I know I am not an expert. But my God is infinitely wise, and He has led us so wonderfully thus far. I am so blessed by all the answered prayers and all the leading and guiding He has given us for our homeschool. I am going to be so bold as to share my top 10 favorite things God has shown us.

10. Know when to make cookies (a.k.a. reading your children’s hearts)

I know many of us homeschool mothers are COMMITTED. We are committed to getting the school work done, to getting the chores done, to getting on a schedule, and managing the home, and being consistent in our child training. We get up every single day and try again, and again, and again, and again. But sometimes, we’ve just got to throw it out the window. There are days when my daughter is sick of sitting at her desk, and sick of her work books and text books. There are days when my little guy is antsy—after being so diligent for days in a row. The kids are edgy, crabby, starting to snip at each other. The chores seem so “chore-like.” That’s when it’s time to show your children you understand how they feel. Whether they are bored, tired, weary, discouraged, overwhelmed… whatever it is, you as a parent can read it, and it’s time for a break. When we hit that point, I tell my kids to put their school books up and let’s go:

Lots more here: My Top 10 Homeschooling Tips

And if you need a really simple cookbook for very young children, try this one from our site for Rod and Staff Publishers:

Not every family homeschools during the summer, which means that reading may not be on their list of priorities. However, it’s very important to keep their minds working during these summer months to make sure when school starts back in the fall they are on track and ready to learn. Here are some tips for motivating kids to read this summer:

• Combine activities with books.

• Monkey See Monkey Do.
• Relax the rules.
• Visit the library.
• Think outside the book.

To get the flesh for the tips, you’ll need to read Kelly’s whole piece. (It’s not long at all and includes some practical suggestions.)

When I first started homeschooling ten years ago, I quickly learned to depend upon the wisdom of experienced homeschooling moms. These ladies provided me with a listening ear and wise advice that proved true time after time. The longer I’ve homeschooled, the more I’ve added little nuggets to my own repertoire of wisdom. Here are the top ten things I have learned in my first ten years.

10. Invest in less curriculum and more educational toys.

9. Turn off the TV, the Internet, and all other electronic devices.

8. Don’t rush your children to read by a certain age.

7. Any time you can read aloud to your kids is time well spent.

6. Math does matter.

5. Schedule time for the things that fall by the wayside.

4. A day off will not harm your children’s education forever, and it might just be the one thing the whole family needs.

3. Homeschooling is hard.

2. Homeschooling is huge.

1. There is no perfect child, perfect home, perfect mom, or perfect family.

Source (and the rest of the story): 10 Things I’ve Learned in 10 Years of Homeschooling