Creative Homeschooling

One of the main goals I set early on in our homeschool was to give my children a love of learning.  Creative homeschooling is the mode I’ve used to successfully do that.  Don’t think that you can never put your child in front of a textbook or computer screen to homeschool creatively!  Instead, think of it as offering your children curriculum and styles to meet their needs.  Sometimes that will be a textbook or computer class.  Other times, it may be a unit study, living literature, field trips, games, project-based learning, co-op classes, or interest-based studies.  These articles show you how.  Be inspired!

Pumpkin Math

Every autumn, we enjoy a little pumpkin math! All our children participate according to their abilities – from the 4yo to the 14yo.  This year, the 11yo and 14yo were expected to measure with complete accuracy, while the 4yo dabbled in learning how to measure.  He used standard (rulers) and non-standard (blocks) measuring tools. I…

Teaching Computer Skills

Children of the 21st century simply must be knowledgeable about and capable with computers.  Besides typing programs and internet research,  I like to assign occasional projects that are computer-based.  I thought you might like to see the most recent projects… Writing is something that Caleb does NOT like.  But, when the writing is (at least…

Simple Field Guide Hint

Simple Field Guide Hint

Here’s a simple field guide hint that will work for all ages from preschool through adult. We started using this little trick before our children were even readers and we still use it to this very day. Simple Field Guide Hint Get out the stickers! Before they could write, or even draw very well, I…

Dioramas

Some of the NaturExplorers guides suggest the completion of a diorama to go along with a research project. Dioramas are such a fun and creative way to model entire habitats or ecosystems. Even better, they can prove to be an informal assessment of your child’s understanding when you ask him or her to create a diorama…

Spring Fun

April and May were two of the busiest months I think I’ve ever had!  Here are just a few of the things that kept me busy…  (This isn’t even the half of it!)

Expo Competition Night

School has been out since the end of April, meaning all the school-related posts that I’ll be publishing soon are way overdue.  Oh well, better late than never.  Our summer vacation has been nothing short of a whirlwind so far, but I wouldn’t trade the busyness with my sweet family for anything!  I’ll try to…

The Lonely P

Eli wrote his very first story a few weeks ago called The Lonely P.  I thought I’d post it for my new friends Kim Kautzer and Debbie Oldar, authors of WriteShop.  They were our wonderful, WONDERFUL booth neighbors at the Midwest Homeschool Convention last week.  They are such sweet mentors!  Be sure to check out…

Preschool Christmas Fun

These playful preschool Christmas activities are perfect for creating a sense of wonder in children while also teaching fundamental skills. A Preschool Christmas There’s a delicate balance to be made between getting a preschooler geared up for Christmas and keeping him geared down at the same time!  We chose to do a craft or activity…

Favorite Games for Homeschooling

Favorite Games for Homeschooling

(This post contains affiliate links and links to my business website, Shining Dawn Books.) Games for Homeschooling? During my workshops about creative homeschooling and living math, I often talk about incorporating games into the school schedule. If your family has an established game night, you probably already know how educational many board and card games…

KY State Fair

We love the State Fair!  This year was our first time being more than spectators and we had a busy, but exciting blast.  The big kids showed goats two nights in a row, which left two days full of exploring all the sights and sounds. Some kind friends hauled our two goats to the fair…

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