Our children are being raised in a world where information is readily available. If we, as parents, need to know something we simply “Google it” on our computers or phones. Admittedly this is very convenient and allows us to learn things we wouldn’t have known as little as ten years ago. Just the other day…
Nature study is an important part of homeschool science, but sometimes it is difficult to get outdoors. Maybe mom or a child is recuperating from an illness and cannot easily move about. It could be a season of extreme weather that makes going outside terribly unpleasant or even dangerous. Or possibly a family is temporarily…
Contrary to the stereotype, all homeschooled children are not geniuses who perform several grade levels above their peers. Although homeschooling consistently out-performs traditional schools, children who are home educated have their share of struggles in critical academic areas such as reading, writing, and math. If you are teaching your child at home, there are ways…
One question that pops up often from homeschooling parents is how to handle the naysayers. Some homeschoolers have experienced family, friends and sheer strangers quizzing their children. Some are heartbroken by their family and friends criticizing their choice and questioning their ability to educate their children. Some are just tired of being interrogated about socialization,…
We had a tumultuous few years of many moves. Boxes were barely unpacked. School rooms never set up. We moved from Ohio to Georgia to Tennessee to Pennsylvania to New York in just over two years’ time. We lived in hotels for weeks during this period and I learned a little something about planning for…
We typically enjoy lunch time at our house as a break from the academic school day (or a chance to enjoy an educational video). However, from time to time, we use lunch as a learning opportunity. Ways to Incorporate Learning into Lunch Time The food pyramid and other nutrition topics this meal is from…
Bird watching is not commonly thought of as a hobby for children, but this inexpensive pastime has many benefits for the homeschooled child. If you have any birds in your area, coax them closer to your windows by strategically placing a bird feeder. Then store binoculars and field guides close to that window to encourage…
Every homeschooler reads, but not every homeschooler keeps a reading log of the time he spends reading. Why should a child keep a reading log? Isn’t that a waste of time that could be better spent reading more books? Keeping a reading log has advantages both for the child and for the homeschool parent. Accountability…
One of the hardest parts of writing, no matter your age or experience, is editing your own work. So it’s no wonder that young writers do a poor job with the editing stage of the writing process. Here are some tricks for your language arts toolbox to make editing more palatable for your homeschoolers. Practice…
Ask a dozen adults what they think of math, and you will find few who have blasé answers. Instead, they probably will express strong emotions of either love or hate, rooted in their grade school experiences with math. As a homeschool parent, you have a precious opportunity to banish both math phobia and math…
