Homeschool Archives - The Sparrow's Home

Would you be shocked to see the amount of time you spend looking at a screen every day?

June 7, 2021 by Susan Leave a Comment

What would it feel like to see an actual accounting of your daily screen time? Would it match what you say your priorities are, or not so much?

Guest Post

I’m pleased to have my friend Jeremy back to share with you today, and am sure you all will appreciate his honesty on this issue as much as I do . Scroll to the end of the post to see more from him.

From Jeremy:

I did something on a whim the other day. I’m not exactly sure what led me to do it, but perhaps it was a combination of the following things:

The angry glances from my wife.
The feeling of disconnect between those around me.
The frustration of never having enough time.
Or maybe it was a simple observation of my son about his dad.

And what was it I did, you ask? Nothing bad, but something that will hopefully lead to a better husband, father and friend.

I downloaded an app for my phone.

Use these questions to break the ice ‘a Skittle’: An easy ice breaker for people who hate ice breakers.

May 7, 2021 by Susan 2 Comments

Low-pressure questions and candy ease tension and set the stage for people to have fun and get to know one another with this easy ice breaker. *Free Printable*

Ice breakers are not my favorite thing.

But getting to know people is not unpleasant. Candy is not unpleasant.

So when I needed to come up with a new way to engage a class in a sharing activity, my mind went to a couple of other things I’ve done before. (Why re-invent the wheel, right?)

I thought of a question activity where folks got to choose the question they wanted to answer. Because isn’t it always the case that when you get assigned a question, you always wish you had the question someone else gets??

And I thought of an M&M Ice Breaker activity that is a lot of fun. Because…chocolate.

Liking both of these ideas, I decided to combine them to create something new!

The beautiful children’s book that tackles loneliness, fear, & the vulnerability it takes to find connection.

April 6, 2021 by Susan 6 Comments

A lovely children’s book to teach kids to reach out to the lonely, encouragement be kind, or just to enjoy reading with your favorite little person.

Every once in awhile you stumble upon something remarkably great.

I was looking for books to use in the literature-based class I teach at a homeschool co-op when I found a book to order that I thought would fit nicely into a theme of reaching out to the elderly, the lonely, especially during this season of separation that we’ve been enduring.

It wasn’t until it arrived and I read it in full, complete with the lovely illustrations that I wept and knew that this was no ordinary children’s book.

This book is not just for those with littles in their lives…trust me.

When your child struggles with reading…finding a reading curriculum and resources that are easy to use is everything.

January 4, 2021 by Susan Leave a Comment

Whether you’re a veteran teacher, or phrases like “phonics” and “reading comprehension” freak you out…you will love this reading program for struggling readers.

I was compensated for my time in writing this post. As always, all opinions are my own.

When I receive inquiries about tutoring, reading comprehension is often at the top of the list of concerns for elementary aged students. It doesn’t seem to matter if I’m working with kids who are in homeschool, public, private, or charter school. Lots of kids struggle with reading comprehension.

I’m always on the lookout for resources to use with my clients, as well as things I can wholeheartedly recommend to readers here. And after using PRIDE Reading Program with my own students I thought, as we sometimes say around my house…quoting a movie we enjoy… “That’s a Bingo!”

Homeschool science that prepares your kids for the worldviews they will face in college

August 5, 2019 by Susan 4 Comments

Online homeschool science courses that teach that science supports, rather than contradicts, Scripture help develop a Biblical worldview in students as they approach college.

I was compensated for my time in writing this post. All opinions are my own and I’m genuinely thrilled to partner with College Prep Science.

Christian parents.

We raise our sweet babies up to know the Lord, investing countless hours on family devotions, taking them to church, and modeling Christ-like living to them.

Then at 18 we send them off to college and wonder why so many leave their faith.

My husband and I will be experiencing our first foray into empty nesting this fall. (And to answer your question: Yes, I do expect there to be weeping.) As I think about my boys living away from our home, at the top of my prayer list is that they would maintain a strong Biblical worldview.

And when I say “Biblical worldview” I mean that they would see the world through a lens that says,

On all domains of doctrine and in life, the authority of scripture is to be placed higher than all human understanding, for it is God’s word and as such the highest authority.

-John Wycliffe

Introducing (drumroll please) Homeschool Disney

June 3, 2019 by Susan 10 Comments

I’m not the biggest Disney fan in the world. My husband, however, has a good shot at that title.

My appreciation and love of Disney has grown over the years. And that is in large part to how completely stuffed the Disney parks are with educational and learning opportunities. You see, I’m a consummate lesson-finder.

Movies, TV shows, books…lessons to be found.

Walks in the woods, games, random inanimate objects…I could teach a class.

When I began visiting Disney parks with my husband, I was wowed by the impeccable attention to detail. I have long said that when you visit Walt Disney World or Disneyland, you’re being invited to be a part of the stories. And I was also pretty amazed (and surprised) by the amount of learning that can be drawn from the parks.