Let’s be real … homeschooling is not a cure for all that ails our families. Life is still messy. In fact, sometimes all that one-on-one time can really magnify shortcomings in our relationships with our children as well as with our spouses. Some of the most heartbreaking consulting calls I […]
Parenting
We all have probably heard the principle that it is better to give than to receive, but how do we teach our children to treat others kindly, give generously, and serve willingly? What are our kids mirroring? Children are often like little mirrors, reflecting our attitudes and actions. They are […]
(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 […]
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 […]
Why Study Civics? A parent recently shared with me that her family has been studying American history this year and has enjoyed learning about the Pilgrims, the battles of the American Revolution, and other stories of our nation’s Founding Fathers and their incredible faith. However, her family is dismayed by […]
The first couple days of homeschooling might have been fun and games, but at some point, cleaning the house while everybody is in it became like brushing your teeth while you’re still eating Oreos…..futile. What’s a parent to do? Include the family! You are in this together, including cleaning up […]
Mathematics is simply the study of the patterns and order in the world that God has made. It ranges from elementary arithmetic—the basic operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division—to more advanced math, the language of the natural sciences, engineering, medicine, music, and more. As Becky Cooke and Diane Kummer […]
In the face of quarantines and curfews related to the recent coronavirus/Covid-19 pandemic, many families are not only facing ‘typical’ problems caused by the quarantine itself, but now they must rethink their children’s education. Some are turning to home-schooling, even if just temporarily. Perhaps you suddenly find yourself considering home-schooling […]