Instilling a solid work ethic in our kids has been a priority for my husband and me. From a very young age, each child has had their own set of chores to complete each day. They’ve all survived doing laundry, cleaning bathrooms, and washing dishes (much to their surprise!). As…
Homeschooling high school doesn’t have to be a stressful, overwhelming experience. Yes, students need to complete the required coursework, and teens who plan to attend college need to prepare academically. But that doesn’t mean that high school needs to be crammed full of MORE—more hours, more busywork, more rigor (I…
Math has always been one of the most challenging subjects in our homeschool. We’ve used a variety of math curricula over the years, and I have genuinely loved them all. But my kids? Not so much. I’m always on the lookout for materials that meet my kids’ individual needs and…
Number mats are a great way to help younger children learn more about numbers while having fun at the same time! They can be used with math manipulatives like these counting bears or linking cubes for hands-on math learning. You can use number mats to help your child: Free Printable…
Addition charts are simple tools for helping students master their addition facts. These colorful full-page charts are perfect for hanging on your wall or adding to student binders. Now, I know that some people feel very strongly that kids shouldn’t use any addition aids while they are working to memorize their…
When I began homeschooling, my older children were in grades 4, 2, and 1. My plans focused on phonics and reading, basic math facts, and living history books. Then we hit high school. Suddenly things seemed a lot more complicated. Transcripts and credits. Quality high school curriculum. And where do…
I think it’s easy for us to assume that hymns are too deep, too difficult, or perhaps even too boring for children. I’m totally convinced that’s not true. Let me share a quick story with you. Every night my 3-year-old daughter has a ready excuse for why she can’t get…
For many children, mastering the basic addition facts is a process that requires time and patience. Consistent practice using a variety of methods is the key to fact mastery. This blank addition chart for 0-12 is a great tool for addition fact practice. It’s a nice change of pace from flash cards…
As a child I was a voracious reader. I will always be grateful that my parents encouraged my love of reading. My mom made dozens of trips to the local library to keep me in books. My dad bought me books for Christmas, always stretching my abilities with books that were…