Whether you’re homeschooling or prepping a child to head off to school outside the home, school can be a pricey proposition. And it’s not just in August or September – the supplies inevitably have to be restocked throughout the year. That’s why I love the Office Depot Loyalty Program. My mom used the Loyalty Program […]
DIY Composition Notebook Covers with #ScotchExpressions Tapes
When we went shopping for back-to-school supplies, my daughter made an observation. The bulk school supplies are (and I quote), “Sad and boring.” She’s kind of right. Bulk = good for schooling five children, but it lacks the beautiful designs that kids are attracted to. Plus, if they all look the same, that’s bad. You […]
Unschooling: Preparing Children to Get Along With Others
It is obvious that our children need to learn how to get along with others in order to be well prepared for adult life. However, the suggestion that a child must attend a public school to learn that is simply bogus. They will become adults, regardless of their educational environment. The question each parent must […]
Preparing Children for the Workforce through Unschooling
There are so many ways to educate your child, but unschooling might be the most provocative. People assume it is what is sounds like – you are a negligent parent who not only does not send your child to school like ‘normal’ people, but you don’t even educate them at home! If you did, you […]
Including Faith in Home School Plans
For those of us who home educate because our faith is important, we have concerns that God’s word has been removed from the school setting and value the Bible becoming a key factor in the lives of our children. As Martin Luther has been credited with saying, “I am afraid that the schools will prove […]
Maximizing Your Child’s Education
One of my observations with public school is that the children are simply waiting for the bell and working to minimums. What is the least I have to do to get by? The material is often surface-level, and the interactions are like texts — abbreviated. In contrast, homeschooling allows you to drink deeply. Take something […]
Planning Your School Rather than Detailing Your Day
One of the great temptations for new home educators is to bring a traditional, assembly line, children-stuck-at-desks, seven-subjects-each-day-in-50-minute-increments approach to their home education. That approach is not working very well for the schools and their students, so why would we bring it into our homes with our children? Sometimes, we are tempted to do that […]
Five Unique Projects for Your Child’s Next Science Fair
Kids do not want to do the same old boring science experiments. They want to do something exciting and new. Here are five projects that will keep your kids engaged, excited, and proud to participate in the science fair, or even excited about science as you homeschool year round. Creepy Science How about adding a little […]
Pros and Cons of Homeschooling Year-Round
As a veteran home school mom who began home schooling at the point of having two children, then adding several more babies, a couple major moves and all kinds of disruptions plus a thriving home based business, I have done our schooling just about every way possible. We have had a very traditional schedule as […]
20 Must-Read Books for Kindergarteners
Kindergarten is such a magical time in your child’s school career. Children are bright-eyed and eager – many entering school for the first time, others making the transition from small preschools or daycares to “big kid school.” My 2nd grader still loves school just as much as my kindergartener, but there is something to be said […]
Train Math Lesson Plan
This lesson plan is part of the “I’ve Been Workin’ On the Railroad” Train Unit Study and is designed to work with Kindergarten through 2nd grade on basic math skills. It is an easy math concepts lesson plan for Kindergarten, first, and possibly second graders, using trains to visualize addition and subtraction. Time and Grade: […]
Elementary Unit Study on Trains
“I’ve Been Workin’ on the Railroad” is a classic song for children that can be used to teach an entire locomotive unit study in science, math, reading, art, music & more. Here are some ideas for using a familiar children’s song, “I’ve Been Workin’ on the Railroad” to teach several elementary grade subjects. Most of […]
