My husband, Carl, and I have been married for almost 35 years. After living in St. Louis for seven years, we moved to the small town of Kewanee, Illinois, and have lived here for 27 years. We have been very blessed to have three children. We have also gained a daughter-in-law in 2019. When my kids were babies, I never dreamed I would be homeschooling. It wasn't until my husband joined the Rainbow team in 2001 that I began to understand what home educating was all about.
It has been an indescribable joy for me to witness my children growing intellectually as well as spiritually throughout the homeschooling journey. I feel blessed to have had this time to communicate openly every day and grow close to each of my children. Like any homeschool mother, I have spent hours poring over curriculum to find the ones that best suited each of my children, and talking with other like-minded mothers has been extremely valuable to me.
Although my children are now adults, I continue to find joy in helping other parents with their own homeschooling journeys! I will do my best to share advice from my own homeschooling experiences as well as from working at Rainbow as a curriculum consultant.
The value of teaching kids about thankfulness should never be underestimated. It is a quality in a person that creates peace and inner joy. Instead of relying on external things to decide how we measure our joy, it is best to model gratefulness and discover what a difference it makes within our hearts. With Thanksgiving around the corner, it might be fun to devote some time this month to practicing this attribute. Here are some thoughts to get you started!
With fall soon approaching and a new school year beginning, many of you have great expectations for a wonderful year ahead. After the summer break, some of you may feel a little apprehensive about starting a new year while others are excited and ready to begin! Wherever you stand, one united goal for all of us is to be as organized as possible. Looking back, there are a few things that helped me keep my years running smoothly.
When it comes to homeschooling your children, you might have thoughts such as, “Am I doing enough on a day-to-day basis?” or “How do I juggle teaching older and younger children?” These are valid questions most homeschoolers often ask themselves. The good news is your children are still learning a great deal regardless of your doubts. However, what are some practical things you can do to feel less overwhelmed and more confident in the homeschool year? Here are some ideas!
Social Emotional Learning - I am sure you have heard the phrase. It’s the new buzz word circulating the educational realm. This phrase may be described as 21st century skills, character education, or soft skills. You may wonder, what exactly do these terms mean?
The latest buzz in math nowadays seems to be teaching kids the “why” behind math and emphasizing multiple strategies when working math problems. While there is nothing wrong with these pedagogies and there are huge benefits to these approaches, one must not forget the importance of teaching simple arithmetic. Let's look at ways to approach learning and mastering these basic math skills.
With the holiday season fast approaching, we look forward to a break from our typical busy routines, and to time spent together with family and friends. Hopefully this means MORE cozy mornings and LESS rushed evenings. More time around the table or fireplace – steeped in conversation or playing...
Family traditions at Christmas are important because they create lasting memories, strengthen bonds, and provide a sense of stability and belonging. They bring us together, allowing for shared experiences and deeper connections with our loved ones. When it comes to making memories, there are truly...
Homeschooling during the holidays doesn’t need to be stressful. It can be a joyful time if you adapt your schedule and mindset to focus on making wonderful memories while still learning. Putting in a little thought ahead of time will save you from feeling overwhelmed so you can still have...
It’s that festive time of year again! This has always been my favorite time of year. When I look back at my childhood, my fondest memories were the fun traditions my family made together during the holidays. Children find comfort and bonding in these traditions and it generates a special joy...
Enjoyed by families for generations, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade made its debut in 1924 to celebrate and show off the opening of their World’s Largest Store in New York City. Offering a whopping 1 million square feet of clothing, household goods, and children’s toys, the newly expanded store...
