We all want our children to think critically about the ideas they encounter. To help this along, we often add a “critical thinking” class to the other subjects we cover. While there is undoubtedly good that can come out of certain types of critical thinking skills developed in isolation, there is a limit. A mother […]
Come Look With Me Art Series
Sometimes, especially with younger children, the easiest way to cover something is by reading a book on the subject. The Come Look With Me series by Gladys S. Blizzard is a set of books that makes art appreciation for young children very simple! I find that while age, experience, and personal taste determine an individual’s […]
A Time of Wonder {Book Activities}
Just in time for summer! Many will be familiar with Time of Wonder by Robert McCloskey, author of Make Way for Ducklings and Blueberries for Sal, among others. Time of Wonder, winner of the 1958 Caldecott Medal, tells the story of a summer spent on the coast of Maine. Along with being a favorite read […]
Natural Speller: Review & Helps
Natural Speller by Kathryn Stout is part of a series of books from Design-A-Study that help the DIY homeschoool Mom craft her own custom curriculum, focusing on going at the student’s pace, while working toward mastery. It is the only book you need to teach spelling from the time your child is reading well to […]
Tree in the Trail
Tree in the Trail is another beautifully illustrated title by Holling C. Holling on our recommended reading list. The tree begins as a lone cottonwood sapling on the Kansas plain near Cow Creek. A young Indian boy notices the tree standing alone and builds rocks around the tree to protect it. Through the long life […]
The Patriot’s Handbook
Before a student finishes his high school years, there are several documents we hope he will have become familiar with. Those primary source documents would include, but not be limited to, the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution of the United States. If we wish him to be proficient in understanding history, he will have […]
How to Write Clearly
There seems to be two main concerns among homeschool moms (besides the ever-present “how do I get all of this done”) — math and writing. Perhaps our anxiety in these two areas stems from subtle doubts about our own math and writing abilities. Our fears tend to drive us deep into the curriculum maze — […]
Ginger Pye: Review Go-Along Activities
What is more lovable than a puppy? Ginger Pye captures the heart of not only his adopted family, but also the reader. We also root for Jerry and Rachel as they try to track down “unsavory” — the Unsavory Character who they believe stole Ginger Pye on Thanksgiving Day. Written in 1951, Ginger Pye by […]
Review: Carry a Big Stick & Go-Alongs
Carry a Big Stick: The Uncommon Heroism of Theodore Roosevelt by George Grant is part of the Leaders in Action Series published by Cumberland House. Courage, humor, a love of family, faith, and “the Strenuous Life” are just a few of the characteristics that define Theodore Roosevelt in this easy-to-read biography. Theodore Roosevelt was […]
Drawing With Children {Review}
Drawing with Children by Mona Brookes has been a highly recommended art resource for homeschoolers for years. To give you an idea of how long this treasure has been around, the 10th Anniversary Edition was published in 1996. Think the ability to draw is inherited? Do you believe there is a “right” way to draw? […]
Learn to Write the Novel Way: A Review
Carole Thaxton, co-author of KONOS Curriculum, has discovered an excellent way to encourage our children to write! Intelligent students are not excited about grammar drills UNLESS they see their meaning within the whole. In other words, the ingredients are not what make writing so exciting…Imagine your child writing a novel, a good novel, a novel […]
Review: Who Should We Then Read?
Digging into the literature available and mining out the gems for our children is a never-ending and daunting task for the DIY Homeschooler. That is why we treasure those “Books About Books” that make our job easier. Who Should We Then Read? by Jan Bloom is one of these useful guides. The purpose of this […]
