No matter what has changed in our homeschool over the years or how old my children have grown, one thing has remained constant… read-aloud time. My children still remember so many of the books we’ve enjoyed as a family – and so do I! Sometimes snuggled under blankets on the couch, sometimes lounging on a…
Did you know March is National Reading Month? Because living books are so very good, every month is all about reading in our house! But in honor of this annual celebration of reading, I thought I’d take some time to share some of my best tips for raising readers. 11 Tips for Raising Readers Not only…
Do you have a child who began reading well at three or four years old? A child who reads far above grade level? Early readers who soak in more books in a year than you’ve read in your entire life? Do you wonder what to do with all that advanced ability? Just how do you…
I’m so excited to share these free winter play dough mats with you! They can help elementary students learn nature study observation skills through hands-on play. You might think play-based learning is mostly for the preschool crowd, but there are still plenty of benefits of playing in the elementary years. In fact, learning through play…
I am so excited to share this unique nature study freebie with you! I think you’ll love using autumn play dough mats in your elementary homeschool for all sorts of meaningful fun and learning. Play dough mats provide a variety of benefits. At the most basic level, molding and sculpting dough helps to exercise fine…
This hands-on, literature-based math activity will help your younger students concretely understand the concept of standard measurement. Target Age Range: K-2 Skills Covered: non-standard measurement, standard measurement, making comparisons, fine motor skills, reading Understanding measurement doesn’t have to be hard for little ones. In fact, teaching it early with concrete materials builds an in-depth understanding that…
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….
We’ve talked a lot about brain training for cognitive skills here at Our Journey Westward. Closely related to cognitive skills are social skills. This article focuses on some easy ways to improve social skills in the homeschool. Don’t get “social skills” confused with “socialization”. One of the biggest thorns in the side of any homeschooler…
We’re striving for more independent reading time with my 2nd grader. As an emergent reader, he still reads aloud daily to me so I can teach, cheer him on and keep tabs on his progress. But, he’s finally doing well enough that it’s time for him to find his own pleasure in books. Transitioning to…
The new school year is just around the corner! Parents of kindergarteners (or smarty-pants preschoolers), I’ve found a fun curriculum that you’re going to want to check out! (I received a copy of this curriculum for free and was compensated for my time spent reviewing it. As always, I only share my honest opinions. This post contains affiliate…
It’s finally here! You’ve been asking for this resource for quite some time, but you don’t have to wait any more! Nature by the Season: Spring for Preschool and Kindergarten is ready! 47 pages, ebook $5.95 Why Early Nature Study? Preschoolers and kindergarteners are naturally inclined to love nature because of their inquisitiveness, active bodies…
Preschool (K4) was such a fun year of school for us! Each week of the entire year was spent learning about one letter of the alphabet. There were no formal plans made. Instead, the weeks were filled with whatever fun I could find (or think up) that revolved around the letter – science, cooking, dramatic…
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