Learning to Read with Letter Cards
Learning to Read with Letter Cards Some of my biggest challenges as a homeschooling mom have involved reading. My youngest child has had an especially difficult time learning to read, so much so that I had to find someone else who could help. That’s when I learned about “letter cards”. I must admit, I don’t know much about teaching reading. My oldest child just
Interview with Jim Weiss – Storytelling and Homeschooling
I recently had the special privilege of interviewing international storyteller Jim Weiss. I first heard of Jim in the late 90s before my oldest officially started school. “We love these stories,” my friend told me. “You have to hear them, too!” I was so glad I took her advice! Twenty-five years ago, Jim and his wife Randy formed Greathall Productions. They have since produced
Learning Styles – Choosing Homeschooling Curriculum
Choosing Homeschooling Curriculum As you sift through the many types of homeschooling curriculum, keep in mind the way your children learn best — their learning styles. When all of my children were school-age with work to complete, that was something I let slip — and it showed. Learning Styles There are four years between my three oldest, so there were a couple of years when they
Homeschooling Through the Summer
Homeschooling Through the Summer I start ever year with good intentions, great anticipation, and high hopes that we’ll actually finish all the work by the end of May. And every year, we are still working on things (usually math) through June and sometimes into July. Then August comes around, and it’s time to start up again. School for us just naturally goes year-round. But
Doing Your Best
My oldest son is very good in math; in fact, he wants to major it in next year when he goes to college. My next child says she “hates math” – she does all right, but it’s a bit of a struggle getting through the lessons, and she has to work really hard at it. Of course, some kids will excel in some areas,
What Does a Typical Homeschool Day Look Like?
Once in a long while, my husband will come home from work, look around at a messy house, and brave the question, “What did you do all day?” It’s at those times I shoot him a less-than-loving look and mumble something under my breath. Then I go into a lengthy explanation (much more than he wanted to know) of what our homeschool day was
A Senior, a Fourth-Grader, and Two Between
It seems as if every year of homeschooling has presented us with new challenges. And that’s as it should be, as each year the children learn and grow and change. But this has been my most challenging year yet. This year, I have a fourth-grader, a seventh-grader, a ninth-grader, and my first senior. And while academically my senior doesn’t have much left to complete,
Homeschooling Co-op
For the past five years, we’ve been a part of a smaller homeschooling co-op. It’s actually the third co-op we’ve joined, and it’s the one we’ve been able to stick with. But not all homeschoolers are part of a co-op, and that’s okay too. Homeschooling Co-op #1 We joined our first co-op when my oldest was just in third grade and my youngest was
Out and About During the School Day
The area where we live has lots of homeschoolers. Some parents teach all the lessons themselves, some have their children participate in co-ops, and others use online programs. However it’s done, there’s usually some time during the traditional school day when families have to run errands. It’s no surprise anymore to see kids out and about during school hours. But as a homeschooler, you
Physical Education in the Winter
It’s easy for my kids to stay active in the summer. They swim, bike, run, and play outside, and there’s rarely a shortage of things to do. During the winter, though, it’s a little harder to get them motivated and moving. If you want to add physical education to your child’s schooldays this season, here are some things you could try: Join a Team
