How to Simplify your Schedule, Reach Your Goals, and Happily Home Educate a Large Family with April Lesh

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Homeschooling offers so many opportunities of which no other type of education can boast. April Lesh is a homeschooling mom of 8 (soon to be 9), whose husband is the general manager of the Apologia company. Join us as April offers tips in today’s podcast that will encourage and assist not only large families but families of any size.

April shares her practical and thoughtful ideas regarding prioritizing her day, scheduling in a way that makes sense, and accomplishing her goal of encouraging her children to enjoy learning. You will hear a bit about April’s recently discovered favorite meal planning method, her ideas on kids and chores, and some thoughts on older children assisting with the education of their younger siblings. She shares her views regarding managing home education with kids of all ages as well as her theories on read-aloud time and how to maximize enjoyment to create happy memories.

Additionally, April discusses how her family works together to keep the house cleaner and how she has learned to let go of some personal responsibilities in order to allow her kids to take more responsibility for both their education and their chores. If you homeschool one child or many, you’re going to enjoy hearing what April has to say about homeschooling her large family.

Meet The Guest

April shares her practical and thoughtful ideas regarding prioritizing her day, scheduling in a way that makes sense, and accomplishing her goal of encouraging her children to enjoy learning.

April Lesh is married to Ladd Lesh, GM of Apologia. She is a homeschool mother of (almost) nine children, who are, (in her non-biased opinion), exceptionally sweet and adorable. April enjoys afternoon nature walks with the kids, nap-times on the couch (also with the kids), and most especially (due to a plethora of shattered teacups and tea-stained apparel) a daily tea-less Tea Time— with, you guessed it— the kids. Her favorite nightly routine is Family Devotions, where Ladd teaches from the Bible and reads (with all the character voices) from the latest chapter book. This is followed by her second favorite nightly routine, affectionately known as Bedtime.

If you would love to follow along with April’s growing family and her homeschool experiences, be sure to sign up for her new podcast: Homeschool to the Nines.

Show notes are below.

April shares her practical and thoughtful ideas regarding prioritizing her day, scheduling in a way that makes sense, and accomplishing her goal of encouraging her children to enjoy learning.

This episode is sponsored by Apologia. We are HUGE fans of Apologia and we both have used this curriculum throughout our homeschool journeys. This series is literally our favorite science series offered in the homeschool arena. We encourage you to spend a few minutes visiting their site to see why. Or visit our website to see the many articles we have written about it.

Tips and Tricks from April Lesh

If you can plan your meals in advance, it makes you feel like you’re on top of things. Hip Homeschool Moms has a recipe site and we do have a Meal Planning Printable for you: You’ll Love These Recipes! They are free! Rachael Carman suggested Think hard once and then don’t think again.

April shares her practical and thoughtful ideas regarding prioritizing her day, scheduling in a way that makes sense, and accomplishing her goal of encouraging her children to enjoy learning.

Spending time with the little kids first really helps to fill up their love tank. I’ve learned that if I can spend a little bit of time with them first, it helps them to feel calm and loved and listened to.

April shares her practical and thoughtful ideas regarding prioritizing her day, scheduling in a way that makes sense, and accomplishing her goal of encouraging her children to enjoy learning.

I’ve never had kids not be excited about reading out loud time because, well, first of all we always have M&Ms! That might be one reason they’re excited about it!

I give everybody a snack while we’re reading together. The reason is I want to build super positive memories around books and kids love to eat!

April shares her practical and thoughtful ideas regarding prioritizing her day, scheduling in a way that makes sense, and accomplishing her goal of encouraging her children to enjoy learning.

The goal is efficiency and when they get to an older age, they will learn that. For now, we have pretty specific [chores]. I’ve been amazed that even the young kids, when they know their job and they know what’s required of them, they just do it.

April shares her practical and thoughtful ideas regarding prioritizing her day, scheduling in a way that makes sense, and accomplishing her goal of encouraging her children to enjoy learning.

The work they’re doing is not just menial little tasks to teach them responsibility. They are actually helpful and needed parts of the family. That gives them the feeling of “I’m important and I’m needed and I have a big job to do to help out with the family.” It’s building that self confidence that they’re going to need in any job.

If you only have time for one thing, do reading out loud because of the memories that are made.