Making homeschool decisions easy
Nature journaling and exploration are great activities for families and children. It is thereby not surprising that nature study is a popular component of many homeschools. Simply put, it is the study of nature via simple, truthful observations which over time cultivate one’s understanding and appreciation for the world around them. Nature study helps the student to see science face to face, to understand the…
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Are you looking for a fun way to teach science to your middle schoolers? Do you want something that is clearly written and also hands-on? When my daughter was in 5th grade, she wanted to learn all about rocks and geology. So, to add to our nature explorations, we went to our local teacher’s store looking for Middle School STEM…
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If you like science, you will love Smarter Every Day! My boys and I found the Smarter Every Day YouTube channel about a year ago, and we cannot get enough of it. In the words of its creator, Destin, “I explore the world using science. That’s pretty much all there is to it.” You will find short, engaging videos about…
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My boys tend to go through stretches of intense study on one subject. Trains, cars, nature, science, history, technology and more. They immerse themselves in a subject and learn all they can. One subject they continue to revisit is electronics. My boys especially enjoy electronic experiments. Their favorite is the series of electronics experiment kits from Elenco called Snap Circuits®….
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I have to admit that in our early years of homeschooling I was very enthusiastic about buying educational gifts for every occasion. Therefore, we have tons, and yes I means tons of educational games in our house. Some have been and a big hit, and others not so much. One that was a favorite of all three of my children…
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I was looking for a way to really dig deep into some literature with our children. However, I was met with the reality that I didn’t have the time to really teach literature the way that I really wanted to do. So, basically in despair, I began to look for really good literature guides and I ran across the Center…
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Mathematics is a subject that needs a lot of practice. Children are often bored using a single resource to finish assignments, especially when they are a line of exercises on a mathematics workbook. I know that it would be a good drill to familiarize them with certain mathematics concepts. Although I can force them to do the drilling part, I…
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Nature study and journaling have always been a major component of our homeschool. Over the years, the kids and I have filled up several nature journals with sketches, photographs, trail maps, and pressed leaves commemorating our outings. Train your mind to see deeply and with internal curiosity, and the beauty and wonder of the world will open before you. Keeping a journal of your observations, questions, and…
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One of the most appealing aspects of a Charlotte Mason education for me is the seamless interplay between art and science that is possible with nature study. Nothing compares to tromping through the woods in all weathers to track the first crocus. Alright, we usually just walk around our neighborhood…and only when it’s not too wet! But we still keep…
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I have a confession to make. I am not a craft-loving, messy project mom. So when I hear the words ‘art project’ I cringe just a little. But my daughter absolutely loves doing art projects (sometimes the messier the better)! I realized that I needed to give her time to be creative so I make sure to schedule time for…
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