In our family, summer continues throughout the summer. Here are some of the books we’ve enjoyed reading and some of the MOOCs we use to learn. No affiliate links here; just my personal recommendations. Books The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements by Sam Kean How to Read the Constitution–and Why by Kim Wehle

There are many things I love about homeschooling conferences: meeting new people, the energy of a live audience, and the feeling of belonging. Being together as a large group of homeschoolers is balm for the loneliness we sometimes feel in this solitary endeavor. I enjoy hearing passionate speakers introduce new topics. Despite these perks, though, there are some disadvantages to these conferences. Only a few people are heard. (We don’t often hear from those that are just beginning their homeschool, or those that lack confidence and are teetering on the edge of their commitment.

Baselang is an outstanding way to learn Spanish from live language tutors. I highly recommend their program. The program is unlike any other. For one flat monthly rate ($150 at the time of this writing) you receive one month of unlimited Spanish lessons. Actually, they give you the first week for only $1 so you actually get five weeks of lessons for only $151. Previous to using Baselang, I had used italki, another language tutor program.

There are many dimensions to success, but these ideas are the ones I often consider. In my experience, success is a brief moment; there is no fermata. Success is a glimpse. Homeschooling in the present tense gives me consistent glimpses of success, fleeting though they are. Success is easily identifiable progress. Success is the ability to concentrate on a single task. Success is completion of difficult academic coursework. Success is a broad education including many areas of study.

As we’ve continued learning Spanish, we are finding more resources that support our learning. Here are a few of our favorites. If you are a beginner, start here . If you’d like information about language tutor programs, start here . Example Sentences One important activity for intermediate learners is understanding how to write well. This site has great examples of how to use the words. Reading As we become more proficient in Spanish, we are ready for books.

“I know zero Spanish.” Where can I begin? This was me just a few years ago. I had no skills, no familiarity, no ability. I’d like to share these resources with you, since some of what worked for me might also work for you! Pimsleur These language lessons are the perfect place to start as a beginner. From the first day, you begin speaking the new language. The activities are highly interactive and use spaced memorization to help review the concepts.

Are My Kids on Track? The 12 Emotional, Social, and Spiritual Milestones Your Child Needs to Reach by Sissy Goff, Melissa Trevathan, and David Thomas Here are my thoughts about this parenting book. Strong Emotional Vocabulary In the book, the authors recommend, “people of all ages develop an emotional vocabulary and learn to navigate emotions.” Being able to talk about what we are feeling with precision makes a big difference for me.

Learning to write well formed letters is one of my homeschool priorities. There are four techniques that make a difference in encouraging my children to feel greater intrinsic motivation to write carefully. Give Ample Time to Practice Writing Don’t rush it. Allow more than enough time to practice writing. Decrease the distractions in the room. Simplify the words to be written. We find that it works best to copy type written material rather than producing new sentences, because then there isn’t any worry about spelling or word order.

I know nothing about de-worming, but I sure like this image. I clipped it from a magazine years ago, and it makes me laugh every time I look at it. Perhaps those who aren’t currently homeschooling, but are considering homeschooling feel confused about the complexity of the task. De-worming doesn’t seem any simpler when I see a horse without legs. But, let’s have a closer look at the text below and see if we can apply it to homeschooling:

Is this how the professionals do it? While stumbling through a complex Calculus concept involving parametric equations, I wondered if there was a better way to help my student understand. What tips and tricks do Calculus teachers know that might help me here? Fortunately, searching for something this specific is feasible, and I can quickly learn what to do. But, there are other areas of homeschooling, as in any new endeavor, where we may wonder if we’re doing it the way the experts do it.