How to avoid summer setback

by on July 11, 2012
in curriculum · 21 Comments

Written by contributor Jena Borah of Yarns of the Heart

Do you know about summer setback? Education researchers say a child can lose up to two months of reading achievement between May and August. If this happens every summer, children can lose up to a year and a half between 1st and 6th grade (Cooper et al., 1996).

Why? Because their home lives are not full of books and enriching experiences. Whatever learning momentum they had gained during the school year comes to a screeching halt. When I heard that, I was amazed! We homeschoolers never stop learning.
[Read more...]

5 things I love about homeschooling (& how I embrace them)

by on July 9, 2012
in a mom's education · 33 Comments

Written by Jamie Martin, editor of Simple Homeschool and Steady Mom

Last week we discussed the tough stuff–the hard side of home education that gives us a run for our money. But thankfully, that’s only one side of the story. There is another–the one that keeps us going through the challenges and reminds us why we do what we do.

Because it’s also a fact that there are also many pleasures involved in this homeschooling lifestyle we’ve chosen! The benefits for our children are often written about–increased self-confidence, ability to focus on interests, and the freedom to move at their own pace, to name a few.

But in today’s post, I want to dwell on the benefits to us as homeschooling parents.

In all of life there is a dark and a light side. We get to choose which one we notice most.

Today, we’re walking in the light. So allow me to share what I love about our family’s lifestyle of home education.
[Read more...]

Weekend Links

by on July 8, 2012
in links · Leave a Comment

our lettuces are in full swing!

“Thank goodness I was never sent to school; it would have rubbed off some of the originality.” ~ Beatrix Potter

Summer art and science fun

by on July 6, 2012
in family time · 12 Comments

Written by contributor Kris Bales of Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers.

Once a year, our local museums – children’s, history, art, and one aquarium – have a night in which, if you’re a member of one, you can rotate through all the museums. They have a shuttle that takes members from one museum to another and you can spend as much time as you like at each.

We did the tour several years ago when my kids were younger and we had a membership to the children’s museum.

We were having a blast…until we got to the art museum.
[Read more...]

Freedom in motherhood, freedom in mindset

by on July 4, 2012
in inspiration ·

Happy 4th of July to my American readers! I hope your days are filled with cookouts, family, and friends.

If you have a moment of downtime somewhere in the midst of your celebration, I’d love to invite you over to (in)courage, a faith-based online community for women, where my e-book Mindset for Moms: From Mundane to Marvelous Thinking in Just 30 Days is being featured this week as part of their Summer Recommended Reads series.

Today I’m writing about freedom–in motherhood and in our minds.

From my post:
[Read more...]

« Older Posts
Newer Posts »