I typically spend most of the summer planning, organizing, and preparing for the upcoming homeschool year. As this past summer flew by, I found myself searching desperately for the last few resources we needed, among them a Bible curriculum for my 12-year-old son, Keaton. I finally resigned myself to the…
“I never knew the Civil War was so interesting!” That’s exactly what my ninth-grade daughter, Kaylee, said to me recently. She is using All American History Vol. II this year and has been completely captivated with her study of the Civil War, slavery, and the Underground Railroad. All American History…
One thing I love about All American History is that each week is centered around just one lesson. Lesson planning is simplified, knowing that we have five days to cover the material in the chapter. There are many ways that a week could be laid out; in fact, several ideas…
This year my daughter Kaylee entered ninth grade and we began the important step of counting high school credits. I spent much of the summer considering various courses for her, trying to balance state requirements with her interests and learning style. Since we love Mystery of History from Bright Ideas…
Even with eight years of homeschooling experience, I still struggle to teach writing effectively. Although I love to write, I seem to lack the ability to confidently teach writing skills to my children. Of all my children, my fourteen-year-old daughter Kaylee especially enjoys writing. I was thrilled to find a…
I have many fond memories of reading as I was growing up. My dad often gave me books for Christmas, while my mother made dozens of trips to the library to keep us four children in reading material. I immersed myself in The Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, Cherry…
As a homeschooling mom of seven, I can totally relate to the challenges of large family homeschooling. Teaching every subject from chemistry to phonics in one short day can require almost superhuman efforts. Still, the benefits of teaching my children at home far outweigh the challenges of a typical homeschool…
Charles “Pete” Conrad, Jr., a U.S. Navy officer and NASA astronaut, was born on June 2, 1930, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. When he was born, his father wanted to name him Charles, while his mother preferred the name Peter. He was officially named Charles, but was always known as Peter or…
Mary Cassatt, Painter and Printmaker Mary Stevenson Cassatt, an American painter and printmaker, was born May 22, 1844, in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania (now part of Pittsburgh). Her father, Robert Simpson Cassatt, was a stock broker and land speculator. Her mother, Katherine, came from a banking family. The Cassatt family, part…