Importance of Living Books

I have heard many moms say that any books that gets a child interested in reading is a good book. Although I understand the sentiment, I disagree with the concept. I think that what a child reads is as important as getting a child to read. Filling a child’s head with books that are devoid of imagination, use poor grammar, contain poor imaginary, are only surface and not mufti-faceted, do not educate or inspire but serve as empty calories in the world of food for thought. Reading can open a world of imagination, fantasy, inspiration, and experience. A book allows … Continue reading →

What People are Saying About: Heart of Dakota

What is Heart of Dakota Heart of Dakota strives to publish Christ-centered homeschool curricula that is easy to use, flexible, and educational and can also be used with multiple ages at the same time. Our desire is to help homeschool teachers have a successful experience from the very beginning, while keeping God’s Word at the heart of their children’s academic training. {from site} What People are Saying… We haven’t been using it very long but I love it! We use it with all 4 children right now (3-7yo) and it’s been wonderful! ~Dana Heart of Dakota is the best! … Continue reading →

The Traditional Approach

Often overlooked in a world of vogue methods and new ideas, the traditional approach is still the choice of many homeschoolers today. The traditional approach seems vanilla and therefore rarely a topic of conversation anymore. I started my homeschooling years using this approach and transformed into a Charlotte Mason method until finally settling in with an eclectic approach. There is nothing wrong with this approach if you have a learner who is ordered, craves routine, and is an auditory learner. We read all the time about textbooks being unnecessary but this approach loves textbooks. Some believe it is a tried and … Continue reading →

Living Math

Math is used every day. Living math is an aptly put term for teaching math through the every day uses of math. Children are taught how to solve real life math problems using real life scenarios or hands on manipulatives or simply through play. Push the worksheets and textbooks aside and see the equations you solve daily. A child will learn to understand math when he sees the connection to the physical world around him. Real world math scenarios to consider: Doubling a recipe. Cutting a recipe in half. Calculating change before the cashier hands it back. How much money … Continue reading →

Overview of Charlotte Mason Education

Over the past eight years, my homeschool has enjoyed implementing Charlotte Mason methods into every area of study. Many homeschool parents have questions over how to employ the method. The method is not difficult yet it may not suit every homeschooling situation. The following overview and brief outline of the hallmark Charlotte Mason basics may help you determine if the fit is good for your family. Overview of the Charlotte Mason Method: Charlotte Mason was a British educator who lived in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Her method is centered on the idea that education is three-pronged: atmosphere, discipline, … Continue reading →

Homeschool Method Focus: Waldorf, Thomas Jefferson, Eclectic

Waldorf Method The Waldorf method is also used in some homeschools. Waldorf education is based on the work of Rudolf Steiner and stresses the importance of educating the whole child—body, mind, and spirit. In the early grades, there is an emphasis on arts and crafts, music and movement, and nature. Older children are taught to develop self-awareness and how to reason things out for themselves. Children in a Waldorf homeschool do not use standard textbooks; instead, the children create their own books. The Waldorf method also discourages the use of television and computers because they believe computers are bad for … Continue reading →

Charlotte Mason Focus: Habit Training

“Let all things be done decently and in order.” ~1 Corinthians 14:40 We all know how easily bad habits are formed. Did you realize that good habits are formed the same way? Instilling good habits in your children will make your home run much more smoothly and orderly. Imagine a day where you did not have to remind your children to brush their teeth, clean their room, do their work, or complete their chores. The simple process of repetition over time will form good habits in your children. The trick is to be purposeful in training these habits. A habit … Continue reading →

Are you making your kids weird?

Are you making your kids weird? I know I am. I love to travel. All year, I save so that I can go on wonderful trips. I’m not a big spender on things, but I love to spend on experiences. My daughter likes to travel too, and I enjoy taking her with me. We get to have adventures together, and they’re very educational of course. We’ve learned about the tropical rainforest by going there and walking through it. Most recently, we’ve explored great European works of art (and yes, ice cream and lots of carousels) by traveling through Italy and … Continue reading →

The Fussy Mom

““The mere blessed fact of the parental relationship and of that authority which belongs to it, by right and by nature, acts upon the children as do sunshine and shower on a seed in good soil. But the fussy parent, the anxious parent, the parent who explains overmuch, who commands overmuch, who excuses overmuch, who restrains overmuch, who interferes overmuch, even the parent who is with the children overmuch, does away with the dignity and simplicity of that relationship.”” ~Charlotte Mason Are you a fussy anxious parent? We have all seen this type of mom. The mom that claims she … Continue reading →

Unschoolers: At a disadvantage on standardized tests

Recently an article was published stating that unstructured or unschooling students under performed on standardized tests while structured homeschoolers out performed on standardized tests in comparison to their schooled counterparts. If you have been around the homeschool block long enough you standardized tests appear to be the measure used to determine if homeschooling qualifies as education in the eyes of non-homeschoolers. First, the standardized test was not developed to compare schooled children to homeschoolers. The standardized test is an accountability system to ensure schools were teaching the basics to their students. I fail to understand why national standards and standardized … Continue reading →