Tag: earnest family

Planning a Homeschool Year with Prayer. (+ Free Printable Planner Pages and Editable 2025-26 Calendar)

Planning a Homeschool Year with Prayer. (+ Free Printable Planner Pages and Editable 2025-26 Calendar)

by earnestmomblog ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

When we first began homeschooling, I earnestly believed the most important thing was finding the perfect curriculum. I spent hours and hours researching lesson plans, charts, posters, planners, etc. Overwhelming at best! But the truth is – what my homeschool really needed was not a flawless plan. It was prayer.

Prayer reminds us that God is the one leading our homeschool, not us. It shifts the focus from getting all the things done, to walking with Him and letting Him lead.

That is why this year instead of simply mapping mathematics or history timelines, I am starting with prayer and I want to remind you mama, you can start here too.

Start with praying before the planning. Before you open your planner, open your heart and ask the Lord to guide you in the process. You can ask Him:

  • What do my children need this year – not only academically but spiritually and emotionally too?
  • Where do we need to slow down? Where can we grow deeper?
  • How can our homeschool point to You, in every lesson and every day?

Next, plan with purpose and not pressure. Planning with prayer means shifting from rigid checklists to purposeful rhythms. Instead of asking, “What do we need to get through?” ask:

  • How do I want the days to feel?
  • What values do I want to weave into our learning?
  • Where can we create space for joy, rest and connection?

Be willing to change your plans. Homeschool is full of surprises. Sickness, field trips, life interruptions – God uses them all. When you plan with prayer, you give yourself freedom to adjust and trust that detours can be divine. Instead of trying to control the year, commit it to God and hold your plans loosely. (I am telling myself this daily while planning – I need to let God more than I let me!)

Dedicate your year to the Lord. Once your planner or calendar is filled – pray over them. Lay your homeschool, and the hearts of you and your children at the feet of the saviour. Ask him to lead you, teach you and let the whole year be His. Pray together before your year starts – as a whole school household. Ask him to bless your learning, conversations and growth.

Our homeschool year officially starts next week with a back to school party with fellow homeschool friends. However we always launch in August with a mini unit to get back in the school day rhythm. In planning these last few weeks, I have created a 2025-26 calendar, daily planning sheet (that I will laminate and use daily), our read aloud booklist (we are a read aloud family – curious? Check out my previous article), and a booklist sheet for each of my children.

Calendar
Daily Planner
Read Aloud Booklist
Child Booklist
Child Booklist
Child Booklist

Like what you see? You are welcome to access the Earnest Mom Homeschool Planner Bundle – FREE! Click the link, then select ‘Use template’ to open and edit your own copy in Canva. That’s it!

Remember mama, we are in this together, one Earnest (and prayerful) MOMent at a time!

Love, Earnest Mom

Earnest Echoes: How We Plan Our Summer as a Homeschool Family

Earnest Echoes: How We Plan Our Summer as a Homeschool Family

by earnestmomblog ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Originally posted 07/02/2022

Anyone else hit summer and look for ways to have some structure but not over-structure? Me. I am anyone else. Homeschool ends, and then I feel overwhelmed – “What do I do for summer?!” I want my children to feel like they are more relaxed, and to be able to differentiate from homeschool. We will not do any formal full lessons and I will give them time to be bored because boredom is not a bad thing. I do not want the summer to pass and also feel like we have done nothing.

I have three children, 12, 7 and 4. I included them in the planning and set specific goals for each day. Now these goals will not rule our whole schedule as vacations, summer camps and other events will definitely happen but we will have a loose plan for each day. I am not sure about you but by breakfast each day my kids are asking “what are we doing today?” and they are typically not satisfied with “nothing.”

Here is what our summer schedule looks like for the months of July and August. Mondays are zoo mornings (we get a membership to the local one each year), Tuesdays are pool afternoons (we have a small pop up one otherwise it would be dedicated water play outside). Wednesdays are mornings the the museum (again we have a membership to the local children’s museum but we will also explore our other museums as well). Thursdays we will visit the library and a park nearby hosts picnics in the park with family entertainment for free. Fridays are our adventure day, we will be checking a new local park or two (we will also blog and rate our experience for those local to Erie County Pennsylvania).

Using the Notability app on my iPhone I created these fun color coded calendars (I also use similar ones for our homeschool year), I then took advantage of the $0.99 magnet deal on the Shutterfly app to create magnets as a reminder for the fridge.

This helps us have an intentional and focused summer not being limited by what we plan, but if we feel like we have nothing to do it helps to have a plan already! Let me know your tricks to keep summer fun and easy for your kiddos.

x. earnest mom

Family Meetings: Creating Safe & Earnest Spaces in Your Home

Family Meetings: Creating Safe & Earnest Spaces in Your Home

by earnestmomblog ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Free Family Meeting Plan Below.

Family meetings have earnestly changed us – for the better. Over a year ago we began a practice of ‘Family Meeting’ in our home. The first Friday evening of every month is reserved for this special time together. They have become one of the most cherished and sacred rhythms of our family life.

Why family meetings matter? Children crave connection with their parents and siblings. Family meetings allow every child to have a voice. They foster unity, trust and mutual respect. Creating a safe space where your child can share their heart with you is priceless.

We have three simple goals we aim for at each family meeting. These are informal. I have not told the kids this is the goal. However, they are the main reasons why we started in the first place. First, we need to hear one another – no interrupting and each voice matters. Next, we help one another – we problem solve and support each other. Lastly, we hold safe space – use I statements (no blame), and share your heart. Tears and laughter are welcome. What we make sure we agree is that respect and kindness have to be maintained by everyone. There is nothing that we cannot get through together.

We always end the meeting with something fun. We have surprised the kids with a marshmallow shooter, sour straw roulette, and freeze dried candies. Currently, we have been trying snacks from around the world from Universal Yums – so FUN!! You get a different country every month. It comes with history, trivia, and snacks from that country. We learn and have a blast. Want to try Universal Yum? Get $5 off your first box here – not sponsored. Keeping joy and playfulness helps us grow closer, it is light and enjoyable. We find this helpful, especially if we have had a particularly heavier meeting that day. Here are some pictures of our last box, Greece.

Looking to start family meetings in your home – wonderful! Talk with your husband and children, share your heart on why family meetings are important and set the date. For your first family meeting, I highly recommend setting “ground rules” for your meetings. What is allowed, what is not and what the goal is for meeting together. Be sure to establish that it is a safe space for all, arguing and fighting not welcome. Stay honest, respectful and supportive of what each other are feeling. I like to have a notebook and take notes. At the start of the next meeting, we review the notes and make sure we are all still working together to help one another. The first few meeting may be a bit messy, and that is okay! Maybe kids are a bit resistant, that is okay too. Staying positive and consistent, keep it light and inviting. Do not hit all the heavy things in one go. We try to limit to a positive and a negative that each of us are dealing with, feeling or experiencing. That helps us stay within an hour of meeting time.

Need help getting started? Try this FREE Family Meeting Guide!

Family meetings can be more than a tool mama – they are a space for love, learning and growing bonds that will reach beyond your living room into the future relationships within your family. Try it out, use the free guide above and feel free to share what works for you guys! Already on the family meeting train? Help us with your tips and tricks in the comment below.

Remember mama, we are all in this together, one Earnest MOMent at a time.

Love, Earnest Mom.