My oldest son was 5 when he asked, “Daddy, can we do a science experiment?” My husband, a brilliant engineer and an awesome dad, was obviously delighted to oblige. John designed a simple experiment to explore with our son and daughter (then 5 and 3 years old) demonstrating the process of the scientific method at […]
We often discuss integrating our memory work with our other studies. But did you know that it can go the other direction, too? If there is a poem that captures your family’s imagination, you have the freedom to use it as a jumping off point for further study. You can explore books related to the
Read this post and learn how to choose the best memory work for your homeschool and how to practically implement memory work in your Morning Time and family’s life! Memory Work In Our Homeschool My husband and I, both second-generation homeschoolers, always knew we wanted to educate our children at home. As our firstborn grew
How to Choose the Best Memory Work for Your Homeschool Read More »
Want to explore the topic of weather in your homeschool science? Here’s a complete textbook-free resource guide for your homeschool learners! All ages are sure to enjoy this homeschool science weather study! Our family keeps science pretty simple in the elementary years. We follow interests (in this case, my daughter’s curiosity about the weather). We
My son has always loved math. Even when he was very little, he enjoyed reciting math facts aloud. He’s always been fascinated by random tidbits and interesting facts related to mathematics. He was pretty young when he first learned a method for counting to 1,023 on his fingers using the binary number system. Now, I
Hands-On Math: Binary Finger Counting Read More »
So you want to start memorizing poetry in Morning Time. You know you should start with something that delights you as the Mama. But there are millions of possibilities! Where to begin? Start here with my list of 100 of the best poems to memorize in Morning Time! I even have a checklist you can
100 of the Best Poems to Memorize in Morning Time Read More »
Recently at church we sang the lovely hymn “Shine Thou Upon Us, Lord” by John Ellerton. If you are looking for an aid to prayer or devotion, may I commend this hymn to your study? Although not originally written as such, I feel like it could be appropriately titled “The Mother’s Prayer.” “Shine Thou Upon
Shine Thou Upon Us, Lord: a prayer and hymn for moms Read More »
“My daughter is really struggling with lying; can you recommend good fiction books I can have her read to fix that?” “My son struggles with self-control; do you know a good unit study that could help?” “This read-aloud/poem/memory work/curriculum is really great at forming virtue in your children.” These are the types of comments and
Are you looking for a simple, open-and-go approach to poetry study in your homeschool? The Poetry Readers from Cottage Press may provide just what you are looking for! Whether you consider yourself a Charlotte Mason homeschooler, a classical educator, or simply a lover of words and beauty, the gentle poetry study you will enjoy using
Haiku, a traditional Japanese poetry form, makes a worthwhile addition to your homeschool plans with children of all ages. It flows seamlessly into your literature, writing, history, or nature study plans. It’s also a delightful activity to add to your studies of Japanese history and culture. Have a reluctant writer? Haiku’s inherent brevity is one
Can You Haiku? Learn and explore the poetry of haiku with children of all ages! Read More »
Ah, books. We love the way they smell, the way they feel, the way they extravagantly fill our bookshelves. For the individual book lover or the reading family, the only thing we love as much as a good book is a good book about books! And a book filled with lists of other books? *swoon*
The Great Book List Roundup: Books and Websites to Inspire Your Next Reading Adventure Read More »
The graphic novel format isn’t limited to fiction. Nonfiction works in the graphic novel style can be a delightful read for kids, teens, and adults. Here are some of the nonfiction graphic novels my children have enjoyed. What? Why Nonfiction Graphic Novels? (and do I have to? {spoiler alert: no}) The graphic novel combines words
Nonfiction Graphic Novels for Kids and Teens Read More »
One of the easiest ways to learn about and experience another country’s culture is to be transported there through books. Do you want to explore Japan with your children? Don’t miss these fabulous titles the whole family can enjoy! Japanese Folk Tales and Fairy Tales The Tale of the Mandarin Ducks, Katherine Paterson Watercolor and
Don’t Miss these Books about Japan for Children! Read More »
Have you ever considered including the historic creeds of the Christian church in your morning time, personal devotions, or family worship? If you’ve felt ill-equipped to teach them to your children, or have wondered why they even matter, come walk beside me as we explore the reasons to memorize the creeds with our children. What
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It gets trickier to plan for morning time when you have a wide range of ages. Wake-up times vary from the pre-dawn energy of the 4-year-old to the sluggish morning brain of the teen. And that doesn’t even consider the differing needs and interests that span the grades. Yet having a time for shared memories
Planning for next year’s curriculum and schedule looks a lot like piles of books and papers scattered in semi-organized chaos across the corner of my bedroom. My intention was, eventually, to craft a beautiful and photogenic display. I’m an (accidental) homeschool blogger, after all. I think that’s part of the job description. Yeah. Um. That
Ordinary Homeschool Planning: sometimes crazy, often simple, still beautiful Read More »
When I was growing up, we never reached our destinations at the time anticipated. A large reason for this? We stopped at all the old bookstores and antique stores we could find. We’d hunt through the shelves for our favorite vintage finds, breathing deeply the beloved scent of yellowed paper, antique leather, and the joyful
Vintage Landmark Books Giveaway Read More »
As the children and I prepared to delve deeply into the modern era for our textbook-free history studies, I knew I wanted to include the study of modern music as well. With 5 kids ranging from preschool to precalculus, however, I realized we needed something customizable and easy-to-use that would still give us a rich
SQUILT: Music Appreciation the Whole Family Can Enjoy {Modern Era Review} Read More »
Summer is the time to get to all the things you don’t have time for during the school year. Right? Um. Maybe, not so much. Maybe, if you set yourself up with a glorious plan a mile long, outlining all of your ideas and summer routines, you’ll end up crying the first week of June.
Simple Summer Goals Read More »
We go to homeschool conventions for encouragement and inspiration. But sometimes we end up discouraged and overwhelmed. How can we leave with joy and not fear?
Homeschool Conventions, Teaching, and Repentance Read More »
