What is a friend? Webster’s 1828 Dictionary of the English language defines a friend as, “One who is attached to another by affection; one who entertains for another sentiments of esteem, respect, and affection, which lead him to desire his company.” I can easily apply that definition as I make friends with books and I…
In my last post about teaching narrative writing, I mentioned how the subject of writing tends to be a thorn in the side of many homeschoolers. It doesn’t have to be that way, though! In this little series of posts, I hope to encourage you that teaching writing styles to your middle and high school students…
If you know a child or teen who loves books, this list of gifts for bookworms is just what you’re looking for! Whether you want book suggestions or unique gift ideas, you will find something to excite the readers in your life. Gifts for Bookworms One of my children was (and still is) an extreme…
Our 1st grade trip Around the World was wonderful. Our 2nd grade trip across the United States of America was even more wonderful! Take a peek at our around the USA study and enjoy a trip yourself! Around the USA Study Our brief stops in each state began with living literature “tour guide(s)” who introduced…
I have a serious chef in my house. He’s only nine years old, but the boy can cook! When I see a natural motivation like this in one of my children, I make sure there are plenty of opportunities to foster its growth. So…he cooks. Because our goal is to have healthy kids in the…
I’m homeschooling my third (and final) child through 3rd grade. My next youngest is in 10th grade. Here’s the thing…I’m tired. Tired of all the time it takes to plan the piecemeal approach to teaching language arts, that is. I used to teach in the public school system and in homeschooling my older two children…
Looking for a Night Zookeeper review? Look no further. You’ve found a thorough one here! One of my favorite benefits of blogging is that I get to communicate with so many different homeschooling parents from all around the world. Families of all shapes and sizes, veteran homeschoolers to those just beginning to consider it, all…
This large list of nature study books includes the perfect go-alongs to the 2022 season of No Sweat Nature Study LIVE lessons! If you haven’t joined us yet, it’s never too late and we would love to have you. You’ll enjoy two new LIVE classes each month and will find a video library of more…
One of my goals in homeschooling creatively has always been to help kids love writing. Whether students believe it or not, writing is an essential skill that finds its way into real life quite often. Teaching writing with real-life methods is a great way to convince kids of its importance. Not to mention, anytime an…
If you’ve been around here much, you know the importance I place on nature study. The real-life science lessons that offer a consistent “lab” experience are unmatched compared to simply studying the same topics from a textbook. But, just as important, nature study reaches so naturally into other academic areas that it’s priceless for gently integrated learning….
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 really are. Math, language, history, science, logic and so much more can be practiced without your kiddos…
I finally had a chance to take a peek at the Grammar Galaxy curriculum to see what all the buzz is about. Teaching doesn’t get much better than using stories to impart serious language arts skills – and enticing children into those stories through exciting missions. The author, Dr. Melanie Wilson, is a dear friend…