Blog
Anti-Climactic Abeka: Why Reading Acclaimed Literature is Superior to Curriculum-Based Readers
It was my first year teaching at a private Christian school in the DC suburbs. I was excited, optimistic, naïve, and had no idea what I was doing. Like many teachers, I had no choice in the materials I used, and I was quickly disappointed as I looked over the...
Are You Stressed? Five Tips to De-Stress Right Now
Let’s face it; times are tough right now. Just about everything in our world feels turned upside down thanks to COVID. Many of us have lost our regular sources of social support as we find our in-person co-ops or other classes, sports teams, prayer groups, mom’s...
Women Who Wrote the World: The Importance of the Female Voice in the Study of Literature
If you’ve ever taken a traditional English/literature class, you may have noticed that many of the authors you read (particularly if the class moved in any sort of sequential order) were white males. While there are many wonderful and worthy works of literature...
What is the “No Religious Test” Clause of the Constitution and Why is it Important?
Religious liberty is something we take for granted as Americans. Not so long ago I sat in St. Mary’s Cathedral in Aberdeen, Scotland and contemplated the importance of religious liberty to me. I imagined sitting in the cathedral at a time when Catholics were...
Incorporating Literature into Your Study of History
A good textbook is a vital tool for the student of history. It can outline the story of history concisely and can help the student answer the basic questions of when and where and why. But adding elements of literature can be a valuable way to flesh out your study...
Grammar Matters: The Far-reaching Impact of Grammar Instruction
Grammar? Do we really need to learn that? Indubitably! When people dismiss grammar as being unimportant, it’s usually because they don’t understand the purpose of grammar. Grammar involves more than just memorizing the definition of a pronoun or reciting prepositions...
Can Math Draw You Closer to God?
Lately, I have been entranced with spiders. The bigger the better. The furrier the cooler. The more active the more enticing. I start each morning with a hot cup of coffee in hand, go to my window, which I used to think needed an outside washing, and just stare in...
Developing a Cohesive Science Curriculum
Why should my student study science? Other than the obvious answer of “to graduate,” I would recommend science classes to assist students in thinking analytically as well as applying theories to reality. There are several stages of our academic lives, and each is...
What Can I Do With a Degree in Psychology?
Have you ever thought about what a degree in Psychology could mean for your child? Years ago Psychology was a social science primarily understood as training to be a clinician (a therapist). Today there are so many subfields or specializations within the discipline...
Why Do My Students Need to Take Advanced Composition Classes?
Students must be taught to become critical consumers of media in order to avoid being manipulated by a variety of deceptive ideologies. In our modern world, there are few limitations on publications. People can post their thoughts or beliefs freely via the internet...
The Most Common Complaint in Homeschooling (and What to Do About It)
I have been homeschooling for over twenty years now, and I’ve been involved in teaching homeschooled children (other than my own) for that same amount of time. There have been a number of trends noted in the changing demographics of the homeschool community including...
Three Important Things Hamilton Got Wrong
In 2015, a new musical appeared on the scene. It was almost an instant hit. The musical was modern, the characters were colorful, and the subject was a fresh look at one of the founding fathers – Alexander Hamilton. Lin-Manuel Miranda, inspired by Ron Chernow’s...
