We started out this year with the intent to use a different curriculum for handwriting but, of course, life happens! We ended up moving across country, leaving behind the majority of our home to be shipped at a later date. That means we left most of our curriculum as well! Basically starting from scratch, I stumbled across "A Reason for Handwriting". I am so glad that I did! We chose "A … [Read more...] about A Reason for Handwriting
French is Fun
In grade 7, after years of low-key, informal French, our children start French is Fun 1. This inexpensive textbook from AMSCO works well for us, helping the children consolidate all their earlier knowledge and extending it dramatically. French is Fun, Book 1: Lively Lessons for Beginners, Third Edition by Gail Stein and Heywood Wald brings beginners to a reasonable level of proficiency. … [Read more...] about French is Fun
Games for Learning
While browsing the Christian Home Educators of Kentucky Convention last year, I came across a booth with several games that looked exciting. The company, HL Games Limited, allowed me the opportunity to review three of those games. All of them are appropriate for middle elementary children and older. Amuse Amaze happens to be our favorite of the three, although all of them are fun. Your job … [Read more...] about Games for Learning
A Trip Around the World in Three Books
I have three reproducible books from Carson Dellosa Publishing that have been helping us in our studies of different countries. They are a series geared for elementary ages. The first book, A Trip Around the World, helps you and your children explore life in Mexico, Brazil, Egypt, Kenya, Germany, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, China, Japan, Australia, Canada, and the United States. Another Trip … [Read more...] about A Trip Around the World in Three Books
Spelling is a Zoo!
Ever since my daughter was in Kindergarten she has struggled with spelling. We had a few good years due to a great curriculum and active hands on word studies. However as she hit the junior high level she was no longer interested in spelling games yet still lacked spelling skills. She is a very intelligent girl but spelling is not her forte. I thought that she would simply have to live … [Read more...] about Spelling is a Zoo!
Music for Little Mozarts
Last school year, I had a strong desire to start my boys in music lessons. And, while this led to a quest for a free piano, which my husband spent many hours refinishing for us, it has also brought much joy into our home. At the time, our daughter was in preschool, and we decided to focus only on starting our boys with the piano, since they were eight and ten at the time. This year, since our … [Read more...] about Music for Little Mozarts
Don’t Make Me Count to Three!
"Don't Make Me Count to Three!" by Ginger Plowman is not only a very humorous book, but full of wise and practical advice about Biblical discipline. As a mom of three children, I still have much to learn about patient, loving discipline that reaches the hearts of my children. And this book fits the bill! Not only that, but it's fast moving and easy-to-read. You won't find yourself grasping … [Read more...] about Don’t Make Me Count to Three!
Evan-Moor History Pockets
History is on of my very favorite subjects to teach. I've always loved history and if you've read my blog for very long at all, you know I'm a project kind of homeschool mama. I don't use any one history curriculum...I use a wide variety of project books with one or two great spine books to base our unit off of. One resource that I've gone back to over and over is Evan Moor's History Pocket … [Read more...] about Evan-Moor History Pockets
Things People Do
Do you remember elementary school social studies? I remember a few bits and pieces—my memories are of a little American history and a lot of social studies. It seems that we talked quite a bit about how society works. We talked about the police, the fire department, community leaders, the library, and other societal mechanisms. Though I have chosen a chronological approach to history, I still … [Read more...] about Things People Do
Teaching the Essay from Analytical Grammar
My oldest child is in 8th grade this year and is taking a Literary Analysis class for the first time. The class involves writing many literary analysis essays. Rather than dive right into the Literary Analysis class, I thought it would be prudent and fruitful to first teach her how to write a literary analysis essay. Even though I feel confident in my own writing, I wasn't sure how to go about … [Read more...] about Teaching the Essay from Analytical Grammar
Dover Coloring Books
We have many, many Dover coloring books, and they have changed the life of at least one of our children. Miss 12 spends hours carefully coloring fashions of the past. She has learned so much history simply from studying the pictures and reading the captions. In fact, when she looks at paintings she can date them accurately, just by what the people are wearing! She’s also learned a lot about … [Read more...] about Dover Coloring Books
Apples Spelling
Apples: Daily Spelling Drills for Secondary Students has been a wonderful addition to our middle school curricula. My daughter has been through years of spelling since she's in 8th grade. I wasn't quite ready to completely stop spelling instruction, but I didn't want it to take up too much time and be drudgery this year either. Apples has been the perfect fit for us! Each week my daughter … [Read more...] about Apples Spelling