You know how, in secret societies, people recognize each other by a sign, a gesture, or a word? Well, that’s how I used to feel about Geography Songs. You’d just have to start, “North A-MER-i-ca,” and any homeschooler nearby would join in, “South A-MER-i-ca!” That’s how we could tell who homeschooled. I haven’t heard much [...]
early learning
CalcuLadder: Turning Finger Counters into Number Crunchers
We’ve tried many computer and online math drill programs. We’ve even used flashcards. But we often return to the first formal drill program we bought years ago: Calculadder by Dr. Myers. It’s quick, simple, very effective, and can be used for all the children in a family…. You can read the rest of the review [...]
Review: Simon with Two Left Feet by Angela Narth
“Simon is a loveable, clumsy young Canada goose who trips over his feet when first learning to fly.” One thing leads to the next, and soon Simon believes the other geese who tell him he’s not only clumsy but also unwanted. Rejected, he learns flying skills by watching the lessons from a distance, and he [...]
Review: Anno’s Math Books
It is very difficult to find living math books that present complex topics in an accessible way. One math author whose books we have learned to love is Mitsumasa Anno. Anno believes “that mathematics is more than merely manipulating numbers, it is a way of thinking, and that it has bearing on all scholastic subjects, [...]
Free Charlotte Mason Treasures for Your Homeschool
Charlotte Mason believed that education should “make our boys and girls rich towards God, rich towards society and rich towards themselves.” Ambleside Online (discussed here) follows Charlotte Mason’s ideals by providing children with treasures that will give them this richness. Year 1 is my favorite Ambleside year, full of classics that appeal to all ages and [...]
Review: A Bunny, a Case and a World of Taste
This delightful and informative romp through the world, written by young Hayley Nevitt, is full of recipes from around the globe, collected during the travels of Serena, the word’s foremost food critic. Long-haired Serena’s mission is to find the best recipes from around the world to be used in the world-famous Nevitt restaurants that are [...]
Review: Short Vowel Phonics
Some children understand reading easily and quickly. Others struggle, needing a lot of support. Inevitably, parents of struggling readers look for helpful resources, but it?s surprising how little is available for those who truly need help. To fill this gap, Patricia J. Norton, a physician, mother of a struggling reader, and reading tutor created the [...]
Review: Finding Educational Activities in the Most Unexpected Places
When I was a young mom, I wanted some guidelines to teach my preschoolers in a fun, low-key way using things we had around the house. I bought several books, read several more from the library, and used my imagination, but what I really needed was something like Finding Educational Activities in the Most Unexpected [...]
Homeschool Crew Review: Ideal Curriculum Preschool Kit
Learning happens. It need not be formalized and organized at an early age. If loving parents read to their child, spend time outside together, encourage him to help in the kitchen and yard, take him along on errands, and just generally live alongside their child, he will develop optimally and at his own pace, [...]
Homeschool Crew Review: ‘Numbers and Counting’ and ‘Basic Math Word Problems’ from Math Tutor
One of the Math Tutor products we received for the Homeschool Review Crew was the Young Minds Numbers and Counting DVD. This is an absolutely wonderful product! The photography is beautiful, full of color and nature. The music (Bach, Pachelbel, Vivaldi, and more) suits it perfectly. What a blissful environment for a little [...]
