Studying Snakes
Studying Snakes The other day, as my husband was heading out the door, he had an unusual surprise awaiting him. Right behind the car was a huge black snake. We didn’t take out a measuring tape, but I would estimate the snake was at least four to five feet long. Our dog began barking at it, and the snake curled up in a strike
Math in the Summer
This week, we had the opportunity to visit with my niece and her children who are still fairly new on this homeschooling journey. She wasn’t sure what to do about math this summer for her oldest, a second-grader. The will soon complete schooling the required number of days, but it’s taken him a little longer to get through some of the math lessons. He won’t
Teaching Subjects You Don’t Know How to Teach
Teaching Subjects You Don’t Know How to Teach Sometimes when I meet others, and they find out we homeschool, they say, “I’m so impressed! I could never homeschool my children. “ It’s usually at that time that I confess that I often don’t feel like I’m very good at it, even after 13 years. That’s when eyebrows go up in surprise, and I know
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
All About Bones
Whether your child is learning about animals or his own body, a study of bones is a good place to start. And you can find the supplies you need in your local grocery store – or your very own kitchen! What You’ll Need Disposable Pan Bleach Whole Chicken from the Grocery Store Tape Construction Paper Picture of a human skeleton Picture of a chicken’s
Keep A Reading Journal
If you’re like me, you love learning with your kids – just not keeping up with the paperwork. But there is some paperwork that’s rewarding for both you and your child. It can even be fun! A reading journal is just that kind of paperwork. What to Include No matter what age your child is, he can keep a record of the books he’s
Studying the Planets
The other night, my youngest and I were heading home from a karate lesson. As we walked outside, we could see the moon and a bright planet in the sky. I asked him which one he thought it was, and he made a few guesses. I explained to him that it was Venus, which then led to a discussion about Mercury, Mars, and the
