It’s hard to believe I’ve been homeschooling for 24 years! During that time, I've had the privilege of teaching not only my own five children, but so many others as well. Throughout each season of this journey, I’ve learned so much!
Thinking back, I realize that the seeds for homeschooling were planted during my own elementary years. I was blessed with teachers who truly cared for each student in class and had a passion for life and learning. I loved school. I loved the close relationships that were formed. I loved learning! A strong foundation was laid which would impact me for all the days to come... inspiring me to pass this love of learning on.
As a homeschooling parent, I have had the wonderful opportunity to teach several classes at a small classical hybrid school before founding and directing my city's first Classical Conversations program in 2010. Seven years later, I joined a large co-op where I helped teach the core high school history class, a class where I had the joy of teaching 3 of my own kids! At the same time, I tutored students in my home in a variety of subjects. Finally, before joining Rainbow, I taught the Farm Bureau's "Ag in the Classroom" program for 8 years to hundreds of students in dozens of public and private schools, as well as homeschool groups.
I’m grateful for all that I’ve learned through my homeschooling experiences. Now, God has clearly led me here to Rainbow, where I hope to encourage you and help you on your own journey!
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 games together. Sounds perfect, doesn’t it? But somehow it feels like you just “blink” on Thanksgiving, and suddenly – it’s the middle of January! A little planning now can help us make the most of the time – nurturing relationships, creating memories, and all the while, boosting brain skills!
It happens every year. Somewhere between mid-October and mid-November, that homeschool energy we started the year with becomes… well, seriously depleted! The excitement of new books, fresh routines, and those color-coded bins that were definitely going to change everything has faded. The kids’ notebooks are already looking rough; the glue sticks lost their caps long ago. Yes—there’s peanut butter smeared across the pages of your planner. Schoolwork is getting harder, too, as the days are getting shorter. And with the current time change, 6pm is feeling suspiciously like midnight! Now, the holiday season twinkling on the horizon is a bit of a (glittering!) distraction. The good news? This is completely normal. A mid-semester slump doesn’t mean something has gone wrong. It means it’s time for a gentle reset. Here are some ideas to help you finish the semester strong!
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.
It’s that time of the school year again! As we enter the home stretch, many parents have a sinking feeling. Instead of crossing the finish line triumphant, hands high in the air, they are weary and limping, hoping to crawl across the line and pull the kids with. If you’re running on empty, not sure how much farther you can go, you are not alone! You just need a fresh wind to come along and put a spring in your step!
You can feel the summer days slipping away, but how can you make the most of what’s left? It may be easier than you think! Here are some ideas for carving out more of those moments that matter, while ending the summer rested and refreshed.
Discover the life of George Washington Carver, the renowned African American scientist, inventor, and educator known as the "Peanut Man." This unit study explores his journey from slavery to becoming an agricultural innovator who developed hundreds of uses for peanuts and sweet potatoes.
Reading aloud to children is a wonderful family experience! The winter is the perfect season to incorporate family read aloud sessions. Whether you have a reluctant reader or a voracious one, everyone can join in to share a delightful story together. It’s a healthy, screen-free way to enjoy...
As homeschool curriculum consultants, we sometimes feel like Curriculum Detectives. We tap into our inner Sherlock Holmes to investigate further into the crisis at hand. More often than not, when we are talking with you, we are helping you dig into the situation—for example, possibly the situation...
Although many homeschooling families start from the very beginning, just as many find themselves homeschooling when that was the last thing they ever saw themselves doing. Maybe you started out sure that your schooling choices would serve your child well, only to be sorely disappointed, again and...
With the start of the New Year comes a new chapter in your homeschooling journey! It's a time where many parents stop to think about what their children have accomplished so far and plan for what's ahead. It's also a time where you might wonder if you're doing “enough” in your...
