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Homeschool Tips

Homeschooling Ideas from The Brainy Bunch: College Ready by Age Twelve

You probably read that title and scratched your head. Really? College ready by age twelve? That must be only for geniuses. Besides, who would want that for their kids anyhow? Kip and Mona Lisa Harding, parents of ten of whom the seven oldest entered college by age twelve, answer these questions and more in their […]

Reading Aloud with Your Family

One of my favorite homeschooling activities over the years has been reading aloud to my kids, whatever their ages. Sometimes it seems as though reading aloud is just one more thing to do, but it actually saves homeschooling time and effort. It is certainly one of the most efficient and effective ways to learn. It […]

Cooperative Board Games

Competition is important, but so is cooperation. From many points of view, in fact, cooperation is by far the more valuable but it is not an easy thing to teach in our very competitive world. What’s more, nothing spoils a family game faster than siblings bickering about losing or winning. For these reasons, I was […]

Learning by Puzzling

Learning by Puzzling

Puzzles are fun and they are also an excellent way to learn visual information.  Searching for just the right piece, whether by color, pattern, or shape, makes one actually see the picture. The process of holding that information in one’s mind while searching through dozens or hundreds of similar puzzle pieces develops concentration.  Puzzling itself […]

The Snowed In Homeschool

As I write this, it is bitterly cold outside and the fire in our living room is roaring.  Although some outdoor work does need to be done, it is much more pleasant and safer to be inside.  But each year there’s the question, “How can children be happy and learn well when stuck inside because […]