(While this was originally written for homeschooling families, most of the ideas are easily adaptable for any family.) Do you ever feel stuck in the day-to-day sameness of your school routine? If you circle the holidays on your calendar, you can have not just instant mini-units, but family fun and […]
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In Part 1, we looked at the mentoring relationship in the context of a dancing relationship in which each partner is trying to enjoy the music and share the experience, but has yet to find the comfortable rhythm (and is still a bit shy of stepping on toes!). Thinking about […]
I was recently privileged to participate in a discussion with hundreds of homeschoolers of various ages, ethnicities, income levels, family sizes, and in various seasons of homeschooling. As the more veteran homeschoolers and the newer home educators interacted, I sensed I was privy to a tentative “dance” of sorts, in […]
Speed Mentoring By Vicki Bentley and Elizabeth Kennedy A traditional mentoring program (such as Home Education 101) is designed to inspire long-term encouragement and relationship. If that sort of mentoring relationship is the “marriage,” this activity is the “speed dating”! It can be used as an ice-breaker at the start […]
Homeschool Records: Souvenirs of Your Homeschool Journey Just like your banking records, there are certain papers that are useful for you to stash away for the future, whether for a school official, or for your children, or for you to reminisce! It is helpful to put together a portfolio each […]
This is just a quickie video tutorial of the bread-making process for making sandwich bread using my Bosch Universal Plus mixer. ( Need a mixer? Want a mixer? I can set you up!) This particular batch is made of two thirds whole grain flour, but you can use whatever higher-gluten […]
Re-entering the Workforce Homeschooling moms often wonder how they can best position themselves to re-enter the workforce after the last child has “left the nest”—or even to augment the family income while still homeschooling. Here are a few tips to help you confidently land that job. Update Your Resumé Your resumé […]
Most of us read aloud to our little ones, but once they are able to read on their own, it’s tempting to leave the reading to the children themselves. No matter the age of our children, reading aloud is still a valuable family activity–even through the high school years! Hearing […]
I didn’t go to kindergarten, nor did I have the benefit of a preschool program, yet I might be perceived by some to be a well-adjusted, academically adequate, productive person. When I was growing up, kindergarten was “pre-school” — it was not mandatory and not all kids went. Many kids […]
As the days get shorter and cooler, your children may spend more time indoors. You can make the most of all this togetherness with some fun and games designed to build family relationships while reinforcing skills. Games promote family bonding while building math, language, and thinking skills. Game play reinforces […]