March 2010 Edition | Heart of the Matter

March 2010 Edition: Focus on Reading

Photo Credit: Heidi, Mt Hope Academy You can view our magazine in 3 ways: Click here to be taken to the flipbook version, where you can click and turn the pages as you would a print magazine. Be sure to turn your sound...

Reviews by Karin: Wordly Wise 3000

I first learned about Wordly Wise while I was standing in an enormous line at our state’s annual homeschool convention. I felt like I was the only one in the line not holding a Wordly Wise workbook and even worse, I had...

How to Painlessly Add More Books to Your Reading Schedule

“So many books… so little time” is a common refrain among bibliophile homeschoolers. Laundry has to be folded, meals have to be cooked, and errands must be run. As much as we love reading aloud to our children, homemaking...

Look First, Learn First

You know there are times when we wish to really bury the past. It haunts us, reminds us of what was, and terrifies us of what could be. And it colors everything we do, because it dictates who we are and what we have become. For...

For Moms: Reading the Classics

Have you set any goals for the New Year? I want to encourage you to set a goal for 2010 which will have positive ramifications for you and your children – reading the classics. Several years ago, I embarked on this mission....

Reading Aloud to Boys

When my first son was born, some family friends sent us a gift celebrating his arrival. These two women, both classroom teachers, blessed us with My Very First Mother Goose by Iona Opie and Rosemary Wells and the Read Aloud...

Help for Struggling, Reluctant Readers

As a child, I never liked to read. When I mention this to someone today, I can anticipate the reaction. Their mouth drops open in disbelief, followed by a gasp. “You’re kidding!” often follows. That’s...

Great Homeschools have Socratic Dialogue…or Maybe Not

I always believed that great homeschools practiced great Socratic dialogue. After reading, families would enjoy deep and rich conversations about the nuances of famous literary works. They would have meaningful discussions...

Getting Your Reluctant Reader to Love Reading

As a homeschooling mom I have been asked one question more than any other. No, it is not how I teach socialization. The question is, “How did you teach your children to read?” Although this question is frequently asked, I...

Encouraging the Love of Literature

When I hear the term “Literature Analysis,” I develop cold sweats. My mind is yanked back into the 11th grade and flashes back on eight page literary analysis essays, along with difficult and cryptic names for what...