Now that the very first users of the Excelerate SPANISH program are wrapping up their school year, the feedback is beginning to come in! I’m excited to share it with you, and I hope that the comments of these moms will help to answer some of your own questions. “We have loved the program. My…
What is the best way to meet your homeschool Spanish goals? How can parents and students get the greatest “return on investment” (ROI) for your time, effort, and often, money spent on foreign language programs? A friend of mine is known for saying, “I believe in using the right tool for the right job.” That…
As the author of Excelerate SPANISH, I’d like to say, first of all, that teaching high school Spanish is what I did professionally for ten years. I’ve seen what works… and I’ve seen what doesn’t. When I started homeschooling my own children in 2003, it was fun trying out several foreign language curricula that were…
I spent a weekend at the Southeast Homeschool Expo in Atlanta this past summer, and it wasn’t long before I noticed that the number of curriculum choices for Spanish is, in a word, puzzling. How is a homeschool mom to narrow down her search? Among the hundreds of exhibitors at the Expo, there were representatives…
Need a high school transcript? No need for a panic attack! Here’s a fantastic, FREE template that I used with both of my recent graduates (thanks to Wendy McMillian, the creator of this time-saver, and to Heather of PEAH!) You’ll be impressed with the clean, organized look– but even better, you’ll love the way it…
Are we “Wired for Story?” A recent blog post by MaryAnn Diorio highlights author Lisa Cron’s research into this fascinating question. The article outlines the brain-story connection and postulates that a strong cognitive response to stories is pre-programmed in our psyches. The implications of this discovery are far-reaching and should inform our teaching in virtually…
Stories allure and compel us. The themes and struggles and victories of stories captivate our imaginations whether they are packaged in books or plays or movies or even gossip. Good stories appeal to every generation and to every culture. They speak to the deepest part of each of us. They are universal! Of course, the…
Please register today for the conference this weekend, February 7th and 8th! I hope to see you there! (Psst… I have it on good authority that you may register online through Friday morning, and attendees will not be turned away at the door… but please do pre-register!) 13th Annual Winter Conference Heart for Home School…
I’d like to offer your co-op or support group a FREE workshop on teaching foreign languages in your homeschool, to benefit all families no matter which language(s) or curricula you choose! We will discuss: 1. How and why so many students fail to achieve proficiency with ordinary methods 2. What brain researchers and language acquisition…
Now here’s a resource that’s just begging to be shared– authentic music from every Hispanic country under the sun, clearly pinpointed on the world map for easy reference! These songs are a sure-fire way to further engage your homeschool students and to synthesize their language study with geography and culture. Click on the pushpins and…