Articles by Amber Garcia

Articles by Amber Garcia

My homeschool adventure started when I was a high school Junior. I was the oldest of 4 and we were in a private Christian School where my mom was teaching. We were weary of the all-day school and sports activities taking over our days, and because my dad worked 2nd shift, we basically only saw him on the weekends. After much persuasion, we talked mom and dad into homeschooling us!

I met my husband, Jayson, at Bible college, and we were on the path to serve the Lord in the ministry somewhere. As our children approached school age, we decided to homeschool them. There was not a private school near us, and we had decided early in our marriage that we would provide them with a Christian education whether in a private school or by homeschooling them. Homeschooling offered our ministry family the flexibility to juggle many things in our lives. Most of the time we lived in the country and the kids had many life experiences and opportunities. They worked on projects with us and developed a strong work ethic. We wouldn’t change those opportunities for the world. They often talk of those days!

In 2015, I was presented with the opportunity to teach in a private school where I taught 3rd and 4th grade in a combined class for 5 years. Following this, I began working at Rainbow, first in the warehouse and later as a Curriculum Consultant. After 22 years of homeschooling and teaching, I have loved this opportunity to assist parents with questions or concerns they have about their own homeschool journeys!
The Day I Decided To Quit
June 20, 2025

The Day I Decided To Quit

In the early years of homeschooling our four children, my husband came home one day to an exhausted wife, mother, and homeschool teacher. I looked at him with tears streaming down my face and muttered the words of defeat: “I can’t do this anymore!” Can you relate to this sentiment?

The Laughter & Fun of Summer
June 16, 2025

The Laughter & Fun of Summer: 6 Ways to Bond as Family

Here’s the reality, you get 18 summers with your child…gulp! Spend them wisely and make the most of your time as you learn and make memories together! Here are some great ways to bond as a family thoughout the summer months.

Time to Leave the Nest
June 11, 2025

Time to Leave the Nest: Advice as Your Child Transitions to Adulthood

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.

The Key to Your Child’s Heart: The 5 Love Languages
May 27, 2025

The Key to Your Child’s Heart: The 5 Love Languages

A lot is said about discovering your child’s learning style. Are they a visual, auditory, kinesthetic, or tactile learner? While this is all great and very helpful while teaching, I would like to look at another aspect that plays into their learning. Are you speaking their language? Their love language. Do they feel loved? Today we will look at the 5 love languages to help you connect with your children.

Cabin Fever
February 21, 2025

5 Ways to Beat Cabin Fever as a Family this Winter Season

No matter what winter looks like for you, at this point in the school year, you may be feeling a little dry and spent and in need of hibernation—or you may be experiencing cabin fever! And you know what? That’s okay! Let's talk about some fun activities and projects you can do to make some fun memories during this winter season.

Gather ‘Round the Table: 4 Benefits of Family Meal Time
November 20, 2024

Gather ‘Round the Table: 4 Benefits of Family Meal Time

Once upon a time families gathered round the table to eat three square meals a day. Now, only about 50% of families carry on this tradition once a day. A sad reality. Homeschool families have the benefit of adjusting their day to accommodate this tradition whether it be a big breakfast, lunch, or supper. Whatever it looks like for your family, I would strongly encourage you to seize those moments. Be intentional about your family table and even use it as a teaching tool!

Election Year!
October 21, 2024

Election Year: Teach Students How We Elect Our Leaders!

Election year gives you a special opportunity to teach your student the process America goes through to pick a president and other elected officials. There are many ways to help students learn about state, local, and federal election processes, understand the power of their voice and the vote, and become engaged participants in our nation’s constitutional republic. Discover how to incorporate the topic of elections into your school year!

To Everything There is a Season
October 4, 2024

To Everything There is a Season: Explore Science this Fall!

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!

Benefits of a Chalkboard
September 23, 2024

8 Benefits of Using a Chalkboard for Teaching

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!

Staying Engaged with Digital Learning
September 23, 2024

7 Tips for Keeping Kids Engaged with Digital Learning

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!