s I say on the podcast, “Hello my bold friends!” I pray you and your precious family are finding some summertime sunshine to enjoy. Last issue, we introduced the theme for this year: stepping in—to the most important homeschool priorities. Of course we had to start with faith.
This issue, we’re focusing on stepping into family.
If I am to be the person my family needs me to be, there’s only one way: This mama runs on Jesus fuel.
Each day I have to take time to drink from the well of living water. I don’t need just a sip; I often feel like I’ve run a marathon through the desert so I need to drink deeply.
- Healthy relationships provide a strong foundation for all home learning.
- Children were designed to learn from the day they are born.
- Each child has a unique blend of learning preferences, talents, and passions.
- There’s no one-size-fits-all education—including what they should learn and when they should learn it!
- The more ways kids interact with concepts, the better they understand them.
- Different seasons of life may require different approaches.
- Education should be an adventure!
- YOU are the best teacher for your children.
That’s why we bring you a variety of resources from trusted sponsors and recommended companies we choose to partner with. We hope you’ll check them out!
uilding a strong family is why so many of us chose to homeschool, isn’t it? With two adult sons, I can say, I’m so glad we chose this challenging, but incredibly rewarding, path of education. It truly did give us the opportunity to step into family. My favorite part of the day is getting memes, political commentary, prayer requests, and life updates (not necessarily in that order) from our boys as a part of our family texting thread. Though I admit I don’t always get the memes, I do love how connected I feel to them even though they no longer live here at home.
As with the spring issue, you’ll learn more about stepping into family through articles by Durenda Wilson, Steve Demme, Connie Albers, Ashley Wiggers, and even me, accidentally… again. Game On! shows the benefits of playing games including building family relationships.
Durenda shares how homeschooling is so much more than academics in her Mom to Mom column, Steve continues a series about loving one another as Christ loves us, and Connie gives us four keys to healthy relationships in Growing Relationships. Ashley continues to walk in the homeschooling trenches with you and encourages you to learn and grow together.
In Cultivating Little Learners you’ll get to explore the importance of sensory play and Trish Corlew is back with great ideas for having fun with water during these hot months! You won’t want to miss Hifalutin Hints, either. As usual, Jennifer shares her hints—this time on traditions—with wit, charm, and just a sprinkle of sarcasm.
Stacy Farrell shares how to do water bath canning in her feature column Back to Basics (which took me “back” to watching my grandmother can dill pickles). And I had the opportunity to review Notgrass History’s Our Star-Spangled Story designed for your first through fourth grades. Loved it!
Enhanced – Listen: to the audio article
t a point in our homeschooling journey, I felt like I was spending most of my time refereeing fights between our eight kids. I kept trying to get through the conflicts as quickly as possible so we could get back to our schoolwork, but something felt off. I was in a quandary. We needed to accomplish some schoolwork, but I also knew that I was the family gatekeeper. If I didn’t root out the ways that my kids were sinning against each other, we would never have true peace in our home.
As I began to pray over all of this, I realized that I was interpreting the fighting between our kids as an obstacle to what I thought was more important: schoolwork. But the truth was that those relationships were more important. They were not separate from my kids’ education, but rather a huge part of their education. In reality, my kids’ fighting was not an obstacle, but an opportunity.
The word education is often used to describe whatever might be learned at a school, college, or training center. Education is seen in many people’s minds as something we do at “special learning places” as though it is completely separate from real life.
There are good reasons each of us decided to homeschool and the fact that homeschooling is hard at the moment doesn’t change that. However, struggles along the way can indicate any number of things…
with Steve Demme
e’re continuing our series on loving our family as Jesus has loved us. This principle is called the “New Commandment.” Jesus taught it to His disciples the night before He was crucified.
with
Ashley Wiggers
doesn’t get more real than family. We have a front row seat to every bad attitude. We see all the fears and frustrations. We see the worst come out at times.
We also see the best!
We see the tender hearted moments and the growth that occurs over time. There’s no place to hide when you’re together all day, every day!
While Lincoln was helping me with lunch one day, he shoved a bowl full of mac n’ cheese across the table to his brother and it went straight overboard, falling epically to the ground and spilling out everywhere.
Seasons
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Animals
Geography
Anatomy
Heroes from History
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Join the growing movement of parents who set aside comparisons, take control of their children’s education, choose courage over fear, and let God lead. Parents who homeschool boldly.
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ust when I thought we were almost finished, the arrow inevitably landed on the “spill the bucket” space. The boys would laugh. Sometimes I would, too… and other times, I must admit I just wanted it to end!
You know that classic game of counting—Hi Ho! Cherry-O. Perfect for little ones, but maybe not too exciting for adults. And yet, it was so worth it.
Those “boys” are twenty-seven and twenty-four years old now. As they were growing up, we always enjoyed playing board games, and game night remains one of our favorite family activities! It’s not unusual for them to be excited about a new game they want to introduce us to.
We all have our favorites, but one thing I’ve noticed about both my sons is how much the games grew with them. Now, the complexity, amount of strategy, and the number of rules involved in their games overwhelms me. I grew up on games like Monopoly and Pay Day and Life, after all! (We make compromises on our family game nights and opt for the more middle-of-the-road ones.)
To think it all began with a board full of little, red plastic cherries, a spinner, and giggles galore.
the warm embrace of summer surrounds us, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the heart of our homes: our families. For homeschooling moms, fostering healthy relationships within the family is crucial for educational success and overall well-being and happiness. Let’s deepen our understanding of what strengthens family bonds and discover how to nurture these connections daily.
Building a healthy family dynamic requires intentional effort and focusing on four key areas: communication, quality time, mutual respect, and prayer. We can create a nurturing environment where everyone feels valued and connected by paying attention to these areas. Let’s look at the first and perhaps most foundational key: communication.
with
remember walking over to where four-year-old Hays was painting and quickly noticing she had taken her artwork beyond the paper. Hays proudly grinned as she looked up at me and said, “I painted myself red.” She had done exactly that; she had painted her entire body red. Instead of freaking out, I calmly said, “Wow, I see a lot of red, how does that feel?” While we cleaned up the red paint, she giggled as she told me that the paint felt cold when it touched her arm, but it wasn’t too cold.
with Trish Corlew
’m pretty sure my oldest son was born as a history professor. Okay, maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but he did develop a very early fascination with it.
Growing up in public school, I did not share his passion. To me, history was the least interesting subject with classes usually consisting of reading the textbook and answering the questions at the end of the chapter. One teacher in high school insisted we write out each question on our paper then answer in complete sentences. I always had the feeling that it was to simply keep us busy!
But homeschooling opened up a whole new world (quite literally) to me and my children! What made the difference? For us it was reading historical fiction and engaging non-fiction, doing crafts, cooking recipes, making projects, and so much more.
bestselling author
bestselling author
Enhanced – Resources: added to The Toolkit
with
Kay Chance
hat makes a book compelling? I believe the main thing is story. We’re designed to connect with story, and it’s apparent in those first encounters that little ones have with their favorite books: read it again, please! God speaks to us through a book filled with stories. When we gather with family we often retell out favorite stories, and even our addiction to social media is entangled with our need to be a part of the story. So here are three read-alouds for elementary students with simply great stories.
with
Stacy Farrell
This year we wanted to give you practical help This year we wanted to give you practical help for creating a more sustainable and self-sufficient lifestyle. A way to be a little lessdependent on circumstances and a little more dependent on Him.
It’s time for us all to get back to basics!
f you’ve ever marveled at rows of beautiful jars in your grandmother’s pantry or yearned to savor the taste of sun-ripened tomatoes long after the season has passed, it may be time to learn how to can.
Today, my goal is to walk you through the essential steps, equip you with the right tools, and impart the knowledge you need to water bath can with confidence.
• Inspires a Love of Learning
• Produces Independent Thinkers
• Nurtures Curiosity
• Easy to Teach
Enhanced – Listen: to the audio article
Jennifer Cabrera
raditions are the sticky film on the kitchen table of life-long learning. They are the honey of homeschooling that sweetens the adventure and holds the family together. Okay, that sticky substance could also be glue from an art project or goo from a science experiment, but you get the idea. Traditions help us bond, give us a sense of camaraderie, establish inside jokes and family tall tales. Traditions create wonderful memories our kids can carry with them and pass on to their own kids someday. Hopefully, we get asked to join in passing down the fun when we’re old and grouchy.
Michelle Moody
The Science of Summer Sports
y early morning summer swim practices took place in an unheated pool in the Midwest—where the evening temperatures dipped into the fifties in June. Those practices taught me a lot about the effect of swimming on the human body. For example: Cold water will bring your entire body to full wakefulness at 6:30 a.m.!
For twelve years, swimming was a part of my growing up. As kids, we tested and tried many things. Several die-hard male swimmers on our summer team would shave their heads and legs to reduce drag. We also practiced kicking skills to propel us through the water and kept our hands cupped, assuming these practices would help us get better swim times.
Looking back, we applied a lot of science to our swimming technique. As a veteran homeschool mom, I reflect on those days and can think up several cool science experiments. Of course, I turn everything into a science lesson!
Colleen Kessler, M.Ed.
Colleen Kessler, M.Ed.
he basement was a complete mess. Swimsuits, towels, sandy toys, and sunhats were strewn all over the floor—right next to the shelves and hooks on which they belonged. Apparently, when I told my kids to bring their things to the basement, I wasn’t specific enough.
I didn’t help them scaffold and build their executive functioning skills, and so, while I was frustrated, it was mostly with myself.
Executive function skills are a set of cognitive processes that enable individuals to plan, focus attention, remember instructions, and manage multiple tasks successfully. These skills are critical for academic achievement, personal development, and overall well-being.
with Cheryl A. Bastian
with Cheryl A. Bastian
We’re tackling some of the most common questions parents ask and sharing simple action steps to make it easy.
How important is work experience in high school?
fter I presented a high school workshop at a recent homeschool convention, several parents asked me questions related to the importance of getting work experience in high school.
Experience matters. That was my short response to a multi-faceted answer. Employers hire employees with experience. In fact, employers currently seeking individuals for entry level positions are giving preference to applicants with prior experience. Gaining experience begins at home and grows outward to the community. As home education families, we can work with our middle and high schoolers to consider the answers to these questions.
Curriculum Consultants
Gina Burmeier & Amber Garcia
hese fun Hippity Hop Balls [1] from Bintiva encourage active play. Kids can have races with friends, create their own obstacle course, or simply bounce around for fun. These types of balls are used by educators and physical and occupational therapists to strengthen core, abdominal, major leg, and major arm muscles. Each one comes with its own pump, measures roughly 18” in diameter, and features a textured, easy-to-grip handle for improved stability, and are sold in a variety of colors.
Gina Burmeier & Amber Garcia
hese fun Hippity Hop Balls [1] from Bintiva encourage active play. Kids can have races with friends, create their own obstacle course, or simply bounce around for fun. These types of balls are used by educators and physical and occupational therapists to strengthen core, abdominal, major leg, and major arm muscles. Each one comes with its own pump, measures roughly 18” in diameter, and features a textured, easy-to-grip handle for improved stability, and are sold in a variety of colors.
uring my growing up years, our family vacationed in northern Indiana at the state’s largest natural lake, Lake Wawasee. My parents had been going for decades. Around the end of July, we would load up our old ski boat with bikes, clothes, and junk food for two weeks of vacation bliss. And every four years, the fun would be heightened because of the summer games.
Every evening, we’d sit around a black and white television and hope the aluminum-covered antenna on top would pick up a decent signal. Boy, that was fun. Every Summer Olympics since, those memories come rushing into my noggin like a line of sprinters after the starter’s gun is fired.
Like every American, I have my unforgettable Olympic moments tucked away in my brain with names of athletes like Mark Spitz, Carl Lewis, Usain Bolt, and America’s sweetheart, Mary Lou Retton. But the Olympic moment I’ll never forget involved a gymnast named Kerri Strug and her coach Bela Karolyi.
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Connie Albers/Parenting Beyond the Rules
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Dianne Craft: “Right Brain” Learning System
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Evangel University
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Focus on the Family
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Folly Beach
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Harding University
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Hifalutin Homeschooler
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Hip Homeschool Moms
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Homegrown Preschooler
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Homeschool.com
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Homeschool Boldly Podcast
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Math Mammoth
www.mathmammoth.com
Moody Publishers
www.moodypublishers.com
Northwest University
www.northwest.edu
Notgrass History
www.notgrasshistory.com
Rainbow Resources
www.rainbowresource.com
Samaritan Ministries
www.samaritanministries.org
Spelling Power
www.thespellingpower.com
The Smiling Homeschooler & Todd Wilson
www.thesmilinghomeschooler.com
Steed Publishing
https://steedpublishingllc.wixsite.com
Symmetry Learning Systems
www.symmetrylearning.com
Top Picks Homeschool Curriculum Fair
www.homeschoolcurriculumfair.com
Towers of Light
www.towersoflight.net
Trail Guide to Learning Series
www.trailguidetolearning.com
Unconformed
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Co-Executive Editors
ART & DESIGN DIRECTOR
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Subscription Inquiries
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WEBSITE
Ashley Wiggers
Kay Chance
Alex Wiggers
Cindy Wiggers
Greg Strayer
info@homeschoolingtoday.com
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