As a former math teacher, I had a good idea of what I wanted our math curriculum to look like when I first began to homeschool. The problem was, being new to homeschooling, I had no idea what the options were or how to find one that had what I wanted! Over the years I have tried out and reviewed a lot of good options. And there are lots of different curricula that I would recommend, depending on your situation. But through it all, I have found Keep Reading...
Online Homeschool Math: CTC Math Review
Choosing the right math curriculum for your kids can be so challenging. There are countless options out there, and if you're not a math geek (like me) or don't feel confident teaching math, it can be a daunting task. Obviously, you want what's best for your kids, and you want (hopefully) a curriculum that will adequately teach them math and prepare them for the future. Today I want to share an online homeschool math option with you and help Keep Reading...
Second Grade Homeschool Curriculum Choices
I am so excited to start a new school year with my kids. Although, to be honest, I'm also a little nervous! This is the first year I'll be teaching 3 of my kids at once and I have no idea how our new routine will play out. But I've been working hard this summer to plan and prepare to make the transition as smooth as possible, and we're almost ready to start! Because I love reading about other families' curriculum choices, I thought I would share Keep Reading...
Dear Mom Who Hates Math…
I know how you must feel when it’s time to pull out the math books and dig in with your kids. What a struggle it must be to not only help them with their work, but to also encourage them to work hard and do their best when really, it’s something you hate. Maybe it seems pointless to you. Maybe you don’t understand the way it’s being taught. Maybe it’s even harder for you to feel motivated to get it done than it is for your kids. As moms, we Keep Reading...
The Unexpected Impact of a Teacher
When I was in sixth grade, my teachers gave out superlatives to all the students as a fun way to remember everyone. While some were silly or funny jokes from throughout the year, mine was “peer tutor.” That is how my teachers saw me, because I was the kid who was circulating the room helping to answer other students’ questions! And while I do love math (obviously), and many people tried to persuade me to pursue some other, more lucrative Keep Reading...
5 Things You Should Never Say to the Child Who Struggles with Math
It can often be hard and frustrating trying to teach a child who struggles with math. No matter what you do or how you teach a concept, they just seem to fight to grasp the concepts. I know that in those moments it can be easy to lose patience, or join them in their frustrations, but in the long run, saying the following when they are frustrated or struggling will not help them. Here are some common things you should never say to the child who Keep Reading...
8 Reasons Making Mistakes in Math is a GOOD Thing!
Far too often, math is seen as a subject that is either right or wrong, and so you better get the answers right or you’ll fail the test. And while it is technically true that we want students to understand math concepts deeply and be able to correctly solve math problems, creating this kind of mindset can cause students to feel frustration and a sense of failure anytime a mistake is made. The reality, however, is that mistakes are a part of the Keep Reading...
7 Tips for Easing Back Into a Homeschool Routine
It’s that time of year again: Back to School! Unless you homeschool year round, you are probably gearing up for a new year (or have already started!). And while I enjoyed some Summer travels, as well as the many lazy days, late nights and relaxed mornings, Fall is nearly upon us and it’s time to get back to the structure and accountability of school. And I’m excited about that! I was not, however, ready to jump right back into a daily, structured Keep Reading...
First Grade Homeschool Curriculum Choices
I love seeing what curriculum and schedules other people use to home educate their children. I like to get different perspectives, and maybe learn about some resources that I've not yet heard of! And so I thought I would share our plan for the upcoming school year, in case anyone else is interested. :) **But please know, these are the choices that seemed to be the best fit for our family (and they may change as the year progresses, who Keep Reading...
Taking Charge of My Mornings: Juggling Life’s Demands
Photo Credit: russelljsmith via Compfight cc {text added} As a homeschool mom of four kids, my days are very busy, and sometimes quite chaotic. But for some reason, I seem to give the impression that I "have it altogether," or that this whole stay-at-home, homeschooling mom thing comes naturally. And so I get asked rather frequently, "How in the world do you keep up with everything and get it all done??" Well, the short, and completely Keep Reading...
