Ten favorite How-Tos from the archives: 1. Skill Subjects vs. Content Subjects {The Key to Simplifying} 2. Teach a Child to Read: The Natural Way 3. Language Arts the Natural Way: Narrating 4. 14 Forms of Writing for the Older Student: Character Sketch 5. 10 Ways to Use Notebooking: #3 […]
7 Lessons for Teaching Writing
We learn to write by reading and writing. This natural method of learning to write is actually the MOST effective way to learn.
10 Steps to Build a Better Speller
Memorize your weekly spelling word list, ace the test, promptly delete that information — sometimes permanently! If you were one of those students who could get A’s in spelling — without ever becoming a competent speller — this one is for you (and your students!).
Letter Generator Interactive {Free}
After a child is able to write comfortably, he will need things to write. We have suggested 8 writing activities for the younger student — one of which is writing a letter. This free Letter Generator interactive at ReadWriteThink.org is an excellent guide for the younger writer. The letter generator provides an easy way to […]
Activity: Measure Length and Distance
Here are ideas for exploring measuring length and distance — in a natural way:
First Year in Number {Free eBook}
One of the things Dr. Ruth Beechick always recommended when it comes to arithmetic and young children is to start with the concrete. This is the advantage you will find in a book like First Year in Number by Franklin Hoyt and Harriet Peet. With real objects, three-year-olds can do problems that are not introduced […]
NASA Pre-K – 2 Educator Guide {Free}
If you are looking for a hands-on science option geared toward young children, you may enjoy this free, 104-page K–2 Educator Guide from NASA! 3…2…1…Liftoff! is a multi-discipline approach to science in the early years. Subtitled An Educator’s Guide With Activities in Science, Mathematics, Technology, and Language Arts, the guide offers a complete listing of […]
Skill Subjects vs. Content Subjects {The Key to Simplifying}
Here is the key to simplifying home education — understand the difference between skill subjects and content subjects.
6 Ways to Encourage Your Children to Pursue Their Interests
In the midst of academic basics, scopes and sequences, record keeping, and chores, here are 6 ways to encourage your children to pursue their interests.
Making Wise Curriculum Purchases: Math
Math is one of those areas where we tend to struggle. Our frustrations in this area tend to stem from one of a handful of problems: A particular math curriculum just doesn’t seem to fit a particular child. There are too many activities associated with each lesson. Our child is not “getting it.” The material […]
Teach a Child to Read: The Natural Way
Teaching a child to read is one of the areas that we tend to make more complicated than it needs to be. One easy solution is to simply teach a child to read in a natural way. Frequently, many of our problems in this area stem from simple impatience! We tend to start before our […]
3 Ways to Develop Critical Thinking Skills
In a chapter titled “Thinking Skills” in her book A Biblical Home Education, Ruth Beechick explains that we don’t need a “thinking” class. Instead we want our children to apply critical thinking skills to every subject. She relates an anecdote involving four children, five and under, whose mother has helped them think about the fact […]
