Welcome to my house–don’t mind the tub of pinecones, collection of rocks, and the bowl brimming with water and toy frogs! It’s all part of play–which as you know, is where kiddos learn best! There’s a fancy term for letting our kids collect, pour, mix, sniff, and generally make a mess…It’s called Sensory Play! And…
Homeschooling
Choosing Homeschool Curriculum: Where Do I Start?
Homeschooling has been such a huge blessing in my life and family–I’d do it again in a heartbeat! I started researching homeschooling when my oldest son was about 3 years old–I really wrestled with the decision! (Here’s my post about why I homeschool and still love it). And after that initial decision to homeschool,…
Essential End of Homeschool Year Checklist and 5 Day Challenge!
Whew…We just wrapped up another year (our 15th year of homeschooling)! And the truth is–I’m so tempted to shove all our homeschool books in a cabinet, jump in the pool, and not think two bits about school until August! But this year, I’m vowing to actually end with some semblance of grace and be intentional…
4 Easy Steps for Organizing Your Digital Homeschool Files
Once upon a time I taught 2nd grade in a public school–before the age of Pinterest. In fact, we barely used email. I certainly never looked for teaching ideas on the internet–I barely even knew what the internet was…So what the heck did teachers do back in 1999?! Well, we coveted our beautiful, black file cabinets!…
Secrets to Developing Independent Learners
Independent learners. Hmm…That sounds like a lovely “pie in the sky” idea, especially when you’re sitting with your first-grader and reading every. single. word. for them. Will this child ever be able to do work without me…even if I’m not sitting here keeping him on task? And if you have older kids–you wonder: When…
3 Books That Will Change the Way You Homeschool
I’ve been at this homeschool gig for a while now…(wrapping up my 15th year—unbelievable)! And in many ways it feels like I’ve got it down. I’ve grown into a pretty relaxed, eclectic homeschool mom. But sometimes when you’ve been doing something for awhile—you just don’t appreciate how much you still need encouragement. How the weariness…
What Grade Level is My Child In?
I always try to prepare my children for social situations–just doing our part to break the awkward turtle homeschool stereotypes! (“Okay, Little Loves…We are about to enter the library–let’s not run and yell and tear every book off the shelves! That would be awesome!“). I guarantee my 4-year-old twins will be asked, “How old are…
5 Tips for Tackling the Laundry
Oh, the laundry! There is literally no end in sight. For years, I lived in denial of this fact. I thought I could somehow get it all done. Visions of empty laundry baskets and spotless closet floors danced in my head…Until I accepted the truth. Laundry is a constant work-in-progress. And that is okay–it’s just part…
Teach Reading At Home With Ready for Reading!
Teaching my kids to read has been one of the most rewarding experiences of homeschooling (and my life)! There’s just nothing like hearing your sweet babies read their first words and watching them grow as readers! When I decided to homeschool 15 years ago, the very first thing I purchased was a phonics curriculum! My…
5 Reasons Homeschool Moms Need Teacher Workdays
Years ago I taught 2nd grade in a public school. And while I loved teaching my students–I sure did love my teacher work days! These are days carved out on the calendar for teachers to get work done–without students! Sometimes they’re called Professional Days or Inservice Days–but regardless of what you call these special work…
3 Amazing Apps for Preschoolers That You Won’t Feel Guilty About
Often I get asked how I keep my littles (4 year old twins) busy while I’m homeschooling my daughter in high school and first grade son. (Honestly, it sounds harder than it actually is…twins have a way of entertaining each other!) But even if you’re not a homeschool mom, I’m guessing sometimes you could use…
3 Simple Christmas Traditions
The Holidays. Why is it that those two words can stir two completely opposite emotions: Joy and Stress? Oh how I want to grab all the joy and leave all the stress behind. As kids–the holidays were all joy. It was cousins and cookies and toy catalogs and Christmas carols. As adults–I think…
The Wise Men Journey — A New Advent Tradition
Hi Sweet Friends! You know when God puts someone on your path and they just ooze Jesus–and you are flat out humbled and amazed by the whole thing to your core? Well that is exactly what happened to me when I met Lynette Meintjes while waiting around for my kids at dance class! She is amazing…
Homeschool Sick Days
Well, Sweet Friends—cold and flu season is having a party over at my house. I’m currently drowning in a sea of Kleenex…Besides me, five of my six kids have also succumbed to this yuck. And if a houseful of sick people doesn’t derail homeschool plans, I just don’t know what does. It’s easy to get…
FlyLady Routines — Bless Your Home and Family!
Here’s the truth. I’m a very messy person at heart. I was the kid in elementary school who stuffed bent folders, stubby pencils, broken crayons, and crumpled notes into her desk. Oh how I envied my friends who kept their desks meticulous–shiny folders all in a row, neat pencil boxes (actually filled with pencils and…
