A Thought For the New School Year

As we begin a new school year, this is a great reminder to remember what’s really important.

Blog Hop 2020- Not Back to School - How Do I Teach...?

How Do I Teach...?









It makes little difference in who you are, or how long you've been homeschooling, most parents have asked at least once, "How Do I Teach (fill in the blank)?" Fortunately, we live in an amazing age, where homeschooling continues to be on the rise. That means, there is support to be found most anywhere in the world, whether through co-ops,  Facebook, Twitter groups, and more.

Every day, when I scroll through the social media feed in the various homeschool groups that I am a part of, there are numerous requests for help in any number of subjects. It might be Math, Science, Art or Physical Education, whatever it is, parents are anxious over what they perceive to be their weakness.

I'm not here to offer you a step by step how to guide on any one specific subject. I'm here to say that if there is that trouble spot for you, and let's face it, we all have at least one, there are solutions for you.

Normally, when we aren't living under the constraints of a Covid-19 pandemic, there is the option of joining a homeschool co-op. Depending on your state and its restrictions, this still may be a possibility for you. For those of you new to homeschooling, a co-op is a group of families that come together as a group, with parents teaching various classes. Typically, they meet once a week for class, and students have the rest of the week to complete assignments. We've joined co-ops at different times, and found them a great way to tackle subjects that I wasn't the most confident in teaching.

If a co-op isn't possible for your family, you might still get together at a pre determined time with one or two other families, and have another parent teach a tricky subject, and maybe you then teach a subject that they aren't confident in teaching. I've known several homeschooling friends that have done this with success.

Another way to go is online classes, whether live or self paced. The majority of curriculum companies are now providing online instruction that include lectures, assignments, tests, and grading. It doesn't get simpler than that. This is what we prefer to do for both Math and Science, and it takes a whole load of stress off of all of us.

Whatever way you choose, don't forget that one of the greatest aspects of learning at home, is that we can learn all over again with our children. That is one of the things that I love so much about homeschooling. Above all else, remember that it's your relationship with your kids that is most important. You can do this parents!




Visit the Homeschool Crew page to read more about how to teach by clicking Here!

Blog Hop- Not Back to School - Curriculum

So, you've decide to homeschool, now what? Curriculum! It's a main topic on most every homeschool group or forum on social media. What subjects do you need to teach? How do you choose the right curriculum? What if, gasp, you choose the wrong curriculum? It can be a stressful thing, for sure.

I remember feeling a bit overwhelmed when we first began homeschooling. I wasn't familiar with most of the major curriculum sources, or what to include in our studies. Can you relate? If you said yes, let me offer a few tips.

First of all, relax! One of the things that I did to begin with, was to get online and find out the homeschool requirements in my state . You can do this in the U.S. by going to the HSLDA website (Homeschool Legal Defense Association). They provide a cache of valuable information about getting started with homeschooling. You can also do a search on what is taught in any specific grade.

Once you have a list of what you will teach, think about what style of learning you want to implement. Do you want to go a traditional route, with textbooks, tests, and such,  or do you prefer a literature based way of schooling? What about online classes, is that the way you would like to go? Or, do you want to try an unschooling approach, allowing your children to lead with what they would prefer to study? We have the ease and benefit of living in the computer age, so you can do a search on any of these styles and determine your fit. Also ask other homeschoolers what they do, it can provide a starting point for you.

Next, and also important, decide what your budget allows. Curriculum can be expensive, and flashy isn't necessarily better. Of course, it's lao true that you get what you pay for. As you shop, don't forget to try library resale shops, Half Price bookstores, thrift shops, and ebay. Join local homeschool support groups on social media, as they will often post dates of used curriculum sales that come up in your area. Those groups also often allow for swapping and selling curriculum.

What if you purchase curriculum, and it just isn't a good fit? Are you obligated to stick with it for the whole school year? The beauty of homeschooling is that you decide what works best for your family, and if that means that you need to switch something mid year, so be it. We've done just that, more than once. As I wrap up my thoughts here, I'll offer a list of some of our faves for you to check out. Oh, and one more thing, it will be alright!

Some of our favorites:

Schoolhouse Teachers.com - any and every subject, planning, support
Apologia - Science, Bible, Health
Notgrass History
Drive Thru History
Teaching Textbooks - Math
Math Essentials No Nonsense Algebra
Artistic Pursuits - Art
Memoria Press - Latin
Progeny Press - Literature
Sharon Watson - Writing, Literature
BJU - English/ Language Arts


Read more about this subject from other Crew members participating in our Blog Hop by clicking Here!

Not Back to School Blog Hop - Traditions

Hello!

Welcome to the Not Back to School Blog Hop! It's Monday, and we're talking about traditions. Are you new to homeschooling, or are you a veteran? Either way, you probably have certain things that you do with and/or for your children when a new school year begins.

We've been homeschooling from the start, and at first thought, I didn't think that we had any real traditions that would mean anything significant to my teens. Then, all of the stores began putting out all of the school supplies in July, and it came to me, that yes, we do have a yearly tradition.

On the first day of every new school year, I have a little school bundle waiting for my daughters when they wake up that morning. It isn't a huge thing, but I put together new pens, markers, notebooks, etc. I also add in a sweet of some sort, and maybe a pencil case or cute storage gadget. I didn't realize until last year that my girls love this little act of love.

This year, I've also bought each of my girls a Yoda (Star Wars) pillow to go with their bundle. Even teens like to have something cute and soft to study with :)
How about your family? What do you do to make the start of the school year fun?

Read more about Traditions by clicking on the banner below!

It's Almost Here!

Hey everyone!
It's going to be a great week, because we are celebrating "Not Back to School" with a fun and helpful Homeschool Review Crew Blog Hop. Each day this week will bring new ideas and tips to assist you in your homeschooling journey. See the banner below for the daily topics. Hope to have you join us!

Home School in the Woods #2 - A Crew Review

Disclaimer: I received  a FREE copy of this product from the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated in any other way.






If you live in the United States, you'll be very aware of the fact that the presidential election is set to occur this coming November. All of social media and the news channels speak of little else these days. Naturally, this is an opportune time for families to teach their children all about the U.S. election process. The question is, where do you begin? If you have students in the range of 3rd to 8th grade, Home School in the Woods offers a great resource in their U.S. Elections Lap-Pak . Our family is a big fan of this company, and I was more than happy to have this chance to use and review this product. 

I've always appreciated the philosophy of Home School in the Woods, that children learn and retain knowledge much better when lessons are presented through hands-on activities. You probably already know that that there are a variety of learning styles for students. The activity paks that are offered by this company work within those methods, allowing students to learn kinesthetically, audibly, visually, and/or orally. There is also plenty of flexibility in using their resources. Some families may choose to work through a study from cover to cover. Some may pick and choose from topics, using them along with other curriculum. Still others may use projects for students to use independently. Any of the paks may be used across a range of ages and grades. You can read more about this Pak by reading their Blog Post .


They called it The American Experiment

In this U.S. Elections Lap-Pak, there are 21 projects that may be completed, resulting in an impressive looking lap book that will teach students about the presidential election process in the United States. See the projects below:

1- Definition of  "Election"

2 -Different Forms of Government

3 - The American Experiment

4 - The Three Branches of Government

5 - Suffrage

6 - Who Do We Vote For?

7 - Terms of Office

8 - A "Handful" of Political Parties

9- Caucuses and Primaries

10 - National Conventions

11 - The Presidential Campaign: Platform

12 - The Presidential Campaign: Stump Speaking

13 - The Presidential Campaign: Media-News Source

14 - The Presidential Campaign: Advertising

15 - Raising Money

16 - Statistics

17 - Election Day

18 - The Electoral College

19 - Inauguration Day

20 - The Electoral Race

21- The "Vocabinet"

Election Day!

Included in the digital files of this kit are complete instructions, reading texts and assignments, masters of all of the projects, and optional audio of the narrated text. Supplies are not included, but you probably already have all or most of them around your house. You will need:

- white paper

-colored paper

- white cardstock

- colored cardstock

-pencil

- colored pencils

- scissors

- stapler

- liquid glue that dries clear

- glue stick

- double sided sticky tape

- clear tape

- clear packing tape

- gold glitter

- 5" square clear acetate

- exacto knife

- cutting surface

 - paper fasteners

- 3 1/2" x 5" piece of fabric

- pinking shears

- file folder (with middle tab)

- 6" x 9" manila envelope

- pushpin

Stump Speaking

Different Forms of Government

There is a LOT of detail included in this Pak, as with all of the others that I have had the pleasure of using. Don't let that intimidate you! As they say, begin at the beginning. Read the introduction, look over the summary and supplies list first. Then, print out the text assignments and instructions, and masters. Look over the project directions. It really is well organized and easy to follow, but there  is a lot, and it can seem daunting at first. After you've done these things, jump in and start creating your lap book!

Political Parties in the U.S.

I have always liked the freedom that these Paks allow within studies. They make great additions to enhance current studies. I like to bring them out when we need a break from our current work. It can be hard to be stuck in the same textbook day in and day out, and it's nice to have a break and work with your hands a bit. Having said that, this is a project pack that is heavy on cutting and pasting many small bits. That's great for my kids, especially when they've had enough of a dry text, but I know that not every student will fell the same way. Fortunately, you can tailor the activities to suit your students. Use them all, or just a few. Maybe you'll pass on the style of the lap book, and complete a display on poster board or other surface. It's up to you. 

This activity-pak is only one of several that our Crew reviewed. Check out the following:

Benjamin Franklin K-2 Lap-Pak

Timeline Collection: A Collection of Historical Timeline Figures K-12

Time Travelers U.S. History Studies (Grades 3-8)

Make-A-State Activity-Pak (Grades 3-8)

Find Home School in the Woods on social media: Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Our Crew members reviewed this, and other products from Home School in the Woods. Read about them by clicking on the banner below!