Blog

With many businesses and indoor facilities closed, daily walks have become a source of joy and relaxation for many families. If your kids are also home during the day, why not make these walks educational as well? Here are a few ways to make learning fun when you’re...

I came across an old schoolbook from the 1950s which taught the reader, probably fourth grade or so, how to dress for school. The textbook instructed that the schoolroom was to be considered a workroom and to dress appropriately for the work that would take place. I...

Not so long ago in our very own galaxy, many of us decided to take on homeschooling.  We dove in headfirst at light speed (circumstances conspiring against us as they did) and built a curriculum, plans and even some desks.  Things have started well.  Still, some of...

Homeschooling offers the opportunity to school when and where you like and the option to take advantage of some unique learning opportunities.  Take the National Park Service (NPS) for example. The NPS administers well over 400 sites across the country, all of which...

I began homeschooling sometime around 2010. I was an organized and stiff homeschooler. We started at the same time each day, had a circle time board which hung on the interior of the bedroom closet door, and was addicted to laminating everything even though my...

Homeschooling looks different for every family. We love the freedom to create the homeschooling life that works best for our individual families but sometimes doubts chip away at our confidence. With every book that we read or conversation, we have with a successful...

If you’re homeschooling your child during COVID-19, you may be stumped when it comes to field trip ideas. Many businesses are still closed and many activities are cautioned against to avoid catching the virus. Here are some field trips you can take during COVID-19...

As a homeschooling parent, earning a college degree is not a prerequisite for teaching math. All you need is dedication, a big heart, and the willingness to put your children’s needs before your own while investing time and energy into developing instructional...

“The goal of education is to teach children to become adults who can handle complex ideas, in uncertain situations, with confidence.” (Leigh Bortins, The Question, p. 6) As adults, most of us have become accustomed to maneuvering around situations in which we aren’t...

So many parents will be left with a decision to make when school resumes in late August and September. With COVID19 still in the midst, several schools have made the decision to do virtual learning with their students at home. However, there are still many schools...

No matter how hard we try to keep things in our control, life will inevitably get busy. If you’re a homeschool parent, a particularly busy season can feel like it’s tearing apart your schedule and ruining your child’s education. Here are a few tips for homeschooling...

While there are plenty of reasons to be wary of too much screen time for your kids, the occasional movie night can be more than just an excuse to lounge in front of the TV. Here are a few reasons you should schedule movie night into your homeschool routine. Bond As a...

It’s easy to start a new school year with great enthusiasm. After all, who doesn’t love new school supplies and unread textbooks?! But that was September. This is the end of October and the routines may be getting dull; the lessons less than exciting. Perhaps you need...

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to dominate the news cycle and public health discussions and is directly impacting schools as they begin to re-tool virtual education approaches utilized during Spring 2020 shutdowns.  Parents working full time to devise the best K to...

Have you been feeling frustrated about teaching your children at home and stumbling over lesson plans, desperately in need of support? If so, then you’re not alone; the struggle is real with distance learning and homeschooling. While students slog through mountains of...

Whether you’re a long-time homeschooler or doing it for the first time this year, setting up a homeschool learning space can make a big difference in your child’s productivity. Here are a few ideas for setting up your space. 1. Be creative Your homeschool learning...

In April, 2020 we reported that U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos announced that the department would be offering schools an option to bypass standardized testing for the 2019-2020 academic year as they cope with the impact of the health crisis.  At the time,...

What is Study Island? Edmentum™ Study Island is an interactive learning platform where students in grades k-12 can strengthen their knowledge and skills in language arts, math, science, and social studies. How Study Island Works First, the student takes a diagnostic...

For most parents and kids, this school year is different than any they’ve ever had. Whether your kids are in a socially-distanced classroom or you’re homeschooling for the first time, here are some goal-setting tips for the school year. Be Realistic Unfortunately,...

Outside of the normal public school routine of a certificate or diploma at the end of each school year, it can be easy to forget to acknowledge homeschoolers for their accomplishments. But it is important that they feel just as validated in their schooling...

Some kids love history, some hate it, but it is an important part of everyone’s education. Learning from the past helps us make better decisions in the future. Some kids seem to have a problem with history lessons in school because it can feel like memorizing a bunch...