Homeschooling

3 places to find free and complete homeschooling curriculum

Providing a good education for our children does not have to be expensive!

Old Fashioned Education uses classic literature and other resources that can be found almost entirely for free online.
Ambleside Online utilizes the Charlotte Mason method of homeschooling for kids through grade 12. Some of the books on the book lists are not available for Continue reading...

3 Scripture memory resources

3 Scripture memory resources

We’re on a quest in our house to memorize more Scripture. Recently, we’ve found some music specifically for this purpose and I’m always amazed at how easy it is to learn something when it’s put to music.
Our kids have made it a habit of belting out Bible verses while doing the dishes. I love that. Continue reading...

School days

Alright friends, there’s much going on in this house of ours. The most exciting (and time-consuming) has been the start of school last week for the oldest two and the start of preschool for #3 tomorrow! Whew! There’s a lot to keep track of!
OK, about our school. I’m very stoked about it and I think Continue reading...

How to know what to teach, or, what I want my children to know

How do you know what to teach?
This has got to be one of the most common questions I get from people who find out we homeschool. It was also one of my biggest questions when we pulled our daughter out of public school in 2006.  I had no idea where to start.
Curriculum choices abound. And Continue reading...

Are you a parent?

I homeschool…but there’s a part of me that hates to admit it.  I hate to admit it not because I’m ashamed but because a lot of people automatically put me in a box.  And often the box is marked “weird.”
The bottom line is, parents are responsible for educating their children.  Schools are not responsible, teachers Continue reading...

15 of my best toy picks

15 of my best toy picks

Taking part in Works for Me Wednesday!

A lot of toys have come through this house along with 4 kids in 8 years; a lot of toys have gone out too. We have moved 6 times since becoming parents and I refuse to move anything that isn’t worth its weight in gold. Good thing the children Continue reading...

Friday Favorite: A Chocolate Bar (How It's Made)

Friday Favorite: A Chocolate Bar (How It’s Made)

This was our favorite read of the week.  How It’s Made: A Chocolate Bar by Sarah Ridley has lots of photos and interesting tidbits.  It follows the process from growing the cacao trees (cacao trees yield cocoa beans) in Africa to its very yummy end.
As usual, there’s lots of opportunity for learning here:

geography: locating the Continue reading...