Okay, it's a volunteer job. I'm not much on religion, but I love it when the universe serendipitously reaches out with just what we need, and that's exactly what this opportunity was for us. We were at a Harry Potter festival, walking around the various booths, when our local Humane Society lured us in with… Continue reading My Kids Have a Job
How December Was Saved
(This post includes affiliate links) For anyone who's looking to get started with some homeschool reading, I universally recommend: Anything John Holt (like this fantastic book) 2. The Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease 3. Project-Based Homeschooling by Lori Pickert They're all mindset-altering reads that can help set your homeschool up for success, but today I want… Continue reading How December Was Saved
Saying Goodbye to Our Read-Aloud Calendar
The Christmas season always inspires plenty of nostalgia, and this year I’m finding myself dwelling in the bittersweet just a little more than usual. One of my kids has already asked for the Santa talk, though his twin is asking to be excluded from all Santa discussions because she wants "to keep the mystery."… Continue reading Saying Goodbye to Our Read-Aloud Calendar
Learning Centers – Fine Motor
In my last post I told you about how learning centers have brought some peace and added value to second grade in our homeschool . If you haven't read that post, I suggest starting there to see the tips I shared for making it a successful habit in your own homeschool. When you're ready to start compiling… Continue reading Learning Centers – Fine Motor
Learning Centers
Morning time is routinely great in our homeschool. That's when we do all of our together stuff - Thinking Tree Dyslexia Games, Daily Geography, Spelling You See, Art, History, read alouds, and documentary lunch. But our afternoons routinely brought out the lurking honey badgers within my children. Afternoons are when I split my kids up to have… Continue reading Learning Centers
10 Tips for Visiting The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
1. Start Early at Hogsmeade in Islands of Adventure Don't let the snowy rooftops fool you. Hogsmeade offers far less shade than Diagon Alley, so you'll feel the scorching Florida temperatures more in Hogsmeade. Take advantage of the coolest part of the day here. 2. Ride The Forbidden Journey First When you arrive at Hogsmeade, cut… Continue reading 10 Tips for Visiting The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
What We’ve Been Reading Lately
(This post contains affiliate links.) Together The Bone Snatcher by Charlotte Salter – I picked up The Bone Snatcher from the library’s audiobook shelves on a week when I suddenly remembered that I should have done some more research into making our next audiobook selection. That is to say, it was more or less a… Continue reading What We’ve Been Reading Lately
Remembering Yes
This week my kids have turned into prolific letter writers. My daughter, who loves inventive spelling, grabs a piece of paper and gets busy writing out what she wants to share with her grandmother. My son, who hates inventive spelling, asks me to take dictation so that he can copy the words himself in turn. When… Continue reading Remembering Yes
The Comprehension Question
(This post may contain affiliate links.) © Digitalpress "What curriculum do you recommend for improving my child's comprehension level?" It's a question that comes up frequently in homeschooling forums. It's a question that doesn't have a quick answer, at least if that answer is coming from me. It's a question for which I'd like to offer you… Continue reading The Comprehension Question
Back to School Countdown, Homeschool Edition – Day 5
Day 5 - Nurture Your Relationship Successful classroom teachers know that positive relationships with students are crucial to encouraging learning to take place and to fostering good behavior that makes the classroom a more pleasant environment for everyone. It's just as true for homeschool relationships. On the days when our relationships are humming with positivity,… Continue reading Back to School Countdown, Homeschool Edition – Day 5
The Language Arts Coach 