Habits to Help Your Homeschool Day Run Smoothly

Habits to Help Your Homeschool Day Run Smoothly

Habits, the things we do on autopilot, can lead people to success, productivity, and better health. There are countless books on how to create good habits. From spending to studying, eating to time management, researchers have found the things we do over and over make a difference in the way we live. As homeschoolers, this […]

How to Make Downtime a Priority

How to Make Downtime a Priority

Research on naps, meditation, nature walks and the habits of exceptional artists and athletes reveals how mental breaks increase productivity, replenish attention, solidify memories and encourage creativity. Why Your Brain Needs More Downtime, Scientific American When I had my first child, I ignored the advice to rest when he napped or played quietly. I believed […]

Activities & Games to Get Kids Writing

Activities & Games to Get Kids Writing

Play is one of the best ways to teach and encourage writing. It takes away the pressure and fear writing can sometimes offer. Games and creative writing activities encourage kids to experiment with language, storytelling, organization, and ideas. Through play, writers learn spelling, vocabulary, how to create imagery, develop a plot, and even revise. Play […]

Set Reading Goals | Make Reading a Priority

Set Reading Goals | Make Reading a Priority

My daughter’s goal is to read the Wings of Fire AND the Harry Potter series. She’s eight and started reading fluently about six months ago. It’s a big goal. She wants to read them out loud together and to be perfectly honest, I have no clue how we’ll find time to read that much. (Keep […]

Keeping the Holidays Simple

Keeping the Holidays Simple

Shopping for the holidays used to stress me out! Over the years I’ve found ways to keep holiday giving simple, and it’s actually become a lot of fun. I love making many of our gifts and focusing on a few things makes the season a lot less stressful. I try to keep these things in […]

Gifts that Grow Young Writers

Gifts that Grow Young Writers

Every year I wrap up books and journals and fill stockings with fun pens and pencils. This year will be no exception. I’m on the lookout for fun ways to encourage reading and writing. Below are some of the best writing-related gifts I’ve found to help grow young writers. Gifts to Encourage Writing “If you […]

Around the World with Candlewick Press

Around the World with Candlewick Press

One day I’d love to travel around the world with my girl. We have big one-day plans. Alaska, Austrailia, Germany, France, so many adventures make up our bucket list. Until that one day comes, we are content to travel together in story. Candlewick Press books never fail to provide stories we want to adventure into […]

100 Ways To Help Kids Love to Read

100 Ways To Help Kids Love to Read

There are a number of reasons why reading is big deal in our family. Simply stated, Dr. Seus says it best. We read because, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” Reading opens doors and passageways towards our passions and goals. Reading […]