Putting together a research paper is the culmination of a student’s previous experience: skills, interests, and writing background. Writing a research paper can appear daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Just tackle it one step at a time. Here is how to guide your older student through writing a research paper. What is a […]
God at Work: Your Christian Vocation in All of Life {Review}
It is that time of year when some will graduate — with no clue what they want out of life. Hopefully we have provided our children with a love of learning, given them time to develop their interests, talents, and gifts, and provided them with a path to their future. For those still confused God […]
14 Forms of Writing for the Older Student: Poetry
Writing poetry may seem like an odd place to start when encouraging a young writer, but some students will find it an easier task than many other forms of writing. There are several benefits to learning to write poetry: Poetry has the ability to help students see underlying structures and to develop their own organizational […]
14 Forms of Writing for the Older Student: Descriptive Narrative
What is a Descriptive Narrative Essay? Narrative essays usually tell us how something happened. They are typically written in chronological order and use transition words such as first, before, later, or finally. Narrative essays frequently have a point to make or a moral to convey — a lesson learned. They employ storytelling. A descriptive essay […]
Learn to Code Apps and Websites {Free!}
Codecademy offers an easy way to learn and develop programming skills! The site, which has grown considerably since our first review in 2012, offers an interactive approach to help students learn to code apps and websites — at no cost. At this time, students can choose various avenues to explore including: HTML and CSS PHP […]
14 Forms of Writing for the Older Student: Note-Taking
Note-taking is one skill older students of all types need to perfect. There are several benefits of being a great note-taker: Forces you to think while you read. Encourages you to make information your own (learn more). Helps you learn to identify and understand main points. Aids your memory. Develops concentration. Creates a reference that […]
What is My Vocation?
Perhaps the answer lies in the way we ask the question. How do we know our vocation? Strictly speaking—and contrary to the way we pressure young people to ‘decide’ what they are going to do when they grow up—a vocation is not something we choose for ourselves. Rather, it is given by God, who ‘calls’ […]
Productive Alternative to a Gap Year: Run a Business!
It has always been true, but perhaps with college having become a default societal setting it is even more obvious now — there are a vast number of students attending college with absolutely no idea why they are there! Unfortunately, many will leave deeply in dept, not terribly more skilled than when they started, and […]
45 Life Skills Your Children Need Before They Leave Home
There are many things we do each day — life skills — that we take for granted. We’ve done them so long that we forget that our children might not know how to do them. One easy remedy is to include our children in our daily activities, instructing as we go. Get the children involved […]
Instilling a Proper View of Work
Much like it does of success, our world has an odd view of work. We daily see those who loathe their jobs, who do the minimum amount possible to still receive compensation for their work, and those who feel that they are owed. There are also those who daily complain about doing the work in […]
14 Forms of Writing for the Older Student: Character Sketch
There are several reasons to have students write character sketches: To summarize or narrate a book read. As a prewriting exercise before writing a work of fiction or a biography. To understand why a character may change during the course of a story. To learn to develop the art of noticing details. To improve your […]
14 Forms of Writing for the Older Student: Limericks
If you ask a student to write a poem, his reaction may be … well, let’s just say less than enthusiastic! The limerick makes a fun, easy introduction to writing poetry. The form is already established, the writer doesn’t have to reach terribly deep for content, and limericks tend to be quicker to write than […]
