About Heather Shanks

A Note from the Professor... So nice to have you here! I hope you are finding just the encouragement and information you need for your homeschooling journey. Feel free to grab a cup of coffee and stay for a while. You can channel your inner Professor Mom by signing up for our free monthly newsletter full of homeschooling resources, request the RSS feed for your reader or by following me on Twitter and Facebook. Stay the course... Heather

Resource for Teaching about Severe Weather

I was poking around the web today, looking for some resources to supplement our study of weather slated for later this year. I stumbled on this terrific severe weather cartoon strip resource posted on the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) website.  If you click on the link, you will be directed to a page

Homeschooling with Character

Nobility, honor, courage, magnanimity, generosity… as a homeschooling mom, these character traits are music to my ears. Who doesn’t want to raise a child that can hold a meaningful conversation while respecting the person he is talking to and holding a friend’s baby, while defending his faith? We’d also like him to defend his country,

Little Pilgrim’s Progress Review and Giveaway

I am often asked to review different curricula, books, and other tools for homeschooling families.  I work to write very honest reviews, realizing that products work for different people for different reasons.  In other words, one homeschooler’s trash can be another homeschooler’s treasure:-)  There are some products that are especially well-done… and others not-so much.  But, when

“The life give us by nature is short, but the memory of a well-spent life is eternal.”

- Cicero

Talking to Your Kids About the Death of a Pet

Last week, our family suffered a loss.  On Tuesday, our 17-year-old cat, Izzy, started to exhibit end-of-life behaviors.  Even though he was so old, a big part of me honestly thought he would rally… he always has in the past.  But, as the day progressed, he stopped eating and drinking, he could hardly walk, he

My Weekly Homeschooling Plan

Out on the Well-Trained Mind forums the other day, the Hive was discussing daily schedules.  Being the planning-Nazi that I am, I relish looking over how people structure their days.  Sometimes, just skimming someone else’s post reminds me to add something to our schedule.  Likewise, reading about a different thought process helps me to eliminate

Veritas Press Launches Pages of History, Volume One

When I heard that Veritas Press published a new history narrative, I had to check it out. With their rich literature selections, rigorous academic offerings, and terrific customer service, Veritas is one of my favorite homeschool curriculum suppliers. So what is the Pages of History Series? Here is a description of the Series on the

Easy-Peasy Timeline for Homeschooling

When I was doing my planning for the year, one thing that had me scratching my head was what we would use for a timeline. We started on our second four-year cycle, and we had filled our Book of Time from Sonlight. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to try something different. I also looked

Our store is currently…

Sometime in the not-so-distant future, though, we will bring the shop back.  Thanks for checking in!

Homeschool Curriculum Planning for 2012-2013 Made Easy with iPad

It’s almost time for the Great Midwest Homeschool Convention in Cincinnati, and I am busy making plans. Two years ago, I attended this mammoth homeschooling convention for the first time and loved it. So, this year, I am packing up some of my best girls and heading south again. So much to do, so little

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