We are helping our children master their math skills at the supper table. These strategies are so easy that you can get started tonight!

How Our Children Master Math Skills at the Supper Table

We are helping our children master their math skills at the supper table. These strategies are so easy that you can get started tonight! How do we do this? The short answer: supper conversations that encourage math thinking. It's really that simple! In this article we'll break down exactly what this looks like on a regular day in our home. And then you get to try it too! Family Time at the Supper Table Family time at the supper table is a very valuable time in our household. Not only does it allow us all to reconnect and get a good idea of...

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This collection of 30+ motivational quotes to inspire students, teachers, and parents was hand-picked to bring you the best!

Motivational Quotes to Inspire Students, Teachers, and Parents

This collection of 30+ motivational quotes to inspire students, teachers, and parents was hand-picked to bring you the best. Whether you are a teacher educating students in your classroom, a high school student looking for inspiration, a parent searching for a motivational quote for your mudroom wall, or a homeschool family wanting to display a quote in your home, you will find something to encourage the learners in your life. We have broken the following quotes into five broad categories: "It is a Gift to Learn," "Press On Even When it is Difficult," "Education Offers Opportunity," "Teachers and Parents are...

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Our children need home to be a retreat from the world around them. Discover how to help your kids feel safe and calm at home.

Authentic Ways to Help Your Kids Feel Safe and Calm at Home

“This right here: this is our safe space.  You are safe here and we always want you to feel that way.  This is where you can be honest and vulnerable.  You can ask questions and make mistakes.  We choose to treat one another with such love and respect, that home is always safe.” We were managing another growing pain: siblings learning to love one another. It was a tricky situation where it seemed that all were at fault and we needed to carefully speak to each child individually, hearing their angle and listening to their pain points and ultimately their needs. But our...

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The Ultimate List of Back-to-School Supplies by Team V Education. Materials and Resources for classroom, e-learning, and homeschooling.

The Ultimate List of Back-to-School Supplies for E-Learning and Homeschooling

As online learning (“e-learning”) continues and becomes more popular, many families may be looking for resources to make learning at home easier and more efficient.   We've provided the ultimate list of back-to-school supplies for e-learning and homeschooling. Whether your child(ren) is learning in the classroom, online, or at home, you'll find useful materials here. Related: Eclectic Kindergarten Curriculum that Supports Child-Led Learning Here at Team V Education, we have spent years as educators both in the classroom and at home, and have plenty of experience in regards to what works, and how to organize your learning environment for success. Together we have...

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Easy tips to help kids overcome a fear of learning, and develop confidence in themselves.

Help Kids Overcome Learning Struggles and Develop Confidence

"My child doesn't want to learn to read." "How do I help them overcome learning struggles?" Does this sound familiar? Should you worry? Not just yet, because each child’s needs and interests are so monumentally different, PLEASE give yourself the freedom to let go of past expectations and to instead engage in the magic of learning as a natural process. I bought into the teaching propaganda I learned early on that the expectations I put on my own kids was driven by fear. Headlines pop up all over Google and Pinterest when you search for early learning support: “Read Before Kindergarten”"What Your...

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Valentine's Books for Creative Writing. Use these writing prompts to encourage kids to consider creative ways to express love to others. Team V's Top Picks!

Valentine’s Books for Creative Writing

The days surrounding Valentine's Day are such a wonderful time of year to practice words of affirmation with children and to reestablish an atmosphere of love and kindness in their midst.  These five books are wonderful to read throughout the year, but are especially great to use as Valentine's books for creative writing.     This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Team V Education!   I sought out to find stories that are beautifully illustrated and that provide an excellent framework from which children can develop creativity in their thinking and writing.   Use these writing prompts around Valentine's Day to encourage children to think of creative...

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DIY Pirate Swords are perfect for kids who love imaginary play and all things pirates, knights, and fairytales. These can even be made by using scraps of materials from around the home. A great child-led learning activity.

DIY Pirate Swords for Imaginary Play

Imaginary play is often the driving force behind our learning. Stories, drawings, and group play are all derived from the interests of our children. And lately pirates, knights, and fairies have dominated our play. I should have known that with creative kids like ours, DIY pirate swords for imaginary play were bound to happen eventually!     This is a simple yet engaging art activity that uses scraps of cardboard and various tapes and stickers to create a masterpiece that not only looks great, but is useful too.   Related: How to Recognize Creativity in Children   Here is how we did it:   DIY Pirate Swords for Imaginary Play   Materials   ...

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Creativity is at the heart of our kids. They are a masterpiece of ideas, interests, and individuality. How do we recognize creativity in children?

How to Recognize Creativity in Children

Creativity is at the heart of each of our children. They are a masterpiece of ideas, interests, and individuality. With such diversity in their passions however, how do we recognize what creativity in children truly looks like?     Recognize Creativity in Children   See your child, or another little one in your life, and imagine them in their element.   What is it that they love? How do they express themselves?   Maybe they are building with Lego and designing a castle for the King and his family to protect them from the dragon.   Perhaps you see them at the art easel, happily immersed in the feeling of their...

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Is wrestling safe for kids. Violence, rough play, and wrestling clubs - it's not what you think! How wrestling benefits children's development.

Is Wrestling Safe for Kids?

Is wrestling safe for kids?  Physically competing against another person can be very intimidating. Until recently, the idea of my child wrestling is something that had never crossed my mind.   I recently met a man who credits the success of his multi-million dollar business to the discipline and determination he acquired through years as a wrestler and wrestling coach!   During his wrestling clinic, I learned of his wonderful life journey and root for his wrestling passion.     Volunteering to Encourage Growth and Success   This coach shared that he loves the sport so much that he has been volunteering his time for years to get the...

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What do Reggio Emilia, Child-Led Learning, and Unschooling have in common? With this common denominator, it doesn't *really* matter which style of learning you use in your homeschooling/alternative education.

Reggio Emilia, Child-Led Learning, and Unschooling

Reggio Emilia, Child-Led Learning, and Unschooling have gained traction as popular methods of instruction, especially in homeschooling.  And with such a great variety of educational methods to choose from both in mainstream schooling and in homeschooling, it can be disconcerting for parents to know what is best for their children. We too have struggled to give name to our homeschooling methods, bouncing from a Reggio Emilia approach, to child-led learning, to even unschooling. This was until I recognized that these three methods, and truly all methods of educating, share one common denominator: intentionality. The argument that one style of teaching prevails over another is...

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