2013 was a year of growth for The Unlikely Homeschool. After celebrating the one year anniversary of this little on-line ministry, I watched as God grew it to reach thousands of mommas each day. Our daily journey together here and on Facebook, Pinterest, and Google + has been a personal highlight of the year. Thank you so much for joining me for this ongoing homeschool conversation and for voting The Unlikely Homeschool the 2013 Homeschool Vlogger of the Year. My sincerest thanks! As we round out the year, I thought I'd just recap some of the highlights. Here's a look at the top 13 most-read posts of 2013. If you missed any, now's your chance to get all caught up. #13- Christmas Schooling with 25 Christmas Writing Prompts. "Although not all of my kids love to write, they ALL love to weave words into captivating stories. This year, I hope to harness that fondness of WORDS by helping my children create a Christmas Journal...a countdown to Christmas for homeschoolers...a chance to set the school books aside and learn through enjoying the season." #12- Books EVERY Preschooler Should Enjoy "When selecting chapter books to read aloud, I always scrutinize the CONTENT and the LITERARY MERIT. Why should it be any different with picture books? In fact, as these simple stories are the first introduction my children ever have to the loveliness of the written word, I am MORE critical of what I bring home to share with them. I want them to be captivated by books. Only a well-written story with beautiful illustrations and thoroughly-developed characters will do." #11- ABC Book Printable Pages "After learning the letter by pulling fun items out of his mystery alphabet bag, every Tuesday found him creating a simpleABC-themed craft page that emphasized its shape and sound. At the end of the year, I took all of the craft pages to Office Max and had them bound with a cover." #10- Faith Building Christmas Gifts for Kids "For the past nine years of parenthood, The Hubs and I have made it a priority to cultivate a passion for God and His Word in our children...to sow a love for God in order that we will have the blessing of reaping a love for God. " #9- Why and How to Implement a 4-Day Homeschool Schedule "I never want to spend my days feeling like I am ALWAYS behind...in school, at home, in life. So, by affording myself the luxury of having a buffer day, I am ensuring that I can wear BOTH the momma hat AND the teacher hat well. " #8- My Best Advice for the Newbie Homeschooler "Remember, God did not give us all the same tools in life, so He certainly does not expect us to build the same thing. By prioritizing your time and energy on just THREE goals in your first year, you are allowing yourself to be the homeschool mom that YOU are suppose to be. " #7- How do you Homeschool with a Baby or Toddler? "How do you homeschool with a baby or toddler?...The question continues to flood my inbox. And, although I won't begin to masquerade as an EXPERT on the subject, I have never homeschooled WITHOUT a baby or toddler. It's all I know." #6- The Ugly Truth About a Blog "The Deceiver would like nothing more than to use my blog...meant to encourage and equip...to whisper his lies of self-doubt, insecurity, and insufficiency into the hearts and minds of some sweet mommas." #5- Homeschool Curriculum Choices 2013-2014 "With curriculum shopping list firmly in hand, I scoured the shelves of my state homeschool convention determined to find great books at great prices! I'm fairly certain that I lugged home my body weight in GOOD READS...but that's between me and my chiropractor. " #4- Our Homeschool Places and Spaces 2013 "While I know some opt to create a homeschool classroom...a room dedicated strictly to homeschooling that mirrors that of a traditional school, the Hubs and I have chosen to invite school into our entire home. Because, in truth, learning happens where LIFE happens. Neither LIFE nor LEARNING can be boxed up between four little walls. " #3- Field Trip Log Printable "Since the Newbie arrived nine months ago, our field trip-ping has been few and far between. But I'm determined to make more intentional effort to get us exploring our town, our state, and beyond. " #2- 5 Days of Scheduling Your Entire Homeschool Year "While some might baulk at the idea of scheduling the whole year in advance assuming that a prescribed plan removes all possibility of delight-directed learning or cultivating natural curiosity, I would propose that it does just the opposite...at least in my experience, anyway. " #1- 10 Thoughts on Raising Boys to be Men "I am a mom of four boys. It is a high calling and a huge challenge that I do not take for granted. While in my selfishness and sometimes laziness I sometimes fail at my best laid plans, I am confident that God desires my boys to be men someday...REAL MEN...and He'll accomplish that with or without me. I'm honored and humbled that He has allowed me to be a part of the blueprint." Thanks again for joining me for 2013. I look forward to getting to know you more in the upcoming new year.
Many years ago, I wrote a post called The Best-Kept Secret of Homeschooling. In short, it’s about how homeschooling educates you as the teacher. There’s more to it than that, so click over to read it if you haven’t before. Today, we’re talking about the second-best-kept secret of homeschooling: the unlikely connections your children are able to make when they are removed from the school setting. School as an institution crowds out private life and private time, while creating limited Continue Reading...
Take this printable book list to the library to fill your library bag with all the books you'll need for the season.
2012 was marked by both tragedy and triumph for our family. Perhaps one of the biggest personal highlights came with the launching of The Unlikely Homeschool...the written chronology of this homeschooling journey that God has called us to. I've been so humbled to see how God has used this tiny little spot of mine to cultivate my love for the written word, my passion for education, and my commitment to encouraging other homeschool moms. Thanks in part to you, who have followed along with the highs and lows of our academic days and my frail attempts at teaching what is GOOD not just what is good enough, The Unlikely Homeschool was awarded the title of Best New Homeschool Blog of 2012 by the Homeschool Post! Here's a brief look at some of what we enjoyed together!...the TOP 10 most read posts of 2012. Task Cards As a modified version of workboxes, our Task Cards have been the key to an organized start to our independent learning. The Ultimate Guide to Titus 2 Mothering In an effort to equip my young daughter with the skills she will need to run a home, I have gathered a collection of excellent Titus 2 resources. God's Girls Club This past summer, I hosted a club for my daughter and a few of her girlfriends to help them learn femininity and to teach them their true identity as young ladies in Christ. Preparing a Family Notebook As a keeper of the home, I desire to do all I can to ensure that my household will run smoothly whether I am home or not. By preparing a family notebook, I can help equip my family for success. Why Do We Homeschool In this four-part series, I attempt to answer the age-old question "Why?" Tot School The years I spent teaching preschool prior to having my own children sure came in handy when I had to devise some constructive learning for my own TOT during the busy school day. Here are 45 of my most tried-and-true suggestions. Curriculum 2012-2013 What homeschool mom doesn't enjoy a quick peek at someone else's bookshelf? You're invited to take a look at what fills our homeschool day. Top 10 Free Educational Computer Games for Kids It's always nice to have a fun review game in your arsenal to add some "jazz" to an otherwise AVERAGE school day. Here are 10 games with a price tag suitable for any budget. New Year's Eve Countdown Bags Although I only casually mentioned our New Year's Eve plans less than four days ago, it seems that I have struck a chord with many party planners. If you are still searching for a fun way to ring in the new year, you've come to the right place. Great Read Alouds for Lower to Mid Elementary I've always considered myself a bit of a literary snob. Which books have made it past my critical eye? Here's a list of some of my family's favorite read alouds to enjoy together. It is with much sincerity that I wish you a wonderful end to 2012. For all of us here at The Unlikely Homeschool, it, certainly, was a memorable year. We are so grateful for what God accomplished IN an THROUGH us this past year and look forward to whatever He has planned for 2013!
(I realize that I am taking the loooong route to prove my point here. But, stick with me. I think, or at least hope. you'll appreciate the final destination.) "If you were a good wife, you would..." she said flippantly over her shoulder. I just stood there, stalk still, mouth open, mentally clutching the gaping hole she had bore straight through my heart. If I were a good wife?? For a few days, I mulled that over and then, rather like a dog, began shaking off those wounding words. As you can imagine, it took time for me to rid myself of the toxic thoughts looming just below the surface. But eventually, I came to realize that her words were ones flung out of protection...out of fear and insecurity...out of a lifetime of personal self-doubt and probably self-loathing. I came to see that and could offer grace and forgiveness. And most importantly, I knew that my worth as a wife...as a mom...as a child of God was not wrapped up in her slanted opinion of me. What made the difference? How did I get from Point A to Point B? I sought the truth from the only two individuals who could testify to my wifeliness...or lack thereof. God and my Husband After much prayer and Scripture searching, I approached my husband and replayed the infamous conversation out loud. I'm not exactly sure what kind of reaction I was expecting from him, but a snicker was certainly NOT among my list of possibilities. "What's so funny?" I asked. "I wouldn't have put ....... on a list of What Makes a Good Wife." came his reply. and then CLARITY! I had spent days worrying about the fact that I might be failing my husband because I was not doing XYZ. And really, if I'm being honest, had spent years thinking those same thoughts about other wifely qualities I believed I was lacking. As a woman who is blessed to be surrounded by exceptional women of God, it was easy for me to wallow in self-pity that I was not... the super-organized one... the immaculate housekeeper... the fashionista... the hostess with the mostest... the adventurous outdoorswoman... the {fill in the blank} But the truth is, my husband didn't want me to be any of those things. CLARITY! It was then that I petitioned for a little "marriage maintenance" survey. I asked the Hubs to put together a list of the top three qualities he wanted and needed in a wife. I determined that I would much rather do three wifely duties exceptionally well than only reach mediocrity with the lengthy list dished out to me from the world. Not to say that I would only ever do/be three things for him. (Scrubbing the toilet was not on his list, but I think we can all agree that in a household of five males, that's a non-negotiable.) Narrowing it down to three qualities, or more importantly, HIS three most-desired qualities...gave me a focused goal with which to prioritize my efforts. The really refreshing part of THE LIST was that I was already doing two of the three things really well. And the third?? I'll admit, I'm still a work in progress at that one--it just doesn't always come naturally. But because I now know my husband's thoughts, I can refocus my time and attention on what really matters to him, not what matters to my mom, his mom, my friends, that particular woman--him! I recognize that THE LIST might evolve with the ebb and flow of time. What seems like a necessity in one season of life, may not necessarily be relevant in the next. But then again, his top three were well-chosen and certainly worth spending a lifetime perfecting. But what does all of this have to do with HOMESCHOOLING, you ask?? It's simple. Just as I was a new bride waffling in my efforts to be a good wife, feeling overwhelmed by the opinions and well-intentions of others, you as a new homeschooler will, at times, feel compelled to replicate the successes you see in others. All too often you will probably feel defeated and inadequate when compared to other moms who seem to have it all together. But the truth is, in all likelihood, those have-it-all-together-homeschoolers have only mastered the home educating qualities that are important to them. I have a homeschooling friend whose children have formed a traveling gospel group complete with matching belt buckles and bolo ties. And while that works for them, it's not in line with my main reasons to homeschool and therefore would not be worth my time and effort to pursue. The same goes for the farming family that eats off the land and promotes whole-food education. And the small business owners who have made buying and selling into a life-long unit study. These are all worthwhile endeavors. But the question remains, are they to be my worthwhile endeavors?? New homeschool mom, I encourage you to prayerfully consider choosing three homeschooling qualities to focus your attention on. Wouldn't you much rather master three things than settle for mediocrity in many? By choosing just three, you are freeing yourself from comparison. You will know what needs to demand your time and be fully able to dismiss the rest...with grace. And the best part is, once you master those three things, you'll probably be ready to tackle three more. And eventually, you too will be one of those have-it-all-together-homeschoolers, or at least appear that way to the rest of us! And how do you determine what THREE items demand your attention? Determine your reasons for homeschooling. Write them down. Revisit them often. Discuss with your spouse which subjects or homeschooling opportunities line up with your goals for homeschooling. (Obviously, certain subjects are non-negotiable as determined by your state. But maybe they can play a lesser role in the day-to-day happenings of your home.) Brainstorm how you can bring your top 3 to the forefront of each day or week. Applaud those homeschool moms who are doing XYZ...but never let their success veer you from your course. Remember, God did not give us all the same tools in life, so He certainly does not expect us to build the same thing. By prioritizing your time and energy on just three goals in your first year, you are allowing yourself to be the homeschool mom that you are supposed to be.
If you have a Little House fan who has exhausted each and every title of the series, here is a list of books that might continue their reading pleasure.
It's no secret that I'm not an advocate for bailing on curriculum midway through the year. In truth, sometimes, it's not the curriculum that is the problem. (This post contains affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for full details.) But, I also know that a thorough evaluation midway through the year, is a necessary and beneficial venture. I never want to be tied down to a sinking ship. So each year, come January, or sometimes before, I take a quick assessment of what IS or IS NOT working in our school day. I make changes accordingly. Sometimes those changes come in the form of scheduling tweaks and sometimes in curriculum refinements. This year, there is a little bit of both. After an evaluation our 2013-2014 curriculum choices, I've made the following changes: Personal Devotions Blonde Warrior (1st grade) absolutely loves his Hear Me Read Bible (a fantastic Bible for emergent readers), but has read through it over a dozen times already this year. While perusing the book aisles of a local thrift shop, I found a copy of Now I Can Read Favorite Bible Stories, an out of print emergent reader Bible. He's now enjoying all the same Bible story favorites, but with a new twist. In addition, it has been the pattern of our home that everyone two and above who is not able to read a Bible on their own for personal devotions is encouraged to just look through the pictures of a story book Bible and try to retell the stories to him/herself. But, after watching the excitement of Greased Lightning (preschool) as he opened his Preschooler's Bible for his gift of Myrrh this past Christmas, I decided that our pattern needed to change. I enlisted the help of my oldest three kids to make the change. We each agreed to take turns each morning reading one of the stories out of Grease Lightning's new Bible to both him and The Newbie. The older kids count this as their own devotions for that day and the Littles enjoy some special time with their siblings or momma AND the Lord each day. Morning Group Time We started our year by reading a short selection from You Can Change the World each morning during our group time. It was a chance to be able to learn more about the countries we have been introduced to at our Geography Club and also grow a heart for the spiritual condition of people groups around the world. But a few months ago, we were given a used copy of Window to the World and decided to continue our learning with this book instead. Although still a terrific resource, You Can Change the World was a bit out of date and only contained illustrations, not real photographs. Window to the World is basically a revised version of the original, but with accurate photos. History We are still happily plugging away and nearing the end of our Ancient Greece study from one of my favorite curriculum choices of our entire homeschooling journey, TruthQuest History. But, I have added one book to the mix...the Rose Book of Bible and Christian History Time Lines. In the last two years, my daughter has grown an insatiable appetite for God's Word and is learning to use it as a grid for every area of her life. Not surprising, she has begun a quest to match up our study of Greece with Old and New Testament happenings. For months, I have heard, "What was going on with the Israelites when all of this was happening in Greece?" "Ummmm...let's google it." was my constant reply. Unfortunately, Biblical vs. Rest-of-the-world history is not always the easiest thing to locate on-line. So, a month ago, I made a snap decision to buy this expandable time line book to keep as a quick reference for her...and the rest of us. She can whip it out, find the date in question, and know at a glance what God and His people were up to at that time. Reading While I love ABeka Phonics readers for their phonetical consistency and trustworthy content, from the perspective of a mother with BOYS learning to read and struggling through one fluffy, girly story after another, they had to go! I want all of my children to develop a love for the written word. In order to do this, I have to provide them with age-appropriate, skill-appropriate, AND content-appropriate books. Nothing will fizzle a fire quite like mediocrity in any of these three categories. So...out with the old and in with the new! I packed away all my ABeka readers for another time and another place and have gathered a basket of boy-themed adventure stories from the library that I know will captivate my ALL-BOY boys. I've also made a small tweak in HOW we spend our reading time. The boys still must read at least one chapter of a story out loud to me each day. In addition, they now must also spend 15 minutes each afternoon reading quietly to themselves. This new "rule" has not only provided some much needed reading practice, it has also helped to foster some QUIET in our not-so-quiet learning spaces. Life Skills My little girl is growing up! After spending the past three years learning cooking basics, she's now ready to venture out on her own in the kitchen. Following a week-long stint of surprising mom with breakfast in bed, she has proven that she can prepare a menu, follow a recipe, and handle kitchen gadgets correctly. So, from here on out, she will be assigned a bi-weekly meal to plan, prepare, and serve entirely on her own. I've told her that she can scour my Pinterest Boards for new recipes, make family favorites, or utilize my recipe book shelf. But, the selection is up to her. She'll need to make a grocery list for necessary items, help shop for these items (with mom's wallet, of course), and whip it all up with a smile. This new endeavor starts next week. She's so excited to be given such "big girl" responsibility and looks forward to creating some culinary masterpieces! Pheww...those are a lot of changes! But, in the end, I know that each tweak and refinement of our homeschool day brings us all closer to a life-time love of learning. Ultimately, after all my best laid plans have been boxed up and set aside, my all-grown-up children will probably not remember my failed PLAN As. I hope, instead, that they will remember that I cared enough about them and their individual learning to formulate a PLAN B. Got any Plan Bs in the works?
Take this printable book list to the library to fill your library bag with all the books you'll need for the season.
Take this printable book list to the library to fill your library bag with all the books you'll need for the season.
Every year I sit down to compile a list of The Best for you. It's kind of like a one-stop-shop for those who've come late to the party or those who just want the cliff-notes. Here are the most read posts of 2018!
These cinnamon rolls are the perfect addition to any holiday brunch and can be whipped up the night before in a bread machine. Serve them in the morning or freeze them for months.
Project-based learning is REAL, authentic learning that engages a child. Here are the best online resources for project suggestions and step-by-step instructions to skills and techniques.
Take this printable book list to the library to fill your library bag with all the books you'll need for the season.
Take this printable book list to the library to fill your library bag with all the books you'll need for the season.
homeschool curriculum
I read dozens of books this year. Here's my list of top 10, both fiction and non-fiction books for 2020.
Since the current plummeting temperature in our neck of the woods has prohibited any outdoor artistry for fear of possible frostbite, we've kept our snowman-making "itch" indoors and created a cute snowman SANS the snow. I, originally, saw a picture of one on Pinterest, but there were no directions included, only a picture. So, we just had to make it up as we went along. But, you don't have to! This two-day project was a simple lesson in perspective as we tried to capture what a snowman might look like if we were looking down at him. To make an Aerial Snowman You will need: a white wax crayon (optional) 2 large sheets OR 1 large and 2 small sheets of white art paper blue watercolor paint (optional) a paintbrush (optional) a pencil three circular objects of varying sizes to be used as circle-making stencils (cups, plates, etc.) a blue chalk pastel as well as an assortment of other colors hairspray (optional) scissors a glue stick Directions: DAY 1: With a white wax crayon, draw small snowflakes around a large sheet of white art paper. Use blue watercolor to paint a "wash" over the entire sheet creating a wax resist. Set aside to dry. (These steps are optional. You could choose to glue your snowman onto a plain piece of construction paper instead and skip this portion entirely.) Use a pencil to trace around three circular objects of varying sizes to create 3 circles on the two small sheets of paper. The largest circle should be smaller than the height/width of the watercolored base sheet of art paper that you have set aside to dry. (When we made ours, we were able to trace a small and a medium circle on one piece of paper and a large circle on the second piece of paper.) Trace over the penciled lines with a medium or dark shade of blue chalk pastel. Using your index finger, smudge the chalk lines to create soft shading. Before going any further, I recommend spraying the finished chalk circles with hairspray and setting them aside to dry. The hairspray will help to prevent unwanted smudging or chalk transfer. DAY 2: Cut around the outside of each circle. Use a glue stick to glue the largest circle to the center of the watercolor (or construction paper) base sheet. Next, glue the medium and then the small circle into the center of the large circle creating concentric circles. Using a black chalk pastel, create two small eyes by drawing parallel dots on the lower third of the innermost concentric circle. Next, create buttons by drawing three or four small black dots in a vertical line starting in the middle of the second concentric circle and going all the way to the bottom of the outermost concentric circle. Using an orange chalk pastel, make a scalene triangle just underneath the two "eyes" to create a carrot nose. Add 2 crooked brown lines, one on each side of the middle concentric circle, for stick arms. Using a brightly colored chalk pastel, add a wave of color jutting out from underneath the innermost concentric circle to form a scarf. And there you have it, an aerial snowman SANS the snow!
Take this printable book list to the library to fill your library bag with all the books you'll need for the season.
These cinnamon rolls are the perfect addition to any holiday brunch and can be whipped up the night before in a bread machine. Serve them in the morning or freeze them for months.
Take this printable book list to the library to fill your library bag with all the books you'll need for the season.
If you missed any of The Unlikely Homeschool posts from 2015, catch up with the TOP 15 most-read posts of the year.
The first few weeks of homeschool don't have to be marked by chaos. A "soft open" provides the grace that you need to launch well.
Take this printable book list to the library to fill your library bag with all the books you'll need for the season.
Take this printable book list to the library to fill your library bag with all the books you'll need for the season.
Once a week, I find myself standing in front of many large open bins sifting through the alphabetized picture books at my local library. While the choices seem endless, many of the books crammed between the dusty shelves are not worth my time. As I have mentioned before, NOT ALL BOOKS ARE CREATED EQUAL! (This post contains affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for full details.) When selecting chapter books to read aloud, I always scrutinize the CONTENT and the LITERARY MERIT. Why should it be any different with picture books? In fact, as these simple stories are the first introduction my children ever have to the loveliness of the written word, I am MORE critical of what I bring home to share with them. I want them to be captivated by books. Only a well-written story with beautiful illustrations and thoroughly-developed characters will do. After several years teaching preschool and kindergarten and many more years snuggling in a rocking chair with my own little ones, I have compiled a list of my personal favorites. A collection of wonderful classics and new treasures. Many are award-winners, but some are just undiscovered titles hidden among the masses. This is by no means an exhaustive list, just my most-loved choices. I continue to add to it each year as I come across new gems. A Treasury of Curious George by H.A. Rey Anatole by Eve Titus Ask Mr. Bear by Marjorie Flack Baby Farm Animals by Garth Williams Bedtime for Frances by Russell Hoban Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Eric Carle (series) Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina Charlie Needs a Cloak by Tomie dePaola Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin (series) Corduroy by Don Freeman Danny and the Dinosaur by Sid Hoff Duck in the Truck by Jez Alborough Good Night, Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney Harold and the Purple Crayon by Ruth Krauss Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion Henry and Mudge: The First Book by Cynthia Rylant (series) If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff (series) Imogene's Antlers by David Small Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear? by Nancy White Carlstrom Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton Little Bear by Else H. Minarik (series) Little Toot by Hardie Gramatky Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans Make Way For Ducklings by Robert McCloskey Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag Moose Tracks! by Karma Wilson One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss Owl Moon by Jane Yolen Ox-Cart Man by Donald Hall Peter's Chair by Ezra Jack Keats Quick As a Cricket by Audrey Wood Sammy the Seal by Syd Hoff Sheep in a Jeep by Jez Alborugh Smudge by Clare Turlay Newberry Summertime in the Big Woods by Garth Williams (series) Swimmy by Leo Lionni The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton The Mitten by Jan Brett The Napping House by Audrey Wood The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak Whistle For Willie by Ezra Jack Keats White Snow, Bright Snow by Alvin Tresselt Most of these authors have written MANY other well-worth-reading books. As is the case with most chapter books, when you find a picture book that you really enjoy, check out the other books in the series or by the same writer. For more thoughts on books for kids: Great Read Alouds for Lower to Mid Elementary 13 Books to Read Aloud in 2013 Summer Read Aloud Goals Top 10 American History Read Alouds (with a bonus list of 10 Historical Readers) Why I Choose a Living Literature Approach to Learning Hidden Benefits of Reading Aloud to Your Kids For more great book suggestions, be sure to head to iHomeschool Network and check out the Massive Guide to Homeschool Reading Lists!
The Unlikely Homeschool is an online, faith-based site full of ideas, organizational tools, and printables for the busy homeschooling mom.
Even if you haven't read the book yourself, you can still have a lively discussion about it with your kids if you learn to ask the proper questions.
Take this printable book list to the library to fill your library bag with all the books you'll need for the season.
The Unlikely Homeschool is an online, faith-based site full of ideas, organizational tools, and printables for the busy homeschooling mom.
Here is a list of my five favorite books in both fiction and non-fiction that I read in 2019.
Why homeschool? Learn four compelling reasons to homeschool, and how to get the most out of homeschooling (it is completely different than traditional school). The benefits of homeschooling are numerous, but these four reasons offer unique benefits that every family should at least consider.
Here's a simple cheat sheet for creating a homeschool portfolio.
In case you missed out the first time or are relatively new to the party, here's a peek at the top 12 most talked about posts from The Unlikely Homeschool in 2017.
Since listing my 2013-2014 curriculum choices, I have received dozens of emails from mommas all asking the same question... Why did you switch from A Beka math to Teaching Textbooks? Followed by the next logical questions... How do you like Teaching Textbooks? And why are your younger kids still using A Beka? (This post contains affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for full details.) Naturally, I wanted to give Teaching Textbooks a full year before giving my "official" review. So... Today's the day. Here's the skinny... I switched because I'm a busy momma trying to juggle four grade levels and a toddler and quite frankly, something had to give! I needed an easier workload. There, I've said it. In an attempt to lighten my load and maintain a certain level of school day sanity, I knew I needed to delegate one or two subjects to someone or something else. Although I was an "A" student in most of my math classes, it was never my favorite subject. Since, for the first four years of her education, it tended to be the subject that my daughter disliked the most also, it was the clear choice for CHANGE. The computer-based lessons of Teaching Textbooks would require little time from me freeing me up to teach something else to another child, I reasoned. I also thought that the animated lessons would be a welcome change for my daughter who obviously craved something a little more "jazzy" than the A Beka math that she had been doing up until that point. So, I plunked down the hefty amount and prayed that I wasn't making a huge mistake by potentially damaging my daughter for life! (Because isn't that what we, homeschool mommas, always think before we try something new?!) So...That's the short answer of why I made the switch. The one I tell in passing to the lady with the raised eyebrows. But, you don't want the short answer, do you? Nope. You came here hopin' for the dirt. The nitty-gritty. Well, here it is.. Why I start with A Beka Math Truthfully, if it wasn't A Beka, I would have to start with something else, because Teaching Textbooks only offers materials for third graders and beyond. But, I start with A Beka on purpose. I believe in spiral learning I know that most homeschool math curriculums advocate for a mastery approach to learning. I, on the other hand, wholeheartedly disagree with that method. I prefer the spiral approach. Although A Beka is not the only math curriculum that presents math with spiral learning in mind, it is, in my opinion, one of the best curriculums for this style. (In full disclosure, I worked for A Beka for four years in the homeschool division AND I taught A Beka Arithmetic for several more years in a traditional setting. I'm comfortable with it.) I believe in building a solid math foundation I'm a firm believer that a child should learn all four math processes (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) inside and out...forward and backward. No counting on fingers. No memory tricks. Just memorization of the facts. In my opinion, if a child has to rely on anything other than quick memory to solve a process problem, he does not really know the answer...even if he can EVENTUALLY come up with the correct answer after using "tricks." Using finger counting or memory tricks really only affirm that a child knows what "addition" (subtractions, multiplication, and division) is. It doesn't necessarily show that he actually knows the individual facts. While a child can coast through life continuing to count on his fingers, I think that puts him at a great disadvantage in higher-level math. A long division problem, which should only take a few moments to solve, ends up being a thirty-minute nightmare. A weak foundation of math processes cripples a child down the road. Having taught A Beka in both a traditional school setting and in homeschool, I have always found it to be an exceptional curriculum for building core knowledge of facts from kindergarten through third grade. By fourth grade, those foundational facts are combined to create complex, multi-step problems. I like flair Perhaps it is because math has never been my fave, I really desire to add as much flair and color to it as possible. I'm not here to name names or anything, but most spiral-learning based math programs on the homeschool market today look like an absolute snooze-fest. No color. No pictures. Just pages and pages of black numbers on stark white pages. That's enough to make a clown cry, in my opinion. A Beka, on the other hand, is a workbook based-program that offers an aesthetically pleasing page...at least in the younger grades. Yes, it is workbook based. Yes, it often over-emphasizes review. But, since I have very distinct opinions about workbooks in my homeschool, I have no problem embracing the parts about A Beka Arithmetic that I like and ignoring the rest. That being said, I have never really loved the fourth grade and beyond A Beka Math. After third grade, the work tends to be rather dry and has an over-emphasis of long division. Why I was drawn to Teaching Textbooks Once I made the decision to "farm out" math, I knew I needed to find a curriculum that would ALSO approach math from a spiral method, offer a great foundation in basic facts, and offer some flare! Teaching Textbooks immediately caught my eye. With a year of TT under my belt, here's what I've come to really appreciate about the program. The lessons are clear and easy to understand. All lessons can be repeated or played back should my kids not understand any of them the first time. The "worksheet" problems are self-grading. My child immediately knows whether he/she got an answer correct and can retry the problem or opt for a "hint" if need be. I was very impressed with the "real life" math scenarios emphasized in Math 7. Every single new concept was explained with a "how and when will you use this in everyday life" approach. (I have read through the entire Math 4 curriculum that my son will be completing this year and I have NOT found it to have a "real life" element. But, I'm assuming that is because the foundational facts need to be completely covered first before the "application" is emphasized.) The first few problems of each lesson are practice problems and do not affect the daily grade. This definitely helps with a child who demands perfection from herself. My daughter was able to have a few tries at the new concept before being graded. It is CURRENTLY not aligned with common core standards. Here's a sample of Math 7, lesson 10. Some things you should know about Teaching Textbooks The review is sometimes lacking Although it is a spiral-approach to math, there is not as much review of old concepts as other spiral-method curriculums. When looking over Math 4 for the upcoming school year, I can clearly see that I will have to do some additional drilling of multiplication facts. They are taught. And it looks like they are taught well. But, I think most kids need more daily practice of the foundational facts than TT offers. Order a la carte The full package comes with both the CD program AND a traditional textbook/workbook. While I have friends who loooooove having the workbook because their children prefer to handwrite the answers, my daughter NEVER wanted to write in the workbook. For us, it was a waste of money. So, this year, I only purchased the CD package. It is not as hands-off as you might think Because Teaching Textbooks requires very little parent involvement on a daily basis, it can sometimes be tricky to help a child when he/she becomes confused or needs additional explanation. While I know math, I'm admittedly a little rusty on some math concepts that I just don't use very often in everyday life...like finding percentages and lowest common denominators. For this reason, I tried to listen in to my daughter's lessons every now and again in order to stay current with what she was learning. If I did not take the time to keep abreast of the units, it was difficult to help her. I'd have to go back and skim a few lessons in order to get the gist and be able to explain the concept more clearly to her. The methods can vary from the norm Every now and again, TT would teach a concept in a completely different way than I ever learned it...sometimes in a more clear, much easier way...sometimes not. The grading scale is misleading I really don't like the way TT gives daily grades. A child is given two tries to get the right answer. So, even if my daughter got every single problem wrong the first time but was able to get them all correct on the second attempt, she received a 100%. That's not a clear representation of her ability, in my opinion. If she got it wrong the first time, I think she should be given a chance to re-do the problem in order to correct her mistake. But, I also think the problem should be marked as incorrect. The final grade should reflect the original error...sadly, it doesn't. The grade screen does, however, tell you how many times she attempted each problem. So, I just take that into consideration when assessing her work. (Since I don't give grades in my homeschool, this is not a huge "con" in my eyes. But, I thought it was worth mentioning for those homeschool mommas who DO give daily grades.) Here's what I mean. You can see in this picture that my daughter clearly missed problem 21, and yet, she received a score of 100. The lessons can be lengthy The audio lessons can be quite long. For this reason, many kids opt to just read the lessons out of the textbook. They can skip the sections that they have mastered and focus their attention on the unfamiliar portions. The placement tests are a MUST I STRONGLY recommend taking the free, online placement tests before ordering...especially if you are switching from a different math curriculum. In my opinion, TT tends to be a bit inaccurately leveled. What most curriculums teach in third grade, TT doesn't cover until fourth. The placement test will give you a better idea of which grade level to order. (This year my 6th grader will be doing pre-algebra which is the TT 8th grade materials.) The replacement costs are reasonable Should you lose or scratch a CD, TT will replace individual CDs in a pack for around $15. I'm sure I don't need to tell you how thrilled I was to learn this when I was faced with the thought of potentially replacing an ENTIRE $130 set when one of four CDs mysteriously vanished. (Found it weeks later...but only after I had ordered a replacement. Sigh!) In addition, TT is one of the rare CD-based curriculums that allows you to legally resell the program to someone else...and in turn, buy it used. (A word of advice...some of the older versions are not self-checking. If you decide to buy the program used, PASS on the older versions. Just my two cents!) A final word As with all curriculums, both A Beka and Teaching Textbooks receive mixed reviews. People either love them or they hate them. I hope this lengthy look at why I choose to use BOTH has given you a better understanding of whether either one of these programs will work for YOU. In case you're curious, I also switch English midstream. Here's why>>>
Take this printable book list to the library to fill your library bag with all the books you'll need for the season.
We're reading some great and some not-so-great titles this month. Take a peek at our bookshelves.
Take this printable book list to the library to fill your library bag with all the books you'll need for the season.
Take this printable book list to the library to fill your library bag with all the books you'll need for the season.
The Unlikely Homeschool is an online, faith-based site full of ideas, organizational tools, and printables for the busy homeschooling mom.
2017 proved to be a better than normal reading year for me. I finished 30 books. Here's a look at my 10 favorites.
After teaching numerous kindergarten scholars in a traditional school setting and now three of my own five children as we are gathered 'round the kitchen table each day, I have learned a few ABCs about teaching the ABCs. Always teach the vowels first. By starting with the vowels, statistics are in your favor. There are only five vowels vs. twenty-one consonants. At least one vowel appears in every word in the English language. Quite simply, once a little learner masters his/her vowels, he can already begin to recognize sounds within every word. Borrow from the "winners." For over thirty years, Vanna White has been called upon to turn the letters for hopeful contestants on the long-running game show, Wheel of Fortune. Without fail, during the "bonus round", the same five letters are announced...R, S, T, L, and N as eager players look on with anticipation while White turns over any/all lit tiles. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize the obvious logic behind the selection of THOSE particular letters. They are COMMON and commonly used in a lot of COMMON words. For this reason, after teaching the five vowels, I teach a handful of commonly used consonants next (R, S, T, L, N, and a few others). When combined with the previously-mastered vowels, these consonants can create many simple one-vowel words. So, even before a child has conquered all the letters in the alphabet, he can already read a large handful of words (like "sat", "man", "bat"). Nothing propels a feeling of success or a love of reading quite like actual READING. Cast off tradition. Although most pre-readers have learned the words and tune to the popular ABC song long before they actually know what an A, B, or C really is, they should not be encouraged to learn the formation or sound of the letter in that same order. Experience has shown that a child who learns the sounds of his letters in alphabetical ORDER has a harder time recognizing them out of order...as in the case of a REAL WORD. You will often times see these children singing the ABC song out loud or in their head in order to remember the sound or name of a particular letter. The "habit" that was created as a toddler of seeing and singing the letters in a particular order is hard to break. But if the formation and sound of the letters are taught APART from the song and the song order, the child's reasoning skills will categorize the song as one concept and the sound/formation as a completely different concept. Therefore, it is much easier for him to learn to truly READ the letter. As a final thought...Although I introduce both the capital and small version of each letter together, I emphasize the small formation the most. Let's face it, the ratio of small letters to large letters in a book is quite substantial. Typically only the first letter of each sentence or an occasional name is ever capitalized. When choosing educational toys and games, you can always spot a QUALITY item if it was created with small letters vs. capitals. Not only for the purpose of reading, but also for manufacturing costs...it is cheaper for a manufacturer to produce a toy with straight lines (as in the case of most capitals) than it is to produce a toy with both straight and curved lines (like small letters). This is why most QUALITY, small letter toys (puzzles, push-button games, blocks, etc.) are more expensive than their capital letter counterparts. Although every child is uniquely wired with his/her own unique way of learning, teaching most little learners to read the ABCs is as simple as A-B-C.
Take this printable book list to the library to fill your library bag with all the books you'll need for the season.
After teaching numerous kindergarten scholars in a traditional school setting and now three of my own five children as we are gathered 'round the kitchen table each day, I have learned a few ABCs about teaching the ABCs. Always teach the vowels first. By starting with the vowels, statistics are in your favor. There are only five vowels vs. twenty-one consonants. At least one vowel appears in every word in the English language. Quite simply, once a little learner masters his/her vowels, he can already begin to recognize sounds within every word. Borrow from the "winners." For over thirty years, Vanna White has been called upon to turn the letters for hopeful contestants on the long-running game show, Wheel of Fortune. Without fail, during the "bonus round", the same five letters are announced...R, S, T, L, and N as eager players look on with anticipation while White turns over any/all lit tiles. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize the obvious logic behind the selection of THOSE particular letters. They are COMMON and commonly used in a lot of COMMON words. For this reason, after teaching the five vowels, I teach a handful of commonly used consonants next (R, S, T, L, N, and a few others). When combined with the previously-mastered vowels, these consonants can create many simple one-vowel words. So, even before a child has conquered all the letters in the alphabet, he can already read a large handful of words (like "sat", "man", "bat"). Nothing propels a feeling of success or a love of reading quite like actual READING. Cast off tradition. Although most pre-readers have learned the words and tune to the popular ABC song long before they actually know what an A, B, or C really is, they should not be encouraged to learn the formation or sound of the letter in that same order. Experience has shown that a child who learns the sounds of his letters in alphabetical ORDER has a harder time recognizing them out of order...as in the case of a REAL WORD. You will often times see these children singing the ABC song out loud or in their head in order to remember the sound or name of a particular letter. The "habit" that was created as a toddler of seeing and singing the letters in a particular order is hard to break. But if the formation and sound of the letters are taught APART from the song and the song order, the child's reasoning skills will categorize the song as one concept and the sound/formation as a completely different concept. Therefore, it is much easier for him to learn to truly READ the letter. As a final thought...Although I introduce both the capital and small version of each letter together, I emphasize the small formation the most. Let's face it, the ratio of small letters to large letters in a book is quite substantial. Typically only the first letter of each sentence or an occasional name is ever capitalized. When choosing educational toys and games, you can always spot a QUALITY item if it was created with small letters vs. capitals. Not only for the purpose of reading, but also for manufacturing costs...it is cheaper for a manufacturer to produce a toy with straight lines (as in the case of most capitals) than it is to produce a toy with both straight and curved lines (like small letters). This is why most QUALITY, small letter toys (puzzles, push-button games, blocks, etc.) are more expensive than their capital letter counterparts. Although every child is uniquely wired with his/her own unique way of learning, teaching most little learners to read the ABCs is as simple as A-B-C.
