Update: Since this posting I’ve ordered and will begin using WriteShop for writing skills. I think we’re going to really like it. This is the one area that I feel like we’re lacking in so I was happy to run across this curriculum.
Here is another link I posted with some fun and educational ideas.
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This will not interest very many but since I put together this information for a friend here in Singapore, I thought I’d put it out here in case someone else might find something valuable in it somewhere for their own home school experience. And it is all part of our Stunz family adventure so it qualifies for a blog post. It’s not a pretty post but for the parent who is searching and digging for answers and inspiration, they probably won’t care too much.
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This is what we’re currently doing in 7th grade.
And here are a few more regarding our home school experience. They go backwards in date order so most of these I think are from last year’s 6th grade for Anna and our decision process on how we got back into homeschooling.
This one is about PACE, the processing and cognitive enhancement program we went through in 6th grade with Anna. The link for the website, The Woodlands Learning Center, is in the post.
This link is from our old blog and is from when we still lived in Texas so some is Texas specific. Jakeb was 10th grade and Anna, 4th. You might find some helpful links here. For sure look at the free internet resources I listed in this post. Typing games, math, etc.
Aside from what I’ve listed in the blog posts above, these are good curriculum choices. Some we have used, some we haven’t but they are good options and if I haven’t used it, I know someone who has and it worked for them. You just need to figure out what will work best for you and your child and that might look different for each child.
My all time, stand on a soap box and preach ‘em favorites are: Teaching Textbooks and The Picture Smart Bible. I love everything we’ve chosen for this year (SHS 2011-12 blog post above) but these are my favorite favorites. The Bible curriculum has free downloads as well so no shipping.
Abeka Easy to plan. Many Christian schools use this curriculum so it’s very organized and more like “real” school. All the lesson plans and work is set up for you already for each day. If you go through the DVD program it’s even easier for the parent/teacher but takes more time during the day. If you go through the book format, just plan on doing alot of worksheets. Not a bad thing but not for every kid. My oldest daughter thrived with worksheets, ate them for lunch, but worksheets put my youngest daughters brain in freeze mode.
Living Books - Charlotte Mason Method. Literature based learning. Basically you/they read and learn science, history, etc through reading books rather than doing a bunch of worksheets. I like it and we incorporate some techniques from this into Anna’s school but since she is not a strong reader we can use it all the way. I do use the copywork technique and her language and grammar books. Check out their listing of E-books. Great resources for copywork and language and no shipping cost.
Others are listed in this post:
Book Depository - free shipping worldwide and from the UK so a little quicker to Singapore. Usually within a week.
Well Trained Mind - GREAT book to understand how our children learn and they also list many good curriculum choices. Available with free shipping at Book Depository UK.
Home School Tracker - Program for daily schedules, report cards and transcripts. The free version works well so I used it for a couple of years but upgraded to the Plus version since our company was paying for it and it is better. Free one is fine, though! - oops… doesn’t look like it’s free anymore but you can get a 30 day free trial.
Fun, free internet resources:
A great quote I ran across today from another blog I read,
Enjoying the Small Things. In terms of home schooling, teach your kids, love your kids, have fun. They don’t have a concept of time especially when they’re little, they just need you.
(Kelle, I know you’ll end up reading this because I’m sure you’ll get a ping from it. I’ve never commented on your blog but I read it every day. My amazing daughter got me hooked over a year ago. Your stories are sweet, your photos are beautiful and your words are inspiring and honest. For myself and my daughter and countless others – Thanks!)
“We didn’t stay long. It didn’t matter. Lainey can’t tell time yet, and she only measures anything by how much fun she has anyway.”
“You take what you are given and you work with it. You smile and you love the bejesus out of everyone around you for every second you’re blessed to do it. You make it work, and you give it–you give them–your all, your passion, the secret part of your heart that says things you want them to hear. Like “you mean more than any of this.” ”
“And, in the span of sixty-six short minutes, I gave them my all. I was funny. I was attentive. I poured out motherly love from a gushing hose.”
Kelle, the blog author, might not have intended it as such but I think the above quote applies to home schooling. Do we have to spend 1 hour on math each day or finish this lesson or that? Not sure and that’s for you to decide but you have to make those decisions daily. What matters most today? Teaching them character and morality and maybe even a trip to the beach or kitchen to bake brownies could be way more valuable than completing that Science experiment. Structure is good. Necessary. So don’t read what I’m not saying. It’s just that we get so bogged down in the check list and forget to teach our kids how to live. I think we, as moms, whether we home school or not, have a lot to learn about living too so we reap the benefits as well – if we’ll pay attention.
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” Colossians 3:23
We’re doing a walk for Breast Cancer next weekend and Tommy is being a really good sport!! He draws the line at pink Converse, though.
