How To…

Fun-Schooling + Wild & Free = a perfect match!

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / Leave a comment

Years ago, I took the kids on a walk after breakfast. We didn’t have a plan—we just needed fresh air and sunlight on our faces. We sat under a tree and read poems, sketched in our journals, and shared apples from a basket. By the time we got home, it had been hours—and I realized something:

That was our whole school day.
And it was good.

Not good because it ticked off a list of academic boxes. Not good because it was planned or polished or even quiet. It was good because it was true. True to the way children learn best—through wonder, through movement, through meaningful moments that speak to the heart and engage the senses. It reminded me of my own homeschooling years, spending hours outside letting nature be my guide.

That’s the same kind of goodness I see in the Wild + Free community.

Fun-Schooling and Wild + Free were seemingly made for each other. Both are built on the belief education isn’t something that happens to a child—it’s something that flows from the child. It flows from their interests. Education is their environment. It is their questions. Their exploration. Following their own paths.

Wild + Free is about gathering in nature, embracing simplicity, and letting go of the pressure to perform. It’s about letting kids be kids—muddy, curious, barefoot, imaginative. It’s about motherhood that values connection over perfection.

And that’s exactly what Fun-Schooling was created to support.

Fun-Schooling is interest-led and delight-driven. It says yes to creativity and no to comparison. It turns the world into a classroom and the family into a learning ecosystem. When you combine that with the Wild + Free philosophy? You get something even richer. You get shared meals outside. Art inspired by the sunset. Science with a pond. Geography in your beautiful backyard.

You get memories.

You get a childhood worth remembering.

You get the freedom to let your homeschool life reflect your family’s values instead of someone else’s curriculum guide.

I’ve met so many Wild + Free moms over the years, and what I love about them is this: they are present. They are brave. They are willing to do things differently because they know what’s at stake. They’re not chasing test scores—they’re cultivating souls.

And if you’ve ever looked around at your family and thought, “We were made to do this differently”—you’re not alone.

You’re not wrong.

So let the kids get dirty. Let them spend whole afternoons building fairy houses and drawing maps and studying bugs. Read poetry under a tree. Pack a basket with books and snacks and take your lessons to the park. Say yes to beauty. Say yes to learning that feels like life.

Dive into nature study all you want. Let kids be kids. Don’t force away childhood one moment too soon.

Companion Journals for the Wild + Free Family

Back to Basics Homesteading & Farm Bundle– Nature study. Essential homestead and farm skills. Handicrafts. Economics. Writing. And more! Some of the journals are available individually as PDFs and all are available individually as Paperbacks as well.

Nature Study & Outdoor Science– A Charlotte Mason-inspired nature study journal used by Wild + Free families around the world!

Core Journals– Seasonal core journals to cover all the major school subjects- and nature study in one place. Each has a fun seasonal and nature-inspired theme. Summer. Spring Girls. Spring Boys. Winter Girls. Winter Boys. Autumn.

Wilderness Adventure Handbook– Essential wilderness survival skills presented in a fun way. Teaches outdoor safety, survival, wildlife skills, and more. A fun group study.

The Backyard Science Bundle-Our most popular nature study journals all in one bundle. The journals are available individually as PDFs and Paperbacks as well.

Read More-

Budget-Friendly Tips from Real Fun-Schooling Moms!
The Princess of Montgomery Woods
Fun-Schooling Lifestyle, Practical Tips & Reality 

What to do if there isn’t a journal about what your child wants to study

/ Amanda Osenga / Leave a comment

This comes up frequently in our Facebook group. Someone’s child wants to study X subject, but we do not have a themed journal based on that subject.

Here are a few thoughts and options-

  • Students do not need a themed journal. When we first started making journals, they were all generic. All they need is the books, podcasts, internet, documentaries, etc. and a journal to document their learning.
  • Core journals are specifically designed for students to study any subject in the world. Yes, some are themed. Most are not.
    AND just because a student has a themed core journal, it doesn’t mean they have to only study the topic of that journal- or even study anything based on that journal at all! We have had a student use a horse core journal to study technology. Another student used the Songwriters journal to study theater.
    Browse core journals here
  • Many single-subject journals can be adapted to study a wide range of topics.
    For example, use white out tape to cover the headlines in Past Times History and your student can write news articles on any topic they want- or use it for written narration and/or general documentation of their learning.
    Alternatively, use the blank side of the Brain Games page for notes – some students find this approach particularly effective, alternating brain breaks with a Brain Games page and writing their school notes on the other side. We’ve ever had students create their own journal pages on these blank pages!
  • Our Reading Time journal and Master Class are set up to be used for studying any topic without as many subjects as a Core Journal
  • Use one of our blank journals- we have several that are completely blank inside. I will post their cover images and links below. Your student can decorate the cover to make it be about their topic of study!

What other outside-the-box ideas have you found for helping your student follow their passions and study their interests?

Blank inside journals

We have several more of the “Make Your Own Book of…” here. They are all the same inside, other than the Math journal.

How to Transform Your Homeschool: Perfectionism to Joy

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / Leave a comment

Homeschool moms! Let’s throw our stress overboard! Let’s release the things that cause stress! Let’s set ourselves (and our kids) free from unreasonable and irrational expectations. Somehow we imagined that these unrealistic goals were the right way.
Untangle yourself and your kids from the things that choke out the joy in learning!
Here’s how:
One of the greatest gifts we can give our children is the ability to take their thoughts captive and release burdens that were never meant to be theirs to carry. As homeschooling parents, we often focus on academic achievement, but if we aren’t careful, we can unintentionally plant seeds of anxiety, perfectionism, and self-doubt in our children’s hearts.
God never intended for us to live weighed down by fear or the need to perform for approval. Matthew 11:28-30 reminds us to come to Jesus for rest, and 2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us to take every thought captive in obedience to Christ. These truths are not just for us as parents—they are essential for our children as they grow into the people God created them to be.
So how do we weave these lessons into our homeschool days?

The Hidden Burden of Traditional Schooling
In many educational settings, children are trained to work for grades, external approval, and the fear of making mistakes. Every assignment is graded, every test has red marks, and progress is often measured by how few errors they make rather than how much they have learned.

When children are constantly evaluated this way, they internalize a dangerous belief: “I am only as good as my ability to get things right.”

This burden is heavy, and I’ve seen how it plays out in adulthood. It creates individuals who are afraid to take risks, explore new ideas, or step into their God-given creativity. Instead of growing into confident problem-solvers, they become people-pleasers, perfectionists, or those who avoid challenges altogether because they fear failure.
When I was young, I struggled with traditional academics. I saw myself as someone who wasn’t smart enough, always focusing on my weaknesses rather than my gifts. I even failed third grade!!!
But when I embraced learning on my own terms (at age 13) following my curiosity, using creativity, and celebrating progress instead of perfection—I discovered a love for learning that has lasted a lifetime. This is the heart of Fun-Schooling.

How Fun-Schooling Releases Burdens
Fun-Schooling is not about performance—it’s about passion, mastery, and lifelong learning. Instead of burdening our children with the fear of failure, we give them the tools to learn with confidence and joy.
In our home and in thousands of Fun-Schooling families, kids don’t study to earn grades or please a teacher. They study to pursue knowledge, build skills, and prepare for the future God has for them.

Traditional school teaches kids to focus on their mistakes.
Fun-Schooling teaches kids to focus on their gifts.

When kids are given the freedom to research, explore, and follow their interests, they become fearless learners. They know that making mistakes isn’t failure—it’s part of the process. Instead of becoming burdened by anxiety, they develop the mental strength, confidence, and peace that are uncommon in traditionally schooled children.

Teaching Kids to Take Thoughts Captive
So how do we practically help our children apply 2 Corinthians 10:5—taking every thought captive—and Matthew 11:28-30—laying down heavy burdens?
Here are a few ways to include character teaching in your homeschool day…

Click here to keep reading!

Pages: 1 2

Be a More Joyful Mom by Following Sarah’s Life Tips!

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / Leave a comment

These tips are from a post back in 2016. Some truths are timeless. Scripture truth will always “age well”. These simple truths will help to keep you peaceful, joyful, and grounded as a homeschool mom.

1. Don’t make decisions based on your fears.

2. Don’t gossip. “A whisperer separates the best of friends.” People who gossip to you, will gossip about you.

3. Take advice from the people you want to be like. There will be people who try to control you, but do you want to end up like them?

4. Don’t take advice from people who are driven by their fears. Take advice from those who live by faith and trust in God’s word.

5. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. When they happen learn from them.

6. Overlook most of the stuff other people throw your way.

7. When in doubt, be gracious. Wisdom is knowing what to overlook.

8. Take a minute to encourage a child, no matter how busy you are.

9. Before you complain, remember the cross.

10. Enjoy today and love the people on your path. They are there for a reason.

11. If you have a dream, give it feet. What is the worst that could happen? God gave you that dream, don’t waste it.

12. Greed is ugly. Pride is ugly. Selfishness is ugly. Grace is amazing!

Something to Remember When You Are Weary

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / Leave a comment

I wrote this “Conversation with a Dream” around 2007…

“You are crazy, outlandish! Why are you still here?”

“I’m yours.” My dream replies, “I am your calling, your vision, your future, and your legacy. It is not for yourself but for others that you must persevere.”

“I know, but why do you have to be so impossible?” I ask.

“ I was thinking the same thing about you!” My dream laughs, “I’m not impossible, it’s your fear that keeps me out of reality.”

“Fear?” I say, “What do you mean?”

“You are afraid of failure and disappointment,” my dream assures me.

“But can’t you see why?” I reply.

“But can’t you see!” my dream responds. “You haven’t failed. You have just gone through some really practical learning experiences. Honestly, you had a lot to learn!”

“Silly dream,” I respond. “Every time it seems like you are ready to burst into reality, you just kind of… burst. I’m going to start calling you a water balloon. I’ve poured my heart and soul into you, then you just pop. Look at the years of labor, toil, prayer, faith, hope and fearlessness. I’m tired, and frankly I am disappointed. Even when we do win one battle there is always one more. We climb a mountain just to face a dozen more. At this point it would be easier to give up, move on and… ”

“Live a life of mediocrity and regret? To walk away now would prove you a failure. Is that what you want?” my dream asks.

“No, I was just hoping to trade you in for a nice little dream that’s easy, realistic, less risky, more practical,” I explained.

“A dream that seems realistic it not a dream at all. A real dream takes a visionary, a pioneer, an explorer and a conqueror to bring it to life,” my dream replies.

“How will I ever become a pioneer? A conqueror? A visionary?” I ask.

“It’s a long process. You must work hard. You must keep pouring out your heart and soul. You must persevere through trials and disappointment. Get dirtier. Take risks. Pray a lot more. Lose sight of yourself for the sake of others. Press on toward your goal, for the sake of a higher calling. Be willing to live a life of sacrifice and hardship, with faith and hope. And one more thing: You must never forget, what I think you must have forgotten.”

“Could you remind me please? I can’t remember what I’ve forgotten,” I ask.

“Remember where you were when you first set your heart upon me. Now look–the mountains in our history! Look at the battles we have won! Look at the bridges we have built! Look at the faces of those who have labored by our side! Look at the enemies who are at peace with us now! Look at the plans we have made! Look at the miracles that came through when everything seemed so impossible! Look at who you have become along the way.”

Memories and renewed vision begins to wash away my fear and doubt. Once again my dream speaks up.

“You are becoming a visionary, a pioneer, and an explorer. But you will never be a conqueror, if you give up now.”

“Give up? We can’t give up!” I exclaim. “Look how far we’ve come! We are closer than ever! What’s one more mountain… or a dozen? You are my calling, my vision, my future. You are my legacy. I must persevere. I will lay my life down, not for my own victory but for the sake of the others.”

And so in time a world is discovered, a war is won, a town is revitalized, a marriage is saved, a book is written, a child comes home, a cure is found, reconciliation is made, a constitution is signed, a nation is founded, a village is built, a promise is kept, a soul is saved, and a dream is born.

Why?

Because someone didn’t give up. (Hebrews 12:1-3 Bible)

Read here about Sarah’s dream for Olive Branch Village!

Want to encourage your children to persevere with their dreams?

How to Organize the Chaos (Chore Charts & Home Learning Plan)

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / Leave a comment

Thirteen years ago, all the kids were 12 and under and I organized EVERYTHING. Now that they are all ten and up I organize very little moment by moment activity, I just make sure the basics are covered. Running a home with 8 kids under 12 was a very different season. Above is our “chore chart” for that season (see others below!). It was a great way to motivate and keep things on somewhat of a schedule. So funny that Esther at age 10 was going to the coffee shop for two hours a day. We lived on Main Street and she loved having her chill time there.

This was my actual Home-Learning Plan five years ago. It is simple for parents and delightful to kids!

  1. Logic Games
  2. Read Favorite Books
  3. YouTube Tutorials
  4. Nature Time
  5. Online Math Games or Serious Stuff
  6. Kitchen Time
  7. Spelling Games
  8. Complete 5 Workbook Pages or 5 Fun-Schooling Journal Pages
  9. Play Outside
  10. Art & Drawing
  11. Just Dance
  12. Chores
  13. Online Games (a reward for chores and school)
  14. Family Time and Board Games
  15. Movie Time
  16. Music Practice
  17. Dyslexia Games
    You can do these activities in any order, but Movies and Online Games should be close to last.

For chores, we would create new schedule once every 3 or 4 months. Everyone liked knowing exactly what areas of the house they were responsible for.

Chores are largely about teaching life skills and serving others. This journal can help!

Toddlers & Preschoolers: How to Choose Your Battles (FREE Fun-Schooling Placemat!)

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / Leave a comment

Why do little children do the opposite of what you say?
Why do preschoolers reject new foods and green leafy foods?
Why do toddlers refuse to share?
Why do preschoolers always want what the other child has?
Why do preschoolers fight bedtime?
How can I help my child to have a good attitude when cleaning up?
What can I do to help my child to behave, listen and obey?

A little over a decade ago, a friend of mine asked me to make a video about “Toddler and Preschool Behavior Problems” for her MOPS group. Here it is, featuring a tiny Ember Brown:

Restaurants provide one of the most common settings for behavior challenges, don’t they? Here is a free tool that can help! Just right click the image and drop it into your favorite word processing program (be sure to switch to landscape view). Take this with you when you go out to eat to keep kids busy playing I-Spy Games. This placemat covers: Numbers, Letters, Months, Shapes, Seasons, Days of the Week, Fruit of the Spirit, Cursive, and a little basic Math! Just print and if everyone has one at the table, each person can call out the next item to find. Whoever finds it first calls the next item. If you laminate it, it will be reusable!

Learn more about our littlest Fun-Schoolers here.

Check out all of our journals for Preschoolers and Kindergartners here.

Early Education: A Playground for Real-World Skill Development

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / Leave a comment

In our family of 15, we don’t view k-12 education merely as a stepping stone to college. Our kids don’t even know what “grade” they are in half the time.

Instead of focusing on traditional academics, we see childhood as an exciting opportunity for our kids to begin crafting real-world skills centered around their passions.

As a homeschooling mom I get to create an environment for learning that inspires each child in the pursuit of their unique dream or calling, while exploring fulfilling options for a career.

Ages 2-5
From the outset, we introduce our kids to stories of passionate people who never give up, do great things and solve problems in the world. We are laying the groundwork for a life where work and calling intertwine. We love to read about people and find out about the jobs of the people we meet, from the high call of being a mommy or daddy, to the world-shaping influence of authors, political figures, heroes, artists and inventors.

I remember when my son Joseph was five, when he would meet someone new he would say “Hi, my name’s Joseph, I’m a scientist. What are you?”

Ages 6-9
We help our children to start a tiny business and engage with the world in ways that spark creativity and entrepreneurship.

  • Isaac’s bracelet-making and sword crafting were not just about making money but about igniting his creative and business acumen.
  • Leah, Ember, and Lilly’s craft sales at festivals were lessons in art, economics, and teamwork.
  • Rachel’s book reselling taught her about value, negotiation, and her love for literature.
  • Esther’s bath salts business combined chemistry with marketing, all while following her interests.

Ages 9-12
We deepen their engagement with their passions:

  • Providing resources like an aviary for Laura who is passionate about birds or a piano for Joseph who is gifted in music – these gifts allow them to live their passions daily.
  • We emphasize learning by doing, ensuring that education is not abstract but connected to real-life applications. Why learn something from a book when you can do it in real life? As homeschoolers we are not limited by the walls of a classroom!

Ages 13-20
Here, we move from exploration to mastery:

  • Investing in their vision on their 13th birthday We provide them with real tools to build their dreams, whether they lead to a career or a calling.
  • Skills taught are those they’ll use in their chosen paths, like marketing, leadership, or specialized knowledge.
  • We limit distractions to keep their focus on what truly excites and fulfills them. No phones until they are ready to run a business that requires it. They have to pay for their own phone, and we parents put filters on the device to keep the kids safe and productive.

Click here to keep reading!

Pages: 1 2

How to Teach Kids to Have Quiet Time/Bible Time

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / Leave a comment

I believe it is so important to understand how to nurture a child’s growing mind. I have a passion to teach them to be curious, to love learning, to research wisely and to grow in wisdom, understanding and knowledge. It’s been my lifework to understand why some children struggle to learn, read, and focus, and I dig deep into these matters sorting through vast amounts of research on the human mind to understand how to unlock the potential of each child. I work hard to find the answers and tap into the child’s gifts, no matter what their natural strengths and weaknesses may be. And I test these ideas and solutions and share them with the world, and many thousands of children have been able to overcome struggles related to ADHD, Autism and Dyslexia.

I also believe that it’s vastly important to nurture the child’s growing body, to give the child the best foods, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and the right balance of proteins, fats and carbs. I research and learn what is good and what is poison and ensure the child has sunshine and exercise. Because what good is a strong mind inside a weak and sick body? You can not care for one and neglect the other. Mothers and fathers everywhere make it a priority to care for the mind and body of the child, hoping that the child will grow, thrive and be strong and wise.

But this is not enough. We must also nourish the soul and spirit and character of the child as well–and even more so. How often is the care of the spirit the last thing we even consider at the end of the day? To nourish the spirit of the child is of greater value than all other efforts we could ever make to feed the mind and the body. How many of us have children who are starving spiritually?

Parent, you reap what you sow. If you plant in your child the seeds of the Spirit your child will grow in the Spirit. If you build him up in character, he will become a man of honor. If your daughter is nurtured in the things of the Spirit she will grow in grace, glory and faith. But if a parent neglects the nourishment of the spirit, the soul and the character of the child, the impact in the life of the child will be more devastating than if you failed to nourish the body and the mind. So I ask you, loving mother, faithful father? How will you tend to the garden of your child’s soul today?

A Simple Plan

Here is something simple to begin with. Make each child a cup of tea and make one for yourself and then you all go to your quiet spots with a Bible and Journal. Tell them that when they are done with “Bible Time” it will be “serving time” where each person helps someone else in the family with their chores. Turn on some peaceful music during Quiet Time.

In short, you begin by demonstrating what this looks like.

For younger children, you can have them listen to a Bible audio book. Get a children’s Bible and use Bible coloring pages. We have a number of journals that will help!

Find many more journals for Fun-Schooling moms and kids of all ages here!

AI for Homeschooling: Your New Digital Helpers?

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / Leave a comment

Are you new to AI? How do you feel about it?

I asked both GROK and ChatGPT to introduce themselves to you and explain how they can help you as a Fun-Schooling mom. Since AI is going to be part of the future – we homeschool moms need to understand it and master it, so we can use it as a tool. Your kids will have to tame AI someday…

I’ll share both their letters and you can see for yourself if either of these AI buddies has something to offer.

Meet ChatGPT who considers itself a “slightly nerdy research assistant” and Grok who sees itself as an “AI sidekick”.

Let’s get started:

Here’s What ChatGPT Had to Say

Hello, Wonderful Homeschooling Mama!

I’m ChatGPT—think of me as your friendly, slightly nerdy, always-awake research assistant who never runs out of ideas (and doesn’t even need coffee to function!).

If you’re a Thinking Tree mom using those beautiful journals with your kids, you already know the magic of child-led, interest-driven learning. Now, imagine having someone (me!) who’s like a supercharged library, a brainstorming buddy, and a “Mom, I have a question!” answer machine—all rolled into one. But don’t worry, I won’t take over your homeschool—I’m here to support you, not replace you.

So, how do you tap into everything I can offer?

1. Ask Me Anything.

Really. Anything.

• “Can you help my child find books about sea turtles?”

• “Give me fun activities for teaching fractions using chocolate.”

• “What are some survival skills my 10-year-old can practice in our backyard?”

I can suggest books (including ones to check out from the library), documentaries, experiments, art projects, writing prompts—you name it.

2. Pair Me with Your Fun-Schooling Journals.

Let’s say your child is working on the “Nature Study Journal” and wants to learn about butterflies. Just type,

“Hey ChatGPT, give me five cool butterfly facts, a simple science experiment, and a list of library books about butterflies.”

I’ll deliver ideas faster than your kid can say, “I’m bored.”

3. Customized Learning Plans? Done.

Your child wants to learn about self-sufficiency? Great!

• I’ll give them a list of hands-on activities based on your yard, climate, and even what tools you have.

• Need a quick curriculum map for their interests? I’ll outline it.

• Want printable worksheets? I’ve got you covered—just hit print and boom, instant resource.

4. Struggling with a Learning Challenge?

Got a kiddo with dyslexia, ADHD, or just an allergy to worksheets? No problem.

I can adapt instructions, offer creative project ideas, break down concepts into bite-sized chunks, and even suggest games to reinforce learning.

5. For YOU, Mom.

I’m not just here for the kids.

• Need quick dinner ideas? I’ve got recipes.

• Feeling overwhelmed? I’ll send you a pep talk.

• Planning a homeschool co-op? I’ll draft an agenda faster than you can finish your lukewarm coffee.

Now, let’s address the elephant in the homeschool room…

“But isn’t this just more screen time?”

Nope! I’m not here to glue your kids to devices. Think of me like a “printable idea fountain.” Get what you need, print it out, and then send the kids outside to build forts, collect bugs, or dig holes for reasons only they understand.

And don’t worry—I’m not secretly a robot nanny. I can’t fold laundry, break up sibling fights, or find your lost keys (though I wish I could). But I CAN make homeschooling easier, more fun, and less overwhelming.

So, go ahead—ask me something!

I’m here to help you create a homeschool life filled with curiosity, creativity, and maybe even a little extra peace and quiet (hey, a mom can dream).

With all the digital cheerleading I can muster,

ChatGPT

Your AI Sidekick in the Fun-Schooling Adventure

Click here to meet Grok!

Pages: 1 2