Fun Learning

Free Christmas Unit Study

noreply@blogger.com (Shari Ellen) — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 06:43:00 +0000

Here's a free online Christmas Unit Study that will keep your homeschoolers busy all month long.

China and the Olympics

noreply@blogger.com (Shari Ellen) — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 03:55:00 +0000

I just discovered that the CBC TV station website has some neat things for learning about the Olympics and China.

48 Short Video Clips (about Chinese culture and the Olympics)
Photo Gallery (Chinese art, culture, lifestyle, and landmarks)
Olympic History (1896-2004)

I'm hoping that once the Olympics start that we will be able to watch Olympic sporting events through video on demand on the site, too.

Just 10 days to go - until the 2008 Summer Olympics.

What I Have Learned From My Children

noreply@blogger.com (Shari Ellen) — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 04:31:00 +0000

Heart of the Matter Meme

Being a homeschooling Mom has been a big learning experience for me. I've learned that:

Children are just like adults. If the book is boring, they don't want to continue reading it or learning from it.

Children have their own individual interests and those may differ from what I would want their interests to be.

Children have different ways of learning. One child may like to learn with hands-on projects, while another likes reading from a book, another prefers workbooks, and another could watch 4 straight hours of the History channel.

Children learn more from my example than what I say.

Children want their mom to be patient and loving during homeschooling.

Language Arts Best Sellers

noreply@blogger.com (Shari Ellen) — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 04:09:00 +0000

Alpha-Phonics

Can you teach your children to read in just 10 minutes a day? Yes, with this acclaimed phonics program! Progressive lessons present each letter of the alphabet by its sound and then blend letter sounds to form basic words. More advanced exercises introduce whole sentences. Includes teacher's manual and lesson plans. Nonconsumable. Grades K to 4. 168 pages. Spiral bound $20.95

Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons

Early readers hold an educational advantage---and the respected DISTAR reading program gives your children that head start. By investing 20 minutes a day, you'll have your preschoolers and non-reading elementary school children reading at a second grade level in 100 days. Covers sound identification, decoding of words and sentences, irregulars, and more. Clear instructions included. 395 pages $14.96

Simply Grammar

Some old-fashioned teaching models are timeless. In this revised and expanded edition of First Grammar Lessons by Charlotte Mason, you'll discover one of them---the simple method of narration that focuses on conversation as a natural means of teaching grammar to your fourth to eighth graders. 178 pages $16.47

Honey for a Child's Heart

Wholesome literature is important for building good character---and this newly updated guide will help you choose the best of the classics for preschoolers through teens. Drawing from a range of genres, including fantasy, biography, and poetry, Hunt offers a select list of books that will start your youngsters on the road to a lifetime of reading pleasure. 240 pages. Annotated list of books for ages 0-14. $10.39

My Christian Site for Kids

noreply@blogger.com (Shari Ellen) — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0000

Today for Show and Tell, I'm going to tell you about my

Christian Site for Kids.

Most of you seem to have kids and so you may find this beneficial.

My site is called Kids Love Jesus

Monday is - Monday's Ministry (outreach and ministry ideas that are appropriate for kids to do)

Tuesday is - Tuesday's Hero (posts about famous Christian heroes like Mary Slessor, Martin Luther, and Corrie Ten Boom

Wednesday is - Wednesday Worship (kids worship videos)

Thursday is - Thursday's Prayer Time (links to free online prayer magazines for kids)

Friday is - Friday Fun (posts about Christian websites for Kids, online comics, fun activities, and family night ideas)

I have a half year's worth of posts. When the 26 weeks is over, then I will start repeating the posts again.

Easy Meal Planning

noreply@blogger.com (Shari Ellen) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 04:03:00 +0000

The question for Heart of the Matter is - How Do You Meal Plan?

The way that I cook is so easy. I definitely won't be impressing anybody in the culinary world. My motto is that it needs to be quick and easy, or I won't make it.

I've tried enough recipes over the last 18 years, that I pretty much know what my family will and won't eat. I don't force them to eat things that they don't like, because I won't eat things that I don't like. The kids aren't really picky though. They just have preferences. But I have figured out how to make meals that all 7 of us like.

Here are some things I do to keep it simple:

I like to buy big packages of hamburger and chicken. I cook all the meat and then divide it into small bags and freeze them until I need one for a recipe.

Sometimes I'll cook 2 of one thing (like a casserole) and refrigerate it to have a few days later.

My kids make their own breakfast and lunch. For lunch - they get to choose from foods like burritos, sandwiches, Top Ramen, leftovers, nachos, green salads, fruits and veggie sticks.

I'm teaching the older kids how to cook certain recipes. For example: my son does Tater Tot Casserole and one of my daughters does Chili Enchiladas. The more recipes that I teach them, the more often I won't have to cook. Plus it's educational for them. So, that is the next step in my plan - to teach each of the kids to become masters at making a few meals each.

Here are our favorite recipes for dinner:

Frugal Tip for Reading Curriculum

noreply@blogger.com (Shari Ellen) — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0000

Some people spend up to $150 a year just on Reading Curriculum and I’m not sure why. I never used a "real" Reading program beyond Phonics. Instead, we read library books.

Here are some Library Reading Lists that I like to use:

You can also look at the table of contents in reading textbooks to see what stories the text contains. Then, borrow the entire book from the library.

What We're Doing This Year:
Instead of buying an official Literature curriculum for my 10th grade son, I checked out some of the 10th grade Literature texts. I made a list of the books that were highlighted in the texts. Now, I'm going to have my son read about a chapter of each one and choose some of them to read in their entirety. He will be able to find the books at the library and online (if they are old enough). Also, I'm going to have him do some online research about the authors and find online study guide information about the books.

My High Schooler's Curriculum

noreply@blogger.com (Shari Ellen) — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 04:20:00 +0000

Most of the learning materials that we use are eclectic. I've never stuck with just one curriculum program - until high school hit. My oldest child is in 10th grade and so I have him doing something different than the 4 younger kids. He is doing a full curriculum from Alpha Omega. I want him well prepared for college and I wanted a program that would do just that.

Alpha Omega is a complete, traditional homeschooling program in workbook form or on computer software.

Alpha Omega Curriculum:

has easy-to-follow instructions
has no lesson preparation
is self- paced
kids can work independently
is a complete curriculum with answer keys and electives
combines reading, exercises, projects, review, and tests
has colored work texts
is a Christian curriculum

You can see examples and chapter titles of the Alpha Omega lifepacs at christianbook.com

Our Field Trip to Pennsylvania

noreply@blogger.com (Shari Ellen) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 04:04:00 +0000

Our family went to Pennsylvania to pick up our new Maremma sheep dogs. We also visited some educational sites along the way. This is what we learned on our trip:

Toured the Hershey Factory in Hershey, PA
Learned the history of Mr. And Mrs. Hershey's businesses
Drove through the Amish farm countryside
Saw buggies pulled by horses.
Ate Pennsylvania Dutch food, including Shoo-Fly PIe
At Home: Viewed Amish quilts online
At Home: Read questions and answers about the Amish people
Toured a Civil War museum in Gettysburg
Walked around a Gettysburg battlefield, memorial and cemetery
Met and talked with an artist drawing scenes of the Civil War
Stood where Lincoln gave his Gettysburg Address and read it aloud
We were taught how to care for and train Maremma sheep dogs.
The kids played with baby goats.
Map skills
Socialization with many adults we met along the way.
Swimming in the hotel's pool, PE
Walked on paths at a farm and around the battlefield, PE

The Benefits of Volunteering

noreply@blogger.com (Shari Ellen) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 04:06:00 +0000

Being a volunteer can help you explore a career field of interest. Volunteering helps other people and organizations. It is also very beneficial to you:

You will become comfortable in serving others.
Develop and use your talents and skills to benefit other people.
Make a real, positive difference in the world.
Make new friends.
Expose yourself to a variety of people.
Gain confidence in yourself.
Earn a letter of recommendation for college or a job.
Connect with professionals in the workplace.
Find out if you want to pursue a particular career or field of interest.
Learn job skills like: responsibility, time management, work ethics, accountability, and working with others.

Here are some volunteer ideas to get you started:

Hospital, nursing home, pregnancy care center, nursing homes, serving widows and the elderly, state park, nature center, hiking trails, animal shelter, pet hospital, animal foster care, horse care and stable worker, wildlife preserve, food or clothing drives, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, tutoring, ESL programs, library, prison ministry, orphanage, festivals, fairs, parades, hospice companion, Red Cross, language translator, waiting room reader, speaker to kids, deliver meals, disaster relief, kids recreation center, host a foreign student, teen hotline, bell ringer, after-school mentor, thrift store worker, immigrant and refugee ministry, housekeeping for elderly, concession stand worker, working farm for disabled people, maintenance and preservation projects, science museum, living history museum, computer tutor or consultant, evangelistic organizations, prison ministry, trash clean-up, construction and remodeling, political campaign volunteers, voter registration drives, help at the polls, administrative and clerical assistance at church, technical assistance at church, music ministry at church, nursery and children’s ministry worker, wedding coordinator, church photography, summer camp counselor, VBS, event planner or worker, short-term mission trip, Jr. High Youth group helper, or go to any business or organization that you are interested in and ask if you can volunteer.

Curriculum Money Traps

noreply@blogger.com (Shari Ellen) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 04:01:00 +0000

Many homeschooling parents overspend, buying curriculum for the wrong reasons.

Here are some of the Money Traps concerning homeschool curriculum.

Buying teacher guides for the younger grades
Buying all of the “required” quizzes, tests, and activity pages.
Buying from the company that claims they give the best education.
Buying "impressive" curriculum even though you know that it won’t compliment your child’s learning style
Buying what your homeschool friends think is the best curriculum
Buying all your curriculum from one company, even though you would rather have Math or Science from another company
Duplicating what the public school is doing so that you feel like you are homeschooling correctly
Sticking with the same boring curriculum, even though you want to dump it and switch to another company or way of homeschooling
Buying without really thinking about it, because it’s September and you’re panicked that you don’t have the kids school curriculum yet.

Spectrum Math
This is my favorite low-cost math curriculum. It contains approximately 165 math worksheets. It includes: instructions for each math fundamental, pre-tests, post-tests, an answer key. We do 1 page a day and if we need more practice then we do online math games or exercises. $8.49 each.

Getting Started

noreply@blogger.com (Shari Ellen) — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 04:01:00 +0000

When I started homeschooling over 10 years ago, there just wasn't much information available to me. I had to learn about homeschooling mostly through trial and error. There is so much variety available in curriculum and help now. It makes it much easier for the family to get started in homeschooling.

The First Year of Homeschooling Your Child

The first year of homeschooling is daunting for everyone; the unfamiliar jargon, the too-many-to-count curriculum choices, the methods that everyone swears by...it's almost enough to make you give up before you've started! Let The First Year of Homeschooling Your Child take off some of the pressure by answering your most urgent questions, and giving you some encouragement and hard-learned advice along the way. This guide will help you to determine your first steps, build your own educational philosophy and discover the best ways to cater to your child's learning philosophy. 348 pages. $11.53

Homeschooling Methods

It's a homeschool convention in a book! For novice and veteran teachers, this extensive guide offers details about today's most viable education models and helps you choose methodologies. Over 20 contributors---including Christine Field, Diana Waring, and Dr. Ruth Beechick---provide seasoned advice on classical, Charlotte Mason, unit study, and other methods; special needs; carschooling; whole heart learning; and more. 280 pages. $11.69

Homeschooling 101

Christine and Mark Field cast a grand vision for the education of homeschooled children across the world; written in a pleasant conversational tone, they passionately establish their perspectives on a biblical-minded approach to education. Through subject-by-subject chapters you'll be exposed to broad yet detailed chapters on language arts, math, history, life skills and more; infuse your "head skills" with more than a little passion for God with the advice in Homeschooling 101. 304 pages. $11.24

What Hasn't Worked for Me?

noreply@blogger.com (Shari Ellen) — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 04:06:00 +0000

Heart of the Matter

Being relaxed to the point where I don't schedule daily things - doesn't work for me. I try to be flexible due to my husband's work schedule, but we have become too flexible. This year, I've had to set:

a bedtime
a pick up clutter time and chore time
a listen to Adventures in Odyssey time
a Bible and devotional time
a read aloud time
an individual help with school work time

Things are going much better over here now that my kids know what to expect and when.

Using typical school text books with my kids - doesn't work for me. I'm not trying to bad mouth text books, it's just that I can't keep my kids interested in them. Plus, they don't seem to retain the information from text books. This is what my grade school kids used this year:

LA and Map Skills: Scholastic Success Workbook 400 pg. (I found these at Costco for $7 each)
Science: watched Scientific TV Shows, did science experiments found on the Internet, did Real Life Science Activities
History: historical fiction read alouds and educational TV shows
Geography: library books and educational TV shows
Bible: Church and Adventures in Odyssey radio show

What I Wish I Had Known My First Year

noreply@blogger.com (Shari Ellen) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 04:05:00 +0000

When I started homeschooling I didn't realize all of the variety available and about the different choices to be made. I thought that I had to find the one perfect way to homeschool and stick with it.

I wish I had known - I didn't have to commit our family to just one way of homeschooling. Now that we've been doing it for 9 years, I pick and choose what works best with our family and each of the kids. Sometimes, during the middle of the year, we even switch to a Unit Study or Unschool for awhile. I've found that the most important thing is to make learning enjoyable for the children.

I wish I had known - my children don't have to read by a certain age. I pushed one of my girls in reading. I should have gone slower at it and made reading more relaxed and less stressful for her. She reads fine now, but she doesn't really enjoy it.

I wish I had known - how enjoyable joining a homeschool group can be. I was reluctant about joining, because I thought that my homeschooling methods would be critiqued. Once we did join, I realized that it was a great opportunity to socialize with other homeschooling families. My kids were able to see that there are many other kids who learn at home. They had kids to relate to.

Unschooling Can Save You Money

noreply@blogger.com (Shari Ellen) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 04:14:00 +0000

There are many reasons why homeschoolers turn to the unschooling method. One reason, is that it can be done for hardly any money. If you want to, you can unschool during grade school and switch over to a more structured college prep curriculum for Jr. High and High School. However, there are many families that unschool throughout High School, too.

Here are some ideas to get started unschooling:

Get at the Library: Books (for individual reading and read-alouds), DVDs, & Magazines
Watch PBS and educational cable channels.
Learn from Internet sites, learn to use more computer programs, and use educational computer software.
Look for opportunities to learn while you are out doing errands.
Find a place to volunteer or get a part-time job.
Play Educational Games
Get involved in classes and activities at church.
Write in a journal, write letters, write e-mails, and write stories.
Listen to radio talk shows and radio dramas.
Go to free art displays and musical events.
Go on field trips.
Get involved in activities at a homeschool group.
Parents can involve the kids in their work and projects and teach them along the way.
Parents can give their kids opportunities to communicate with adults.

The Unschooling Handbook: How to Use
the Whole World as Your Child's Classroom

Frugal Exercising Ideas - P.E.

noreply@blogger.com (Shari Ellen) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 04:05:00 +0000

It doesn’t take special P.E. curriculum or sport classes for your children to stay physically fit. Here are some frugal ways they can exercise:

Playground climbing equipment
Neighborhood softball games
Play group action games with friends
Swimming
Make an obstacle course
Do relay races.
Bike riding
Walking and running
Play tether ball at a school playground.
Jumprope and use hula hoops.
Watch dancing on TV and try to copy the moves.
Get tap dance and exercise DVDs from the library.
Shoot hoops at a nearby school playground.
Practice soccer or football
Church group activities and outings
community sports camp at a church (usually free)
Scouts or 4H hikes and sporting events
Gym day with your homeschool group
Participate in Awanas (they have group racing games)

Read Aloud History - The Story of the World

noreply@blogger.com (Shari Ellen) — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 05:20:00 +0000

The Story of the World - all 4 volumes

The Ancient Times
This book includes stories about the First Nomads, Egypt, the Jewish People, Abraham and Joseph, Hammurabi and the Babylonians, the Assyrians, Ancient China, Ancient Africa, Exodus, the Phoenicians, the Greeks and Rome.

The Middle Ages
It covers from the Fall of Rome to the Rise of the Renaissance including - Christianity Comes to Britain, The Byzantine Empire, The Rise of Islam, The Great Kings of France, The Viking Invasion, The Age of Crusades, The Diaspora, The Ottoman Empire, Exploring New Worlds, Martin Luther, and The Renaissance.

The Early Modern Times
This book covers from 1600 to 1850. Learn about explorations, revolutions, discoveries, and inventions on every continent. Topics include - Protestant Rebellions, King James, Henry Hudson, Warlords of Japan, the New Colonies, Slavery, the Ottoman Turks, Mongol Emperors of India, the Sun King, Peter the Great, the Imperial East, Captain Cook, Catherine the Great, Napoleon, Lewis and Clark, Mexican Independence, The Alamo, the Gold Rush, and the Trail of Tears.

The Modern Times
Topics included in this book are Britain's Empire and Invasions, American Civil War, Inventions, the Dutch East Indies, the Suez Canal, Russian Czars, the Last Emperor, Mexican Revolution, World 1 and 2, Joseph Stalin, Stock Market Crash, the Rise of Hitler, the Holocaust, the Atom Bomb, the Korean War, the Cold War, the Space Race, John F. Kennedy, Civil Rights, the Vietnam War, Soviet Invasions, Terrorism, the 1980's, Communism Crumbles, the First Persian Gulf War, and Independent Africa.

Healthy Ideas for Picky Eaters

noreply@blogger.com (Shari Ellen) — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 04:26:00 +0000

Heart of the Matter

Growing Tasty Vegetables
My kids aren't too fond of cooked vegetables. So during the Spring and Summer, we grow veggies that they like. I let them eat fresh peas, lettuce, cherry tomatoes, and carrots right out of the garden. They help me pick beans and then we cook them with garlic and salt.

Buying Their Favorites
I try to get healthy foods that my kids like. Instead of forcing them to eat certain foods, I get their favorites: celery (with peanut butter), cantaloupe, tomato slices with a little sugar. The kids help me pick out healthy foods at the store, too.

Dipping Sauces
I've found that a lot more gets eaten if dipping sauces are available. My kids like to dip in: ketchup, BBQ sauce, honey, mayonnaise, ranch dressing, mustard mixed in mayo, taco sauce, and Heinz 57.

Pumpkin Muffins (lots of vitamin A)
Mix in a bowl:
1 cup canned pumpkin
3/4 cup oil
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs, beaten

Mix in another bowl:
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 c. raisins or chocolate chips

Then combine all the ingredients together and mix well.
Fill 12 greased muffin tins 1/2 full.
Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes.

Helpful Links for Picky Eaters:
Top 10 Ways to Get Kids Involved
The Food Network Site - Picky Eaters
Getting Kids to Eat Vegetables
Why It's Normal for Children to be Picky Eaters

Learning With DVDs

noreply@blogger.com (Shari Ellen) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:02:00 +0000

Here are some ideas for learning from DVDs:

Borrow from libraries.
Ask for DVDs for presents.
Lend and borrow with friends.
Buy collections like: Little House on the Prairie & The Walton's.
Get a DVD rental membership, rent educational DVDs from categories like: children and family, documentary, classics, faith and spirituality, music & musicals,sports & fitness, adult education, travel, war, and westerns.

Before Homeschooling and How We Got Started

noreply@blogger.com (Shari Ellen) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 04:01:00 +0000

Share your personal history…before you were a home educator. What was life like? Think about things you miss and things you and your family have gained.

Before I married my husband, he told me that he wanted to homeschool our future kids. Well, I didn't. In 1990, I thought that homeschoolers were weird and I didn't fit into their category. Having children was the last thing on my mind. I married him anyhow and knew that I would be able to easily change his mind on this homeschooling thing. Shortly after getting married, the baby bug hit me. All I wanted to do was have a baby, and to be a stay-at-home mom.

When my first child was 4, I gave him preschool workbooks and he did educational programs on the computer - including basic reading software. At the time, I didn't consider this homeschooling, because he was only 4. When it was time to register for Kindergarten, I realized that we had in fact been homeschooling. I figured that he already knew the things that were going to be taught in Kindergarten. So, we homeschooled. It worked out so well for our family that we have done it ever since - for 10 years now.

If I had known that I would dedicate this many years (and 12 more) to homeschooling, I don't think that I would have started. I always wanted to do 2 more years of college and then do something for myself. Living on just one income has been a struggle, but we are getting used to it. We have learned how to live frugally and we rely on God's provision. However, now that we're into homeschooling, I wouldn't have it any other way.

The benefits to our family are numerous. I feel very close to my children and they talk openly with me. The children are able to learn at their own pace. We get to travel with my husband when he has business trips. Learning has become a way of life for our whole family. I'm able to take advantage of teachable moments throughout the day. I hope my children realize how important they are to me - important enough to dedicate 22 years of my life to homeschooling.

Frugal Art Supplies and Resources

noreply@blogger.com (Shari Ellen) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 04:02:00 +0000

Affordable Art Supplies

Here are ways to make Art affordable:

Use What You Have - Get a collection of throw away items that your kids can recycle and turn into art projects.
Library Books - Borrow arts and crafts books from the library
Crafts at Church - Younger children can do craft projects at church and Vacation Bible School.
Craft Kits and Supplies - Your children can ask for crafty items for Christmas and Birthday gifts.
Computer Art - They can use programs like Paint to create their own art and graphics on the computer.
Basic Art Supplies - Get your .10 glue, .20 crayons, markers, and colored pencils once a year at the Walmart back to school sale. My kids know that they can’t waste their art supplies, because they won’t get any more until the next yearly sale in August.

Art at the Library

You don't need to buy art resources when there are all of these free resources at a public library:

Craft Books: origami, using recycled items, paper crafts, Bible story Crafts, Holiday Ideas, puppets,

Books about: famous artists, historical crafts, cultural crafts, folk art, historical costumes, famous museums, careers in art

How to: paint, knit, draw, decorate cakes, sculpt, calligraphy, computer graphics, fashion design, home redecoration, pottery, make baskets, cartooning and doodling, rubber stamp, scrapbook

Coffee Table Books: paintings, photographs

DVDs: art history, how-to-paint, art related TV shows

Displays of local artwork in the library

Kids art and craft days at the library

More of my Frugal Ideas

Birdwatching Products

noreply@blogger.com (Shari Ellen) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 04:01:00 +0000

Bird Fandex Field Guide

These 50 die-cut images exude the stunning, unmistakable colors of a whole flock of North American birds. Each 10.25" x 3.75" card features details about habitat, range, diet, nest, eggs, and conservation status, as well as appearance, habits, and even song pattern. $7.99

Instant Guide to Birds

Look up 200 of the most common North American birds in this handy guide. Descriptions highlight color patterns, habitats, eating habits and special features to help distinguish look-alikes. Divided into sections for town, country and water birds, along with a section for less common birds, you'll be able to easily locate the bird you're looking for. 128 pages. $2.99

Bird Book: Starting with Nature Series

Learn all about birds with this fully illustrated, easy to follow nature guide. Includes sections that teach you how to make a birdhouse, track bird migration and also covers a wide range of different birds and offers detailed pictures of them. Recommended for children ages 7 to 11. $3.95

My Favorite Homeschool Moment

noreply@blogger.com (Shari Ellen) — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 04:00:00 +0000

My favorite homeschool moment is when I see my children enjoying what they are learning.

For example: My son read the first book in The Series of Unfortunate Events. He enjoyed the writing so much that he continued reading the series over the next 2 months, until he finished all 13 books. That inspired him to do more writing. Some days, he will sit at the computer for 2 - 4 hours writing fictional stories. He also has an interest in computers. Homeschooling allows him the extra time so that he can learn how to use Flash and do game programming. He has found his interests and he is pursuing them. This is so exciting for me to watch. I'm afraid that if he went to a school that his passion for these interests would be stifled. The school would tell him what books to read and what things to write about. School also limits the time of each project. When my son gets inspired to write, he doesn't want to be stopped a 1/2 hour later because it's time to move on to Math. I'm glad that homeschooling allows for us to be flexible so that he can spend more time learning things that he is interested in.

Free Summer Entertainment for Kids

noreply@blogger.com (Shari Ellen) — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 04:01:00 +0000

Tightwad Tuesday

Hiking Trails
Festivals
Firework Displays
Parades
Outdoor Concerts
Wading in Lakes, Rivers, and the Ocean
Park Playgrounds
Vacation Bible School
Picnics
Outdoor Family Get-Togethers
Outdoor Church Activities, Parties, and Picnics
Library: Real-Alouds, Story Telling, and Crafts
Church Run Soccer or Basketball Day Camp
Free Movies at Participating Theaters
Summer Crafts and Outdoor Activities through the Recreation and Parks Department
Activities and Group Sports at your town's Rec. Center
Volunteer in the community or at church
Free local attractions (check with your local visitor center)
Plant, Cactus, Art and Craft shows, and Karaoke at the Mall
Farmer's Markets
Swap Meets

Ideas for Summertime Learning

noreply@blogger.com (Shari Ellen) — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 04:00:00 +0000

This is what Works for Me during the summer:

I like to keep my kids learning during the summer. It gives them something to do and keeps their brains active. Here are some ideas for summertime learning:

Learn to do something outdoorsy - like fish.
Go to a camp: outdoor, church, computer, science, drama, etc.
Visit educational sites while traveling.
Write in a journal and write letters while traveling.
Go camping and take along a nature activity book.
Real Aloud as a family.
Ride bikes, hike, and swim.
Explore a pond and do pond experiments and activities.
Kids help plan the trip and navigate with the map.
Get a job or volunteer - hand's on learning.
Go on a mission trip to a foreign county.
Take pictures with a digital camera.
Make an obstacle course in the back yard.
Plant a Garden
Go to music, food, and cultural festivals.
Go to the county fair and visit the animal barns, the historical pavilion, and other exhibits.
Join the Summer Reading Program at your library.
Read magazines in the shade of a tree.
Visit a national park.
Practice flower arranging with wild flowers or ones growing in your yard. Then draw a picture of your arrangement with colored pencils.
Start bird watching.
Stargaze and track the moon phases.
Look at tidal pools along the ocean.
Start a business.
Do solar or other science experiments and activities.
Put on a play in your backyard.
Learn to cook.
Learn to draw.
Listen to Adventures in Odyssey online.
Do the Kids Love Jesus website.

Do you have any more summertime learning ideas?

My Other Works for Me Wednesday Ideas: