Here are some critical pre-season preparations! It’s that time of year! Around mid-summer, homeschool moms begin a type of training camp to get ready for fall. You may be inundated with curriculum catalogs in the mail and emails selling digital bundles. You may have attended your first homeschool convention (spring practice) near the … [Read more...] about A Game Plan for Choosing Curriculum
Summer Reading Fun for Moms and Kids
Snuggle up with a good book and explore new worlds together! To me, summer is all about sweltering humid days, thunderstorms, a beach vacation, exploring creeks and nature trails, camping out, and visiting air-conditioned museums and movie theaters. It’s also about having extra time to snuggle up with a good book and explore new worlds … [Read more...] about Summer Reading Fun for Moms and Kids
What to Read Wednesday: Father Books for Kids
The Best Father Books for Kids This blog uses affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy. Let's celebrate fathers this week! Since Father's Day is coming up, we are pulling out all of our favorite father books for kids. These books wonderfully celebrate the special bond between a dad and his kids. We are busy making homemade Father's Day … [Read more...] about What to Read Wednesday: Father Books for Kids
Homeschooling Algebra: A Different Perspective
Tears . . . That is the first word that comes to my mind when I think of the word algebra. My past experience with algebra wasn’t great. I struggled to understand the concepts, spent hours studying, and got help with my homework from friends and family. I just didn’t get it. When we decided to homeschool eleven years ago, I knew I’d have to … [Read more...] about Homeschooling Algebra: A Different Perspective
The Homeschool Balancing Act
Living Each Day in the Moment We moms know that life in general can be a balancing act, but when you throw homeschooling in with all the other stuff you have to get done, it can seem like an overwhelming task. On top of that, you might be teaching multiple grades, tackling high school subjects, or dealing with a curious toddler. Field trips, … [Read more...] about The Homeschool Balancing Act
What to Read Wednesday: Game Books for Kids
The Best Game Books for Kids This blog uses affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy. Ah! Summertime! It's just around the corner! I don't know about you, but I don't want my kids looking at a screen the entire time they are on break! There are many times where I live that it's just too stinkin' hot to send them outside, so I like … [Read more...] about What to Read Wednesday: Game Books for Kids
Bringing Literature to Life: Motivating Preteens to Study Literature
6 tips for engaging your reluctant reader in the world of great literature. This blog uses affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy. Soon after college, I taught English in a public middle school where English was a second language to many of my students. After spending several years immersed in literary adventures as an undergrad, I … [Read more...] about Bringing Literature to Life: Motivating Preteens to Study Literature
What I Wish I’d Known When I Started Homeschooling
Homeschooling Can Be Isolating This blog uses referral links. Please read my disclosure policy. Someone recently asked me this simple question: "What do you wish you would have known when you started homeschooling?" It really got me thinking. You know what? 15 years later, our homeschool looks NOTHING like it did when we first started … [Read more...] about What I Wish I’d Known When I Started Homeschooling
What to Read Wednesday: Flower Books for Kids
The Best Flower Books for Kids This blog uses referral links. Please read my disclosure policy. I don't know about you, but my favorite thing about spring is seeing all the flowers bloom and the buzzing bees and beautiful butterflies that visit them. I don't have much of a green thumb, but I have pretty good luck with geraniums on my porch, and … [Read more...] about What to Read Wednesday: Flower Books for Kids
Surviving (and Thriving) Summer At Home
In Stay-cation Mode? #locallegends This blog uses affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy. Are you staying close to home this summer? Since our homeschool schedule is flexible, we take a week of vacation just before school gets out for summer. It is a great time to travel, and most places we tend to go aren't crowded yet. But, … [Read more...] about Surviving (and Thriving) Summer At Home
What to Read Wednesday: Feelings Books for Kids
The Best Feelings Books for Kids This blog uses affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy. If you were ever in my local grocery store when my kids were little, you know that kids can have BIG feelings. They often don't know how to talk about how they are feeling, so the BIG feelings come pouring out in loud and tantrum-y ways. … [Read more...] about What to Read Wednesday: Feelings Books for Kids
High School Resources: ACT and College Preparation
Preparing for the ACT College Exam This blog uses affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy. My high school junior is preparing this summer for both the SAT and ACT exams. We're using several resources to help him get ready, including the ACT Prep Course from Master Books. ACT & College Preparation Course for the Christian … [Read more...] about High School Resources: ACT and College Preparation
Little Critter Little Blessings Collection
Four Favorite Little Critter Stories in One Collection This blog uses referral links. Please read my disclosure policy. The Little Critter Little Blessings Collection includes four favorite stories from Mercer Meyer. Little Critter learns how to be cooperative, how to be thankful, why being truthful is important, and how to be grateful for … [Read more...] about Little Critter Little Blessings Collection
What to Read Wednesday: World Religions Books for Kids
The Best World Religions Books for Kids This blog uses affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy. I believe that one of the best ways to encourage peace among people is to learn about each other and respect our differences. As part of our homeschool curriculum, we include Bible study and studies of world religions. As we read chapter … [Read more...] about What to Read Wednesday: World Religions Books for Kids
10 Things I Wish I’d Known Before Buying Curriculum
Budgeting for curriculum is on every homeschool mom’s list. But, don’t you just hate it when you buy something you end up not using? What to consider BEFORE buying new curriculum: Hand-me-downs don’t always fit. Chances are each of your kids will have a different learning style. What works with one may not work with the others. Don’t … [Read more...] about 10 Things I Wish I’d Known Before Buying Curriculum
Curriculum Fail!
What if your curriculum does not work? Many homeschool parents experience stress when their curriculum does not work out. In fact, all homeschool parents probably experience a "curriculum fail" at least once during their journey. The thing is, no curriculum is perfect. What works with one child might not work with another. Consider this: … [Read more...] about Curriculum Fail!
What to Read Wednesday: Lion Books for Kids
The Best Lion Books for Kids This blog uses affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy. ROAR! ROAR! ROAR! This week, we are featuring the king of the jungle with books about lions. We have several favorite literary lions, including Aslan from the Chronicles of Narnia series. My elementary students are reading through the series for … [Read more...] about What to Read Wednesday: Lion Books for Kids
Bibleforce: The First Heroes Bible
A Graphic Novel Format Bible for Young Readers This blog uses affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy. BibleForce: The First Heroes Bible is a graphic novel version of the Bible, which tells over 200 Bible stories in chronological order. Each page is covered with full-color graphics, and the entire book is visually stunning. A free … [Read more...] about Bibleforce: The First Heroes Bible
Grammar of Poetry
Learn the Building Blocks of Poetry This blog uses affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy. Grammar of Poetry is a 30-lesson course for middle school and early high school level students, with a suggested 1/2 academic high school literature credit. It is designed to be completed in one semester as part of a language arts course, but can … [Read more...] about Grammar of Poetry
What to Read Wednesday: Facts of Life Books for Kids
The Best Facts of Life Books for Kids This blog uses affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy. As much as we don't want to admit it, our kids are growing up every day! They are changing and becoming independent people. Beginning when they are young, you can prepare them for "the talk" that is inevitable. Nature study is actually a … [Read more...] about What to Read Wednesday: Facts of Life Books for Kids