One winter day, a homeschool family called. They’d tired of examining a frog and mudpuppy another family found in their bag of ice fishing minnows. If we didn’t take the specimens next, they’d be experimental bait. When I saw the unfortunate pair held up in their transparent bag of clear water, utterly vulnerable as
In every homeschool, planning is made to make it easier for parents and children to move towards success in achieving goals. Planning is also made so that homeschooling continues on track and learning targets are achieved. Without good planning, homeschooling will not reach its goals easily. Making plans is easy, but doing it is
Too many parents see the library as a drop off place for their children after school. Many of these children have not been taught how to use the library or how to behave, once there. But here, homeschoolers are different. Often the family comes in together. The children are usually well-behaved. They know what
Rather than work through one particular curriculum, I prefer to encourage self-research, reading plenty of books, and when possible, actually interviewing and spending time with people that are knowledgeable about our current focus of study. This approach to education has been extremely helpful in subjects like electives, life skills, and especially history. Though we
As a relaxed homeschooler who veers more towards natural learning and unschooling, I often seek out Charlotte Mason materials to use with my kids. Of all the different homeschooling philosophies and methods, hers meshes well with a natural learning environment. I emphatically agree with her emphasis on nurturing a child’s love of learning through
Did you know that June 4th is National Cheese Day? Folks all over the world are encouraged to eat cheese. So go ahead and eat macaroni and cheese, fondue, grilled cheese sandwiches, cheese soup, or cheese and crackers. You can also turn National Cheese Day into a learning experience. History of Cheese We
Hey Mama, I heard you were feeling under the weather. Being sick is such a drain not only on the body, but emotionally, too. Things that normally take very little effort seem monumental. Tasks that should be done in an hour take three. Kids become burdensome; joy is hard to muster. It’s temporary, Mama. It