Think about when you really want to learn something…. How do you go about it? You probably immerse yourself in the writings or videos of people who’ve already mastered the topic. You may find various books & articles. You likely start doing or practicing the thing or thinking about it regularly. The resources probably look …
Do you ever worry that you’re not on pace to make it through the curriculum or finish in time or cover it all… or [insert your fear about your kids’ progress or lack there of.] I’m going to say something very controversial in the homeschool world. It might ruffle your feathers. You might vehemently disagree. …
I started dabbling preschool homeschool when our oldest was 3 years old. (I was eager… what can I say?) I also wanted to see if it would “work.” By the time she would have started kindergarten, we had 4 kids under 6. We decided to homeschool kindergarten and see what happened! (Spoiler alert, we loved …
Phonogram Bingo Fill out any size grid with a mix of phonograms that your child has mastered and is currently learning. You can repeat phonograms on the chart. Grab goldfish, m & ms, pennies, or any other small item that can be used to cover the squares. Say a phonogram that’s on the chart and …
Do you know about Chinese Bamboo Trees? You must very carefully monitor their water & temperature for the first 5 years, and nothing happens. You have to water often and weed and make sure it stays at the perfect temperature… but you won’t see a single sprout. Not an ounce of visible growth. But in …
Have you come across number bonds in your child’s math curriculum? Parents who grew up with “traditional math” (like myself) might dive into a strong math program like Singapore Math or Math with Confidence and feel like what the heck is going on. Why can’t we just learn that 2+3 = 5. What’s with all …
The longer we homeschool, the less I truly need to buy new each year. After 6 years of homeschooling, we have our curriculum staples on hand, our supply staples in bulk, and the basic organizational tools we use. A new-to-homeschooling friend saw my 51 best supplies list (which I 100% stand by) and asked, “Okay, but if I …
Are you a do-math-over-the-summer homeschooler!? I know some people find it easier to just keep plugging with math so they don’t have to do any review come fall and others don’t want to pick up a workbook until after Labor Day. Whatever floats your boat. We’ve been in both boats throughout the years. Some summers, …
Wondering what to read with your young readers? I’ve taught all four of our kids to read at home. I love finding good books and I much prefer to read cute, engaging, beginning reader books compared to books like “The fat cat sat… the fat cat is mat.” Granted, there are some of those books …
One of the most fascinating topics to teach young children is outer space. The wonders of the solar system, the night sky, and space exploration can capture the imagination of children of all ages. We homeschool & I just love amazing picture books. Quality picture books make up much of our science text, actually. (They’re …