It seems that kids these days have it easier when it comes to finding information. Just google it, and bam, there’s the answer! They don’t have to drive over to the library and pull large reference volumes off the shelf just to find the answer to a question or do a quick fact-check. Google is a fact of modern life and is almost essential to our lives as adults. But before our kids start googling, which is inevitable, we can teach them to be good searchers of information outside of the internet. This is an important skill to develop, and it usually means searching through physical books first!
So, your child is reading now—that's cause for celebration! But how do you know they're truly understanding? Discover Charlotte Mason's simple narration technique: a gentle way to check comprehension, build vocabulary, sharpen thinking skills, and transition from oral retellings to written summaries. Perfect for any age, genre, or curriculum, this fun method turns reading into deep, joyful learning!
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 purposeful time as a family. Together, you’ll encounter characters, adventures, and resolutions right in your own home. These moments create special bonding time that your kids will always remember. Here are 6 practical read aloud tips to help your family get the most out of family read aloud sessions.
Summertime at Rainbow Resource Center means it’s time for our annual writing contest! Students from ages 7 to 18 (by January 1, 2025) who wish to participate will write and illustrate an original story involving time travel. Two or more winners in each age group are selected by a team of Rainbow Resource judges and will win cash prizes. One of these winners is selected as the Grand Prize Winner and will be published and sold on our website! Keep reading to learn more about the official rules and how to participate.
Learning to read isn’t about speed. It’s slow and challenging work, particularly at first, when the goal is learning how to read. Novice readers will read slowly, and it’s important that we remind them and ourselves that the end goal (fluency) is worth the hard work. Skills take time!
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!
Why not introduce mysteries to your children—particularly if your children are still finding their feet in reading or are struggling to enjoy the process? Children’s mysteries don’t include the problems that seem to dominate adult mysteries, yet they can be just as engaging—and a compelling competition to screen time. Here are some practical benefits mysteries provide for all types of readers!
Are you a parent of a reluctant reader waiting for your child to find reading fun? Don’t give up! This perceived delay may not be about reading difficulties but more about your child recognizing the joy and the why of reading. As I talk to parents who are concerned about a child reading, we have found that nonfiction leveled readerswill repeatedly open that door for their reluctant readers.
There’s more than one way to help children find the joy in reading. Often, to encourage a student in reading our first go-to is fiction. Not every child, however, responds well to that genre. If that's the case for your child, try biographies! Biographies can open the door for some real-life exciting reading. And, research show that this genre benefits a reader well beyond just the reading itself.
“Science of Reading” (SOR) is now required by 30 state education departments. If you're new to the term and want to learn more, it’s a set of requirements rooted in systematic phonics. In this article, we’ll discuss the key elements!
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,...
