Marriage & parenting
Looking Back and Ahead
Our oldest son graduates in just 9 days! There is so much that he has learned (not just academically). There is so much I still want to teach him. Although the Lord has not revealed a specific career goal for him yet and he is not moving out on his own yet; the reality that he is one step closer to that time has set in. We aren't the first, I know, but he is our firstborn!
For as much as I feel I have probably failed in some areas, I see that God has used our homeschool experience to bring another precious child into his kingdom. If we haven't taught him anything else, knowing that is good enough for me!
What a privilege we all have as parents to teach our children at home. This time seemed so long off. Now it seems like just yesterday we started. For all of you -- be encouraged. No matter how tough it gets you have such a tremendous privilege and responsibility. Praise God for it!
| | budikboys |
Other
Special Education at Home
The most wonderful thing, aside from homeschooling three ''typical'' children, is homeschooling my special child. For my son, three days talking about 2+2 is too little. For him, learning to tie his shoes is frustrating and even more so watching his younger brother do it with ease. For my son, making the MOST of each opportunity to learn is KEY! I have overwhelmed his corner of the table with stacks of books, workbooks, and must-do projects but now, I simply make the most of what he loves to learn about. Last year it was superheroes. We did superhero math, superhero reading, and superhero history. This year, he is into bugs! We count them, compare them, admire them, photograph them, collect them and whatever else we can think to do. His confidence continues to soar. He can learn what he likes at his own pace. He retains more. He talks more. He hungers more. I am so proud of him! | | homeschooljewel |
Lang arts: grammar/composition/writing
Expanding Short Sentences
The following exercise begins with a simple sentence. Adjectives, adverbs, prepositional phrases, and clauses are added to each sentence.
The sky is blue.
The autumn sky is an azure blue.
The cold autumn sky is a deep azure blue.
The cold windy autumn sky displayed a billiant deep azure blue horizon until the storm clouds covered it. | | rachel2577 |
| | Math: fundamentals
Staircase Math
When my beginners were having trouble learning to count, add, and subtract, a friend told me to use my staircase with them.
First, we used Post It Notes to write the numbers on, and attached them to the staircase. Then we started counting, adding, and subtracting as we marched up and down. We then took it a step further, and used this method for counting by 2's, 3's, 4's, etc. It became a great tool to teach multiplication early on, and remains a great tool for review into upper elementary grades.
Why not add a little excercise to your daily math review! | | jcoulter |
Organization/time management
The Early Years
For me, it has worked well to focus ONLY on learning the basics of reading, writing, and math during the first two to three years of homeschooling. As each year passes we go a little deeper on those subjects until the basics are really solid. Once we get to that point, we begin to add other subjects like history and science.
This has really made homeschooling much simpler, and with all the basics mastered I can really focus on other subjects without getting burned out by trying to do too much. | | juliep26 |
Hist/Geog/SS: General
The Teaching Company Lecture DVD's and Audiotapes
I found this delightful company who offer DVD's and audiotapes of lectures from superb teachers, both college level and high school, on any number of subjects. With teenagers who would prefer to listen to lectures at their own pace we were pleased with the History of the US (finding it very informative -- approximately 72 thirty-minute lectures), and the History of Russia.
At different times throughout the year they offer sales so you can purchase courses heavily discounted! | | bvtkiwi |
Other
Busy Hands CAN Help Focus
If you have a kinesthetic learner at your house, let the student do something manual while you read aloud. My daughter's focus increased tremendously when I let her play with Legos or other blocks, draw, play with clay, even paint her fingernails! | | musicmama |
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