At this time of year, many parents are thinking about how to assess their children’s progress. The first step is to determine your own state’s testing requirements, if there are any. The law may require that you periodically demonstrate academic progress. Some statutes mandate standardized testing, while others may allow for […]
Homeschooling
63 posts
In an earlier article, Finding the Gift in Your Child, I mentioned that when we were first considering home education, I was unsure about my own ability to meet my children’s needs. Not only did we have a daughter born with special medical and developmental needs, but I had two […]
Homeschooling isn’t always fun and games and giggles; sometimes it is just downright difficult—especially if the student isn’t particularly thrilled to be homeschooling. It is not our job as parents to make our children happy. It’s our job to raise them as God has called us to, even if it […]
“Aaand … we’re off! … like a dirty shirt!” This is how every road trip begins for our family. Well, sometimes if my husband hesitates too long after the first part, the kids (or now the grandkids) try to “fake him out” with maybe “like a dirty undershirt!” or “like […]
As I’ve spoken with many of you on the phone or via email and shared with you in person at your state conventions, a recurring theme has been: Help! I’m committed to homeschooling, but I’m feeling overwhelmed just by everyday life! For those of you who were “born organized,” you […]
(or: How do I Budget for This?) If you are considering home education, the chances are high that you are either a single-income family or at least a not-so-much-disposable-income family, and if you’re like many of us, your budget is pretty tight. Although some sources say that the average homeschool […]
Well, you thought life would be back to “normal” by now, but it’s not looking promising. Perhaps you suddenly find yourself considering homeschooling because your local school is not currently an option for your family this fall. Let me share a few basics that I hope will encourage and equip […]
Note: While this article is geared primarily for preschool, most of the suggestions are also applicable through the early primary grades. SEE RESOURCES listed at the bottom of the page. A young mom writes: I’m new at homeschooling—I have 2-year-old twins. I want to teach them and get them […]
Q: What about socialization, and how can I be sure I’m doing a good job at it? Are there any tools to help me? A: It may help to first define terms: Socialization is the lifelong process through which people learn (dare I say internalize?) the values and norms of […]
We talked earlier about how to finish this past year strong, what to do with all those papers (including the prolific artwork!), and even gave you a tool to assess how the year went—plus some ideas for enjoying the summer. (If you are new, you may want to file that […]