Social Studies or History?

I read an interesting article in the New York Times recently. The author Dr. Daniel Bessner, a historian, wrote about history becoming controversial and the rapid decline of the history profession (researchers, professors, and teachers). Dr. Bessner goes so far as to say, “It’s the end of history. And the consequence will be great.”1 What!?
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How to Defeat the February Doldrums

February can be a slog. It’s cold. Winter feels as if it has stretched on forever. The crisp freshness of September fades into the bleak midwinter, and we are all tired of school. Spring is so close and yet so very, very far away.  In an effort to fight our traditional February slump, I’ve decided
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Time Cabinet

A new year always gives rise to a flood of self-help posts and organizing tips for decluttering our homes and lives. I’d like to go a step further and encourage you to rethink how you spend your time. It just might be time to do some purging in this area as well. I like to
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Learning by the Day, Week, and Month

One school year, our studies were based on the calendar. We studied the typical commemorative days, such as Columbus Day or President’s Day. Plus, we ferreted out those interesting “National Day of _____” celebrations. It’s possible to use such commemorative days each day of the month and for each subject. Let’s just look at the
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Reasons for the Season

There are many reasons we celebrate this time of year. The holidays are a time for family and friends from far and wide to get together for good food and fun. The lights on the lampposts as we ride through town at night are magical. There are a variety of Christmas concerts, plays, and church events to choose
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Squanto’s Inspirational Testimony

At Thanksgiving, we often remember the Pilgrims of Plymouth, Massachusetts, and their godly heritage. Squanto often appears in these stories as the Native American who taught them to grow corn. Yet, this godly man has a testimony that continues to inspire me.   So, let’s go back to that first winter after the Pilgrims landed.
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The Why and How of Leaves Changing Colors

Fall is such a fun time to homeschool. I well remember when my children were younger, abandoning our homeschooling classroom in favor of a quilt spread out in the backyard. It was fun to feel the fresh air of fall blowing across our faces. As we gazed around at the fall foliage, it was obvious
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Five Ways to Homeschool with Handicrafts

Homeschooling with handicrafts has received recent hype with the popular rise of the Charlotte Mason teaching method among the homeschooling community. Although the Charlotte Mason method is not new, some homeschoolers are just now being introduced to this relaxed approach. Every new homeschooling parent hears the advice that you do not need to recreate the
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