We decided to do something fun with our last week in February, and I thought it would be great to share what we did, and all the things we learned. In short, we held a fundraiser read-a-thon. It was a great way to get my kids doing all sorts of homeschool learning, raise a little money for the classroom, and have fun while doing it. Scroll through our slideshow below for a quick, visual overview of how it went, and then scroll down for more details!

When I started homeschooling, I drew strength from other parents who had walked this path before me. I sought out advice, and read all the articles, and made friends with other families and at varying stages in the journey. There are a lot of good people who are willing to help you along the way. All you have to do is reach out.

Each state has it's own homeschool regulations (many have no regulations!) so be sure to check into what is required in your location. I live in Washington, so I will often post resources that apply to other Washingtonians, but a lot of what I share will apply to everyone, or will at least be adaptable. Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) is a great place to start learning what is required of you by law.

Once you've got that taken care of, you can take some time to research methods and curriculum, and all of the other hulabaloo.

​One of the best pieces of advice I received starting out, was to have a good mix of traditional school activities and non-traditional learning time. Whatever you choose to do, trust your instincts. There is strength in doing what's best for your family.