Category: Personal Focus

Homeschooling gives us a terrific opportunity to use the outdoors to academic advantage.  In my recent post on the positive effect of nature on children's attention spans, I promised some practical tips on how to incorporate more 'green' time into your homeschool day.  Inspired by a master in the use of nature for education, Charlotte →

Homeschooling or not, parents across America recognize that short attention spans plague many of today's children. Between flashing television images, text messaging, pre-digested information, and sound bytes, young people are surrounded by opportunities for distraction.  Focus is a key skill for young people who look forward to a life of meaningful work.  The ability to stick with →

I stumbled across a poem some time ago, and I love the imagery.  Granted, I am not a fisherman.  When I was young, I caught my share of teeny, tiny blue gills with my GrandpaJ, but that’s about it for my piscatory adventures.   I recently wrote an article on the Professor Mom® website with →

“Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an uncompleted task.”  ~William James   Is that not so true?!   Procrastination has three major affects on homeschoolers.  It sucks your precious energy, lessens your credibility in front of friends and family, and is a bad example to your kids.   Motivation can seem →

Anyone who suffers from a chronic illness knows that day-to-day living can be challenging.  Adding an intense activity like homeschooling seems like a recipe for disaster.  However, with the right planning, support, and expectations, you can homeschool your kids. Planning – Your capacity for activity has changed.  Now is the time to take inventory of what you →

One spiritual habit that has changed my journey is seeking the joy of the Lord.  That sounds a little nebulous, doesn't it?  Maybe a little too common sense?  Let me explain.   I grew up in a traditional, Protestant church – and for the record I still go to a traditional, Protestant church.  I saw theology, but →

 I was reading an article in Harvard Business Review that caught my eye.  (Yes, I subscribe to Harvard Business Review and probably will until my death… you can all stop laughing now:-)  The article is titled "The Five Minds of a Manager" by Jonathon Gosling and Henry Mintzberg.  By looking at the juxtaposition that the →

I know there are some of you out there who aren't big on lesson planning and others who are addicted to it.  However, even if you aren't big on structure, you can still benefit from incorporating some consistent lesson planning techniques into your homeschool. Someone once said that 'failure to plan is planning to fail.'  →

The school year is underway and the holidays are just in front of us.  It's time to get down to the nitty-gritty of our daily schedule, and it makes sense to begin at the beginning.  Morning.  For some, morning means waking up to the dawn from a refreshing night's sleep.  Ready for the day, you bound →

This morning, I tucked into my latest book, Choosing Happiness, by lifestyle guru, Alexandra Stoddard.  I always look forward to reading Alexandra's books.  They inspire me and uplift me and give me a renewed sense of peace.  This experience has been no different.  For one thing, her books are as beautiful to look at as →