I love homeschooling and am very grateful to have found a "post-homeschool" career that expands on that passion. Married to Manuel since 1989, we chose to homeschool in 1997 when our daughter, Amanda, was in first grade.
Our approach to homeschooling was very eclectic to meet our children’s unique learning needs. Blessed with very different children - a natural, gifted learner and a struggling learner on the spectrum, my homeschool philosophy focused on giving my children a love for learning and teaching them how to learn. If I had to classify my methodology, it could be summed up as “a modified Charlotte Mason, delight-directed approach" with a bit of Unit Study thrown in! Homeschooling has been a tremendous blessing to my family, and although it is not the easiest thing I have ever done, it has been my greatest accomplishment.
It is my joy to serve homeschool families as a curriculum/product consultant at Rainbow Resource Center! Whether reviewing catalogs for new products to equip homeschool families, evaluating curriculum, or writing and recording helpful videos and articles, it is my desire to provide you with the best information and options to help you meet your family’s goals.
Joyful holidays are created through making memories with our children. I cherish the time (and memories!) from the unit studies my family experienced. It is my hope that your family will be blessed learning together this Christmas season. In this unit study about O’ Tannenbaum, you will notice underlined words in our study which link to family friendly videos and websites to enhance the learning journey. Without further ado, let’s get started!
What do rabbits, pine cones, snail shells and giant sunflowers have in common? Our study this month seeks to answer these questions and introduce the fascinating history behind a unique number pattern: the Fibonacci Sequence!
Thanksgiving brings wonderful memories of sitting around the dining room table filling ourselves with turkey and all the fixings while conversation and laughter fill the air. In this unit study, we want to highlight one of the stars of Thanksgiving: the turkey!
What makes the sloth so sensational? Is it simply the slower pace of life he takes or is it the adorable image we have of a sloth dangling from a tree limb? If we’re honest, I think we all find something fascinating and compelling about this tropical mammal. Whether setting aside time to learn more, or enjoying a slow paced, slothful kind-of-day, unite your family in celebration of International Sloth Day on October 20th!
By now, you are settled (or mostly settled!) into a homeschool routine that is working well for your family. You may be surprised to discover that there is free time available to pursue other activities and interests! Fall is the perfect time of year to incorporate nature-based activities and craft projects.
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!
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.
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,...
