Cleverly Kindred

One of the most important parts of homeschooling is keeping track of your child’s learning journey. Whether it’s for meeting state requirements, preparing for evaluations, or simply documenting progress over time, a homeschool portfolio is a valuable tool. Some families love putting together physical binders filled with artwork, assignments, and photos, while others are exploring digital options to streamline and modernize the process. A digital homeschool portfolio isn’t meant to replace traditional methods—it’s simply a different approach that might work better for certain families, especially those looking for flexibility, easier sharing, or less physical clutter. In this post, I’ll walk you through three popular platforms for building a digital homeschool portfolio: Evernote , Seesaw , and Google Sites . Each platform has its own strengths and setup style, and by the end of this post, you’ll have a better sense of which one (if any) fits your homeschool needs best. What Is a Dig...

One of the things I love most about homeschooling is the freedom to make learning meaningful, memorable, and fun. Over the years, I’ve found that incorporating monthly themes into our homeschool not only keeps my kids engaged but also gives me a fresh sense of direction each month. Whether it’s tapping into seasonal changes, holidays, or national observances, there’s always something to celebrate and explore. So today, I want to share some of our favorite themed homeschool activities for every month of the year. These aren’t rigid lesson plans—just simple, creative ideas to spark inspiration and bring joy to your homeschool journey. January – New Beginnings & Winter Wonderland After the hustle and bustle of the holidays, January is a great time to reset and ease back into routines. We like to focus on themes like: New Year’s Goals – Create a goal-setting activity for each child. This could include a simple “My Hopes for the Year” printable or a vision board. Snow & Ic...

As a homeschooling mom, I’m always on the lookout for resources that are not only educational but also fun for my 6-year-old daughter. At this age, learning should feel like play—and that’s exactly what I aim for in our home learning environment. Over time, I’ve found some wonderful books and games that have really helped her build foundational skills in reading, math, science, and more—without ever making it feel like a chore. Whether you’re a fellow homeschool parent or just looking for some afterschool enrichment, here are the books and educational games my 6-year-old absolutely loves—and that I highly recommend for making learning at home joyful and effective. Books We Keep Coming Back To 1. Bob Books: Beginning Readers Set These were our go-to when she first started sounding out words. The stories are short, repetitive, and confidence-building—perfect for emerging readers. She felt so proud every time she finished a book on her own! Why we love it: Simple vocabulary and ph...

Every year as summer winds down, the back-to-school buzz kicks in. For many families, that means crowded stores, long supply lists from teachers, and checking off dozens of items like 3-ring binders, specific brands of crayons, and 20 glue sticks. But as a homeschool mom, I’ve learned over the years that back-to-school shopping looks a little different for us—and that’s okay. When I first started homeschooling, I felt the pressure to “keep up” with traditional school shopping. I bought way more than we needed, filled our shelves with supplies we never touched, and honestly, it left me feeling overwhelmed. Over time, I realized that back-to-school shopping for homeschoolers should be intentional and personalized—not a copy-and-paste from public school lists. If you're new to homeschooling or just want a simpler, more practical approach this year, here’s a real look at what you actually need for homeschool back-to-school shopping. 1. The Basics: Core School Supplies You’ll Actua...

When I first started homeschooling, I had this beautiful picture in my mind—peaceful mornings, happy kids gathered around the table, and lessons that flowed effortlessly. Let’s just say… reality hit fast. While homeschooling has become one of the most rewarding decisions our family has made, it didn’t come without its fair share of trial and error. If you're just beginning your homeschool journey, I want to share the top five mistakes I made (or nearly made!) so you can avoid them and start off on the right foot. 1. Trying to Recreate Public School at Home I think this is the most common trap new homeschoolers fall into—myself included. In the beginning, I felt like we needed a strict schedule, a designated “classroom,” and worksheets for every subject. I even bought a school bell (I wish I were joking!). But here’s the truth: homeschooling is not public school. And that’s a good thing. One of the greatest benefits of homeschooling is flexibility. You don’t need to start at 8:...