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The older my daughter gets the more I appreciate a little help with homeschooling subjects like science. By help, I mean the collection of materials. There are so many resources to choose from. It can be daunting and finding high-quality books and materials is SO time-consuming. I know what we want: literature-based, secular, hands-on, fun. […]
The summer before I went to high school, I learned how to type. My father told me at the end of the summer, he’d give me as many dollars as I could type a minute. The typing program we used was on CD-ROM. No internet back in those days. It was tedious and without a […]
I am appreciating social media posts and articles reminding us we don’t have to “do something” while we’re sheltering in place. Now does not have to be the time to learn how to play the guitar or read every book on our shelf. Getting up, working, caring for our families, it is enough. I am […]
Have you suddenly found yourself teaching online? Are you thinking about ways to connect online with your students, individually, in groups, or as a class? Zoom is a wonderful resource for teaching and learning online. While it’s not the same as an in-person class, Zoom has many of the same features as a tech-filled classroom. […]
A few nights ago the Iowa Caucus was on tv. My ten year old came in, sat down, asked what a caucus was and then seconds later answered her own question. The 2020 U.S. elections are in full swing and BookShark’s U.S. Elections Lap Book couldn’t have come into our lives at a better time! […]
Let’s talk flexibility. Imagine if you will your perfect homeschool day. Everyone’s will look different, but maybe for you, it looks like having found a new curriculum you’re excited about or having all the materials laid out on the kitchen table or maybe you’ve planned a field trip to meet friends, hike and learn about […]
Do your homeschool days feel like a race that’s never-ending? Do you worry you’re not doing enough? I’ve felt both the rat race and worry I’m dropping a ball. What I’ve found is the need to simplify my homeschool day. Simplifying your homeschool day doesn’t mean cutting out all the fun or letting go of […]
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 […]
Every January my kids and I spend time reflecting on the past year and setting goals. We think about what we want to learn, create, and my favorite, what we want to read. Reading goals help us make sure reading and reading for pleasure is a priority. Our best reads of 2019 speak volumes to […]
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 […]
Is there anything better than the smell of a campfire, a hike in the woods, creek stomping or star gazing? My answer- Nothing better! I love the smell of burning wood, the crunch of acorns under our shoes, the hundreds of times my children have yelled out, “Mom, you have to see this!” Much of […]
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 […]
For a kid who loves writing, a new pen and a notebook, the possibilities of a blank page might be all they need for inspiration. For other writers (reluctant, new, or feeling stuck), those same tools can feel overwhelming, and no matter the writing prompts or encouragement, the page is going to remain blank. Thankfully, […]
The first time learning math facts came into my life I was the student, and I was not a fan. The second time my oldest followed in his mother’s footsteps and also refused to memorize them. I got him learning wrap-ups (which I still think are more fun and useful that the flashcards I had […]
An alarm on our Google dot rings; it is five o’clock, time to transition into the last part of the day. While the alarm can be a tad annoying, we need a gentle push in the evening. We are tired, and if we don’t intentionally choose how we spend our time, it’s easy to fall […]
