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.

“You don’t own a laminator?!?” my friend responded with shock and surprise. “You’re a homeschooler, and I thought all homeschoolers would own one!” Nope. Not this homeschooler, and that doesn’t mean I’m not a “real” homeschooler. At what point can you decide you are authentically available for the label of “homeschooler”? Do you wait until you’ve officially offered notice to your local school board? Do you wait until you’ve taught your first lesson?

Here’s a game we’ve been enjoying lately: Century: Spice Road The game is easy to teach. The mechanics are simple: each turn there are only four possible actions. This is a family-friendly game. No reading is required, the skill level is appropriate for children as young as eight. The game is different every time. There is enough randomness to the cards that the same person doesn’t win each round. The game is only 30 minutes, so it doesn’t require a long attention span.

We may think our envy is innocent, but it has enormous impact. We begin by thinking, “I don’t have what I want.” We look around and notice someone who does have the thing we are lacking. Perhaps the thing we want is obedient children, or academic success, or financial security. We start to think about why they don’t deserve what they have. We pass judgment on them and their worthiness. If we can’t have it, we don’t want them to have it either.