Gratitude: Noun The quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. Synonyms gratefulness – thankfulness – thanks – appreciation Entitlement: Noun The fact of having a right to something. The amount to which a person has a right. Synonyms right – title – warrant (Provided by Google) It increasingly becomes more apparent to me that children today suffer from a false sense of entitlement. Instead of actively cutting off this attitude and replacing it with a sense of thankfulness, it is reinforced by parents, grandparents, and society in general. The point was made loud and … Continue reading →

When October hits the first thing candy loving kids think of is Halloween. Many kids count down the days until they can trick or treat. Some plan their costumes months in advance while some continue to change their mind until the eleventh hour. It is fun to see the creativity some children can come up with from static cling to a zombie princess. Does your homeschool co-op host a Halloween party or parade? If so, make sure you have all the basics covered from costume contests to bobbing for apples. However, you may want to send the bats flying, let … Continue reading →

Sometimes I have to remind myself that the “extra” in extracurricular is there for a reason. The reason is these types of activities are enhancements to your lesson plan but not the plan. Now, like many, I enjoy going off road on the homeschool trail. However, the more time I spend off road the further I feel lost. During the first part of the school year, each of my kids had an activity. We had something going on every week night except Friday but we had homeschool co-op on Friday mornings. No rest on the weekends since we had soccer … Continue reading →

For years my son would chime in and answer math questions and geography questions posed to his big sister. I was so proud to have a son a few years ahead. Then my pride turned into laughter as he answered time and time again that football was his source of information. He knows as much as any EPSN sportscaster. When fantasy football comes around adult men respect his opinion. Once I purchased a small history of football book for him and it turned out to be one of his favorite books. His love of football inspired me to learn more … Continue reading →

There is exciting news from Veggie Tales! They have released a new DVD, called The League of Incredible Vegetables. The theme is handling fear and who can handle that topic better than Thingamabob (Bob the Tomato), LarryBoy (Larry the Cucumber), and the rest of the gang? The DVD includes a new silly song called Super Hero and a music video by the Newsboys. If you are a Veggie Tales fan or if you never watched an episode this is the place to start. I have been a fan of Veggie Tales for over a decade. My first child loved Bob … Continue reading →

I blew my whistle and immediately the children stopped and looked my way. The soccer ball keep rolling out of bounds, lost without the guidance of an eager young foot. Noise emitted out of little mouths quite certain the foul was not on them. As my breath gave power to the whistle to keep the peace; the children once again stood silent. I spoke and made the call. The power of the whistle. Little did I know I held a greater power in my bag filled with coach essentials. I didn’t realize the power it contained until I stumbled upon … Continue reading →

What is a homeschool portfolio? A homeschool portfolio is a window into your child’s homeschool experience, achievements, and academic progress, throughout the school year. There are more then on way to keep a portfolio but I will list the core items you will need. However, always check your state laws, homeschool co-ops, and with the evaluator, on what materials are required. What is the iPad Version? Housing your entire portfolio on your iPad in lieu of a binder. What is involved and how do you start? Last school year I chose to fulfill the homeschool laws of my state by … Continue reading →

Education should foster a love of learning and a confident critical thinker rather than a machine that rattles off facts. Simply knowing the facts is not true learning. Learning gives the ability to apply knowledge not just memorize facts. As homeschoolers, we have the luxury of time which provides the ability to study from a mastery approach. However, it is most important to remember that homeschooling is about raising the total child and not just academics. If all you accomplish in a day is teaching good character, instilling a love for Christ, and showing your children they are loved and … Continue reading →

Horror struck me as I saw a suspicious puddle on the ground. Finding a bathroom upon entering a new place is mom protocol. I failed as this basic mom rule and now we were going to pay the price for it. As I call the other kids, I can see from a distance that a fog of dirt was hovering overhead. Every child was a complete mess and we still had one more stop on this field trip of “what more could go on?” Just when I thought nothing, my four year old, standing in a puddle of shame, asks … Continue reading →

Homeschool parents are finding ways to use the internet to enhance the schooling aspect of homeschooling. The mystery of lesson planning is solved by a quick search. Frugal homeschoolers can save their budget with free printables and unit studies ready to download. Students who bore easily with textbooks can take a break playing online educational games. YouTube helps many frustrated students who need tutoring in just about any subject. Adventurous homeschoolers can be whisked away on virtual field trips. Many art museums, zoos, and historical locations offer an online peek children will enjoy. Consider looking up a country you are … Continue reading →