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.
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.
Fortunate to be in a state that does not require submission of grades, keeping grades is still an individual decision for homeschool families. Join veteran homeschoolers, Amber and Deanne, as they share their reasons for choosing to (and not to) keep grades!
There’s an ongoing debate on teaching cursive. Do we teach it? Many have dropped cursive instruction altogether. Even printing on paper is often minimized after elementary years. It is tempting to drop cursive. But before we give up on this skill, let’s take a moment to consider some surprising...
July 4th celebrates the revolutionary ideas that all men are created equal with certain unalienable rights—life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness—and that the government exists for the people with power given to them by the people. Two hundred and fifty years later, these ideas remain...
Spanning nearly 2,500 miles through 8 states, America’s iconic Route 66 tells a story of a nation built on dreams, innovation, and hard work. Celebrating the 100th anniversary of Route 66, I invite you and your children to travel along the Main Street of America with me. Parents, please note, the...
This time of year often marks the end of the homeschool season for many families. It’s a moment to pause, take a deep breath, and celebrate the skills learned and the relationships strengthened. No matter where you are in your homeschool journey, there are always memories worth holding on to as you...
Summer is the perfect time to do fun and educational activities without the pressure of formal lessons! Kids can take time to explore things they enjoy and absorb learning through a wide range of summer activities. Here are some summer activities that double as learning opportunities,...