Mental math is one of the most helpful skills one can acquire. Mental math frees you from feeling enslaved to a calculator. Mental math can make you feel powerful. Mental math saves time—it’s more efficient than paper-and-pencil arithmetic. Mental math is often “good enough” for an answer. And last but […]
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Jump-Start Your Reluctant Writer
Justin ran desperately through slashing brush that was doomed by the fire raging behind him. As he ran, his mind raced to Sam … where was he? Justin threw a fervent look back over his shoulder, but saw no one. There was nothing to do but keep going–faster, faster! He […]
Read More5-Step Process to Help a Struggling Writer Succeed
Writing is an extremely complex process that requires the brain to do many different things at once: form an idea, put that idea into words, think about how to spell those words, consider what to capitalize and how to punctuate, and remember how to form letters (or where to find […]
Read MoreHow to Manage the Writing Process
Writing is a very complex process because your brain must tend to many different things at once: you must form your idea, put it into words, think about how to spell those words, consider what to capitalize and how to punctuate, and remember how to form letters (or find them […]
Read MoreWhat Should Middle School Students Know About History?
Life is more complicated in the 21st century than it was fifty years ago, at least when it comes to teaching history. When our grandparents went to school, they studied American history and world history chronologically. They opened a book, read the stories, and learned the data. An example of […]
Read MoreHistory in the Elementary Years
The elementary years are a perfect time to begin your study of history by introducing your children to the significant events and famous men and women of the past. Step back in time and look closely at how these men and women lived and what they accomplished. Children often find […]
Read MoreMy Problem with Timelines
I love timelines. I have a bookshelf dedicated to books of timelines. I have a timeline on my website with hundreds of printables tied to specific dates and events. I just have one problem with them. Has a scenario like this ever played out in your homeschool? You complete your […]
Read MoreThe Call of the Wild
“Dress warmly and wear something you don’t mind getting wet,” my dad said, one morning. He was taking us hunting for the wild asparagus. I had read a bit about asparagus and I had eaten asparagus, but hunting for asparagus was a new experience. The memory of hunting is one […]
Read MoreA 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 […]
Read MoreThe Shocking Truth About Electricity
“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” (Benjamin Franklin) These wise words are as true today as they were more than two hundred years ago when Benjamin Franklin first made this statement. That Franklin was one of the foremost minds of his […]
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