Organization » The Curriculum Choice

Home Learning Year By Year

Encouragement, Mom Helps, New to Homeschooling, Organization No Responses »

Feb 032012

What’s one of the biggest homeschooling questions you are asked or find yourself asking? I’m not talking about the, “Is this enough?” question, rather the, “What should my child know?” It’s so easy to wonder if you’re teaching your children the right information at the right time, especially if you’re not using standard textbooks.

There are solutions to this problem but my favorite comes in one small book. Home Learning Year By Year by Rebecca Rupp. This book has saved my sanity many times. Really, it has. Home Learning Year By Year breaks down exactly what children will be tested for or are learning in most US based public institutions for kindergarten through 12th Grade. One book. So much information!

How I use it:

I’m sure there are many ways you could use this. The book has an overwhelming amount of information. About once a year, during summer break or before the start of our new school term, I make a list of items I want my child to learn for his grade.

I also go back over the information my child should have learned from the previous grade , just to be sure I covered everything I wanted. You’ll find that much of the standards carry over. For instance, in Grade 2 a child is meant to learn how to use a comma when writing a date, address, or when making a list within in a sentence. By Grade 3 your child will expand their knowledge of commas, so don’t panic if you didn’t teach it in Grade 2. Just teach commas in Grade 3 and expand on it more.

The list making process isn’t complex. I read through the chapter for each of my children’s grade levels. I jot down, in a notebook, the things I know they don’t know or that I’m not sure if they’ll be covered formally in any of our curriculum. From there I type that list out and group things together. All math information, for instance, is tucked under a Math heading. I make sure to make a little check mark box next to each item I put on my list. It’s very simple. I also make sure to put the school year, grade level and child’s name on the top of each paper. I also leave some space for putting notes on my pages. I then print the pages out, and tuck the note into my Teacher/Mom notebook for school. As we go along I can tick off boxes when things are taught or learned.

Not everything has to be taught in a formal way. For instance, I’m really great for making the lists and leaving it laying around so I can bring certain topics up, “Do you guys know what an animal home is called?” If they get the right answer, I tick it off my list. Wrong answer? I plug in a Magic School Bus video and pull out a matching book, then I tick it off my list. Explaining terms like biography and autobiography can happen right at the dinner table. Where as teaching children how to alphabetize is better suited on the living room floor with an alphabet puzzle spread before you.

What I love:

I love that this one small book can guide me through my children’s entire school careers. There’s no need to purchase a new book all the time.

I love the price! Seriously, one book that will last me all 13 years of my children’s schooling and it only costs between $10 – $16 depending on where you purchase it. {Amazon.com has it for $10 + shipping & Book Depository has it for $15.97 with free shipping}

I love that Rebecca Rupp has taken the time to type out resources you can use to teach a variety of the things on her list. From main stream math programmes to lesser known picture books. It’s all right there at your finger tips!

I love that the book is small. I know that sounds silly, but really that’s big! I can toss this in my bag and take it with me nearly anywhere during the summer when I’m making my lists. It’s not much bigger than a typical paperback book!

What I don’t like:

I honestly can’t think of much about this book I don’t like. I think, if you live outside of America, you may not find the book as helpful because it is made to pass the US tests at the end of each grade. I can’t consider this a dislike because I knew that going in. I also don’t teach my kids to pass tests, so that’s not a problem for me.

There’s also the factor that while this explains what US children will be learning for history at different years, there’s going to be huge amounts of US history. Again, not something I dislike about this book for a couple of reasons. First off, I knew that going in. Secondly, my children are both American & Australian so it’s important that they know US history. For those of you not interested in learning US history you could simply substitute your country’s history in it’s place.

Bottom Line:

I love Home Learning Year by Year. I love the treasures inside of it. I love the peace of mind it helps me achieve! When asked what book to recommend to new homeschoolers this is one that’s on the top of my list!

Extra:

Rebecca Rupp has also written a book entitled The Homelearning Source Book. This book is a coffee table type book that is just bursting full of resources for teaching your children anything and everything. It’s very simple to use. And on top of the awesome resources, there’s also notes about which resources The Rupp Family used and how they enjoyed them. Unfortunately, I’m not sure if it’s still in print as neither Amazon or Book Depository seem to be selling copies of it, all though CBD seems to have copies {they do ship overseas as well.} If you can get your hands on a copy it’s well worth it!

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Homeschooling Gifted and Advanced Learners Review and Giveaway!

Encouragement, Mom Helps, New to Homeschooling, Organization 31 Responses »

Dec 052011

Our very own friend and fellow review author, Cindy West has written this book, Homeschooling Gifted and Advanced Learners! You’ll want to learn all about it below, plus enter for a chance to win your own copy. This book is…

A resource for those considering homeschooling
Inspiration for meeting the needs of a gifted and advanced learner
A tool for determining your child’s learning style
A source of encouragement for parents

I’m not sure how Cindy was able to cover so much in 160 pages but she does. She’s a mother with 14 years of homeschooling experience and a background in education. Cindy is also an author of the creative NaturExplorers curricula, has written many reviews for us here at The Curriculum Choice and knows first hand about adapting and preparing for her own learners.

Chapters cover:

Why Homeschool Gifted Children?
An Overview of Homeschooling
Choosing Curriculum
Teaching All Learners
Technology and the Gifted Homeschooler
Individualizing Instruction
Organizing Your Homeschool Day and Record Keeping
What About Socialization?
Thinking About College
Frequently Asked Questions
Plus a compilation of extensive resources and references

Practical. That’s the impression Homeschooling Gifted and Advanced Learners gives me. She shares not only a wealth of examples for teaching gifted students and developing talent but also ideas and illustrations for day-to-day homeschooling. This inspiration includes…

Highlighted sections throughout the book which offer a bonus nugget of wisdom on almost every page!

Homeschool Hints – simple helps for your homeschool

Real-life Examples – answering the how to of applying the concept shared. The ‘this is how we did it.’

Homeschool Toolbox – book lists, website listings, integrating technology and more

Visual charts offer examples at a glance (e.g. the types of gifted learners)

I found a bonus in how the Teaching All Learners chapter is broken out by school subject. The author shares advice and learning ideas for both:

students who excel in a subject AND
students who struggle in a subject area

In summary, this book was eye-opening. I learned the definition of giftedness. The different types and areas of giftedness. Plus, Homeschooling Gifted and Advanced Learners armed me with the tools and ideas needed to meet the needs of my gifted learners. Maybe you know that your student is gifted in a particular area but aren’t exactly sure how to foster that giftedness. Cindy’s book will encourage and inspire you as well as offer the practical strategy to put in place for learning!
A personal example? My daughter was struggling with her computer-based Teaching Textbooks math the same week I was reading this book. Because I read in one of the Real-Life Examples about Cindy’s daughter learning by reading, a light bulb went off in my head. Yes, yes. My daughter learns this way too. Here I was offering curriculum with a lecture for her to listen to. So we pulled out the accompanying textbook. Guess what? Reading the lesson was just what she needed. And Homeschooling Gifted and Advanced Learners was just what I needed to be reading to be aware of the answer for our own homeschool!
Who is the book for? This resource is great for the new homeschooler, the homeschool geared toward the gifted and even one like me – having homeschooled ten years. Can’t all of us teachers benefit from continuing education and encouragement?

Homeschooling Gifted and Advanced Learners is available from Prufrock Press Inc. for $24.95 HERE – where you can also click to look inside the book.

Now, for the giveaway! The rules are as follows:

Comment suggestions (not required): In what area do you feel your child is gifted or advanced? or How do you hope this book will encourage you?

~Tricia faces a daily dose of chaos homeschooling five children. She contributes a blend of writing at parenting, frugal living and homeschool sites as well as her own daily Hodgepodge.

Comprehensive Record Solution

Encouragement, High School, Mom Helps, Organization 1 Response »

Jul 112011

The prospect of getting homeschooled kids into university can seem quite frightening. I was recently talking with a mom who is going to do online public school so that her children will have ‘the right courses’ to enter university. She was cheerfully determined to follow this course, so I didn’t try to dissuade her, but really, it’s not necessary.

Instead, she could have continued the excellent home education she was giving her children and added a few standard tests such as SAT’s or AP’s, whatever her chosen universities required. Using the Comprehensive Record Solution would have enabled her to document her homeschooling so that universities would have been eager to admit her children.

I go to great effort to choose rigorous, quality curriculum for my children. I consider the worldview of each curriculum, its goals, how easy it is to learn from, and the amount of time and effort it will demand from me. As a reviewer, I love to evaluate curricula, and I’m excited when something exceptionally good crosses my path. Of course we want to use these excellent resources to provide the best individualized education for our teens. We don’t want to settle for public school standards and values just to be able to get into university.

And that’s why I love the Comprehensive Record Solution. It gives me both the confidence and the tools for keeping track of my teens’ high school learning. It’s clear, organized, effective, and professional looking. It helps me translate my ‘mommy courses’ and ‘mommy marks’ into something admissions officers can understand and get excited about.

I think this resource will help families continue to homeschool though high school Because it builds parental confidence and provides the tools to justify that confidence, it’s such a valuable resource that I’m posting a review of it here on the Curriculum Choice in addition to the preview and review posted on my blog.

First of all, the Comprehensive Record Solution is a parental confidence builder. Lack of parental confidence is one of the main reasons for sending homeschooled kids to public school. “If I keep homeschooling them they won’t be able to get into university,” I’m told over and over.

Lee Binz, mom, author, and successful homeschool high school coach, asserts that the quickest and easiest path to college admissions and scholarships is to focus on helping the student become the person God created them to be. She does not advocate a rigid, stressful style of high school at all. In fact, she says that a big advantage of homeschooling is the opportunity to enjoy life-defining experiences during the school year. This is our family’s style, too. Although we encourage thorough and rigorous courses, we also allow ample opportunity for exploring personal interests. Knowing that Lee’s philosophy is similar to ours makes me feel more comfortable with her suggestions.

Furthermore, the Comprehensive Record Solution provides helpful tools to prepare high school records. It consists of four modules:

Module 1: Encourage, in which we meet Lee and her family, understand the importance of record keeping, and see the records of her sons and of some other homeschooled students.
Module 2: Equip, in which Lee shares a thorough record template as well as all you’ve ever wanted to know about course descriptions, including many examples.
Module 3: Educate, in which Lee gives wide-ranging video and audio advice to help prepare your teen’s comprehensive record.
Module 4: Empower, in which Lee will personally help you, hands-on, with four individual course descriptions you develop.

The backbone of the program is the Comprehensive Record Template from Module 2. This well-designed document includes transcript forms to help organize and record students’ work in a format which universities and colleges appreciate. It has prompts to record textbooks, grades, course descriptions, and more. Because of the template, I could focus on just one step at a time, and that really reduced my stress level.

The program also includes a wealth of helpful information in E-books, audio downloads, videos, templates, and documents. I loved Lee’s course descriptions, and used them to make my own…and I really enjoyed her empowering and helpful input on four of them.

We used the Comprehensive Record Solution for Miss 18 who is entering her chosen university in the fall, and I am also using it for Mr. 16 and Miss 13. Although the thought of preparing adequate high school records used to keep me awake at nights, I’m now confident and relaxed about it. Of course, there’s still work to do, but the stress is now gone. I am pleased to be able to homeschool right through high school using our own style and top quality resources…and still get my children into university.

As mentioned, more information is available in my earlier preview and review, as well as on the Comprehensive Record Solution webpage. You can purchase the program there as well.

Disclosure: I received The Comprehensive Record Solution in order to review it and give you my honest opinion. I do not receive any compensation for any of my reviews, and my opinions are entirely my own.

-Written by Annie Kate, a Christian homeschooling mom of five, who reviews and blogs at Tea Time with Annie Kate. You can read her other Curriculum Choice reviews here.

Chore Buster

Biblical Principle Approach, Organization 7 Responses »

May 202010

The resource I’m sharing this month isn’t actually curriculum, but it is helping me with the home part of homeschooling.

I’ve tried various chore charts, including one with tabs and tokens and hooks. It was a good idea, but it was so complicated I quickly tired of it. Then set up a filing box divided by task frequency: daily, weekly, monthly. That, too, worked for awhile.

photo credit: spinneraf

Lately, I’ve used the free-for-all method. Basically, that means dust accumulation hides the color my furniture and my feet stick to the kitchen floor. When I can’t stand that anymore, I finally clean.

Some people are fine with this arrangement. Some of these care-free, happy people even live in my house. I wish I was more like them, but my perfectionist tendencies run deep.

I’ve relaxed tremendously, but I can concentrate on the school part of homeschool when I know the floor will get washed and the bills will get paid. Not having to think about when those tasks will be squeezed in between distractions is bliss.

Chore Buster is perfect! The free online chore chart generator has many unique features that make it ideal for my family.

First, I entered each individual in my household and attached a percentage of chore assignments to them. For instance, my husband works all day, so he has only 25% of chores. (To view in detail, please click on the photo.)

Then I began listing the jobs. Each chore can be assigned a difficulty rating and frequency. Here’s a partial list of what I entered to get you started:

As I was entered in chores, I discovered one of the best options. Chores can be set for specific people. Thus, I added menu planing and paying bills which are specific to me. My children easily see they are not the only ones with chores, and I don’t have to write out my to do list every day.

Chores are randomized based on the factors entered. (To view in detail, please click on the photo.)

Various option for printing are available. I print out one week of chores for our entire family on one sheet of paper. It’s very utilitarian and plain, so I draw lines with my daughters’ colored markers to separate family members. As chores are completed, we mark them off and at the end of the day a sticker appears as a small reward.

If you want to calculate points for a reward system, it is easy to do with Chore Buster, as well. As you add chores, insert a point value and then at the end of the week you can “Calculate Rewards.” That option is underneath the “My Schedule” tab.

The best part of this system is that once it is in place it’s automatic and easily tweaked. Now if I could find a computer application to actually complete the chores…That wouldn’t build character though, would it?

Written by Renae Deckard, Biblical Principled mother of 3. Find Renae’s reflections about homeschool and family life at Life Nurturing Education.

United States Symbols Mini-Lapbook

Elementary, Hands On, History, Lapbooks, Organization, Unit study resources No Responses »

May 072010

One of our favorite educational tools is lapbooking. Whether we create the traditional lapbook in a file folder or put the pieces on cardstock in a notebook, we love recording the things we learn in a lapbook. We have created our own lapbooks, found free lapbooks online, and bought lapbook files from several companies.

The newest lapbook my eight year old, Makayla, has completed is the United States Symbols Mini-Lapbook from Knowledge Box Central. We chose this lapbook as a fun way to learn about some of our country’s symbols, and a possible jumping off point for more learning adventures. A Mini-Lapbook fits inside one folder.

I love the way these lapbooks are laid out. The included Study Guide is laid out in nice, large font and includes all the information about each symbol in simple paragraph style. There is a Student Instruction Guide that told my daughter which booklet to grab(they are numbered), the questions that she was to answer in the booklet, as well as how to assemble that booklet. There is even a Layout page that shows the student one way to fit all the booklets into the file folder.

Booklets in this mini-lapbook cover the following:

The White House
The Pledge of Allegiance
The U.S. Flag
The Statue of Liberty
The National Anthem
The Liberty Bell
The National Bird
and more!

It was neat to see my daughter mentally connect things we had learned in the past, as well as bring other questions to mind to explore. For example, after learning basic facts about Independence Hall she wanted to hear more about the Declaration of Independence and why the colonists felt they needed to write it. She remembered a favorite Schoolhouse Rock song, No More Kings, that tells some of the story, and off we were to listen to it again.

We both really enjoyed the United States Symbols Mini-Lapbook ($7.99) from Knowledge Box Central and can’t wait to start our next lapbook! If you want to learn more about things we have enjoyed using in our homeschool you can read my other Curriculum Choice reviews.

Written by Tristan, mom to 5 going on 6 children, homeschooling through unit studies with a side of lapbooks. You can visit her at her blog, Our Busy Homeschool.

Apologia Science: Exploring Creation with General Science

Organization, Science 13 Responses »

Apr 192010

Apologia’s Exploring Creation with General Science has been a perfect fit for our son, Nathanael, who’s in the eighth grade (age 13/14) this year. It is the first course of the Exploring Creation with… upper level Creation-based science curriculum series written by former University Professor, Dr. Jay Wile, especially for homeschool students. Here’s a description of the course from Apologia’s website:

This course is designed to be a student’s first systematic introduction to the sciences. Although it can be used for eighth grade (especially if the student has recently left the public schools), it is typically used best in the seventh grade. The course covers such topics as the scientific method, designing experiments, simple machines, archaeology, geology, paleontology, biology, and human anatomy and physiology. Its scope, therefore, is quite wide. There are many hands-on experiments to do, and they all use household items.

I am glad that we waited to begin this course until eighth grade, for Nathan, and with him working on Physical Science next year, this will still place him in Biology in his 10th grade year, which is where many other curricula schedule it anyways (BJU, Abeka, etc.). I think that Apologia must recommend it for seventh grade, since they’re assuming your child will complete one of their upper level science courses also (Adv. Chemistry or Adv. Physics). This is certainly something to consider if your student is headed towards a science career. However, for our purposes, this course has been just the right speed for Nathan this year, who will still be completing four years of lab sciences in his highschool years. From our experience with Apologia’s General Science this year, the two attributes of this program that have stood out the most in my mind have been:

Principles of Creation Science, Applied & Discussed Throughout. I have especially appreciated how this course has not only presented our son with an abundance of clearly explained fundamental science concepts and terminology, but also how the information is presented, conversationally framed within a Biblically sound creation-based worldview. This has been refreshing, particularly with all of the evolutionary/millenia mantras we’re so often inundated with when enjoying so many otherwise wonderful science/nature books, or watching our favorite nature shows and science documentaries on tv.
Good Study Skills & Habits, Facilitated, Learned & Applied. Our son’s been learning more than just science! This easy-to-use course has offered a timely means by which Nathan has been learning some invaluable study habits! His independence with this course has really instilled a level of self-confidence and sense of accomplishment in him that we’re both enjoying. He likes knowing exactly what’s expected of him, and being able to “knock it out”, while I’m enjoying not having to tell him what to do every day! He has risen to the challenge of memorizing ALL of his Vocabulary words’ definitions for tests, which he also diligently records in his notebook as he’s reading the text, along with his answers to the On Your Own questions spread throughout each module. He’s learning how to reword essay questions within his thoughtful answers, and is actually even enjoying the whole process of seeing his efforts in studying for a test pay off with a good score! So overall, this course has offered our young student a perfectly balanced taste of traditional schooling methods that our Charlotte Mason, relaxed-eclectic homeschool hadn’t yet offered him much of up until now (besides his math).

How We’ve Used this Curriculum: My goal was to set Nathan up with enough organization and direction so as to enable him to be virtually independent in this course, and yet I wanted to be able to oversee his progress and know that he’s getting the most out of this wonderfully informative course. The system that we set up has worked beautifully and provides just the right amount of accountability and structure to keep him on track, while simultaneously allowing me to see where he needs correction or encouragement. The first thing I did was print out a schedule from DonnaYoung.org, where you’ll find lots of wonderful resources and helps for this and other books in the Apologia Science Curriculum line-up (even their Elementary series- which we’ve also used and recommend!). We’ve been using Schedule Two for the First Ed. of General Science (there’s also schedules for the Second Ed.), which spreads the first module out over three weeks (since there’s a LOT of information there in that first module!) and schedules most of the labs separately from reading days. I also set Nathan up with a notebook and directives per LindaFay’s suggestions, as found here: How We Organize Apologia Notebooks. He has the schedule/syllabus (that I printed out from donnayoung.org-see above) in the front of his notebook, which tells him EXACTLY what he has to read or do that day. We look over his list of supplies needed for upcoming labs (mostly household items or something you can easily find at the store if not already in your home) at the beginning of each module and we try to collect the week or two prior to his needing them. So far, so good! Next year I may just buy a lab supplies kit. Setting up this organized notebook system has turned out to be a monumentally beneficial tool in facilitating his independence, and I plan to follow this same organizational method for all of his Apologia courses. It ends up being a nice record of his work too, already bound and organized. There are 16 Modules in the textbook, intended to be completed in one year. They are as follows:

Module 1: A Brief History of Science
Module 2: Scientific Inquiry
Module 3: How to Analyze and Interpret Experiments
Module 4: Science, Applied Science and Technology
Module 5: The History of Life Archaeology, Geology, and Paleontology
Module 6: Foundations of Geology
Module 7: The Fossil Record
Module 8: Uniformitarianism and Catastrophism
Module 9: What is Life? (DNA)
Module 10: Classifying Life
Module 11: The Human Body: Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
Module 12: Energy and Life
Module 13: The Human Digestive System
Module 14: The Human Respiratory and Circulatory Systems
Module 15: The Human Lymphatic, Endocrine, and Urinary Systems
Module 16: The Human Nervous System

Nathan usually works on his science five days a week, for about 30-40 minutes at a time. He says that now that he’s gotten used to the routine, he has sincerely enjoyed reading the text, with its conversational tone being quite enjoyable. I’m thoroughly enjoying the spontaneous narrations that he’s giving me as his interest is peaked over various subject matter, along with our ensuing discussions. Honestly, I’ve enjoyed reading this text myself too (on my own time), and we’re both so glad to know that we have found a challenging, yet Biblically-based science text to take us all the way through highschool! As College Preparatory classes, this Exploring Creation with… series of science texts by Apologia will provide kids with the academic foundation they need, both scientifically and apologetically! This course is sold as a set of 2 Volumes: A hardback Student Text, and a soft-cover Test & Solutions Manual. We’ve been using the 1st Edition, since I found it for a song at a used curriculum book sale last spring. However, I do plan on buying the updated 2nd Edition when he proceeds to Exploring Creation with Physical Science next year. So, what are the differences between the First and Second Editions of the Apologia texts you may be wondering? In general (for all of the Apologia texts, as from their website), they are:

Dr. Wile has been answering student questions on each of these courses for seven years or more. Those questions have allowed him to realize what sections of the books could be written more clearly. Thus, these editions of our courses are even more understandable than the first editions!

The student text has graphic icons that tell the student when there is a related multimedia presentation on the optional companion CD.

There are course websites that have links to materials which provide extra help as well as interesting news related to each field.

There are cumulative tests in the solutions and tests manual if the parent/teacher wants to give the student quarterly, semester, or final exams.

The tests in the solutions and tests manual contain a point system that aids the parent/teacher in grading the tests.

Finally, even though the module tests are found in the solutions and tests manual (so that the parent/teacher always has a copy of them), a second set of tests is also provided in a perforated booklet. This will allow the student to be given the tests without referring to the solutions and tests manual.

PLEASE NOTE: Because of the differences between the first and second editions, students in a group setting cannot use both. They must all have the same edition. Because of this, the first edition of the course will still be available for those in schools or support groups that use the first edition.

Differences in the Editions of the General Science text specifically, as described by cbd.com, are as follows:

This second edition includes updates on relevant topics as well as stylistic changes. The primary function of the appendix (discovered in 2006) has now been included, as have higher-quality drawings and more colorful illustrations. Online resources for advanced students and a review appendix have also been included in this 2nd edition. This kit contains both the student textbook and answer key.

Thus, the differences weren’t enough to matter much (to me), when I had such a good deal available on an immaculate copy of the First Edition, since the overall text and presentation is pretty much the same. Therefore, I think this review can serve as applicable to both editions. If you get the Second Edition, it will just be even nicer! We’re looking forward to trying out the multi-media CD that goes along with the Second Editions, like this one for General Science. Apologia General Science, Module 1 According to our young scientist-student, the “Pros” of the program so far have been:

The first module has been my favorite so far, because I found it interesting reading about all of the different scientists, since I love history. But one thing puzzled me; I didn’t understand why Benjamin Franklin wasn’t included in the list of well-known scientists who set the stepping-stones for modern-day science, and yet Alexander the Great was on the list. Overall, I find the course enjoyable.

However, I should mention here that he’s just now working on Module 9, and looking ahead at experiments and material covered as he studies “life”, I’m thinking that he’s going to be enjoying the second half of this book even more than the first! I’m excited anyways, and just so glad to have found such a dynamic science program! and the “Con” (the only one he could think of!):

I’ve liked most of the experiments so far, but some of them can be a little dry.

Again, after gathering the supplies for the experiments in this module we’ve just begun, and looking forward, I’m thinking that Dr. Wile saved the best for last in this book, and Nathan won’t be disappointed (I know that I’m not)!

Christian Book Distributors has the best price that I could find for buying the Apologia curriculum new.

General Science Lab Supplies Kit from Nature’s Workshop Plus! at cbd.com

FAQ at Apologia.com

Apologia Science: Exploring Creation with Biology (Charlotte Mason Style), A Squidoo Lense by HarmonyArtMom which I will certainly be referring to when we get to Apologia’s Biology in a couple of years. You can read more about how Barbara makes Apologia Science texts work for her family over at her blog, Harmony Art Mom.

Written by Beth Brewer, a Charlotte Mason inspired, Spirit-led, relaxed-eclectic homeschooling Mama of 3. She’s also an author at The Homeschool Post and blogs her photos, musings, hopes, fears, faith and falterings as she lives, loves and learns with her family at the brew*crew adventure.

The Well Planned Day – Homeschool Planner

Organization 7 Responses »

Jan 302010

The Well Planned Day is this homeschooling mother’s dream! I have searched high and low for a complete, comprehensive planner that offered both homeschooling and household planning in once space, without a zillion separate forms. I was thrilled when I stumbled upon the Well Planned Day.

The planner is created by “Home Educating Family” which offers three different planners, depending on the needs and ages of the family, as well as a fantastic homeschooling magazine. The planner was created for homeschooling families, by a homeschooling family!

The planner offers so much and is laid out with beautiful artwork, homeschooling articles and so much more. I love the fact that a week is laid out per two pages. It offers enough space to plan for up to 4 kids at once as well as a small weekly “to do” area, a weekly meal planning space, and biblical scriptures to read.

The planner includes more too! Each planner offers:

Over 200 Full Color Pages
Full Year Planner: July 2010 – June 2011 or July 2009 – June 2010 (now on sale)
Organize and Plan for up to 4 children in one convenient book.
Four Student Class Plans: Schedule each student’s class assignments.
Four Student Time Schedules: Track each day by the hour.
Organize your week with class assignments, weekly priorities, prayer requests, dinner menu, and notes.
Month at a Glance: Plan field trips, enrichment activities and books to read
Semester Attendance and Progress Reports
Perforated Report Cards (spiral bound only. Printed report cards via PDF)
Menu Planning: Plan weekly meals and conveniently shop with perforated shopping lists.
Family Worship: Read through the Bible in a year.
Insightful homeschool articles and tips to inspire you throughout the year.

The planner is available in an 8.5 X 11 Spiral Bound Printed Book or PDF Download ($24.95 book or $19.95 PDF). To save costs, I elected to get the pdf.

While the PDF offered a nice option (and instant download), I found the printout to be huge. Unless you print the book double sided, or “as you go”, it gets cumbersome and takes a lot of ink. I had to separate it in two different binders to make it more portable. For the 2010 school year, I will be buying the spiral bound book instead.

If you are looking for a comprehensive Christian homeschool and household planner, look no further than “The Well Planned Day”. You can get your own copy direct at http://www.wellplannedday.com.

Written by Diana S. A homeschooling mom of two boys, growing in Grace and trying to joyfully ride the roller coaster of Life Curves.

Homeschooling at the Speed of Life

Organization 2 Responses »

Sep 012009

I like to fancy myself an organized mom. But I must admit that I am not. I have good intentions but they don’t always materialize. I came across a book that has helped me think I could actually get my act together.

Homeschooling at the Speed of Life, by Marilyn Rockett, is currently my favorite book on this topic. There are a TON of books on getting organized, but Rockett has the unique perspective of a home educating mom and she understands our needs and limitations. One thing I liked was that the books is big, and by that I mean it’s 8.5 by 11 inches. It’s easy to file and easy to find when I need it. And it comes with a CD-ROM with all the forms on it (over 30) so you can print without having to try to squish your book onto the copier glass.

She addresses filing, scheduling, meal planning, chores and more. Her ideas on time had me thinking of how I spend my time in a different way than I had before. She begins with a scriptural foundation of why we should be organized before she gets into the how. Her tone is not condescending but encouraging. And the space at the end of each chapter for notes is handy for writing down thoughts and personal application.

It’s not so loaded with information that it’s overwhelming and her system makes sense so it’s pretty easy to implement. And she does a good job of communicating that all of life is learning, not just certain times of the day, so our needs for order are different than other families.

Why you may like this book:

you are disorganized
you like step by step suggestions
you are a “paper person”
you like scriptural application to daily life
determining priorities are hard for you
you need help getting the whole family involved in getting organized
it’s comprehensive, touching on main areas of life
the mini-devotionals at the end of each chapter

Why you may not like (or need) this book:

you already have a system that works
you aren’t interested in a paper filing system (maybe you prefer electronic)
you don’t need help in this area
a lot of scripture bothers you in this type of book.

How To Make An Overall Plan for The Year

Encouragement, High School, Mom Helps, New to Homeschooling, Organization, Philosophies 4 Responses »

Aug 292009

Often I am asked by new homeschoolers about how to make an overall plan for the school year. They are looking for the nuts and bolts of putting lots of great ideas together because they tend to get overwhelmed by whole process. I shared the following ideas with a friend and I hope they help and encourage readers here at Curriculum Choice.

I try to emphasis to new homeschoolers that your “school day” extends far beyond the usual school hours. By making good use of that concept you can fit some school related learning into every day of the week and move some of your ideas and projects into the evenings or over the weekends so your whole family can participate.

My Steps to Pulling it All Together

1. Consider what you want to teach. What are the main points of the lessons? What are my goals for this particular year? The process of putting these thoughts on paper in a simple form gives a touchstone when considering what books, resources, and other options to use.

Take an inventory of what materials you have on hand

2. Gather your materials to see what you have and what you might need:

Textbooks or workbooks (if you are going to use these)
Library books (look on your local library website and browse their catalog of books)
Games and Kits
Online activities (Google the topic with “lesson plan” after it or “activities” or “unit study”)
Field trip ideas
DVDs from Netflix

I usually keep a notebook page for each subject as I am planning and record my ideas on paper as I go.

3. Decide which materials best suit your child. Try to figure out which aspect of what you are learning is going to be most interesting to them.

Active learner-Short activities, lots of movement, limited table time.

Some Children Thrive on Reading Lots of Books

Visual Learner-Picture books, videos, lots of art activities.
Avid Reader-Keep a list of books that can fill in your schedule and don’t forget books for subjects like science, history, and biographies of artists and musicians.
Project Learner-Kits, models, lapbooks, and notebook pages are great for this kind of learner.

4. Divide the text, books, activities, and field trips into the desired amount of time. I prefer to move slowly through a book and have them give an oral or written narration every day. When your children are young, working up to one paragraph per book selection per day is enough along with a drawing or a map or something that is interesting to them. I never try to do it all. (see #6)

Combine writing, art, and science into one project

5. Look for ways to connect subjects:

History and literature (historical fiction)
History and art and music (learn about artists and composers from the history time period)
Science and art (drawing diagrams or labs, drawing animals found in your neighborhood)
Math and science (measuring things for labs, cooking)
PE and math (times tables while jump roping, counting repetitions, count as you bounce a ball)

6. Have an overall plan but be flexible.
Decide if any areas are needing extra attention for this school year, make those a priority and perhaps complete them earlier in the day.

Off Season Traveling is a Great Experience

Take the opportunity for field trips-This is one reason for home schooling in the first place. Taking field trips when everyone else is back in school is so enjoyable and far less crowded.

Plan for interruptions-Divide your books into 34 or 35 weeks instead of 38 so you have some wiggle room.

7. Have a plan for things to do when your child is sick:
Educational videos while laying on the couch.
Read out loud to your child.
Listen to classical music while they rest.
Play quiet games.

8. Make use of your time spent traveling in the car:
Listen to books on tape.
Listen to folk music or classical music.
Have a box of books they can read to themselves.
Have a stack of math facts flashcards (keep in a Ziploc.)
Have a stack of sight words to read (keep in a Ziploc.)

Hopefully this post has helped you in some way, either with a few ideas to get started with or a some new ideas to try in your homeschool.

Written by Barb-Harmony Art mom. She also blogs at http://www.harmonyartmom.blogspot.com

Transcripts Made Easy

Organization 1 Response »

Aug 102009

Is anybody else beginning to stress a little about high school? Come on, raise your hand higher, I know you’re out there!

I consider myself a pretty confident homeschooler overall. I don’t over-analyze curriculum choices or worry about counting every single minute of every single lesson. I’m a fairly relaxed homeschooler – which is the way I like it. Until, that is, the “H” word begins to hover over my head. Then I start to fret, wondering if our relaxed, eclectic, Charlotte Mason style will cut the mustard when it comes to things like filling out transcripts, calculating grade point averages and getting my children into college if that’s the path God desires.

Some of you may say, “Your oldest is only in 7th grade. Why are you fussing over this now?” Well, as you’ll soon find out from my review, it seems it’s never too early to at least have a plan in mind for high school. And if I want to begin any high school credit courses early (which I do), 7th grade isn’t at all too early to have the plan in place.

So, where did I start looking? I ran across a book titled Transcripts Made Easy by Janice Campbell. She’s a mom of four who has been homeschooling since the late 80′s and currently has two boys who graduated from college early and two boys who are beginning college courses in high school. Because of her experience, success and the simplicity of this book, I have found it to be a tremendous help in planning high school – and easing my anxiety!

Includes reproducible forms!

Transcripts Made Easy is truly easy to understand. Even with 120 pages, it’s a fairly quick read, too. Janice walks you through, step-by-step, how to simply and effectively keep academic records, how to turn those records into a GPA sheet, how to calculate credits and quality points, making adjustments for AP or college classes and how to make sure you are preparing your student for classes that meet state and college-bound goals.

She even includes real conversations with college admissions counselors to help you understand what they are really looking for in an applicant.

For our less textbook structured homeschool, my favorite sections are those that help me justify unit studies, field trips, 4-H, service projects and the like. There’s even an entire chapter dedicated to teaching you how to name less traditional classes, how to assign them the appropriate credit, and even how to assess them so that a grade can be given for the GPA. Ah, what a relief! I won’t have to turn into Textbook Tina afterall! (Not that there’s anything wrong with textbooks – most of the time they just aren’t our style.)

With the reproducible forms included in the book, you can easily begin noting high school level courses for credit, even if you start them a year or two early. And if you’re already in high school, but still looking for a system that works, it seems it’s never too late (or too hard) to jump into the record keeping provided in TME.

Transcripts Made Easy can be purchased as a softcover 8 1/2 x 11″ book for $21.95, or as an e-book for $18.95. Both are very fairly priced!

-Written by Cindy, Eclectic Charlotte Mason mom of Three. You can find her blogging at Our Journey Westward and Shining Dawn Books.