Category Archives: homeschooling

Reading War Champions & How to Teach Reading – Flesch & Blumenfeld

“According to the U.S. Department of Education, 54% of U.S. adults 16-74 years old – about 130 million people – lack proficiency in literacy, reading below the equivalent of a sixth-grade level.” (Forbes Magazine, September 9, 2020) How can we … Continue reading

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Learning before we Teach (What I learned from Sam, #5)

Samuel Blumenfeld (author of Alpha-Phonics: A Primer for Beginning Readers) was an independent thinker on a solitary quest, and a master at research. (The indexes of his books will show this.) Devoted to improving American literacy, he became a dedicated … Continue reading

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Old Foes & New Conflicts in American Schools (What I learned from Sam, #4)

or…         New Battles in an Old Conflict Educational battlegrounds, in our present-day public schools, stem from similar conflicts from our Colonial days. Originally, Massachusetts Puritans enforced Biblical teaching in support of a Calvinistic worldview.  Eventually, these beliefs … Continue reading

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Legislating Religion in New England (What I learned from Sam, #3)

In the year 1620 a group of Puritans set sail from Plymouth, England, on a venture for freedom in the New World. They were armed with utopian ideas, hoping to escape from post-Reformation tyrants. They wanted to be self-governed, and … Continue reading

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Who Taught George Washington? (What I learned from Sam, #2)

Who taught George Washington? How about Benjamin Franklin? Thomas Jefferson? Do you care to guess? Lawrence A. Cremin (author of “American Education: The Colonial Experience 1607-1783”) describes the signers of the Declaration of Independence and of the U.S. Constitution as … Continue reading

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Read to your Children & Around the World with Madeline

Following Madeline around the World “In an old house in Paris that was covered with vines Lived twelve little girls in two straight lines. In two straight lines they broke their bread And brushed their teeth and went to bed. … Continue reading

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Words and Their True Meanings (Adult lessons in Children’s Books)

“When I use a word,” Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, “it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less.” “The question is,” said Alice, “whether you can make words mean so many … Continue reading

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Raving Customers (Homeschooling with Peter Watt: Episode 3)

“Dianna and I are just beginning lesson 7. After going over lessons three and four Dianna was so excited that she could read that she hugged my neck and told me she loved me. She said, ‘Oh mommy, my wish … Continue reading

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Mirror-Image Reading and Writing (Homeschooling with Peter Watt: Episode 2)

My first child learned to read effortlessly. It was so easy for her that she believed she had taught herself. So, of course, I assumed I was an expert at teaching reading. Then came my second child. This daughter had … Continue reading

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Hearts and Certificates (Homeschooling with Peter Watt: Episode 4)

I am delighted to announce that The Paradigm Company continues to garner Homeschooling excellency awards. Check this out: “This is to certify that Alpha Phonics, a product of Paradigm Company, has tied for First Place in the Phonics Program category … Continue reading

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