YES! We are new to homeschooling and I love watching reviews! I watched one video of a woman explaining how she stopped using a very popular curriculum and after she explained why it didn't work for her, I ordered it because it was EXACTLY what we needed!!
I agree! I feel odd sometimes because I don't change curriculum around much. It makes my head spin to jump around so much🙃 Lol. Thanks for sharing your tips!
So true, I know a mom who was excited about her decision to homeschool and when she started researching curriculum she changed her mind. So sad, it could be overwhelming for sure. I know I was but moms here on YT were a blessing
Hi Ashlee, I haven’t watched in a while but thought I’d have a look at your channel and saw this video and this is your best one yet! You have been such an encouragement and this video really helped to speak to me. God revealed a lot
Thank you for the reminder to not fix what isn't broke! I've been trying to figure things out for next year and getting so overwhelmed. Love your advice to set aside the things that work!
I'm so glad one of your points was prayer! 🙏🏾So much money can be saved if some families would submit their plans/intentions to the Lord. God gave me direction on what curriculums to use for what subjects for my family and I'm so thankful that I didn't have to go through multiple curriculum changes. Now when I buy stuff I buy the consumables for all 3 of my kids. Saves me money and time! Thanks for sharing!❤️
Yes! and I for one am so thankful how you do your youtube and show how you homeschool so others can see. Ive said before I learned to homeschool through watching you and as i am about to go into our third year ( wow its crazy to say that) I am learning whats working and whats not.
Making a change next year and going family style for science and history. I am just like you and don’t like switching just because. Each of my kids have always just done their level of those subjects the last few years and I have made it work but this year the making it work was just way more than I ever thought it could be. After looking around at family style I started to realize just how badly we needed that change to smooth out some of the bumps we were experiencing. So thankful for Mom’s like you who put out content for other moms to check things out without having to buy it all just to see it all 😁
Great questions to access what’s working and what is not. I agree with you and I definitely stuck with one curriculum if it was working so there weren’t holes by jumping around to different curriculum each year. Great advise! 😊
Agree with the need for consistency. My kids thrive on it. I try and only change one major subject per year unless there is just a major issue. Last year we were at a switching point and changed 2 and man it was a lot to research and choose and I felt like I expended so much time and brain power on it but now we are back in a groove and not having to change a lot.
I completely agree! Don’t change something unless it’s not working anymore or your child needs something different. Stick with things as much as possible. It’s helped my daughter become very independent. 🥰 I just ordered my Sonlight Core today and then I’m done shopping for next school year! 🤩🤩 I still love learning about curriculum, even if I have no plans to change things. 🥰
Yes, girl! I've already purchased our next set of curriculum and watched just for fun- but a video like this is so helpful for those just starting ❤️ Looking forward to seeing what you guys will be using!
Great video! Prayer is so important because there are many things out there that we may not agree with or that may not align with Gods word... .that is why we mainly homeschool
First two years of homeschooling I felt like I was hopping around with curriculum. We are finishing up our third year now, and I can finally say we found most of the curriculum that works for us as a family and individuals. Going forward I find myself having the same thought process as you mentioned in this video.. I look forward to seeing what you have chosen for your upcoming year especially for your high schooler.
We are winding down our 8th year of homeschooling and I'm just now this year Truly understand and seeing fruit of CONSISTENCY....I flip flopped a LOT over the years , this year I still had a couple issues but once we became consistent with both our schedule And our resources, I really saw the beauty and benefit of it for all of us, and the learning and growth ❤
I really enjoy your logic in how you select and stay with tried and true curriculum choices. This is our 1st yr and I had been chasing curricula, but have found our grove and will be sticking with what works! ☺️
The only thing we're planning to change up this year is our science. With a 4 year old, 2 year old, and 9 month old, we've found what we've been using a little too wordy (they'll be 5, 3, and 1 later this year). We're still using Masterbooks, but just going with Design for Life instead of Adventures in Creation.
First year of homeschool, and first year using TGATB. I can honestly say we have had an amazing year. I didn't think I could do it. I have three boys 3,6, and 9. I was able to combine my 6 and 9 year old for the same year curriculum as my oldest is slightly behind and my 6 year old is very advanced. It has worked surprisingly well. Plan to do the same thing next year.
I totally understand this video. This was my first year homeschooling. I have a 9th grade and a 6th grade. Most of what I chose for my 6th grader worked very well. My highschooler, on the other hand, will need the overhaul. I have discovered that he and I just don't do well with me being in a teacher role. I'm hoping to look for an online program for alot ifngis subjects and I'll still be doing things like Bible. It has been really hard on our relationship. I'm not gonna throw the towel in yet, but homeschooling for high-school is no joke.
Starting preschool this year with my oldest, I’m on for a journey and excited! TGTB is releasing so many exciting things for preschool so it’s very exciting, can’t wait to combine the preschool with their science !! ❤️ thanks for the great advice
I'm starting as a new homeschooler next year (Kinder and 1st grade) and the way I picked our curriculum was to go out to a homeschool outlet or consignment store and sit down to flip through the curriculum books. It has to be easy for me to comprehend (since I'm teaching it), it has to be straight to the point, and it has to be enjoyable. We don't have time to waste on fluff. I already had the idea of using Abeka LA, Handwriting, Social Studies, and Arithmetic because it's what my kids were already exposed to in private school, so I know it works for all of us. Stick to what has worked. I already know that NotGrass will be our future 3rd grade Social Studies and Teaching Textbooks online curriculum will be our future 3rd grade Math moving forward. Masterbooks will also be our Science for the first few years, flipping through it I saw it was engaging, simple to follow, packed with great information, and I think it'll be our favorite subject.
I’m researching homeschooling (planning to start this upcoming school year) but I don’t even know where to start?!? How do you know what your kids needs are at the beginning? I will have a 10th grader and 7th…. Overwhelmed and scared! Lol
We have a really good flow this year and probably won’t be changing much. I took lots of notes while watching because you had some great questions. I see lots of prayer and discernment in the near future about what we may add.
Absolutely!! I change very little. I add things if I feel as though we need more in a certain area. We use TGATB for language arts, I felt as though they needed a little more grammar and got Fix It Grammar with IEW. That has worked out really well for us. For math we use Math U See which I love and will use through high school but one of my children was struggling some so we incorporated the new TGATB math along with doing Math U See. Things have clicked by doing this and she is doing great! I have never liked the idea of just changing a curriculum because something else is new and looks prettier.
This is definitely something I have learned the hard way… changing curriculum too much. Especially with math and LA. And when I did that I created holes in my children’s education. Just because it new and pretty is not the reason to change it. 😬
I did homeschool through the 90’s. We did abeka videos and the seatwork. We started that with my oldest, and by 1st grade we knew this was not for us! We do abeka k-5, and then TGTB after that, for writing math and language arts
Ashlee, thank you for this amazing video. I have been in a place of extreme anxiety about homeschooling. We are in the midst of year 3, but I constantly feel that what I am doing is not enough and that something better is out there if I can just find it. I forget to stop and pray about the curriculum. I forget to realize WHY I am doing this and that the curriculum is just a tool. I am working on my mission statement/spiritual goal for my homeschool. However, I am missing the deep personal connection with God myself to be able to move forward the way that I want. Do you have any book or Bible study recommendations for a mom that has been a lifelong Christian but wants to really deepen my personal relationship. It’s needed so I can model that for my son.
I absolutely Love your videos!!! Thoughts on Apologia Science? We live TGATB and that we can do family style but we’ve done a lot of them and I will have a 4th, 6th, and kindergartner next year so I am wondering if I should get something a bit more. Love your hear your thoughts!
I have a really random question. Have you ever considered the Abeka online program? If so, why or why not? I’ve just found it so overwhelming to homeschool with a toddler and I’m looking into some options to take some of the pressure off of me during the day.
Thank you for reminding me to stay the course when something is working. I'm my 9th year and still have a tendency to be tormented by the Shiney mew things. I am a work progress. Of its working,, stay with it.. Also, I tried to order Built and upon checkout the code says its invalid for my products? I am ordering the mixed box and the puffs you suggested. Any ideas why it might not be working?
This is great advice! I’m excited to review our year, it was a difficult one because my mom passed away in mid-September 😢 but thankfully we had joined a new co-op for science and language arts and it was such a blessing and good support system! I’m writing some literature-based unit studies for history that I am excited to use for next year. This year we used my literature-based Oklahoma state history and have loved it! The field trips have been so fun and the highlight of our year for sure
I'm sorry to hear about your mom passing. Mine also passed away this past December. Thankfully, I know she is in Heaven and is safe and taken care of, but I still miss her terribly. She was a one of a kind woman and a wonderful mother. :) This also made our homeschooling year rather difficult.
I am sorry about your mom as well. I wanted to say also that I live in Oklahoma and just tried to cobble together a literature-based history curriculum but would have loved to have yours as a resource, especially if there were some first-hand accounts of the land run, trail(s) of tears, etc. Too late for me, but I wish you the best with it!
@@MrsDoubleDW now we are using BJU English for 3rd and 8th, we are switching both kids to TGTB and just adding enforcements of EIW for her. We will omit the larger writing assignments in TGTB since she will also do EIW, just giving her some more tools since she will be in 9th and needing more structure to her learning style.
I hope you pray about the Harry Potter books too!!! And look into the author deeply! Look into the meaning of her tattoo alone and you will see it isn't good at all
This is my go to video now!!!! Second or third time watching it so far to ensure my reasons for changing something is justified and beneficial.
Such a timely video for me! 🥰 Thank you for doing the video!
YES! We are new to homeschooling and I love watching reviews! I watched one video of a woman explaining how she stopped using a very popular curriculum and after she explained why it didn't work for her, I ordered it because it was EXACTLY what we needed!!
What was it? Curious. Lol
Great tips! Thanks Ashlee ❤️
I agree! I feel odd sometimes because I don't change curriculum around much. It makes my head spin to jump around so much🙃 Lol. Thanks for sharing your tips!
I completely agree with your thoughts on switching curriculums and the consistency!
I know the Lord led me here bc I wasn’t even searching for this 😭 learned so much!
So true, I know a mom who was excited about her decision to homeschool and when she started researching curriculum she changed her mind. So sad, it could be overwhelming for sure. I know I was but moms here on YT were a blessing
Hi Ashlee, I haven’t watched in a while but thought I’d have a look at your channel and saw this video and this is your best one yet! You have been such an encouragement and this video really helped to speak to me. God revealed a lot
Thank you for the reminder to not fix what isn't broke! I've been trying to figure things out for next year and getting so overwhelmed. Love your advice to set aside the things that work!
Love love love this! Agree 💯% Thank you so much for sharing Ashlee.
Yes!!! Right now Is the most helpful time to post curriculum videos.
I'm so glad one of your points was prayer! 🙏🏾So much money can be saved if some families would submit their plans/intentions to the Lord.
God gave me direction on what curriculums to use for what subjects for my family and I'm so thankful that I didn't have to go through multiple curriculum changes. Now when I buy stuff I buy the consumables for all 3 of my kids. Saves me money and time!
Thanks for sharing!❤️
Yes! and I for one am so thankful how you do your youtube and show how you homeschool so others can see. Ive said before I learned to homeschool through watching you and as i am about to go into our third year ( wow its crazy to say that) I am learning whats working and whats not.
This was sooooo good! Thank you so much for emphasizing the importance of prayer in making curriculum decisions! Have a great week!
💫I love seeing what others are using and sharing online helps making those decisions so thank you☺
Making a change next year and going family style for science and history. I am just like you and don’t like switching just because. Each of my kids have always just done their level of those subjects the last few years and I have made it work but this year the making it work was just way more than I ever thought it could be. After looking around at family style I started to realize just how badly we needed that change to smooth out some of the bumps we were experiencing. So thankful for Mom’s like you who put out content for other moms to check things out without having to buy it all just to see it all 😁
Love this video! Wonderful reminders & many great tips!!
Glad it was helpful!
Great questions to access what’s working and what is not. I agree with you and I definitely stuck with one curriculum if it was working so there weren’t holes by jumping around to different curriculum each year. Great advise! 😊
Thank you!
I agree! Having a goal in mind helped me choose curriculum for my kids and my homeschool goals.
Agree with the need for consistency. My kids thrive on it. I try and only change one major subject per year unless there is just a major issue. Last year we were at a switching point and changed 2 and man it was a lot to research and choose and I felt like I expended so much time and brain power on it but now we are back in a groove and not having to change a lot.
I completely agree! Don’t change something unless it’s not working anymore or your child needs something different. Stick with things as much as possible. It’s helped my daughter become very independent. 🥰 I just ordered my Sonlight Core today and then I’m done shopping for next school year! 🤩🤩 I still love learning about curriculum, even if I have no plans to change things. 🥰
I change to find right one. Now I do not change because what we have is work but I do add stuff over the years.
Yes, girl! I've already purchased our next set of curriculum and watched just for fun- but a video like this is so helpful for those just starting ❤️ Looking forward to seeing what you guys will be using!
Thanks for watching!
Great video! Prayer is so important because there are many things out there that we may not agree with or that may not align with Gods word... .that is why we mainly homeschool
First two years of homeschooling I felt like I was hopping around with curriculum. We are finishing up our third year now, and I can finally say we found most of the curriculum that works for us as a family and individuals. Going forward I find myself having the same thought process as you mentioned in this video.. I look forward to seeing what you have chosen for your upcoming year especially for your high schooler.
We are winding down our 8th year of homeschooling and I'm just now this year Truly understand and seeing fruit of CONSISTENCY....I flip flopped a LOT over the years , this year I still had a couple issues but once we became consistent with both our schedule And our resources, I really saw the beauty and benefit of it for all of us,
and the learning and growth ❤
I really enjoy your logic in how you select and stay with tried and true curriculum choices. This is our 1st yr and I had been chasing curricula, but have found our grove and will be sticking with what works! ☺️
The only thing we're planning to change up this year is our science. With a 4 year old, 2 year old, and 9 month old, we've found what we've been using a little too wordy (they'll be 5, 3, and 1 later this year). We're still using Masterbooks, but just going with Design for Life instead of Adventures in Creation.
Appreciate you, Ashley. Thanks for all that you share.
First year of homeschool, and first year using TGATB. I can honestly say we have had an amazing year. I didn't think I could do it. I have three boys 3,6, and 9. I was able to combine my 6 and 9 year old for the same year curriculum as my oldest is slightly behind and my 6 year old is very advanced. It has worked surprisingly well. Plan to do the same thing next year.
I totally understand this video. This was my first year homeschooling. I have a 9th grade and a 6th grade. Most of what I chose for my 6th grader worked very well. My highschooler, on the other hand, will need the overhaul. I have discovered that he and I just don't do well with me being in a teacher role. I'm hoping to look for an online program for alot ifngis subjects and I'll still be doing things like Bible. It has been really hard on our relationship. I'm not gonna throw the towel in yet, but homeschooling for high-school is no joke.
Great advice as always! Your channel is truly a blessing
I like your approach. It's a waste of time overhauling every year and the children pick up on the uncettainty.
Yes I start to look at next years curriculum in March/April.
Starting preschool this year with my oldest, I’m on for a journey and excited! TGTB is releasing so many exciting things for preschool so it’s very exciting, can’t wait to combine the preschool with their science !! ❤️ thanks for the great advice
This is so incredibly helpful. Thank you so much!
So glad!
Good advice Ashlee!! I wish built bar was more affordable here in 🇨🇦!
Love it! Those questions are so great to evaluate curriculum. I’m excited to see what you’ll be using next year!
I'm starting as a new homeschooler next year (Kinder and 1st grade) and the way I picked our curriculum was to go out to a homeschool outlet or consignment store and sit down to flip through the curriculum books. It has to be easy for me to comprehend (since I'm teaching it), it has to be straight to the point, and it has to be enjoyable. We don't have time to waste on fluff. I already had the idea of using Abeka LA, Handwriting, Social Studies, and Arithmetic because it's what my kids were already exposed to in private school, so I know it works for all of us. Stick to what has worked. I already know that NotGrass will be our future 3rd grade Social Studies and Teaching Textbooks online curriculum will be our future 3rd grade Math moving forward. Masterbooks will also be our Science for the first few years, flipping through it I saw it was engaging, simple to follow, packed with great information, and I think it'll be our favorite subject.
I’m researching homeschooling (planning to start this upcoming school year) but I don’t even know where to start?!? How do you know what your kids needs are at the beginning? I will have a 10th grader and 7th…. Overwhelmed and scared! Lol
We have a really good flow this year and probably won’t be changing much. I took lots of notes while watching because you had some great questions. I see lots of prayer and discernment in the near future about what we may add.
Absolutely!! I change very little. I add things if I feel as though we need more in a certain area. We use TGATB for language arts, I felt as though they needed a little more grammar and got Fix It Grammar with IEW. That has worked out really well for us. For math we use Math U See which I love and will use through high school but one of my children was struggling some so we incorporated the new TGATB math along with doing Math U See. Things have clicked by doing this and she is doing great!
I have never liked the idea of just changing a curriculum because something else is new and looks prettier.
This is definitely something I have learned the hard way… changing curriculum too much. Especially with math and LA. And when I did that I created holes in my children’s education. Just because it new and pretty is not the reason to change it. 😬
I totally agree!
I did homeschool through the 90’s. We did abeka videos and the seatwork. We started that with my oldest, and by 1st grade we knew this was not for us!
We do abeka k-5, and then TGTB after that, for writing math and language arts
Ashlee, thank you for this amazing video. I have been in a place of extreme anxiety about homeschooling. We are in the midst of year 3, but I constantly feel that what I am doing is not enough and that something better is out there if I can just find it.
I forget to stop and pray about the curriculum. I forget to realize WHY I am doing this and that the curriculum is just a tool.
I am working on my mission statement/spiritual goal for my homeschool. However, I am missing the deep personal connection with God myself to be able to move forward the way that I want. Do you have any book or Bible study recommendations for a mom that has been a lifelong Christian but wants to really deepen my personal relationship. It’s needed so I can model that for my son.
Great advice
I absolutely Love your videos!!! Thoughts on Apologia Science? We live TGATB and that we can do family style but we’ve done a lot of them and I will have a 4th, 6th, and kindergartner next year so I am wondering if I should get something a bit more. Love your hear your thoughts!
I have a really random question. Have you ever considered the Abeka online program? If so, why or why not? I’ve just found it so overwhelming to homeschool with a toddler and I’m looking into some options to take some of the pressure off of me during the day.
I have not Abeka never appealed to me.
Thank you for reminding me to stay the course when something is working. I'm my 9th year and still have a tendency to be tormented by the Shiney mew things. I am a work progress. Of its working,, stay with it.. Also, I tried to order Built and upon checkout the code says its invalid for my products? I am ordering the mixed box and the puffs you suggested. Any ideas why it might not be working?
apparently since things are on sale right now, creator coupons dont stack
Are built bars dairy free? I’d love to try them if so! Great video 💗
they are not.
@@GraceandGrit thanks
This is great advice! I’m excited to review our year, it was a difficult one because my mom passed away in mid-September 😢 but thankfully we had joined a new co-op for science and language arts and it was such a blessing and good support system! I’m writing some literature-based unit studies for history that I am excited to use for next year. This year we used my literature-based Oklahoma state history and have loved it! The field trips have been so fun and the highlight of our year for sure
I'm sorry to hear about your mom passing. Mine also passed away this past December. Thankfully, I know she is in Heaven and is safe and taken care of, but I still miss her terribly. She was a one of a kind woman and a wonderful mother. :) This also made our homeschooling year rather difficult.
I am sorry about your mom as well.
I wanted to say also that I live in Oklahoma and just tried to cobble together a literature-based history curriculum but would have loved to have yours as a resource, especially if there were some first-hand accounts of the land run, trail(s) of tears, etc. Too late for me, but I wish you the best with it!
I am so sorry to hear about your loss! Let me know when you get my state done, I’d love to do that in the future 😅
Awesome info! Thanks again! We are switching up this year, TGTB Lang Arts here we come :)
Just curious, what were you using for LA?
My daughter did really well with TGAB language arts. My son, (9th grade), has not done well with the highschool units at all unfortunately.
@@MrsDoubleDW now we are using BJU English for 3rd and 8th, we are switching both kids to TGTB and just adding enforcements of EIW for her. We will omit the larger writing assignments in TGTB since she will also do EIW, just giving her some more tools since she will be in 9th and needing more structure to her learning style.
I hope you pray about the Harry Potter books too!!! And look into the author deeply! Look into the meaning of her tattoo alone and you will see it isn't good at all
I have, thank you for your concern.