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.
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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. Many 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 hereBy nature, my nine year old daughter (Smarty Pants) and I tend to be a bit eclectic so why not have an eclectic curriculum. Besides, I am all about tailoring her curriculum to her interests, while still meeting requirements set by the state. MathI decided to stick with an old edition of Saxon 5/4 for a number of reasons, but mostly because it really clicked with Smarty Pants and she loves Math. Some kids find Saxon to be too repetitive or boring, but she likes the spiral format and the way new material is presented. Language ArtsA friend of mine suggested I take on the whole Abeka curriculum, but I just don’t feel it’s ALL right for my oldest. After looking further into Abeka though, I did find their Language A text to be prefect. It’s Bible-based, thorough and includes some writing assignments I was looking for in a curriculum. Creative WritingThis year, Smarty Pants started her own blog. She tends to focus on the culinary arts while providing recipes, but also adds a dash of personal experience, and a pinch of book reviews. ReadingWhat a blessing it is to have a child who enjoys reading. I really don’t have to pressure her to read for pleasure. She enjoys reading the Chronicles of Narnia series and anything Star Wars related. She has been enthralled with The Green Ember too. ScienceAbeka is really working for us this year with Science. Although Smarty Pants would love to have skipped over the entire section on insects, she would be first to admit she has learned more about them than she ever thought she would. HistoryWe decided to continue Story of the World Volume 1. I know what you are thinking... SOTW Volume 1? Well, I decided to take it slow and do activities, watch movies, and create art projects that relate to the material. Making it more meaningful, rather than race through it, ya know? We even decided to read The Bronze Bow together, which turned out to be quite good! ArtThe visual and performing arts play huge roles in our family. I don’t need to set a time for anyone to do anything creative. In fact, my oldest is pretty quiet around other people and finds art the easiest way to express herself. She always has a project going, whether it be jewelry, crocheting, drawing, or learning Blender. MusicI can’t say enough good things about the online piano courses from Hoffman Academy. Smarty Pants finds Mr. Hoffman to be hilarious and I am learning things I should have learned in high school concert choir. Life Skills and Extracurricular ActivitiesDuolingo Spanish- A Free Online Spanish language program.
American Heritage Girls is an awesome Christian Scouting troop for girls. Code Academy -A Free online coding class for kids. Dance Mat Typing - A free typing program for kids. Hockey practice two days a week. |
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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