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

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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

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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

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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 expect to hear, "I get it!" happily bubble up from our children, morning after morning, as they learn in

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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 easy reach of your work area. Books that you no longer need or

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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,

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"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 lifestyle. When you've been involved in an institutional school system, it's all too easy to measure

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     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

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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

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