Latest Article
Don’t Grow Weary: Homeschooling Through February
February has a way of settling in like a gray wool blanket. The sparkle of December is long gone. The fresh-start energy of January has faded. The days feel short, the skies feel heavy, and even the most faithful homeschool mama can feel a little… weary. If that’s...
Don’t Grow Weary: Homeschooling Through February
February has a way of settling in like a gray wool blanket. The sparkle of December is long gone. The fresh-start energy of January has faded. The days feel short, the skies feel heavy, and even the most faithful homeschool mama can feel a little… weary. If that’s you, friend, I want to gently place this verse into your hands: “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap,...
All Past Posts
Kindness in our hearts and words
I’ve been pondering the concept of kindness this weekend. It’s not something we see modeled in our culture, it’s not an attribute generally valued in movies, in magazines, and certainly not in current political speeches.Yet, it can change your world—and transform your...
When Money Is a Challenge
If you are homeschooling and facing financial challenges, I have good news to share with you! But before we get to the punchline, let's take a moment to look at one of those extremely encouraging verses to ponder when you have extremely limited resources: "Better is...
Dealing with Pressure
Pressure. It comes in different forms. Temporary pressure can be good if it helps us cross the finish line, turn in the assignment on time, or put the last touches on the doll house for a beloved daughter's birthday. Longterm pressure can be relentless, crushing, and...
Eyes to See
Nine years ago, I posted a reflection on how we view the circumstances of our lives—whether we are able to see beyond the normal to the extraordinary background of God's love deepening and infusing our lives in breath-taking ways. Perhaps now, more than ever,...
If You Feel Like Quitting
It's MARCH!! So, even if there's snow on the ground, ice on the streets, or rain on our heads, we know that spring is on its way. And that certainty—that winter is giving way to spring—gives us hope, doesn't it? That's what happened to me last weekend. I was seeking...
The Adventure of Betty Greene
Do you ever wonder how your life will turn out? Are there many things you love to do, but they seem impossible to weave together in one lifetime? Have you ever pondered the adventures that may lie before you as you serve God? If you answered “yes” to any of these...
Overcoming
Dear Friends, Right now, do you feel like you are overcoming. . .or are you going under? Whether struggling with illness, difficult relationships, lack of finances, unwanted changes, crushing disappointments, or numbing loss, many of us are in the midst of a storm. In...
The Secret to Learning
Here's a question: Do you feel like you're responsible for teaching your children EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO KNOW? If you think the answer is, "Yes," then, break out the books on everything from abacus to zoology, because you have just taken on the Mt. Everest of...
Kids are NOT alike!
When my children were 10, 8 and 6, a friend wrangled an invitation for us to join her at a farm for a homeschool science field trip: watching a butcher cut up a cow. It was supposed to be a practical view of—as well as a fascinating glimpse into—the insides of a...
Teaching a Child to Read (Part 1 of 3 Rs)
As a young homeschool mom, I thought that teaching a child to read must be as difficult as learning to speak Swahili. This was my first great hurdle to jump if I was to continue homeschooling my children, so I pored through the catalogs available to us in 1986,...
Struggling To Read (Part 2 of 3 R’s)
Do you have a child who is struggling to read? If so, I have a story for you. If you have ever met a high school graduate who says, "I will NEVER crack a book again as long as I live!!", and you ask them why, you may discover something quite startling. The folks I've...
Writing and Spelling (Part 3 of 3 Rs)
Writing and spelling are another aspect of the Three R's. If your kids love to write and are great at spelling, then move on to the next blog, which is on the third "R" — arithmetic. If that's not your situation, I've got another story. It had never occurred to me how...
Teaching Grammar (Part 4 of 3 R’s)
Teaching grammar is a must! It provides the foundation and building blocks for writing. And, if you're like me and you never learned much, now is a great time to learn! I somehow missed this subject, or at least most of it, as I moved from school to school during my...
Making Math Fun (Part 5 of 3 Rs)
Teaching math to your kids can be a real challenge, but making math fun will make it an adventure! Math—loved or hated? Do you love math? If so, you light up when it's time to pull out the math books and teach your kids. If, on the other hand, you hate it, teaching...
Should Learning Be Fun?
As you begin reading this, check in with your own heart. Are you already feeling a bit defensive ("That's a CRAZY idea! No one would know grammar if learning had to be fun!!")? Or, perhaps a bit guilty ("Oh, NO! She's going to tell me I've been doing this wrong!")?...
You Want to Know WHAT?
As a young homeschool mom, I had the privilege of hearing John Taylor Gatto speak on education the year that he was named New York State Teacher of the Year. One nugget of wisdom shared that day, that has stayed with me all these years, is the concept of "the...
Break Down Each Step of Learning
In 2004, homeschoolers in Rotorua, New Zealand, joined us for an evening of dialogue about parents teaching children at home. It was a precious time, particularly poignant for me because it was being hosted by a Maori family. The Maori are the indigenous people of...
Thoughts on Teaching Writing
To teach writing, it's helpful to see how professional writers do what they do. So, with the background of having written or contributed to 17 published books over nearly 30 years, let me share a few tips: "Write what you know" is great advice. A well-written piece,...
Grading and Testing
Is it necessary for you to test and grade your kids? Short Answers Testing kids? It depends. At some point, kids need to learn HOW to take a test. Grading kids? It depends. High school students will need grades for a transcript. For a more nuanced answer, let's...
Why quit homeschooling?
If you are a homeschooler, may I ask you an honest question? Here it is: Have you ever wanted to quit homeschooling? I think if we could all sit around a table and talk together, we would be surprised at how much we have in common when it comes to this question! We...
How to Teach What They Hate
In a conversation on FaceBook, one homeschool mom asked me, "How do you tackle subjects that a kid might hate, but they have to take? In our current situation it's Algebra. I feel like we can barely get through it, let alone make it fun." That is SUCH an important...
Time for a Change?
As you consider the events of this homeschool year, ask yourself, "Is it time for a change?" And, as you consider trying a new curriculum, it might also be valuable to consider a few changes in the approach to homeschooling. Here is a question that may help you...
Why History?
Today I want to talk honestly with you about a foundational aspect of history. . .one that could actually change your life.Why History? In the 30 years of writing and speaking about history to homeschoolers in this nation and around the world, I’ve often encountered...
What brings history to life?
A few weeks ago, I spoke to a customer on the phone, and the things Alicia had to say about the History Revealed audio recordings were so encouraging that I asked if she would mind writing out her thoughts for me to share with you: "I cannot say enough good things...
The 5 senses bring history to life
My very first book in 1989 was all about bringing history to life. The premise was that American history could come to life—and be FUN—when a folk song and its history were connected to actual events. But there are lots of other fun, hands-on ways to play with...