Welcome to the Rainbow Resource Center Homeschool Blog — your go-to source for free, in-depth, and practical homeschooling advice from our team of experienced homeschool moms and educators!
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Teaching our children to read is one of the most rewarding things we will do as homeschool parents. And it is an accomplishment we should celebrate with our children. But as phonics are mastered and we shift our focus to the other English language arts skills like spelling and grammar, I want to encourage you to take time to help children find joy and purpose in reading. The helpful acronym "LEADER" highlights 6 key benefits of reading for children!
Rainbow Resource Center is located in the heart of the Midwest, and staff members experience the beautiful season of fall with cool temperatures and colorful trees. It is a favorite time for families to enjoy harvest parties, hay rack rides, bonfires, orchards, smores, and caramel apples. Nature hikes include crunching around in the newly fallen leaves and collecting many different vibrant colors. These outings present a great opportunity to explore or discuss science with your students!
Today, I would love to take a journey back some 70 years and celebrate one of the longest running comic strips: Peanuts®! Join us this month for a quick look at the history of Peanuts®, creator Charles Schulz, and learn how to create your own comics.
Magic happens at the board! Back when I was a teacher, my students solved math problems, wrote spelling words, practiced writing letters, constructed proper sentences, and more at the old-fashioned chalkboard every day. If a student struggled with a math problem, I would encourage them to take it to the board and almost always they would figure it out. I've found that they brought amazing benefits, and occupational therapists agree. Let's talk about some of those benefits!
We commonly receive calls asking for curriculum that is presented via online or DVD, and while these can be great options for home educators, they do present the issue of how to keep your student engaged during the learning process. Here is some advice that you can apply with your own children!
Do you love board games as much as I do? If so, then you probably love the adventure that they bring to your table. In this Game Corner series, we will talk about different game topics of interest, such as game mechanics, how to learn games that have confusing manuals, how to choose games that you will enjoy as well as featuring distinctive games.
Something we often hear from parents is how much they are learning about history when homeschooling their children. We offer some amazing options for history in a variety of formats. But is that the difference? Is that what is speaking to you? Or is it that you have more life experience and are applying your context to the content being taught. I would argue the latter. So, how do you make history relatable for your students?
In the United States, National Hispanic Heritage month is celebrated September 15-October 15. I encourage you, over the next few weeks, to introduce your children to the importance of this celebration, the culture and food of the Hispanic culture, and take time to meet important Hispanic men and women who have made an impact on the United States and the world!
Spelling does not come naturally for all children. In our homeschool, I had one child who naturally excelled at spelling, while my second child struggled with spelling until high school. Over time, his spelling improved with creativity and effort. If you have a struggling speller, here are a few things that we did at home that you can try.
Thirty years ago, President Bill Clinton declared, “Classical music is a celebration of artistic excellence… Whether in new American works or in the masterpieces of the great composers of old, music is a unifying force in our world, bringing people together across vast cultural and geographical divisions. Classical music speaks both to the mind and to the heart, giving us something to think about as well as to experience.” Whether a treasured family experience or something you only know about from commercials or movies, there is always a new discovery waiting when you explore the world of classical music.
Remember that beautiful homeschool plan you made in August? The carefully chosen curriculum, the schedule that looked completely doable, and the vision of everyone happily getting their work done each day? And then the school year started. In August, we make plans based on what we think our...
You made an important decision to homeschool your children, and with it comes a lot of changes. Walking away from the rhythm and structure of the school day might leave you a little overwhelmed. But take heart, even though there are big changes, the blessings will be plentiful! Many years ago, my...
Reading aloud equips your children with a personal toolbox they’ll use throughout their lives as readers, learners and communicators. In our busy and demanding home school lives, though, making time for this activity can be a challenge. In Part 1, we discussed the Why of reading aloud to all ages....
Snuggle up before bedtime, pull out a picture book, and read to your preschooler. Many families read to their children in the early years. They know that reading aloud plays a significant role in a preschool child’s thinking and language development. Reading aloud to preschoolers increases their...
Lesson plans done. School books organized and tucked neatly on the shelf. Pencils sharpened. Meals planned. Laundry caught up. The conditions are PERFECT for back to (home)school! In my mind, I can see your total look of despair and eye rolling. That’s ok! Looking back on 15 years of homeschooling,...
