The Rainbow Resource Center Homeschool Blog

“One man’s junk is another man’s treasure!” In this article I want to talk about having a garage sale. I know, it’s a lot of work! But hear me out…During summer break (or at a time that is good for you), take the time to go through your house. We have done this just about every summer as a family. This will help bring some order to everything and help you to be ready to start the new school year out on top. Decluttering is so good for everyone! Garage sales give your kids, even young ones, an opportunity to experience the entrepreneurial spirit. 

For my family, the end of the school year coincided with the beginning of my favorite season: garage sale season! That’s what I call it here in the Midwest. We’d visit towns near and far who were having neighborhood sales and spend the day seeing what treasures we could find! For my kids, they might have thought, “no school today!” but truthfully, they were just learning and reviewing those skills out in the real world. Sometimes that meant a bit more work for me, as I spotted opportunities for them to put their mind to work. Looking back, I see how those days at garage sales helped reinforce a variety of skills we were learning at home.

Pulling weeds isn’t the most exciting part of gardening, but it always brings me satisfaction. Some weeds come right out while others are stubborn and need a little extra pulling, often with a garden tool. When it has been hot and dry, I might even spray a little water first to make it easier. After weeding, I love admiring my beautiful flowers or hearty vegetable garden. As I relate this to learning, homeschooling has taught me that reluctant learners are like those beautiful flowers and garden plants. Oftentimes they just need the weeds pulled away to blossom and grow.

For those lazy days of summer when you wish you were sitting near the ocean or a lake, what’s the next best thing? Playing a game that reminds you of the beach, of course! As luck would have it, I have recommendations for ages 8+ and 14+ with different levels of complexity and playtimes. If you have any questions about any of these, feel free to drop me an email at marsha@rainbowresource.com. 

There’s an ongoing debate on teaching cursive. Do we teach it? Many have dropped cursive instruction altogether. Even printing on paper is often minimized after elementary years. It is tempting to drop cursive. But before we give up on this skill, let’s take a moment to consider some surprising benefits. Then we’ll chat about ways to sneak cursive into more of our daily lives.

July 4th celebrates the revolutionary ideas that all men are created equal with certain unalienable rights—life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness—and that the government exists for the people with power given to them by the people. Two hundred and fifty years later, these ideas remain revolutionary! As parents, it is our responsibility to pass on these ideas to the next generation, teaching them what it means to be a responsible and engaged citizen. For America’s 250th birthday, a simple Google search reveals an overwhelming number of free resources available to teach children our American values. My goal today is to share a list of “Rainbow favorites.” This list includes free and affordable resources that help you bring history alive to children, teaching them what it cost to establish and protect these ideas, in the past and for the future.

Spanning nearly 2,500 miles through 8 states, America’s iconic Route 66 tells a story of a nation built on dreams, innovation, and hard work. Celebrating the 100th anniversary of Route 66, I invite you and your children to travel along the Main Street of America with me. Parents, please note, the underlined words are embedded links to other websites to learn more. At the time of writing, links were checked for accuracy and appropriateness. However, parents may wish to supervise all online activities, as the websites are not managed by Rainbow Resource Center and may change. 

This time of year often marks the end of the homeschool season for many families. It’s a moment to pause, take a deep breath, and celebrate the skills learned and the relationships strengthened. No matter where you are in your homeschool journey, there are always memories worth holding on to as you reflect on the year behind you.

Summer is the perfect time to do fun and educational activities without the pressure of formal lessons! Kids can take time to explore things they enjoy and absorb learning through a wide range of summer activities. Here are some summer activities that double as learning opportunities, organized by theme so you can choose what best fits your family’s preferences!

Do you remember that sinking feeling when you opened your report card and it wasn’t quite what you hoped for? Many homeschool parents feel the same way when reflecting on the school year. It’s easy to fixate on what went wrong — the illnesses that derailed your schedule, the curriculum that took forever, the tears, the struggles, and the moments you felt like you failed. As homeschoolers, we’re quick to grade ourselves harshly on our children’s progress and our own shortcomings. But those “grades” don’t tell the full story. Some of the most important growth can’t be measured with letter grades. Before you set new goals and improvements for the coming year, take time first to count your wins. Celebrate the progress that matters most, even the quiet, unmeasurable ones. Your homeschooling journey this year has been more successful than you might think!