BJU Press Blog

Children are naturally curious about the world around them. They ask tons of questions. One of the best ways to engage that curiosity is with hands-on activities and experimentation, like learning about melting wax through a crayon art project, or making a history timeline to put the past into perspective. Laboratory investigations, on the other hand, can be intimidating, but they are worth the time and effort.

One of the challenges of science is that so much of our world is microscopic, and it is hard to study what we cannot see. Our bodies are composed of millions of tiny cells. Molecules travel across cell membranes. But how do we know that? Have you ever observed osmosis, when water travels from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration? Although you cannot see the water molecules traveling, you can infer that they do from what happens to a gummy bear left in water.

[Read more…] about The Gummy Bear Experiment–A Fun, Edible Science Project

My earliest recollection of communication in my home was the movement of hands in the air. I watched my mom and dad sit across the table from each other and sign. They coupled the fluid movements of their hands with meaningful facial expressions and body movements. From the back seat of the car, I would watch Dad signing one-handed to Mom. This was my life as a CODA, or a child of deaf adults.

My parents, my brother, and I, and the Deaf community we were a part of had a very different experience communicating through American Sign Language. If you’re interested in learning ASL or having your student take an ASL course, I’d like to share with you what this beautiful language means to me from a CODA perspective. I hope that it might inspire you to encourage your child to take the first steps to begin learning ASL.

Learn about ASL from a CODA Perspective!

Do you have a little one who is expressing interest in school? Maybe your firstborn is nearing school age, and you want to start homeschooling preschool. In either of these situations, you may be asking yourself, how can I find the best preschool homeschool curriculum? Well, the answer is that it depends a lot on your style, the amount of time you have, and your budget. Read on for why you might want a preschool curriculum and some specifics about choosing a preschool homeschool curriculum.

[Read more…] about How to Find the Best Preschool Homeschool Curriculum

Every homeschool mom wants to be successful in homeschooling. But how do you know if you’re successful—especially if you feel like a failure? Many moms spend countless hours researching curriculum, reading articles and blogs, and asking other homeschoolers for advice. After all, educating your child at home is a tremendous undertaking and should be taken seriously. How can you be a successful homeschool mom? How do you measure success in homeschooling?

Want to be a homeschool success? Keep reading!

I am a homeschool mom of four wonderful daughters. When I started homeschooling six years ago, I had a second-grader, a kindergartener, a toddler, and an infant. This year I am homeschooling an eighth grader, a fifth grader, a third grader, and a kindergartener. I sometimes get asked how I manage homeschooling multiple ages. My answer—It’s hard. But it has actually gotten easier now that all my children are in school. And I’ve had several years to learn what works and what doesn’t work for my family. 

A few years ago, BJU Press published a podcast entitled “Homeschooling Multiple Grades”. The guest, HomeWorks by Precept Consultant Jennifer Lont, had some really helpful tips that have helped my own homeschool run more smoothly. Below are her tips as well as a few of my own. 

Read All 8 Tips