On Facebook, a homeschool mom asked me, “I am working on finding more clarity and intention behind homeschooling. . . Could you please share the three main skills you believe have helped you the most?” Such a great question!! And, honestly, a pretty weighty one, too. In discussing it with

Last time, I posted the first of 3 skills that will help you become more intentional in homeschooling—finding a workable routine. Today is the second post on this topic. Second Skill—Creating the Learning Environment Along with having a routine that gives you structure AND freedom, homeschooling improves as you learn

Third Skill—Becoming A Master-Teacher In the past few blogs, we’ve looked at the way a wise and workable routine makes homeschooling easier and how creating a learning environment will invite children into deeper levels of learning. The third skill that will transform homeschooling from a dreaded or ho-hum experience into a

A few weeks ago, I saw a man with his two young grandkids walking next to a flowing creek in the woods. The children held their nets in great anticipation as they eagerly scrambled over logs looking for tadpoles. It was such a perfect picture of the delight and joy

​As a young homeschool mom, I attended a support group meeting in October. One of the other moms (a very confidant, capable woman) happily announced, “We’ve already completed 3/4 of our year’s curriculum!” My heart sank as my mind silently rehearsed the fact that we hadn’t made it out of

Time. Don’t you wish there was more of it in your life? Time to accomplish more, rest more, read more, laugh more, play more? Especially when your life is filled to the brim with to-do’s? But, when it comes to homeschooling our kids, how do we find more time? After…

Children are not predictable, have you noticed?  You have a wonderful schedule all set up (and you worked HARD on it, well done!!), and first thing you know, your kids are not cooperating with the program.  They have questions, they are tired, they don’t get it, they don’t remember it,

Dear Friends, Does it ever seem like you could apply to the circus for a job spinning plates? Trying to keep this one busy with math, while that one is sounding out the alphabet, each at the same time you are simmering enough spaghetti sauce to serve an army AND

How to crush learning? That’s not what we signed up for, right? As homeschoolers, we are committed to our children’s education and development. We want to help them soar! So, why this post on how to crush learning? Good question! To answer, let’s play with our food for a minute:…

In a previous post, we looked at the difference between “a to-do list” and “an invitation.” Today, let’s consider how to invite our kids into a love of learning AND how to keep things more-or-less on track academically. Being able to balance these two is not automatic! But as we

Recently I wrote, “More than any other teacher on the planet, you can be flexible with your lesson plan and schedule.  If you see a sudden interest arising in your student, then make it a priority, change your schedule, and allow it in your lesson plan.” So, what does that

Believe me, I was ALWAYS on a budget! When we first began our homeschool adventure, my husband was a public school teacher—which meant his salary was very low. . . and I was at home with our kids. But, where there’s a will, there’s a way. We saved up for

Enough is enough, as the saying goes—and as these examples indicate: A homemade birthday cake is delicious, unless you eat the whole thing in one sitting. A hot bath is lovely, unless the water overflows the tub and drips through the floorboards to ruin the room below. A scenic drive