From My Heart to Yours - Articles to Encourage and Inspire!

NEW! Things I Wish I'd Known
Recently a new homeschool mom asked me if there was anything I knew now, that wish I'd known when I started homeschooling. An interesting - and loaded - question! Read more...

Standing on the Shoulders of Giants
As I was working on some research for my next book, I came across this wonderful quote from Sir Isaac Newton - "If I have been able to see farther than others, it was because I stood on the shoulders of giants."

Although I have read this quote before, it had special meaning for me today. Read more...

Saturn and Mars and Stars - Oh! My!
Summer is a great time to do an informal astronomy unit or perhaps start a new hobby of star gazing as a family. Through mid June the early evening skies will provide a spectacular view as Saturn, Mars and a star cluster called the "Bee Hive" all converge. Read more...

Outside the Books - Math Lab Day
At a recent homeschool convention, I had the opportunity to speak to many moms about ways to think "Outside the Books", when it comes to our homeschooling.  I wasn't advocating never using textbooks or changing programs, but rather, helping them see that there are many ways to "show what you know". Read more...

Notebooking...Learning and Fun Rolled into One
(This is an email that I sent to someone who was asking about how many and what kinds of notebooks her kids should have.)
I want to encourage you in the area of notebooking :-)  First it's okay to have several notebooks going at once!  I find that the most important thing is to let the kids put what they want in THEIR notebook.  Some of our notebooks are on topics that I choose and we add to regularly as we work together.  For instance, we have an American History notebook that has a timeline and we add names/dates to the timeline.  We also add maps or activity sheets or copywork that I might have them do to go along with whatever area of history we're reading about.  This notebook is mostly the timeline and a few drawings or maps.  I'm not big on "reports" and worksheets :-) Read more...

Springtime "Blahs"!
It happens every year about this time…the homeschool "blahs". Well, it happens to ME anyway - maybe you don’t have any idea of what I’m talking about.  I’m pretty confident that I’m not the only homeschool mom to go through this "phase" each spring. In fact, on several of the email lists I’m on, many moms have been sharing their struggles with discouragement.Read more...

January - Fresh Starts & Resolutions
Ahh, January!  The holidays are over and many of us look forward to a "fresh start"!  Some are staying the course began in the fall, while others are making some mid-year adjustments in curriculum or activities.  Depending on the length of your holiday break, you may be anxious to get back into your “school” routine. Of course, as eager as we may be to jump back into our routine, our children may be less than enthusiastic or just have a hard time leaving the playful, free-time of the holidays behind them.
Read more...