Decades of research in language development and literacy show that children acquire grammar long before anyone explains it to them. By the time a child start formal schooling, most have already mastered the complex rules of their spoken language, without a single worksheet or diagram. Still, many homeschooling parents feel pressure to start formal grammar lessons early. It’s easy to believe that circling nouns and underlining verbs is what “real” language learning looks like.

Every homeschool family has their own recipe for learning. Some follow a precise formula, while others toss in a little of this and that, trusting it’ll turn out sweet in the end. Let’s head into the kitchen and see how each homeschooling style might bake bread. Note: This post is meant for fun and to give a lighthearted and relatable way to understand common homeschooling styles.

If you’ve ever watched your kids dissolve into giggles over a ridiculous story full of silly words, you already know the magic of Madlibs. But beyond the laughter, Mad Libs are a surprisingly powerful tool for learning. They helping children strengthen grammar skills, expand vocabulary, and boost creativity, all while having fun. Why Madlibs Work for Homeschool Learning Madlibs are essentially short stories with missing words that kids fill in, without knowing the full context.

If you haven’t played Sleeping Queens yet, I'm really excited to share with you one of our favorite games! This game was designed by a six-year-old and is full of imagination, math, memory, and strategy, all wrapped up in a colorful fairytale theme. Why We Love It At first glance, Sleeping Queens looks like a silly game about waking up queens and collecting points.

Word games are more than just fun, they can be powerful tools for building literacy, critical thinking, and family connection. Two classic favorites, Boggle and Boggle Junior, can be easily adapted into your homeschool routine to support learners of different ages. Why Word Games Work in Homeschooling Games like Boggle encourage children to: Build and reinforce vocabulary Strengthen spelling skills…

If you spend time online, you’ve probably come across Wordle, the simple daily word puzzle that took the internet by storm. At first glance, it may just look like a fun distraction, but Wordle can actually be a powerful (and free!) learning tool for your homeschool. In this post, we’ll explore different ways to bring Wordle into your homeschool routine to build vocabulary, spelling skills, critical thinking, and even family connection.

The other day at the thrift store, my kids spotted a Spidey Friends Memory game for 99 cents. It was just a box of cards with no instructions—but my five-year-old is obsessed with memory games, so it came home with us. As soon as we walked in the door, both my five- and eight-year-old were ready to play. Step One: Count the Cards…

If my kid wants to use “he” this week and “they” next week, it doesn’t change how I parent. At the end of the day, they still need dinner, hugs, help with homework, and reminders to brush their teeth. Their gender identity (and the ways they express it) doesn’t alter my role as mom. It just adds more opportunities to show them that I love them exactly as they are.

When I designed these handwriting pages, I wanted them to be both developmentally appropriate and fun. The order is influenced by UFLI’s Getting Ready curriculum, but you can absolutely adjust as needed for your learner. Uppercase vs. Lowercase Some handwriting programs begin with lowercase letters, while others begin with uppercase. Both approaches are valid! I start with uppercase because many children find them simpler to form—fewer curves and more straight lines.

If you've been in the secular homeschool world for any length of time, you've probably come across Miacademy. It is an online learning platform often mentioned alongside programs like Power Homeschool or Time4Learning. I recently took a deep dive into Miacademy's website and offerings, and I can say with confidence: this is not a platform I would ever recommend to secular homeschooling families.

The vast majority of homeschoolers are white women, this means there’s a good chance that you, my current reader, are a white woman. This article is not about silencing you, but about encouraging mindfulness and intentionality in our words and actions. Since we occupy the majority, our voices carry a lot of weight within the homeschool community. The incidental consequence of this is that we overshadow other voices.

When your toddler asks, “Where do babies come from?” or your 7-year-old asks why their friend has two moms, it’s normal to feel unsure how to respond. Many of us didn’t grow up with healthy models of sex education, and the idea of having “the talk” can bring up awkwardness, fear, or uncertainty. Here’s the truth: one big talk isn’t enough.

I’m excited to share something I’ve been working on: a homeschool-friendly version of Illustrative Mathematics Algebra I. If you’ve ever looked at the official teacher materials and felt overwhelmed, this guide breaks the course down into a simpler, easier-to-follow format designed for families learning at home. Here’s what you’ll find inside: Most lessons use Khan Academy videos and practice problems…

Choosing a learn-to-read program can feel overwhelming (there are so many options out there!) and not all of them are secular or a good fit for home use. Below, I’ve rounded up some popular secular reading programs and supplements, with a quick look at what makes each one unique. Full Program? Affordability Methodology Parent Involvement Format Wild Reading Yes $$ Multi-sensory phonics and nature based with influences from Waldorf and Montessori High Flexible digital guide for parents to implement …

One of the most magical things we can teach our kids is that we are made of stardust. Long before Earth existed, stars were already at work creating the elements that would one day make up everything we see around us—including us! I’m excited to share that I’ve just released a brand-new lesson in the Stardust Storytellers series: Formation of Stars.

When I first heard about Night Zookeeper, I was intrigued. A gamified approach to language arts? A platform that could actually get kids excited about writing? As a homeschooling parent, that sounded almost too good to be true. At first, I thought it might actually deliver. My kids were excited, and while the program was a bit clunky to navigate, I had high hopes.

Today I’m excited to share an interview with Nika, a veteran homeschooler and fellow admin at Strictly Secular + Inclusive Homeschool. Nika brings a wealth of experience and perspective to the homeschooling world, and I’m honored to highlight her family’s story here. At Rabbit Hole Learning, we believe every homeschool is unique—and those stories deserve to be told. If you’d like to share your own homeschooling journey in a future interview, I’d love to hear from you!

Every story has a beginning. For our universe, that beginning is the Big Bang — and it’s also where our Stardust to Storytellers Prehistory curriculum begins. Before there were dinosaurs, before Earth, before even time itself, there was… nothing. Then, 13.8 billion years ago, everything changed. Space stretched, time began, and tiny particles formed the foundation of stars, galaxies, planets, and eventually, us.