when needed.
• Focus on progress, not perfection—some days will be harder than others.
• Give yourself and your children grace to learn and grow together.

7. Incorporate Hands-On Learning

• Use math manipulatives, science experiments, and interactive notebooks.
• Encourage creative projects, nature journaling, and DIY history reenactments.
• Make learning fun with games, storytelling, and role-playing activities.

8. Remember Your ‘Why’

This is the most important! You may have started out learning about every curriculum that exists…Curriculums can change when they no longer work (yes, you have permission to  ditch it if it’s not working!) On tough days, revisit the reasons you chose homeschooling. Or you may have researched different approaches to homeschool (traditional, Charlotte Mason, classical, the list goes on.) But what will really matter on those days when the yellow school bus looks really enticing… is remembering why you started. 

• Did you choose home centered education because you want to raise your children aligned with your family values and worldview?
• Did you feel led to do so? Whatever your reason:
  • Focus on the long-term benefits—stronger family bonds, personalized education, and the joy of learning.
• Celebrate milestones, big and small, to keep motivation high.
• And remember WHY you started