The Great Twilight Debate

What am I reading this summer?
The Twilight Saga books by Stephenie Meyer.  I have been hearing about them for a couple of years now–from friends, neighbors, and acquaintances old and young, male and female, but I just never wanted to read these books before.
Why not?  because I am such a voracious reader that I tend to be very picky–I [...]

Believers Unite!

 Check out the great video below; I am so excited and impressed by the media attention that has surrounded and helped promote Ben Stein’s movie “Expelled”  about education versus creationism!  I just had to put a plug for this movie in my blog, hoping that all of my bloggy friends who believe in God will spread the word [...]

Making History FUN!

Thanks to Susan Wise Bauer’s The Story of the World sets for children, history studies are like playtime for my children!  Some days, however, I find I don’t always have the time to get to the library and obtain Bauer’s “supplementary readings” (to go with each lesson) or do all the lesson activities the way I would [...]

Helen Keller Discovery

Big thanks to the New England Historic Genealogical Society for making this rare photograph and its story available to the public; it really added to our recent homeschool discussions about Helen Keller and our readings of her biography as well as that of Anne Sullivan:
http://www.newenglandancestors.org/hkeller_release_feb08v2.pdf

Daily Charts For Children

I hung these charts in my daughters’ rooms and they have been SO helpful!  The girls know that these charts have to be done before they can come downstairs and eat breakfast, so I don’t have to stand over them and say “make your bed, brush your teeth!” etc:

 
Then when it is time to start [...]

Exposing My Addiction

I thought I could hide my addiction, but as you can see from these photos, I’m obviously addicted to books!  We have been T.V. Free for almost four years, and in that time I have been doing a lot of reading.  At birthdays, Christmas, and Mother’s Day, all I ever ask for are books! 
First, I [...]

The Successful Nap Time

I almost had a breakdown when my first child reached the age when she no longer napped.  How was I going to survive without those two hours of peace, quiet, and time to myself?
Thank heavens for good friends!  I learned from another mother about “Nap Time Backpacks.”
This mother told me that no matter what the child’s age, [...]

Fun Educational Activity for Children

Last Friday we did the most interesting craft projects!  For those who do not homeschool, these would be great for an afterschool or weekend activity for bored kids:
This project, from Kristal Educational, was an archaeological dig of a Mayan temple!
It took the girls quite a while to dig out the temple because it was so [...]

No More Tears During Homework!

It worked!  When I followed the advice from Jessie Wise’s article, it worked!
I sat down with my gradeschoolers two days ago and told them how upsetting it was to me when they whined at chore time or schoolwork time.  I basically told them: “If anyone whines when I ask them to do their schoolwork or [...]

The Secret to Silent Children

I was asked today by a friend with two children: “Your house is so quiet and tranquil compared to mine, yet you have four children and I have only two!  What is your secret?”  I don’t have a secret!  In fact, I think my children are a bit too rambunctious.  Still, I have been working [...]