Copywork should be easy. It should be related to the history lesson or pulled from the read-aloud selection. It can come from art, music, or science. It can be a statement, a poem, or a definition. Copywork should be easy, but if I do not take the time to gather and organize the passages it becomes a tedious, time-consuming problem. Most of the time, I am on top of things well enough to avoid … [Read more...] about Lessons in Manners for Copywork
All About Spelling
Spelling is one subject I've never enjoyed teaching. (And my son has never enjoyed learning.) This is probably because I've never found a program that's the right fit for my son - multisensory, phonetical and builds upon precepts. As a result, he still struggles a bit with spelling in the 5th grade. During my summer planning, I came across the All About Spelling website and quickly became … [Read more...] about All About Spelling
Your Backyard Birding DVD
Have you ever wanted to identify the bird that likes to perch right outside your kitchen window? Or better yet, to be able to say, "here comes our cardinal, he's announcing his approach to the feeder," just by hearing his call? Our family's love of birds has developed over the years. We've enjoyed studying and watching birds as well as creating a bird habitat in our own backyard. The Bird Song … [Read more...] about Your Backyard Birding DVD
Ancient History-Based Writing Lessons from IEW
After trying many different writing programs, I am using a writing curriculum this year with my 4th and 6th grade sons that I KNOW I will continue using year after year. I am absolutely thrilled with the writing curriculum I purchased from the Institute for Excellence in Writing. More specifically, we are using Ancient History-Based Writing Lessons. Ancient History-Based Writing Lessons is one … [Read more...] about Ancient History-Based Writing Lessons from IEW
Expedition Earth: A Journey Through God’s World
We love unit studies and were thrilled to be able to begin a trip around the world with Expedition Earth: A Journey Through God’s World ($15.00 instant download) from Confessions of a Homeschooler. In the last few months my children and I have visited China, South Korea, and India. We’re headed to several countries in Africa next, and I have to say we’ve been having a wonderful trip from the … [Read more...] about Expedition Earth: A Journey Through God’s World
Book of Time
Eldest girl was browsing her Tapestry of Grace notebook. “So it says here I’m supposed to keep a time line.” Then she saw the light bulb floating above my head. The Book of Time from our early Sonlight days. The book I set aside for later. I pulled it from the long-forgotten section of the History shelf. She was intrigued. Her enthusiasm drew a crowd. “Aw, you got Joseph. I wanted Joseph!” … [Read more...] about Book of Time
Adam and His Kin
As a supplement for studying ancient history this year, my children and I read Adam and His Kin. Ruth Beechick has done a fantastic job retelling the Biblical story of Creation through Abram as he leaves Ur (Genesis 1-11.) Reading like living literature, the author fills in some of her own imaginations about how the characters of the Bible might have felt and what they might have said. This may … [Read more...] about Adam and His Kin
My Access! Vantage Online Writing Course
My Access Home Edition is an online interactive writing program designed to be added to any curriculum seamlessly. You can purchase the program for three students for $99.95 HERE. From about first grade through high school this program will help your child develop valuable writing skills at his or her own pace. My Access is designed to take a central role in helping your child achieve … [Read more...] about My Access! Vantage Online Writing Course
Hooked on French Program from Hooked on Phonics
Having taken French in high school and college, I couldn't help but want to work on French with my children once we started homeschooling. Urged by many people to focus on Spanish instead, we spent a gross amount of money, bought Rosetta Stone, and started working on Spanish. After six months, when my kids only seemed to be able to use about as much Spanish as they had learned on Dora … [Read more...] about Hooked on French Program from Hooked on Phonics
Writer’s Inc and Write for College Writing Handbooks
The GreatSource Education Group, a Houghton Mifflin Company, has produced a variety of academically useful and reliable handbooks. Chief among them are the writing handbooks, including Writer’s Inc. and Write for College. Both books are intended for high school students. They present writing in an orderly manner, complete with lots of examples. These two handbooks contain enough writing … [Read more...] about Writer’s Inc and Write for College Writing Handbooks
Logic and Reasoning with the Bluedorn’s
This post contains affiliate links. We love logic in our homeschool! I've used logic puzzlers with my children as early as 1st grade with such materials as Mind Benders, Prufrock Press books, and Logic Links. Now that my oldest is moving into upper middle and high school level courses, we've begun some more formal logic/reasoning instruction. Brothers, Nathaniel and Hans Bluedorn, have written … [Read more...] about Logic and Reasoning with the Bluedorn’s
Flat Stanley Unit
Often in our schooling, I find myself working hard to remember and actively teach our “middle” students! This year, we have worked together with another family once a week to join forces on several subjects we wanted to teach our different aged students, and I loved having some focused time with our “middles.” To have a direction of study, we chose to use the Flat Stanley unit study published … [Read more...] about Flat Stanley Unit