Six of Ten Fun, Safe, Cheap One-Day Road Trips for Families: A blog series for the parents and educators who need a good day, not a big vacation.
Enjoy the famous Frankenmuth Chicken! Frankenmuth — Bavarian Charm & Bronner's Christmas Wonderland Some towns feel like they were built for wandering, and Frankenmuth is one of them. Even on a plain Tuesday in July, the whole place has a festival feeling — timbered buildings, a covered bridge, and the smell of chicken dinners drifting down the main street. Why it works for families Frankenmuth is walkable, which is a gift when you've got young kids who don't love sitting in
Dr. Jean Wright
Sep 291 min read
Five of Ten Fun, Safe, Cheap One-Day Road Trips for Families: A blog series for the parents and educators who need a good day, not a big vacation.
Cranbrook Gardens & Institute — Nature Meets Art Cranbrook, in Bloomfield Hills, is equal parts formal garden, sculpture walk, and science museum — a rare combination that gives every family member something to love. Why it works for families The Cranbrook Institute of Science has hands-on exhibits, a planetarium, and dinosaur fossils. Just outside, the historic gardens offer fountains, sculpture, and quiet paths that are easy on little legs. What it costs Institute admission
Dr. Jean Wright
Sep 191 min read
Four of Ten Fun, Safe, Cheap One-Day Road Trips for Families: A blog series for the parents and educators who need a good day, not a big vacation.
Port Huron — Lighthouses & Lake Huron Views Port Huron sits where Lake Huron meets the St. Clair River, and it's got the kind of big-water, big-sky feeling that's hard to find without driving hours north. Why it works for families The Fort Gratiot Light — Michigan's oldest lighthouse — is open for tours in season, and kids love climbing it. Pine Grove Park offers freighter-watching along the water, which is more captivating for children than it sounds; these ships are enormou
Dr. Jean Wright
Sep 91 min read
Three of Ten Fun, Safe, Cheap One-Day Road Trips for Families: A blog series for the parents and educators who need a good day, not a big vacation.
Let's go downtown! Holly & Historic Downtown — Small-Town Charm Holly is one of those towns that rewards a slow walk. Victorian storefronts, a historic train depot, and a genuinely walkable downtown make it an easy, low-key day trip. Why it works for families There's little pressure here — no big-ticket attraction to rush toward. Just shops, a park, and a depot where kids can watch freight trains pass by. It's a good "reset" day when everyone's schedule has been too full. Wha
Dr. Jean Wright
Aug 201 min read
Two of Ten Fun, Safe, Cheap One-Day Road Trips for Families: A blog series for the parents and educators who need a good day, not a big vacation.
Take a tour of Old Detroit and view the Classic Cars! Greenfield Village & The Henry Ford — Hands-On History If your kids learn best by touching, building, and doing, Greenfield Village was built for them. It's history you can walk through — actual homes, workshops, and a working farm, all gathered into one 90-acre village. Why it works for families Kids can watch glassblowers and blacksmiths at work, ride in a Model T, and climb aboard a real steam train. It's hands-on in a
Dr. Jean Wright
Aug 101 min read
One of Ten Fun, Safe, Cheap One-Day Road Trips for Families: A blog series for the parents and educators who need a good day, not a big vacation.
Let's visit the farm! Kensington Metropark — Beach, Farm Center & Nature Trails There's a particular kind of tired that comes at the end of a school year — or a long stretch of parenting — when what you need isn't a vacation. It's a day. One good day, close to home, that doesn't cost much and doesn't require a suitcase. Kensington Metropark, just west of Detroit in Milford, is exactly that kind of day. Why it works for families Kensington has a little bit of everything, which
Dr. Jean Wright
Jul 252 min read
HOMESCHOOLING TIPS THAT WORK! (PART 12 OF 12)
Physical activity-a requirement, not just a reward. Mental Wellness Check-Ins You Can Build Into Your School Day Academic success and mental wellness are not separate goals — they are the same goal. A child who feels emotionally safe, seen, and supported learns better, retains more, and shows up more fully every day. This is not soft science. This is what the research has confirmed, and what every experienced educator already knows. Here are three simple wellness practices yo
Dr. Jean Wright
Jul 111 min read
HOMESCHOOLING TIPS THAT WORK! (PART 11 OF 12)
Grades and test scores are only part of the picture. How to Know If Your Child Is Thriving — Not Just Passing Grades and test scores tell you what your child knows. They don't always tell you how your child is growing. After 35 years in education, I can say with confidence: the most important signs of a thriving student are often the ones we can't put a number on. Here is what to look for beyond the grade book: 1. Watch for curiosity, not just compliance. A child who asks que
Dr. Jean Wright
Jul 11 min read
HOMESCHOOLING TIPS THAT WORK! (PART 10 OF 12)
Community Resources can "Spice it up." Community Learning: Taking School Beyond Your Four Walls One of the greatest gifts of homeschooling is this: the world is your classroom. Libraries, parks, fire stations, courthouses, community gardens, local businesses — they are all ready to teach your child something a textbook never could. Real-world learning builds the kind of knowledge that lasts a lifetime. Here are three ways to make community learning part of your routine: 1. Co
Dr. Jean Wright
Jun 211 min read
HOMESCHOOLING TIPS THAT WORK! (PART 9 OF 12)
Read Aloud Time Never Gets Old! Reading Aloud Still Works — Even for Teens Most parents stop reading aloud when their children learn to read on their own. That's too soon. Research — and experience — shows that reading aloud builds vocabulary, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence at every age. It's one of the most powerful and underused tools in homeschooling. Here's how to make it work with older learners: 1. Let them choose the book sometimes. A teen who picks the
Dr. Jean Wright
Jun 91 min read
HOMESCHOOLING TIPS THAT WORK! (PART 8 OF 12)
Stay the Course! Real Talk: Staying Consistent When Homeschool Life Gets Hard Nobody talks about the Tuesday in February when you just don't want to do it. When the kids are difficult, life is heavy, and the school day feels impossible before it even starts. Consistency doesn't mean being perfect every single day. It means having something to come back to when things fall apart. Here are three strategies that actually work: 1. Anchor your day with one non-negotiable. Pick one
Dr. Jean Wright
Jun 41 min read
HOMESCHOOLING TIPS THAT WORK! (PART 7 OF 12)
Burnout is not just for adults. Recognizing Burnout in Your Homeschooled Child — and What to Do Burnout doesn't announce itself. It creeps in quietly — and by the time you notice it, your child may have been struggling for weeks. As an educator with over 35 years in the classroom, I've seen it in schools. Homeschool parents see it at the kitchen table. The signs are the same. Watch for these three early signals: 1. Resistance has replaced curiosity. When a child who once aske
Dr. Jean Wright
May 281 min read
HOMESCHOOLING TIPS THAT WORK! (PART 6 OF 12)
Let them be the "Teacher for Today!" How to Adapt One Lesson for K–12 Learners One of the biggest challenges in homeschooling multiple children is teaching different ages at the same time. But here's a truth experienced teachers know well: you don't need a different lesson for every child — you need one good lesson taught at multiple levels. Try these three strategies today: 1. Same topic, different depth. Take any subject — weather, history, fractions — and teach the concept
Dr. Jean Wright
May 221 min read
HOMESCHOOLING TIPS THAT WORK! (PART 5 OF 12)
How many "Feelings Words" do you know? Teaching Social-Emotional Skills Alongside Academics Reading, writing, and arithmetic matter. So does knowing how to manage your feelings, resolve conflict, and treat people with kindness. The great news? You can teach both — at the same time, every day. Here's how to weave social-emotional learning into your homeschool naturally: 1. Start the day with a check-in. Before opening a single textbook, ask your child: How are you feeling toda
Dr. Jean Wright
May 131 min read
HOMESCHOOLING TIPS THAT WORK! (PART 4 OF 12)
We can homeschool away from home! Creating a Learning Space That Works for Every Age You don't need a Pinterest-perfect classroom to run a powerful homeschool. After 35 years in public education, I can tell you: the best learning happens where children feel safe, seen, and settled — not where the furniture matches. Here are three tips to set up a space that works: 1. Function first, aesthetics second. Start by asking one question: What does my child need to do here? A kinderg
Dr. Jean Wright
May 61 min read
HOMESCHOOLING TIPS THAT WORK! (PART 3 OF 12)
What would YOU do? Give it a different ending. How to Use Children's Books to Spark Every Subject One good book can teach science, history, character, and writing — all in a single read-aloud. This is one of the most underused strategies in homeschooling, and it's completely free. Here's how to make it work across every grade: 1. Choose a book, then build outward. Pick one picture book or chapter book and ask: What subject does this naturally connect to? A story set in the ra
Dr. Jean Wright
Apr 291 min read
HOMESCHOOLING TIPS THAT WORK! (PART 2 OF 12)
Tell him, "Don't worry, you will do better next time." Building Resilience at Home: Teaching Kids to Bounce Back Resilience isn't something children either have or don't have — it's a skill, and you can teach it right at home. After 35 years in public education and doctoral research on resilience, I can tell you: the lessons that stick are the ones woven into everyday life. Try these three strategies this week: 1. Let struggle happen — on purpose. When your child gets frustr
Dr. Jean Wright
Apr 201 min read
HOMESCHOOLING TIPS THAT WORK! PART 1 OF 12
Books, games, and toys can all be learning tools! Interactive Tools for Homeschooling You don't need a classroom full of technology to make learning come alive. The right tools — used consistently — can transform your kitchen table into the most engaging classroom your child has ever sat in. Here are three ways to get started today: 1. Meet your child where they are. Before adding any tool, observe how your child naturally engages with content. Are they visual? Do they prefe
Dr. Jean Wright
Apr 141 min read
TEN HOT TIPS FROM THE 70TH MICHIGAN READING ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE (Part 4 of 4)
An exciting three-day event! Reading Tip 8: Quotes from Dr. Anita Archer-"How well I teach=how well they learn," "learning is not a spectator sport," "Walk around, look around, talk around," "Perfect practice over time makes perfect and permanent," "Pedictability predicts ability," "If you expect it, pre-correct it," "Avoid the void, they will fill it," "Teach with passion, manage with compassion." Reading Tip 9: Classroom management ideas-a)When everyone is engaged, and th
Dr. Jean Wright
Apr 71 min read
TEN HOT TIPS FROM THE 70TH MICHIGAN READING ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE (Part 3 of 4)
An exciting three-day event! Reading Tip 5- Dr. Shannon Anderson advises that we expose our students to a variety of genres and reading materials. Here's a neat little list: comics, graphic novels, mystery, science fiction, fantasy, romance, historical fiction, biography, autobiography, memoir, poetry, drama/play, adventure stories, horror, self-help/personal development, educational/textbooks/fairy tales, folktales, magazines, and newspapers. Reading Tip 6- In "Shifting from
Dr. Jean Wright
Apr 21 min read
