Must Have!
Uncategorized Every so often I get asked what items I consider essential in a school room. Of course, there are all the obvious options. Paper, pencils, printers, copiers, and computers are just a few of the things people consider...
The Journey Back To Recess
Uncategorized When I started homeschooling, I was not a fan of recess. The school day was not that long in kindergarten, and if we could just focus we would be done super fast. Plus, there were all these natural transitions between...
Scheduling
Uncategorized I am a scheduler. I like a plan. I like order. I like structure. My oldest agrees with me. The younger two do not. You can imagine the frustration to which this can lead, but yet we continue to have a schedule. Why?...
September Sigh
Uncategorized I hear it every summer. I’m sure I’m not the only one. I’m in a checkout line, the kids are driving me bonkers, and the cashier says, “Don’t worry. They will be back in school before you know it.” Ummm… thanks… not so...
Living Learning
Uncategorized Living Learning The other day a friend posted a picture of her daughter on the first day of kindergarten. Her face was all lit up, and she just oozed excitement at what the day was to bring. As I looked...
Church – A Full Contact Sport
Uncategorized I couldn’t help but smile again this past Sunday. A young couple walked into service with their toddler son. He was adorable. He was full of smiles. He was full of words. And he was full of wiggles. As the service...
Bubble Wrapped
Uncategorized Do you ever feel like you’re in a bubble of God’s protection? Like your own super force field? I don’t really have any other words to describe how I felt on the drive from Fairbanks to Fort Drum. I...
Summer Time
Uncategorized Sometimes I find myself thinking at the end of the day, “All I succeeded at doing today was being a mom.” This happened the other day as I was mentally moaning over all the things that I did not get done. Then I...
Packing Day(s)
Uncategorized The movers have arrived. I would say that they brought the tears with them, but the truth is that I have been crying about this move for quite awhile. This move is harder than most. We all love Alaska, and our hearts...
Vacation Disappointment – Part 2
Uncategorized Vacation Disappointment – Part Two (and how God teaches lessons even on vacation) We were so excited. We had booked a shark diving adventure, and the day for it had finally arrived. The bags had been packed the night...
Vacation Disappointment – Part 1
Uncategorized Anyone happen to be visiting Pearl Harbor on April 11th? Did you see the crazy lady sitting 20 feet from the check-in window and sobbing her eyes out? Yes, yes. That was me. On April 9th, the kids and I landed in...
Taken In Hand
Uncategorized It is not really a huge secret. Pretty much everyone who knows me, knows how I feel about it. For those of you who do not, though, let me just tell you how I feel about moving this summer: I DON’T WANT TO GO! Now if...
My Boy
Uncategorized My Boy It was late Friday night. His hockey games had just ended, and he smelled like it. I hadn’t had dinner, my head was pounding, and I wanted to go home. But I knew it wasn’t to be. We had a plan, and as we left...
Heart Healing
Uncategorized Heart Healing This past week my heart has been heavy. Another school shooting. Another time of mourning. Another opportunity for both sides to place blame, point the finger, and shout their propaganda. I have watched...
Yukon Quest
Uncategorized “An Instructional Quest” meets “The Yukon Quest” This past weekend I had the opportunity to ride in a dogsled for the first mile of the 1,000 mile Yukon Quest dogsled race. The military housing on Fort Wainwright did a...
Yearly Planning – Part 4
Uncategorized If you have been following along, you now have a list of history topics on which to focus your reading. You may or may not have some books in mind already. If you do not, I highly recommend Tapestry of Grace’s...
Yearly Planning – Part 3
Uncategorized It is time! You have divided your history curriculum into reasonable chunks for each week, and you have decided what to do with any extra weeks. Now it is time to grab your planning docs and a pencil and really get to...
Yearly Planning – Part 2
Uncategorized Last week, I left you pondering these questions: Will this curriculum need some review time? Do I need to set aside time for semester tests or projects? For what else could I use that time? I promised you some of my...
Yearly Planning – Part 1
Uncategorized Yearly Planning – Part 1 I am a planner. There is no escaping it. I am what I am, and I know what makes me feel comfortable. Holding a plan in my hand definitely lights me up. I like having a goal, working hard for...
Picky Eaters – The Homeschool Version
Uncategorized One of the first questions new homeschooling parents ask is: how did you pick your curriculum? It is generally followed with comments about the overwhelming number of choices, whether homeschooling should look like...
Fluency – Chorale
Uncategorized He inhales words. I have no idea how he does it. He has been reading for five years, and I still have no way of imitating what he does when he reads out loud. He starts sentences just fine, but about halfway through...
Schooling the Whole Child
Uncategorized I taught public school for five years before Will joined the military. While I was relieved to be able to stay home with our babies, for a long time I looked forward to the day that I could rejoin the real world of...
Glowing Babysitter
Uncategorized When my oldest was born, my mom looked at me and said, “I know you don’t like TV right now, but there will come a time when you use it as a babysitter and I want you to know that it will be alright.” I think my mom...
Do Your Numbers Break?
Uncategorized Do Your Numbers Break? It occurred again today. I was working with a group of kids and one of them stopped me for help with his math. The problem was: The student was stumped. He did not understand what the arrows were...
Columbus Day
Uncategorized Today was a good day. The kind of day where you sit down at the end, take a deep breath, and think, “Wow! That was easy for a Monday. Why can’t every Monday be like this?” Then you realize that it is a holiday. And...
Wander Woman
Uncategorized Wander Woman. I found these two words on a shirt at a flea market in Indiana this summer, and I had to buy it. Mentally, I could hear my husband laughing all the way in Alaska. I cannot count the number of times he has...Free Chapter!
NOW WHAT? A Guide to Teaching Reading after Phonics
by Rachel Harrison
A guide to teaching reading in grades 2-8 which includes strategies, best practices, and practical activities.
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Rachel …
...a self-avowed "Wander Woman," homeschools her three children while traipsing the globe with her Army Chaplain husband. Her third greatest passion, falling below her love for God and family, is empowering other parents to teach their children.
Available Now on Amazon
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