Wow, I wish this one post of my daughter's had been saved before she got rid of her last blog.  I loved it.  I am so glad that she has learned from my many mistakes.  After 20 years of homeschooling, I've made plenty!

I just love Ruth Beechick.  Just a bit before my daughter began homeschooling, I had come to realize that Ruth Beechick's methods were right on for our family - and in my opinion, most, if not all homeschoolers would benefit from them.

I can't remember now where it was referenced in Ruth Beechick's writings - be it book or article, or maybe both.  It was that conversation is the best way to learn.  That was what my daughter's post was about.  You can just tell them!  Think of how a baby loves to look in his mother's face.  Think of being on their level, explaining those things that you think you need the books, bells and whistles for.  You don't!  You can just tell them.  Now obviously when it comes to letter shapes and such, they need to see what it looks like.  Could you just write it for them?  Yes, you could!

I think that perhaps we could save a truck load of money when it comes to homeschooling.

Well, be it health, science, history, bible -- of course there are things you could read, and would want to read.  But there are many things that you could just "tell them."  Write down your learning goals and tell them more than once.  Talk about it for a few days.  This, you can do while you feed the baby, do chores, ride in the car, and so on.

You already own a wealth of information that you do not need to study and learn to pass on.  Home ec. - you know how to make toast, right?  How about french toast?  Pancakes?  Cookies?  How about lemonade?  Hot chocolate?   Health - nutrition - hygeine.  Brush your teeth.  Wash your hands.  Germs.  Manners.  Charactor issues. 

There are so many things that we could "just talk about."  I've spent so much time preparing lessons from books.  It takes time away from just grabbing them to come alongside of me, so I can "Just tell them."