For some parents, homeschooling is a new experience! We’re not accustomed to being a teaching resource for our kids, and schooling at home has become a little stressful. If you have kids at home who are homeschooling or distance learning, you can use this time effectively without letting your child’s education suffer! Here is how […]
50 Fun Things To Do With Your First Grader At Home
March 27, 2020 by
Parenting during the coronavirus pandemic is difficult, especially if you are under home quarantine. Many of you have reached out asking for ideas on things to do with your first grader at home. Here are our favorite resources for creative stay-at-home activities, and lots of learning fun too! We use common household items you probably […]
Homeschooling with Toddlers — Sensory Bins
October 1, 2014 by
Moving on to the next item in our Montessori inspired classroom with toddlers in mind. This one takes a little bit of discipline for the child and a little patience for the homeschooling mama because it can be messy until they understand the rules. Homeschooling with toddlers in tow can be the biggest challenge we face […]
Getting Started with Homeschooling
September 1, 2014 by
If you are considering homeschooling, but don’t know where to start, we have rounded up some of our best resources from Inner Child Learning to help you make an informed decision for you and your family. Here are 10 of our most popular homeschooling posts covering everything from pros and cons of homeschooling, to creating […]
Map Learning Activity for Kids
March 11, 2014 by
Teaching your children about map skills starts with knowing the basics. So I start with the cardinal directions! A simple game of Simon Says can turn into a wonderful treasure hunt with a bonus of always knowing which direction to point to find the North Star! This map learning activity is sure to teach your kids […]
Books about Telling Time
February 22, 2014 by
Learning to tell time can be tricky for kids. Luckily, there are several entertaining and useful picture books out there that introduce children to the concept of time telling and the function of clocks. Here are ten great children’s books about telling time. Tuesday In this incredibly drawn book, artist/author David Weisner explores […]
Exploring Nature with a Camera
September 30, 2013 by
The natural world is something that interests our entire family, so this year we are devoting more time to nature study. At first, nature study can seem a bit overwhelming. As adults, we feel the need to know everything as we set out. We often worry about being able to answer all of the many […]
Apple Themed Mini Unit
September 16, 2013 by
I love fall, especially since it means fresh, crisp apples! Every year we visit our local orchard to pick apples and I wanted to do a quick apple themed day beforehand to get the kids excited about picking apples. Planning a week long unit can be daunting but creating a mini unit is simple and […]
Super EASY DIY Homework Workstation
September 9, 2013 by
This simple DIY homework workstation can be made in about 5 minutes from a tri-fold foam display board (available here on Amazon, and other office supply stores). Cut the foam board in half so that one poster board will make two workstations. For a finishing touch, add a border of colored duct tape, and hang […]
A Year-at-a-Glance Calendar for Your Homeschool Year
September 2, 2013 by
We all have great ideas for our kids school year as homeschoolers, but if we tried to start every great idea on day #1 of school our kids (and us!) would burn out very quickly. For this reason, I started to use this year-at-a-glance calendar to plan the things I want to get to this […]
Helping Kids Choose Just Right Books
September 2, 2013 by
This week we’ll be sharing posts to help with the transition of getting back to more formal learning. First up is a great video from Amy at TeachMama.com on the importance of helping kids choose the books that are just right for them. Choosing the right book can make all the difference and this video […]
What About Socialization?
August 25, 2013 by
Are you hesitant to homeschool because you’re worried about socialization? More often than not, when I tell someone that my family homeschools their first question is, “What about socialization?”It’s a common misconception that homeschoolers are unsocialized and the socialization question is frequently asked. I decided to ask a few fellow homeschooling moms what they thought […]
Structuring Your Homeschool Day
August 23, 2013 by
Figuring out a homeschool schedule can be a challenge. Should you focus on reading and math? What about the other subjects? Are you doing enough in a day? Will they eventually get it? Once your homeschool year begins, it sometimes takes a few weeks to figure out what works for you and your family. Here […]
Planning Your First Year of Homeschooling
August 9, 2013 by
You’ve taught your little one his alphabet. You’ve made sensory bins, explored with play dough, and even made a light table. Now it’s that time for your little one to venture to Kindergarten — but instead of sending them to school, you’ve decided to try homeschooling for a few years. But where do you […]
DIY School Supplies Kids Can Make
August 9, 2013 by
Busy getting the kids ready for school? Here are some easy school supplies the kids can make and clever ways they can add some creative touches to school supplies they already own using common household items. Most of these materials can also be found at the dollar store! 1. Modern Notebooks and Matching Pencils or […]
The Pros and Cons of Becoming a Homeschooler
August 5, 2013 by
Homeschooling is becoming a popular choice. It gives the children a flexible schedule and allows the curriculum to cater to the individual child. Is homeschooling the right choice for you? Well, that all depends. I was brought up in the public school system. K – 12 I went in and out of a school house […]
Learning with Ordinary Household Items
May 28, 2013 by
Learning manipulatives (items that are used to engage a child in hands-on learning) are used for problem solving and to help increase understanding of a concept, such as counting. There are literally thousands of incredible learning manipulatives available for purchase through education websites and catalogs; making a choice can be very overwhelming! But did you […]
Insect Lab Nature Investigation
May 1, 2013 by
Spring brings flowers, warm air, green grass . . . and insects. Many, many insects! Due to mild weather and their natural instinct to hunt for food after winter hibernation, insects are abundant in the spring. Many spring insects are young; they have recently hatched out of an egg case or matured from pupae to […]
