My Learning Source — Homeschool Workshops & Articles

Reading Words Without Understanding: What Parents Need to Know

Success Tutoring — Fri, 13 Nov 2026 20:00:00 GMT

"But You Just Read That Perfectly!"

You listen to your child read a whole page with few or even no errors, and then you ask, "Tell me about what you just read" — only to be met with a blank stare, a shrug, or just "a boy and a dog."

You think to yourself, " How can they be reading the words without understanding?"

You are not imagining the problem, and it is not laziness or a lack of effort on your child's part. Reading every word but not understanding what has been read is one of the most common — and most confusing — reading problem parents share with me, because the reading sounded fine. The understanding is just not there... yet.

What's more, because their accuracy is good, the difficulty is masked — so these children often go unnoticed in the classroom.

Reading researcher Kate Nation, who has studied this group of readers for years, calls them "poor comprehenders": kids who read accurately but struggle to make sense of what they read.

Researchers have studied this puzzle for decades, and it comes down to a handful of causes.

Reading words and understanding words are two different things

Reading researcher Kate Nation, who has studied this group of readers for years, calls them "poor comprehenders": kids who read accurately but struggle to make sense of what they read.

Researchers have studied this puzzle for decades, and it comes down to a handful of causes.Think of reading like riding a bike and following directions at the same time.

Pedaling is one skill. Knowing where to go and how to get there — navigation — is another. Your child can pedal fine and still end up completely lost.

In reading research, this is called the Simple View of Reading. Comprehension has two parts — word reading (pedaling) and language understanding (navigation). One without the other isn't real reading; it's just one half of it. So if your child reads beautifully but can't tell you about what they just read, they have a strong "pedaling" skill and a still-growing "navigation" skill.

Accuracy is not the same as effortless

Your child can get every word right and still be working so hard to do it that nothing is left over for meaning. Reading words needs to become automatic over time to free up mental space that can be used to make sense of the text.

Many reading programs teach words in isolation using flashcards, word lists, and "sight word" drills. While your child may learn to recognize words using these methods, numerous studies suggest that students learn best when they read words in context.

A word on a flashcard has no story, so there is nothing to attach it to in your child's memory. The same word read in a sentence within a story comes with built-in meaning and purpose. The brain has something to hold onto.

What's more, reading words in context gives your child practice with the actual job of reading, which is to attach meaning to what has been read. This is something isolated word practice cannot do.

Sentences and word parts can be confusing

Long sentences with pronouns and joining words like "although" and "unless" can make a sentence difficult for your child to follow. They might also miss the clues hidden in word parts, like un in "unhappy" or er in "walker."

We can't teach every word

In a famous analysis, vocabulary researchers William Nagy and Richard Anderson looked at the words in school books from third through ninth grade and found they contained about 88,500 distinct word families. No teacher, no tutor, no app could possibly teach 88,500 words.

Even if your child learned 10 words a day, it would take more than two decades to cover them all.

So how can your child ever learn enough words to read well? By teaching themselves — through reading.

The "built-in teacher": your child's self-teaching superpower
Reading researcher David Share proposed what is now called the self-teaching hypothesis. In plain language: once your child knows letter-sound connections well enough to decode unfamiliar words, every time they read, they are teaching themselves. Each time they successfully read a new word, their brain files awa
y details of that word — how it is spelled, how it sounds, what it means. The next time they see the word, recognition comes faster, and eventually they will read the word automatically. In this way, all words become "sight words.”
Your child's brain is also quietly soaking up patterns without anyone teaching them — a process researchers call statistical learning.
As your child reads, their brain is unconsciously keeping track of which letter patterns make words, how spelling connects to speech, which words go together, and how sentences are built. Every word, every sentence, every page adds another set of data points.
This is the same ability that lets a toddler absorb the rules of grammar long before anyone teaches them, and it is remarkably powerful: researcher Jenny Saffran and her colleagues found that even babie
s can detect patterns in speech after listening for just two minutes.
Statistical learning is one reason why the volume of reading is so important. A child who reads often and widely is giving their pattern-loving brain more and more information to file away and learn from.

When reading takes off on its own
Cognitive scientist Mark Seidenberg, author of Language at the Speed of Sight, compares learning to read to launching a rocket ship.
At first, your child needs a lot of thrust, and direct, explicit, systematic instruction provides the fuel. However, keeping the engines firing long after liftoff — by introducing every combination of letter sounds — can crowd out the mental space and time needed for comprehension.
Seidenberg says the goal is to reach "escape velocity" — the point
at which your child has cracked the code well enough that reading starts to propel itself. In other words, self-teaching. According to Seidenberg, the goal of reading instruction is to get the child to escape velocity, not to fly all the way to the moon.

So why is your child reading words without understanding what they read?
First, their word reading may not be as automatic as it sounds.
Your child may sound fluent because they have memoriz
ed lots of words, but their self-teaching superpower has not yet kicked in. Reading that is automatic and effortless is necessary for comprehension. Unfamiliar words pull their attention away from understanding the text. If decoding still takes effort, there is less brain power left over to make meaning.
Second, their language understanding needs development.
Your child may be able to decode a word but not know what it means. Vocabulary, background knowledge, and inferencing grow through conversation, read-alouds, and lots of varied reading — not through word lists.

What you can do at home
You don't have to do all of this. Choose one or two suggestions at a time; otherwise, it will feel overwhelming.
Help with the words
Listen to your child read aloud and provide support and corrections as needed.
If your child makes a mistake, point to the word with your finger or a pencil and let them correct the error.
If they don't know a sound in a word, tell them the sound, have them repeat it, then go back to the beginning of the word and read it again.
Allow your child to re-read a book or story. Each reading strengthens word recognition, pattern-finding, and comprehension.
Build the meaning
Make a mistake yourself and model re-reading a sentence when it doesn't make sense.
Talk about the text. Stop to ask questions like: "Why do you think that happened?", "How do you think he felt?", and "What happened first?" These types of questions build inferencing skills naturally and work be
tter than quizzes or questions like "What was the main idea?"
Ask for a retell. After a couple of sentences, a paragraph, or a chapter, ask your child to tell you what they just read in their own words — as if they were explaining it to someone who hasn't read it.
Pick a few interesting words from the text and explain their meaning in everyday language. Ask your child for other words that mean the same thing, and have them write sentences using the new words, saying each sound as they write.
Notice word parts and how they change a word's meaning. For instance, ask how unhappy is different from happy, and how swapping the words for each other changes the meaning of the sentence.
Build the habit
Keep reading to them, even after they can read on their own. Reading aloud books above the level your child can decode on their own builds vocabulary, knowledge, and language skills.
Build background knowledge through conversation, visit museums, read non-fiction, and watch documentaries together.
Have your child read every day, throughout the day: road signs, recipes, the back of a cereal box, non-fiction books, graphic novels, short stories, magazine articles, game directions. It all counts, and it shows your child that reading is part of everyday life.

Structured Linguistic Literacy can help
A Structured Linguistic Literacy (SLL) approach to rea
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Integrating Art, Science and Cultures to Shape Well-Rounded Students

The Art of Science, LLC — Fri, 13 Nov 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Does your child love art but not so much science? How about the other way around? Or do they love both? Neither?

At The Art of Science, there is no separation between these disciplines. Our students learn both without even thinking about it. We accomplish this by teaching concepts through fun, hands-on projects that kids get to take home at the end of the day, providing an opportunity for the learning to continue with their families.

Our hands-on projects encourage the development of fine-motor skills, problem-solving, critical thinking, and hand-eye coordination, essential life skills that students will use in all parts of their life.

As one of our owners is European and another is South American, culture is something we incorporate into many of our projects. In our classes, students learn about all sorts of different cultures and countries, providing an open world view.

We invite you to explore our website and see what services we provide. From homeschool classes to camps, we are sure you will find something for your child!

https://www.theartofsciencellc.com/

SAT, ACT or CLT? A Texas Homeschooler's Guide to Choosing (and Paying for) the Right Test

Achievable Inc — Fri, 13 Nov 2026 20:00:00 GMT

When a homeschooled student applies to college, the admissions office is missing most of what it usually relies on. There's no school profile and no guidance counselor letter, and the transcript was written by a parent. Your student's application can be excellent, but the one number a college can compare directly with every other applicant is the test score.

For Texas homeschool families, that's literally true. Here's what the score does for your student, how to choose between the SAT, ACT and CLT, and how to use your Texas Education Freedom Account (TEFA) to pay for prep.

In Texas, the test score works like a class rank

Texas public universities automatically admit students who graduate near the top of their high school class. Homeschoolers don't have a class rank, so Texas law ranks them by standardized test scores instead.

A 2025 state law, House Bill 3041, tightened this for UT Austin. The university now sets a test-score benchmark for homeschool applicants, designed so that they're admitted automatically at the same rate as traditionally schooled students. For freshmen entering in Spring 2027 through Spring 2028, UT Austin automatically admits homeschool graduates with an SAT score of 1570 or higher or an ACT score of 36.

That bar is very high, and most students will be admitted through UT's regular holistic review instead. Even there, the score carries extra weight for a homeschooler, because so much of the rest of the application can't be compared with other applicants.

The national trend points the same way. In the 2025–26 admissions cycle, more Common App applicants reported a test score than applied test-optional, for the first time since the pandemic. A growing list of colleges, UT Austin included, has brought back required scores.

The takeaway: even if your student's target schools are test-optional, plan for at least one strong score.

How the three tests differ

The SAT has two sections, Reading and Writing and Math, and takes 2 hours 14 minutes. It's fully digital and adaptive, so the second module of each section gets harder or easier depending on how the first went. The math leans heavily on algebra, the reading passages are short, and virtually every U.S. college accepts it.

The ACT covers English, Math and Reading, with optional Science and Writing sections, and takes 2 hours 5 minutes without Science. It's mostly given on paper, though digital testing is expanding. It moves faster than the SAT, with less time per question, so it rewards students who read quickly and stay calm under time pressure. The optional Science section is really about reading charts and data, not memorizing facts. Like the SAT, it's accepted virtually everywhere.

The CLT was built for students from classical and faith-based programs. Its three sections, Verbal Reasoning, Grammar/Writing and Quantitative Reasoning, take 2 hours. Its reading passages come from classic literature and philosophy, and it puts heavy weight on logic and reasoning. It's mostly digital, and it's the only one of the three that can be taken at home. It's a natural fit for many homeschool families, but it's accepted mainly by private, religious and classical colleges, plus the U.S. military service academies. UT Austin's automatic-admission benchmark, for example, is set in SAT and ACT scores.

How to choose

Start with your college list. If your student is applying to Texas public universities or highly selective schools, choose the SAT or ACT. If the list is mostly classical or Christian colleges that accept the CLT, the CLT may be the more natural test.
Match the test to how your student learns. Strong readers who like logic and classic texts often do well on the CLT. Students who work quickly and like clearly separated subjects often prefer the ACT. Students who'd rather have more time per question, and who are comfortable with algebra, often prefer the SAT.
Take a timed practice test of each finalist. Do it before studying, so the result shows your student's natural fit rather than their preparation. Then compare the results with a concordance table. A CLT score of 80–99 is roughly an SAT score of 1170–1380, or an ACT score of 24–30.
Pick one and commit. Splitting prep time between two tests usually produces two mediocre scores instead of one strong one.

If you'd like a shortcut, Achievable's free Which exam should I take? quiz asks 10 questions about reading speed, math level and pacing and recommends a test.

A testing timeline for homeschool families

Grades 9–10: Build the foundations through strong reading, Algebra I, geometry and steady writing practice. No formal test prep is needed yet.
Fall of 11th grade: Take diagnostic practice tests, choose the test, and start a study plan of a few hours a week.
Spring of 11th grade: Take the real test for the first time.
Summer and fall of 12th grade: Retake once or twice if needed. Many colleges superscore, combining a student's best section scores across test dates, so a retake rarely hurts.

Homeschoolers register just like any other student. For the SAT and ACT, you'll choose a test center and enter a homeschool code instead of a high school code. For the CLT, you can choose the at-home option. Register early, because seats at test centers near you can fill up.

Paying for prep with TEFA

Texas Education Freedom Accounts give homeschool students up to $2,000 a year, and test prep is an eligible expense. Purchases go through the program's marketplace rather than out of pocket, so check that a provider is approved before you buy.

Achievable is an approved TEFA vendor. Our SAT, ACT and CLT courses are each $99 for a full year of access, which is a small share of a homeschooler's yearly TEFA funds. Each course includes:

A self-paced online textbook written in plain English, with an adaptive study planner that works around your homeschool schedule
Hundreds of practice questions with full explanations, plus math practice that generates new numbers every time
Full-length, timed practice exams
An AI tutor that answers questions as your student studies
A score guarantee: up to 120 more points on the SAT, 6 on the ACT or 15 on the CLT, depending on where your student starts, or your money back

Our CLT course was created with Clayborne Education, the CLT's official test prep provider. The first lessons of every course are free, with no credit card needed, so your student can try one before you spend any TEFA funds.

Because the courses are self-paced, they fit the way homeschool families already learn. Your student can study at the kitchen table in October or on a phone during a road trip in June.

The bottom line

For a Texas homeschooler, the SAT, ACT or CLT isn't just one part of the application. It's the closest thing to a class rank that colleges will see, and at UT Austin it can decide automatic admission. Choose the test that fits your student's college list and strengths, start in 11th grade, and use your TEFA funds to make good prep affordable.

Achievable offers online SAT, ACT and CLT prep for students and families, available through TEFA. Learn more at achievable.me.

Your Child Doesn't Hate History—They May Hate the Way History Is Being Taught

Historical Conquest LLC — Fri, 13 Nov 2026 16:30:39 GMT

Your Child Doesn't Hate History—They May Hate the Way History Is Being Taught

Is History Really Boring, or Are We Teaching It That Way?

“I hate history!” How many parents have heard those words from their children? Perhaps your student struggles to remember historical dates, complains about reading another chapter, or finishes a worksheet only to forget everything by the following week. Before deciding your child simply doesn't enjoy history, consider another possibility: maybe history isn't the problem. Maybe it's the way history is being taught.

History is filled with extraordinary stories of courage, betrayal, invention, exploration, war, sacrifice, and discovery. These are the same ingredients that make movies, novels, and video games exciting. Yet somehow, when we put those stories into textbooks and reduce them to names, dates, and multiple-choice questions, we can drain the excitement right out of them. Students begin associating history with memorization rather than discovery. And when learning becomes nothing more than completing assignments, curiosity often disappears.

I know this because I was one of those students.

The College Assignment That Changed My Life

When I graduated from high school, I nearly hated history. Not because I disliked the stories of the past, but because of how they had been presented to me. I struggled to remember the names, dates, and events that teachers expected me to memorize. I could study for a test, earn a reasonable grade, and forget much of the information shortly afterward. History seemed like a subject I simply had to survive rather than something I could enjoy.

Then I went to college, and something unexpected happened. It wasn't a history professor who changed my perspective. It was an English professor.

One day, he assigned our class a simple writing project: create a one-page essay, double-spaced, in 12-point font, describing a product that could change the world and could realistically be developed from a college dorm room. That was it. I could have written the paper, received my grade, and moved on. Instead, I started thinking about two things: I hated learning history the way it had been taught, but I absolutely loved games.

What if I combined the two?

That single question changed everything. I began imagining a collectible card game with the excitement of Pokémon and strategic elements reminiscent of Risk, except every card would feature historical people, civilizations, locations, and events. Suddenly, history wasn't something I had to memorize. It became something I wanted to investigate because I needed that information to develop my game.

The idea followed me into other college classes. Marketing assignments helped me consider how to promote the game. Mathematics helped me think through its mechanics and systems. Even AutoCAD gave me opportunities to develop aspects of the product. Instead of completing assignments simply to receive a grade, I was using what I learned to build something I cared about. That sense of ownership helped transform me from a B-and-C student toward earning straight A's.

That one-page essay eventually became Historical Conquest. But the most important lesson wasn't about creating a business. It was discovering what can happen when students are given an opportunity to take ownership of their education.

What Research Tells Us About Engaging Students

Educational research supports the importance of moving beyond passive instruction. A major 2014 meta-analysis led by Scott Freeman, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, examined 225 studies comparing traditional lecturing with active learning in undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics courses. Researchers found that students in active-learning environments performed approximately 6 percentage points better on examinations, while students in traditional lecture courses were about 1.5 times as likely to fail. Although this research focused on college STEM education rather than homeschool history specifically, it provides strong evidence that actively participating in learning can improve academic outcomes. Additional research by psychologists Henry Roediger and Jeffrey Karpicke has demonstrated that retrieving information from memory helps strengthen long-term retention. The lesson for parents is that reading and listening are valuable, but students also need opportunities to discuss, explain, apply, practice, and revisit what they learn. Importantly, research has not established that matching instruction to a child's supposed fixed "learning style" improves achievement; offering varied activities is valuable because different approaches can serve different learning goals.

Five Ways to Make History More Engaging at Home

1. Turn Historical Events into Stories, Not Lists of Dates

Instead of beginning with a date and a list of facts, begin with a problem. Imagine telling your child, "You're George Washington, and your army is freezing, hungry, and losing hope. The British have more resources, and your soldiers are wondering whether they should go home. What would you do?" Suddenly, the student is thinking about leadership, survival, and difficult decisions rather than simply memorizing when something happened. Once your child becomes interested in the story, introduce the historical details and explain what actually occurred. Ask students to predict outcomes, defend their choices, and consider what might have happened differently. History becomes more memorable when students understand the people and decisions behind the events.

2. Connect History to Something Your Child Already Loves

Every child has interests that can become doorways into learning. If your child loves video games, explore the history of military strategy, civilizations, or technological inventions. If they love cooking, investigate the foods eaten in ancient Rome or colonial America and prepare a historically inspired meal. If they enjoy building, challenge them to construct a medieval castle, Roman aqueduct, or ancient Egyptian settlement. If they enjoy art, have them illustrate a historical event or design a museum exhibit. The goal is not to replace historical knowledge with entertainment but to use existing interests to motivate students to investigate the subject more deeply.

3. Replace Some Worksheets with Hands-On Projects

A worksheet might help students review information, but a project can challenge them to use it. Instead of answering ten questions about medieval castles, ask your child to design a castle capable of surviving an attack. They will need to research walls, towers, defensive positions, water supplies, and siege weapons. Instead of writing another report about ancient civilizations, have them construct a model city and explain why its inhabitants settled near particular rivers or trade routes. Projects like these can bring history together with mathematics, science, engineering, geography, and writing. The key is to require students to explain the historical reasoning behind what they create.

4. Use Games to Encourage Strategy, Discussion, and Repetition

Games can provide opportunities for students to encounter historical information repeatedly while making decisions and interacting with others. A historical strategy game might encourage a child to recognize a famous general, investigate an ancient civilization, or remember why a particular location mattered. Competition can motivate students to pay attention, but the educational value comes from what happens during and after gameplay. Ask questions such as, "Who was that historical figure?" "Why was this civilization important?" or "Did this battle really happen the way the game represents it?" Repeated encounters, followed by discussion and recall, help turn entertainment into meaningful learning.

5. Give Students Ownership of Their Education

This is perhaps the most important lesson I learned from my college English professor. Give your child a project they can make their own. Instead of assigning every detail, offer a meaningful objective and let them decide how to accomplish it. One student might create a documentary about the American Revolution, another might design a board game, and another might write a historical adventure story. Set clear expectations for research, accuracy, and what they must demonstrate, but allow flexibility in how they present their understanding. When students feel that their work belongs to them, they may become more willing to invest time, overcome challenges, and pursue additional knowledge. A simple assignment might even inspire an interest that follows them into other subjects—or, as happened to me, into an entirely different career.

Bringing History to Life with Historical Conquest and the Adventure Box Curriculum

My experience inspired the creation of Historical Conquest because I wanted students to discover the excitement in history that I had missed growing up. Our physical card game combines collectible historical figures, events, and civilizations with strategic gameplay, encouraging students to encounter historical information through competition, discussion, and repeated play. But we also recognized that no single teaching method reaches every student in every situation. That is why we developed the Historical Conquest Adventure Box Curriculum, bringing together a variety of educational experiences inspired by the seven commonly discussed learning-style categories: visual, auditory, verbal, physical or kinesthetic, logical, social, and solitary. Students can explore history through illustrated materials and maps, stories and discussions, reading and writing, hands-on crafts, strategic games, group activities, and independent study. These are not scientifically established categories that permanently define how children learn; rather, they are useful reminders to offer different ways to engage with the same subject. Each monthly Adventure Box brings together a history textbook, themed Historical Conquest cards, hands-on activities and crafts, and additional digital learning resources. Our objective is to help students experience history in more than one way, giving them opportunities to understand it, use it, revisit it, and remember it.

I often think about that English professor and the one-page essay that changed my life. He didn't give me an elaborate curriculum or a complicated assignment. He simply gave me an opportunity to create something meaningful, and that opportunity awakened an interest I never knew I had.

Perhaps your child doesn't hate history either. Perhaps they simply haven't discovered the activity, story, project, or game that makes it come alive.

The goal of education should never be simply to get students through another worksheet or test. It should be to awaken a curiosity that makes them want to keep learning long after the assignment is finished.

NM State Approved GDL Driver's Education

MESILLA DRIVING ACADEMY — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Mesilla Driving Academy – A Great Choice for Homeschool Families!

At Mesilla Driving Academy, we understand that homeschool families value flexibility, quality education, and a personalized approach to learning.

As a New Mexico state-approved driving school, we help students successfully navigate the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) process while building confidence, awareness, and safe driving habits that last a lifetime.

We offer flexible learning options, including our convenient at-home correspondence program, making driver's education easier to fit into your family's schedule.

With outstanding Google reviews and over 10 years of experience serving local families, we're proud to make driver's education simple, convenient, and stress-free!

Let us help your teen get started!

Treehouse Time - Bounce, Slide, Swing & Play Open Gym

Treehouse Gymnastics — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Treehouse Gymnastics welcomes you to Treehouse Time! Treehouse Time is an open gym with an inflatable slide. Jump on the trampoline, climb over the vault, swing from the bars and slide down the slides with your family and friends.

Friday 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Friday 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Saturday 9:15 AM - 10:45 AM

The cost is $20 per participant. Parents are encouraged to play along with their children out on the floor. Treehouse Gymnastics is located at 75 Bank Street in Lebanon, NH.

Kara Cantwell - Event Manager

603.727.9113 (call/text)

From the Barricades to Spring Auditions: What’s Happening at Creative Grounds Fine Arts Academy

Creative Grounds Fine Arts Academy, Inc. — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 20:00:00 GMT

**67 Young Artists Take the Stage in Les Misérables School Edition at Creative Grounds Fine Arts Academy**

At Creative Grounds Fine Arts Academy (CGFAA), theater is about much more than putting on a great show—it is about building relationships, fostering growth, and empowering young artists to shine on and off the stage. Next week, our community gets to see that mission in action in a massive way.

From November 19–22, 67 dedicated students will bring one of musical theater’s most iconic and emotionally powerful stories to life in our upcoming production of Les Misérables School Edition!

**Don’t Miss Les Misérables School Edition (November 19–22)**

Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, Les Misérables is a sweeping tale of broken dreams, unrequited love, passion, sacrifice, and redemption. Bringing a score and story of this magnitude to life requires immense heart, vocal power, and teamwork—and our cast of 67 young performers has poured everything into every rehearsal.

Whether you are a lifelong fan of the musical or introducing your family to Jean Valjean’s story for the very first time, this is a production you won't want to miss.

🎟️ Get Your Tickets Today: Seats are filling up fast! Reserve yours now at tickets.cgfinearts.org.

Step Into the Spotlight: Spring 2027 Production Auditions Are Open!

Inspired to get involved? As a no-cut educational theater program, CGFAA believes every student deserves a place to grow, learn, and belong—no matter their experience level.

We are thrilled to announce that auditions for our Spring 2027 productions are officially open on our website! We have an exciting lineup of shows for young performers to choose from:

Disney’s The Little Mermaid KIDS
How to Train Your Dragon JR.
Narnia The Musical

Head over to cgfinearts.org today to review audition details and sign up to be part of our spring season.

Coming Soon: Spring Acting Class Registrations

Looking to build confidence, sharpen stage skills, or try acting for the very first time outside of a full production? Spring Acting Class registrations will be opening soon! Keep an eye on our website and social media channels for registration dates and class schedules so your student can reserve their spot.

Thank you for supporting youth arts in our community. Grab your tickets for Les Misérables School Edition at tickets.cgfinearts.org, and we will see you at the theater!

What Real PE Looks Like for Homeschoolers — and Why It Matters More Than Sports

The Training Zone — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 20:00:00 GMT

As a pediatric and sports chiropractor, I hear the same question from homeschool families almost every week: “How do I make sure my kids are getting enough PE — and how do we get them into sports without it taking over our whole schedule?”

It’s a great question. Here’s what I tell them.

PE isn’t just “getting the wiggles out”

The CDC recommends that kids ages 6–17 get at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity every day. That includes muscle- and bone-strengthening work at least three days a week. A walk around the block or a trampoline session is a good start, but real physical education builds something more important: movement skills.

These are the building blocks every sport is built on:

Running mechanics. Arm drive, posture, and how the foot lands.
Change of direction. Stopping, cutting, and turning without the knees caving in.
Balance and coordination. Controlling the body on one leg, in the air, and on landing.
Object control. Kicking, catching, throwing, and tracking a ball.
Body awareness. Knowing where your body is in space, which is a big factor in avoiding injuries.

Kids who learn these skills early pick up new sports faster, feel more confident trying them, and are less likely to get hurt when they do.

The injury pattern I see in my office

Most youth sports injuries I treat aren’t freak accidents. They come from kids who never learned to move well and then jumped straight into games, or kids who played one sport year-round and repeated the same motions over and over.

Good PE protects against both. It teaches clean movement first and keeps kids playing a variety of activities, so no single joint takes all the stress.

What to look for in a homeschool PE program

If you’re comparing options, here’s my checklist:

Qualified coaching. Someone who teaches how to move, not just runs drills.
Small groups. Kids learn faster when a coach can actually see and correct them.
Age-appropriate grouping. An 8-year-old and a 15-year-old need different things.
Skill before competition. Games are fun, but the fundamentals have to come first.
A plan you can see. Progress you can track, so PE counts toward your homeschool goals.

Why we built PE+

Many of my patients homeschool. They kept asking me about area programs and how hard it is to get their kids into sports, so we built one.

Player Education+ (PE+) is a small-group soccer and movement program at The Training Zone in Urbandale. It’s coached by Jack Andrews, Boys Director of Coaching for Sporting Iowa’s ECNL program. Every class builds soccer skills and the speed, agility, and coordination that carry over to any sport.

Ages 8–12 at 10:00 AM, ages 13–18 at 11:00 AM, Mondays and Wednesdays
Max 12 athletes per group, so every kid gets real coaching
4-week sessions, with a new session starting every 4 weeks
No soccer experience required

Come try it free

We’re hosting free PE+ demo days on Monday, November 16 and Wednesday, November 18, at the same age-group times. Bring your kids, watch them move, and meet Coach Jack. Our next session starts Monday, November 30.

👉 The Training Zone: Free Homeschool PE

Questions? Email info@thetrainingzonedsm.com or call 515-251-2681.

— Dr. Allison Carlson, DC, DICCP

The Training Zone & Carlson Chiropractic, Urbandale

STEM at Every Age: Building a Hands-On Path from Elementary to High School

Excalibur Solutions STEM Academy — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Overview

All kids need access to STEM education. Hands-on STEM projects help to build skills in problem solving and analytical reasoning, improve digital literacy, and show kids how things in the world around them work. These skills are necessary to be a functioning, contributing, and productive member of modern society. If there are no longer enough technology producers to support the ever growing number of technology consumers, we as a people will be unable to continue innovating and advancing. Our world will stagnate, and no one will be able even to maintain the technologies on which we’ve become so dependent.

There are STEM projects and resources available for nearly every age student. However, it is important to match these products with a student's physical and mental readiness to ensure the student is challenged but not overwhelmed. Psychologist Lev Zygotsky described this as the zone of proximal development, the gap between what a learner is already able to do independently and what they can achieve with additional guidance.

Kindergarten and Early Elementary

Ozobot

The ozobot is a spherical, programmable robot that emphasizes hands-on exploration and problem solving. The company's Evo Coding Robots can be programmed with colored lines drawn on paper! Different colors make the robot perform different actions, and the student is presented with challenges that they must figure out how to get the robot to complete. Even though they aren't "writing code," students are learning the basics of computer programming – how to get a machine to follow a sequence of precise instructions one step at a time to accomplish a goal. As the students progress, they may move into the Blockly coding environment, a blocks-based programming language similar to Scratch (which is described in more detail below). This statement from the company's website provides an apt summary: “[The Evo Coding Robot] [t]urns abstract coding concepts into movement, interaction, and creative play.”

Makey Makey

Makey Makey offers a relatively low-tech approach to learning about electrical circuitry. This unique product uses a USB-connected device that helps turn physical electrical circuits into ways to interact with programs running on the computer. It’s a bit like a do-it-yourself game controller. However, the circuits themselves are constructed from things like index cards with foil tape or even just graphite pencil lines, coins, fruit like bananas and kiwis, or conductive putty. Students learn the differences between conductors and insulators, and they get to see what sorts of everyday items fit into each of these categories.

3DUX Design

3DUX Design provides project kits with die-cut cardboard packaged with plastic clip fasteners and simple electronic components that allow kids to learn simple physics while expressing themselves through creative play. These kits include design challenges like building enclosures for different kinds of animals at a zoo or constructing the house of the future. The parts are open ended and reusable, so kids can go beyond what’s in the instructions. The company founder is a former pediatrician!

ScratchJr

ScratchJr is a a tablet-based, finger-friendly coding environment for creating animated scenes to tell stories and play simple games. It was designed to make Scratch's blocks-based approach to coding accessible to even younger students. The instruction blocks are small squares with pictures to show what action they perform. “Programs” are short sequences – usually just a few blocks long – that tell an on-screen character what to do. Despite its apparent simplicity, the ScratchJr environment incorporates real computer science concepts – loops to repeat instructions and message passing to let the code for one character trigger code on another, for example.

Later Elementary

Scratch

Scratch is perhaps the first (or arguably the most common) blocks-based coding environment. It was designed at MIT as a better way to teach programming to young students. Instead of having to learn an entirely new language with its grammar, vocabulary, complex syntax rules, and strange punctuation, Scratch programs are "written" by dragging and connecting color-coded puzzle-shaped blocks. Students are still learning five foundational concepts from computer science: variables, loops, conditional statements, functions, and events. These elements are used in every modern programming language! While they are learning these concepts, though, student are not also trying to learn the proper spelling, capitalization, and punctuation that make text-based programming difficult for many people. Plus, while the output from most text-based languages is text-only without a lot of additional scaffolding and infrastructure, all Scratch programs are graphical. It is easy to add sounds and to animate characters.

Snap Circuits

Snap Circuits are electronics kits with large components perfect for small hands. These kits include the same types of components – LEDs, resistors, motors, buzzers, etc. – provided with kits designed for older students, but in a form factor that is more appropriate to younger learners. Everything is molded in durable plastic and mount onto base plates with just a press. "Wires" are actually molded plastic strips in a variety of lengths with literal snaps to make electrical connections. With Snap Circuits, students are building real circuits with real components but without having to worry about putting tiny leads into tiny holes on a breadboard. This helps to eliminate the frustration associated with trying to complete tasks their bodies are not yet ready to perform.

Tinkercad

Tinkercad is an online application for 3D modeling. It allows students to explore basic concepts from 3D design without the complexity and steep learning curve generally associated with industry-grade CAD tools. Complex shapes are made by combining more primitive shapes – cubes, cylinders, spheres, cones, etc. These merges may be additive or subtractive. For example, a snowman might be modeled with three spheres stacked on top of each other, each successively smaller than the one below it. A pipe, though, would be modeled by starting with a solid cylinder and merging it with a slightly smaller "hollow" cylinder. (Tinkercad calls these shapes holes, and they are also sometimes described as negative space.) Tinkercad designs may be exported and printed on a 3D printer.

Middle School

Tinkercad (again!)

In addition to 3D modeling, Tinkercad has an excellent electronics circuit simulator, too. This allows students to build circuits on a virtual breadboard with many of the components found in typical kits – LEDs, resistors, transistors, capacitors, etc. There are even microcontrollers like the Arduino and the micro:bit. The Arduino may be programmed in Tinkercad using a blocks-based language similar to Scratch, or in the text-based C-dialect used with the real board. There's also a hybrid mode where the code may be written in blocks, but Tinkercad will show the equivalent text code. Once built, circuits in Tinkercad may be simulated and will behave almost exactly the way the actual circuit would behave in the real-world. There are virtual diagnostic instruments like a multimeter and an oscilloscope, too. Tinkercad is a great tool for preparing students for physical electronics project kits because they learn to work with the components and the breadboard without worrying about losing or breaking all the small parts!

Python

Python is an easy-to-learn text-based programming language widely used in industry. It is one of the easiest text-based programming languages because it has an English-like syntax and uses less punctuation than most other languages. Additionally, Python enforces a rigid structure where code blocks must be indented. This style is highly encouraged in nearly every language, but it isn’t required in most. Python is a very versatile language, and is popular with researchers and engineers who might not have studied programming formally in college. It has an extensive third-party library system. This means that if there's behavior you need that isn't part of the code language, there's a good chance a library exists that will add that functionality to your program! Python consistently ranks as one of the most widely-used programming languages in the TIOBE index. It is currently first on the list and has been since late 2021!

High School

As students reach high school, the emphasis should be on connecting the dots. Instead of continuing to collect foundational knowledge and skills, they should work on applying what they know and can do. They should begin using real-world tools and technologies – web-based programming, electronics project kits, professional-grade CAD applications, etc. They might also begin to take a more detailed look at specific college majors and career paths in which they are interested. If they like aeronautics, they could work with a drone. If they like to program, learn new programming languages. If they want to do robotics, look for an FTC or VEX team to join (or start one yourself!).

At this point, the tools, applications, and resources are no longer driving their learning. Instead, they become the facilitators - the things that make what they want to do possible!

Tips for selecting STEM kits and resources

STEM is a buzz-word, and it gets attached to lots of projects even when there’s questionable academic relevance. Beyond what the letters stand for (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), there’s really not much agreement about what is or isn’t STEM. STEAM is another popular label – it’s STEM plus the Arts. (You may also see STREAM - that's STEAM plus reading!) There’s really no further distinction in these terms, and, in my opinion, there’s no need for the STEAM (or STREAM) label. STEM can and should include the Arts, but I don’t think STEM without the A devalues those subjects in any way.

When looking for quality STEM projects, activities, and resources for your student, here are some general tips and guidelines.

1. Avoid project kits where there’s very little to construct and there’s very little to do with the finished product. The Continue reading on My Learning Source →

Learning Through Play: Why Hands-On Activities Belong in Every Homeschool Classroom

Doughie — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Homeschooling offers something special: the freedom to make learning hands-on, creative, and tailored to each child's interests. While textbooks, worksheets, and traditional lessons have their place, some of the best learning happens when children get to explore, create, build, and use their imaginations.

That's where sensory play comes in!

At Doughie, we believe learning should be fun, engaging, and something children look forward to. Our thoughtfully designed play dough kits, themed jars, stamps, and accessories help turn everyday play into meaningful learning opportunities.

More Than Just Play Dough

Sensory play is an excellent way to introduce children to important early learning concepts while keeping them engaged.

With Doughie, children can practice:

Fine Motor Skills: Rolling, pinching, squishing, cutting, and shaping dough help children strengthen the small muscles in their hands and fingers.
Letter and Number Recognition: Alphabet stamps and number activities provide opportunities to practice spelling, counting, letter recognition, and early math skills.
Creativity and Imagination: Open-ended play encourages children to create their own stories, designs, characters, and imaginative worlds.
Problem-Solving: Building, designing, and experimenting with different shapes and structures encourage critical thinking and creative problem-solving.
Color Recognition and Sorting: Sorting colors, identifying patterns, and grouping objects introduce foundational math and classification skills.

The best part? Children are having so much fun that they may not even realize how much they're learning!

Making Homeschool Lessons More Engaging

One of the biggest advantages of homeschooling is the ability to incorporate different learning styles and teaching methods.

Doughie products can easily complement your existing homeschool curriculum.

Here are a few ways to incorporate sensory play into your homeschool day:

1. Practice Spelling and Vocabulary

Use alphabet stamps to create words, spell names, practice sight words, or introduce new vocabulary. Children can stamp letters into dough while reinforcing letter recognition and spelling.

2. Turn Math Into Play

Create numbers, count small objects, make shapes, practice addition and subtraction, or build repeating patterns. Hands-on activities make abstract concepts easier to explore.

3. Explore Science and Nature

Use themed dough activities to explore the ocean, farm animals, space, dinosaurs, and more. Talk about different animals, habitats, planets, and environments while children create their own miniature worlds.

4. Encourage Independent Creativity

Sometimes the best lesson plan is simply giving children the opportunity to create. Open-ended sensory activities encourage independence, experimentation, and imagination.

A Resource for Homeschool Families

We understand that homeschool families are intentional about the educational resources they bring into their homes. Every purchase should provide opportunities for learning, creativity, and meaningful engagement.

That's why Doughie offers a growing collection of themed sensory play kits, double-sided jars, alphabet stamps, rollers, and accessories designed to encourage hands-on exploration.

Whether you're looking for an engaging activity to supplement a lesson, a creative break between subjects, or something fun for independent play, Doughie makes it easy to bring sensory learning into your homeschool routine.

Bring More Creativity Into Your Homeschool

Learning doesn't always have to happen at a desk. Sometimes it happens at the kitchen table, on the living room floor, or with a little play dough and a whole lot of imagination.

Doughie is proud to support families who believe in making learning fun, creative, and hands-on.

Ready to add some fun to your homeschool day?

Explore our collection of sensory play kits, themed jars, stamps, and accessories at www.doughiejax.com.

Doughie — Where learning meets imagination!

Brain Training to Build Reading Skills

LearningRx Houston Central — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Many interventions aim to help build reading skills. Students and families can try tutoring, afterschool programs, or learning strategies to live with reading struggles. What if a reading struggle was just a sign of something more going on?

That is a question we at LearningRx Houston Central have sought answers to for decades, and it has led leaders and researchers to uncover the hidden truths behind cognitive skills. Like every person has different talents and skills that come naturally to them, each person has a set of cognitive skills unique to them. But sometimes, what can happen is that one particular skill can start to take over and grow stronger while some of the other abilities get pushed aside. Eventually, the brain experiences difficulties.

Does this sound like someone you know?

Someone with strong processing speed may be able to think quickly, but if their memory skills are not as strong, they will use their processing speed skills to find other ways to remember things. A person with these skill sets may need to write everything down or record lectures in class. While they have figured out different strategies for getting the information, this causes them to take double the amount of time to learn information.

This same scenario reflects in people with lower auditory processing skills, which are responsible for decoding words and reading information. You may know someone who loves to watch movies but never wants to read a book. This person may have excellent visualization skills and understands visual concepts well, but when they read a book, they struggle to understand how the words could string together a story.

Fortunately, there is hope.

At LearningRx Houston Central, we provide reading help rooted in building those skills that may have gotten left behind and teach them how to work together. It's our goal to help every kind of learner target and build stronger learning and thinking skills. https://www.learningrx.com/houston-central/what-is-brain-training/

Strong reading skills depend on a number of distinct skills working at the same time. LearningRx Houston Central helps readers strengthen the skills needed to:

• Quickly recognize words in written text

• Sound out unfamiliar words based on spelling

• Process complex sentences and language

• Create mental images while reading

• Retain important information

To do this, we tailor our programs to each client’s existing skill set. We start with a Brain Skills Assessment to measure existing cognitive skills. This way, we can design each reader’s training plan to focus on the areas where reading help can offer the biggest benefits.

We can't wait to show you what your brain can do!

If you are interested in starting this conversation about reading help, contact LearningRx Houston Central by calling (346)826-5468 to learn more today!

The Power of Imaginative Play: Why It Matters

ITAVA Imagination Station — Wed, 11 Nov 2026 20:00:00 GMT

In a world filled with screens, busy schedules, and structured activities, imaginative play has become more important than ever. Whether a child is pretending to be a doctor, building a castle out of blocks, serving meals in a play kitchen, or embarking on a pretend camping adventure, they are doing far more than simply playing—they are developing the skills they need to thrive.

Imaginative play, also known as pretend play, is one of the most valuable experiences in early childhood. It allows children to explore the world around them, express their creativity, and make sense of everyday experiences in a way that is both fun and meaningful.

Building Strong Minds:

When children engage in imaginative play, they naturally strengthen critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Every pretend scenario requires them to make decisions, overcome challenges, and think creatively. Whether they're figuring out how to rescue a stuffed animal, run a grocery store, or construct a spaceship, they are learning how to adapt and solve problems independently.

Encouraging Language Development:

Pretend play creates endless opportunities for conversation. Children practice new vocabulary, tell stories, ask questions, and communicate their ideas with others. They learn how to express themselves clearly while developing listening skills and confidence in speaking. These experiences build a strong foundation for reading, writing, and future academic success.

Developing Social and Emotional Skills:

One of the greatest benefits of imaginative play is its ability to nurture emotional intelligence. As children take on different roles, they learn empathy by seeing the world from another person's perspective. They practice sharing, cooperating, negotiating, and resolving conflicts with peers.

Imaginative play also provides a safe space for children to process emotions and experiences. Acting out real-life situations helps them understand feelings, manage frustrations, and build resilience in everyday life.

Inspiring Creativity and Confidence:

There are no limits during imaginative play. A cardboard box can become a rocket ship, a blanket can transform into a superhero cape, and a handful of blocks can become an entire city. This freedom encourages children to think outside the box and trust their own ideas.

As children create, explore, and accomplish new challenges through play, they develop confidence in their abilities. They begin to see themselves as capable problem-solvers and independent thinkers.

Supporting Physical Development:

Many forms of imaginative play involve movement, whether children are climbing, balancing, crawling through obstacle courses, dancing, or building with large materials. These activities strengthen both fine and gross motor skills while improving coordination, balance, and overall physical health.

Learning Through Play:

Research consistently shows that young children learn best through hands-on experiences. Imaginative play naturally introduces early concepts in math, science, literacy, and everyday life. Children count pretend money, sort objects, measure ingredients in a play kitchen, explore cause and effect, and practice sequencing events—all without realizing they're learning.

Play transforms education into an exciting adventure that sparks curiosity and encourages lifelong learning.

Creating Lasting Memories:

Beyond its developmental benefits, imaginative play creates meaningful moments between children, families, and friends. Shared laughter, storytelling, and pretend adventures help build strong relationships and lasting memories that children carry with them for years to come.

Why It Matters:

At ITAVA Imagination Station, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to imagine, explore, and discover. Through imaginative play, children build the confidence to ask questions, solve problems, work together, and dream big. Every pretend adventure helps shape the thinkers, creators, leaders, and innovators of tomorrow.

Because when children are free to imagine, there is no limit to what they can become.

Why Choir Belongs in Your Homeschool: The Benefits of Music Education for Young Singers

Heartland Youth Choir — Wed, 11 Nov 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Why Choir Belongs in Your Homeschool: The Benefits of Music Education for Young Singers

Homeschooling offers families the flexibility to build an education around their children's interests, strengths, and individual learning styles. While academics are an important part of that experience, opportunities for creativity, collaboration, and community are just as valuable.

One way to bring all three together is through music education!

At Heartland Youth Choir, we believe every young person deserves the opportunity to discover their voice, develop their musical abilities, and experience the joy of making music together.

Music Education Goes Beyond Singing

Choir is about much more than learning songs. Participating in a choir gives young singers opportunities to develop a variety of skills that complement their education.

Musicianship and Music Literacy

Young singers explore rhythm, melody, pitch, musical expression, and listening skills. They learn to follow musical notation, recognize patterns, and understand how individual musical parts come together to create something bigger.

Confidence and Self-Expression

Performing gives children opportunities to build confidence, express themselves creatively, and become comfortable sharing their talents with others. Every rehearsal and performance is another opportunity to grow.

Collaboration and Teamwork

In a choir, every voice matters. Singers learn to listen to one another, work toward shared goals, and appreciate the contributions of their fellow musicians. These experiences encourage cooperation, patience, and a sense of belonging.

Creativity and Artistic Exploration

Music provides an opportunity to explore different styles, cultures, languages, and traditions. Learning a diverse repertoire helps young singers experience music from different perspectives and develop an appreciation for the arts.

Why Community Matters for Homeschool Families

One of the wonderful things about homeschooling is the ability to seek out educational experiences beyond the traditional classroom.

Community activities give homeschooled students opportunities to meet peers, develop friendships, and participate in group experiences outside their everyday routines.

A youth choir can provide a consistent creative outlet where children and teenagers work together, learn from experienced music educators, and share meaningful experiences through rehearsals and performances.

It's also an opportunity for students to develop interests that can grow with them throughout their education.

Finding the Right Musical Fit

Children don't need previous choir experience to begin exploring music!

At Heartland Youth Choir, our programs offer opportunities for young singers at different stages of their musical development. Whether your child is just beginning to discover their voice or is ready for more advanced musical challenges, there are opportunities to learn and grow.

Our youngest singers can begin developing foundational musical skills, while older and more experienced singers have opportunities to strengthen their musicianship, explore challenging repertoire, and develop as ensemble performers.

The most important thing? A willingness to learn and a curiosity about music.

Bringing Music Into Your Homeschool Journey

Music education doesn't have to happen exclusively at home or in a traditional school setting. Community-based programs can complement your homeschool curriculum by providing structured instruction, collaborative learning, and performance experiences.

Whether you're looking for an extracurricular activity, a creative outlet, or a meaningful way to introduce your child to choral music, youth choir is worth exploring.

At Heartland Youth Choir, we're passionate about growing voices and cultivating community throughout Central Iowa. We'd love to welcome your family into our musical community!

Ready to explore the possibilities?

Visit heartlandyouthchoir.org to learn more about our programs, rehearsal opportunities, and upcoming registration dates.

We look forward to singing with you!

Why is Art Important for Kids?

Kids Art Box — Wed, 11 Nov 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Most of us know art is "good" for kids, but we don't always know why. Is it really doing anything, or is it just a fun way to pass the time? Turns out, it's quietly doing some of the most important developmental work out there: building confidence, motor skills, problem-solving, and more. Here's everything you need to know about why it matters!

There's something special about watching your child completely lost in a creative moment. The concentration on their face while they glue tiny pieces into place. The "let's see what happens" look when two paint colors mix together. The proud grin when they hold up a finished masterpiece for a photo to send to grandma.

As parents, we try to fit a lot into our child's development. Reading, school readiness, sports, life skills. It's easy to wonder if art even needs its own place on that list, especially as it slowly gets pushed out of school curriculums. But art fuels a child's imagination, independent thinking, and creative play, and it's something the whole family can enjoy together.

Here are some of the biggest ways weekly art time benefits kids:

Creativity

Children are naturally creative. As Henri Matisse put it, "Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up." Making art keeps that creativity alive, in kids and adults alike. Creating pushes us to explore new possibilities and experience the world in new ways, through new mediums, tools, textures, and techniques. It also gives children a way to express themselves that words sometimes can't capture. Every new material or technique becomes another way of thinking, creating, and expressing. That's the idea behind Kids Art Box. We pack the supplies, the tools, and the techniques, so all parents have to do is unbox and go. From there, kids take the lead, turning every project into something entirely their own and keeping that creativity flowing throughout childhood. It's a subscription that grows right alongside your child, so as they grow, their creativity does too.

Problem solving and real-life skills

Every art project comes with its own string of tiny decisions. Should I use the red or the blue? What do I do if it rips? Why isn't this drying yet? Kids are working through real problems in real time, and they're the ones in charge of solving them. Long before they're navigating tricky homework or tough decisions, kids are practicing patience, flexibility, and persistence right at the craft table, all without even realizing it.

Fine motor skills

Fine motor skills are all about the muscles in the fingers and hands, and how they connect to the brain. They show up in everyday moments like holding a pencil, buttoning a shirt, or tying shoes. Research has even found that fine motor precision in early school years is a strong predictor of math ability, not just handwriting. Arts and crafts are one of the best ways to build them.

Every squeeze of a glue bottle, grip on a paintbrush, snip of the scissors, or pinch of clay is quietly strengthening hand muscles and coordination. Our Create Together Art Box is designed with ages 3-7 in mind, building these foundational skills through hands-on play. As kids grow, My Artist Box steps things up with more advanced techniques like precision cutting, detailed paintwork, and intricate assembly, continuing to challenge fine motor control well into the school-age years.

Confidence and Self-Expression

One of the best parts of art is that there's no single right answer. It gives kids a space to experiment, mess up, try again, and make something that's entirely their own. As Bob Ross liked to say, "We don't make mistakes, we just make happy accidents." Seeing a project through from start to finish gives kids a real sense of accomplishment. That pride builds self-esteem, and over time, it shapes how they see themselves. When a child feels good about what they're creating, that confidence carries into everything else.

Art Appreciation

As kids make their own art, they build a real familiarity with it. Art stops feeling like a separate subject and starts becoming part of everyday life. Recreating a famous work, like giving the Mona Lisa a colorful pop-art makeover in our Leonardo da Vinci My Artist Box, helps kids connect with art on a personal level.

So when they spot a familiar name or style later on a museum trip or in a school lesson, they don't just see art, they recognize it.

It's fascinating to watch kids start noticing art in the world around them: in a building, a pattern, or even a sunset. It opens their minds to new ways of seeing and helps them discover beauty in everyday life.

Long after the paint dries, that way of seeing stays with them.

Math

Art and math have more in common than most people realize. Every time children count pieces, measure materials, mix paint, or plan a design, they're practicing math skills without even thinking about it. Shapes, patterns, symmetry, proportion, and spatial reasoning all show up naturally during the creative process.

Many of our Kids Art Box projects also encourage children to think in three dimensions. Building dioramas, layering materials, and constructing sculptures helps kids visualize how objects fit together in space, an important skill that supports both math and problem-solving later on. The best part? To kids, it doesn't feel like math practice. It just feels like creating.

Science

Science and art go hand in hand. Mixing materials and watching how they change, two colors blending into a new one, glue drying, paint thickening, is basically a hands-on experiment. Kids are testing, observing, and adjusting in real time, even if they don't realize it.

As a former engineer, I've seen this firsthand. Some of the best scientists and engineers I worked with were also the most creative thinkers. Art and science aren't opposites, they're two ways kids learn to explore and make sense of the world around them.

Social Connection

Last but not least, art naturally brings people together. The "can you pass the glue?" The "look what I made!" The quiet focus while creating side by side. These small moments matter more than they seem.

Whether children are creating alongside other kids or with a trusted adult, they're sharing ideas, asking questions, learning to take turns, and working together. A table full of art supplies is often a wonderful place to build communication, patience, confidence, and social skills.

And while they may not remember every project they create, they'll often remember how it felt to spend that time together.

Bring a creative routine home with Kids Art Box and get $10 off your first order with code INSPIRE.

Letter Height Delight

Handwriting Success with Getty-Dubay™ Italic — Wed, 11 Nov 2026 14:00:00 GMT

The suggested size of a student's writing changes as they develop. Sometimes that means writing at a size that is larger than what the student prefers. The idea of the larger letters during direct instruction and explicit practice is so that students can actually see and control the letterforms as they write. It is helpful and important, at times, to have students write even bigger, on sand/shaving cream trays, on big sheets of paper on the wall, or in the air. It helps especially with stroke sequence — the “pen path” of the letter.

The authors Getty and Dubay have worked with thousands of students, and consulted with many teachers. These writing sizes in the Getty-Dubay® Italic Handwriting Series are optimized for the developmental skills commonly found at these grade levels.

When the authors worked with doctors, helping them write more legibly, they had the doctors writing 3-foot-high letters in the air. They weren’t happy about it at first, but did what they were asked, and realized in the end it made their handwriting better.

Sometimes a students will state that the letter height in their workbook is not appropriate for them. Students at the age of 10-13 start writing VERY small, for some reason. It could be an effort toward fluency. Giving students ownership over their writing is important, so do offer them opportunities to write at the size they choose.

The writing size in the Getty-Dubay® Italic Handwriting Series Books A-G doesn’t mean that all the student’s writing at that age has to be that size. Yes, you can have the student use lined paper, where the ruled lines are the baseline and the waistline, and then skip at least a line so that the ascenders and descenders don’t collide. You can also use our DIY Worksheet Generator to produce lined paper of any practical size. Read more about using lined paper.

The image above shows our recommendations by grade level, from left to right, starting with Kindergarten. The measurement represents the x-height (body height) of the lowercase letter without an ascender or descender.

Kindergarten — 14mm. Use only the baseline, and separate it from other lines by at least 28mm (twice the lowercase body height).

1st grade — 11mm. You can use Narrow Ruled paper and make the lowercase body height 2 lines tall.

2nd and 3rd grade — 9mm, then 6mm. For ~6mm height, you can use Wide Ruled paper and make the lowercase body height 1 line tall.

2nd (advanced) thought 4th grade — 6mm and 5mm. That's approximately Narrow Ruled paper with the lowercase body height 1 line tall.

3rd (advanced) grade and up — 6mm, 5mm and 4mm. Use either Narrow Ruled paper and make the capital height 1 line tall or use Wide Ruled paper and make the lowercase body height ½ line tall (in this case neither the lowercase letters or capitals will touch the line above).

5th grade and up — 5mm and 4mm. You may use College Ruled paper and leave a gap line between writing lines. The baseline is the focus. Neither the lowercase letters or capitals will touch the line above.

College Credits Close to Home

Concurrent Credit Baker University — Tue, 10 Nov 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Baker University's concurrent credit program offers college credits at a discounted rate for high school students. Did you know your student can earn a $1000 per year tuition credit just for visiting Baker University! Baker offers many opportunities for post secondary education; from business to nursing, education to sports medicine. We have a variety of programs to fit your students individual needs. Baker is a small campus with a big heart for community and personalized education opportunities. At Baker, almost all of our students are guaranteed some sort of scholarship to support their educational needs. The credits your student earns now will seamlessly transfer to any of our campus programs to jump start their college experience. These courses are all online and student paced for ease in any schedule, each lasting one semester in length. Even if your student isn't college bound, taking college credits while in high school is a great way to build early workplace-ready competencies, open doors to specialized career training, and create flexible scheduling for jobs or internships. Take a look at what Baker has to offer and check out the concurrent credit program here!

Driving Instruction - Immediate Availability, State Licensed and Experienced, Easy Sign-Up, Serving Cincinnati

Partners Driving Academy — Tue, 10 Nov 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Looking behind the wheel driving instruction for your teen student?

Partners Driving Academy has what you're looking for.

* Immediate Availability

* Reasonably Priced

* State Licensed to Meet 8 Hour Behind the Wheel Requirement

* Easy Online Signup

* Instructors with 7+ years' experience

* 5 Star Rating

Visit wwwpartnersdrivingacademy.com

The Benefits of a Welding Career

A-1 Welding Classes — Tue, 10 Nov 2026 20:00:00 GMT

One of the most rewarding benefits of learning to weld is the sense of accomplishment that comes with creating something tangible!! Imagine taking raw materials and transforming them into a beautiful piece of art or a functional item. It’s a skill that not only enhances your creativity but also boosts your confidence as you see your ideas come to life. Welding is more than just joining metal; it’s an art form that combines precision, technique, and a bit of science. As you start your journey, you’ll discover various welding methods, such as MIG, TIG, Flux Core and Stick Welding, each with its own unique applications and benefits. Understanding these techniques can empower you to tackle a wide range of projects, from crafting intricate sculptures to repairing machinery, and beyond. As you embark on this journey, remember that practice is key. Don’t be discouraged by initial challenges, every experienced welder was once a beginner too. So, Embrace the learning process and celebrate your progress along the way!

High Demand

Welders provide a great service to various industries, such as manufacturing, construction, automotive, and aerospace to name a few. Welders' skills are highly valued by employers.

Independence & Flexibility

Feel free in knowing that you can find work anywhere around the world. From small home repairs to oil rig welding, you can find a place that best suits you.

Skill Development

Challenge yourself to learn a new skill that can be useful in more ways than you realize. Welding is needed everywhere, where there is metal, there is an opportunity to use that skill

Be Creative

Let your creativity flow, welding can open up the opportunity to further progress your creative side, from BBQ pits to decor, and much more. Feel accomplished that you made that!

No Need for College degree

If you are persistent in developing your welding skills, with the help of a trade school, you can exceed to turn welding into a career and earn big without the hassle of needing a college degree.

Whether you're 13 or 63, We believe you learn by doing, our 100% Hands-On Welding Training is designed to help you master every part of the trade!

Our goal is to provide our students with 100% Hands-On Welding Training, making sure they are getting the necessary attention they need in a semiprivate setting, with a teacher who has 35 years' experience in the welding & fabricating industry, providing them with the understanding to properly and safely handling of the machines they are using to get them comfortable with the work that makes up Welding.

We are passionate about our students and aspire to guide them as they set forth on their journey into the welding industry, seeing our students thrive and follow their dreams is the foundation of our classes.

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From Truth, to Goodness, to Beauty

Milico Mathers Reads — Tue, 10 Nov 2026 20:00:00 GMT

I used to think we were headed for a new Dark Age. Now, I believe we may already be there.

There is an upside, however, because in the darkness, we can better recognize the light and walk toward it.

But only if we are willing to look up from the blue screen glowing in front of us and encourage others to join us without basking in the electronic glow.

I preach to myself as well because I’m finding it more difficult to sink into a longer text and stay there until the end.

But the longer text of a classic is always worth the work.

We should be embarrassed to admit that it took so many years to realize that too many–one is too many–college students have never read an entire book. At least not since the Little Golden Book days of their toddlerhood.

And who says good books are only for the college-bound?

The Atlantic, not a conservative resource from classical Christian education, has realized this loss in our education system. Even students at our elite universities, far too many of them, have never read a book.

For the last quarter century at least, educational testing has marked students’ ability to navigate a passage, so education systems locked into teaching young ones how to do just that.

No more Bronte, Hugo, Dostoevsky, and Lee in their entirety.

No more requiring a student to follow an epic journey from beginning to end.

We have added fuel to the fire that limits our collective ability to think well. To think with clarity and critical analysis.

We have lost the personal discipline it takes to plod through Hugo’s fifty pages of Napolean’s failure at Waterloo to get to the crisis Jean Valjean must face to save Marius in Les Miserables. We’ve lost the discipline to even get to those fifty pages.

It takes discipline to get to the beauty of a great book. Therein lies the truth any great author has sweat blood to tell us: that we are more than body and mind. We are souls capable of courage, capable of seeing beauty, capable of telling truth through goodness and beauty.

Great writers create beauty to show goodness and truth. In losing our discipline to read long texts, we have lost so much more because from truth, goodness, and beauty come meaning and purpose in our lives.

Few people today see meaning and purpose in their lives. Fewer than half.

The answer may be found in the nearest library or bookstore. Wise sages tell us how to pursue the answer.

“Our situation today shows that beauty demands for itself at least as much courage and decision as do truth and goodness, and she will not allow herself to be banned from her two sisters without taking them along with herself in an act of mysterious vengeance.” Stratford Caldecott

“If the whole universe has no meaning, we should never have found out that it has no meaning: just as, if there were no light in the universe and therefore no creatures with eyes, we should never know it was dark. Dark would be without meaning.” C.S. Lewis

If you don’t have a classic book on the shelf and didn’t get one last Christmas, buy one for yourself, a classic that contains truth about humanity, truth about who we are, beings capable of being courageous on behalf of goodness.

Christmas is coming. This year, buy good books as gifts. Embrace goodness in truth’s defense and promote the beautiful in the culture around us.

I used to pay my two youngest sons to read good books. (I hadn’t thought of the idea with the older three.) That was some of the best spent cash I ever spent.

Shakespeare, Tolkien, Lewis.

People grow stronger character from such books.

And we grow better from having seen tough tasks through to the end–the quest of the characters and our own in the completion of a thing of beauty.

(Photo Credit: my personal album, Rostrevor, Northern Ireland, 2024)

Overcoming the Grammar Battle: How GrammarFlip Simplifies ELA for Arkansas Homeschool Families

GrammarFlip — Tue, 10 Nov 2026 20:00:00 GMT

If your student scores 100% on a Friday grammar quiz but still fills Monday's essay with run-on sentences and fragments, they don't need more worksheets—they need authentic skill transfer.

Teaching English Language Arts (ELA) is often one of the most rewarding parts of homeschooling, but grammar instruction can quickly turn into a daily power struggle. Many Arkansas homeschool parents find themselves caught between:

📝 Dry, repetitive workbooks that lead to short-term memorization and instant forgetting.
📚 Complex, teacher-heavy manuals that demand hours of parent-led explanation and grading.

True mastery requires moving beyond rote rules into real-world writing application which is exactly where GrammarFlip comes in.

🛑 The Challenge: Traditional Grammar vs. Authentic Retention

Traditional grammar workbooks have the potential to fail homeschoolers for three primary reasons:

1. Lack of Engagement — Worksheets treat grammar as mechanical compliance work rather than a creative tool for self-expression.
2. No Real Writing Transfer — Students memorize rules in isolation without learning how to apply them to their own essays.
3. High Parent Oversight — Parents spend valuable time grading daily exercises, explaining complex mechanics, and manually tracking skill gaps.

✨ How GrammarFlip Works for Homeschoolers

GrammarFlip transforms grammar from a daily chore into an engaging, self-directed learning experience designed for grades 4 through 12.

🎬 1. Short, Engaging Video Lessons
Instead of reading dense textbook pages, students watch concise video lessons led by experienced ELA teachers. Concepts—from core parts of speech to complex clauses—are broken down using visual slides, memorable context clips, and reference cards.

⚡ 2. Practice Exercises with Immediate Feedback
After each lesson, students complete interactive practice items. The platform provides instant feedback, correcting mistakes before bad habits set in. Built-in slideshow summaries offer quick refreshers whenever needed.

✍️ 3. Direct Application to Real Writing
Grammar rules only matter if they improve student writing. GrammarFlip pairs every lesson with targeted writing prompts, requiring students to apply newly learned concepts directly into original sentences and paragraphs.

📊 4. Automated Parent Dashboard & Progress Tracking
Monitor student growth effortlessly. The parent portal features clear, color-coded reports showing diagnostic pre-test scores, practice completion, and long-term growth trends.

🎯 Built for Arkansas Homeschool Flexibility

Whether you follow a traditional schedule, unschool, participate in a local Arkansas homeschool co-op, or balance multiple grade levels, GrammarFlip fits your routine:

Self-Paced Learning — Advanced learners accelerate through mastered concepts, while students needing extra support review at their own pace.
Multi-Child Management — Parent accounts easily manage multiple student profiles under a single dashboard.
Standards-Aligned Mastery — Aligns with national ELA standards to prepare students for standardized testing, state assessments, and high school/college essay writing.
Gamified Motivation — System badges and Graham the Owl keep homeschoolers motivated to hit daily goals.

🎁 Try GrammarFlip Free for 30 Days
> Ready to streamline your homeschool ELA instruction and build lasting writing confidence?

> Explore GrammarFlip through our My Learning Source profile or start your 30-day free trial today at GrammarFlip.com!

Why Texas Homeschool Students Should Start Learning Artificial Intelligence Now

CertStudent — Mon, 09 Nov 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Artificial intelligence is changing how we learn, work, and solve problems. For Texas homeschool families, learning about AI today can help students prepare for tomorrow's educational and career opportunities.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer limited to research laboratories or large technology companies. AI-powered tools are increasingly used in education, healthcare, business, cybersecurity, software development, and everyday life.

For homeschool parents planning their children's education, this creates an important question: Should artificial intelligence become part of a student's learning experience?

At CertStudent, we believe the answer is yes—and students do not need programming experience to get started.

1. AI Literacy Is Becoming an Essential Technology Skill

Many students already encounter artificial intelligence through search engines, writing assistants, recommendation systems, and other digital tools.

However, using AI is not the same as understanding it.

Students benefit from learning what AI can do, how machine learning works, why AI systems sometimes produce incorrect information, and how to evaluate AI-generated responses.

Understanding these concepts can help students become more informed and responsible technology users.

2. Students Can Start Without Programming Experience

One common misconception is that students must already know how to code before studying artificial intelligence.

While programming becomes important for advanced AI development, beginners can start by learning foundational concepts such as:

The difference between artificial intelligence and machine learning
How AI models learn patterns from data
How generative AI creates text and other content
How to write effective prompts
How businesses use AI services
How to recognize AI errors, bias, and security risks

These topics provide a foundation for students who may later pursue computer science, cybersecurity, cloud computing, data science, or other technology disciplines.

3. Hands-On Learning Makes AI More Meaningful

AI education becomes especially engaging when students move beyond definitions and explore how technology works.

For example, students can experiment with AI models, compare different prompts, examine generated responses, and investigate how AI systems make predictions.

These activities encourage critical thinking, problem-solving, and curiosity.

Rather than simply asking AI to complete an assignment, students can learn to ask better questions, verify results, and understand the limitations of the technology.

For homeschool families, these skills can complement existing science, mathematics, technology, and research activities.

4. AI Education Can Introduce Students to Industry Certifications

As students develop their knowledge, some may become interested in pursuing an industry-recognized technology certification.

One possible starting point is the AWS Certified AI Practitioner certification, which focuses on foundational artificial intelligence, machine learning, generative AI, and AWS AI concepts.

Certification preparation can give motivated students a structured learning goal and introduce them to terminology used by technology professionals.

However, a certification is not required to benefit from AI education. Understanding the fundamentals is valuable on its own.

5. Flexible Online Training Works Well for Homeschool Families

Homeschool families often need educational programs that accommodate different schedules, learning styles, and levels of experience.

Online training provides flexibility, while live instructor-led classes offer opportunities to ask questions and explore difficult concepts with an experienced educator.

At CertStudent, we offer beginner-friendly artificial intelligence education through self-paced and live online learning options.

Our Understanding Artificial Intelligence program introduces students to AI fundamentals, machine learning, large language models, generative AI, prompt engineering, AWS AI services, responsible AI, and AI security.

For students who prefer additional guidance, our live instructor-led training provides opportunities for interactive explanations, guided learning, and questions.

6. Responsible AI Use Is Just as Important as Technical Knowledge

Learning AI is not simply about becoming more productive.

Students should also understand the responsibilities that come with using powerful technology.

Important topics include protecting personal information, recognizing misleading AI-generated content, understanding bias, respecting academic integrity, and verifying information before relying on it.

These lessons help students develop good digital citizenship habits that can benefit them throughout their education.

Help Your Student Begin Their AI Learning Journey

Artificial intelligence is likely to remain an important part of the technology landscape. Students who begin learning its fundamentals now can build knowledge that supports future educational choices and career exploration.

CertStudent is a San Antonio-based provider of online AI and technology certification preparation for students and adult learners.

We offer flexible self-paced learning and live instructor-led training designed to make complex technology concepts understandable to beginners.

CertStudent is also an approved Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) vendor. Eligibility, approved purchases, and course availability are subject to program requirements.

Explore our AI training options at https://certstudent.com

No prior AI, programming, or cloud computing experience is required to begin learning foundational concepts.

Why I'd use EFA funds for personal finance

Networthy — Mon, 09 Nov 2026 20:00:00 GMT

When you're deciding how to use EFA funds, the first things on the list are usually pretty obvious: math, reading, science, maybe a language, music or another elective.

Personal finance is easy to leave for later.

I think part of the reason is that we still associate financial education with teenagers. Taxes, credit cards, loans and investing all sound like things kids need closer to adulthood.

But an 8- or 10-year-old is already making smaller versions of those same decisions.

Should I spend the $12 I have now or keep saving?

If I buy this, what won't I be able to buy later?

Is the more expensive option worth it?

If Dad lends me the rest, how am I going to pay him back?

The amounts are small, but kids are already practicing decisions they'll eventually make with much bigger numbers.

Ages 8 to 12 are a good time to start

There's a statistic that gets repeated a lot saying children's money habits are set by age seven.
The research behind it is more nuanced.

A University of Cambridge review found that several basic concepts related to later financial behavior typically develop by around age seven. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes ages 6 to 12 as a period when financial habits and norms begin to take shape.

That doesn't mean a child's financial future is decided in elementary school. They're simply already learning a lot from what they see and experience around money.

And at this age, the consequences are still small.

A child can spend $10 too quickly and understand what happened. They can save for something they actually want. They can make a plan for their money, realize it doesn't work and decide what to change.

There's a lot they can learn before the decisions involve a paycheck, a credit card or a car loan.

What I'd want a kids' personal-finance course to do

I wouldn't want a course that mostly teaches definitions.

Kids need the vocabulary, but they also need to use it.

One of the borrowing lessons in Networthy starts with a child who has saved $36 toward a helmet that normally costs $48. Then the helmet goes on sale for $40.

They're $4 short.

Dad is willing to lend them the $4, but they'll have to pay back $5 next month.

The child has to work through the tradeoff. The sale saves $8. Borrowing costs $1. Buying now still costs less overall, but $5 of next month's money will already be committed.

Would they borrow?

The lesson isn't trying to get every child to make the same choice. They need to understand the numbers well enough to decide whether borrowing is worth it to them.

That's what I want financial education to look like at this age.

If kids are learning budgeting, give them a plan that doesn't work and let them fix it. If they're learning unit price, let them use it to compare two actual choices. If they're learning profit, have them calculate whether a business really made money.

I'd also want some of the learning to happen away from the computer.

A child noticing the unit price at the grocery store or saving toward something they chose themselves tells me more than getting another quiz question right.

Why I built Networthy this way

I built Networthy because this is how I wanted my own kids to learn personal finance.

It's an online course for ages 8 to 12 with 16 lessons across eight units. Kids move from basic money choices and earning through spending, saving, budgeting, borrowing and credit, protecting money and eventually running a small business.

Many of the lessons start with a situation rather than an explanation. The child makes a choice, works with the numbers and then learns the financial concept behind what they just did.

When they learn saving, they create a savings goal.

When they learn budgeting, they build a money plan and have to fix it when the numbers don't work.

When they learn borrowing, they calculate what it costs and what the repayment does to future money.

By the final unit, they plan a small business, keep records and calculate whether they actually made a profit.

Every lesson also has its own real-world mission so kids have a reason to use the skill somewhere outside the course.

If you're still deciding where to use EFA funds

I would put personal finance somewhere on the list.

Kids don't need to start with complicated adult financial products. They can start with the money decisions they already understand: spending or waiting, comparing two choices, saving for something, making a plan and figuring out what borrowing really costs.

Right now, most of those decisions involve a few dollars. Later they won't.

Let them practice before the mistakes get expensive.

Networthy's first lesson is free. No credit card is required. https://networthykids.com/start

Is $2,000 Worth the Application, Audits and Rules? Do the Math First

My Learning Source — Mon, 09 Nov 2026 17:08:25 GMT

Two thousand dollars. Say it fast and it sounds like a slam dunk. Who turns down $2,000? But slow down. Every dollar of public money comes with a price tag that isn't printed on the check. The smart move isn't saying yes or no on reflex. The smart move is doing the math.

What You Get

For the 2026–27 school year, Texas Education Freedom Accounts provide homeschool students up to $2,000. Homeschool accounts got the full amount on July 1, 2026. Unspent money rolls over as long as the child stays in TEFA. That's the good part, and it's real.

What You Give

Now the other column.

Time up front. You apply. You establish eligibility. For 2026–27, awarded families had to act by July 15 to confirm their choice or opt out. Miss a step and you've got a problem.

A lottery you don't control. If applications exceed funding, a lottery decides placement, sorted by priority tiers. You can do all the work and still not get in.

Spending on their terms. The money goes to approved expenses: instructional materials, online courses, tutoring, assessments, certain therapies and a few other categories. The TEFA Marketplace is where families use funds directly with participating schools, providers and vendors. If your go-to seller isn't participating, you've got a decision to make.

Hard caps. Computer hardware and software can't exceed 10% of the year's transfer — $200 on a $2,000 award. And you can't pay a family member.

Audits. The Comptroller must contract a private entity to audit accounts and eligibility at least annually. That means records. Receipts. Explanations. Every year.

Rules that can move. The state sets the rules, and they can change. The amounts and tiers you see today are the 2026–27 versions.

An El Paso Mom Runs the Numbers

Meet Carla in El Paso. Single mom, one son, Diego, age 10. She works from home as a bookkeeper, so running numbers is literally her job. She spends a few hundred dollars a year on homeschooling. Used curriculum from a local swap group. Free library programs. A retired neighbor — not family — who tutors Diego in math for a small fee. And her mom, who teaches Diego Spanish reading every week.

(A composite example — names and details are illustrative, drawn from situations homeschool families commonly describe.)

Carla wrote two columns. On one side: up to $2,000. On the other: hours on applications and eligibility, the chance of not getting picked, record-keeping for audits, learning a marketplace, and a spending list that didn't match much of what she already bought. Her mom's teaching couldn't be paid from the account. Her swap-group books weren't coming from a marketplace vendor. Her son didn't need a big program; he needed what was already working.

Her conclusion? For her family, the real usable value was a lot smaller than $2,000, and the hassle was a lot bigger than zero. She decided the program wasn't worth it for them.

When the Math Goes the Other Way

Let's be fair. Carla's math isn't everybody's math. If you already pay for tutoring, online courses or outside therapies, TEFA may line up almost perfectly with what you spend. If money is tight, $2,000 could mean the difference between getting help and going without. For those families, the paperwork is a small price.

That's exactly why you do the math instead of following the crowd.

The Bottom Line

$2,000 is the sticker. What matters is the net. Here's how to find yours.

Total what you actually spent on homeschooling last year.
Circle the purchases that fit the official approved-expense list.
Cross out anything paid to family members or over the 10% tech cap.
Estimate the hours for applying, tracking and keeping audit-ready records.
Remember a lottery may decide whether you get anything at all.
Compare the result to the award, then decide.
Check our Texas Education Freedom Accounts guide for the current rules before you run your numbers.

Free money is never quite free. Know your real number, and you'll know your answer.

My Learning Source is an independent marketplace and is not affiliated with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, Texas Education Freedom Accounts or Odyssey. Program rules and amounts are set by the state and can change every year — confirm details on the official program site before making financial decisions. Family examples are composites, not real individuals.

When Your Provider Says Step Up Hasn't Paid: What the 2026 Payment Delays Mean for Families

My Learning Source — Mon, 09 Nov 2026 17:07:14 GMT

The email arrives from your child's tutor, or the microschool, or the therapy practice: Step Up has not paid us, and we need to talk about your account. It is one of the most stressful messages a scholarship family can receive, and in 2026 it has become common enough to deserve a plain explanation.

What is actually happening

Two public events frame this. A state operational audit released in late 2025 found that Step Up For Students did not process certain private-school tuition payments within the timelines state rules require. Then in February 2026, a group of Florida private schools filed suit against Step Up, alleging payment delays ranging from months to more than a year, partial payments and unexplained reductions. Step Up has said it believes the dispute reflects a misunderstanding of timing and funding requirements. Whatever the outcome, providers are cash-strapped and anxious, and some are turning to families.

What a family is responsible for

Your obligations are the ones in your provider agreement and the program rules. In direct billing, the provider delivers a service, submits an invoice in EMA, and you approve it; once you approve, the payment is between the provider and the funding organization. The thing you control is approving invoices promptly. A tuition invoice that sits unapproved for 30 days is deleted and the funds return to your account, which looks to the school like non-payment and is entirely preventable. What you are not responsible for is fronting money the scholarship has already been billed for, unless your signed agreement says so. Read that agreement before you respond to the email.

The paper trail that protects you

Screenshot every invoice status in EMA the day you approve it, and the account balance beside it.
Keep the provider's messages, and reply in writing rather than by phone, so there is a dated record of what was asked.
Know the funding calendar. The state sends funds to the organizations on set dates each quarter, with up to two weeks of processing. A provider chasing a payment three days after a deposit date is early, not ignored.
If you are asked to pay out of pocket, get the request in writing, get a receipt marked paid in full, and file a reimbursement immediately. Do not pay cash.

When to escalate

If an approved invoice is unpaid well past the processing window, open a case through your EMA account and note the case number; that is the channel the organization tracks. If the provider is a school on a private-school scholarship rather than a PEP provider, the dispute is between the school and the organization, and your job is to confirm your student's enrollment and award are in good standing. If a provider stops service over a payment it has not received from the organization, ask for that in writing too, and start looking for a backup provider; loyalty is admirable but your child's therapy schedule matters more.

Action items

Log into EMA this week and approve anything pending.
Read your provider agreements for any clause that makes you liable for delayed scholarship payments.
Build the screenshot folder now, before there is a dispute.
Ask each provider which route they use, direct billing or reimbursement, and confirm your understanding in writing.

Approving invoices and the 30-day window are covered in our Step Up guide, and providers who work with scholarship families are in the vendor directory.

My Learning Source is an independent marketplace and is not affiliated with Step Up For Students or the Florida Department of Education. Program rules and amounts change every cycle — confirm details on the official program pages before making financial decisions.

Minnesota's K–12 Education Credit and Subtraction for Homeschool Families, in Plain English

My Learning Source — Mon, 09 Nov 2026 16:57:01 GMT

Minnesota doesn't hand homeschool families money up front. There's no education savings account, no voucher and no state account you spend from. What Minnesota does have is two income tax benefits that give some of your homeschool spending back when you file: the K–12 Education Credit and the K–12 Education Subtraction. They've been around for years, a lot of homeschool families don't use them, and the rules are simple once somebody lays them out. That's what this is. Our Minnesota Homeschool Options guide has every official link in one place.

Yes, homeschoolers qualify

This is the first question, so let's settle it. The Minnesota Department of Revenue's Income Tax Fact Sheet 8 says that if your child is in kindergarten through 12th grade, "it does not matter if they are attending a public, private, parochial, or home school." The condition: as a home school, you must report to your local public school district each year and meet the reporting requirements of Minnesota's compulsory attendance laws. In practice that means the reports you send your resident district's superintendent under Minn. Stat. 120A.24 — the initial report, then a letter of intent to continue by October 1 each year. If you're doing those, you're in.

The credit: money back, even if you owe no tax

The K–12 Education Credit (Minn. Stat. 290.0674) equals 75% of what you paid for qualifying education expenses for a child in grades K–12, up to $1,500 per child. It's refundable. If the credit is bigger than your Minnesota income tax, Revenue sends you the difference. That makes it the more valuable of the two benefits for families who qualify.

The catch is an income limit, measured by adjusted gross income, and you can't claim it if you're married filing separately. Here are the numbers, by tax year:

Tax year 2025 (the return you filed in 2026): the full $1,500-per-child maximum applies with adjusted gross income of $75,820 or less. Above that it shrinks, and you don't qualify at $81,820 or more with one or two children, $84,820 with three, or $87,820 plus $3,000 for each additional child.
Tax year 2026 (expenses you pay this year, claimed on the return you file in 2027): Revenue's inflation-adjusted phase-out threshold is $77,550, and income must be less than $83,550 with one or two children, $86,550 with three, or $89,550 plus $3,000 for each additional child.

The subtraction: for everyone else, too

The K–12 Education Subtraction (Minn. Stat. 290.0132, subd. 4) has no income limit and works with any filing status. Instead of a refund, you subtract qualifying expenses from your taxable income, up to $1,625 for each child in kindergarten through 6th grade and $2,500 for each child in 7th through 12th grade. There's no family maximum, only a per-child maximum. Because it lowers taxable income rather than paying you directly, what it's worth depends on your tax bracket. It's smaller than the credit dollar for dollar, but it's there for every family, including those over the credit's income limit.

What they pay for

Revenue's Fact Sheet 8a on home school expenses is the list to keep handy. In short:

Counts: nonreligious textbooks, reading books, academic books and teacher's editions; paper, pens, art and shop supplies; buying or renting equipment such as musical instruments and calculators; testing fees for grade advancement; tutoring, music lessons and academic enrichment from a qualified instructor.
Counts, with a limit: home computer hardware and educational software, up to $200 per family for the credit and $200 for the subtraction.
Doesn't count: internet service, memberships (museums, zoos, the YMCA), correspondence school fees, desks and whiteboards, encyclopedias, PSAT, SAT or ACT fees, seminars for the parent, religious instruction, and instruction by the child's parent, grandparent or sibling.

That last one surprises people. You can't count your own teaching time. The credit and subtraction cover what you pay others and what you buy.

How the two fit together

You can't use the same expense for both. Revenue says to figure the credit first, then use any qualifying expenses the credit's limits left over for the subtraction. One rule trips families up: the 25% of expenses the credit doesn't cover can't be moved to the subtraction. Spend $1,000 on curriculum for one child, qualify for the credit, and you get $750 back. The other $250 is simply done.

How you claim

There's no application, no approval and no approved-vendor list. You claim the credit on Schedule M1ED and carry it to Schedule M1REF; you claim the subtraction on Schedule M1M (line 13 on the 2025 form). You claim expenses in the year you paid them. You don't mail receipts with your return, but you must keep itemized receipts and invoices and show them if Revenue asks. And if your income is low enough that you don't normally file, you have to file to get the refundable credit.

A lot of families already use them

Revenue reported in August 2026 that, last year, more than 46,000 families received the K–12 Education Credit, for an average credit of $389, and more than 123,000 families received the subtraction, for an average of $1,491. Those numbers include every kind of school, not just home schools.

One change to know

Minnesota used to let qualifying families assign their refund to a bank or nonprofit to get the money sooner. That law, Minn. Stat. 290.0679, was repealed for assignments after December 31, 2025. You now claim the credit the ordinary way, on your return.

A family running the numbers

The Lindqvists homeschool a 4th grader and an 8th grader near Brainerd and file jointly, with adjusted gross income of about $70,000 in 2025. That year they paid $900 for math, science and literature books for both kids, $600 for Tuesday-evening algebra tutoring for their older son from a tutor with a bachelor's degree, and $300 for a used laptop. On Schedule M1ED, the books and tutoring came to $1,500, plus $200 of the laptop (the most the credit allows for computers), for $1,700. Seventy-five percent of that is $1,275 — well under their $3,000 maximum for two children, so their credit was $1,275. The other $100 of the laptop went to the subtraction on Schedule M1M, under its own $200 computer limit.

(A composite example — names and details are illustrative, drawn from situations homeschool families commonly describe.)

Your checklist

File your initial report and your October 1 letter of intent with your district each year.
Keep an itemized receipt for every curriculum, supply and lesson purchase.
Check tutors' and teachers' qualifications before you pay.
Figure the credit first; send leftovers to the subtraction.
Use the tax year 2026 income limits for what you pay in 2026.
File a Minnesota return even if you owe nothing, if you qualify for the credit.

For curriculum, tutors and classes, browse our Minnesota vendor directory, and check the Minnesota Education Calendar for fairs and testing dates. A listing on My Learning Source doesn't mean a purchase qualifies — only Revenue decides that.

My Learning Source is an independent marketplace and is not affiliated with the Minnesota Department of Revenue, the Minnesota Department of Education, any Minnesota school district or the Minnesota Legislature. Tax rules, forms, line numbers and income limits change from year to year — confirm the current Revenue instructions or ask a tax professional before you file. Family examples are composites, not real individuals.

My Learning Source — Homeschool Workshops & Articles

Reading Words Without Understanding: What Parents Need to Know

"But You Just Read That Perfectly!"

Accuracy is not the same as effortless

We can't teach every word

The "built-in teacher": your child's self-teaching superpower

When reading takes off on its own

Cognitive scientist Mark Seidenberg, author of Language at the Speed of Sight, compares learning to read to launching a rocket ship.

What you can do at home

Help with the words

Build the meaning

Build the habit

Structured Linguistic Literacy can help

Integrating Art, Science and Cultures to Shape Well-Rounded Students

SAT, ACT or CLT? A Texas Homeschooler's Guide to Choosing (and Paying for) the Right Test

In Texas, the test score works like a class rank

How the three tests differ

How to choose

A testing timeline for homeschool families

Paying for prep with TEFA

The bottom line

Your Child Doesn't Hate History—They May Hate the Way History Is Being Taught

NM State Approved GDL Driver's Education

Treehouse Time - Bounce, Slide, Swing & Play Open Gym

From the Barricades to Spring Auditions: What’s Happening at Creative Grounds Fine Arts Academy

67 Young Artists Take the Stage in Les Misérables School Edition at Creative Grounds Fine Arts Academy

Don’t Miss Les Misérables School Edition (November 19–22)

Step Into the Spotlight: Spring 2027 Production Auditions Are Open!

Coming Soon: Spring Acting Class Registrations

What Real PE Looks Like for Homeschoolers — and Why It Matters More Than Sports

PE isn’t just “getting the wiggles out”

The injury pattern I see in my office

What to look for in a homeschool PE program

Why we built PE+

Come try it free

The Training Zone & Carlson Chiropractic, Urbandale

STEM at Every Age: Building a Hands-On Path from Elementary to High School

Overview

Kindergarten and Early Elementary

Ozobot

Makey Makey

3DUX Design

ScratchJr

Later Elementary

Scratch

Snap Circuits

Tinkercad

Middle School

Tinkercad (again!)

Python

High School

Tips for selecting STEM kits and resources

Learning Through Play: Why Hands-On Activities Belong in Every Homeschool Classroom

More Than Just Play Dough

Making Homeschool Lessons More Engaging

A Resource for Homeschool Families

Bring More Creativity Into Your Homeschool

Brain Training to Build Reading Skills

The Power of Imaginative Play: Why It Matters

Why Choir Belongs in Your Homeschool: The Benefits of Music Education for Young Singers

Why Choir Belongs in Your Homeschool: The Benefits of Music Education for Young Singers

Music Education Goes Beyond Singing

Why Community Matters for Homeschool Families

Finding the Right Musical Fit

Bringing Music Into Your Homeschool Journey

Why is Art Important for Kids?

Letter Height Delight

College Credits Close to Home

Driving Instruction - Immediate Availability, State Licensed and Experienced, Easy Sign-Up, Serving Cincinnati

The Benefits of a Welding Career

From Truth, to Goodness, to Beauty

Overcoming the Grammar Battle: How GrammarFlip Simplifies ELA for Arkansas Homeschool Families

Why Texas Homeschool Students Should Start Learning Artificial Intelligence Now

1. AI Literacy Is Becoming an Essential Technology Skill

2. Students Can Start Without Programming Experience

3. Hands-On Learning Makes AI More Meaningful

4. AI Education Can Introduce Students to Industry Certifications

5. Flexible Online Training Works Well for Homeschool Families

6. Responsible AI Use Is Just as Important as Technical Knowledge

Help Your Student Begin Their AI Learning Journey

**67 Young Artists Take the Stage in Les Misérables School Edition at Creative Grounds Fine Arts Academy**

**Don’t Miss Les Misérables School Edition (November 19–22)**