Join us as we review our 3 years with Mr. D Math. What began as a simple search for a good math curriculum ended up offering us so much more. Here, you’ll find a heartfelt account of how Mr. D Math not only elevated Marc’s math skills but also his self-confidence and passion for math. And we still find Mr D Math as the best math curriculum for homeschoolers. Find out why by reading more below.
Inside: Looking for engaging Spring activities for kids and a Valentine’s Day Unit Study to sprinkle some fun and learning into your homeschool day? You’re in the right place. From engaging activity ideas to learning about myths and developing literacy and numeracy skills, this post has it all! Spring is…
Inside: Discover the best educational toys for 6-year-old boys (and girls), handpicked by an experienced homeschool mom. Plus, get exclusive tips for enhancing your child’s learning experience.
Reading is an important part of our homeschooling but it’s difficult to find those special, inspiring books that not only inform but also rouse curiosity. When it comes to STEM, my son’s passion knows no bounds (some of you know his interests). So, imagine my delight when I stumbled upon…
Do you do art in your homeschool? Are you looking for an art curriculum for homeschool? If you’re looking for online art classes for kids to incorporate into your homeschool, you’ll want to consider Sparketh. This unique art curriculum has something special to offer, especially if you want a way…
There’s a common misconception that kids can pick up all computer skills for kids on their own. We might assume that because our little ones are tech-savvy with iPads or our teens breeze through video games, they’re already tech experts and computer literate. But here’s a different way to think…
Homeschooling is a remarkable journey filled with opportunities, flexibility, and the ability to tailor learning to your children’s unique needs and interests. However, let’s be honest; it’s not all rainbows and sunshine. Whether you’re a seasoned homeschooling veteran or just starting out, there’s a common struggle that often goes unaddressed…
You know what terrifies me? High school math. 🤣 Yep, I’ve been there already, staring at those thick, intimidating textbooks, trying to remember what all those formulas even mean, and breaking a cold sweat. But then we stumbled upon something magical the self-paced math courses with Mr. D Math! Let…
Do you have Harry Potter fans? Do your kids wish for a Hogwarts homeschool? Then this post is for you. I’ve discovered an amazing Harry Potter unit study that has the potential to transform your muggle homeschool into a school of wizardry! Waldock’s Wizards and Wands from The Waldock Way…
High school history curriculum. Are you considering any? Skipping history altogether? While it may be tempting to focus on more practical subjects, teaching high school history offers numerous benefits that extend far beyond this particular subject. While I am guilty of shoving history to the bottom of the priority list,…
Are you curious about finding a more effective way to teach math to your child? Are you on the lookout for a curriculum that goes beyond mere rote memorization and fosters a genuine understanding of mathematical concepts? Then keep reading. As I reflect on our homeschooling journey, I can confidently…
We all know vocabulary is an important tool in communication. But many times, in our homeschool, we tend to ignore teaching or implementing it. We assume children learn it from exposure, from great literature, and from all sorts of communication being carried around them. There are countless vocabulary curricula out…
Let’s face it: college isn’t the only path to success. There are plenty of alternatives to college that can lead to successful and fulfilling careers. I know many of us understand this, but we also worry because we want the best opportunities for our kids. That’s where online vocational courses…
Get ready for another exciting chapter in my IEW review journey! Today, we’re diving deep into a thorough comparison of IEW SSS Level A Year 1 and Year 2. Wit this, I want to address a common fear of parents when talking about Structure and Style curriculum. Is it too…
Are you a homeschool mom struggling with reluctant or disorganized writers? For the past six blog posts, we’ve been looking at IEW Structure and Style for Students in a complete review of the homeschool writing curriculum that has the potential to revolutionize how we teach writing. We’re now at the…
You might have noticed I don’t talk much about interest-led studying or unit studies. That’s not because we aren’t doing interest-led, it’s because most of the time it goes unnoticed. I am not in the habit of spending hours to plan unit studies because Marc’s interests change quickly and he’s…
Do you remember the last time you read something that truly captured your attention and held it until the very end? Writing is a powerful tool that allows us to communicate our ideas and connect with others, yet this essential skill has seen a decline over the past years. As…
We’ve already talked about IEW’s holistic approach to writing and seen how IEW teaches writing through the three programs it offers. Now let’s dive in and explore the components of Structure and Style for Students, a video-based writing program that has been consistently ranked among the best in the industry….
I vividly remember Marc’s first steps into the world of learning- it wasn’t always easy, and I didn’t always know what I was doing along the way. Now, as a middle schooler, he’s tackling subjects and concepts that are far beyond his years with excitement and curiosity. But it all…
As homeschool moms, we all know how important it is to stay on top of things, to be organized, and to balance the various aspects of our life. Homeschooling is an amazing journey but also a big responsibility that requires planning and organizing. That’s why homeschool planners, whether paper or…
Science has always been M’s strong subject. He is devouring our homeschool science curricula and accelerating faster than with any other subject. While that’s amazing for him, it’s a constant source of stress for me because I always need to be on the lookout for more science curricula to keep…
A question I get asked the most during this period is “How do you plan your homeschool year? And what types of planners do you use?” As much as I would love to give you all a universal recipe for this, there is nothing like one size fits all when…
Homeschooling, just like regular school, will inevitably leave some learning gaps. But how do we find these? And most importantly, how do we fill them? There are various ways to discover these gaps, from a casual conversation (where you discover your homeschooler doesn’t know what erosion is 😒) to testing….
One of the best homeschooling investments you could make is to get access to a good online educational platform. This would serve either as a launch pad for introducing new topics or starting new curiosities or as a supplemental resource hub when you get stuck. I’ve written about multiple platforms…
Because I promised we don’t only do academic stuff during the summer, here’s part two of our plans for the next couple of months. I condensed them into 10 summer ideas for homeschooling fun and exploration. You can read about our planner, summer learning, activities, and why we chose to…
Science isn’t an easy subject to teach at home. Many times parents place it at the bottom of the list because there’s not enough time for it or they don’t know how to tackle it. The perfect solution to this dilemma is to get an independent science curriculum. Kids will…
Maybe I’m ahead of myself, but lately, I’ve started reading more and more about online high school credits, college credits, and AP courses in order to get a clearer picture of our path ahead. I know it all seems very complicated, but once you understand where you’re going things are…
This will be the first summer since we started homeschooling that we will take a break from our regular schedule. It feels odd, but we will still be doing summer homeschooling in a different, more relaxed way. I felt that the passage from elementary to middle school is worthy of…
Many experts say it, and I agree: cursive handwriting is an important skill to have. I am saddened to see that more and more US schools have given up on cursive handwriting. I have already written about how to turn reluctant writers around and what I recommend for starting writing…
This post will be different because it’s location-specific, but the idea behind it is so cool that it could serve as an inspiration for people worldwide: Unplugged Computer Science. We all know the woe with computer classes. They add up to the screen time which is at higher and higher…
You know… I never read many books about homeschooling. I feel many of them don’t apply to us. Or they are too technical or cumbersome to read and apply. But Teach by Dennis DiNoia was different. I’ve read several over the years and while I finished some, others are still…
One subject I cannot recall much about from school is history. Boring textbooks and dry teachers didn’t help me develop an interest in it and I wish they had the materials to present an interactive history to us back then. Thankfully, homeschoolers nowadays have so many options for history and…
A problem a lot of science programs have is that most lack critical thinking skills. This problem would be easily solved with a good project-based science curriculum, and that’s what we just found! Even if M is advanced in science, an aspect I felt lacking was the scientific method implementation….
One of the struggles I’ve had in the last years, while homeschooling, has been keeping up with P.E. because anything I picked was boring and repetitive. But enter online dance classes – they changed our weekly routine completely! I was a bit skeptical about learning to dance online since I…
Updated: March 26, 2024 Inside: Fix It! Grammar is a one-of-a-kind grammar curriculum for homeschoolers because it transforms traditional grammar lessons into engaging, story-based adventures. Kids learn grammar and editing skills in context without even realizing they are actually learning the complexities of language. This is why the Fix It!…
We all know that in today’s world, programming skills are an important asset, no matter the field you choose to work in. I know I am not the only one stressing out about my son’s readiness for the world. I’m trying hard to predict what skills will be in high…
Do your kids dance when they hear it’s time for math? Since we discovered the best math curriculum, Marc is dancing every time I hit play on a math video. But it hasn’t always been so easy. Until stumbling over this perfect math solution, I had a situation with math….
I recently realized that I’ve made a mistake by mostly ignoring homeschool music learning. Since M didn’t show any special interest in music, I just let it slide. Thankfully, it’s never too late to learn how to play an instrument and there are so many options today, saving you time…
We all know how important social-emotional learning is for our children. But even when we notice they need help, it might be hard for us to find ways to get through to them. What questions do we ask? Where do we even start? It’s hard to believe that communication can…
While we can learn new vocabulary by reading, and M is a voracious reader, I still feel that we need to work on it diligently, year after year. But an aspect that I feel isn’t covered enough by just reading literary works is academic vocabulary. If you’re like me, you’re…
We’ve all heard about STEM/ STEAM/ STEMM, since these terms are being circulated quite a bit. It’s another matter when it comes to implementing them. That’s why I am excited to show you a new app great for kids as young as 5, which offers parents the opportunity to implement…
I have to admit that our homeschool geography is mostly done on the fly. It’s not a perfect setting, but I didn’t feel the need for more so far. Read about how we did geography in 4th grade to see what materials we pieced together. This is a post in…
Are you on the lookout for a new, comprehensive homeschool anatomy curriculum? Then this post is for you! Oh, you will love this find! What I love about homeschooling is that there is no limit to what you can learn! No age limit, no curriculum limit, no time limit. Unlike…
Staying consistent with science can be a struggle, that’s where a homeschool science supplement comes in handy. Some days you just can’t stick to your plan no matter how much you try. Life happens, there are appointments, sick days, unplanned activities, or you just do not feel up for school….
As a homeschooling parent, you’ve likely encountered the need to bind your children’s workbooks and books to keep everything organized and prevent papers from flying everywhere. Fortunately, there are several cost-effective DIY binding methods you can explore. In this article, we’ll delve into 10 different ways to bind homeschool books…
Ah, the windy, mysterious career path(s)! Grown-ups ask children all the time “what do you want to be when you grow up?” but how many of us actually help them find out what’s the career path that suits them or what educational path will help them shine? And how many…
Have you ever wondered if you could delegate math? What math curriculum is perfect for busy parents and large families on a budget? CTC Math might be the one for you. Read my full overview to find out if it’s the right fit for your family.
This is something we’ve all gone through. There are good days, but a lot of them seem dreadful, dragging on forever. You spent a lot of time planning and choosing the best materials, things seem to go well for a while and then you’re met with a schoolwork refusal. Here…
I know some kids love writing… I know some are great story-tellers. This post is not for them. <3 This post is for the struggling parents and kids. You know who you are. You pull out a worksheet for your 7,8,9,10 year old. It has a lot of “multiple choice”…
Homeschooling internationally and particularly buying books and textbooks, isn’t cheap. But by researching and choosing wisely, you can keep your expenses minimal while still getting all the books you need. Because a new homeschooling year is looming closer, I decided to write about how I manage to keep costs down…
When M started getting more and more interested in chemistry I knew the time had come to look into MEL Science’s Chemistry kits. I was watching them for a while and I was fascinated by the idea! So for Christmas last year, M got a MEL Chemistry subscription! He was…
Since Pandia Press just pre-released their second volume of History Quest, I decided to write about their history curriculum. I like it a lot and M is waiting eagerly for me to print the second volume and start reading. So far, there is only one complete volume (Early Times) which…
One of the best math investments for us were the Cuisenaire Rods. You simply can’t fail with them.We’ve been using them successfully for most of our elementary years and you can even go beyond that if your kids still need them to illustrate more complex concepts. What are Cuisenaire Rods?…
These are our 4th grade curriculum picks for 2020. Getting ready for a new homeschooling year is work in progress all year round. I am always on the lookout for new curricula, better programs and offers but the real prep work starts at least 2 months before we start our…
Inside: Considering Homeschooling in Europe? You might need to choose an umbrella or accredited school But among the many options, which one should you choose? This article explains the differences between the various types of schools and what accreditations to look for. Homeschooling in Europe isn’t always straightforward. Fortunately, if…
Homeschooling lesson planning, daily schedule and arranging your schoolroom can be very intimidating. Here’s how I do it and still stay flexible enough to cover everything.
The printer, binder, and laminator are the best tools we use for our homeschooling. They help us stay organized and save time and money. 1. Printers First on the list are the printers. They are indispensable which makes them the one of best tools for your homeschooling needs. You will…
Inside: The main challenge for eclectic homeschoolers is to balance all the bits and pieces and create a functional curriculum, but language arts always seems to be the hardest to piece together because so many pieces overlap. Keep reading to find out how we pieced together our 4th grade language…
Inside: An engaging curriculum for 4th grade geography is a combination of books and hands-on resources. Read on to find out more details about each of them and get more ideas you can incorporate in your geography study for 4th grade. Welcome to our journey through 4th grade geography! As…
