It’s crazy how some days it feels like my children are listening to EVERY word a person says, yet other days they don’t seem to hear a word they are told. When my children repeat something I wish they weren’t saying, I start to question where they could have heard that from.

Homeschooling is a job. As a homeschool mom, I am responsible for teaching our children. And yes, we can take a break day here and there, but what if I can still have my children learn on “those days”? Then “those days” can be a successful day.

My son, like most young kids, is focused on a very specific interest. For some kids, it’s dinosaurs, dolls, or sports, but for my oldest, it is construction. Trucks – everything trucks. It is an obsession.

So even though my 5-year-old can’t read on his own yet, he is ready for lengthier picture books and beginning chapter books.  I’ll start with some picture book suggestions and then break up chapter books into a couple of categories.

So I challenge you this summer to set some goals.  And to make it more fun, I’m framing them into something I’m calling the 1000 – 100 – 10 challenge! 

Let's start having fun by adventuring this year! Taking adventures can pull us out of our comfort zones and stretch our learning.

I can take Rosemond’s advice to heart, keep my maternal ego in check, and give my husband an extra big hug tonight – because I truly believe from the bottom of my heart that the best gift you can give your child is a solid, happy marriage to your spouse.

We started very simply when my daughters hunted for the first letters of their names by going on a “letter hunt.” I wrote the letter N on five star-shaped Post-it notes and the letter A on five more. I asked my girls to sit in a special spot out of view from the area I planned to hide the Post-its.

always knew that I would have to teach my children how to be patient, but it wasn’t until a few weeks ago that it dawned on me that I needed to teach myself as well.

Reading is one of the most important life skills. Yet some children and adults will never know the joy reading can bring. So, how do we instill in our children the love of reading? Here are some steps that we can take to start fueling the desire to read even before they can.