From the time I was a small child, I have loved telling stories. At the age of 9, I told everyone I wanted to be a writer when I grew up. Imagine then, having two sons who struggled learning to read—let alone write stories. Both of my sons resisted writing […]
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10 Steps to Help Budding Authors Learn to Write
Usually during the primary grades, a child is first asked to pen a composition. This sort of written expression is not unlike personal essays which appear in anthologies like Chicken Soup for the Soul or magazines like Guideposts. The same steps an adult might take to inspire herself and prepare […]
Read MoreMath and God’s Creation
Math—it often comes across as an abstract textbook exercise, especially in algebra, geometry, and calculus. Manipulate variables; formulate a proof; find derivatives, etc. What’s the purpose? Well, math is a way of describing the quantities and consistencies that God created and sustains all around us. Here’s a tiny glimpse at […]
Read MoreCultivating Creativity
Creativity can seem mysterious and daunting. For example, you may have seen a piece of art and marveled, “How do they do that?” or maybe you have said, “I could do that,” only to fail miserably trying to make a simple sketch. But whether you are a budding artist or […]
Read MoreFocusing in on Photography
In a world where most of us have in our pockets the capability of capturing an image, the field of photography is more accessible than ever. Gone are the days of finishing a roll of film and then waiting for it to be developed—hoping a few good images were captured. […]
Read More7 Ways to Appreciate the Outdoors While Mastering Early Writing Skills
I’m always more than ready to go outside and dig in the dirt at the first sign of spring. Planting flowers in pots and small flower beds just makes everything beautiful again! The fresh air, crisp wind, and sparkling sunshine are good for my soul. Children naturally love the outdoors. […]
Read MoreCan Grammar Be Fun?
Mission: revamp the way we look at grammar! I would not have thought this possible if I had not become an ESL teacher myself. Years ago, when I embarked upon my teaching journey, I thought teaching grammar had to be taken seriously. No fun or games. I was so wrong. […]
Read MoreStarting Formal Math with a Reluctant Learner
When to Begin As homeschooling parents, we know that we are essentially “teaching all the time.” Our preschoolers are exposed to math by counting their fingers and toes, singing songs, reading stories, and many times by listening to older siblings discuss their math lessons at home. We count steps, chairs, […]
Read MoreFun Ways to Teach Grammar
“Grammar? Argh!” Have your children ever moaned those words? Completing endless pages of grammar exercises often elicits that very response. Direct, sequential grammar instruction is important for helping students to understand sentence structure (and thereby to improve as readers and writers), but that doesn’t mean we can’t have some fun […]
Read MoreWhen to Begin Formal Math
Does thinking about teaching math keep you up at night? Do you wrestle with wondering if your child is ready to begin formal math lessons? Or are you wading through a mountain of curriculum catalogs looking for that perfect math curriculum to help your struggling student? I hope this article […]
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