But how do you plan?
Some people don't. They fly by the seat of their pants. Some make it look effortless and manage to accomplish much. Others, like myself, fail miserably in this method. Sometimes, it's necessary to just be flexible and do what you can when you can. But, for the most part, a plan is needed for homeschool survival.
In the past, I created an Excel spreadsheet to help organize my children's lesson plans. I've used individual assignment books so each of my children can see what is expected of them each day. Unfortunately, this creates a lot of work for me and my kids somehow seem to lose things in about 10 seconds flat.
In my search for the perfect planner, I've come across a few very helpful materials. I am listing them on my website this week including the one planner I've stuck with these last several years. Go on over to Homeschool Potpourri an take a look. Let me know if you use or have tried any of the planning helps I've listed. What do you use & why do you like it?
Have a blessed homeschool day!
Monday, April 19, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
New Site for Booksellers!
Funny. I posted about Homeschool Classifieds the other day and I get an invitation in my e-mail inbox to be among the first to join another homeschool book selling site. Ironically enough, the site is called sellhomeschoolbooks.com. If not catchy, it's easy an address easily remembered!
Though I'm still getting a bit used to this site, it's really easy to use. Posting is similar to e-bay, though much less complicated. The best part is that it's FREE!! Looks like you could use some options that would cost money. This leads me to believe that someday they may decide to charge for membership fees and other niceties on the site. But, for now, I'm taking advantage of my free year.
Check it out. Be one of the founding members. Who knows what you might find there.
Though I'm still getting a bit used to this site, it's really easy to use. Posting is similar to e-bay, though much less complicated. The best part is that it's FREE!! Looks like you could use some options that would cost money. This leads me to believe that someday they may decide to charge for membership fees and other niceties on the site. But, for now, I'm taking advantage of my free year.
Check it out. Be one of the founding members. Who knows what you might find there.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Homeschool Classifieds
I absolutely love Homeschool Classifieds. It is a great site for homeschoolers to buy and sell their used books for free! You can pay a minimal fee in order to list more than 5 books at a time, but it is more reasonable than e-bay. Not to mention, they also allow you to sell Teacher's Editions!! I mean, really, aren't those the books we're looking for the deals on or desiring to make some of our money back?
Check it out. You do not have to have an account in order to buy, only to sell. Let me know what you think!
Check it out. You do not have to have an account in order to buy, only to sell. Let me know what you think!
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Taking Time
I wish I had already known some things several years ago when I began to teach my oldest child. Being the first child, he was the one with whom I compared the "normal" home-schooler. If "most" kids were understanding something at a certain age, then he should be as well. If it wasn't a difficult concept for me to understand in my childhood, then why was he struggling? If he didn't get the day's concept, we worked on it until he got it - some nights we worked until 9:00 p.m. It was my immaturity as a homeschool mom that many of our "bad" days were formed.
Now that I've been homeschooling for 7 years, I'm either wiser or just plain tired.
My six year old son is a first-grader this year. He has been doing quite well, though he would much rather be outside running around than writing spelling words. At the beginning of the year, he really struggled with expanded form in Math (i.e - 50 + 2 = 52). This concept was so easy to me as a youngster. My previous 4 children never struggled with this and I had no idea why he just didn't "get" it. Just recently, I realized it had been quite a while since we had done expanded form - months, in fact. I wondered if he would get it now that so much time had elapsed and he was doing quite well in other areas of Math.
Wouldn't you know it? Just the other day, his review section on his math page was....expanded form. And, again, wouldn't you know it? He got EVERY SINGLE ONE.....RIGHT!!!!!!!!! No problem. Piece of cake.
All it took was time. Not time in beating the lesson into his head over and over. Not time in making him write different numbers in expanded form for hours on end. Not time in me worrying and pulling out my hair. Just time off without even thinking about it. Through time, stress was removed. Through time, precept was built upon precept, line upon line, here a little, there a little. And, he GOT it.
What I wouldn't give to have known that seven years ago.
Now that I've been homeschooling for 7 years, I'm either wiser or just plain tired.
My six year old son is a first-grader this year. He has been doing quite well, though he would much rather be outside running around than writing spelling words. At the beginning of the year, he really struggled with expanded form in Math (i.e - 50 + 2 = 52). This concept was so easy to me as a youngster. My previous 4 children never struggled with this and I had no idea why he just didn't "get" it. Just recently, I realized it had been quite a while since we had done expanded form - months, in fact. I wondered if he would get it now that so much time had elapsed and he was doing quite well in other areas of Math.
Wouldn't you know it? Just the other day, his review section on his math page was....expanded form. And, again, wouldn't you know it? He got EVERY SINGLE ONE.....RIGHT!!!!!!!!! No problem. Piece of cake.
All it took was time. Not time in beating the lesson into his head over and over. Not time in making him write different numbers in expanded form for hours on end. Not time in me worrying and pulling out my hair. Just time off without even thinking about it. Through time, stress was removed. Through time, precept was built upon precept, line upon line, here a little, there a little. And, he GOT it.
What I wouldn't give to have known that seven years ago.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
A Fantastic Opportunity
My husband, myself, and five of our children recently returned from a whirlwind tour through history. Most of our time was spent in Southern Virginia - more specifically, Williamsburg. We spent one day at the Jamestown Settlement where the America we know today began, one day in Yorktown where the Revolutionary War ended, and two days in lovely and historic Colonial Williamsburg. For the seven of us to tour Colonial Williamsburg for 2 days this time of year, it would cost us $207 - and that's the "special" rate. However, a special opportunity just for homeschoolers is extended twice a year - one week in September and one in March. With this deal, the seven of us had a 5 day pass for a whopping total of - ready? - $77!!! I could have bought the 2-day pass for just $8/person, but at the time of purchase, I wasn't exactly sure of our schedule. Jamestown and Yorktown also offer a combined pass to both sites for $10.95/person for the entire week. This includes the guided tours, full access to the museums, and special classes offered to the students.
I would highly recommend any homeschool family to take advantage of these offers - especially if the number of children you have limits where you can go on vacation. This was our first family vacation in three years and I am so grateful to the historic sites in Virginia for making it possible for us to have such a memorable time together! Each of the three areas had wonderful interpreters and there were many hands-on activities to make history truly come alive for my children. The ages of the children we took were 6-12 years old. Each of them had something they loved. We didn't take our 2 & 4 year old as we were sure they wouldn't be able to keep us with all the walking and would become bored (we all have been around bored and tired toddlers - not "happy-family-memory" material!). We were glad we made that decision and they were happy with Grandma!
Check the offers out at the following sites: Colonial Williamsburg (they are still showing the Spring Program, but I know they will be offering their Fall Program in September for the same price) and Jamestown/Yorktown (their Spring info is still up as well, but they mention the Fall program). Let me know if you are seriously considering taking this trip or let me know if you've gone already. Tell me what you think!
I am logging our trip over at my other blog, Love & Rewards. If you care to read more about our time there and see pictures, feel free to stop by.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Massachusetts Night
It's been 2 months since I've posted here? Good grief!
I must say, last year there seemed to be much more to post about as we had a special evening scheduled every few weeks at the end of a unit. However, though I am using the same curriculum this year, there aren't as many special evenings planned as there are only 3 seperate "units" in our area of study this year.
We did, however, do a little something special a couple of weeks ago as the children had done some information gathering on the state of Massachusetts. We had Boston Baked Beans for dinner (along with some chicken & biscuits) and Boston Cream Pie for dessert. It was the first "pie" I had made and the first the children had eaten. It was a hit! The children read to us their papers about the Wampanoag Indians, who are indigenous to Massachusetts. They also read aloud their journal entries for the week. I had them write on each day of creation as that is what we are discussing in our church's Family School.
I will post a couple of pictures tomorrow. Though the Massachusetts night was not in the planned curriculum, I am grateful to have set aside a special evening so "daddy" could get some insight into what the children have been doing. He always enjoys that and the kids love being able to show off the fruits of their labors! We will do another special evening again soon, I'm sure.
I must say, last year there seemed to be much more to post about as we had a special evening scheduled every few weeks at the end of a unit. However, though I am using the same curriculum this year, there aren't as many special evenings planned as there are only 3 seperate "units" in our area of study this year.
We did, however, do a little something special a couple of weeks ago as the children had done some information gathering on the state of Massachusetts. We had Boston Baked Beans for dinner (along with some chicken & biscuits) and Boston Cream Pie for dessert. It was the first "pie" I had made and the first the children had eaten. It was a hit! The children read to us their papers about the Wampanoag Indians, who are indigenous to Massachusetts. They also read aloud their journal entries for the week. I had them write on each day of creation as that is what we are discussing in our church's Family School.
I will post a couple of pictures tomorrow. Though the Massachusetts night was not in the planned curriculum, I am grateful to have set aside a special evening so "daddy" could get some insight into what the children have been doing. He always enjoys that and the kids love being able to show off the fruits of their labors! We will do another special evening again soon, I'm sure.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Planning!
I am so excited! Last year I finally waded into the waters of Unit Studies. I walked in carefully using a wonderful "beginner" program called "Learning Adventures." This has been a great program for us as it has laid out very clearly our daily activities. It is so detailed that I could just read from Dorian's notes if I wish (and on the days that I'm experiencing fried-brain, that is exactly what I do.) However, now that I have gotten my feet wet and I see how to do a unit study, I am ready to take the plunge into developing my own unit study for next year!
I have been very happy with Learning Adventures, but so far, the author has not had the opportunity to continue the program through the Civil War - a subject in which my children are extremely interested. I am also not completely satisfied with the grammar section of the study. Therefore, I have done some searching.
My cousin's wife introduced us to Evan-Moor's History Pockets this year and has allowed us to borrow 3 of her books. If you have never used these, they can be found here. They are filled with information and lots of fun and EASY projects for the kids to really comprehend what they are learning. I have supplemented our study of the colonization of America with these pockets. The book gives some starter information about the topic and it would be so easy to use that info as springboard into finding other books to dig deeper.
As I was preparing some more pockets for my children to do in the next couple of days, I noticed on the back of the book that Evan-Moor also offers Literature Pockets. I hurried to the computer, went to the Evan-Moor site and I have found a pluthera of educational supplies that will make it easy for me to create a customized curriculum for next year. Each of my subjects may or may not relate to one another, but each subject will be a fun, hands-on, and educational unit.
If you are looking for something more interesting to do with your students next year instead of the same ole workbooks, I highly recommend this site. I understand that the information comes from a secular and evolutional world view, however, I see that as a teaching opportunity in itself. I plan on using their "Daily Science" books, yet when we are confronted evolution, we will see what their belief is and search out and contrast the Creationist view.
I am so excited about this new venture next year and the fact that I have months to plan for it!
I have been very happy with Learning Adventures, but so far, the author has not had the opportunity to continue the program through the Civil War - a subject in which my children are extremely interested. I am also not completely satisfied with the grammar section of the study. Therefore, I have done some searching.
My cousin's wife introduced us to Evan-Moor's History Pockets this year and has allowed us to borrow 3 of her books. If you have never used these, they can be found here. They are filled with information and lots of fun and EASY projects for the kids to really comprehend what they are learning. I have supplemented our study of the colonization of America with these pockets. The book gives some starter information about the topic and it would be so easy to use that info as springboard into finding other books to dig deeper.
As I was preparing some more pockets for my children to do in the next couple of days, I noticed on the back of the book that Evan-Moor also offers Literature Pockets. I hurried to the computer, went to the Evan-Moor site and I have found a pluthera of educational supplies that will make it easy for me to create a customized curriculum for next year. Each of my subjects may or may not relate to one another, but each subject will be a fun, hands-on, and educational unit.
If you are looking for something more interesting to do with your students next year instead of the same ole workbooks, I highly recommend this site. I understand that the information comes from a secular and evolutional world view, however, I see that as a teaching opportunity in itself. I plan on using their "Daily Science" books, yet when we are confronted evolution, we will see what their belief is and search out and contrast the Creationist view.
I am so excited about this new venture next year and the fact that I have months to plan for it!
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