1. Education

Encourage Your Mad Scientist!

Science Boy

Here are five fun activities that get kids thinking about the world and how it works.

More Science!
Homeschooling Spotlight10

Homeschooling and Lego-Schooling

Thursday May 16, 2013

Lego Truck

The news that Denmark is about to get the world's first Lego school made me think about all the ways Lego is used by homeschooling parents. I know at one point they threatened to take over my sons' bedrooms, if not the whole house.

So I asked some homeschooling parents what educational projects their kids do with Lego. My favorite answer:

I always jokingly say that picking Lego out of a pile of swept-up crud is our spelling curriculum because research shows that good spellers are just people with extraordinary visual discrimination and visual memory skills. They know when a word looks wrong. That is certainly a skill put to practice when a kid can look at a pile of two hundred tiny colorful objects and pick out the three little Lego one-peg units.

My new article lists 6 Ways to Homeschool with Lego, including learning engineering with Technic sets (Compare Prices). What would you add to the list?

Image: PriceGrabber

Happy Mother's Day!

Sunday May 12, 2013

FlowersTo all the moms out there -- especially those who are giving of your time, energy and experience to homeschool your children --  I wish you a wonderful Mother's Day!

If you simply can't resist turning today into a teachable moment, here's an article about the history of the modern celebration of Mother's Day.

And if you just want a little fun online, check out today's Google's Doodle for Mother's Day -- it lets you create a virtual card!

Image: Kathy Ceceri

Good Advice About SAT Prep

Friday May 10, 2013

Up Your ScoreA reader who asked to remain anonymous sent in some useful suggestions for helping your homeschooler prepare for the SAT.

One book her kids liked was called Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the SAT. I just ordered a copy for my son, who'll be taking the test in a few weeks.

In the meantime, here's some good advice about SAT prep from a veteran mom whose daughters did very well on their standardized tests.

Image: Workman Publishing

Kindergarten or Homeschool?

Tuesday May 7, 2013

Kindergarten girlStill wondering whether to send your little one in school next fall or give homeschooling a try? You're not alone. Every year at this time, families reach out to local homeschool groups, looking for information to help them find the best educational fit for their child.

Only you can decide whether homeschooling is the right choice for your family. But if you need some fodder for the kindergarten v. homeschool debate in your house, here are Six  Reasons You Shouldn't Worry About Choosing Homeschooling.

Image: Daniel Hurst Photography/Getty Images

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