Hands-On History With The Giant American History Timeline
When my oldest son was in 5th grade, we put together a comprehensive timeline of American history. He was obsessed with the Revolutionary War and I wanted him to see how it fit in the with rest of our...
View ArticleMovement and Learning: Our Backyard History Timeline
This has been a tough week for us. Like whoa. So tough in fact, I almost gave up and did not plan an activity (not just for the blog, but honestly, for my son as well). It’s exactly why I wanted to do...
View ArticleLearning About The Olympics – One Activity At A Time
Somehow, we made it through January. I am glad to see it go. For reals. It was not the best month for us. The good news is, not only is it February (which somehow seems so much doable than...
View ArticleCan You Homeschool A Child With Special Needs?
When my sons were first diagnosed with their various differences, we has already been homeschooling for a year. The school system had not worked well for my oldest son and it was clear that my youngest...
View ArticleMy Child Is Behind In Math
My youngest has always had a natural affinity for math. He was the first one in his preschool class to understand the concepts of addition and subtraction (and apply them). I never worried about which...
View Article101 Reasons To Consider Homeschooling Your Child With Special Needs
I hear from so many moms and dads who are considering homeschooling for their child with special needs. I completely understand the concern, the hesitancy and the fear woven throughout their words....
View ArticleWhy An Adaptive Science Curriculum Is The Best Choice For My Child
Homeschool Mom Confession: In almost 8 years of homeschooling, I have never had to purchase a full science curriculum. My kids have a natural interest in science that has allowed us to read books,...
View ArticleHow To Create A Test Your Child Will Love To Take
When we made the decision to homeschool, I immediately noticed one significant benefit – no more test anxiety. My son stressed constantly about his next test, and then the next. Every Thursday night...
View ArticleWhen Your High Schooler Is Woefully Behind In Writing
My fifteen-year-old son started taking classes, part-time, at a local private school this year. It’s been a wonderful addition to his education. He has explored world history and cultures, art, and is...
View ArticleWhat Interest-Led Learning Really Looks Like
My children are both wildly different. My oldest is a thirteen year old, self-professed computer geek with a strong interest in physics, non-fiction and occasionally, reptiles. My youngest is ten,...
View ArticleMy Ultimate Guide To Hands-On Learning Activities
It’s been eight weeks since I made the commitment to complete one hands-on activity with my son every week. I share them with you here, every Friday, in the hopes that it might take some of the...
View ArticleHarry Potter Homeschool: Hands-On Activities For Every Aspiring Wizard
I volunteered in the school library when my son was in second grade. I loved it. The weekly trip to the library was kind-of a big deal for my son’s class and he loved seeing me there in the middle of...
View ArticleHuman Body Unit Study: An Activity About Our Skin
We began our human body unit study this year, on our very first day of school. My youngest son was continuing to have digestive issues and has other chronic conditions that made his life miserable at...
View ArticleSt. Patrick’s Day Social Skills Activity: If I Were A Leprechaun
Finding a social skills activity that is actually engaging and fun for my boys can be really, really difficult. Most are designed to carefully break down cultural and social norms that we take for...
View ArticleLearning To Read With Special Needs
My youngest son is eleven years old. He has been trying to learn to read now for almost seven years. Day in and day out, practicing the sounds, the sight words, the letters and the blends. Seven years....
View ArticleLearning About The Color Spectrum: A Hands-On Activity
We talk about the spectrum a lot around here. “Spectrum” is used to describe many of my boys’ diagnosis. In addition to the autism spectrum, ADHD and mental illnesses are also frequently referred to as...
View ArticleAdding Hands-On Learning To Your Week Without Losing Your Mind
Since committing to sharing a weekly activity back in January, I have been amazed at the results. My son loves having a “thing” to plan and look forward to each week. I love having him engaged and...
View ArticleLearning About The Library: A Hands-On Activity
I worked at the campus library in college. It was the best job I ever had. I was in charge of cataloging and shelving new books. This meant I not only got to see many of the new books coming into the...
View ArticlePoetry Tea Time Without The Tea: How A Brave Writer Lifestyle Reduces Anxiety...
One of my all time favorite options for homeschooling curriculum is not a curriculum at all. It’s an approach to learning. It’s about creating a wonderful environment for learning. It’s Brave Writer. I...
View ArticleWhen Your Child Is Too Anxious To Learn
I have many memories of elementary and middle school. Good ones like singing in the choir, participating in history day, and my sweet third grade teacher calling me “love bug.” Like most of us, I also...
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