Tools for the Homeschool Handy-Mom

At DIY Homeschooler we provide encouragement and resources to those homeschool handy-moms paving their own way — solutions to help you “do-it-yourself” when it comes to tutoring your children.

Get Started Homeschooling

We believe that learning is a lifelong endeavor. Therefore, we favor the natural methods of educating. Some of the elements of natural learning include: Continue reading “Get Started Homeschooling”Continue reading “Get Started Homeschooling”

Featured

10 Ways to Use Notebooking

10 Ways to Use Notebooking {Complete Series}

We love notebooking! What is more inspiring than a child creating his own booklet, or a student compiling his own…

2Feb 201729 Jan 2023

10 Ways to Overcome the February Blahs!

10 Ways to Overcome the February Blahs!

Are you hoping spring blossoms a little early this year? Perhaps it is the letdown after the holidays. Maybe it’s…

2Feb 201229 Jan 2023

Groundhog Day: A Unit Study

Groundhog Day: A Unit Study

Every child knows the basics of Groundhog Day. On February 2, the groundhog peeks out of his hole to decide…

How to Tell Stories to Children ~ Free eBook

24 Oct 202225 Oct 2022

Sara Cone Bryant wrote children's books in the 1900s, but among her best-known works are those that encourage storytelling. We covered her Stories to Tell to Children; this time we'll…

Online Poetry Anthology

“Poor Voter on Election Day” by Whittier

20 Oct 202224 Oct 2022

The proudest now is but my peer,The highest not more high;To-day, of all the weary year,A king of men am I.To-day, alike are great and small,The nameless and the known;My…

Activity: Filling Out A Form

19 Oct 202219 Oct 2022

It is one of those life skills we homeschool moms don't want to forget. Before they leave home, our children will need to know how to correctly fill out forms!…

Stories to Tell to Children ~ Free eBook

17 Oct 202218 Oct 2022

Sara Cone Bryant wrote children's books in the 1900s, but among her best-known works are those that encourage storytelling. Stories to Tell to Children not only includes a list of…

Online Poetry Anthology

“To a Waterfowl” by Bryant

13 Oct 202211 Oct 2022

Whither, 'midst falling dew,While glow the heavens with the last steps of dayFar, through their rosy depths, dost thou pursueThy solitary way? Vainly the fowler's eyeMight mark thy distant flight…

How-To

5 Tips for Teaching Writing

12 Oct 202212 Oct 2022

You have your children writing something every day. Great! Now let's refine the process. Here our five tips for teaching writing. First, we really don't "teach" writing. This is one…

The Worst Jokes I Know ~ On Sale

10 Oct 202218 Oct 2022

The Worst Jokes I Know (and I Know A Lot) by B. Patrick Lincoln is a collection of "101 Plus Funny Bone Ticklers for Jokesters of All Ages" that answers…

100 Best Books for Children ~ Andersen

6 Oct 202211 Oct 2022

Up first on The Hundred Best Books for Children list found in The Book-lover by James Baldwin is Andersen's fairy tales. Andersen's Fairy Stories Hans Christian Andersen was a Danish…

Write Something Every Day ~ New Book

5 Oct 202215 Oct 2022

We are excited to announce the release of our first book — Write Something Every Day: 366 Pencil Sharpeners for Students of Writing. One of the best pieces of advice…

Ducks at a Distance ~ Free eBook

3 Oct 202226 Sep 2022

Identifying waterflowl is easiest in the fall and winter seasons. Here is a free guide to make identification easier — Ducks at a Distance: A Waterfowl Identification Guide by Bob…

Tools

Things to Do in October 2022

29 Sep 202226 Sep 2022

We have updated our October learning calendar for 2022. The reality of fall begins to shine in October when we enjoy leaves, pumpkins, spice, and all that is nice. Our…

Liberty Bell 7 ~ Free Rocket Unit

28 Sep 202228 Sep 2022

Free unit study for grades 4–8 covering rockets, space flight, and astronauts! This free 27-page download from the Children's Museum of Indianapolis is based on the flight of Liberty Bell…

Aldine Speller ~ Free eBooks

26 Sep 202226 Sep 2022

We've covered spelling quite a bit. The main key to spelling is simply to focus on spelling. A student will be unlikely to remember how to spell words outside of…

The Hundred Best Books for Children ~ Introduction

22 Sep 202221 Sep 2022

Back in 1884, The Book-Lover by James Baldwin was published. Baldwin was a teacher, author, and Editor-in-Chief for American Book Company (a large textbook publishing company in the late 1800s).…

The Land of Fair Play ~ Free eBook

19 Sep 202222 Sep 2022

The Land of Fair Play by Geoffrey Parsons is a free public domain civics text for students in the middle grades. This great resource likens the running of government to…

Free Science Studies ~ Updated

15 Sep 202215 Sep 2022

We are nearly finished giving our free science studies a much needed update! These 16 lessons correspond to the popular book Great Inventors & Their Inventions by Frank P. Bachman.…

Country Lapbook ~ Free

14 Sep 202215 Sep 2022

Homeschool handy-moms are always on the lookout for tools that make learning fun — and stick! When it comes to geography, this can be a challenge. Is that the capital…

Tools

Things to Do: September 2022

31 Aug 20222 Sep 2022

We have updated our September learning calendar for 2022. September brings a fresh start — from the points on our pencils to the smell of new crayons. So we have…

Common Trees ~ Free eBook

29 Aug 202229 Aug 2022

Common Trees of Pennsylvania is a public domain (free) eBook published by the Department of Environmental Resources in Pennsylvania in 1971. DIY homeschool moms will find it a gem because…

Tools

Ready to Apply Bloom’s Taxonomy?

25 Aug 202222 Aug 2022

Most of us realize that we want our children and students to be able to reap more from their education than basic facts. In fact, the only education a child…

Popcorn Teaching Guide ~ Free

24 Aug 202222 Aug 2022

As summer wraps up, it is always nice to ease back into a homeschool routine. One way to do this is to keep learning interesting and fun, while gradually requiring…

Mother Carey’s Chickens ~ Free eBook

22 Aug 202222 Aug 2022

Looking for a great read-aloud? Here it is: Mother Carey's Chickens by Kate Douglas Wiggin is a family favorite. It was Captain Carey's favorite Admiral who was responsible for the…

Free History Studies ~ Updated

18 Aug 202218 Aug 2022

We have updated our free history studies covering Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans by Edward Eggleston. This free public domain title is a great introduction to history for…

Tools

10 Favorite Tools {2021–2022}

15 Aug 202215 Aug 2022

Ten reader-favorite DIY Homeschooler tools from the archives: 1. 7 Thanksgiving Stories {Free Downloads} 2. 8 Places to Find Children’s Books in the Public Domain 3. 10 Bible Reading Plans…

The DIY Homeschooler Reading List: Intro & Resources

10 Aug 20222 Nov 2022

Everyone seems to have one. One is not like another. They are found at universities, high schools; by famous authors, professionals, and even military organizations. Some we should read before…

Tools

10 Favorite Activities {2021–2022}

8 Aug 20221 Aug 2022

Ten reader-favorite educational activities from the archives: 1. Activity: Creative Writing with the Random Word Generator 2. Activity: Balancing a Checkbook 3. Activity: Preparing a 1040 Income Tax Form 4.…

The Latest

Things to Do: February 2023

Things to Do: February 2023

Holidays, free eBooks, and more in our February learning calendar.

30 Jan 202330 Jan 2023

100 Best Books for Children ~ Edgeworth

100 Best Books for Children ~ Edgeworth

Number 50 on The Hundred Best Books for Children list found in The Book-lover is The Parent’s Assistant by Edgeworth.

26 Jan 202326 Jan 2023

Groundhog Day Resources ~ 2023

Groundhog Day Resources ~ 2023

Groundhog Day, February 2, 2023 Free resources featuring hibernation and more!

24 Jan 202318 Jan 2023