📚🍳 Homeschool & Hot Pans: How I Teach While I Cook (Without Losing My Mind)

Homeschooling and cooking at the same time sounds like a recipe for chaos… and honestly, some days it used to be. But over time, I’ve found a rhythm that actually works, and even makes my daughter feel confident, independent, and involved.

Here’s how we roll in my kitchen-classroom combo:

🪑 Set Up for Success

I start by pulling out her kid-sized folding desk and chair and placing it off to one side in the kitchen. It’s just far enough to stay clear of splashes, but close enough for easy check-ins while I stir a pot or preheat the oven.

✏️ Independent But Not Isolated

I give her something simple and self-sustainable, like copying words from a phonics worksheet. Nothing too new, nothing too hard. Just enough to keep her brain gently working while I get my hands busy with meal prep.

👀 Verbal Check-Ins

While chopping or sautéing, I ask quick things like, “Can you lift up your paper and show me how far you got?” or “Wow, baby girl! Looks good. You think you can get your B's inside the two bottom lines so they look extra pretty for me?” It keeps her engaged without pulling me away.

⏸️ Smart Breaks

When it’s break time, I verbally coach her through tidying up her own desk first. She gets to choose a treat activity, usually slime (which is sacred in our house and only allowed on school breaks or on days off for Mommy). Because it’s not available all the time, it keeps its charm, and she looks forward to it.

⭐ Empower & Encourage

When she does a good job, I let her give herself a sticker from our reward stash. Then I make sure to say things like, “You’re such a big help doing that on your own.” That kind of praise sticks, and so does the good behavior.

🛠️ Takeaway:

You don’t need a fancy homeschool room or three hours of free time to make learning happen. Just a small desk, some flexible structure, and a bit of praise go a long way. Bonus? Dinner gets made and schoolwork gets done, with fewer meltdowns (from both of us).

💬 Your Turn!

Do you multitask homeschooling and housework too? What little systems or hacks have helped you keep things flowing during busy kitchen-school mornings? I’d love to hear how you keep your kids learning while still keeping up with life!

Drop your favorite tips (or the chaos you’re trying to survive) in the comments!

Until next time,
Happy hustling! 💪



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Image
  Monday Meal-Prep Made Simple: One Tub to Rule Them All 💪👏👌   Happy Monday, hustle crew! If your week is already sprinting and the sink is staging a coup, today’s tip is about streamlining—from the cabinet to the fridge to the dinner table.   Why “Same, Same” Saves Your Sanity 😌   After too many memories of my Mom spending hours matching orphan lids to mystery bowls, I declared dish amnesty: I stacked my cabinets with one basic set of plates, bowls, and drinkware that nest neatly. The real hero, though, is my stash of restaurant-style 28-oz black tubs with clear lids (the microwavable, stackable kind you can snag at Sam’s Club in sleeves of 40). Because every container is identical, clean-up is as mindless as stacking Solo cups—no hunting, no mismatched leaning towers. I average 8–10 months of reuse before a few tubs get too scuffed for comfort, and replacements cost pennies per week.   The 3 times 3 Prep Strategy 😏   I cook th...
Read more
Image
  Welcome to Her Hustling Hub: How I Conquer My Mornings (Without Losing My Mind) Ever feel like your mornings are a game of beat-the-clock? Between flipping pancakes, checking the school planner, running a bakery, and dodging laundry piles—I get it. Life doesn’t slow down, and neither can we. Hi, I’m Sherri—mom, wife, college student, full-time hairstylist, homeschool teacher, home bakery owner, and part-time volunteer. That might sound like a lot because it is . But over time, I’ve learned how to hack my mornings to save time, stay sane, and leave the house feeling like I’m already one step ahead. Today, I want to share one of my favorite kitchen hustle hacks that keeps me moving fast and leaves my space clean before I even walk out the door. My “Clean-As-I-Go” Morning Routine When I’m making breakfast and prepping the day, my kitchen is command central. So, before I even crack an egg, I set myself up for success: 1. Bring the Trash Can to You Instead of running back and...
Read more
Image
Double-Duty List: Everyday Staples + “Company’s Coming!” Upgrades 😃   Because dinner shouldn’t hinge on a frantic dash down Aisle 9. Ever been here?  Wednesday, 4 p.m. I’ve just clocked out when my sister calls:   “Hey, can my boyfriend and I swing by?” Me: “Absolutely! Have y’all eaten?” “Not yet, but we’ll be ok.” Me: “Girl, I gotch-u (real word) 😉 What’s your ETA?” “Forty-five minutes?”   5 years ago I’d have rushed through the grocery store next door, sweating over impulse-buy pre-made salads and so on, and peeling price stickers off plastic tubs.   But 2025-me?   I knew my double duty list was just stocked, did a little fridge-door happy-dance, and pulled together dinner, and dessert (fruit smoothies in glass cups) without breaking a sweat. Hosting stress free- and I do love to host! 😁   What’s a Double-Duty List? It’s my go-to grocery list: i ngredients that keep weekday meals easy, and let me transition into ...
Read more