This year has been a whirlwind. In February I started my journey to write a blog and share my experiences as a homeschooling mom of 3. Along the way, I got to become friends with you. We laughed, we commiserated and we learned new places to hide the chocolate from our kids. As we begin the new year, here’s a recap of the top 10 reader favorites from 2016.
The Top 10 Reader Favorites. Drumroll…
Our Charlotte Mason Tidal School
In July, I was privileged to attend the Brave Writer Retreat. Julie Bogart’s Periscopes turned our homeschool around the previous year and I was excited to not only meet her but so many friends I had made through the Brave Writer Facebook Group. After attending the retreat, I began to process my thoughts. This post is a bit of what I learned and what I discovered about myself.
Awesome Adulting
Awesome Adulting is the idea that we, as parents, should be the inspiration we want for our children.
Math: A Four Letter Word
Math was an area of great frustration in our homeschool. Letting go of the traditional mindset of teaching math helped me and the kids begin to enjoy homeschool again.
Early American History Curriculum – Over 20 Free Resources & Printables
The number one reason I homeschool is to enrich my children’s education. Mostly, this is accomplished through “fieldschooling” or taking lots of field trips. I wanted the kids to visit some historical places like Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown. So, I created an American History curriculum around our trip. There are a ton of resources listed and several are free.
Adulting: It’s Hard
One of my early posts was about Power Differentials and dealing with anger. This post came from the heart as I talked about how I felt like a failure as a mom. Those days are hard.
The Secret Garden Book Club
This was my very first post. The Secret Garden Book Club was also our very first book club. This one day created a “party school” atmosphere in our homeschool that has continued on throughout many more book club meetings. The kids have become best friends and we have come to anticipate every book club with excitement.
How I Organize Our Books Using Homeschool Tracker
Ana Willis at They Call Me Blessed has perfected the Blog Party. This post came out of the third blog party I worked on with her in the 10 Days of Homeschool Organization party.
6 Reasons Why Kids Should Learn to Do Their Own Laundry
In September I was asked to join an amazing group of bloggers at iHomeschool Network. I am thrilled to be in the company of so many fantastic homeschool mommas. This was the first post I linked up with them.
Nature Study Backpacks
Last August the family hopped in the car and drove to the gorgeous beaches of North Carolina to join Hip Homeschool Moms on their first field trip. This trip was unbelievable! We had so much fun, met some fantastic homeschool families and became fast friends with the owners (and hippest homeschool moms). But, before we left, we packed up our new Nature Study Backpacks. They were so easy to use and helpful that we have continued to use them on all our nature hikes.
And Your Favorite Post from 2016…
A Day in the Life of a Homeschooler: Toddler Edition
As the title so aptly put it, this is a day in our life while babysitting a toddler. Anyone with children over the age of 2 can relate to this story, as many of you did.
It has been my honor this year to be able to share our life with you. Thank you for joining me in our homeschooling journey and if you’re new to Hide The Chocolate, enter your email below so you don’t miss a post. Here’s to another fabulous year!
Hi, I’m Dachelle. I’m a homeschooling mom of 3 in the South. I love chocolate and have been known to hide it from my children. I can often be found reading a good book (or even sometimes just an okay book) and enjoying a jar of Nutella — don’t judge. I blog, here, at HideTheChocolate.com when I’m not creating book clubs and making lists…lots and lots of lists (it’s an addiction). Learn more…
These look great! I’ll have to take a look at the nature study backpacks!
Thanks, Susan. The backpacks are terrific to just grab and go. We take them to the river and the park quite a bit.
Pinning a bunch of these! I LOVE books with activities given like your Secret Garden post and I LOVE Homeschool Tracker!
Thanks, Heidi! Homeschool Tracker has saved me so much time. It is worth every dime.
Loved your day in the Life post and your nature backpacks! It’s always fun to see what your readers enjoyed most, isn’t it?
It is! Apparently my readers like living my pain. 😉
Great line-up! My Day in the Life was one of my top posts too!
Oh, I love going through these top 10 posts & remembering awesome content!! So many great posts here, Dachelle! I’m so happy you started blogging & sharing your experiences with us:)
Thanks, Amy! I’m so glad I’ve been able to connect with you and all the Rock Your Homeschool gals this year!
Dachelle, I’m so glad you linked up this post on the Hip Homeschool Hop! Since we’ve only known each other for a few months, it’s fun reading about your life and your homeschool. 🙂 You’ve shared some great posts here!!
Thanks, Wendy! And, thanks for running the Hop!
I hide my chocolate in my bathroom pantry. 🙂 I’m also a homeschool mom of 3, and 10 was the magic, do-your-own-laundry age in our house. If kids can operate the tv remote or a game controller, they can operate the laundry knobs, right?!
Thanks for linking up with Literacy Musing Mondays!
Nice to meet a fellow chocolate hoarder! And, yes, they can run sophisticated electronics, so they can definitely run a washing machine.