Learn about the basics of homeschooling, from different methods & philosophies to ways to teach, support and more!
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Introducing A Picture Book Preschool: A Gentle, Affordable Program for Preschool at Home
If you’ve heard us say anything about homeschooling the early years, it’s probably that you don’t need an official curriculum for preschool. We wholeheartedly believe that the best way to spend these precious years is with a good stack of picture books. That’s why we’ve created A Picture Book Preschool […]
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Free Printable Homeschool Mom Self-Care Checklist
Tending to our physical, spiritual, emotional, and mental health is essential to avoiding homeschool mom burnout. When we care for our own needs, we are better able to show up for our children in a healthy way and we experience more joy (and less overwhelm) in our homeschool days. But […]
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2024 List of Christian Homeschool Conventions, Conferences, and Retreats
Have you ever been to a homeschool convention? It’s a great way to get ideas, connect with the broader homeschool community, and be inspired by veteran homeschool speakers. Check out this master list of Christian homeschool conferences happening in 2024 to find one near you. By state Alabama Alaska Arizona […]
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How to Plan Your Homeschool Year
This time of year our inbox is full of homeschool planning questions. If you’re new to homeschooling, the thought of taking responsibility of your child’s education and mapping out their entire school year can be quite daunting. Today I’m going to walk you through my personal planning process, breaking the […]
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What Is Loop Scheduling?
Loop scheduling is great way to reduce stress and minimize guilt in your homeschool. If so, loop scheduling may be the sanity saver you need! What Is Loop Scheduling? Loop scheduling simply means instead of assigning subjects to certain days of the week, you list out the subjects or tasks […]
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What Is Strewing?
Strewing is one of the best ways to add delight and creativity to your homeschool days whether you’re a full-on unschooler or a more traditional homeschool family. Strewing is quite simply laying out items that you think will be of interest to your children and letting them interact with them […]
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Episode 27: Life-Giving Motherhood with Min Hwang
Min Hwang wakes with joyful anticipation of what God will do as she cooperates with Him in home-educating her 4 creative children. She delights in sharing the Gospel-centric Charlotte Mason philosophy and methods with every family and church. Over a decade ago, having become convinced of the life-giving paradigm the […]
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What Is a Living Book?
If you’re diving into the world of homeschooling, you’ve probably heard the phrase living book a time or two. We’re here to help demystify this term, and give you some questions to ask yourself as you assess the books you’re using in your homeschool. The term living book comes from […]
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50+ Living Books for Late Elementary and Middle School Kids
Whether you’re looking for your next family read-aloud or a list of titles to draw from when supplying your child with reading material, these living books are ideal for your upper elementary or middle school student. This list recently published titles as well as tried-and-true classics. We hope you’ll find […]
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Homeschool Mama Self-Care: Nurturing the Nurturer
It’s an honor to welcome Teresa Wiedrick to the Homeschool Compass today to share an excerpt of her book, Homeschool Mama Self-Care: Nurturing the Nurturer. Teresa is a homeschooling mom of 4 who makes her home among the Kootenay Mountains of Canada. She spends her days driving kids to dance […]
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How to Know When It’s Time to Switch Homeschool Curriculum
The 19th-century British fairy tale “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” is a good place to start when considering homeschool curricula. The porridge Goldilocks sampled in the three bears’ home was, first, too hot, then, too cold and, finally, just right. The bears’ chairs and beds followed a similar pattern. The […]
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Children Should Be Seen and Heard!
Today we are delighted to welcome Leah Boden to the Homeschool Compass blog to share an excerpt from her upcoming book, Modern Miss Mason: Discover How Charlotte Mason’s Revolutionary Ideas on Home Education Can Change How You and Your Children Learn and Grow Together. Leah is a mother of four, […]
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Episode 24: Modern Miss Mason with Leah Boden
This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting the Homeschool Compass by shopping through our page! Leah Boden is wife to Dave, mother to four children, and a long-time student of Charlotte Mason. Leah writes, speaks, podcasts and offers homeschool coaching to share the beauty of a Charlotte Mason approach to childhood, motherhood, and […]
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2023 List of Christian Homeschool Conventions, Conferences, and Retreats
Have you ever been to a homeschool convention? It’s a great way to get ideas, connect with the broader homeschool community, and be inspired by veteran homeschool speakers. Check out this master list of Christian homeschool conferences happening in 2023 to find one near you. You can search by state […]
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When You Feel Alone (and You Will)
This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting the Homeschool Compass by shopping through our page! No matter how long you have been homeschooling, there will be seasons where you feel alone. No matter how many people are around you, or how much or how little support you have, you may have a season […]
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Unit Studies and Science!
This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting the Homeschool Compass by shopping through our page! At a recent homeschool convention, I encountered a young man who was the assistant director of an enormous bird sanctuary. He spent his days researching birds, rehabilitating birds, breeding birds, and teaching others about birds. He’d fallen in […]
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Our 19-Year Homeschool Story: Why We Did It, How We Did It, and What We Learned
We never intended to homeschool. In fact, I wasn’t even familiar with the idea of homeschooling, other than knowing some historical figures were taught at home. But a series of events led our family to explore different educational options and choose homeschooling for our family. It was a 19-year journey […]
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3 Best Practices for Nature Journaling
This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting the Homeschool Compass by shopping through our page! When I was 8 years old, my mother decided to homeschool my older brother and me. At the time we were traveling with an evangelistic crusade ministry across the Midwest United States. Every week we were in a […]
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Thinking About Homeschooling? Here’s Our Best Advice
In these uncertain times, we know that many people are turning to homeschooling who may never have considered it before. We’ve invited these experienced homeschoolers to share with you their best advice for making the transition from traditional school to homeschool and silencing the doubts and fears that we all […]
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Homeschooling 101: Your Homeschool FAQs Answered
If you’re new to homeschooling, you probably have lots of questions. Our Homeschool Specialists have a wealth of knowledge to share in answering the questions we hear most frequently from those who are considering homeschooling for the first time. What is homeschooling? Homeschooling is a highly flexible form of education […]
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Loving Your Homeschool Space: Advice from 6 Veteran Homeschoolers
Cultivating a space that breathes life into learning can make all the difference to our homeschool experience. We long for a space that is orderly yet inviting, cozy yet primed for creative exploration. But living within our limitations to make the most of the spaces we have can be a […]
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Discovering Your Homeschool Style Quiz
You don’t need to nail down your homeschool style in order to homeschool effectively, but knowing which style you gravitate toward can be helpful for several reasons. In short, it gives you an advantage in wading through the overabundance of information and resources available to us nowadays as homeschoolers! You […]
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Aimee’s Homeschool Curriculum Picks for 3rd Grade and 5th Grade
This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting the Homeschool Compass by shopping through our page! I begin every school year praying over each child and seeking God’s direction for where to focus our attention in our homeschool. Inevitably, there are some subjects that don’t make the cut. There are lots of things I’d […]
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Journaling About Nature: What Homeschoolers Learn by Keeping a Journal
Adam Savage of the TV show Mythbusters once joked that the only difference between messing around and “science” is writing things down. In other words, scientists do not simply conduct experiments. They write down what they learn or witness. One of the cornerstones of the scientific method is recording researchers’ […]
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Three Ways to Simplify the Art of Nature Journaling
This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting the Homeschool Compass by shopping through our page! “It is infinitely well worth the mother’s while to take some pains every day to secure, in the first place, that her children spend hours daily amongst rural and natural objects; and, in the second place, to infuse […]
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Ten Reasons Homeschooling May Be the Best Place for Your Child with Special Needs
This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting the Homeschool Compass by shopping through our page! Your homeschool may be the best place for your child with autism, Down syndrome, specific learning disabilities, or other special needs. You can T.E.A.C.H. your child to give him unique advantages from the comfort and safety of your […]
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Public School to Homeschool: How One Mama Made the Leap
I’m so excited to welcome Kal-le Schrader to the Homeschool Compass to share her story of stepping off the mainstream path and embracing homeschooling for her family. Kal-le is a homemaker and homeschool mama living in the hills of Southeastern Ohio where she and her family enjoy the peaceful beauty […]
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Back to School Printable Pack
As the summer winds down, it’s almost time to turn the corner and start a new school year! The first day of school calls for the perfect photo ops. Take pics of your kiddos holding up these posters, or start decorating your school room to celebrate the start of your […]
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Homeschool Wherever You Are: Our Favorite Carschooling Resources
This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting the Homeschool Compass by shopping through our page! Carschooling is a great way to take your learning with you wherever you go, whether that’s on a weeklong summer road trip or a drive across town to the grocery store. One of the great advantages of homeschooling […]
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Turn Your Family Road Trip into a Family Field Trip!
Cross-country trips were a regular part of my growing up, thanks to my mother’s large family scattered from coast to coast. While the trips were primarily to visit relatives, my parents always incorporated outings to local landmarks. Mount Rushmore, the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Pike’s Peak, and the Carlsbad Caverns are […]
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Muddy Hands: Encouraging Little Scientists in Your Backyard
After the long days of winter, spring has finally arrived and the daylight hours are getting longer. Maybe cabin fever has taken your family by storm. There are many different activities that you and your child can do with those “extra” daylight hours. Getting outside is a great remedy for […]
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20 Favorite Picture Books about Farms
Do your kids love learning about animals and nature? If so, these endearing farm picture books are perfect for your homeschool. Baby Farm Animals by Garth Williams Simple, humorous text identifies each fuzzy, furry, or feathery farm animal capering about the farm. This longtime favorite has been reissued for a […]
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Discovering Your Homeschool Style: The Charlotte Mason Method
The Charlotte Mason method takes its name from a revolutionary English educator who lived from 1842 to 1923. At a time when children were educated according to their social class and only the wealthy were exposed to the riches of literature and fine arts, Mason believed that all children deserved […]
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Free Scripture Memory Printable + Activities
When your children memorize Scripture, they gain a wealth of Biblical knowledge that they can draw on for the rest of their lives. As Charles Swindoll has written, “I know of no other single practice in the Christian life that’s more rewarding, practically speaking, than memorizing Scripture…No other single exercise […]
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The Freedom of Home Education and How it Has Benefited My Life
I am blessed to have been born into a homeschool family and experienced firsthand the benefits of being a homeschooled student. As a homeschooler, I have received love and support from my family, time to pursue my own dreams and interests, the ability to learn subjects at a speed that […]
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Home Education: Is it a Pursuit or a Passion?
If you have been homeschooling for any length of time, you will eventually question your pursuit of this education-at-home idea. Difficult seasons, difficult children, difficult life circumstances—all can cause you to pause and wonder if you can keep going. Especially in the winters of our lives, we need a reason, […]
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Home Education: Choices, Challenges, and Faith
Educating a child’s mind is the ultimate goal in developing a lifetime love for learning by means of experiences. Education is not merely grasping concepts forced into the brain to dissipate shortly after the information has been regurgitated through quick ways of testing. Our home education journey was a choice […]
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3 Questions to Ask as You Plan Your Homeschool Year
You’ve got your highlighters, your color-coded spreadsheets, your booklists and your cup of coffee! You’re laying out plans for amazing field trips that dovetail perfectly with your history and science readings, a math curriculum that’s sure to succeed, and literature read alouds that will keep everyone spellbound. You’ve accounted for […]
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Learning at the Speed of Life
Education has always been important to our family. When our son turned 3, my husband and I began the process of finding the best preschool. We chose a wonderful local learning center. Three mornings a week, we would drive from our home in the mountains to town. Our son loved […]
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Our Classical Homeschool Day Through the Years
We are a classically-focused homeschooling family. My husband and I have twin teenagers, a boy and a girl. We began homeschooling when they were in third grade, and our focus shifted over the years, but our kids are still classically-educated, even if it sometimes looks eclectic or relaxed. When we […]
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Can I Pull My Child Out of Public School?
When considering whether to homeschool for the first time, many parents experience a whirlwind of questions. Do I need special permission to pull my child out of public school? Do I need specific qualifications to teach my child? Isn’t it expensive to homeschool? What about sports and extracurricular activities? The […]
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A Joining of Charlotte Mason and Classical Education
This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting the Homeschool Compass by shopping through our page! Never in a million years did I think I would homeschool my children. Growing up, we had neighbors that homeschooled. They were considered a little strange by my family. Didn’t they know their kids would never get the […]
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Creating Your Homeschool Haven
There is no right or wrong way to teach your children at home. You choose your curriculum, your schedule, and the area where you teach. Having a homeschool haven creates a safe, enjoyable learning atmosphere for your family. Discovering my family’s homeschool haven has been a method of trial and […]
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5 Tips for Learning at Home When Coronavirus Closes Schools
If you find yourself unexpectedly educating your children from home due to the coronavirus, welcome. We know this is not the way you had anticipated spending these weeks and months, but we are here to support you in any way we can. We’d like to share with you a few […]
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Why Time in Nature Is Good for You (and Your Kids)
Are you longing to incorporate more time in nature into your homeschool days, but struggling to fit it all in? We are pleased to welcome Dr. Kristin Moon of Kristin Moon Science to the Homeschool Compass to share with us why it is worthwhile to prioritize time in nature. Not […]
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Teaching Handwork to Young Children
The work of childhood ought to be filled with joyful discovery. – Charlotte Mason As a child I loved creating with my hands, no matter the season. Summer daisy chains and mud pies, autumnal pocket treasures, frosty window drawings, and pressed spring flowers float through my childhood memories, like sparkles […]
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10 Ways to Use Homeschool Curriculum Even If You’re Not Homeschooling Long Term
You don’t have to be a full-time, homeschooling family to take advantage of the various homeschool products available to all parents who are trying to provide a great education for their kids. Here are 10 easy ways to incorporate homeschool curriculum into your child’s learning even if they are enrolled […]
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Homeschooling Without Fear: How to Begin When You Don’t Know Where to Start
As a Homeschool Specialist at Christianbook.com I receive many calls from homeschool parents this time of year. They often tell the same story. It’s midyear, possibly mid-semester, and they just pulled their children from school. For whatever reason, it wasn’t the best fit for their family, and they’ve decided to […]
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Leaving Public School for Homeschool: What to Think About
Not all homeschoolers start off planning to educate their children at home. Many parents graduated from public school and expected that their children would thrive in classes led by certified teachers like they did. So their kids ride the school bus with other kids from the neighborhood and play with […]
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Starting at Seventh
Are you crazy? I might be. At least, if you believe what people said about our decision to start homeschooling in the seventh grade. But if results mean anything, I’ll take crazy any day. By the time my son Christopher reached sixth grade he had attended four different schools, one […]
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Simplifying Classical Education
A few years ago, dressed in tennis shoes, shorts, and a T-shirt, I was happily riding along the bike trail on my son’s mountain bike. A woman rode alongside me just long enough to warn, “I wouldn’t ride out here without a helmet.” As she sped away in her full […]
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Homeschooling Multiple Ages and Grades
There are several different strategies that can be used when homeschooling a large family with many grade levels. Just as every family is unique and each has different needs which are always in a state of flux, there is peace in accepting that we will never have all the answers […]
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Homeschooling by Calling
In our family, teaching at home is not a choice but a calling. During our twenties, my husband and I began to know and love God. We were compelled to live our life surrendered to Him. While teaching at an inner-city public school, God impressed upon my heart that He […]
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An Insider’s Guide to Conventions
You can tell by the look in their eyes. It’s that “deer in the headlights” look coupled with the “my baby kept me up all night” look, with a touch of the “worried my kid will never learn” look for good measure. They come to our booth year after year, […]
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Special Needs Children – Keep Them Home!
“Have you heard of success with homeschooling?” This is a question I often hear from parents of children with special needs. As a pediatric occupational therapy assistant, I regularly interact with parents who are disillusioned with the public school system and searching for an education model that better supports their […]
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4 Reasons Why I Keep My Child with Special Needs at Home
When my third child was born, I went on maternity leave, expecting that I would return to work. I was anxious about it, though, because my little boy had suffered a stroke at birth and was having seizures. When I discovered that I was being laid off, instead, it was […]
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A Worthwhile Investment
It was a daunting task, and the choice to start was even more difficult. Ralph and Lucy Cone were newly minted missionaries in an isolated island village in Alaska. They eagerly sought to serve their community, but they quickly realized that if their two sons were to receive a quality, […]
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Homeschooling Your Special Needs Learner: 7 Reasons Why You Can Do It!
If you have a child with special learning needs, you have probably heard at some point, “Put him in school. They are better equipped to teach him.” On days when you are repeating the same concept for what seems like the thirtieth time, you may even have those thoughts yourself. […]
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What is Deschooling? 5 Ways to Help Your Child Transition to Learning at Home
You’ve made the decision to homeschool. You’ve pulled your child out of traditional school. Now what? Changing from a classroom mindset to a homeschooling mindset doesn’t happen overnight (for parents or children). That’s why veteran homeschoolers recommend a period of deschooling. Deschooling simply means setting aside a period of time […]
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8 Morning Routines to Start Your Homeschool Day Strong
Have you ever noticed that the first few moments of your morning can make or break the rest of your homeschool day? Establishing an intentional morning routine provides the consistency kids crave while setting you up for success moving forward. Breakfast and Chore Time Some kids (and mamas) don’t function […]
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”You Do What?” True Confessions of a Stay-at-Home Homeschooling Father
“You do what?” “How do you do it?” “I could never do that!” These are just some of the questions and comments that I have heard over the last five years of homeschooling my boys. While many homeschool moms hear similar things quite often, there seems to be even more […]
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Homeschooling Philosophies and Methods
Deciding to homeschool was one of the most exciting times in my life as a parent. I had always loved the idea of homeschooling, but never thought I would be able or willing to take the plunge. When my husband and I finally determined that I should give it a […]
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4 Questions to Ask When Choosing Your Homeschool Curriculum
Whether you look forward to curriculum shopping with the anticipation of a kid on Christmas morning or you dread the decision-making process year after year, reflect on these simple questions to take the stress out of your curriculum selection. Can you afford it? Expensive doesn’t always equal better. Straining your […]
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10 Reasons to Homeschool Your Child with Special Needs
Choosing to homeschool your child is a huge decision. Then add to that a child with special needs. This brings up all kinds of mixed feelings, uncertainties, and emotions. I feel we tend to sell ourselves short when it comes to our children with special needs because this is uncharted […]
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Vision-Casting in your Homeschool
We can probably all agree that having a vision for your homeschooling family is imperative. It sets the foundation on which to build upon, as well as something to fall back on when the road gets a little rocky. A new year is perhaps the most perfect time to write […]
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Honesty in Homeschooling
What is the first word that comes to mind when you hear someone say homeschool? How about the word honesty? It’s probably not the first word that comes to mind, right? Let me tell you how this one little word will make a huge impact in your success as a […]
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10 Reasons to Homeschool
The bus pulled up to the end of the driveway, and my little boy (then six years old) climbed aboard. Turning toward me with a smile and wave, he was off. He seemed happy enough and excited to go to school, so why did I have a sick feeling in […]
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Finding Homeschool Support
“Without counsel, plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.” Proverbs 15:22 Choosing to homeschool your children is a worthy and important undertaking. It’s exciting to think about custom making an education for your children. Along with your hopeful plans will also come questions, concerns, and at times anxiety. You […]
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6 Strategies for Working While Homeschooling
If you’ve been blessed to be able to homeschool your children without having to find additional work for pay, I’m sure you’re thankful, since homeschooling is a lot of work already! If, however, you find that you need to generate income in addition to homeschooling, know you are not alone. […]
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A Look Inside our Nature Studies
Nature studies are an important part of our homeschool and our life. On the ranch, life fits well with the Charlotte Mason philosophy for nature studies. We are outside every day; so we can easily incorporate our science lessons into what we see and do. When we are outside, I […]
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Studying Nature, The Charlotte Mason Way
As an eclectic Charlotte Mason homeschooler, nature study is near and dear to my heart—and the hearts of my children. We have learned so much about our Creator and the sciences through our weekly nature walks, all while touching on bits and pieces of almost every other subject under the […]
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A Gentle Preschool: The Charlotte Mason Way
The preschool years are a special time, full of wonder and innocence as children try to make sense of their world. I don’t know about you, but when I think about what I want for my preschoolers, I want these years to be abundantly full of excitement, discovery, and learning. […]
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The Sense of Classical Education
The aim of a classical education is to form children into adults who pursue truth, prefer goodness, and proliferate beauty. The art of grammar provides practice in gathering truth naturally through hearing, seeing, touching, tasting, and smelling. The art of dialectic provides practice in wisely analyzing the goodness of the things we see, hear, […]
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What is Classical Christian Education? A Sailing Ship
The word classical is derived from the Latin word classis, which means “a fleet of ships.” Let me, therefore, touch on some of the ways in which classical Christian education can be likened to a ship. Like an old three-masted ship built of wood and powered by the wind, classical education sailed around […]
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Learning Is a Lifestyle
When I began homeschooling eight years ago, like many new homeschoolers, I thought homeschooling was the same as (public) schooling at home. Boy, was I wrong! Over the years, with much trial and error, we have finally come to rest in our gentle daily rhythm. This rhythm allows for the […]
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Inside a Charlotte Mason Homeschool
Pull up a chair. We’re just getting started with our homeschooling for the day. Amy is eight this year, and we’re using the Charlotte Mason method. If you’re curious about what a typical day looks like, you’re welcome to take a peek inside this Charlotte Mason homeschool. 8:30—Scripture Memory I […]
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How to Teach Great Literature in the Classical/Charlotte Mason Homeschool
Oh, Mom—I’ll never forget this book!” Wouldn’t you love to hear those words from your son or daughter? Great books are special. They capture the hearts and minds of readers, century after century. Great books enlarge thinking, expand the known world, and bring abstract concepts such as justice, love, and […]
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Don’t Forget the Fun!
Do you ever feel like all you do is cover the basics? Jumping from math to English, to history and science, then off to the kids’ activities or church and all those other good things you do. Before you know it, the week is over and you didn’t do nearly […]
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Understanding Learning Styles Sets Us Free
We were two weeks into my second son’s first grade year. It was our second year of homeschooling. He was seated at his desk, and I was stationed at the whiteboard, emulating my public school teachers. This was our routine: Me: “Sit still, Honey.” I would teach. Me: “Pay attention.” […]
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Who Needs Evidence? But, Here it is Anyway!
No one needs research evidence to convince him that murder is bad for people. And why does anyone need research to show her that loving parental involvement in a child’s life is good for his education? Most Christian parents homeschool because they know that parent-led home-based discipleship is biblically normative. […]
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The Problem with Modern Education: Recovering the Lost Tools of Learning
In early 2016 there were an estimated 2.3 million homeschooled students in the United States, and this amount appears to be growing. The reason why more and more families choose this educational option are many, but one of the primary reasons is the failure of our modern educational system. Not […]
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