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Speech to Print vs. Print to Speech: What Parents Need to Know
Learn why speech-to-print is essential for teaching reading at home. This approach builds strong readers by focusing on sounds first and connecting them to print. Get expert insights and practical tips to use in your homeschool!
What to Do When Your Child Struggles with Spelling: A Weekly Routine
Struggling with spelling? Discover effective strategies and a step-by-step weekly routine to help your child improve. From phoneme-grapheme mapping to dictation practice, this guide empowers parents with actionable tips for confident, successful spellers.
A Week of Writing in Our Homeschool: Strategies and Resources
Homeschool Writing Made Simple
Discover how we structure a week of writing for 4th and 2nd grade! From IEW and Writing & Rhetoric to notebooking and novel studies, our approach blends structure with creativity.
Literature With My 10-Year-Old
Our literature routine is pretty solid at this point. Since my oldest finished his foundational reading program, we have focused on novel studies with a side of vocabulary and word study for the basis of his reading instruction. Each year, I pick a selection of books I would like to work through with him for a literature focus.
Note-Taking in Your Homeschool
Note-taking is a valuable skill that homeschool families should teach children as part of their homeschool writing program. There are a variety of types of note-taking strategies that we can teach out students to improve learning.
Write by Number: A Review
Write by Number (WBN) offers a step-by-step approach to writing, catering to students' individual progress rather than specific grade levels. It allows students to advance at their own pace, mastering each stage before moving on.
Spellography
If you have an older student (4th grade and up) who reads well but struggles with spelling, this might be the program for you. Spellography, by Dr. Moats and Dr. Rosow, has recently been reprinted, and it is unlike any spelling program you have ever seen.
Spelling Connections Review
A review of Spelling Connections, a workbook-based spelling curriculum or spelling supplement for students in 1st grade - 6th grade.
Nancy Larson Science
We recently started using Nancy Larson Science, a spiral science curriculum, and are really enjoying it!
intro to chemistry
We recently wrapped up an introduction to chemistry unit as part of Nancy Larson Science (3rd grade). Check out our favorite resources!
biomes & habitats resources
We recently wrapped up a study of the world’s biomes and habitats. Do you know the difference between a biome, ecosystem, and habitat? I didn’t, but now I do! Check out our favorite resources here!
math follow up
Last week I posted about math and rigor; if you missed it, here yah go. When I shared this post on Instagram, I accidentally opened a couple of cans of worms. FUN!
on math and rigor
Let’s chat about math and why it feels like a math curriculum needs to be “hard” to be good.
the shift from learning to read to reading to learn
Let’s chat about the shift from learning to read to reading to learn. There is a heavier emphasis on decoding in foundational reading instruction, whereas in the upper elementary grades, when children have become fluent readers, this shifts to reading comprehension.
supporting a struggling reader
Some children, roughly 15-20%, will struggle with learning to read due to a reading disability, like dyslexia. That’s 1 in 5 people. Another 40-50% of children need structured literacy — systematic, explicit instruction. Approximately 35% of children learn to read easily with systematic instruction. And only 5% of children learn to read on their own. Children need high-quality, structured literacy instruction. And you can do it.
make it stick: the science of learning
So, what exactly is the science of learning (SOL), and what strategies can we apply to our homeschool?
homeschool accountability
Let’s chat about homeschool accountability. How do we know if our children are making appropriate progress? How do we hold ourselves accountable? Let’s dive in!
homeschool room tour
Check out our homeschool room and how I designed the room to meet our learning needs!
Structured Literacy in Homeschooling
When it comes to literacy instruction, structured literacy has emerged as a highly effective method that equips students with strong reading and writing skills. In this blog post, we'll dive into structured literacy and explore its benefits for homeschooling families.
'Follow the Child' Meets Diagnostic Assessments
Diagnostic and prescriptive instruction play a crucial role in supporting students' literacy development. By observing and understanding each child's unique abilities and interests, we can tailor our teaching methods to meet their individual needs.