homeschool middle school

Relax and smell the peppermint mocha! Christmas is a great time to snuggle up with a warm beverage and read some classic literature.

Christmastime is the perfect season for great literature.  Even during this frantic time, you can enjoy quality academics that don’t add to the craziness. During your busy season as a parent, pick a book or two for your family from my Christmas reading list. Encourage your teen to spend time relaxing with a book or audio book enjoying independent reading. Create special memories while reading aloud together. Make use of your car trips by listening to audio books with your teens. If you celebrate advent, incorporate readings into your daily or weekly advent celebrations.

I have my favorites that I used in my own homeschool. Every year we read selections from Norman Rockwell's Christmas Book.  Each December I chose classic Christmas literature for our high school reading list, including O. Henry's The Gift of the Magi, Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, and Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women.  These are inexpensive books to include in your homeschool that add a fun holiday flair to your regular studies.

The options for Christmas literature can seem daunting at times. There are so many! I’ve compiled a handy Christmas reading list just for you! This list includes literature, compilations, music, and art suggestions. I am sure you will be able to find the perfect book for everyone to enjoy during your Christmas School season. I hope you will be able to find new books to read, as well as some familiar favorites.

I just want to leave you with a word of caution. All families are different, and therefore all families must decide their own standards for the books their children read. Some of these books are listed on almost every college bound reading list, but that doesn’t mean they are perfect for you. Some children aren’t ready for an Agatha Christie murder mystery, and some families loathe the Santa Claus tradition, so use your best judgment. Parents assume all responsibility for their children’s education. If you are not familiar with something on this list, please review the book first.

Are you looking for some book ideas? I’ve compiled a handy list just for you! This list includes literature, compilations, music and art suggestions, so you are sure to find the perfect book to enjoy during your Christmas School season.

Holiday seasons, especially between November and January, are busy times. Celebrations like Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, Hanukkah, and more seem to tumble on top of each other, with no time in between. For many families, it seems that homesch...

It's time again for our monthly giveaway! This month, our friends at The Old Schoolhouse are our sponsor's and you'll want to be sure to enter. Read on to see information on the great deal they are offering to everyone and the giveaway for the m...

I have to confess, I was tempted to call this post "Logic for Dummies" but I was afraid you would know I'm not actually an intellectual. You see, I know that I could never possibly have taught logic to my logic-loving children without some help.

 New this month for my Gold Care Club members ... How To Training Courses Quick Start :Grades and Credits Beginner : Preparing to Homeschool High School - Live Convention Part 3/3 Intermediate : High School English in Plain English Advanced : Op...

One mom jokingly told me that her son's spirit animal was a sloth. We had a good giggle over that one, because I remember what it's like to try to motivate homeschool teens . And frankly, misery loves company! Misery also craves solutions. That's whe...

Happy fall! Here are some handy November homeschool calendar reminders for you! Middle School: Encouraging reading can be a fun way to help children love learning and prepare for high school. 7 Ways to Encourage Reading in Middle School Freshmen...

What are you making for Thanksgiving ? Need some ideas? I don't have to make the turkey this year, but I do have other ideas! These are appetizers, sides, and desserts that are easy to make or can be made ahead - things I have actually made and my fa...

Listen. Learn. Discern. Get guidance. Sounds great! Now if we could just teach our children to have a quiet time and devotional with the word of God, they could listen, learn, discern, and get guidance too!

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Proverbs 1:5
Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance.

Sometimes kids will gobble it up, and love reading the Word. Other times ... not so much; same kid, just different stage. It doesn't mean they have made a long-term commitment to fighting you on devotions. In general, it just means their brain is focused on other things.

There are two things that can help you train a child to have devotions:

1. Demonstrate a devotional lifestyle, by having a quiet time yourself. Show your children that real adults read their Bible on a day-to-day basis, and that will become normal behavior for them. If you need a devotional, check out my devotional for homeschooling moms. Finding the Faith to Homeschool High School.

Kelly was taking one of my free classes and explained her commitment to quality continuing education. She wrote, "I set time aside a minimum of 3 hours a week for my professional  development which includes research, project planning, transcript...

New for this month in the Gold Care Club updates ...  How To Training Courses Quick Start : Keys to High School Success Beginner : Preparing to Homeschool High School - Live Convention Part 2/3 Intermediate : Delight Directed Learning Advanced :...

Sometimes, I post something that really strikes the heart of my readers. An old post I had about measuring character qualities other than academic ones, was one of those posts.   It struck the heart of my readers so much so, that I had peop...

When you're busy getting into the homeschool groove, it can be easy to forget about registering for tests, not to mention keeping up with changes to the FAFSA! (Don't forget - you should be filling out the FAFSA this month!) Here are some handy ...

Does thinking about college admission for your homeschool student fill you with dread? Or does the task of making your child's comprehensive homeschool records keep you up at night? Do you ever wonder how your humble homeschool can compete ...

New for this month in the Gold Care Club updates ...  How To Training Courses Quick Start : Best Guidance Counselor Beginner : Preparing to Homeschool High School - Live Convention Part 1/3 Intermediate : High School Testing Advanced : College S...