Games are wonderful additions to any homeschool. In fact, we typically play at least one game a day - sometimes even gameschooling for an entire day! Not only do games bring joy and lightheartedness to the school day, they can help teach new concepts and practice old ones. One of the most important reasons I include games in our homeschool frequently is because they are amazing for building logic and critical thinking skills! This post includes affiliate links. If you've read any of my blog posts about brain training, you'll know that I place a lot of value on building logical thinking skills in kids. Luckily, games are one of the best ways to do that - and they don't even ... Read More
Sneaky Educational Stocking Stuffers
Christmas stockings are a long held tradition in the West household. Of all the gifts around the Christmas tree, it seems the stockings are the most anticipated - which is why we save them until the very last. I remember feeling the same way as a little girl. There's just something extra special about finding the tiny treasures inside that small space! While we always purchase little things like toothbrushes, floss, mints, chocolate, gloves, pencils and the like to fill our stockings, I don't want them to be all practicality. I also don't want them to be filled with junk that will find a trash can within 5.2 days (or hours...sometimes minutes.) Over the years, ... Read More
20+ Ideas for Creative Christmas Homeschooling in December
Homeschooling in December can be rough. We all need a bit of a break from the monotony of the regular homeschooling schedule, don't we? Some people choose to take the entire month off to focus on the preparations of Christmas and turning the hearts of their children toward the One that Christmas is all about. I've found several ways over the years to accomplish both homeschooling and Christmas preparations - all turning the hearts of my children toward Christ. Creative Homeschooling in December In this post, I've rounded up all those homeschooling in December ideas from the last several years for you. I hope you find something that will be just perfect for your Christmas ... Read More
An Abstract Art and Math Activity Inspired by Kandinsky
Art and math are so often a wonderful duo. Anytime you can combine the creativity of art with the logical side of nature, you've got a powerful activity that connects both sides of the brain for meaningful learning. This particular lesson brings art and math together through a fun project inspired by famous abstract artist Wassily Kandinsky. Who was Wassily Kandinsky Wassily Kandinsky is known as a pioneer of abstract art. Abstract art doesn't look like real life. Instead, the style uses bold lines, shapes, and colors to sometimes oddly portray real images - or no image at all. Abstract artists often paint in ways to try to express their feelings or emotions. The painting of ... Read More
Hands-On Candy Math and Science Lessons Make Learning Fun
Rather than eat all that candy sitting around the house after trick-or-treating (or another holiday), why not put it to good use? These fun candy math and science lesson ideas will keep your kids busy, happy, and learning! What will we do with all this candy? Honestly, most of the candy that comes in this house after trick-or-treating eventually gets pitched or given away. There's only so much I can allow my kids to eat before the mom guilt kicks in. However, during the few days we still have loads and loads of candy, we always have fun with living math and science lessons! Candy Math and Science Candy graphing is for all ages! Concrete graphs are graphs ... Read More
Pumpkin School: Math and Science Activities for Autumn
Math, science, geography, history, AND language arts all in one super-fun day of pumpkin school? YES! Skip the textbooks for a few days and enjoy some fall-themed learning with your elementary and middle school students. We have enjoyed one version or another of pumpkin school for years. While you can certainly have fun with without friends, these activities are so much fun to do with a small group. Living Math and Science with Pumpkins Several of these ideas come from my how-to book for parents called Loving Living Math. It's a book that teaches you how to include "living" (real life, hands-on, meaningful, conceptual) math into your homeschool. Pumpkin Math and ... Read More
Brain Training: FUN Ways to Build Stronger and Faster Brains
At the IAHE Conference (Indiana Association of Home Educators), I taught four workshops. While they were all well-attended and well-received, one of the sessions sparked an emotional reaction like none other. My brain training session was the last on my schedule and one of the last of the weekend. I fully expected a low turnout and glazed-over eyes from those few. To my shock, the room was packed to the brim with eager participants. Some of them, I later found out, almost desperate for information to help their struggling students. Because of the immense response I had to the topic of brain training at IAHE (and elsewhere), I'm going to write a BRIEF summary of that workshop and ... Read More
Nature Study During Morning Time
Morning Time. Morning Basket Time. Circle Time. In our home we call it Brain Training Time. Whatever you might call it, I have some great ideas to help you include nature study during the time you gather for family learning before jumping into the rest of your homeschool day. I bet you think I'm going to tell you that circle time should begin with a quick nature walk. Nope. While that's certainly a great way to start your day, in this article I'm actually going to share ideas for nature study without going outside! And, since we're talking circle time and I know you're probably including more than one activity each day, all these ideas are meant to last no more ... Read More
Have You Found This Hidden Homeschooling Gem in Your Community?
If you have a cooperative extension service in your community, you've hit the homeschooling jackpot. What's a cooperative extension service? It's a cooperation between communities and universities that provides training and services to the community on the topics of agriculture, horticulture, homemaking skills, and homesteading skills. 4-H is the most well-known program that cooperative extension services provide for children. Beginning in 4th grade, the 4-H program offers an incredible array of opportunities in agriculture, healthy living, science, handicrafts, life skills, sportsmanship, service, civic engagement, and leadership. A Homeschool 4-H Club Historically, where we ... Read More
Sneaky Summer Learning Library
In our home, summer break has always been an opportunity for more reading rather than less. With the obligations of regular school lessons on hold for awhile, we often get lost in a stack of picture books or chapter after chapter from a current read-aloud (or two.) I don't necessarily plan for learning during all this extra reading time, but living books tend to have a way of making one impression or another that's long lasting. I recently took part in a challenge with some friends on Instagram to choose five of my very favorite sneaky summer learning books for five different subjects. Because I know how much we all love booklists, I've gathered those 25 suggestions into this post for ... Read More