Hello everyone!
It's been a while since I last shared an update here on the blog. My last post was back in December 2025, and since then, life has been full of family moments, new experiences, and quite a few changes.
Fall is here, the boys are back in school, and we're settling into another homeschool routine. This time of year always feels like an opportunity for a fresh start, but this school year brought more than new lessons, school supplies, and updated schedules.
It brought a significant change to our homeschool journey.
After using Abeka Academy for several years, we decided to step outside our familiar routine and try something completely different. We enrolled the boys in a new online school that offered live classes, direct teacher interaction, teacher grading, and a structured daily schedule.
At the time, it seemed like a wonderful opportunity to explore a different approach to learning from home.
But after experiencing the program firsthand, we realized that what looked promising on paper wasn't necessarily the best fit for our family.
So, did we stick with the new school?
The short answer is no. We decided to return to Abeka Academy! However, returning didn't mean going back to doing everything exactly as we had before. We discovered additional options within Abeka that helped reduce some of my responsibilities, particularly when it came to grading and managing schoolwork.
Today, I'm sharing why we made the switch, what we learned along the way, why we returned to Abeka, and what our homeschool days are looking like this fall. And, of course, I'm bringing you along for a little glimpse into our daily routine, including one of the boys' favorite parts of the school day: snack time!
Why We Decided to Make a Change
Abeka Academy has served our family well over the years. We've appreciated its structured Christian curriculum, experienced video teachers, traditional textbooks and workbooks, and the flexibility to organize our school days around our family's schedule. It has provided the boys with a strong academic foundation while allowing us to incorporate our Christian values into their education.
However, as a homeschooling mom of four, I also had to consider what our family needed during this particular season. As the boys grew older and continued advancing through different grade levels, I found myself balancing more responsibilities. Although Abeka's video teachers presented the lessons, I was still responsible for organizing our days, keeping everyone on track, checking assignments, and handling a significant amount of grading. With multiple children working at different grade levels, those responsibilities could quickly add up.
I began wondering what our days might look like if the boys had more direct interaction with teachers and I had additional support with grading and academic accountability. We weren't necessarily unhappy with Abeka. We were simply exploring whether another approach might make our homeschool experience more manageable. Sometimes, as parents, you don't know whether something will work better until you try it.
Trying a New Online School: What Was Different?
One of the biggest changes was moving from prerecorded video lessons to live online classes. With Abeka Academy, we had the flexibility to begin our lessons when it worked best for our family. If our morning started a little later than expected, we could adjust. The boys' lessons were available whenever we were ready to begin.
The new program, however, followed a set schedule. The boys attended live classes beginning around 8:00 a.m., Monday through Thursday, with the main live portion of their school day generally ending around noon. During those classes, they could interact with their teachers, participate in discussions, answer questions, and engage with classmates in real time. That was one of the features that initially attracted us to the program.
I also appreciated the idea of having teachers provide feedback and grade assignments. However, we quickly learned that live online schooling came with its own set of responsibilities. Everyone needed to be awake, prepared, and logged in on time. We had to navigate different online classrooms, manage assignments, monitor deadlines, and make sure work was submitted correctly.
While Fridays didn't include regular live classes, that didn't necessarily mean the boys had the day completely free. There could still be independent assignments, reading, unfinished work, and other responsibilities to complete. We weren't simply changing curricula. We were adjusting to an entirely different educational system.
Having teachers handle grading was one of the biggest benefits I had hoped to gain. Grading can be especially time-consuming when you're homeschooling multiple children, so I was interested in seeing how much of a difference this would make. Although the teachers handled much of the formal instruction and grading, I was still actively involved in the boys' education. I helped them stay focused, navigate the online learning platforms, manage assignments, complete independent work, and submit everything on time.
My responsibilities hadn't disappeared. They had simply changed, and that was an important realization. Having a teacher-led program doesn't necessarily mean a parent will have less to manage throughout the day. Every educational program has different expectations, and it's important to understand what those responsibilities look like before enrolling.
Why the New Program Wasn't the Right Fit
After the first week, I wouldn't say we were fully enjoying the new program. We were still learning the system and adjusting to the expectations. Everything felt different, from the technology and attendance requirements to assignment submissions and the daily schedule. Initially, I wanted to give us time to adjust rather than make a decision based solely on the discomfort of trying something new.
But as we continued evaluating the experience, I began considering whether the challenges were simply part of a learning curve or signs that the program wasn't the best fit. I paid attention to how the boys were responding, how our daily routine was changing, and how the experience was affecting our family as a whole.
One of our biggest considerations was flexibility. One of the things we've always appreciated about homeschooling is the ability to create a schedule that works for our household. While a structured daily schedule can be beneficial, we realized that having more flexibility was important to us. We enjoy incorporating educational outings, travel, hands-on activities, and other learning experiences into our routine, and I didn't want to lose that freedom.
Another important consideration was ensuring that the curriculum aligned with our Christian values. As a family, our faith plays an important role in the decisions we make regarding our children's education. We wanted to be confident that the curriculum and educational environment reflected the values we prioritize at home.
After evaluating everything, we decided that returning to Abeka Academy was the better choice for our family. Looking back, I'm glad we gave ourselves the opportunity to explore something different because the experience helped us understand what we truly valued in our homeschool program.
Returning to Abeka Academy—But With a Few Changes
Once we made the decision to return to Abeka, I knew there were a few things I wanted to do differently. One of the main reasons we had considered switching programs was the amount of grading and administrative work I was managing. I wanted to continue using a curriculum we trusted while finding ways to make our daily routine more manageable.
So I began exploring the different enrollment options and academic services available through Abeka Academy. What I discovered was that there were additional options we hadn't fully taken advantage of before. By making adjustments to the services we use, we were able to reduce some of the workload that had previously taken up so much of my time.
This was a significant change for me. Instead of spending as much time handling grading and administrative responsibilities, I could focus more on monitoring the boys' progress, helping them understand their lessons, and creating a productive learning environment.
Of course, I'm still very involved in their education. Homeschooling requires consistency, organization, and parental support, regardless of the program you choose. But having additional assistance with certain responsibilities can make a meaningful difference.
One of the biggest lessons I learned is that sometimes you don't need to change your entire curriculum. You may simply need to explore the options available within the program you're already using.
For families currently enrolled in Abeka Academy, I would encourage you to look closely at the different enrollment and grading services available for your children's grade levels. Depending on the program and services selected, some responsibilities may be handled differently. It's worth asking questions and understanding exactly what's included before making a decision. For us, exploring those options helped us return to a familiar curriculum with a fresh approach.
Snack Time With Little Spoon
Of course, one of the boys' favorite parts of our homeschool routine is snack time!
Between lessons and assignments, I like to give them an opportunity to take a short break, enjoy something to eat, and recharge before continuing with their schoolwork.
Lately, we've been incorporating snacks from Little Spoon into our homeschool days, and the boys have already discovered a couple of favorites. Two that they've especially been enjoying are the Cinna-Banana Twist Chips and the Strawberry Banana Shake.
The Cinna-Banana Twist Chips have been a favorite during our morning snack breaks, and the Strawberry Banana Shake is another one they've enjoyed. Having convenient snack options available makes it easier to keep our day moving, especially when we're balancing multiple lessons and different schedules.
It's such a simple part of our routine, but I enjoy these little moments. Sometimes it's the conversations between lessons, the laughter during a break, or simply watching the boys enjoy their snacks that makes an ordinary homeschool morning memorable.
These are the everyday moments I enjoy sharing because they give a more realistic glimpse into our homeschool life. It's not always perfectly organized desks and completed assignments. It's also the breaks, the conversations, the little interruptions, and everything in between. And that's part of what makes this journey special.
To shop Little Spoon snacks. Click the link below. ⬇️
