I love the Spell to Write and Read program for teaching phonics, spelling and reading to my children. I know from experience that Spell to Write and Read (SWR) can seem daunting when you first get it. In this video I try to demystify the program for you so that it’s not so overwhelming. You […]
Homeschool
Encouragement, practical tips and curriculum reviews for homeschool moms.
Tackling High School Physical Education for the Homeschooler
I’m sure most of us remember going to PE or gym class in high school. My memories include wearing an unattractive PE uniform, the awkwardness of changing in the locker room with dozens of other teenage girls, and participating in sports that I was not interested in. I always hoped my school schedule had PE […]
How to Help Your Older Kid Who Hates School Work
What do you do when your older kid protests against an assignment? As a parent, you probably recognize the importance of completing a lesson even when your child dislikes doing it. Learning to follow through on a task is part of growing up and learning to be responsible. On the other hand you want your older […]
WISE Guide Enrichment Activity Worksheets {Review}
My absolute favorite phonics, spelling and reading curriculum is Spell to Write and Read and using this curriculum just got easier with the creation of the WISE Guide Enrichment Activity Worksheets books! (Check them out here.)Elizabeth FitzGerald, homeschool mom and SWR trainer, has created worksheets to go with the enrichment activities in the WISE Guide […]
How to Deal with a Young Reluctant Learner
You ask your child to complete an assignment for school and you are met with resistance. Do you force them to finish, have them set it aside for another time or just toss the assignment altogether? You’ve probably had a reluctant learner at one time or another if you have homeschooled for more than a […]
Subjects for Multi-Age Learning
With five children to home educate this year, I don’t have the time to teach each child a separate lesson for every subject. That’s why I am using multi-age curriculum to teach my elementary age children a few subjects together. Four kids, one lesson…that’s a good deal! Below is a list of subjects that work well […]
Math Placement Help for Pre-Algebra and Geometry
One of the challenges of homeschooling is knowing when to offer instruction in a particular subject or topic. I was recently asked when it was appropriate to move a child from foundational math to pre-algebra and it made me wonder how many other homeschool parents ponder the same thing. I decided to chat with a […]
The Mystery of History with Multiple Ages
Homeschooling multiple ages can be a challenge but The Mystery of History makes teaching history to my four elementary age children simple! If you aren’t familiar with The Mystery of History curriculum it’s a chronological, multi-age history curriculum with a Christian worldview. They have four volumes, each volume covering a different time period. We are doing Volume […]
Large Family Homeschool Schedule
How does a mom of many teach all her kids all those subjects while juggling a toddler? With a good schedule! At least, that’s how I manage! There were several things I had to consider when creating our current schedule. Making sure someone was playing with the toddler at all times. (He can get into […]
Homeschool Curriculum 2015-2016
We are in our 13th week of homeschooling this year and I’m finally getting around to posting our curriculum list. Better late than never….right? Here is the curriculum I’m using this year with my elementary age kids. So far we are enjoying all of it! {This post contains affiliate links.} 5th Grade Spelling: Spell to Write […]
Getting Started in Homeschooling
Homeschooling can seem overwhelming, especially for those of us who grew up in a traditional school setting whether it was public or private school. If you are venturing out into the unknown world of homeschooling then this post should be helpful to you! Let’s take a look at what you need to do to get […]
4 Common Mistakes When Teaching a Child to Read
Today I want to share four common mistakes that teachers and parents often make when teaching a child to read. Mistake #1: Teaching the names of the letters first. When we read a word we do not need to know the name of the letter but rather the sounds that the letter makes. Take the […]