The Rainbow Resource Center Homeschool Blog

“My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas” or did she? Parents today learned this clever mnemonic to learn the order of the planets. That is, until 2006, when suddenly Pluto lost planet status. Like many in my generation, I struggled to accept this drastic change. Whether you accept the International Astronomical Unit’s decision or not, science’s understanding of planets has changed since 1930. Let’s explore the fascinating story of Pluto’s planetary problem!

Ask a veteran homeschooler how to keep track of grades. You will receive a myriad of answers: from “Buy a teacher’s grade book and daily record attendance and grades” to “Grades? Why bother!” As a homeschool parent, have you wondered whether it is necessary to keep track of your children’s grades?

Why not introduce mysteries to your children—particularly if your children are still finding their feet in reading or are struggling to enjoy the process? Children’s mysteries don’t include the problems that seem to dominate adult mysteries, yet they can be just as engaging—and a compelling competition to screen time. Here are some practical benefits mysteries provide for all types of readers!

Have you ever been there? Are you there now? You are doing your best to juggle all that is in your life, but the balls are dropping constantly. This can be a defeating place to be, and at some point, all moms have felt like this, especially the homeschool mom. Here are some thoughts about how to not just survive but to thrive during this time of life.

With fall soon approaching and a new school year beginning, many of you have great expectations for a wonderful year ahead. After the summer break, some of you may feel a little apprehensive about starting a new year while others are excited and ready to begin! Wherever you stand, one united goal for all of us is to be as organized as possible. Looking back, there are a few things that helped me keep my years running smoothly.

You can feel the summer days slipping away, but how can you make the most of what’s left? It may be easier than you think! Here are some ideas for carving out more of those moments that matter, while ending the summer rested and refreshed.

Are you a parent of a reluctant reader waiting for your child to find reading fun? Don’t give up! This perceived delay may not be about reading difficulties but more about your child recognizing the joy and the why of reading. As I talk to parents who are concerned about a child reading, we have found that nonfiction leveled readers will repeatedly open that door for their reluctant readers. 

Parents, do you ever worry that you are not “a teacher?” It's ok! I want to encourage you by reminding you that "how to teach" is not always obvious. The secret is to make connections at every step. Connect new information to existing knowledge. Connections equal retention. Retention equals learning. You may have to think about the process at first, but it will become natural, and you will turn everything into a learning opportunity.

Planner work is so much more than developing To-Do lists. It is a brilliant way to work on handwriting for littles, time management responsibilities for middles and older, and can lead to developing independence in one’s own work and priorities. The struggle to stay organized as a family unit can be an unnerving task as well. Taking intentional time to work with students to organize their own schoolwork each day and for the semester develops those self-management skills and can be a huge help for busy parents.

There’s more than one way to help children find the joy in reading. Often, to encourage a student in reading our first go-to is fiction. Not every child, however, responds well to that genre. If that's the case for your child, try biographies! Biographies can open the door for some real-life exciting reading. And, research show that this genre benefits a reader well beyond just the reading itself.