Eclectic Homeschooling https://eclectic-homeschool.com Raising Global Kids Tue, 26 Nov 2024 07:37:34 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 The End of Homeschooling https://eclectic-homeschool.com/the-end-of-homeschooling/ https://eclectic-homeschool.com/the-end-of-homeschooling/#respond Tue, 26 Nov 2024 07:36:39 +0000 https://eclectic-homeschool.com/?p=8185

I started homeschooling in 2007. So long ago. My oldest child was Kindergarten age and I jumped into the world of homeschooling. I loved teaching kids and being with my babies. So homeschooling them made sense.

I homeschooled until my youngest decided to attend the local high school in 2023. Homeschooling wasn’t easy, but I loved it. I loved having those years with my children. I loved teaching them about the world.

I went back to work full-time while homeschooling my teens in 2017. I would prepare their assignments and lessons and I or my husband would work with a kid as needed. Homeschooling while working was not ideal and I used lots of local class options to supplement.

The best parts of homeschooling:

  1. Time with my kids.
  2. I was able to teach my kids about acceptance and beauty in the differences of others.
  3. I was able to personalize their education.
  4. Stronger sibling bonds.
  5. Beautiful memories.

Things I wish I did differently:

  1. Not moved so much.
  2. Found a local homeschooling community that accepts everyone.
  3. Had a greater understanding of neurodiversity.
  4. Realized that church groups were not good social experiences for my kids.
  5. Worked more on executive functioning skills.

Nothing is perfect. Our homeschooling years weren’t perfect, but they were precious. Years go by so fast. I am so grateful for all of the time I was able to spend with my children.

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]]> https://eclectic-homeschool.com/the-end-of-homeschooling/feed/ 0 Homeschooling Pride https://eclectic-homeschool.com/homeschooling-pride/ https://eclectic-homeschool.com/homeschooling-pride/#respond Sat, 10 Jun 2023 08:58:13 +0000 https://eclectic-homeschool.com/?p=8134

It is Pride Month. How should homeschoolers respond?

Homeschooling families often talk about how homeschooled children are able to get along and make friends with children of all ages. This flexibility does not seem to carry over to LGBTQ youth.

Unfortunately.

Sadly.

I have seen it. My child has experienced it.

Homeschool parents, why are you teaching your children to be mean to LGBTQ youth? I get it. You probably don’t teach them to be mean, but you teach them that LBGTQ is wrong and against God. You teach them that LGBTQ youth are deceived. In your passion against this issue, you have forgotten to teach them to love those who are different.

By the way, telling someone that they are wrong or a sinner isn’t love. It isn’t kind either.

About 7% of adults identify as LGBTQ. This means that about 7% of kids in your youth group or homeschool group are likely struggling with not fitting in. As they face these feelings, they are hearing how they are wrong, against God, and being deceived. What would you do if you were in that situation? Imagine how depressing that situation is.

If you think there are no LGBTQ youth in your homeschool group, it is probably because the youth do not feel comfortable sharing because the potential lack of acceptance. The LGBTQ youth are there. They hear the insults, the need to boycott certain stores, the comments about the woke agenda, and more.

Homeschoolers, we can do better than this! We can demonstrate love and acceptance. We may not always agree or understand the experience of others, but we can be there for them and support them. Please teach your children to be kind to LGBTQ youth and to try to see things from their perspective.

Public school is doing a better job of being kind to LBGTQ youth than homeschool groups. Homeschooling families need to do better.

Teach your kids to be kind. Demonstrate the importance of love and kindness toward those who are different from yourselves.

Make a difference in your homeschool circle.

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]]> https://eclectic-homeschool.com/homeschooling-pride/feed/ 0 Take a Quiz to Discover the Best Way to Homeschool https://eclectic-homeschool.com/take-a-quiz-to-discover-the-best-way-to-homeschool/ https://eclectic-homeschool.com/take-a-quiz-to-discover-the-best-way-to-homeschool/#comments Thu, 08 Jun 2023 10:27:45 +0000 https://eclectic-homeschool.com/?p=8127

Try out our updated Homeschool Philosophies quiz!  Answer questions to see which homeschool approach fits your family the best.

Find out how you score with Charlotte Mason Education, Classical Education, Montessori, Project-Based Learning, Reggio-Inspired Learning, Thomas Jefferson Education, Traditional Education, a Unit Studies Approach, an Unschooling Approach, and Waldorf Education.

Share your results in the comments.  Did anything surprise you?  Do you think it is accurate?

Great books from history and literature should be used in place of textbooks.

Topical studies are a great way to learn.

Child-led learning is important.

Living books, projects, and activities are preferable to textbooks, workbooks, and worksheets.

Children should design their own curriculum.

Children should have long periods of uninterrupted time for child-led study.

Lessons that can be used with multiple ages and grades are best.

I prefer to purchase grade-level curriculum packages that are planned out for me.

Natural life experiences are where learning truly happens.

The parent's role is to help the child pursue his/her goals and interests.

Instruction should be language-based with little use of screens.

Incorporating many different subjects into one study is preferable.

Creative play should be emphasized in early childhood with no formal learning before age 7.

The parent's role is to inspire the child to learn rather than require him to learn.

Living books are a great tool for learning.

It is important to cultivate wisdom and virtue in our homeschool.

Social responsibility, empathy, creativity, and free thinking are important in my children's education.

Learning should be based on a child's interests.

Learning ideas are more important than memorizing facts.

Parents should model a love for learning, a love for work, a curious nature, and read a lot.

Learning to write clearly and use elegant language is important.

Children will learn when they are ready.

Education should include practical activities like household chores or handcrafts.

Children should redo work until it is excellent.

Education should be driven by a child's interests.

Exploring ideas from great thinkers is important.

Parents should study and read while the child studies and reads.

Learning is best done in larger blocks of time.

Short lessons with focused attention are better than big chunks of time.

Avoiding screens for children who are elementary age or younger is important.

Tests and grades should be given in elementary or middle school.

It is better to study a wide variety of subjects than to focus mainly on reading, writing, and math.

Our learning environment looks like a mini-classroom.

Tests and grades may hinder learning.

Children learn well in multi-age groups.

Topical studies help children make connections between subjects.

Children should spend lots of time outside.

Adults should search out answers together with the child rather than give answers.

Being able to transition into a public or private school classroom is important.

Expression through art and music is important in my homeschool.

A parent's role is to act less like a teacher and more like a mentor to help their children learn.

I want to use curriculum similar to what is used in public or private schools.

The child's learning area needs to be organized and aesthetically pleasing.

Children learn best by doing their own investigations in the world.

Projects are an excellent way to engage in deep, complex learning.

Great works of literature, art, history, and philosophy are important to study.

The parent's role is to facilitate the child's education and not to teach.

Art, music, gardening, and foreign language are important subjects.

Making things is an important part of learning.

Learning is best done in a clutter-free environment filled with natural light.

Enter your email (optional) if you would like to have the results emailed to you.  Your email will not be shared with others and may be added to our mailing list where you will receive 3-4 weekly emails about eclectic homeschooling

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]]> https://eclectic-homeschool.com/take-a-quiz-to-discover-the-best-way-to-homeschool/feed/ 7 Canada History Study https://eclectic-homeschool.com/canada-history-study/ https://eclectic-homeschool.com/canada-history-study/#respond Tue, 20 Jul 2021 06:26:36 +0000 http://eclectic-homeschool.com/?p=8114

When I was living in Canada I discovered an excellent resource at our local library. Canada: A People’s History is an excellent video series that gives an overview of the history of Canada.

If you are in Canada, you should be able to get additional resources and access the videos through curio.ca. Since we are not in Canada now, I will have my 8th grader access the videos through online resources like Vimeo and Youtube.

I will also be choosing some of the literature suggestions from this site to go along with the videos.

My 8th grader will be watching the videos independently, take notes on the videos, and then write a 200 word response about what was learned or opinions about what was learned. Each episode is about 1 hour and 45 minutes long.

Episode 1: When the World Began 15,000 BC – 1800 AD

Episode 2: Adventurers and Mystics 1540-1670

Episode 3: Claiming the Wilderness 1670-1755

Episode 4: Battle for a Continent 1754-1775

Episode 5: A Question of Loyalties 1775-1815

Episode 6: The Pathfinders 1670-1850

Episode 7: Rebellion and Reform 1815-1850

Episode 8: The Great Enterprise 1850-1867

Episode 9: From Sea to Sea 1867-1873

Episode 10: Taking the West 1873-1896

Episode 11: The Great Transformation 1896-1915 and part 2

Episode 12: Ordeal by Fire 1915-1929

Episode 13: Hard Times 1929–1940

Episode 14: The Crucible 1940-1946

Episode 15: Comfort and Fear 1946-1964

Episode 16: Years of Hope and Anger 1964-1976

Episode 17: In an Uncertain World 1976-1990

This isn’t a full year of history. We will be doing California state history with lots of field trips.

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]]> https://eclectic-homeschool.com/canada-history-study/feed/ 0 7th Grade Plans https://eclectic-homeschool.com/7th-grade-plans-2/ https://eclectic-homeschool.com/7th-grade-plans-2/#comments Mon, 23 Nov 2020 08:07:49 +0000 http://eclectic-homeschool.com/?p=8081

These plans are for my highly creative 7th grader who has a love of fine arts.

Please note that this is our working plan. It is doubtful that we will finish everything on this list, but we will use it as a guide to shape what we do this school year.

This child also has a high need for social interactions so she is typically enrolled in a public-school charter where she has classes two mornings a week with peers for fine arts and clubs. Because of COVID, we have decided that she will be home this year and doing gatherings with small groups of peers when it is safe. Also, she will be doing several Outschool clubs and classes for social reasons. She is still enrolled in her public school charter and receives funding for some Outschool classes and curriculum.

Because she is enrolled in a public-school charter, she is required to meet with a certificated teacher about once a month to go over her progress. English and math are standards-based.

I am working full-time at a local school district as a specialist. Due to COVID, I am working from home. Normally, I do literature and math with my child for 1-2 hours a day after work. Even though I’ve eliminated a commute from my day, the hours are longer due to increased demands of working online. As a result, I am working 10-12 hour days and don’t have the time to work with my child after work right now. So, I have needed to adjust and/or postpone some of our plans.

Math

Science

History

English

Various resources are used to cover 7th grade English Language Arts standards. Many of the resources are used along with our history study.

Literature Choices

Writing

  • Write 3-5 page narrative
  • 5 paragragh argumentative essay on gender roles in The Witch of the Blackbird Pond
  • 2-3 page research paper on the Salem Witch Trials with works cited page
  • 5 paragrah compare and contrast essay on the Johnny Tremain book and movie
  • 5 paragrah how-to (procedural) essay on topic of choice
  • 5 paragrah descriptive essay that is completed in 40 minutes
  • Write letter to Martin Luther King Jr.
  • 2-3 paragraphs reflecting on school year

Presentations and Group Discussions

  • Oral presentation with multi-media on Booker T. Washington’s life
  • Movies as Literature: To Kill a Mockingbird – lead discussion on the movie
  • Movies as Literature: The Journey of August King – lead discussion on the movie

Writing

Vocabulary

Grammar

Foreign Language

  • Spanish classes at Outschool.com
  • ASL classes at Outschool.com

Fine Arts

  • Acrylic painting class at Outschool.com
  • Lots of free time is spent drawing, painting, and writing music.

Social

  • Social justice online social group for 11-14 year olds.

Computer

PE

  • At least 45 minutes per day exercise

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]]> https://eclectic-homeschool.com/7th-grade-plans-2/feed/ 1 Microbiology Unit Study for Middle School https://eclectic-homeschool.com/microbiology-unit-study-for-middle-school/ https://eclectic-homeschool.com/microbiology-unit-study-for-middle-school/#comments Thu, 24 Sep 2020 19:24:33 +0000 http://eclectic-homeschool.com/?p=8012

My rising 7th grader will be completing this microbiology unit study. I had a previously completed microbiology study, but I am using different spines, changing some of the videos, and scaling it back a little to suit my youngest child.

This study will include cells, microscope exploration, genetics, and bacteria.

These are the spines that I am using for this study:

Introduction to Microbiology

Microscope Exploration

History of Microbiology

Cells Structure and Function

 Cell Processes and Energy

Genetics: The Science of Heredity

Modern Genetics

Viruses and Bacteria

Protists and Fungi

Microbes and Humans

Microbes in the World Around Us

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]]> https://eclectic-homeschool.com/microbiology-unit-study-for-middle-school/feed/ 2 A Homeschooling Moment https://eclectic-homeschool.com/a-homeschooling-moment/ https://eclectic-homeschool.com/a-homeschooling-moment/#respond Fri, 18 Sep 2020 21:21:54 +0000 http://eclectic-homeschool.com/?p=8106

When my children were 5th grade, 3rd grade, and preschool, I took a few minutes to snap a picture of what each one was doing during a school day. This was one of those rare moments when someone didn’t need me for something!

My oldest child was doing an online computer class at Udacity.

My 3rd grader was working in his logic workbook.

My preschooler didn’t do much for school. At her age, I left school optional. She spent a good chunk of her day drawing. As I snapped this picture, I asked her what she was doing. She told me she was making a storybook.

Now that my children are older, these moments are typical. My children can be pretty independent with their schooling, most days.

For those who are in the earlier years of homeschooling, realize that the time will come when your kids will be able to complete assignments without you needing to be there.

It may seem far off some days, but it does come.

Now that my older 2 are in high school, I just check in every week or two to see how they are doing. My 7th grader does some things with me (by my choice), but mostly works independently off of a daily list of things to do.

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]]> https://eclectic-homeschool.com/a-homeschooling-moment/feed/ 0 Modern World History for High School https://eclectic-homeschool.com/modern-world-history-for-high-school/ https://eclectic-homeschool.com/modern-world-history-for-high-school/#respond Thu, 13 Aug 2020 23:00:56 +0000 http://eclectic-homeschool.com/?p=8084

My oldest completed a modern world history study several years ago. This year my 16 year old will be completing this study. I am updating and revising it to suit him.

This is a world history course, but it contains more US history than other countries. I’ve combined readings, documentaries, and writing to create a 1 credit history course.  The workload is approximately 180 hours of work.

Because I want to emphasize thinking and understanding, I’ve opted for writing assignments rather than tests.  While I’ve assigned one research paper, the rest of the papers assigned are opinion papers.  I’ve used a textbook to organize our topics, but the bulk of time will be spent reading other books and watching documentaries.

I have it organized into 2 week chunks. They don’t need to be completed in that time frame, but it will help him pace himself.

These are the books used in our study:

Weeks 1-2

Weeks 3-4

Weeks 5-6

Weeks 7-8

Weeks 9-10

Weeks 11-12

Weeks 13-14

Weeks 15-16

Weeks 17-18

Week 19-20

Week 21-22

Week 23-24

Week 25-26

Week 27-28

Week 29-30

 Week 31-32

Week 33-34

Week 35-36

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]]> https://eclectic-homeschool.com/modern-world-history-for-high-school/feed/ 0 Quenching a Child’s Thirst for Learning https://eclectic-homeschool.com/quenching-a-childs-thirst-for-learning/ https://eclectic-homeschool.com/quenching-a-childs-thirst-for-learning/#respond Fri, 03 Jul 2020 06:24:06 +0000 http://eclectic-homeschool.com/?p=8074

Awhile ago I ran into a blog of a public school high school teacher.  He was mocking homeschooling and stating that a parent couldn’t possibly know enough to teach their child every subject.  

That is true.  

Parents don’t know all there is to know about every subject in school, but they can find a curriculum or a teacher that will teach it.  

It is simple.  If your child is thirsty for water you give it to him.  When your water runs out you go find water elsewhere.

So if you child is into medieval history and reads just about everything you can find on it, you can search for something more.  

With the age of the internet there are so many options available to parents.  Many college classes are offered online that a medieval history buff would love to sink his teeth into.  These courses are typically free and a couple years old.  

Just do a Google search for college open courseware and start investigating.  A parent can either take the course and teach the child or if the child is ready for it he can listen to the lectures and learn himself.

Years ago I started my astronomy lover on an Astronomy 101 course at a Michigan university.  She loved it.  

I searched and searched for options for her, but most curriculum I could find dealt with basic astronomy and she wanted more meat.  I found a free video course so she was able to see the professor.  

I don’t know much about astronomy, but I know how to find a resource to help my child learn. So my response to this public high school teacher would be to tell him that I don’t have to have my own water to fill my son’s cup.

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]]> https://eclectic-homeschool.com/quenching-a-childs-thirst-for-learning/feed/ 0 A Distracted Learner https://eclectic-homeschool.com/a-distracted-learner/ https://eclectic-homeschool.com/a-distracted-learner/#comments Tue, 30 Jun 2020 04:20:32 +0000 http://eclectic-homeschool.com/?p=1997

One day when my youngest child was in Kindergarten, I sat down with her to do math. I was having her do a page in her Singapore workbook, but her attention was all over the place.

She wanted to stop and draw a hat on the duck, only cross them out a certain way, or draw other designs that flowed out from her imagination.  Meanwhile, she was taking FOREVER to go over her math.  

The first little section took at least 20 minutes.  We stopped for the day and the next day we went to the nextsection.  This was also taking a long time.  It was boring to her so she livened it up with her designs and little stories she made up about each duck.

The workbook page gave me an idea, so I grabbed a few blank flashcards and had my daughter decorate the houses I drew.  Inside each house I wrote a number from 0-10.

When the houses were done, I lined them up on the floor.

I wrote many of the problems from the workbook as well as some others on pieces of paper.

I then declared that my daughter was the mail carrier and she needed to deliver the letters to the correct houses.  The houses she made were lined up like a street and she had to figure out the answers to each problem and deliver it to the right house.  It worked best when she had to run back across the room to get each letter.

And do you know what?  She finished her stack of problems quickly.  Time and time again my kids teach me that engagement is very important in the learning process.  

When engaged, she finished the work quickly.  I didn’t have a completed workbook page at the end of it, but I have little houses and cards that I was able to reuse next time.

My distracted learner is now 12 and I showed her this blog post. She told me that she remembered doing the mail carrier activity.

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