One Simple Trick for Evaluating a Book’s Level

August 5, 2019 By Heather Pleier

There are some great resources to decide if your child is ready for a novel, but there’s an even easier way. In the following article, Heather shares one simple trick for evaluating a book’s level.

Written by Heather Pleier of Wonderschooling.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had the same conversation. A parent wants to know if a book is appropriate for her child – if she should be allowed to read a particular novel.

Is he ready for Harry Potter? Charlie & the Chocolate Factory? Ender’s Game? Lord of the Rings? You name it.

One Simple Trick for Evaluating a Book's Level

There are some great resources, like Common Sense Media and even Scholastic, that rate books by interest level as well as difficulty. But there’s one simpler trick that works almost every time. This trick makes it a breeze to evaluate a book’s level and determine if it’s right for your child.

It’s just one simple question. [Read more…]

How to Make Your Kids Want to Write (or at Least Grumble a Little Less)

May 14, 2019 By Kris Bales

If motivating your children to write seems like an impossible dream, try these tips to tone down the writing-related grumbling in your homeschool.

“My kid hates to write!” How many times have you said those words or heard another homeschooling parent say them? Reluctant writers are the entire reason we started sharing monthly printable writing prompts.

But, even with writing prompts, how do you get a reluctant writer to like writing…or, at least, not grumble about it quite so much?

Try these tips to make writing more agreeable to the pencil-twirlers and corner-doodlers in your house. [Read more…]

How to Create Simple but Effective Homeschool Language Arts Lessons

May 7, 2019 By Kris Bales

An integrated approach is one of the best ways to teach homeschool language arts lessons. Learn how to create literature-based lessons easily.

Sometimes, we homeschooling parents like to make learning more complicated than it is. We forget about the natural curiosity of children and lose sight of the fact that so much of the information we want to impart is already part of our everyday lives.

For example, we feel that we have to pull together the perfect spelling, phonics, handwriting, vocabulary, and grammar programs. (Guilty.) However, most of us likely have all we need for a great homeschool language arts lesson sitting on {one of our many} our bookshelves.

And, no, I’m not talking about those stacks of dusty, unused-but-I-just-might-need-it-someday homeschool curriculum. (Yes, I have them, too.)

I’m talking about the books that you already own. The ones you snuggle up with for bedtime stories. The ones your voracious reader devours when she’s supposed to be sleeping. And, the ones the whole family gathers around to hear during family read-aloud time. [Read more…]

Tips for Wrapping Up Your Homeschool Year Right and 2019 May Writing Prompts {FREE PRINTABLE}

May 1, 2019 By Adrienne Bolton

What does wrapping up your homeschool year look like at your house? We’ve got some tips to help you wrap up the year right, plus free writing prompts!

Written by Adrienne Bolton of The Mommy Mess.

I can’t believe it’s almost time to start wrapping up the year! Do you take a summer break? We have in the past, but at this point, we’ve become unschoolers by default and have no idea what our plan is for the upcoming week, let alone summer.

I’m sure we’ll be doing some things over the break, but technically, our school year calendar ends in May.

What does wrapping up the year look like in your homeschool?

Are you celebrating accomplishments or beating yourself up for not getting enough done? If I’m candid, I’m busy doing much more of the latter. It’s a been a rough year.

Homeschooling a child with OCD, anxiety, or mental illness can be discouraging at times, and this year has been one of those times for our family. If you’re the parent of a special needs student, you understand the roller coaster of emotions that come with the job of homeschooling a child who’s different.

Am I doing enough?

How will I get through to my kid who hates school?

What if we don’t finish?

Anybody?

No matter if you’re homeschooling a child with special needs or not, the homeschool mom worries tend to creep up at the end the year, don’t they? If you’re feeling down about your year, know you’re not alone!

It’s an excellent time to remind yourself of all the positives. Focus on what you’ve accomplished and celebrate milestones, no matter how small! [Read more…]

How to Survive Spring Fever in Homeschooling and April 2019 Writing Prompts {FREE PRINTABLE}

April 1, 2019 By Adrienne Bolton

It can be tough to survive spring fever in homeschooling, but these tips and free printable writing prompts can help!

Written by Adrienne Bolton of The Mommy Mess.

Spring. That time of year when every homeschool parent wants to throw in the towel. Or better yet, grab a towel and a good book and head to the beach!

No? Just me?

Getting past the slump of spring is tough, and that tricky homeschool freedom makes it SO easy to slack.

How to Survive Spring Fever In Homeschooling

1. Focus on what you’ve accomplished.

Don’t waste another second worrying about what you haven’t finished yet. Stop stressing over the lesson pages you’re afraid will be left blank when you sit down to meet with your year-end evaluator.

Your family has accomplished so much this year! It’s easy to start panicking at this time of year about all the lessons we haven’t completed yet, but what we should be doing is taking some time to recognize all that we have achieved!

What positives has your family had this homeschool school year?

Sit down and make a list of milestones, achievements, and memories.

Spring is the perfect time to begin compiling and organizing your annual portfolios if your state requires them (or just for a keepsake). Seeing everything you’ve been working on all year reminds you how much you’ve accomplished and helps to relieve that spring panic you’re not doing enough. [Read more…]