safeguarding your homeschool from alcoholism

How to Safeguard Your Homeschool From the Effects of Alcoholism

April is National Alcohol Awareness Month Let me begin by pointing something out. While there are many other reasons people ...
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Are you paralyzed by the thought of teaching physics, upper maths and British lit scare you? Rest assured, mom: outsourcing subjects is a viable option!

Knowing How and When to Outsource Homeschool Subjects

Are you paralyzed by the thought of teaching physics? Does the concept of tutoring high school chemistry cause your palms ...
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Enjoy this 5-day "mini-series" to help you prepare for homeschooling high school! Whether it's something that you, or a very good friend of yours, is considering, here's the skinny to help you get started.

How to Homeschool High School in 5 Easy Steps

Enjoy this 5-day "mini-series" as you prepare to homeschool high school! Whether it's something that you're just considering, or you've ...
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I'm not ready to cancel Dr. Seuss

Why I’m Not Ready to “Cancel” Dr Seuss

Many of us will be celebrating the birthday of this venerated children's book author next week...and some of us won't ...
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Valentine's Day doesn't HAVE to be a celebration of romantic love. Show your love and appreciation to the fam with some of these simple and fun ideas!

Sweet Family-Friendly Valentine’s Day Ideas

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and since I became a mom, I've enjoyed celebrating the occasion with my ...
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5+ Ways to Get Through the Winter Blues

...for those struggling through them While Christmas Day is still a happy memory to most, some of us do suffer ...
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These five principles are important to keep in mind when adding those all-important life experiences to your child's high school transcript.

Documenting life experiences in a high school transcript

OK, to be fair, I once felt the same way. As a matter of fact, when we first started homeschooling, ...
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Thoughtfully-chosen, creative electives can be very powerful tools for your student for a variety of reasons.

Creative Electives for Your High School Student

Actually homeschooling through high school isn't as scary up close as it seemed when you might have been contemplating it years ago ...
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Keeping the homeschool dad conncted

How to Keep the Homeschool Dad in the Loop

A few months ago my friend (and co-host of the You Can Homeschool podcast) and I were talking the other ...
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Deliver – A Word of the Year for 2021

New Year's Resolutions are for the birds.  Dreams, plans, goals, and dreams are useless when they are "piecrust promises" - ...
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A Life Verse to Lead You…

Note: This post was previously published in 2014 and is republished as I take some time off to be with ...
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How to navigate the post-homeschooling years

We've graduated 4 out of our 5 kiddos already, and so this question is on my mind a LOT these ...
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Teaching life skills with Skill Trek

How to teach life skills in your homeschool

Did you ever have something (a class, a book, a product) that you came across over and over again and ...
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Homeschooling Through Chronic Illness

(This post was written by author, forever-friend and previous blogging partner Candy Reid.) Illness strikes whomever it pleases, whenever it pleases ...
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8 Practical Ways to Encourage Young Mothers

...in the church nursery...in the neighborhood... A few weeks ago I was talking to a friend at church who was ...
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Moms: Take Time to Color and Be All the Better For It!

As a child, I loved playing with little Matchbox cars. Our family was really close to neighbors that lived across ...
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How to become a homeschool guidance counselor

One of the obvious potential limitations to homeschooling high school is the absence of a guidance counselor's office. A good ...
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The teen years: yes, there are things you can start doing NOW to lay a foundation for a fruitful and yes, even enjoyable, stage in the parenting journey.

5 Things You Can do NOW to Prepare for the Teen Years

Fear not - but they'll be here before you know it! Or you may already find yourself in the midst ...
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Winning over your teen's heart may be a challenge, but it's not impossible. Be encouraged: what God has called us to do as parents, he equips us for!

How To Win Your Reluctant Teen’s Heart

Ahh, the teenage years...traditionally, the time when that once cute and cuddly and sweet child that you birthed turns into ...
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Top 4 FAQs About Homeschooling High-School

The thought of homeschooling high school can seem daunting even to the most passionate homeschooling family.And, truth be told, many ...
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Review - The Happy Homeschooler

Book Review – The Happy Homeschooler

I have to admit that when I read the title "The Happy Homeschooler: 10 Simple Strategies to Increase Productivity, Foster ...
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Read on for manageably-sized solutions to common challenges we all face at home that can sabotage even the most-seasoned homeschooler!

5 Areas You Need to Control to Have a Successful Home(school)

Homeschooling is so much more than just teaching the 3 R's... Heads-up to you incidental homeschoolers - today there's a ...
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This list of 100 resources has been a true labor of love for me. Use them to craft a high school experience that will set up your teen for success!

100 Resources to Craft a Rich Homeschooled High School Experience

This list of "100 Resources to Craft a Rich Homeschooled High School Experience" has been a true labor of love ...
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Exciting Mission Trips for your Teen’s Gap Year

(Note: Someday we'll be able to plan again. This post was initially published 2 years ago, way before the season ...
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Learn more about hospitality in this fun summer Bible study - and share it with a friend!

Enjoy a fun (and flavorful) Summer Bible Study

Today I have a treat for you... My friend Sue, from WelcomeHeart has a series called "Every Table Tells a ...
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When your teen is graduating

Does your senior have after-high-school plans?

How are teenagers supposed to know what they want to do with the rest of their lives at 16, or ...
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Guiding Your Kids Through Adversity

(Note: This post was written by Laurel Griffith, a blogger, speaker, author and friend of mine. We're republishing it because ...
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A Parent's Garden of Verses - week 2

More from “A Parent’s Garden…” and teen poetry books

Welcome to week 2 of National Poetry Month! Oh, how fun this series has been to write! It brought me ...
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A Parent's Garden of Verses

Celebrate National Poetry Month!

(More than) using poetry in your homeschool All our homeschool life, we encouraged our kids to develop a lifestyle of ...
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Why We Celebrate Jewish Holidays

One of the fondest memories I have of growing up is celebrating Passover at my aunt and uncle's house. No, ...
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finding homeschool support during the coronavirus/COVID-19 scare

Homeschool Conventions during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

As I write this, our world is in the midst of a pandemic. Coronavirus/COVID-19 fever (literally) is making its way ...
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attend a homeschool convention this year

Why You Should Attend a Homeschool Convention This Year

...our Top 5 Reasons to Get There! So one of the first questions I had as a new homeschooler - ...
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Celebrating the Passover: A Guide for Christians to Enjoy the Feast - Includes a printable Haggadah for your own use! Read and learn: Why a Passover for Christians?, everything you need to know to prepare your own feast - "from soup to nuts", resources for more info, and more...

Christian Passover Resources for Your Family

For our family, and for many Christian families, springtime brings thoughts of Easter.  And with Easter in view, my family ...
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Easter activities to enjoy with teens

Easter Activities for Teens

Easter is in a few short weeks, and once again we're celebrating it with a houseful of teenagers. If you're ...
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These practical ways to bless your teen aren't exactly rocket science. In fact, they're much simpler...and FAR more effective!

8 Practical Ways To Bless Your Teen

Ever heard that old one-liner  "Everybody complains about the weather...but nobody does anything about it!"?  Well, it's often the same with ...
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Express Random Acts of Kindness…

...all year long! Yes, Virginia, there is an official Random Acts of Kindness Day, falling annually on February 17. And ...
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Teaching your teen discernment is a process, but a much-needed one. Use these steps to get started, and give your teen a leadership "head-start" as an adult.

5 Steps to Teaching Your Teens Discernment

Discernment - Something that we can all agree is sorely needed in this day and age, and also sadly missing ...
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Winter Skin Care Recipes

OK, tell me whose skin is starting to get dry and itchy already...or is it just me? I was sitting ...
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TED Talks For Aspiring Student Leaders

Leadership... ...during this election year, it's becoming more and more apparent that we have a great lack of leadership in ...
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In today's society, mentoring, thankfully, is experiencing a welcome resurgence. If you're on the fence, here are some easy ways to just. get. STARTED!

Reviving The Lost Art of Mentoring

Note: In honor of National Mentoring Month, I'm republishing this article that I wrote a few years ago. The message ...
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Tips for teaching leadership

Concept Study – What Makes a Good Leader?

Every day our lives are influenced by people in positions of authority: people whose role or job enables them to ...
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Let's work together to stop human trafficking!

Human Trafficking – An Action Guide

This Saturday marks a day that has gone by for me, sad to say, largely unnoticed since its inception. Since ...
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New to homeschooling in GA? Grab this updated Guide!

The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling in Georgia

According to recent statistics, homeschooling is on the rise in the Peach State! And with good reason: One of the ...
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What Your Teen Should Know About Election Day

What Your Teen Should Know About The Election Process – And Why

*UPDATE for the 2020 Presidential elections: Please scroll down to find some excellent guides to the candidates and issues involved ...
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20 Inspiring Quotes for Your Teenager - 'cause sometimes they have bad days, too!

20 Inspiring Quotes for Your Teenager

There is so much stress and pressure in our culture today. And our teens are not immune from it, either ...
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When things don't go as planned

What do you do when things don’t go as expected

It's easy to tell our kids that things don't always work out. And maybe because our kiddos get so much ...
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Developing a biblical worldview in your homeschool

Many years into our homeschooling years, I received a harsh reminder about just how critical it is to help our ...
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Blessing your teen can be a significant event in their faith-life.

Blessing Your Teen – A timely and significant event

Blessing your teen... ...an event made for times such as these! The concept of blessing our children is not by ...
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5 Things Never to Apologize for to Your Teen

Hi there! Welcome back to Homeschool Freedom Fridays! One thing I've learned over the years is the need to apologize ...
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While it's not the complete answer, a big response to the question "What's the BEST planner from my homeschool?" is - "Well, what format will you USE?" Read on for a brief summary of some of the more-popular choices today...

What’s the best planner for your homeschool?

"Help! I'm so unorganized! What's the best homeschool planner to use?" I get that question more often than you'd think, ...
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Tunes to Get your Back-to-School "Groove" on!

Well it's back-to-school after the holiday season for many families - homeschooling or not - and I don't know about ...
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Getting these 5 important concepts down will surely take the stress off a homeschool mom's heart...

5 Valuable Concepts To Make Your Homeschool Stress-Free

I interact on a daily basis with homeschooling parents; moms, mostly. These are good people who love their children.  Some ...
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Why my family enjoys a busy homeschool schedule

Why My Family Says "Yes" to Activities

My family has a somewhat chaotic life. Well, it’s not always like that, but yeah, we're pretty much handling a busy ...
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Grab these back-to-school organization tips

Homeschool organization tips for Back-to-School

If you’re in the place that organizing or planning is an "issue", it’s most often because something is falling apart ...
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How to Assign High School Credit to Life Learning Opportunities

High school is such a wonderful time for homeschooling! The early years of teaching “the basics” – reading, writing, primary ...
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Lessons without Lectures - FB-featured

Outsourcing Homeschool High School – Literature

As I've talked about in other articles on this blog, parents who are teaching high school in their homeschool don't ...
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How homeschoolers encourage socialization

5 Pursuits to Combat the "No Socialization" Argument

Often time during the summer parents will take a look at the previous school year and start to formulate thoughts ...
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12 Things You Really Learned if You Were Homeschooled

12 Things You Learned if You Were Homeschooled – Part 2

Note: So glad you're here for Part 2 of 12 Things You Learned if You Were Homeschooled! In this post, ...
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Teaching your kids about money - it's never too late OR too early!

Teaching Kids About Money

Among the many responsibilities of adulthood, managing personal finances is one of the most important skills you can learn. Unfortunately, ...
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Being responsible means "the buck stops here!" Teach it early!

Thoughts on Teaching Kids Responsbility

I often speak with moms who are overwhelmed and stressed. They find themselves doing everything to run the house – ...
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The Empty Homeschool Nest project

When you have an empty homeschool nest

I really wasn't ready; wasn't expecting homeschooling to be over for me, for us, just yet. My empty homeschool nest ...
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Why Every Homeschool Mom Should Have a Resume

Many years ago, in the early days of the modern homeschool movement, most homeschool families were single-income households. Over the ...
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Ultimate Field Trip Guide to Albany and SW Georgia

Field trips have always been one of my favorite things to do in our homeschool! I remember even before we'd ...
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If you don't know your child's learning style, rushing into a curriculum purchase is an almost instant recipe for disappointment and frustration. Take the time now and make your homeschooling future easier...

Do You Know Your Teen’s Learning Style?

After making the decision to homeschool, one of the most overwhelming choices parents face is choosing a curriculum. Knowing how ...
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A homeschool graduation ceremony, whether it be sweet and simple or a complicated event, can be a touching way to mark this oh-so-significant event in your family's life!

How to Plan a Homeschool Graduation

Beyond a doubt, one of the most touching occasions I have ever had the privilege to attend is our local homeschool co-op's ...
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Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

It's almost here!You can feel the excitement in the air!We walk around the house speaking in nonsense-words and rhyme... It's ...
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Our Christmas traditions…

Today a few friends and I would like to give you a little peek into our homes and lives. Once ...
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No apologies, no excuses: we say "No!" to a busy homeschool life!

Why My Family Says "No" to a Busy Schedule

Note: This guest post was written by my dear friend Candy, who used to share a blog with me at PatAndCandy.com ...
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CTC Math – a no-more-tears math curriculum

I love my daughter's smile. And while she is generally very sweet-natured, over the years, math studies had become a problem ...
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This essay reveals what homeschoolers REALLY learn...

12 Things You Learned if You Were Homeschooled – Part 1

Note: This is Part 1 of a 2-part series of reflections from homeschool graduate, Lauren Meeks. If you enjoy this, ...
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Teaching driver's ed as a homeschool parent will help ensure you're getting your teen behind the wheel safely. Here are some considerations to keep in mind.

Getting your teen behind the wheel safely

One of the most, um, "exciting" things about raising teens and homeschooling high school has been, hands down, teaching our ...
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From homeschool to public school – Part 2

In a recent post, I described how we're preparing our kiddo #4 for this new educational environment. In today's post, ...
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From homeschool to public school – Part 1

How to Help Your Teen Adjust... Families make the decision to homeschool for a number of reasons. Some make this ...
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Cranberry Lime Salsa "Wows" Your Senses!

(Note: I know I don't often share recipes, but this one has been on my mind since the beginning of ...
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Summer Learning - Homeschool Style

Summer – Homeschool Style

(Please note: This post is being republished for the benefit of the many "all-of-a-sudden homeschoolers" who may find it useful ...
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Free summer learning
from “the Co-op”!

Sponsored Post: This post is sponsored by The Homeschool Buyer's Co-op but the opinions expressed here are my own. For ...
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Head on over to the 2018 Homeschool Moms Conference for support and encouragement! Tools for the journey...

#breakthrulinkup 35 – Last call!

Greetings and welcome to #breakthrulinkup 35! And a little readjustment on the journey Some of you may be members of ...
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Can you really homeschool for free?

Note: Happy Memorial Day!  While I hope you and yours are celebrating the hard-fought freedom we enjoy as US citizens, ...
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Summertime Tech (less) Idea

Summer's right around the corner, friends! No, wait, summer's HERE! (How did that happen?!) Anyway, after a busy, busy school ...
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Girls’ Coding Camp: How to help your daughter build future skills

There is still a serious lack of girls in the computing fields these days, at least that’s what I’m told ...
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Welcome to #breakthrulinkup 33 - I'm sure you'll appreciate some of these great resources!

#breakthrulinkup 33 – Calling all Homeschool High Schoolers!

Welcome to #breakthrulinkup 33! I'm just so excited I could almost burst...and I can't wait to tell you about it! ...
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5 Ways to Keep Your Kids Reading This Summer

(This post was written by author, forever-friend and previous blogging partner Candy Reid.) This week I unpacked my collection of children’s ...
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The 2018 edition of Build Your Bundles has a ton of stuff that will energize and equip your homeschool in the coming year!

#breakthrulinkup 32 – Build YOUR (homeschool) Bundle!

Welcome to #breakthrulinkup 32! It's "bundle season" again, friends 🙂 You may have started to see emails from your favorite ...
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The problem with planners is multi-layered...but it's not what you might think!

The problem with planners…

Today we're talkin' about planners... The two biggest times of the year to get started on planners are around the ...
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From a college essay on the topic: a perspective on homeschooling from someone who's really "been there, done that!"

Letter from a Homeschool Graduate

Note: Graduation season is once again upon us.  A few years ago, I received a copy of an essay my ...
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Welcome to #brekthrulinkup 31...catching you up on some of my own changes. And check back for some exciting homeschool news next week!

#breakthrulinkup 31- On the move…

Welcome to #breakthrulinkup 31! There are some big changes happenin' in my neck of the woods these days... Kiddo #4 ...
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Tim Tebow has yet another book coming out to help us teach our teens about character!

#breakthrulinkup 30 – Tim Tebow Bible study

Welcome to #breakthrulinkup 30! Last year I received a copy of Tim Tebow's (then) new Bible study, Shaken, based on ...
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Teaching Shakespeare to Your Teen

You know what's happening this week? It's Shakespeare's 454th Birthday! (Actually, it was celebrated in England this past weekend - ...
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#breakthrulinkup 29 – Is your teen stressed?

Welcome to #breakthrulinkup 29! Would you say that your teen is stressed out? Recent studies have shown that the major ...
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This year's Bundle is their best yet! Grab yours while you can!

#breakthrulinkup 28 – It’s “Ultimate Bundles” Time Again!

Welcome to #breakthrulinkup 28! Most moms I know would agree that making a home is harder than it looks. It’s ...
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Teaching “the basics” when you homeschool high school

This is Step Two of my mini-series "Prepare to Homeschool High School in 5 Easy Steps", where we're laying the ...
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Don't think your move will be without hiccups. Problems will most likely occur. But here are some ways to make the whole process less stressful...and even sneak in some learning!

9+ Tips to Make Moving go Smoothly: for homeschoolers

Summer is just around the corner, and there's a good chance that you or someone you know will be one ...
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Welcome to #breakthrulinkup 27 - and get the "heads up" on DEAR Day! Grab a good book, clear you calendar, and "drop everything and read"!

#breakthrulinkup 27 – DEAR Day is coming!

Did you love to read as a child? When I was a little girl, it was all my mother could do ...
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Hula-hooping is tons of fun, easy to get started, and a great way to share laughs with the kids!

#breakthrulinkup 26 – Have some hula-hooping fun!

Welcome to #breakthrulinkup 26! Although hula hooping has been popular for decades and history even suggests that it's been around ...
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Parent-directed education takes the best of homeschooling and what's available in the world-at-large to craft an education that is perfect for the individual child!

Parent-Directed Education vs Homeschooling

Welcome to BreakthroughHomeschooling! Before you start to look around, this post will tell you a little bit about how I ...
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This scary homeschool moment ended up fine...I think! At any rate, I used the opportunity to craft some brand new resources for you - so you don't find yourself in the same boat!

#breakthrulinkup 25 – A scary homeschool moment

Welcome to #breakthrulinkup 25! Hi there! Besides being thrilled to greet the spring season, we're knee deep in graduation/end-of-the-year mania ...
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Check out these Easter activities that will engage your teen in a family celebration!

#breakthrulinkup 24 – Easter activities for teens

Welcome to #breakthrulinkup 24! Easter is in a few short weeks, and once again we're celebrating it with a houseful ...
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Enjoy this unique Easter resource and a special way to celebrate Women's History Month!

#breakthrulinkup 23 – A Women’s History Month resource

Welcome to #breakthrulinkup 23!  In line with my "keepin' it real" theme from last week... this post is a little ...
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CLEP study guides by Study.com can be a great resource for your high schooler: take a test - earn some credits!

CLEP study guides: a great high school resource

I received access to this product for free and was compensated for my time only. All opinions are mine; I ...
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I was responding to a message today, that, quite frankly, caught my eye for one reason: it started with "Dear Pat, I'm not really sure you can help, cause you probably don't have problems like this..." (italics mine)

#breakthrulinkup 22 – Keepin’ it real for you!

Welcome to #breakthrulinkup 22!  Just keepin' it real... Hi there, friends! I was responding to a message today, that, quite frankly, ...
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This generation doesn't really need much training in the use of technology, but preparing our kids for a lifetime of learning does require us to "connect the dots" at some level. Geocaching is a fun, outdoors activity to show them how technology can be used for practical problem-solving. And a fun family time!

Try "treasure-hunt learning" Through Geocaching!

Over the years I've always felt the importance of teaching my kids about the world we live in - geography's ...
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International Day Makes Geography Studies Festive and Fun

International Day is my favorite day of the year!  (Well, at least it's one of my top 10!) You won’t ...
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Embark if an affordable homeschool conference for parents of teens and tweens.

#breakthrulinkup 20 – A conference for parents of tweens and teens

Welcome to #breakthrulinkup 20! Do you ever wonder if you're short-changing your high schooled homeschooler? Or if she'll really be ...
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Welcome to #breakthrulinkup 19...now head on over to Instagram and join me for this month's friendly Instagram challenge! Each day a new theme...each day a new post...to celebrate my favorite aspect of learning at home: familyschooling!

#breakthrulinkup 19 – Celebrate #familyschooling!

Welcome to #breakthrulinkup 19! And even tho it's a little late, "Welcome to February!" also... If you're on Instagram - ...
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#breakthrulinkup 18 – It’s not (really) about homeschooling

Welcome to #breakthrulinkup 18! I'm by no means what you'd call a news junkie, but nevertheless the images and developing ...
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Homeschool Assessment: How to Accomplish a Mid-Year Fix

To "resolve" or not to" resolve?" Word of the Year – or not? January is the month that most of ...
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MCBD 2018 – #readyourworld !

No matter what method you use to homeschool, I think we can all agree that "reading is fundamental" (as LeVar ...
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#breakthrulinkup 17 – Ultimate Bundle update

Welcome to #breakthrulinkup 17! Hi there! I'm so glad you're here today, 'cause what I'm sharing will definitely make your ...
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Get a second chance at Healthy Living!

Hi there! It's a cold but sunny morning where I'm at, and just like at your place, it's a Monday ...
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Though the Christmas is over, it is STILL the season for many of us to work anew on gettin' our act together! And one of the things we moms commit to - both periodically and annually - is getting the kids more involved with chores. One of these "techie chore schedulers" may fit the bill!

#breakthrulinkup 16 – Techie Chore Schedulers

Welcome to #breakthrulinkup 16! 'Tis the season, ya' know. Though Christmas may be over, it IS the season for many ...
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Martin Luther King, Jr Day Resources

Today is Martin Luther King, Jr Day, a Federal holiday celebrated annually on the third Monday in January. It was ...
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#breakthrulinkup 15 – Start launching your day

Welcome to #breakthrulinkup #15! Do you have trouble "launching" in the morning? I guess, put another way, I could ask ...
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A gap year can be a wonderfully educational exploration of the world at large, and perhaps a time of discovery of new and untapped interests, talents and skills, and in some cases may be the launching pad to a creative and fulfilling life.

What your teen MUST do to have a successful gap year

My son is working through his Junior year in high school, and one day I noticed that he seemed a ...
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"I'm not important enough to take care of myself..." Isn't that what we're saying when we *don't* celebrate a Sabbath?

Why Moms Should Celebrate a Sabbath

I recently heard someone speaking on the subject of the Sabbath.  If you're not familiar with the term, it's a ...
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The Ultimate Bundles is a winner yet again! Make this year a healthier one for you and your family with these tools...

The Ultimate Bundles – Here’s to Healthy Meal Planning this year!

Happy New Year! Whether you do New Year's Resolutions or a Word of the Year or even just cross your ...
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Watching how we handle disappointment and discouragement can show our kids how to do the same...

#breakthrulinkup 13 – When Mom is Discouraged

Welcome to #breakthrulinkup #13! As we prepare for 2018, a Facebook post keeps sticking in my mind. It was from ...
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Christmas Traditions…

Merry, merry Christmas! I hope that you and yours are enjoying a wonderful holiday together with loved ones all around ...
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Organize 4U, by Kim Pittman, offers Tips and Strategies that you can use! Read more from my review, inside...

Book Review – Organize 4U: Practical Tips and Strategies to Getting Organized

BreakthroughHomeschooling has gone through a few permutations... Waaayy back, it started out as Mom's Morning Coffee, and we had a ...
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#breakthrulinkup 12 – Get ready for 2018!

Welcome to #breakthrulinkup #12! Seasons Greetings to one and all... I know that this is a busy time of year ...
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#breakthrulinkup 11 – last minute gift ideas!

Welcome to #breakthrulinkup #11! No, I'm not backtracking on my initial desire to take the emphasis this Christmas season off ...
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Craft your own word of the year: take the time to create a space from which you can step back, evaluate the present, and craft a new year that will bring growth and hope and wonderful things to you and those you love.

What’s your Word of the Year for 2018?

Around this time of year, besides getting ready for Christmas and all that that entails, I find myself looking at ...
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Homeschooling Through the Holidays – Headache Free!

And don't forget this week's Giveaway! Details below... If you’ve homeschooled for any length of time, you know that homeschooling ...
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#breakthrulinkup 10 – What your minister’s wife wants for Christmas

...and a Giveaway Welcome to #breakthrulinkup #10 Awhile back I ran a series called "5 Days of Serving Others Through ...
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Dip Mix Ornaments are hollow, plastic ornaments that contain a mix of yummy ingredients a hostess (or you!) can use to make a quick dip for friends and family. Of course, you can add other ingredients, too... Read on, or just use your own creativity!

Dip Mix Ornaments Make A Unique Holiday Gift and Treat

A while ago I was doing some "holiday prep" thinking and realized we'd be doing a fair amount of visiting ...
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3 Ways to Fight Seasonal Emotional Disorder

In my imagination . . . I decorated a full and beautiful tree with sentimental ornaments and glittering lights. I ...
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Don’t minimize the importance and value of traveling with your kids as part of your homeschool. The effects of doing whatever you can - with the right attitude - are truly far-reaching!

Travel with your kids – help them discover a career!

I had the privilege of traveling with my daughter recently. We flew to visit my mom, and because of the ...
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Welcome to #breakthrulinkup 9...and learn about the "power of habit!"

#breakthrulinkup 9 – Got a habit?

Welcome to #breakthrulinkup #9! A few days ago my husband tipped me off to a segment from NPR's "Wait Wait...Don't ...
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3 Awesome Thoughts on Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving I know that many of you are busy today cooking and cleaning and visiting with friends and family, ...
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#breakthrulinkup 8 – Black Friday Homeschool deals!

Welcome to #breakthrulinkup #8! Whoulda thunk that Black Friday/Cyber Monday was a good time to stock up on homeschool curricula? ...
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5 Days of Preparing for Christmas with Your Teen – A special family evening

Yes, Virginia, you CAN spend quality family time together during the holidays... BUT you definitely have to plan for it! ...
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5 Days of Preparing for Christmas with Your Teen – Host a party

Are you planning a Christmas party this year? Many of us do. Around our place, it's almost like a season ...
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#breakthrulinkup 7 – Create a Christmas playlist with your teen

Welcome to #breakthrulinkup #7! If you don't know this about me yet, I gotta tell you: I'm an old-school rock ...
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5 Days of Preparing for Christmas with Your Teen – In the Kitchen

Does your teen like to eat? If you have a teen, you may be laughing out loud as you read ...
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5 Days of Preparing for Christmas with Your Teen

Does your teen really care? So many times as parents we view the term "preparing for the holidays" to mean ...
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#breakthrulinkup 6 – Give thanks in all things

Welcome to #breakthrulinkup #6! I have fully embraced the November "theme" this year of giving thanks! But I also have ...
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How to Ensure Your Homeschooler
Thrives in High School

If we're honest, as those years approach, even the most confident homeschooling mom must admit to a bit of fear ...
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There is certainly a dearth of leadership these days. Set your teen up for future success and service by helping him (or her!) develop much-needed leadership skills.

Developing Leadership Skills in Your Teen

Do you follow politics with your teen? I know, I know, it's certainly has its highs and (mostly) lows, but ...
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#breakthrulinkup 5 – Heartbursting moments

Welcome to #breakthrulinkup #5! Over the past few months, a friend of mine has been busy helping her daughter prepare ...
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Homeschool through high school is both possible and exciting! When the time comes, or even if you find yourself in that season now, use this guide to ensure this experience is enriching for both you and your child.

Your Easy Guide to Homeschooling High School

Join me as I "hopscotch our way" to homeschooling through high school! As I've made mention before...it's not really that ...
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If you're trying to find some worthwhile books to put on your shelf, try these for starters - my "must haves" for every homeschool mom/teacher!

Great Books for Homeschool Teachers

The best thing we can do for our own children/students is to model a lifestyle of learning of our own ...
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#breakthrulinkup 4 – Faithful love…

Welcome to #breakthrulinkup #4! By now you probably know about my little kitty Louie. (And if you don't, just take ...
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Focus on the Family's Adventures in Odyssey family audiobooks are a great way to connect with your teens, too!

Family Audiobooks and the Power of Story

(This post is sponsored by Focus on The Family, who provided me with a copy of this CD for review purposes.) ...
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After more than a few decades of living, I've finally come up with a list of things I work through to help my day get off to a good start. They're not rocket science...anyone can do them. It just takes a firm commitment and a determination to do whatever it takes to break the cycle of waking up in the morning already behind.

10 Important Things to Do Tonight to Have a GREAT Tomorrow

Picture this: Monday morning, or any morning for that matter, rolls around and the alarm goes off. You jump out ...
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#breakthrulinkup 3 – Are you *too* busy?

Welcome to #breakthrulinkup #3! For awhile now I've been seeing and reading articles telling me how people these days wear ...
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How to survive after you’ve sent your teen off to college

(This post is sponsored by Spartanburg Methodist College, who compensated me for my time. All opinions are my own.) A few ...
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#breakthrulinkup 2 – Are You Up to the Task?

Welcome to #breakthrulinkup #2! For the past few years, around this time of the year, there's been a "bundle" going ...
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10 TED Talks Your Teen Needs to Watch Before Graduation

So, say you've been rolling along with this homeschool thing for years...  You've managed to teach the kids to read, ...
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New Beginnings and #breakthrulinkup

Welcome to #breakthrulinkup #1! Welcome, welcome, welcome to my new "digs!" Hope you make yourself at home as I start ...
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Teaching Homeschool Science…

... out of the box! I have to admit: science has been one of those subjects I've struggled with in ...
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Welcome, friends!

Greetings, friends, new and old! Welcome to BreakthroughHomeschooling - a blog dedicated to encouraging parents of teens and equipping them ...
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Good-For-Your-Health-Smoothies 101

(And scroll down to the bottom for 2 bonus recipes for some quick-energy, easy-to-make snacks that are good for you, too!) ...
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As you watch all or some of these TED talks with your teens, discuss what they find interesting. Encourage them to discover even more questions. If you have a science fair coming up, perhaps they can find motivation perhaps for an idea...for a hypothesis that they can investigate on their own? Celebrate and enjoy the learning process!

Celebrating Science – TED Talks to Encourage STEM Studies

As I've been discovering over the past few months, there is a growing emphasis on STEM subjects these days - ...
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The Relaxed Mom Homeschool Planner comes with a unique feature to help you overcome the challenges you may be feeling about using these things! Yes, you CAN learn how to plan your homeschool and household with confidence

Preparing for the new school year: Get your planner on!

Can you feel it? The cooler weather (hopefully!), the buzz in the stores about school supplies and back-to-school sales... Can ...
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Sharing the Joy of Reading

(This post was written by author, forever-friend and previous blogging partner Candy Reid.) I started reading out loud to my ...
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anyone who has at least one teen at home will attest to the fact that, more often than not, there comes a time in a teen’s life when anything that has the word “family” in it becomes anathema. With its double entendre usage, the word “Questionable” creates a certain edginess that will draw in even the most aloof teen!

Host a Questionable Movie Night!

How can you teach discernment to your teens, help them develop critical thinking skills, and do it in a format ...
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10 Fun Activities You Can do with Your Kids that Double as Exercise

In my ongoing effort to never underestimate and, as often as possible, incorporate the simple, I've learned that exercise doesn't ...
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5 "Old School" Subjects for Today’s Homeschool

There is no doubt that the face of education today is changing. Even considering our own family, the methods and materials ...
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Peer Pressure – Turning Nuggets of Coal to Diamonds

Hi there! Welcome to our very first episode of Homeschool Freedom Fridays! Today I'm talking about how to deal with ...
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In the hustle and bustle of life, making a date with your teen guarantees intentional one-on-one time. Here are some simple and easy-to-do activities to try. Have fun with these teen date ideas!

20+ Date-With-Your-Teen Ideas

In the hustle and bustle of life, we sometimes forget about our teenagers.  Maybe it's because you've gotten so busy ...
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The ABCs of How We Learn is an important book for home educators.Knowing how both we and our children learn helps the learning process flow easily!

Book Review – The ABCs of How We Learn

The best way to ensure that your homeschooling experience is successful (by whatever standard you measure) is to know how ...
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Coffee and Conversation #134 – Possibilities with Praxis

Do you ever wonder if college is really necessary anymore? I don’t think it’s news to anyone over 30 that ...
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Be Encouraged with This Playlist!

One thing you may not know about me is that in college I studied Music Therapy. I've loved music since ...
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Need an (Instant Pot) Solution?

Does your meal prep need a makeover, too? Welcome to my next installment of Rest and Refreshment for Moms. Yesterday ...
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How to makeover your homeschool day

Yes, I know what it's like: almost the minute your feet hit the floor, and most certainly by the time ...
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Homeschool moms are in need of rest and renewal just like anyone else. Try some of these devotionals to refresh your heart!

Rest and Refreshment for Homeschool moms

There's nothing like a good book, especially to a homeschooler, to get lost in whenever you can. But there's something ...
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How to Teach History Using Fiction

Wait, wait, I'm not talking revisionist history here, not about "taking sides" or rewriting it to suit our purposes...I'm talking ...
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Author Highlight: Laura Resau

What a treat I have for you today! While doing some research for Multicultural Children's Book Day (you know me - into anything ...
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During this series "5 Days of Serving Others through the Holidays", we're looking at using the gift of service to bless those we love!

5 Days of Serving Others – Reaching the World

Welcome back to the last day of the series "5 Days of Serving Others through the Holidays!" Every day this ...
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5 Days of Serving Others – Impacting Your Community

Welcome back to day 4 of the series "5 Days of Serving Others through the Holidays!" Every day this week I'm ...
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Today in "5 Days of Serving Others through the Holidays"...blessing your church! Hope you'll join us :-)

5 Days of Serving Others – Serving Your Church

Welcome back to day 3 of the series "5 Days of Serving Others through the Holidays!" Every day this week ...
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5 Days of Serving Others – Blessing Your Family

Welcome back to day 2 of the series "5 Days of Serving Others through the Holidays!" Every day this week ...
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Welcome to "5 Days of Serving Others through the Holidays!" Let's start at "home base,' shall we? The heart of the home is mom and dad, so...

5 Days of Serving Others During the Holidays

"And now for something entirely different..." Join us every day this week as we explore a different way to celebrate ...
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Why and How to Take a Detox Bath

It's no secret - we're bombarded with toxins on a daily basis. Toxins are in the food we eat, the ...
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Beneficial Plants: 3 greens that work for your health - I didn't realize how aware my daughter was of our family's essential oil use until she wrote this paper as a school assignment!

Beneficial Plants Used in Essential Oils

Note: Today I am especially proud to share this post with you. First, a bit of background. We have used ...
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Making an apple pie - or spending ANYtime in the kitchen - can be a sweet way to spend time with your kiddos!

Apple Pie: A sweet recipe for homeschool Fun

Note: This post initially appeared over 2 years ago as a simple recipe. While the concept remains sweet and simple, ...
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Co-ops, in their many shapes and sizes, are a great tool to consider to enhance the quality of your homeschool efforts.

Enhance the Quality of Your Homeschool This Year

It was "just another" graduation, and once again, I found myself in tears. Happy tears, of course, but tears nonetheless ...
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Wondering how to prepare your college-bound high school homeschooler for testing? Here are 3 formats, and a great program, for SAT prep and ACT prep at home

SAT/ACT Prep for Homeschoolers – Ready, Set, GO!

In both spring and fall every year many homeschoolers are at least marginally thinking about testing of some sort in ...
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3 Reasons NOT to Homeschool Thru High School

To Keep Homeschooling thru High School or Not? Now that is the Question! When we first started home educating, I remember ...
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3D Pens Make For a Fun Summer STEM Craft

A while back I wrote about my 12-year-old daughter's discovery of her love for STEM activities. What began with the ...
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Do You Need a "mommy anger" redo?

I have a confession to make:  I know quite a bit about "mommy anger" – because I have it! I’m not ...
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If you're looking into American Heritage Girls for your own daughter, or if you're already involved, why not consider incorporating the practical skills being taught through this program into her middle school or high school studies?

Why and How to Use American Heritage Girls Badges With Your Homeschool

Many years ago 2 of our boys were active Cub Scouts. It was so very cute...but that's not what I'm ...
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Although my kids are all avid readers, there's something about the hands-on and multi-sensory approaches and applications to "real life" of this subject that goes beyond books. There is a myriad of ways to teach geography, and an equal amount of fun, interesting and practical ways to apply it.

10+ “Real life” approaches to Exploring Geography

One of my kids' favorite subjects over the years has been - hands down - geography. Although my kids are ...
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If you were "in a stew about STEM", like I was...these STEM resources are sure to help your middle schooler or older rock their STEM studies!

Resources to Help Your Middle Schooler "Rock" STEM!

So...you may have read recently that my 12-year-old daughter dropped a bomb on my and informed me that she loves ...
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Crafts with Maps Can Strengthen Geography Skills

One of the things that I love most about homeschooling is how you can use things that most people would ...
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When you raise a child open to the world around them, you can't help but squash that tendency we all have toward being ethnocentric!

How to Avoid Raising an Ethnocentric Citizen

Despite how the growth of the Internet has allowed us to communicate with people all around the globe…it’s STILL a ...
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On the AtmosFlare 3D pen, STEM, and Being Thrown for a Loop

My little caboose threw me for a loop a while back, no I mean she REALLY threw me for a loop: ...
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Product Review – Online Homeschool Planner

How to keep your homeschool organized - online Sometimes it takes just the right online planning software... I've homeschooled for ...
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How to Save Even MORE Money at The Grocery Store!

Many years ago I took a look at our family finances in search of ways to trim our food budget ...
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Before you jump into homeschooling, or even if you decide NOT to homeschool your brood, the ONE THING you have to do in the decision-making process is to...

The One Thing You Need to Do BEFORE You Start Homeschooling…

Once upon a time, there was a family of four: a husband, his wife, and 2 small children.After they had ...
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What Does a Christmas Unit Study Look Like?

Many years ago I decided that for a few reasons, school had to “look different” around the holidays. For one, ...
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In this letter to my younger self, well...let's just say I wish I knew THEN what I know NOW!

Letter to My(new mom)self

As a new and young mom, I used to roll my eyes (most of the time to myself) when people ...
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The idea for this memory necklace came after I went to a craft fair and saw these charms that were made of little maps. So adorable - but way overpriced!

Make Your Own Memory Necklace

Note: This post was written by a sweet friend of mine who had been a regular contributor to MomsMorningCoffee years ...
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