Reading

Heartfelt Discussion Versus Question & Answer

a dad and child discuss what they are reading

Heartfelt Discussion Versus Question & AnswerNow more than ever, it is important that we are talking to one another. New social distancing rules have found many families staying home more to ensure their health. This means fewer co-ops, outings, and field trips, and fewer in-person connections with friends. For many homeschoolers, this means we are with our families more than ever.

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Why Read Aloud Time Is Still Valuable for Teens

close up view of book pages

Why Read Aloud Time Is Still Valuable for TeensMost homeschooling parents can agree that spending time reading aloud as a family is a worthwhile endeavor. Who doesn't love snuggling with little ones while reading stories that open up imaginations and fill minds with wonderful tales? For many, it's a peaceful, almost magical time, one that ends too quickly as kids get older, outgrowing family reading time.

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Discussing Books with Kids: How to Foster Valuable Conversations

a dad holds a yellow book while smiling at his young daughter

Discussing Books with Kids: How to Foster Valuable Conversations Talking with our kids about a book they are reading can peter out before the conversation even starts. Why? The questions we ask, what we know about the book, and the way we hold discussions all matter. Good discussions are all about connection, and if there is one thing we homeschoolers do well, it's connecting with our children.

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Teach Children to Change the World with Biographies

a bright pink mug sits on a stack of three books

Teach Children to Change the World with BiographiesSometimes the news is scary. There are things happening in our world right now that are near to impossible to discuss with children without leaving them fearful. As parents, we want to protect our kids from hatred and hurt. We want them to remain children and enjoy every drop of childhood magic for as long as possible.

And yet, we want our children to grow into adults who will make a difference in this world. We want to raise compassionate, thoughtful men and women who will put an end to the hatred and hurt.

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5 Tips That Took Our Read-Aloud Times from Disaster to Delight

a smiling girl lies on a couch with a book on her head

5 Tips That Took Our Read-Aloud Times from Disaster to DelightI admit it. I was disappointed. Read-aloud time didn’t look like I expected it to.

My vision: Quiet children, hanging on my every word while sipping hot cups of cocoa and wholly engaged in the story.

Instead, our read-aloud time was filled with interruptions and fights over who was sitting where and whose blankets were touching.

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How to Make Reading Fun for the Child Who Doesn't Like to Read

a straw hat and maracas sit on a bright blue wooden background

How to Make Reading Fun for the Child Who Doesn't Like to ReadAlthough I have loved books for as long as I can remember, my eldest daughter is not interested in reading. She would rather play outside and build things than read books.

Because I believe that reading books is an essential part of a child's education, I’ve worked to find methods that promote a love of reading in even the most reluctant of readers.

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7 Ways to Grow Your Home Library on a Budget

a little free library stands open for browsing

7 Ways to Grow Your Home Library on a BudgetWe have read the research and we know how important it is to raise our children in a print-rich environment. The number of books a family has in their home is linked to academic achievement. But building a library can be an expensive venture. No one can afford to go out and buy several hundred books at once.

With planning and patience, you can slowly grow your library over time. Before you buy, know what to look for so that you spend wisely.

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3 Reasons Your Struggling Reader Needs a Literature-rich Homeschool

a stack of inviting readers

3 Reasons Your Struggling Reader Needs a Literature-rich HomeschoolThe journey of teaching my younger two to read and write has often been difficult. No matter how gently or how slowly I try, the frustration with letters and words is still there. And yet, in the midst of that struggle to read, there has never been a struggle with books or stories themselves.

My kids love books. They love stories. A literature-rich education has been a constant for us, regardless of dyslexia.

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