Although Character Building is a priority for our family, I'm not always as consistent as I'd like to be. That's why I like to keep a few great resources at my fingertips and at my little one's feet . Here are a few resources I like to use and how I use them. The Bible for Little Ones is a board book with amazing colorful illustrations that really keeps my one year old engaged. Some may criticize that the Bible, (specifically the story of Noah,) is often glamorized with happy people and animals in children's books. And this book is like that...But my daughter is almost two. She will eventually learn the context of the true story. At this point she makes animal sounds as I read the story and I don't have a problem with that at all. When available, I also pull out some plastic animal figures so she has something tangible in her hands while I read. She sometimes puts them on the colorful book pages, as if they are part of the story. The Tale of Three Trees is a folktale about three trees and their dreams for what they want to be, when they grow up. No spoiler alert here, but by the end you will be saying, "Wow." If you want to share the story of Jesus with your children in a creative way, get this book. The Book of Virtues by William J. Bennett is a compilation of literary works sourced from Ancient History, the Bible, Greek Mythology, English poetry, and more. This is my go to book when I feel my daughter's character needs a little development. Hey, we all have those days. It offers lessons in responsibility, honesty, compassion, persistence, friendship, and courage. We normally read a specific character trait depending on the teachable moment. When my oldest daughter started fourth grade, I thought she needed a more age appropriate devotional that made her think critically, not just a sweet story. For Girls Like You - A Devotional for Tweens worked really well to accomplish this. Every week I asked her to read a section, reflect (verbally) on the questions asked in the text, and write down the bible verse that pertained to that section. She really enjoyed reading about the author's experiences and I have to admit I did too. Illustrated Family Bible Stories is a gem found among the shelves at our local bookstore. I love how the material is presented and the illustrations are awesome. I personally learned so much reading this book. There are tidbits that give you a clearer understanding of the culture and time period. Highly recommended for the entire family to read together. We try to get in a page or two at breakfast time. Last, but never least..The Bible. Translation isn't as important for us (as it may be for some) because we often compare several at one time anyway. Whenever there is a teachable moment, we crack open the Bible and find the answer. If we can't find our answer directly, we search an online Bible and then go back to our real Bible. What resources do you recommend?
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(this post contains affiliate links.) Gifts for the Whole FamilyIt's that time of the year again. The time when balancing cultural traditions, your budget, and putting Jesus full front and center, becomes so much more important. With the media talking about children having an increasing sense of entitlement, it's even harder to give our children gifts without the guilt. So... I created a list of educational gifts my children have enjoyed and didn't immediately make it to the junk pile, or last summer's garage sale. I hope this gift list helps you get a sense of how we homeschool on a limited budget as well. I am always trying to stretch our dollar by modifying what we have or buy to make it more educational. Altering or adding to an existing toy will also help you target specific learning skills you want your child to have. Before I get to the list of material items, I feel the need to remind you that your time with your child is the biggest gift you can give them. If you are reading this blog, it may seem like a no brainer. But I have found the most memorable educational experiences are made outside of the home. Often when we complete service projects or while volunteering. Volunteering as a family can produce some awesome memories and strengthen the family bond through positive communication. Family service projects can also cultivate empathy and help children recognize how blessed they really are. I encourage you to start a new family tradition and volunteer! Here are just a few ideas:
Preschool Gifts we use and love...
School-aged GiftsEntertainment
STEM and Science
Musical
The Great Outdoors
Games
Literature
Visual and Performing Arts
Technology
Sporting Equipment
Stocking stuffers or Fairy Gifts I love to Give to Encourage Living Skills
* Make great stocking stuffers It's no surprise that my daughter loves to cook. For her birthday she asked for a cast iron skillet and several shiny kitchen gadgets. So, where did she get this love for cooking? Honestly, if it were not for episodes of Chopped or Good Eats, she would be burning water like her dear old mom. She just has a passion for cooking and I'm going to embrace it! By the time my daughter becomes an adult, I want my daughter to acquire particular living skills, she needs to care for herself. Being able to prepare several healthy meals using tools appropriately, is just one of the many living skills. (This is the special needs educator in me talking) Besides, there are so many benefits to cooking. Here are just a few of the many benefits:
What can you do to create that culinary spark?
Let me get straight to the heart here... Whether you are new to homeschooling, or have been homeschooling for a number of years, you are going to have days (even months) where you just don't feel like homeschool is right for you, or your children.
In fact, for about a year... I struggled to get my daughter to do anything without screaming and having a meltdown. I didn't understand why I could teach 30+ kids in a public school setting, but fail so miserably teaching just one at home. I felt like a monster, every day! Now, before I say, "Homeschooling isn't for everyone", which is the case for some... HOLD ON!!! Don't give up! No homeschool is as Pinterest-perfect as they seem to be. They have wet towels behind their bathroom doors, dishes in the sink, and their dogs have fleas. Why can homeschooling be such a hot mess? Well, if you have a Type A personality like myself, I apologize, but you might be the reason it's a hot mess. See, my daughter and I can be very different. I like getting up early to get things done, so I can do more things that need to be accomplished later. Yeah, no breaks for me! My daughter likes to do her school work at night, sleep in, take breaks between activities and to be honest...It drives me nuts sometimes! I learned the hard way that we had different personalities. If you are new to homeschooling (or have years of experience), it's okay to take a few weeks (or even a year) to get to know your child. Most importantly, find out their strengths and where their passions are. This may be easy for younger children. If they love dinosaurs, or trains... Have them count them, or talk about how they eat, behave, or look. Some teachers may call these themes or unit studies. You may be thinking to yourself... "but, my child only wants to play video games, or watch television!" Well, you can do one of two things... Unplug them, or encourage them to do what they enjoy while learning at the same time. Could they be designing their own video game or character using Blender? Blender is a free and open source 3d modeling program, which has it's own game making engine. Could they be narrating their favorite t.v. show, or creating their own news broadcast you record on your phone? There are so many benefits to homeschooling your children! Being able to go at their own pace, is just one of them. Take your time and learn from each other. You are your child's first and best teacher. When they see you valuing their education, they will start to see it's importance. Just hold on!!! It will get less messy. Free Online Resources
Free Literature
Library
Reading
History and Science
Field Trips When we decided to homeschool, I thought it was really important to have a Homeschooling method, approach or style. After all, I could just pick one and move forward, right? But after weeks of research, I realized it was less important to label our style or method, than it was to teach what we felt was important to our children. As time went on...we found out that we fit in the mold of Eclectic by nature and by Method. What is the Eclectic Method? While I like to take a more traditional approach for Math, Language Arts, and Science (through the use of textbooks), I also find other resources and methods that work for us for history, writing, reading, the arts.... Most Eclectic families pick and choose from a wide variety of curriculums, resources, and methods. What is the Traditional Method? Having been a product of the public school system and a certified teacher, I thought I'd be more Traditional. But as it turned out, a Traditional Approach, with grading systems and Traditional structure similar to a public school setting, didn't work for us. What is Unschooling? Unschooling is a child-led method that often catches a lot of unnessary flack from the media. Unschooling encourages children to pursue their own interests and experiences, learning naturally, while incorporating traditional subjects as they go. This method is also referred to “natural learning”, “experience-based learning”, or “independent learning.” What is the Classical Method? Short and sweet: The Classical method is based on a three-part process of training your mind. The grammar stage (the memorization stage), Logic Stage (The “why” stage), and Rhetoric Stage (Students learn to apply the knowledge gained in the previous two stages). This method is best described by Susan Wise Bauer. What is the Charlotte Mason Method? Charlotte Mason believed that education was more than training a child for a job, getting into the right college, and passing the test. She developed a three-pronged educational approach centered around atmosphere, discipline, and life teaching. You can learn more about Charlotte Mason Method on this website. What is the Montessori Method? The Montessori method is based on the idea that learning should be a natural, self-directed process. It is also commonly referred to as child-led learning. While I love this method for the early years, I'm not so confident it would work for us after fifth grade. You can learn more about this method at the Montessori website. Some of the best field trips are fun and free, while still being educational. One trip may even start a fire in a child’s heart to pursue more information or even a future career! I have personally taken children, preschool to high school, on these trips and they have loved them. On some trips, it was like an episode of Dirty Jobs first hand. Living Skills and Community Helpers Field TripsPost Office Do you know what happens after you put the envelope in the mailbox? I didn’t know until I organized a tour at our local post office. Some offices have specialized equipment where envelops are sorted, but many are still sorted by hand. Dentist Oral health education with a possible free tooth brush. Going here for a tour before their first “experience” may be a good idea. Optician or Eyeglass Store Teach one of the 5 senses while learning how to cut lenses. Orchard or Produce Farm I don’t know about you, but I want my children to know where our food really comes from. Near us, we have a traditional farm and a hydroponics farm. Compare and contrast if you have the opportunity. A Cereal factory or Bakery Taking a tour of a cereal factory or bakery is ideal for a child that loves to bake, decorate cakes, or just plain likes to sample baked goods. Fire Station Fire safety and fire engines. Need I say more? Instrument Repair Shop or Store Whether you have a budding musician or child that likes to fix things, an instrument repair store can be a lot of fun. Most of the employees probably play instruments, so why not ask them to do a short demonstration too. Wildlife Refuge, Doggy Day Care, Pet Store or Veterinary Clinics Responsibility, as well as other character traits, can be learned firsthand from trained a pet care specialist. A Local University or College It’s been my experience, that children like to see how older people attend school too. Have them check out a HUGE lecture hall and a small science lab if you can get access to it. My daughter loved watching the students work on their ceramics projects and even got to see where her mom and dad took classes. Hardware Store Complete a scavenger hunt by looking for tools to complete a particular project. Construction sites Whether it was a complete tear down or a wooden pole being driven down into the dirt, my daughter has asked me to pull over to watch the work being done. Plus, it’s fun watching other people walk on roofs and high places. Train Stations or Airports Preschoolers and School-aged children love to learn about transportation. Find out where to get tickets, the process of boarding, what you can bring on and what you can’t, how important it is to get to the station on time, etc. Service Projects Helping those in need is not only Biblical, it builds Character! Volunteer to help a neighbor paint their fence or bake a batch of cookies for someone who would appreciate them. Sometimes these projects takes more effort and time, but they are usual worth it in the end. Natural Resources and Nature StudyNational Parks There are some outstanding National Parks in the United States! Many of them have a Junior Ranger Program where your child can earn their very own Junior Ranger Badge. That’s my daughter above working toward her badge. Wetlands, Caves, Deserts, and Beaches See creatures in their natural habitat, make bark rubbings, and compare different habitats by their unique characteristics. Beaches are the best places for children to find treasure for their collections. Bring a shell book from the library so they can learn about the creatures that inhabited what they found. Fishing Check your state for license requirements, but children are usually free. Camping Go camping in your backyard. Your children still learn the basics like constructing a tent or cooking on a campfire/grill, but you have a real bathroom when needed. That’s the best part, in my opinion. Free Botanical Gardens and Community Zoos We have been to a few small botanical gardens and zoos. While they are small, you would be surprised how much time you could spend there. If we bring our nature journals, we end up spending a lot of time on one area and have to come back another time to see more. Your Backyard Turn your backyard into an exotic location. We had an archaeological dig where I buried toys in our sandbox and they acted as archeologists, documenting what they found and constructing grid patterns for recording where they found them.
My daughter loves baking more than I do, but I love eating so we make a great match. Here are some recipes we have tried since we started our Low Carb/High Fat diet as a family in September 2016. If you are not familiar with the LCHF lifestyle, I encourage you to check out this site. We are not really strict (counting grams of carbs), but see the weight coming off and that's enough motivation for us to get healthier. We even go through the trouble of making our own ketchup and barbecue sauce.
2. Keto Lasagna![]() with Zucchini Noodles from the Diet Doctor. My daughter and I made this lasagna a number of ways and actually prefer having zucchini to replace the pasta. We just sliced it really thin and add tons of cheese...We're golden.
4. Keto Chicken ChiliMany companies offer a discount to homeschool educators, but when in doubt ask anyway. I have saved a lot money just asking about it and getting some sort of discount or coupon in replace. If your state requires a Notice of Intent to Homeschool or an application to homeschool, you can often use these as adequate proof. Call ahead as some stores require letterheads from a school district (or umbrella schools,) or identification cards. Get involved with a local Facebook Homeschool group! Some create their own cards that work too. Here is a list of some companies that offer discounts and coupons I find useful. Books Barnes and Noble- 20% off purchases for classroom use, 25% on Teacher Appreciation Days, and email alerts for special events. Available in store. Bam Books-A-Million- 20% off and 25% on Teacher Appreciation Days. Available in store. Half-priced Books- 10% with your Educator’s Discount Card Homeschool Buyers Co-op- I've never used this program, but I was told you could save quite a bit on curriculum this way. Arts and Crafts Joann Fabrics- 15% off everyday plus more on Teacher Appreciation days Michaels- 15% off eligible products. They always have coupons online too. Hobby Lobby- Use their 40% coupon online. Supplies and Organization Lakeshore Learning- 15% on selected products Office Depot- 10% Reward Program Staples- Earn 5% back in rewards, and 10% back in rewards on teaching and art supplies. Plus, get Free Shipping on every staples.com® order The Container Store- 10% plus they have coupons to save more. Museums, Zoos, and Entertainment Many universities and community colleges have free or cheap performances, concerts, exhibits, and guest speakers. Check your local college calendar! Muesums and Zoos have discounted and free days too. Creation Museum- a $5 discount to members who participate in particular homeschool organizations. "Check out" museums and zoos from your local library. Some library systems give out tickets to museums and attractions and you use just need a library card. Food Chick fil A offers a free sandwich with teachers with School I.D., or in my case “Intent to Homeschool form on their Teacher Appreciation Day! Chipotle- Get a free burrito on Chipotle's Teacher Appreciation Day. Check with you Chipotle for more great deals. Mine offers a discount if we wear our costumes on Halloween. Reading Programs Six Flags Great America- Read to Succeed Program: Teacher and school-aged student tickets. Pizza Hut- Earn personal pan pizzas with their Book It Program. Research reading programs for local major and minor league baseball and hockey teams. Many of them have incentives (tickets for students and parents) for reading so many hours or books in one season. Some even have clubs you can join for discounted games and prizes. Technology Adobe Teacher and Student Store- Discounted rates off software applications. Apple- 5-10% via Apple.com's Edu Store for Faculty, Staff, Students. See their Apple Store Coupons page for other savings. Best Buy will often match Apple’s Education Deals. In store only. Tax-Free on School Supplies Research your state for Tax-free weekends! The Florida tax-free weekend/week savings does not apply to clothing sold for more than $100 per item; school supplies sold for more than $15 per item; books (although many are already exempt). Other exceptions and exclusions may apply to check ahead. Homeschool in Florida?...click here |
About me...Like many other moms I wear many hats. I am a sinner after God's heart, a wife to a wannabe Jedi Knight, and a blessed mom to two very different girls. Categories
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