It’s that time of year again! Many homeschoolers are finishing up their summer breaks, the smell of new school supplies is in the air, and co-ops and support groups are gearing up again. For many folks it’s Back-to-School time. There is something exciting about the fresh start of a new school year! Even though we school year round, we take…
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Hands-On Foreign Language for Kids
While there are many ‘foreign’ languages a homeschool family can study, the one I recommend for those with young children is American Sign Language. Our journey to ASL began out of necessity with a child who was non-verbal. However, as our family has grown and our need disappeared we discovered that sign language was a wonderful tool in our parenting…
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Memorable Faith, Courage and Virtue Stories
I like to begin our homeschool day with a faith reading, it sets a good tone for the day. A few years ago I came across a little gem of a book titled Rare Catholic Stories and Poems with Reading Comprehension, second edition, published by Catholic Heritage Curricula. This book is now newly revised to include over thirty stories and two hundred…
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Blackbird Exploring Poetry Unit
Blackbird & Company has a poetry unit study that I taught to my 12 year old son, his friend of the same age, and my 10 year old daughter. I thoroughly enjoyed the unit, and at the end, the kids didn’t want to be done. It was perfectly age-appropriate for these kids (who, for what it’s worth, are all reading…
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English From the Roots Up
We’ve implemented a new foreign language/vocabulary plan this year that’s working quite well! Every school day after Bible reading we have some sort of skill drill – math flashcards, quick math or logic games, and Greek & Latin roots. Twice a week, using English from the Roots Up by Joegil Lundquist, we are learning one new root word and reviewing…
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Growing With Grammar
I have been using Growing With Grammar with my daughter and youngest son for the past three years. This review will focus on the Growing With Grammar curriculum generally, as we have used several levels of the program. Growing With Grammar provides a thorough education in grammar, including sentence diagramming. Sentence diagramming is included starting in level 3 of the curriculum. …
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Rod and Staff Grammar
When I was a child, my younger sisters studied grammar differently than I did. They learned something mysterious called ‘diagramming’ and had very interesting textbooks. Many years later a friend of mine was selling some books, and in the pile I found Rod and Staff grammar texts. Exactly what my sisters had studied! Of course I bought them. We were…
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Easy Make & Learn Projects: Human Body
Several months ago a slim little volume caught my eye on the clearance rack at Half-Price Books. Sometimes, the clearance rack leads me astray—all of those cheap books just screaming my name—but not this time! Easy Make and Learn Projects: Human Body by Donald M. Silver and Patricia J. Wynne was perfect for our study of the human body. The…
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Stick Figuring Through the Bible
I had the opportunity to review Grapevine Studies Old Testament Overview for ages 5-7 and teen-adult. I was intrigued by the idea of stick figuring through the Bible. I have to admit I was not quite sure what to expect. If you take a look a their website, you will find wonderful products for homeschooling, churches and Christian schools. I…
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Read for the Heart – A Book about Books
I have yet to meet a homeschool family that did not love books. On my quest to find wonderful books to be read to or by my children I have read quite a few ‘books about books’. One volume has earned a place on my personal shelf to be used often. That book is Read for the Heart: Whole Books…
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