All entries by this author

The Busy Homeschoolers Survival Guide

Nov 13th, 2009 | By Jessica Parnell | Category: Homeschooling Tips, Lead Article

I couldn’t keep myself from sharing this awesome advice from veteran homeschooler and Bridgeway Homeschool Academy Advisor, Annette Faust.

Do you sometimes feel that there are just not enough hours in the day?  Do you roll out of bed at the crack of dawn, fall back into bed long after the entire neighborhood has gone off to sleep and still feel like you need a few more hours to get everything accomplished that you set out to do? Read More. 



Hard Work Beats Talent

Nov 5th, 2009 | By Jessica Parnell | Category: Homeschooling Tips, Lead Article

“Hard Work Beats Talent”

These words of wisdom were delivered to my daughters’ soccer team by their soccer coach this weekend just before they headed out on the field to their championship game.



Homeschooling and Socialization

Nov 2nd, 2009 | By Jessica Parnell | Category: Issues in Homeschooling, Lead Article

What about socialization?  Don’t homeschoolers miss out on socialization?

I hear that question so many times.  Many times it comes from a parent considering homeschooling who has had to field that question over and over again; other times it comes from those who just don’t understand homeschooling at all. Read More



Homeschooling and Keeping Teens Interested

Oct 12th, 2009 | By Jessica Parnell | Category: General Homeschool Posts

Keeping kids interested can be tough.  By the time they are teenagers kids need to have some kind of ownership in something.  Something that gives them value and helps them to see just what they can do.  For many that will be a job or an entrepreneurial endeavor; for others it might be a ministry or even just a hobby.



Homeschool Science Curriculum

Oct 10th, 2009 | By Jessica Parnell | Category: Math and Science

Got a question recently about what homeschool science courses I would recommend for elementary school.

I have a few favorites that depend on what you are looking for!

If you are looking for a focused study of just one topic:



Homeschooling-The Power of Directions

Oct 8th, 2009 | By Jessica Parnell | Category: Issues in Homeschooling, Lead Article

Do you have one of those kids who just does not like to read the directions?  He or she would much rather just get down toHomeschool Directions the work of math or English, etc. than take the time to read the directions first?  If he or she is like most kids, this means that you end up with mistakes that must be fixed, answers that are totally off the wall or academic struggles.

We have fought this battle with one of our kids who just hates to take the time to read the instructions first.  Instead, she will set out to do the work that she thinks they want.  In fact, there are many occasions where she doesn’t even review the sample problems.  Before she knows it she has completed an entire assignment incorrectly or she hits a problem that she cannot do and we discover that once again she forgot to read the instructions . . .

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You’re a Homeschool Mom

Oct 6th, 2009 | By Jessica Parnell | Category: Featured Articles, General Homeschool Posts

Just wanted to share this little smile with all of our moms out there!  By the Go Fish Guys.

Click on this link.

My additional verse for the homeschool mom:

If you set aside your needs to teach your kids to read, you’re a Homeschool Mom
If addition and subtraction were much more than a distraction, you’re a Homeschool Mom
If your dining room slab looks like a science lab, you’re a Homeschool Mom



Homeschooling and Learning Styles

Sep 23rd, 2009 | By Jessica Parnell | Category: Featured Articles

I talk about the importance of  teaching to a child’s learning style all the time.  That it is one of the greatest advantages to homeschooling; that it makes all of the difference when a child is struggling with a specific concept; that the inability to do so is one of the reasons why our public schools are failing so miserably.



Homeschooling and Writing

Sep 21st, 2009 | By Jessica Parnell | Category: Featured Articles, Writing Ideas and Activities

The Power of Dictation
Homeschool Writing Success
I had a conversation with a homeschooling friend this week whose sixth grade daughter is struggling with writing. “She is so unfocused when it comes to writing elements of our homeschooling that we end up stretching out our day into the evening or weekend just to get it done.”



President Obama’s Address to School Students Making Waves in Homeschool Circles

Sep 6th, 2009 | By Jessica Parnell | Category: News

Even Homeschool Circles are debating the issue of the president’s address to school students.

It is sad and distressing when we as a country have to be concerned about just what our president might say to our children if we gave him permission to address them through our schools.