Wednesday, June 23, 2010
The new website is here!! New Homeschool Help It's as if a brand new baby has been born into the world. She is tiny, squished up, and a little bit (dare I say) not very cute yet? Follow along as her personality develops. AND . . . (you know I have to say it!) - post a comment so you can enter the drawing for the FREE Spellquizzer Software!!!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
NEW WEBSITE COMING! Of course, I had a glitch right at the very beginning. User error . . . Clearly I won't be creating a blog or website about operating computers. I was told that by tomorrow morning, which is today . . . . 1:00 a.m. is the only time the house is quiet, although there are still a few boys up - and not all of them mine . . . . I should be able to start designing the site. I can see the site in my head; let's see if I can make it look the same in reality! Keep your eye out - and don't forget to post a comment to enter the drawing for the free Spellquizzer!
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Homeschool Curriculum: What should you buy? This is the time of year when many families have made the break from public schools for a variety of reasons. They will spend the summer shopping and comparing curriculums. I’ll share some of my favorite homeschool curriculums here.
A word of caution: do not overwhelm your student. You do not have to recreate public school at your kitchen table . . . unless you WANT to. You do not have to present every subject under the sun each semester. So, rule #1 – relax!
For beginning students who have not yet learned to read and write, my favorite curriculum is Explode the Code. I used these consumable workbooks (consumable means the student writes in it, and then it must be replaced for the next students) in our homeschool for many years. I didn’t know about them for my oldest, but my two babies learned to read and write with Explode the Code. When my Russian children joined the family, Explode the Code worked beautifully for my ten-year-old daughter who was learning English for the first time. However, my learning disabled Russian son did not experience the same level of success.
Explode the Code is a very inexpensive series of workbooks, introducing the alphabet on letter at a time. The students learn how to write the letters, the name of the letters, the sounds of the letters, and how they combine to form words. The letters are not introduced in alphabetical order, however; the students are introduced to combinations of letters that make simple words right away. This greatly facilitates the reading process as the students begin reading simple words very early. I started this program with my children at age 5 – but there are NO rules about what age each child should start each subject. Rule #2 – all children develop at different rates . . . and that is OKAY!!
Math-U-See is my favorite math curriculum. I also began this program at age 5, and it worked for us. There is an initial investment, and the student book is consumable, but the rest of the program will be used for all of your students, throughout their mathematic career. Math-U-See can only be purchased new from the Math-U-See website . . . Rule #3 – ALWAYS check used resources before you buy anything new! (I’ll write another post about how to find cheap and used curriculum!)
Math-U-See uses manipulatives to teach basic mathematic concepts. The workbooks are not colorful and are rather boring. Yet they are simple and direct. The creator made DVD’s of himself teaching Math-U-See to a classroom of student, so you do not have to worry about not knowing math yourself – he shows you how to teach it using his methods.
I made the mistake of letting my children talk me into changing our math program to one that had bright, and colorful workbooks. They looked sooo cool! That was a mistake. Once we left Math-U-See I found it very difficult to go back to it for high school subjects. Now we struggle with math, and I very much wish we had stayed with Math-U-See for the duration of our homeschool journey.
Science and history are easily done at any level with library books and independent research. Let the student lead these courses, based on their own interests. Don’t worry that they will never become interested in what you feel is important. Eventually all topics lead to each other.
If you feel it necessary to work a science program for your young students, I recommend you look at Beginnings Publishing
. The program was written by a homeschool dad for homeschool students. I like the way the textbooks are written TO the students. There is not a lot of technical science lingo, which makes it easier for student and teacher alike. This is a great program to share with a couple of other families in an informal homeschool co-op setting. The Colors is the program for 10-12 year olds, which is the youngest group they have written for so far. However, the Colors has not yet been released. I recommend waiting for it, using the library and being outside in the meantime.
History: take a look at Story of the World. It is a general overview of world history from the beginning to modern times. It can be read aloud to the child, read by the child, or listened to on CD’s. It has four volumes of reading ‘texts,’ although there is nothing ‘text-like’ about theml. There is also an activity book suggesting ways to bring the history to life. Story of the World can easily be repeated at least twice, if you take one year for each volume, before you move on to higher level history. Remember – not every suggested activity in any activity book is required!! This also is a great program to share with a couple of other families in an informal homeschool co-op setting.
If I could have a do-over, these are the homeschool curriculums I would use with elementary aged children.
A word of caution: do not overwhelm your student. You do not have to recreate public school at your kitchen table . . . unless you WANT to. You do not have to present every subject under the sun each semester. So, rule #1 – relax!
For beginning students who have not yet learned to read and write, my favorite curriculum is Explode the Code. I used these consumable workbooks (consumable means the student writes in it, and then it must be replaced for the next students) in our homeschool for many years. I didn’t know about them for my oldest, but my two babies learned to read and write with Explode the Code. When my Russian children joined the family, Explode the Code worked beautifully for my ten-year-old daughter who was learning English for the first time. However, my learning disabled Russian son did not experience the same level of success.
Explode the Code is a very inexpensive series of workbooks, introducing the alphabet on letter at a time. The students learn how to write the letters, the name of the letters, the sounds of the letters, and how they combine to form words. The letters are not introduced in alphabetical order, however; the students are introduced to combinations of letters that make simple words right away. This greatly facilitates the reading process as the students begin reading simple words very early. I started this program with my children at age 5 – but there are NO rules about what age each child should start each subject. Rule #2 – all children develop at different rates . . . and that is OKAY!!
Math-U-See is my favorite math curriculum. I also began this program at age 5, and it worked for us. There is an initial investment, and the student book is consumable, but the rest of the program will be used for all of your students, throughout their mathematic career. Math-U-See can only be purchased new from the Math-U-See website . . . Rule #3 – ALWAYS check used resources before you buy anything new! (I’ll write another post about how to find cheap and used curriculum!)
Math-U-See uses manipulatives to teach basic mathematic concepts. The workbooks are not colorful and are rather boring. Yet they are simple and direct. The creator made DVD’s of himself teaching Math-U-See to a classroom of student, so you do not have to worry about not knowing math yourself – he shows you how to teach it using his methods.
I made the mistake of letting my children talk me into changing our math program to one that had bright, and colorful workbooks. They looked sooo cool! That was a mistake. Once we left Math-U-See I found it very difficult to go back to it for high school subjects. Now we struggle with math, and I very much wish we had stayed with Math-U-See for the duration of our homeschool journey.
Science and history are easily done at any level with library books and independent research. Let the student lead these courses, based on their own interests. Don’t worry that they will never become interested in what you feel is important. Eventually all topics lead to each other.
If you feel it necessary to work a science program for your young students, I recommend you look at Beginnings Publishing
. The program was written by a homeschool dad for homeschool students. I like the way the textbooks are written TO the students. There is not a lot of technical science lingo, which makes it easier for student and teacher alike. This is a great program to share with a couple of other families in an informal homeschool co-op setting. The Colors is the program for 10-12 year olds, which is the youngest group they have written for so far. However, the Colors has not yet been released. I recommend waiting for it, using the library and being outside in the meantime.History: take a look at Story of the World. It is a general overview of world history from the beginning to modern times. It can be read aloud to the child, read by the child, or listened to on CD’s. It has four volumes of reading ‘texts,’ although there is nothing ‘text-like’ about theml. There is also an activity book suggesting ways to bring the history to life. Story of the World can easily be repeated at least twice, if you take one year for each volume, before you move on to higher level history. Remember – not every suggested activity in any activity book is required!! This also is a great program to share with a couple of other families in an informal homeschool co-op setting.
If I could have a do-over, these are the homeschool curriculums I would use with elementary aged children.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
FREE Giveaway!! FREE homeschool product!! FREE public school product!! Watch for it . . . . it'll be up as soon as I figure out how to set it up. This will be my first FREE giveaway, so it should be fun for all of us!!! By the way, I know what the product is. I've been approached about doing a product review for someone. This particular product is suitable for both homeschoolers and public schoolers. It is inexspensive - it will be FREE for the winner here. Can you guess the product? Stay tuned . . .
Sunday, June 6, 2010
SOCIALIZATION - People are often concerned that homeschooled children are handicapped when it comes to socializing ‘out in the world.’ Allow me to tell you a story. It is a true story about a homeschooled student that I know very well.
A fifteen-year-old boy went into a restroom in a fast-food restaurant. It was a single-person restroom, and he inadvertently walked in on an elderly man using the toilet. The man used a walker, and had a splint on one hand. The man asked the boy to please help him stand up and also to help him wipe himself off. The boy was naturally very embarrassed and uncertain how to handle this extremely awkward situation. He offered to go out and get one of the man’s friends. The man then asked if the boy could just help him stand, he would attempt to use his other hand to take care of himself. This sweet boy did what he could to assist this man without embarrassing him or exhibiting his own embarrassment. Shortly thereafter, the wife of the man came in and took over the situation.
This young, homeschooled boy handled an adult situation with the grace and dignity of an adult. Had he been raised in the age-segregated environment of a public school, would he have been able to handle this situation as maturely as he did? I suppose we will never know. I suppose there are also teenagers who have been raised in public school who could have and would handled the same situation the same way. My point in relating this true story is this: Homeschooled children socialize out in ‘the real world’ just fine.
A fifteen-year-old boy went into a restroom in a fast-food restaurant. It was a single-person restroom, and he inadvertently walked in on an elderly man using the toilet. The man used a walker, and had a splint on one hand. The man asked the boy to please help him stand up and also to help him wipe himself off. The boy was naturally very embarrassed and uncertain how to handle this extremely awkward situation. He offered to go out and get one of the man’s friends. The man then asked if the boy could just help him stand, he would attempt to use his other hand to take care of himself. This sweet boy did what he could to assist this man without embarrassing him or exhibiting his own embarrassment. Shortly thereafter, the wife of the man came in and took over the situation.
This young, homeschooled boy handled an adult situation with the grace and dignity of an adult. Had he been raised in the age-segregated environment of a public school, would he have been able to handle this situation as maturely as he did? I suppose we will never know. I suppose there are also teenagers who have been raised in public school who could have and would handled the same situation the same way. My point in relating this true story is this: Homeschooled children socialize out in ‘the real world’ just fine.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Summer Homeschool: Do we or don’t we? I ask myself this every spring. By this time of the year, I’m feeling inadequate because I’m reviewing all the things I could have or should have introduced to my children, but haven’t. I recall all the days we didn’t ‘do’ school: basketball games and tournaments, sick days, travel days, Mom-is-tired days, service days, we-don’t-feel-like-it days . . . . Then I convince myself that since homeschooling only really needs a few hours a day, there is plenty of time for my children to do school and still enjoy the regular summer activities. Finally, I gather my sweet students, and logically explain to them my conclusions. To my amazement, they are not able to follow the logic. “But Mooooommmmmm, it’s Suummmmer!” “But children, you hardly spend any time at all on school as it is. You will have plenty of time to swim, climb trees, work on summer jobs, and sit around doing nothing!” “But Moooommmmmm, it’s Summmmmerr!” What is a homeschool parent to do?
Why should we not continue our homeschool program throughout the summer? The best argument I can find, while I’m embarrassed to admit it, is what the kids say – It’s Summer! As a public schooler, I always had summers off when I was their age. I remember those last few days of school, when the classroom was unusually hot, the first day I wore shorts to school, cleaning out the desks. It was a fun transition. I also remember the last few weeks of summer, when I couldn’t hardly wait to go back to school: The new wardrobe, the fresh notebooks, the supply of pens and pencils. The disappointment when I failed yet again to persuade my mother to buy me the 64-count Crayola Crayon box, but pleased that I was able to negotiate up to the 32–count box.
Another terrific excuse for not homeschooling during the summer is rather selfish. It’s something I can take off my plate for a while, one less thing to stress about. Summer is a time for me to re-group, complete unfinished projects, plan next year’s course of study and set unrealistic and unattainable goals for our homeschool.
Why should we continue homeschooling throughout the summer? There are many unscheduled hours that we must use to fill our students' head with useless trivia to prevent ourselves feelings of guilt. The neighbors, grandparents, and other homeschool families are impressed with our academic commitment and diligence. It gives the children something to do when it's too hot but you feel negligent if you let them watch television. (Is it my imagination, or am I talking myself out of continuing our school during the summer?) I really cannot come up with a good reason other than why not? I don't think I'll be able to motivate my students with that reasoning. So what will this family do this summer?
Ideally, we will spend the first four hours of every day studying, exploring and being thrilled and excited with the learning process. Spiritual food first: personal scripture reading and prayer, working on our individual church motivational projects and lookings for ways to serve family members. Next on the schedule will be household maintenance and advance food preparation for the evening meal. When these chores are completed, the children will eagerly begin their assignments for school. After they finish the assigned reading plus a little more, they will work on a hands-on activity to bring the reading to life. Of course they will share their enthusiasm with their siblings, and if friends call, they will ask me to take a message because they don't want to be interrupted. The rest of the day will be spent swimming, hiking, working at summer jobs, and cleaning up the yard together. (I can hardly wait!)
Realistically, we will continue to sleep in. I will hope they have a spiritual side, household maintenance will occur eventually, and we'll manage to throw something together for dinner. I will urge them to work on school, they will protest, I will insist, they will resist, and one of us will end up throwing up our hands and giving in. Usually that will be me, but occasionally it will be them and I'll feel good that day that they probably put something in their heads. Then we will all go to the pool for the afternoon.
So, is summer homeschooling essential? I don't think so. Is it a good thing? Absolutely. Is it a hill worth dying for? Probably not. Have a great summer!!!!!
Why should we not continue our homeschool program throughout the summer? The best argument I can find, while I’m embarrassed to admit it, is what the kids say – It’s Summer! As a public schooler, I always had summers off when I was their age. I remember those last few days of school, when the classroom was unusually hot, the first day I wore shorts to school, cleaning out the desks. It was a fun transition. I also remember the last few weeks of summer, when I couldn’t hardly wait to go back to school: The new wardrobe, the fresh notebooks, the supply of pens and pencils. The disappointment when I failed yet again to persuade my mother to buy me the 64-count Crayola Crayon box, but pleased that I was able to negotiate up to the 32–count box.
Another terrific excuse for not homeschooling during the summer is rather selfish. It’s something I can take off my plate for a while, one less thing to stress about. Summer is a time for me to re-group, complete unfinished projects, plan next year’s course of study and set unrealistic and unattainable goals for our homeschool.
Why should we continue homeschooling throughout the summer? There are many unscheduled hours that we must use to fill our students' head with useless trivia to prevent ourselves feelings of guilt. The neighbors, grandparents, and other homeschool families are impressed with our academic commitment and diligence. It gives the children something to do when it's too hot but you feel negligent if you let them watch television. (Is it my imagination, or am I talking myself out of continuing our school during the summer?) I really cannot come up with a good reason other than why not? I don't think I'll be able to motivate my students with that reasoning. So what will this family do this summer?
Ideally, we will spend the first four hours of every day studying, exploring and being thrilled and excited with the learning process. Spiritual food first: personal scripture reading and prayer, working on our individual church motivational projects and lookings for ways to serve family members. Next on the schedule will be household maintenance and advance food preparation for the evening meal. When these chores are completed, the children will eagerly begin their assignments for school. After they finish the assigned reading plus a little more, they will work on a hands-on activity to bring the reading to life. Of course they will share their enthusiasm with their siblings, and if friends call, they will ask me to take a message because they don't want to be interrupted. The rest of the day will be spent swimming, hiking, working at summer jobs, and cleaning up the yard together. (I can hardly wait!)
Realistically, we will continue to sleep in. I will hope they have a spiritual side, household maintenance will occur eventually, and we'll manage to throw something together for dinner. I will urge them to work on school, they will protest, I will insist, they will resist, and one of us will end up throwing up our hands and giving in. Usually that will be me, but occasionally it will be them and I'll feel good that day that they probably put something in their heads. Then we will all go to the pool for the afternoon.
So, is summer homeschooling essential? I don't think so. Is it a good thing? Absolutely. Is it a hill worth dying for? Probably not. Have a great summer!!!!!
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