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Lesson Plans

Lesson Plans

I found my homeschooling days to go much more smoothly the times I produced lesson plans before the year began. There was more peace in the home and I experienced greater confidence. Lesson plans helped me so greatly because they reduced the stress of homeschooling on a daily basis. It worked best for me to create lesson plans for one semester and then create more over Christmas for the next semester. Each child was given his lesson book and each day he knew exactly what to do. I could have told my children each hour what to do, but that would have […]

Academic vs. Creative Writing

Academic Writing vs. Creative Writing

One kind of writing—academic writing—is rigid and procedural. It’s purposed purely to convey knowledge, data, and information. It’s orderly, organized, and follows a formula. It’s necessary. It can be dull. Anyone can master it. Everyone should master it. The other kind of writing—creative writing—is inspired and artistic. It entertains with word pictures, concepts, and deep meaning. It’s enjoyable to read and touches us while teaching us. It’s an art form. It’s not necessary to learn, but a joy to those who do. Academic writing will earn you A’s; creative writing may get you published. Academic writing must be taught, but […]

Teach Them to Write

Teach Them to Write!

Practically every college professor complains about the dramatic decline in writing skills of college students. “If you teach them nothing else, please,” they implore, “Teach them to write!” Writing, or the pedagogy of writing, has been somewhat of a fixation of mine. You see, ever since I learned that my husband—who doesn’t have a writer’s heart—made straight A’s on all his college essays, while I—a passionate writer—didn’t enjoy such an experience, I’ve wondered about this thing called writing. Though I’ve always considered myself a writer, most of my teachers and professors didn’t view the methodical eloquence nor the originality and […]

Homeschool Planning

Homeschool Planning

Homeschool planning was something I enjoyed. It helped me stay in touch with my children’s needs, goals, interests, personality, and learning style. I always took these things into account when writing and evaluating each child’s plan. My oldest was an independent learner and my youngest a self-starter. One was overcoming dyslexia and the other was average to above average in everything. Between the four, there were many things to consider when planning. The goal was always to challenge my children to move up a notch academically without discouraging their joy and love of learning. It was a delicate balance. I […]

Why You Should Homeschool

Why You Should Homeschool

Where to begin? There are so many reasons why you should homeschool, the first being the freedom it affords you children—freedom to pursue an individualized education and life path that enables them to be true to themself and mature into the person God created them to be.  Freedom Let’s begin with academic freedom. Sadly, our nation is falling behind the global market in the academic arena. The National Center for Educational Statistics shows a consistent downward trend beginning after fourth grade. American children are simply not making the grade. They graduate knowing less than 50% of the material they should know. […]

Why Your Child Dislikes Writing

Why Your Child Dislikes Writing

It can be rather discouraging for the homeschool mom when, after trying every method and motivation possible, a child simply refuses to write. If you’re in that boat, don’t despair! Many a homeschool mom has fought this battle and won, so you are not alone. There could be one of many reasons why your child dislikes writing. The encouraging thing to know is there are simple solutions to address and overcome each and every one of these obstacles. The first factor is that perhaps your child doesn’t like the physical mechanics of writing. Does he hold his pencil with an […]

Why Notebooks

Why Notebooks?

Over the years homeschool moms have asked, “Why notebooks?” And to that I would have to say creating and using notebooks was one of the most rewarding and fulfilling things we did in our homeschool. It honestly kept me afloat and from feeling discouraged or ineffective. In fact, notebooks even gave me a sense of accomplishment, a much needed sentiment in the ongoing homeschool journey. We usually used notebooks in place of worksheets, even when the curriculum provided them. Fill in the blank worksheets with word searches, matching games, and the like were unable to engage my children the way creating […]

Teach Them to 'Speak

Teach Them to Speak

Statistics show that most people would rather jump from an airplane than speak in public. Even more astonishing, the fear of speaking is greater than the fear of death. Most Americans, and most people in the world for that matter, prefer death over speaking to a crowd! Only five percent are capable and willing to take the platform. Only five percent have the confidence to speak to an audience. So the questions remain: who are those five percent? Why are those five percent ready, willing, and able to take the platform? Who will those five percent be when our children […]