Learning to cross stitch showed me how scary and fun it is to be a beginner again. It taught me that kids need to find joy in learning, just like I did. Diving into something new helps us get how kids learn and makes us better teachers. Here’s what I learned…

Discover when it's okay to call the elementary school year complete, and the answer is NOT to finish every page.

Discover why humor and play are powerful tools for learning! In this article, I explore how laughter, storytelling, music, and creative memory techniques help kids retain information and stay engaged. Drawing from personal experiences, research, and insights from Dr. Peter Gray’s Free to Learn, I share practical strategies to bring joy back into education and make learning truly stick.

Managing chores, pet duty, and privileges for three kids is a STRUGGLE. In this post I’ll share the simplified systems we’re using for daily and weekly chores, pet feeding rotations, and quiet time schedules as well as how we keep track of whose turn it is to sit up front in the car.

Thinking about starting homeschooling mid-year? Overwhelmed by all the decisions? Learn practical tips to transition smoothly, from low-key beginnings and curriculum ideas to keeping track of lessons. Perfect for parents of elementary-aged kids!

We are absolutely harder on ourselves than we ever are on anyone else. Can anybody relate to that? So, here is a really simple way to help fight that MOM GUILT…

When I began planning my first homeschool year back in 2021, I was overwhelmed. My background in education (B.A. and M.Ed.) should have ensured that I was a pro at this. Right? So, why did it feel so hard?

Learn the simple steps to calculate final grades for your students with this comprehensive guide. Understand how to weight categories, find category averages, and determine final grades using clear examples and straightforward math. Perfect for teachers keeping track of grades manually, this article breaks down the process into manageable steps.

Deciding to homeschool and need help organizing records? Or want some ideas to help you close out the homeschool year? This guide offers practical tips on keeping essential documents and choosing the best system for maintaining your homeschool records. Simplify your homeschooling journey with these organizational suggestions!

If I can turn it into a checklist I will. Have you ever written down something (or several things) you have already accomplished in the day just so you can have the joy of checking them off and seeing your progress? That’s me! And if that’s you AND you homeschool your children, keep reading…

What do the letters say? Here’s how to teach the basic alphabet sounds. We’ve included a list from A to Z with recommended sounds to focus on for each letter along with specific words to use as examples.

If you are looking for a podcast to help fill some hours of washing dishes, doing laundry, while encouraging you in your homeschool endeavors, check out this fantastic resource. Bex has so many episode interviews full of amazing resources, suggestions, and research.

How to create tracing worksheets for FREE using Canva. Simply create a free Canva.com account, choose paper size (US Letter), and choose font (Canva Student Font Dotte). Then, type away, download and print!

Do you have a kid who struggles to read on their grade level? Desperate to help them but unable to hire a tutor?…Try assisted reading!! As a parent working one-on-one with your child, you have an incredible opportunity to apply this strategy. It has been called “arguably one of the easiest and most cost-effective methods of developing children's fluency” [1].

Soggy little pieces of cardboard mush lay waste around my daughter’s crib as I reach in to pick her up. The remnants of her naptime snack lies in shreds between blankets, pacis, and stuffed animals. No I don’t let my babies eat in their crib. They just often decide that a book would be a nice treat.