I wanted to share with you a great article on homeschooling that friend shared with me. It's a very encouraging article to all homeschool parents, especially when your having a hard day! Enjoy it HERE!
Showing posts with label homeschool tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label homeschool tips. Show all posts
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Encouraging words for your new Homeschool year! #2
Here is the second part of a great encouraging post from Palms of His hands. Enjoy!
1. Taken a “School Picture” every year. Don’t get me wrong. I took and take lots and lots of pictures; I just wish I would have taken one around the same time every year. I suppose this is the only thing I missed from not having a “traditional” school experience.
2. Bought a file box for each child and made a folder for each year of their life. That way I could have easily organized important keep sakes and pictures. Instead I either threw things out or have no idea how old the children were when they created those things. Pictures could be slipped into the appropriate folder to be scrap booked later.
3. Read The Gift of Dyslexia by Ronald Davis sooner. Just because a child struggles with learning doesn’t mean they have a learning problem. It just means they see things differently. That’s a good thing! This is a must read for anyone who thinks their child is dyslexic.
4. Been more relaxed in the early years instead of feeling like a failure if I didn’t do everything exactly like the public schools. If I had the opportunity to start over, I would concentrate on the 3 R’s in and not feel guilty. I would also read the books Mommy Teach Me and Mommy Teach Me to Read by Barbara Curtis. She is a certified Montessori instructor who has twelve children. Her ideas and suggestions are awesome, but geared mostly toward children younger than my own. (Check her out at www.mommylife.net.)
5. “Thought outside the box” more. My college degree is in Elementary Education and it took too many years to realize I didn’t have to do every thing the way I was taught to. I wish I had built more replicas and done more hands-on activities. (And not fretted over not finished page whatever in the math book.)
6. Not worried so much about what people thought. If you think homeschooling is a radical idea now, think what it was 15 years ago. Lots of people questioned our decision. Most of those have come around and realize what a great thing it is. Those that didn’t come around, well, they aren’t responsible for my obedience to God, and they can never take away the joy this time with my children has brought me.
7. Not allowed my oldest two to go to public high school. I won’t go into the thought processes that sent them to PHS, just know it was their desire, not mine. My son went all four years and graduated. My daughter went a year and a half and decided on her own she didn’t want to be there. I don’t think the experiences they had there were good for them. However, something good did come out of it: it removed any doubt that I would be able to handle their high school education. In four years My son had maybe four teachers I felt were dedicated and really taught him something. There was a lot of time spent doing busy work, watching pointless movies, learning what was on the state competency tests, and sitting in the gym because the teacher didn’t have work for them to do. They never, ever finished a text book. They were doing well if they made it ½ way through. (How can they go on to Biology 2, Chemistry 2, or Algebra 2 if they haven’t completed the first one??) I know there are some great teachers in the public school system, but in my children’s high school experiences they were few and far between. (Disclaimer: I know there are circumstances where public school is a necessary option. I’m not condemning those who send their children there; I’m just discussing my personal observations and experiences.)
8. Discovered Apologia Science and The Mystery of History sooner. These two resources are teacher/kid friendly and just downright interesting! These would be appropriate beginning in the upper elementary grades.
9. Been more patient and kind. It can be so frustrating when kids don’t “get it” or if they’re fidgety. I ashamedly lost my cool more than once, especially with a certain young man during math.
1. Taken a “School Picture” every year. Don’t get me wrong. I took and take lots and lots of pictures; I just wish I would have taken one around the same time every year. I suppose this is the only thing I missed from not having a “traditional” school experience.
2. Bought a file box for each child and made a folder for each year of their life. That way I could have easily organized important keep sakes and pictures. Instead I either threw things out or have no idea how old the children were when they created those things. Pictures could be slipped into the appropriate folder to be scrap booked later.
3. Read The Gift of Dyslexia by Ronald Davis sooner. Just because a child struggles with learning doesn’t mean they have a learning problem. It just means they see things differently. That’s a good thing! This is a must read for anyone who thinks their child is dyslexic.
4. Been more relaxed in the early years instead of feeling like a failure if I didn’t do everything exactly like the public schools. If I had the opportunity to start over, I would concentrate on the 3 R’s in and not feel guilty. I would also read the books Mommy Teach Me and Mommy Teach Me to Read by Barbara Curtis. She is a certified Montessori instructor who has twelve children. Her ideas and suggestions are awesome, but geared mostly toward children younger than my own. (Check her out at www.mommylife.net.)
5. “Thought outside the box” more. My college degree is in Elementary Education and it took too many years to realize I didn’t have to do every thing the way I was taught to. I wish I had built more replicas and done more hands-on activities. (And not fretted over not finished page whatever in the math book.)
6. Not worried so much about what people thought. If you think homeschooling is a radical idea now, think what it was 15 years ago. Lots of people questioned our decision. Most of those have come around and realize what a great thing it is. Those that didn’t come around, well, they aren’t responsible for my obedience to God, and they can never take away the joy this time with my children has brought me.
7. Not allowed my oldest two to go to public high school. I won’t go into the thought processes that sent them to PHS, just know it was their desire, not mine. My son went all four years and graduated. My daughter went a year and a half and decided on her own she didn’t want to be there. I don’t think the experiences they had there were good for them. However, something good did come out of it: it removed any doubt that I would be able to handle their high school education. In four years My son had maybe four teachers I felt were dedicated and really taught him something. There was a lot of time spent doing busy work, watching pointless movies, learning what was on the state competency tests, and sitting in the gym because the teacher didn’t have work for them to do. They never, ever finished a text book. They were doing well if they made it ½ way through. (How can they go on to Biology 2, Chemistry 2, or Algebra 2 if they haven’t completed the first one??) I know there are some great teachers in the public school system, but in my children’s high school experiences they were few and far between. (Disclaimer: I know there are circumstances where public school is a necessary option. I’m not condemning those who send their children there; I’m just discussing my personal observations and experiences.)
8. Discovered Apologia Science and The Mystery of History sooner. These two resources are teacher/kid friendly and just downright interesting! These would be appropriate beginning in the upper elementary grades.
9. Been more patient and kind. It can be so frustrating when kids don’t “get it” or if they’re fidgety. I ashamedly lost my cool more than once, especially with a certain young man during math.
Encouraging words for your new Homeschool year! #1
I got this from a great blog called Palms of His hands. This and the next post have been very encouraging for me. It has helped me feel more excited about a new year that I am blessed to teach and enjoy my children!
Looking back on 14 years of homeschooling I’m glad I….
Made a list of reasons why I home school. I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt God was calling us to this task when our oldest was about to begin second grade. However, I knew there would be days I’d question the sanity of obedience and would be glad for those reminders that first year. I was right.
Read aloud, a lot! I read aloud to all three children from the time they were tiny until….well, I haven’t really stopped. Books are gateways to other places, times, and ideas. Traveling there with your children is one of life’s greatest joys and a way to painlessly learn about all sorts of things. Many of our “adventures” were read by Cassie as I sewed and Candace colored or played with her cat.
Tried different curriculum's. There are a plethora of curriculum choices and educational ideas out there. While the choices can be overwhelming, they are also freeing. One child likes textbooks and workbooks. Another likes researching interesting topics. One likes Saxon Math while another despises it. The beauty of home education is finding what fits each child and you. The possibilities are endless.
Discovered notebooking and copywork. This will also go under the “I wish I had…” section. I wish I had discovered notebooking and copywork sooner, but Cindy Rushton, the notebook queen, was a young homeschool mom herself at the time I was beginning, so it wasn’t available when I first started. (Actually, I didn’t even have internet that first year!) But I eventually did discover these concepts and found them to be effective and stress relieving. These are especially great techniques for those early years. (Check out http://www.cindyrushton.com/)
Realized all kids don’t have to be able to read by age 5. Everyone has their own gifts, talents, and abilities. Just because they haven’t mastered certain skills by certain ages doesn’t mean they won’t. I figure it’s ok if a 20 year old can only read at an 18 year old level.
Found a support group. This was vital to my survival. There were a few years in our life journey when we weren’t involved with other like-minded educators. It was tough! Even after 14 years I need the encouragement, friendship, and new ideas a homeschool support group gives.
Let the tadpoles take over our inflatable swimming pool. We had baby frogs everywhere that summer! I just don’t believe a traditional classroom could match the excitement and learning that came from checking on hundreds of tadpoles and watching their development every day for weeks
Realized somethings are more important than “Book Learning”. Some of those things include adventures with grandparents, nature walks, taking pictures of butterflies and tadpoles, helping those in need, getting along with siblings, balancing a checkbook, holding down a job, and helping around the house.
Let Kyle bounce a ball while spelling words and Candace learn phonics while swinging. In other words, I’m glad I realized that learning doesn’t have to take place in a desk in a school room. A public school teacher can’t allow 25 students to bounce each letter of their words, but you can.
Let the kids keep caterpillars of all kinds and watched them hatch out.
Let Candace help me in the kitchen. In the very, very beginning she wasn’t much “help”. But she was a good companion and is now great in the kitchen. We have lots of fun and she’s learned a lot about real-life math.
Stuck with it and didn’t give up. It has been trying and difficult at times. We’ve had years when we accomplished much and years when we barely scraped by. There have been days I felt desperate for “me” time and now there are days I tear up at the thought of not doing this anymore. But I’ve never, never, never regretted this decision to not only teach, but nurture my children and rediscover the wonders of life and nature with them.
Looking back on 14 years of homeschooling I’m glad I….
Made a list of reasons why I home school. I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt God was calling us to this task when our oldest was about to begin second grade. However, I knew there would be days I’d question the sanity of obedience and would be glad for those reminders that first year. I was right.
Read aloud, a lot! I read aloud to all three children from the time they were tiny until….well, I haven’t really stopped. Books are gateways to other places, times, and ideas. Traveling there with your children is one of life’s greatest joys and a way to painlessly learn about all sorts of things. Many of our “adventures” were read by Cassie as I sewed and Candace colored or played with her cat.
Tried different curriculum's. There are a plethora of curriculum choices and educational ideas out there. While the choices can be overwhelming, they are also freeing. One child likes textbooks and workbooks. Another likes researching interesting topics. One likes Saxon Math while another despises it. The beauty of home education is finding what fits each child and you. The possibilities are endless.
Discovered notebooking and copywork. This will also go under the “I wish I had…” section. I wish I had discovered notebooking and copywork sooner, but Cindy Rushton, the notebook queen, was a young homeschool mom herself at the time I was beginning, so it wasn’t available when I first started. (Actually, I didn’t even have internet that first year!) But I eventually did discover these concepts and found them to be effective and stress relieving. These are especially great techniques for those early years. (Check out http://www.cindyrushton.com/)
Realized all kids don’t have to be able to read by age 5. Everyone has their own gifts, talents, and abilities. Just because they haven’t mastered certain skills by certain ages doesn’t mean they won’t. I figure it’s ok if a 20 year old can only read at an 18 year old level.
Found a support group. This was vital to my survival. There were a few years in our life journey when we weren’t involved with other like-minded educators. It was tough! Even after 14 years I need the encouragement, friendship, and new ideas a homeschool support group gives.
Let the tadpoles take over our inflatable swimming pool. We had baby frogs everywhere that summer! I just don’t believe a traditional classroom could match the excitement and learning that came from checking on hundreds of tadpoles and watching their development every day for weeks
Realized somethings are more important than “Book Learning”. Some of those things include adventures with grandparents, nature walks, taking pictures of butterflies and tadpoles, helping those in need, getting along with siblings, balancing a checkbook, holding down a job, and helping around the house.
Let Kyle bounce a ball while spelling words and Candace learn phonics while swinging. In other words, I’m glad I realized that learning doesn’t have to take place in a desk in a school room. A public school teacher can’t allow 25 students to bounce each letter of their words, but you can.
Let the kids keep caterpillars of all kinds and watched them hatch out.
Let Candace help me in the kitchen. In the very, very beginning she wasn’t much “help”. But she was a good companion and is now great in the kitchen. We have lots of fun and she’s learned a lot about real-life math.
Stuck with it and didn’t give up. It has been trying and difficult at times. We’ve had years when we accomplished much and years when we barely scraped by. There have been days I felt desperate for “me” time and now there are days I tear up at the thought of not doing this anymore. But I’ve never, never, never regretted this decision to not only teach, but nurture my children and rediscover the wonders of life and nature with them.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Morning Volcano Making!
A couple days ago we were learning about volcano's:) After our lesson we were given instructions to create our own quick volcano! SO, this is how it went:
First we gathered the supplies...
a bottle, some newspaper, some tape, teaspoon of baking soda ( at first hehe), half a cup of vinegar ( at first hehe), funnel, scissors and food coloring ( disregard the yellow, we changed to actually red before the commencing of explosions:)
Second we started to build...
and build...
picture of an onlooker....
predictions??....
Here is a short video of the magnificent event!!!!!!!!!
First we gathered the supplies...
a bottle, some newspaper, some tape, teaspoon of baking soda ( at first hehe), half a cup of vinegar ( at first hehe), funnel, scissors and food coloring ( disregard the yellow, we changed to actually red before the commencing of explosions:)
Second we started to build...
and build...
picture of an onlooker....
predictions??....
Here is a short video of the magnificent event!!!!!!!!!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Fun with history!
Last Thursday my children had the opportunity to be a part of a Biblical History Event with Mythslayers Ministries. Jennifer Slattery, founder of MythSlayer Ministries, gave us a wonderful presentation of the Mesopotamian culture as seen through the eyes of one of the characters in her books. She has written several novels intended to help
children understand, and enjoy, the Biblical facts about the history
of the world. Her program included:
A short drama, dressed in the character of Sisera, from her book
"Journey to the Ice"
A small meal, as would have been common in Mesopotamia
A Powerpoint presentation about early history
The girls really enjoyed her "full dress" presentation and enjoyed the meal afterward. She also presented clay and seeds during her presentation for the kids to grind and write on, which was particularly fun for them!! Please click HEREto see her web sight!!
Monday, February 22, 2010
Busy Life
Sorry it's been so long since I posted!! Life has been super busy lately for all of us and it shows no signs of slowing down!! This week on Thursday is my lasik surgery. PLEASE pray for everything to work out with that!! There is also a homeschooling event earlier that day, so I will be doing alittle cramming this week to make up for that busy day away:) Ben's surgery is next week on March the 5th so your continued prayers for that one is very much appriciated!
The girls have started back with there old curriculum , "Mystery of History" which I LOVE!! We will be working through the second semester of the first book. This curriculum weaves biblical history with other history taking place in the same time period. The girls really enjoy it and I have been using a friends helpful hint and sneaking it in during lunch!! Thanks Shelley!!!
Also this week they started there new bible study on proverbs 31, new geography on north America and continuing there new English. I think they are really enjoying these books and I am SO glad cause so am I!!
Kayla's basketball game on Saturday went SO well!!! The team did a really good job, and Kayla made her first basket of the season!!! YOU GO GIRL!! To dairy queen to celebrate we go!! I will get some video of the game up here soon, though not of her awesome shot:(
Been A LOT of snow up in these parts lately! So a lot of shoveling and salting going on here. PLUS, with the weather bad, the kids and I get to join my hubby at is "all weather" job in easton:) We really enjoy working together as a family so that has been a huge blessing!!
God has been so good to us and it's amazing to see! The more we turn over our hearts and our lives to Him, the more he pours out his love and blessings on us. He is so Faithful to take care of us!! Praise the Lord! And Praise the Lord for all our wonderful friends and family who have blessed us through this difficult winter. We love you all so much and we are so thankful for your friendship and support!!
The girls have started back with there old curriculum , "Mystery of History" which I LOVE!! We will be working through the second semester of the first book. This curriculum weaves biblical history with other history taking place in the same time period. The girls really enjoy it and I have been using a friends helpful hint and sneaking it in during lunch!! Thanks Shelley!!!
Also this week they started there new bible study on proverbs 31, new geography on north America and continuing there new English. I think they are really enjoying these books and I am SO glad cause so am I!!
Kayla's basketball game on Saturday went SO well!!! The team did a really good job, and Kayla made her first basket of the season!!! YOU GO GIRL!! To dairy queen to celebrate we go!! I will get some video of the game up here soon, though not of her awesome shot:(
Been A LOT of snow up in these parts lately! So a lot of shoveling and salting going on here. PLUS, with the weather bad, the kids and I get to join my hubby at is "all weather" job in easton:) We really enjoy working together as a family so that has been a huge blessing!!
God has been so good to us and it's amazing to see! The more we turn over our hearts and our lives to Him, the more he pours out his love and blessings on us. He is so Faithful to take care of us!! Praise the Lord! And Praise the Lord for all our wonderful friends and family who have blessed us through this difficult winter. We love you all so much and we are so thankful for your friendship and support!!
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
My life today
Hi all. Today was an eventful day! School went really well today. We're working on our new Holling C. Hollings book "Tree in the Trail" about a cottonwood tree's life on the Santa Fe trail. The girls just LOVE his books! Also, math actually went really well today!! PTL!! (Praise the Lord!:) Kayla started tackling multiplying fractions today, which is actually way easier then adding or subtracting them!! LOL SO, she is FULLY STOKED about that!! After school, we got the mail and our new curriculum had finally made it!! YEAH!!! The girls will be starting a new bible study from queenhomeschool.com all about the proverbs 31 woman as well as a new and exciting geography book where they will learn all about North America! FUN FUN! We also started a new English today called "English for the thoughtful child". I'm real excited about this one as well! We also will be doing Life of Fredas a supplement for math. All these items follow a way of homeschooling developed by Charlotte Mason. You can read about her HERE as well as many other places on the net.
After all that excitement, the family left to Kansas city. The kiddo's stayed with the in-laws ( Thanks again wonderful in-laws!) Jason and I then went to a appointment to see if I am a candidate for lasik eye surgery..... and I am!!!!!!!! Looks like next week I will ( GOD WILLING!) be getting the surgery and my eyes will be all fixed up!! Thank you Jesus for our tax return!!!!!!:) We have been wanting and praying for this for such a long time and finally the time is here! PLEASE pray for the surgery, I'm am alittle nervous, but I KNOW God is in control!!
Next, after a quick stop at Panera Bread ( BRREEEAAAAD IS MY CHOCOLATE!!! LOVE IT! ) Jason and I went and saw AVATAR 3D..... at this point I am suppose to be telling you how WONDERFUL and FANTASTIC and AWESOME this movie was..... and there were certainly things about the movie that were all those things. BUT, it was hard to enjoy them while being bashed over the head about how horrible humans are, how irresponsible we are, how we are earth haters, how we would rather be some other race then be human, how we will destroy the earth, how we should stop having so many kids that consume all the nature resources etc etc etc etc..............GOOOD GRACIOUS!!! I am SO tired of this never ending theme among Hollywood these days...these years!! From Disney movies on up it is always SOMETHING about how horrible we all are and how we should all die to save the planet!!!!! ARGGGG!!! FRUSTRATING!!! NOW, all that said, I really enjoyed how cool the planet was and the love story ( although very predictable) was sweet and the special effects were really cool!!! Just disappointing that another movie which had so much cool potential was again ruined by go green preaching! Don't get me wrong, I love the earth! But NOT more then I love God's people... By the way, did you know that all the people currently living in the world could only fill the city of Jacksonville Florida!!! Seriously! If everyone stood in there own square foot space, all the people in the whole world would fill the city of Jacksonville, Florida!! So, geuss we arn't covering the earth quite as much as some might think. That blew my mind. By the way, we learned that today while doing some science, watching a DVD called "Beginning's". Here is the web sight about the DVD. Very cool info on this one!!! So, that was a day in the life of me today. How was your day??
After all that excitement, the family left to Kansas city. The kiddo's stayed with the in-laws ( Thanks again wonderful in-laws!) Jason and I then went to a appointment to see if I am a candidate for lasik eye surgery..... and I am!!!!!!!! Looks like next week I will ( GOD WILLING!) be getting the surgery and my eyes will be all fixed up!! Thank you Jesus for our tax return!!!!!!:) We have been wanting and praying for this for such a long time and finally the time is here! PLEASE pray for the surgery, I'm am alittle nervous, but I KNOW God is in control!!
Next, after a quick stop at Panera Bread ( BRREEEAAAAD IS MY CHOCOLATE!!! LOVE IT! ) Jason and I went and saw AVATAR 3D..... at this point I am suppose to be telling you how WONDERFUL and FANTASTIC and AWESOME this movie was..... and there were certainly things about the movie that were all those things. BUT, it was hard to enjoy them while being bashed over the head about how horrible humans are, how irresponsible we are, how we are earth haters, how we would rather be some other race then be human, how we will destroy the earth, how we should stop having so many kids that consume all the nature resources etc etc etc etc..............GOOOD GRACIOUS!!! I am SO tired of this never ending theme among Hollywood these days...these years!! From Disney movies on up it is always SOMETHING about how horrible we all are and how we should all die to save the planet!!!!! ARGGGG!!! FRUSTRATING!!! NOW, all that said, I really enjoyed how cool the planet was and the love story ( although very predictable) was sweet and the special effects were really cool!!! Just disappointing that another movie which had so much cool potential was again ruined by go green preaching! Don't get me wrong, I love the earth! But NOT more then I love God's people... By the way, did you know that all the people currently living in the world could only fill the city of Jacksonville Florida!!! Seriously! If everyone stood in there own square foot space, all the people in the whole world would fill the city of Jacksonville, Florida!! So, geuss we arn't covering the earth quite as much as some might think. That blew my mind. By the way, we learned that today while doing some science, watching a DVD called "Beginning's". Here is the web sight about the DVD. Very cool info on this one!!! So, that was a day in the life of me today. How was your day??
Friday, February 12, 2010
Math Curriculum PLEA!!
I am asking all of you who homeschool to share what you use for Math and why you do or do not like it!! I am looking for a new math curriculum next year for my kiddos and would love to hear what y'all think about the curriculum you use!! THANKS!!! Please take a minute and comment about your fave math curriculum!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Family Craft night! MUSTACHE MADNESS!!!
This weeks family craft was a funny one. For History this week, we will be reading/doing a play on Daniel Webster, a Northern Senator. I thought it would be fun for us each to have our own "costume/disguise" for each character we are playing. Thus the MUSTACHE MADNESS was born! Take a look at some of our wacky creations!
_549x412.jpg)
_549x412.jpg)
You have no idea how hard it was to get this pic!! LOL
_549x412.jpg)
_549x412.jpg)
You have no idea how hard it was to get this pic!! LOL
Monday, January 25, 2010
Homeschooling tip
Today my homeschooling tip is a quick and easy one! Both my girls DREAD the dictionary. The idea of having to actually look something up seems to be equivalent to walking in the snow barefoot uphill!! Soooo, this morning, they had a dreaded word to look up!!! ( It was covet by the way:) But instead of asking them to get there dictionary's out and look it up, I said "DICTIONARY WARS!!" These two words put together to them meant " TIME TO RACE MY SISTER!!!" and , WALLLAAAAH, no longer did they see the dictionary as an evil monster, but as a shinny red sports car in which to speed there way through the race and win!!! On your marks, get set , GO!!! NEVER have they searched for a word with such vigor!!! LOL To add a little somethin somethin to it, I mentioned that the esteemed winner would receive a nice shinny sticker to be placed where ever they like ( EXCEPT on my furniture!!!) I have used this technique many time in SWORD DRILL with the Bible, but never thought to try it with the dictionary. SO there it is, my morning revelation for you to share!!! Ready, Set, GO!!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
LinkWithin
