Welcome to the final day of the 5 Days of Homeschooling Essentials! If you missed any of the posts, you can find ALL of the 5 Days of Homeschooling Essentials here.

Although homeschooling is becoming more common, there are still many naysayers out there and many others that just don’t understand. Sometimes we are faced with negative remarks from family members or those that mean well but just don’t “get it.” That is why it is essential to take everything you hear with a grain of salt.
Some common remarks most homeschoolers may hear at one point or another:
“What about socialization?” (This is almost guaranteed.)
“Aren’t you afraid they’ll fall behind?” or a similar question referring to your “ability” to homeschool your children.
You may be accused of “sheltering” your children, pushing religion on your children, or even for “doing nothing” all day. It’s important to keep in mind that most people just don’t know. I know it’s hard, but you really must take it with a grain of salt or there are a lot of things that could really bring you down. Don’t let them! You have legitimate reasons for homeschooling. You want the best for your children, and you offer the best for your children.
I have some really witty comments for socialization and some real-life facts about how homeschooling is NOT contradictory to “socializing” children but rather more realistic because they are learning in the “real world” versus learning in a room full of same-age children, which isn’t realistic to life by any means! When was the last time YOU were in an environment with 20 other people around the same age as you? If you went to public or private school – that is probably the last time you were! Even colleges are so diverse that it isn’t likely! My favorite line is “I socialize my dog. I educate my children.” Ha!
Most of the time, though? I just take it with a grain of salt and say nothing. Why bother? I know we’re doing what is best for our children – what God is calling us to do – educate our children. It doesn’t matter what others say. What matters is that we’re following God’s Will for our family. Most of the time it’s best to just take it with a grain of salt and move on. Don’t let it get to you or bring you down. Focus on your reason and let it go in one ear and out the other.
Have you encountered these type of comments? Do you find it easy to take them with a grain of salt or slightly difficult?
89 Bloggers from the Schoolhouse Review Crew shared their Homeschooling Essentials this week as well! Don’t forget to hop around and read some of the other Homeschooling Essentials posts from them as well! I know you’ll be blessed!
Here are just a few of the great participating blogs:
Shalynne @ Wonderfully Chaotic
Jody @ Because I’m Me
Melanie @ A Year of Jubilee Reviews
Nikki @ Angels of Heart
Sara @ Embracing Destiny
Heather @ Only Passionate Curiosity
Jennifer @ Simblissity Cottage
Kathy @ Kathys Cluttered Mind
Annette @ A Net in Time
Head over to check out all of the participating bloggers! Click on the button below for more!

Welcome to Day 4 of the “5 Days of Homeschooling Essentials” Blog Hop! It has been awesome to see what other homeschoolers consider essential to their homeschool. With 89 bloggers participating I know there is going to be amazing variety!
A good printer and copier is something I realized was a homeschooling essential after the one we had started having problems. I relied on it so much to both print curriculum from my computer as well as copy curriculum (that is permissible for printing).
I was doing A LOT of printing, so I knew I needed something better. I needed to analyze what would be the best. We determined that a higher quality 3-in-one printer would be best. So we invested in a higher quality printer.

It can easily print double sided. In fact, it flips the paper itself, which means I can set it to print and then continue working with the kids on something else as it is printing and not have to worry about flipping paper! This, of course, also saves on the amount of paper we use!
It also has the option to use larger printer cartridges that really last! We have only had to replace them once in almost a year! With the cost of printer ink and the number of pages I print, that is a really big deal! I have been much happier with how long the ink lasts! With our previous printer I was changing the cartridges at least every 3 months – if not sooner.
The copy function is really easy to use. I can copy by using the scanner or feed it through the top. Feeding it through the top also gives me the ability to “set it and forget it.” I can put the papers in and set it to copy and and walk away and do whatever else I need to get done!
As an added bonus it can also print pre-made worksheets! It has really enhanced our homeschool, and is definitely an essential!
We have the HP Officejet Pro 8600 Plus, and I have really been so happy with it!

Be sure to check out all my 5 Days of Homeschooling Essentials! Don’t forget this is a blog hop, so be sure to read the other great posts as well! There are 89 bloggers participating and a wide variety of posts! So set aside some reading time and get hopping!
Here are just a few of the great participating blogs:
Shalynne @ Wonderfully Chaotic
Jody @ Because I’m Me
Melanie @ A Year of Jubilee Reviews
Nikki @ Angels of Heart
Sara @ Embracing Destiny
Heather @ Only Passionate Curiosity
Jennifer @ Simblissity Cottage
Kathy @ Kathys Cluttered Mind
Annette @ A Net in Time
I invite you to check out all of the participating bloggers! Click on the button below for more!

Welcome to Day 2 of the 5 Days of Homeschooling Essentials! If you missed Day 1, you can find ALL of the 5 Days of Homeschooling Essentials here.

The homeschooling life with three special needs children plus a mom with a chronic pain condition and Sensory Processing Disorder as well can be rather “interesting.” There are days when our youngest has a meltdown, which trickles to the other two, and eventually I’m emotionally exhausted as well! There are also days when my Fibro flares up, and it hurts to sit let alone stand and do a lot of hands-on activities! It’s days like those I’m particularly grateful to incorporate computers into our homeschooling!
Our kids are young (ages 3, 6, and 7), and there really isn’t a lot of hands-on work they can do by themselves. Plus I enjoy doing the hands-on work with them and might even have a hard time giving up that habit when they get a little older and might want to do more work independently. Independent work is also nice because it gives me a chance to have more one-on-one time with one of the other kids or even get some housework done if needed! Having both of our oldest kids on the computers at the same time has really helped when it comes to unpacking from our move (which I’m STILL doing!). On the hard days, it also gives us a little break. Time to breathe. It’s feels more relaxed yet they are still learning! It’s really a wonderful blessing!
So what do they DO on the computer? Well, they both are working on reading with Reading Kingdom, which is a program they do regularly regardless of the type of day we’re having. They work on Splash Math and IXL for math and Language Arts. Plus our oldest is also taking an Introduction to Programming Course through Tynker (which is one I actually have to sit in on with him) and is learning typing through Keyboard Classroom.

If the wealth of programs we have available to us on the computer isn’t enough we also use it to watch different learning DVDs or interesting videos or pictures I find online that correlates to something we’re learning. I also print off lessons from various curricula that use PDFs rather than physical books. This is becoming VERY common, and it’s appealing because it saves on costs and shipping costs. Plus, most curriculum that is purchased and received via PDF allows us to print off many copies, and I can use them for all three children. Many physical books have a copyright that doesn’t allow reprinting of the material. Sometimes I need extra just because they need more practice!
The computer also connects me to other homeschooling moms that I wouldn’t otherwise know and be able to exchange knowledge, tips, support, and even friendship! This has been a blessing beyond words. I am able to see what works for some and what doesn’t and make better decisions for our own homeschool based on this knowledge. I’ve also been able to find so many FREE resources through these connections!
Look for and bookmark 5 Days of Homeschooling Essentials so you don’t miss my other posts! Don’t forget to hop around and read some of the other Homeschooling Essentials posts from the other bloggers as well! This is your chance to meet some of those great connections as well! I know you’ll be blessed!
Here are just a few of the great participating blogs:
Shalynne @ Wonderfully Chaotic
Jody @ Because I’m Me
Melanie @ A Year of Jubilee Reviews
Nikki @ Angels of Heart
Sara @ Embracing Destiny
Heather @ Only Passionate Curiosity
Jennifer @ Simblissity Cottage
Kathy @ Kathys Cluttered Mind
Annette @ A Net in Time
Head over to check out all of the participating bloggers! Click on the button below for more!