The Rainbow Resource Center Homeschool Blog

Have you ever met someone who is just the most natural teacher and thought, that is SO not me? I am not patient enough. I am not nice enough. I am not good enough to teach my own children school-y things. Wait. Whoa. Back up!

How does a parent go from hands-on, exploratory, interest-driven learning in the early grades to the super-structured, credit-driven, academic standards content of high school? The middle grades (about 5-8) are a time to prepare students for the expectation of high school. It might not be around the corner, but it is down the street!

Have you thought about learning a new skill with your family purely for the sake of enjoyment? Homeschooling gives you the flexibility to venture out and explore other areas of interest kids might not have time to do otherwise. Here are a few ideas to explore!

Ever given your child a simple job like “Clean your room” or “Go get your math done,” and they respond as if you just asked them to climb Mt. Everest? Many kids (and adults!) today struggle with weak executive functioning skills, making it difficult to get organized, stay focused, and even know where to begin a task. The good news is that you can help them develop these skills, starting with one important strategy: teaching them to break big tasks down into manageable steps.

Motherhood can be a thankless job. A homeschooling mom can even feel more unappreciated. It’s been said the hardest things in life bring about the greatest rewards. After homeschooling my three children, I can truly say that even though it was the biggest challenge for me, the biggest rewards and blessings have come from it. If you have felt defeated, tired, and frustrated, hang in there! Remember you are investing in your children’s future and God will continue to give you the wisdom and strength to move forward. Here are some encouraging thoughts to remember.

As homeschooling has exploded, the available educational resources have grown as well. The options are overwhelming, but the real question is which option is better? Do I use the tried and true, that beloved program successfully used for a generation, or will the newer curricula options provide my child with a better education?

At some point, parents commonly recognize that their child is no longer a child. They have grown to the place where, by all reasonable standards, they are ready to spread their wings and fly to the next stage in life. There are a lot of emotions that surface for both the parent and young adult during this time, and these feelings can often be difficult to navigate.

Is it just me, or are homeschooled kids particularly good at exploring their interests? There seems to be a natural curiosity that, when combined with a flexible schedule, leads them on all sorts of rabbit trails. With time and research, practice and development, these interests can become a hobby. These hobbies can become a high school elective and, if we are lucky, these interests can lead to a lifelong profession!

Singapore Math is a program that you might learn about from friends or online blogs. As you start your research on it, you may be surprised to find out that there are multiple Singapore Math programs! Let’s take a quick look at the similarities and differences between the programs and learn what they're all about.

“If at first you don’t succeed, try try again.” How many times have we heard this saying or have said this to our children? When we are learning a new skill, whether baking, a sport, crafting, or math homework, practice does make progress! We have this mentality when it comes to learning new things. What about when we are developing a new habit?