9 Things I’m Learning about Homeschooling

The fact that I was homeschooled growing up doesn't automatically make me an expert at teaching my own children. Actually, after my first child turned five, I sent him to a local kindergarten. He attended a Montessori/traditional blend charter school until he finished 3rd grade, while my second child, by that time, had finished 1st. I simply lacked the confidence…

Why a Literature-based Approach?

In my post about Growing Up Homeschooled, I concluded that "engaging, well-written literature is what MOVES you," after comparing it to textbooks or self-paced unit study booklets. Why is that so important? Well, first of all, we tend to remember what we care about. Textbooks can often be dry and boring. One remembers the information to pass a test, and then mostly…

And After the Storm, a Calm . . .

My Dear Diary article was a sincere outpouring of my frustrated heart. I have moments like those every so often, when I feel stressed out, tense, and depressed. Times when I think to myself, How do I get my children to actually WANT to keep the house clean and tidy--how do I get them to care enough,…

MY LEGO TABLE (how my son organizes his LEGOs)

By "Larry LEGO Boy," (Phoenix), 10 years old Ahhhhhh... The feeling of an organized table, NEAT, and NOT MESSY. I like to have my LEGO table clean. It gives me a nice feeling to see it clean and organized. Here are some pictures of my LEGO table: The reason I organized my LEGOs by color, is because…