Tip of the Week #147

I think we all know that common sense is not always common practice.   We know what we are supposed to do, and sometimes, we just don’t. Here is my common sense tip of the week for you. Exercise. For years, I have struggled with stress.  Usually, financial...

Tip of the Week #197

This summer, I am slowly adding and archiving old “Tips of the Week” I sent this one out on May 8, 2021: ================================================= We are all pretty used to Google. Unfortunately, Google tracks everything we do.  We all know that....

Tip of the Week #199

You may not know it… but the Italian word for tomato can help you hit your goals. Sometime in the 1980s, Francesco Cirillo developed the Pomodoro Technique.   It’s a simple productivity idea.   When you have a task to do, set a timer.   In college, Mr. Cirillo used a...

Tip of the Week #196

I am still, slowly, uploading old “tips of the week” and archiving them here: https://dwanethomas.com/tip-week-archives/ Here is tip #196 from a few weeks back. Sometimes it’s too easy to get absorbed.  We get buried in work, or in a project and lose track...

What is Classical Education?

This week I received an email that included this question: What are your thoughts on Classical education? Well… Here are my thoughts on Classical education…. I am still a fan of Classical education.  I think.  Still working through this one myself. ...

Tip of the Week #198: How much is your time worth?

I recently stumbled across an astonishing quote by Derek Sivers, an author I know nothing about.  Or, didn’t know anything about until yesterday.   Here’s the quote: “I hate to waste a single hour.  I feel the precious value of time, most of the time.  I imagine my...

Hey, teachers. Leave them kids alone.

Hitherto the plans of the educationalists have achieved very little of what they attempted, and indeed we may well thank the beneficent obstinacy of real mothers, real nurses, and (above all) real children for preserving the human race in such sanity as it still...

Getting ready for Second Year Latin by Robert Henle

I received this question: My son is a rising sophomore in Classical Conversations.  He has gone through Henle First Year and is about to start Henle Second Year.  We are pretty sure we want to get a membership to your sight.  My question is: do you offer any grading...

How did you teach Latin to your own kids?

People often ask me, “How did you teach Latin to your own kids?” This is such a tough question to answer. It may be easier if I tell you what I wish I had done with my own kids. I started my kids out in Latin, but this was before I had discovered Lingua...

Is this a joke, or no? I can’t tell.

Local Christian Parents Pay University $100,000 To Totally Destroy 18 Years Of Their Hard Work May 25th, 2021 – BabylonBee.com BOSTON, MA—According to sources, local parents Dale and Cherie Woodall are shelling out over $100,000 to send their son Dillan to...

All the pronouns in Lingua Latina chapter 8.

A few weeks ago, I received this email: I’m befuddled and hope you can offer some suggestions.  Up through chapter seven of Lingua Latina, I was making myself flashcards of new words. Plus, I’ve also got six cards showing endings for the six cases.  With review, I’m...

How to learn multiple languages as an adult

I received this question: Comment: Hi! I am curious how many languages you are actively learning at one time, and then also how much time you spend every day maintaining the languages you’ve already learned. You have so many languages on your site; do you work on all...

Tip #146

When I was first making the transition from classroom teaching to online teaching, I designed my own website.  And, it looked like I designed my own website.   That’s okay.   I recommend doing the same thing if you are just starting out.  Do as much as you can...

Before you learn Latin, count the cost.

I received this question: Hi!  We are LOVING Visual Latin 1. However, we are considering homeschooling our almost-10-year-old son as well and I am curious: what Latin program would you recommend using before Visual Latin 1? Thanks so much!   Here is my reply:...

Visual Latin and the National Latin Exam

The National Latin exam is a tricky thing.  Imagine taking thirty students, and teaching them to work on cars.  Each student is trained only on one car.  One student learns to repair Hondas.  One student learns to repair Jeeps.  One student learns to repair Volvos,...

Tip #145: How to learn faster

Over the next few months, I am compiling the old tips of the week.  Here’s another.  This one is from August 10, 2019. ================================================= If you are trying to learn something new, and if you are using audiobooks or videos to do so,...

Spanish 2?

I received this question: Hi there.  My son has taken and Spanish I class and would like to take a Spanish 2 class starting next fall.  Are you going to be offering a level 2 Spanish class?   Here is my reply: The short answer is, yes.   It’s a little...

She didn’t take my advice. :-)

Pretty much every day, I get the same email.   Essentially, it goes like this: “My kids are struggling with Henle Latin, and they are bored.   Is there anything else we can do?” I usually recommend switching to Lingua Latina by Hans Ørberg. This mom chose...

Tip #144: Money back.

I am in the process of loading lost “tips of the week” into my site.  I sent this one out in August of 2019.  It may no longer apply. ================================================= Remember some time ago, when the guys in charge of our credit scores,...

Tip #195: Free Courses

I am not a big fan of social media.  But, I do like to use Instagram for research.   Since Instagram knows what I am interested in (scary, I know) it sends me suggestions. One of my interests is generating extra income online. Instagram is always suggesting I check...

Tip # 194: CityData.com

Over the next few months, I am compiling (and archiving) the past “tips of the week”.  About 40 are missing from my site. Here is the latest: ================================================= This week, I was reminded of a site I had forgotten about.  A...

Why you absolutely must go to college

Just in case you needed reminders, here is why you must go to college.  No questions asked. This is from the Babylon Bee.  It’s satire, my friends.  And, it would be funnier if it weren’t so true. ================================================= We did...

Tip #143: Commit publicly.

This summer, I am archiving the missing “tips of the week”.   I sent this one on July 27, 2019. If you are having a hard time getting something done, commit to it publicly.   This can be pretty risky, so, careful with this one.  You might commit to...

Tip #142: A Good Life

Tip #142.  I sent this one out on May 31st, 2019: I know it has been a while since you heard from me.  I haven’t sent out a weekly email in months.  There are lots of reasons, mostly technical.  I think I have solved the problem… with the help of my friend...