I was many years into parenting before I realized that the most powerful tool in my toolbox, masterful nagging, did not work.

I would remind, leave notes, cajole, tease, nag and harangue. Guess what? It didn't matter a bit.

In fact, they acquired an uncanny ability to tune me out. The more animated I got, the more

Continue reading Does Nagging Work?

Writing is not going away.

In fact, writing is on the uptick!

A case can be made that writing is becoming our culture's dominant form of communication.
 
Email, text messages, tweets, and blog entries are all done in writing. Even on our electronic phones we do more texting than talking.

It's as though the old practice of

Continue reading Teaching Writing in a Text-Message World

One of my favorite things to do is to go on hikes, have the kids wade in streams and look for all sorts of different type of animals, draw in their nature journal and just have some good old fashion fun without all the play equipment. However, here in Orange County, California, most of the

Continue reading Eisenhower Park

The words path to learning offer us a great word picture. Word pictures (metaphors) can help us visualize and grab hold of a big concept and a deep meaning.

The word "education" is not a word picture. While the word "education" has plenty of meaning, it's hard to picture. And the word itself may not offer

Continue reading Encouraging Kids Along the Path to Learning

Dear HSLDA Members and Friends:

You know that HSLDA’s free e-lert service brings the latest news to your inbox.

But when you want in-depth analysis of issues that affect your family’s freedom to homeschool, HSLDA’s bimonthly magazine, The Home School Court Report,

Continue reading HSLDA Members and Friends:

I was going to write an article about how you have a new year upon us and how we should start the new year with preparedness in homeschooling by joining HSLDA. Then I came across this wonderful article by Homeschool Inc. and I decided to repost it here instead. I could have not written it

Continue reading Following the Rules

New Year's resolutions are fleeting things, leaving our minds with the next distraction. Rather than making resolutions, seek renewal. Renewal of yourself, physically, mentally and emotionally – and renewal of your approach and attitude.

Here are a few ideas to consider as we approach 2011:

1. Worry less. How many things we worry about actually happen? Too

Continue reading New Year – New Vision

Most, if not all, homeschoolers wrestle with the decision of purchasing new or used education materials. As we've traveled to conferences, we've noticed that many of you first frequent the used book sales and then look to purchase new materials to match the editions you've found at the sale. In many instances, combining used

Continue reading Used or New?

What happens when mom/teacher is under-the electric-blanket-set-on-10-and-shivering sick? If you have a substitute teacher to call (like grandma or a great friend), consider yourself lucky! You can "enjoy" a guilt-free day. But what if you don't have reinforcements to muster? 
     Your sick day might not look like a regular Mom’s Sick Day

Do you rarely follow a recipe as written? Maybe you throw out the recipe altogether and start from scratch? When you teach, you probably write your own curriculum or take what you have and change it. We bet you

Continue reading How do you cook? Bet you teach that same way!

Spring is a wonderful time of year to enjoy the outdoors after being inside most of the winter. Why not take your camera (and students) on a walk? You could use this as an art activity.
     Next time you go for a walk or run errands, take the camera. Record your visit. What catches your eye?

Continue reading Take a Walk with Your Camera!

Homeschool Leaders Go To Washington

Will Estrada
Director of Federal Relations

May 11, 2010

Eighty-three homeschool leaders spent three days in the Washington, D.C. area in April, lobbying members of Congress. These homeschool leaders represented homeschool organizations from 37 states and Puerto Rico, and came to the district as part of HSLDA’s National Homeschool Leader Summit. Held every two

Continue reading Homeschool Leaders Go To Washington

When we start to homeschool, we picture that we will teach our kids during "the best of times." We picture our children reading around a cozy kitchen table, on a porch, or in comfy chairs. We

Continue reading Teaching While Handling a Crisis

Surrounded by homeschool paraphernalia? Containing the inevitable clutter will help you save time, energy and money (if you have to replace things you cannot find). Here are some tips to help you manage your school materials.

Books:
Keep books you currently use within

Continue reading Spring Organization

Ever think of it this way: Children already know how to be children! What they need to learn is how to be grownups. Overall…it takes grownups to teach them.
Healthy and helpful socialization isn't something a child catches, like the flu. It's a process whereby someone intentionally teaches a child social rules, etiquette, morals, values, and

Continue reading Children Already Know How to Be Children

"Deschooling" is taking a little time to get the "school" out of your child's (and your) system. A break from anything "schooly" gives children the time and space to explore their own interests and settle into a less structured

Continue reading Deschool Before Returning to School

More than likely your home has quite a few board games. You may even have frequent family game nights.

But how about making your own homemade board games?

Your children can design the game , create it, and then play it! Here are some steps, but they are not linear. So

Continue reading Homemade Board Games

     Help learning happen by building a "learning staircase" for your child. After you've defined the concept to be taught, break the lesson into small steps – start on the bottom one and keep going! First, set the goal you want your child to achieve. Then, set reasonable expectations for each day's accomplishments. If your

Continue reading Learning Staircases

Six Things a Homeschool Family Can Learn from their Dog

1. Just Because…you take a nap,doesn't make you worthless.
2. Just Because…the newspaper is in your neighbor's driveway doesn't mean you can't read the headlines.
3. Just Because…you bark,

Continue reading How a Pet Can Teach your Homeschool

Porthole Perspective?!?
On a ship, sailors can look out at the ocean through a porthole. But this doesn't give them much viewing area! In fact, all they can see is what's in front of them. Have you been seeing your life, your homeschool, from a porthole perspective?
     When we only see the problems and challenges of

Continue reading Porthole Perspective?!?

Used or New? That is the question!
Most, if not all, homeschoolers wrestle with the decision of purchasing new or used education materials. As we’ve traveled to conferences, we’ve noticed that many of you first frequent the used book sales and then look to purchase new materials to match the editions you’ve found at the sale.

Continue reading Used or New Curriculum?