Blog
The Good & the Beautiful Curriculum in High School
The Good & the Beautiful is a breath of fresh air for your homeschool! The price is very affordable for families, there are morals included in every lesson, and it’s designed for the busy mom with its open-and-go format. While it is...
Using Living Books to Homeschool
When you were a kid, did you learn more from textbooks or from reading books just for fun? I definitely learned a lot more from historical fiction than from any history textbook!
It’s Time for Holiday Homeschool! {18+ Tips & Unit Studies}
The holidays are a time for creating moments with the family. Many homeschooling parents choose to take the entire month of December off to participate in holiday events, including the Sparks Academy co-op, but there is a way to incorporate holidays into those...
Homeschool Planning for Parents & Teens
Homeschooling is a big job! If you're trying to be mom, wife, housekeeper, chauffeur, and teacher...you're going to tucker out quickly. Homeschool planning can help you start off on the right foot! Remember this, you can be flexible and creative with...
Hands-On Science & Nature Projects for Upper Grades
Spring and summer are a fantastic time to take your homeschool outside! Hands-on projects can be completed year-round, but during these times, it's easier to incorporate nature and do big, messy projects. Getting hands-on helps students to become more...
Homeschooling Teens: College or Career Track?
For the last few generations, the collegiate years have been a crucial part of the growing up experience. The system has changed, however, since my generation attended college, and it's failing. Inflated costs have driven up student debt so high that...
Three Out-of-the-Ordinary Homeschool Goals for Your Child with Special Educational Needs
Today's post comes from Sharon Czerwien, who loves homeschooling her two children, one with Sensory Processing Disorder. Sharon is the author of the children’s book, “Bumps Are Okay for KIDS and Other Biblical Lessons Learned from Monster Trucks!” She blogs at...
Exploring Beliefs for World Religions Day
The Encarta World Dictionary defines religion as "people's beliefs and opinions concerning the existence, nature, and worship of a deity or deities and divine involvement in the universe and human life." In a world that is constantly struggling for peace,...
It’s NOT Ancient History! Making Connections with World History
Although the people we study in history lived decades or even centuries ago, their actions impacted how we live our lives today. Names, dates, facts...these are some of the things that I hear students complain about when they talk about disliking...
Innovative Ways to Study World Geography
Geography gets a bad rap for being boring, but usually that's just because it's not being taught in an engaging way. After all, who wants to look at a bunch of maps for places they've never been (or possibly never even heard of) and think about people and things...
Rabbit Trails & Child-Directed Studies
Unlike traditional schooling, homeschooling affords you the opportunity to jump down rabbit trails! What's a rabbit trail? This is when your child develops a sudden interest in a topic, and you spend the whole day (or week, or month) exploring that topic in-depth,...
Going Behind the Scenes — Factory Tour Field Trips!
Factory tours are a fun and frugal way to add unique field trips to your homeschooling year! You get an educational glimpse into the inner workings of companies and how products are made, and you never know what is going to spark an interest in your kids! Always be...
Celebrating Spring Holidays in Your Homeschool
It's spring - time to dance with the flowers and soar with the birds! By spring, we're starting to think about summer break, finishing out the homeschool year (unless you're year-round),, and thinking about upcoming holidays... Here are activities, books,...
10 Blunders That Are Sabotaging Your Student’s Productivity
Are you struggling to find productivity in your day-to-day? Are you feeling like you are constantly putting out fires and not making any progress on the things that matter most to you? If so, you're not alone. Many people struggle with productivity because they are...
Teaching Civil Rights and African-American History
Studying the civil rights movement helps students to better understand American history, making connections between the past and the present. Though the struggles have changed, the song remains the same, and we want a new generation to learn these principles of...
Meal Planning for the Busy Homeschool Family
Meal planning is essential for the busy homeschooling family. It not only helps you save time and money, but also eat a bit healthier. After all, who wants to eat frozen pizza and chicken nuggets every night? (Maybe that should say 'what adult,' rather than...
How to Be a More Effective Homeschooling Parent
Can we be honest for a moment? Homeschooling is a HARD JOB. It's a huge responsibility. There's the part that everyone sees, and then there's all the other stuff underneath the surface, which takes a lot of mental energy.Homeschooling has the...
Come Fly With Me!! Aviation & Flight Resources for Your Homeschool
Aviation history is over two millennia old, with earliest forms existing in China's kite-flying. DaVinci dreamed of man flying in the 15th century, and the Montgolfier brothers began manned flight with hot air balloons in the 18th century. Lilienthal...
Learning the Art of Discernment
Nike says, "Just do it." While spontaneous decisions work well at some points in life, there are other choices that require a depth of thought and consideration that won't allow you to 'just do it.' Maybe something doesn't feel right, or maybe it feels...
Celebrating the Winter Holidays in Your Homeschool
It's the most wonderful time of the year! Winter brings a plethora of holidays, and for many families a long break for resting. Here are activities, books, and resources for incorporating the holidays into your homeschool and time off. Pick and choose what works best...
How World Mythologies Show We’re All Connected
Author G. K. Chesterton wrote, “Fairy tales do not tell children the dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed.”Stories and myths have shaped and reflected world cultures for millennia. They tell...
What Comes Next? Life Skills with Special Needs Homeschoolers
For some parents, having a special needs child is the impetus to homeschool. Many families are choosing to homeschool because their special needs children’s needs are not being met in the traditional classroom. For others, it’s just one more challenge they aren't sure...
An Age of Revolution! Exploring World Change in Your Homeschool
From the mid 18th century to the mid 19th century, the world underwent a series of revolutions across many areas of life, including culturally, politically, economically, technologically, and through war. Call it the age of Aquarius...call it a response to the world...
Celebrating the Autumn Holidays in Your Homeschool
It's time for pumpkin spice and everything nice! By autumn, we're starting to settle into our homeschooling routine, thinking about upcoming holidays, and wondering how we'll fit it all in... Here are activities, books, and resources for incorporating the...
Legal Documents Every 18 Year Old Needs
After eighteen years of caring for your child, it can be alarming to realize that on that magical birthday, they suddenly take on ALL the responsibilities of adulthood, whether they are equipped or not. Young adults who are eager for independence may push back against...
Exploring Asia in Your Homeschool
As the largest and most-populated continent, Asia birthed some of the world's oldest civilizations and continues to shape the world as a whole in the 21st century. From the Bronze Age 'Assuwa,' to 'Anatolia' in the Golden Age of Greece, to the approximately...
Homeschooling Around Town – The Art of the Field Trip!
A big part of our school year is the field trips. Generally, we will study a topic ahead of time and then take the field trip - this helps them to fully understand the hands-on experiences. The kids have been to nearly every state, and experienced a wide range of of...
Celebrating Your Homeschool! Beginning & End of Year Traditions
Some families choose a name, and even a mascot, for their homeschool. Some have Not-Back-to-School parties with their local co-ops. There are as many homeschool traditions as there are unique families! What do you do?Back to HomeschoolKick off the...
Save Your Sanity! Tips for the Homeschooling Mom
If you’re new to homeschooling, or still in the stage of considering having a go at it, the prospect can be daunting. You look around at other homeschooling families, and they seem to have it all together, but we all started at the same spot you’re in right now….The...
Finding Your Groove — Homeschool Styles
When looking for curriculum, you'll want to consider your homeschool style. It may take a few years to settle down into the right fit for your family, and that’s completely normal. Not sure what your style is? Consider...What’s...
Connecting World War I and World War II in History Lessons
While WW1 did not directly cause WW2, many of its after-effects led to weakened European states who were weak, needed strong leadership, and opened the door for dictatorships. The consequences of the first world war indirectly led to the second. End of World War I On...
37 Ways to Make Your Homeschool Delight-Directed!
Delight-directed homeschooling can be a remedy for mid-winter burnout, but it can also be an all-the-time homeschooling style. It is a method of education that allows your children to explore what they love and work at a flexible pace, ebbing and flowing with each new bunny trail.
38 Ways to Teach Writing (that are FUN!)
Writing is an integral part of the language arts classes taught at Sparks Academy. We offer four levels of instruction, each building upon the last, until students are ready to write in any form requested of them – whether at a career or college! But maybe you don’t want a full class….how can you make writing fun at home?
51 Ways to Teach World History with Literature
Novel studies can be used to cover concepts from language arts and history to science and math. If you’re looking to teach World History through literature, here are 51 units to try….and don’t discount audiobooks, too! They’re a great addition to a busy homeschooling day!
45 Ways to Teach US History & Geography with Literature
Novel studies are so. much. FUN! If you’re looking to teach American History and Geography through literature, here are 45 units to try….
18 Ways to Teach Science through Literature
Novel studies can be used to cover concepts from language arts and history to science and math. If you’re looking to teach science through literature, here are 18 units to try….
How to Begin Homeschooling in Oklahoma
Oklahoma is considered to be loosely regulated in terms of homeschool laws. Oklahoma law does not require parents to register with or seek approval from state or local officials, conduct state testing with their students, or permit public school officials to visit or...
Frequently Asked Questions About Sparks Academy
FAQ Answers What's a blended class? So glad you asked! These are classes hosted online that include textbook and video elements, discussion feeds with peers, and live, virtual meetings. Each week, the students are interacting through facilitated discussion in a...
Essential Reading List for High School Girls
After polling several homeschooling families on what they thought was the one must-read book for high school girls, we've put together a list of thirty-two books that all girls should read in middle and high school. They include old classics and new...
Essential Reading List for High School Boys
Boys tend to fall staunchly into the 'reader' or 'non-reader' category. Sometimes it just takes a little push toward more action-packed, exciting, adventure-filled stories to move them from one category to the other! We've put together a list of thirty-two...
Must-Have Supplies for Homeschooling Moms!
Seasoned homeschool moms will attest to this list. We welcome new homeschool moms into our fold…..no denim jumper required! Here are fourteen must-have supplies for moms homeschooling middle and high school…
Most Commonly Asked Homeschooling Questions…Answered!
Can I just pull my child out of school? Is that even legal? The short answer is, yes, you can pull them out and it’s legal. But each state has different laws, but HSLDA knows all of them. If you’re planning to homeschool, joining HSLDA is a must, no...
To the Overnight Homeschooler…
A plan to help educate the kids while working from home at the same time. We’re making these available to families in the hopes of alleviating stress…
The Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) Student
With Sensory Processing Disorder, normal daily demands in a classroom are stressful. Homeschooling provides an alternative for your child that allows him or her to grow with accommodations and love... With SPD, normal daily demands in a regular classroom become...
DD’s Journal – Mid-Winter Blues
If you look under the beds, the dust bunnies have formed a commune of free love and peace…
2020 Ultimate List of Homeschool Conventions {USA}
We’ve compiled the ultimate list of 2020 homeschool conventions, along with a planner to help you organize your weekend and keep track of workshops and vendors!
Why to Attend a Homeschool Convention + FREE Planner
There’s just no substitute for community and face-to-face contact, and a homeschool convention offers benefits that you won’t find anywhere else… Pick up your FREE Homeschool Convention Planning Pack!
DD’S Journal: Holiday Edition!
As our gift to you, we’ve put together a holiday bundle, with several crafts and activities, plus two full-length history-based holiday unit studies!
The Costs of Homeschooling
HSLDA (Homeschool Legal Defense Association) estimates that homeschooling families spend approximately $300 to $600 per year, per child, on educational needs. This can really add up! There are ways, however, to save money…
Homeschool to College Success!
Worried about getting all of the pieces right in the high school homeschool puzzle? Through the Door will help you with what you need, from a homeschool perspective, to confidently face high school and college. This book & worktext set will help you and your high...