I have come across this conversation more than once in my homeschool groups…Is writing just as important anymore as it was when we grew up?  I have the worse penmanship ever.  My girls can write better than me!

In today’s world we type ( look at me now) everything just about.  Our mail is email or thoughts are blogged, twittered or a status on Facebook.  We have conversation through texting too.  Our kids today text and that is even different than  typing.  They are quick two fingers texting to their friends. 

I still think putting your thoughts to paper or may it be on a computer you still need to be able to form a sentence and paragraph.  We still need the writing mechanics for a solid foundation of putting the thought out there. Being able to type and use a keyboard is just as important because that is all we do now in today’s world. 

 I think the future is our children will sit back with their feet up and talk into the computer and it will type it for them.  I know that that is out there already, but I think it will be more so in the years to come.

We were at the doctor’s office, waiting to go back. Since the majority of our curriculum is online with Time4Learning, we needed portable school work.  My daughter and I were doing word ladders together. I read the clue, she gives me the answer, spells it, and I write it in.

The previous word was “mall” and the clue for the new word is, “tiny, add one letter”. S+mall= small, right? Seems simple enough. She answers…miniature. I reminded her of the hint. Diminutive? I point to “mall” and tell her to add a letter. Microscopic? Miniscule? She knew four other words that meant tiny. I’m proud of that fact. I’m proud of her vocabulary. This kind of knowledge, the importance of vocabulary , will serve her well in the future.   I was frustrated that she couldn’t come up with the word small, but I know that the words she did came up with were more advanced than the word the exercise asked for. I know that reading, word ladders, and many vocabulary skill building games that we play, have contributed to her growing and useful vocabulary. If you haven’t tried word games, you should, they are easy, fun, and you will be surprised at the number of words your child retains.  Truth be told, I think my own vocabulary benefits from  these games as well!

The decision to homeschool is hard enough, but then new homeschooling parents have to decide which curriculum, resources, and activities to use.  There are so many choices; it’s completely overwhelming!  For me, the big must-have was a clear, concise sense of organization and having everything I need in one spot.  We use Time4Learning because it gives the kids the education they need and it makes back to school as a homeschooling mom easy!

Everything you need is right there online, including the lessons themselves.  There are also printable worksheets,  educational games, and even an art curriculum.   The lesson plans are online too, which is a huge bonus to moms who want to be organized without spending a ton of time doing the organizing.

Time4Learning was the big red “EASY” button for my family’s homeschooling!

It is that time of the year for us.  The Pizza Hut Book It Reading Program arrived in my mailbox.  My girls love this program they read books and get certificates for free personal pizzas each month for six months.  So this year I decided to change it up a little.  That is to let my oldest read somehome-school stories along with some of her choices.  The books my youngest chose will have some literature based word lists to incorporate spelling lessons into.  Nothing like getting it all in on one rewarding project!

 We are off camping for a 3-day weekend and no better time to read in the beautiful outdoors.

Are you ready to get back to school? Many homeschoolers tend to do some school all year long, others enjoy the summer off and start back to school at the same time as the public schools. At my house we school all year long, though we take extended breaks during the year, consisting of a week or two at a time. Even though we school all year, we really redouble our efforts in August and September, when we get fresh school supplies and buckle down to serious lessons. One of the things I am most thankful for during the back to school push is the fact that I don’t have to come up with lesson plans. The curriculum we use, Time4Learning, not only follows state standards, but it plans my lessons for me. When I consider all the hats I wear in a single day, mom, cook, driver, washer woman, shopper, writer, and let’s not forget teacher, I truly appreciate not having to add hours of planning or record keeping to that mix.