Our Plan for Summer Learning

We won't really be finished our regular school work (well, only math really) until the end of May.  Mainly due to my limitations, we needed to slow it down a few times this year for math instruction, so we'll be going a little longer than originally planned.  While we wrap that up, I've been excitedly pulling together plans for our summer … [Read more...]

My Top 5 Favorite CC Products – Review & Giveaway!

{ UPDATE: Bridgette Stowe Silvas, you are the winner! Congrats! Thanks to everyone who entered and shared with me their favorite CC products! Happy Cycle 3 planning! }Here we are ending one cycle and preparing to begin another one in the fall.  I bet you're registering for practicum and making your wish list of items to purchase at the … [Read more...]

5 Fun Ways to Practice Math

Math seems to require the most concentration for my littles.  Even with the struggle (or because of it), this is good exercise for their brain.  But, you know training and exercise is hard work.  Sometimes you just want to have fun without realizing you're "working out." For these moments, here are some fun ways we've … [Read more...]

Considering Classical Conversations? Start Here!

We are wrapping up our third year as part of a Classical Conversations community now.  In this post, I'm going to do my best to share the basics of how a Classical Conversations community works.Classical Conversations is a Classical, Christian community education program for homeschool families designed with the goal to know God and … [Read more...]

Why We Use Saxon Math

In honor of April being Math Awareness Month (No, I did not know this until CC told me!), I wanted to share why we use Saxon math, a round-up of my posts on how to teach math classically, and a favorite article or two on math from the CC Writers Circle.Nearly three years ago, we started with Saxon Math.  As with making any educational … [Read more...]

Are We Doing This Again Next Year? How Not to Quit Homeschooling!

This seems to be the time of year when the questions begin. Are we homeschooling again next year? Should we switch some things we're doing? Or all the things we're doing? Am I doing enough as their teacher? How much did they really learn this year? Let me ask you a question that should quiet the rest. Why are you homeschooling? Don't know why? … [Read more...]

7 Ways A Classical Education Works With A Christian Worldview

Classical Conversations is a classical, Christian education.  Some might see those words placed together and not see the connection.  In fact, some might go as far as to say they don't connect.  It probably won't surprise you to hear me say, well, they do go together!  Actually, I'm a firm believer that classical + Christian are … [Read more...]

Remembering What It's Like to Learn Something New

Y'all, please welcome back my friend, Becki Hogan.  Becki and her husband blog at Running with Team Hogan.  Through learning about a new subject, Becki was able to learn more about classical education.  I can relate! When you understand classical education, you see learning -on any subject- through a new lens.  Read to … [Read more...]

How We Do Nature Study Indoors

Everyone in my home loves nature study.  When it's warm and beautiful or even warm and rainy, we head outside to make observations, take photographs, and draw.  But, with the combination of my pregnancy sickness and our seemingly never-ending Northeast winter, we've been inside a lot for nature studies lately.  Here's how we've … [Read more...]

Cycle Two: Week Twenty-Four

History: Color picture of Nelson Mandela while reciting history sentence.  (Plenty of activity sheets available, too.)English: I plan to dramatically recite sentences with interjections to see if my littles can pick out the interjections.  For example, "Duck! There's a low branch!" Once they get the hang of it, they'll probably like … [Read more...]