Is it legitimate for our kids to enjoy learning? I know, I know.  You’re surprised that I would even ask.  I mean, isn’t it obvious that little kids do better when learning is fun? But here’s the real question: Is it legitimate for our high school kids to enjoy learning??…

Since enjoying learning—especially for teens—is so radically different from the normal approach, may I continue to introduce you, one by one, to the people and Scriptures that have brought this to life for me? I hope you’re nodding your head right now.  Not nodding off, mind you!  That would take…

 What does it mean to have “satisfaction” when we learn? To answer, let me introduce you to one of my former mentors, the brilliant international educator with Youth With A Mission, Rosalie Pedder.  When Rosalie walked into a classroom, you never knew what would happen. She was hilarious, direct, and always…

 Well here’s a wild thought for you: In the seventeenth century, a Christian teacher named John Comenius, came to believe that it was possible for students to enjoy learning. But before we get into that, let’s look at educational ideas that had come before. I’d like to quote a bit…

Ten years ago, I shared one of the most important tips for homeschooling on my blog — The Power of Laughter in Learning.  After the difficulties and losses of the past few years, though, it seemed time for an updated blog about this amazing gift. Especially when we consider that it is…

In the last five blogs, we have considered these things: the possibility that our students, including high schoolers, can enjoy learning; the notion that learning, though hard work, can be pleasurable; the concept that all learning has the possibility of being studied with pleasure; the hope that teachers can teach…

 Here’s a homeschool riddle for you: How are a muffin and a curriculum alike? Answer: Whether or not we devour it!! The story Some years ago, I was asked to make muffins in a hurry by my mother, using a store-bought mix she handed to me. Since I enjoy cooking,…

 Last week, I shared the story of making blueberry muffins two different ways. . . And then compared that to homeschool curriculum. (Read it here.) Realistically, is it possible for our kids to enjoy an appetizing experience in learning, one that leaves them wanting more? If so, what are the…

A mom recently asked me about the idea of following our kids interests. After reading Why Quit Homeschooling, she wrote, “I ended with the same question that I often do when I read about moms who’ve ‘ditched’ the textbook method and are allowing their kids interests to lead in homeschool. …

 Many years ago, while living in the Black Hills of South Dakota, Bill and I decided one afternoon that it was time to take time. Bidding our teens a fond adieu, we headed off to parts unknown for the evening. Remembering the injunction, “Go West, Young Man, Go West!”, we…

Gazing at the IMMENSE hole of a buffalo jump in Beulah, Wyoming (as described in the previous post), I suddenly saw a relationship between making it easy to process buffalo for winter and making it easy for kids to learn. To explain, let me start with a few questions: Do…

In our quest to educate our children, sometimes we can’t see the forest for the trees. You know what I mean.  There you are, trying to manueuver three children (or 1 or 6 or 12) through math (or lit or science or history), and it doesn’t look anything like school. …

 In the last post, we looked at the first Demystifier—children are always learning.  Today, we’ll take that a step further. Demystifier #2: It’s not really learning until it changes you. Learning changes you. Getting it right on the test doesn’t mean you have learned it. I took a test to…