Homeschooling Different Grades

Most of us have more than one child that we homeschool and this creates the challenge of homeschooling multiple grade levels at the same time.  For me this entails 8th, 7th, 2nd and preschool.  Quote a bit of difference in these. 

For my oldest two I have found that I order the same grade level of history, science, foreign language, art and music.  They can do these together and we like to get in our reading time with our history lessons which are daily at this point.  I still like the kids to do reading aloud daily so we do our history together.  The fun part is that although the second grader has her own history curriculum, she learns more from the lessons of the older kids which she can't help but be involve in.  For our family we have always considered this to be one of the benefits of homeschooling. 

Because we don't have a computer for each individual and their schooling is mostly online they take turns.  While language arts is mostly consumables, two kids can work on that while one does math on the computer based math program Aleks.com.  They sit together at one computer for foreign language and science. 

Our curriculum is very time intensive these past few years.  I find that art and music fall short because we have a good six hours of curriculum to work on steadily everyday for the older kids.  This means that on Sundays we often spend an hour or two as a family doing art and music.  My older kids play an instrument and my younger ones are just starting so they do their individual practice times during the week and I count this as music attendance and the state is okay with it.

The hardest part for our family is keeping the preschooler on task and busy so that the other kids can actually concentrate.  This is harder than it sounds as our preschooler is a busy bee.  She is curious and always wants to be doing something but her attention span is short which means we switch gears multiple times per day to accommodate her learning style.  While doing history she likes to listen for a few minutes but then needs to be busy so she does handwriting next to us as we read.  We then have to have her use building blocks or clay while we do the rest of history.  It is always best if we do things she can clean up herself and get out by herself.  This cuts down on the work load for me.

Have any ideas or clever solutions to share?  Please leave comments!!!

Subject Blitz

Speaking with homeschool parents can be very interesting. It is fun to hear the varied answers to why they chose to homeschool, what curriculum they like or dislike, what their schedules are like and what extracurricular activities they like. It is also fun to know if religion was a factor in their decisions or if they include it in their curriculum.

In our homeschool group we have a wide variety of folks who all homeschool for different reasons and although a lot of us use the same curriculum, we use it in different ways. I recently came upon one family that knocks out a whole year's worth of one subject at a time. For example, they did a "history blitz" last year. They spent about one month and did multiple history lessons per day to knock out the whole year.

This peaked my interest. I asked many questions and was actually pleasantly surprised by the answers. I asked why they did it. The answer was that they had gotten behind in history and really just needed to hit it hard. They did not set out intending to only do history each day but the kids (four of them) all got so engrossed in the lessons and what was happening that they were loved the saturation. It was the topic of many a family discussion (most in fact). They did field trips and experimented with different inventions they learned of in times past.

Because of how this family handled it they were able to focus on one subject, let it be fun for the kids because they couldn't' get enough of the history and having it really become like a live story to them. They were reading for hours a day and loving it. They were excited to write because they loved sharing their thoughts and ideas on what had happened in history. Then they even managed a to throw in some science by reenacting some inventions and trying them on their own or brainstorming on ways to make them better with the tools available at the time.

I was impressed by this family and while my own children have gotten behind in history and science this year I suggested this summer that they do a blitz! They are boys so they love this word and think of football. I challenged them to see how fast they could knock out the lessons but also to see how well they could do at them while being fast about it. I don't want speed to take over quality.

We'll see how it goes and I will keep you updated. In the meantime, remember that it is worth while to talk with other parents and see what works for them, read online about the experiences of others. There simply is not just one right way to homeschool but different techniques and skills can be used as needed to enhance the experience. Enjoy your homeschool day!

Information on homeschool for Military families?

We are looking for anyone who has information regarding US Military families that homeschool. Some thoughts we are interested in are:

1. How do you make it work while being stationed abroad?
2. Do you find a lot of on base support?
3. Do you meet much resistance or negativity?
4. What are the pros and cons for your family?
5. What programs do you find friendly for your family?

Anyone with input please feel free to leave comments. They do go through approval before we post them just so we don't get spam and because we are here as a support to families as well as a valuable source of information. We do not want comments full of negativity about homeschooling in general. We do welcome an objective point of view and knowing what works for you so please share!

Spring Has Sprung!

It is getting warmer where we live! Just like the rest of the nation we are having weird weather patterns that are a bit unpredictable but lately we are up to 60 degrees which is heavenly!

The kids and I have a bit of spring fever so to mix things up and add some spice to our days we go to the park with our lunches. We are lucky that in our area there are several city parks that are within just a few miles radius of our home. We just pack our lunch and sports equipment and go! It's fun to swing in the sunshine, have a catch or shoot some hoops! The kids also love big open fields of grass where they can just run freely.

I have found that the kids are much more willing to get up early and get to their lessons and chores knowing that lunch time will bring such a welcome break and then when we return home they are always ready to focus again and so am I! Amazing what sunshine, food and exercise can do for your brain! It's been a welcome change and we are making memories to last a lifetime!

Another idea that I use for spring is that when the weather gets over 75, as long as their is not a strong breeze, we do schoolwork outside on the patio. The kids really love being outdoors and it gives them a change of scenery. I think that those of us who were schooled in public schools recall how nice it was to get to switch rooms or to go out for recess. Our homeschool kids need the same change of scenery and they deserve it!

Happy spring to all! Hopefully your weather is cooperating to provide you with some sunshine and fun as well!

Homeschool and Technology - Part 2

Today I read an article online about a homeschooling parent who believes that homeschoolers have access to all of the latest and greatest technology. That same parent believes that these tools of technology are only there to fill the gap of what knowledge we don't have. This person believes that computer programs and Internet are simply for fun and games. I see her point in a certain light but then I see things in another light as well.

In New York a new public school was chartered this year that is strictly based with technology. It covers all subjects but somehow puts it in a game format or a simulated way. From research the test scores show that this method works. That students are willing to sit at a screen and learn when it is well presented.

While I do firmly believe that technology can never replace human interaction but it can also help our human relationships along. For example, those with military parents can often use programs such as Skype or Windows Live to video chat for free! This is astounding. My children have been able to stay in touch with relatives that live across the country, see their cousins whenever they want to and as I write this they are in the other room on Skype with their father.

Technology does need to be monitored. Especially if you have students using the Internet. It's good to have your computer in an open place where you are passing by the desk often and can see what is going on and be involved in what your student is doing. It's great to monitor what games are being played and of course what social networking sites may be in use. Safety is key!

I think the lesson between my liberal attitude and the article author's conservatism is that everything is good in moderation with technology and education. I don't think it replaces text books and worksheets but I think it offers a great alternative. My own children have been on burn out from worksheets from time to time and I have been very glad that there are spelling programs and other helpers at my fingertips.

Not Much "School" Happening?

If you homeschool you know that there will be those days when nothing goes right and it seems that very little actual schoolwork gets done. But, if you change your thinking you will see that it is actually very little "coursework" or "text work" that gets done. Your kids are learning around the clock.

If you are ill or caring for another ill person in the family you can ask your children who are capable to fix meals. Everything you let your kids do to help them feel more self sufficient benefits them greatly! Not only does their self esteem sky rocket because they know they can do it but when they do go out on their own they will feel prepared. After all, if you think of the fact that from infancy we are gradually just preparing them for adulthood then you may see this as a form of "schoolwork". It will also make them better spouses and parents!

Most children that can say sentences can perform simple chores and more. These should always be age appropriate but in today's world it seems that chores are lost on a lot of families. Many people have housekeepers, never eat at home and dry clean everything. Gone are the days of tending the animals and land which instilled a value of hard work in children. Families with all of today's conveniences have to really think about how they will teach their children how satisfying physical work is as well as taking pride in your possessions.

So, if you, like many, are having a day where you think nothing is happening as far as formal education just look at it in another light. Maybe your kids are learning to get along and behave themselves without structure and instruction. Could anything be better than that?

Homeschool Weekends

When homeschooling it seems hard at times to draw the line between school and the rest of life even when it comes to weekends. For my kids we are lucky that they are in a program that has set guidelines so that weekends remain family time to do with as we please. However, even using our current coursework we had one year where there just didn't seem time during the week for the music and art subjects in the curriculum.

The teacher that I correspond with suggested using these as a good Sunday activity. While that idea was a good one, it didn't work for me. I need two days off from school just as much as any student. It can also be a great thing for students to take a break and come back to their lessons with fresh eyes.

Naturally this really only pertains to homeschool families that use traditional school curriculum or a "school" schedule. For those that unschool or use other methods it may not be as much of an issue.

Some things you can do on the weekends that may enhance your homeschool experience are:

• Visit local historic sites.
• Visit local museums.
• Visit nearby state and national parks.
• Visit nearby bodies of water and study the ecosystems there while playing.
• Work on family history, kids love to know where their ancestors are from.
• Play games like Scrabble, Pictionary and Cranium that develop skills as well as let students express themselves.

There are so many things to do in a week that it is nice to have a day or two totally dedicated to fun. That doesn't mean that learning does not happen but it doesn't have to be full of text books and worksheets.

Homeschool and Technology

Depending on your method of homeschooling you may use anywhere from no technology to having 100% online based curriculum. Every family is different and has different needs and since you are the expert on your child you know what they need better than anyone. This isn't to say that those with teaching credentials do not know a lot or have things to offer but generally if parents choose to be involved and care, they know best.

A startling statistic I heard on the news the other day (can't remember the source) was that kids spend 7 hours per day, outside of school, using some form of technology. This took in texting, computers, video games, television, mp3 players and other forms of technology. I was astounded at this number. Either these kids get up really early or they stay up very late. My kids are all put to bed at 8 p.m. The older children have reading time but no video games aloud. If they finish school work at 3:00 p.m. that only leaves five hours. They are only allowed video games on the weekend and the four children share one cell phone. Hopefully my own situation will not become one of technology saturation.

On the flip side, as pointed out on the news, if parents learn to text they can have opportunities to be closer to their teens and tweens. It was also pointed out that if parents will sit down with children of all ages and watch television it can be the subject of some great conversation and teaching moments.

Video games have their place and their is even a pilot program school that just started in New York that is 100% technology based, using games to teach kids their usual school subjects. I suppose it is how you use technology.

The same news segment pointed out (I now believe that it was the Today Show) that we needed to help our children to have face to face conversation and interaction so that they are well rounded. Because some technology is so new, we cannot know the true consequence of the many hours spent say - texting.

Personally I believe that "everything in moderation" is a great way of thinking. I know families that ban video games (which is great, to each his own) but when the student goes to a friends house that is what they want to do, like forbidden fruit! I know parents who are 100% anti-television and then I think about my own children missing the PBS virtual field trips from Colonial Williamsburg and it's hard to imagine not having had so many hours of fun with them and even learning a lot myself.

Most things have their good side and their bad, this can even be said of homeschooling. As we consider the fact that we are in a technology saturated world we may want to consider making sure that our students are at least somewhat fluent in word processing, browsing the internet, using a cell phone at times and perhaps even playing a video game or two. You never know where their passion will lie and what job skills they will need and you surely want to help them be prepared.

For our family we are lucky. Our children are part of a homeschool program that has some online schooling and some text. The teachers involved do virtual classroom activities as well as face to face activities. Today my boys came home from a technology class (held once or twice a month) where they learned how to put a slide show together starting with taking the digital photos right to saving it to a thumb drive. Some of the slide shows were even set to music. They were so excited to share their creations and to show off what they did. It was a fun day for them and for me.

I guess the bottom line is the same as most of my posts: do what works for you and meets your families needs. I will say though that you should be careful of being too close minded and therefore cheat your children out of some wonderful things that were put here for us to enjoy and learn.

Homeschool Organization

Anyone who has homeschooled for long may likely tell you that organization is an ongoing effort and sometimes a huge struggle. Just like most things in life there will be times where you are very devout about keeping all your supplies, texts, misc. books and more organized but then there will be seasons where you will fall of the wagon. No worries, just get back on when you can and enjoy the organization while it lasts.

Here are a few things to help you be organized, remember these are just suggestion and not things you have to have to homeschool or to do a good job.

• Plenty of book shelves. This sums up a lot because on these shelves you can put your books but you can baskets and plastic containers with supplies and other objects. For example on my shelves I have three tubs of science lab supplies, a tub of crayons, a caddy for other art supplies, texts, stacks of lined paper, folders, a caddy of pencils, a bin for math manipulatives, etc.
• Tubs, baskets, bins and caddies. By reading the above paragraph you can see why you may need these.
• The Rubbermaid (or other brand) plastic drawer sets that are on casters are very helpful. This is a great way to store school supplies and such.
• Plenty of supplies. Part of being organized is to be well stocked so that you are not making haphazard trips to the store. Planning ahead and preparing will ultimately save you tons of time as well as money.
• Make zones. Being organized with everything in one place can be difficult if you don't have an area large enough for an "all in one" school center. You can divide the home into zones where there is a computer lab, a place set apart for science, a corner that is well lit and quiet for reading, a place for desk work (make sure the table is not to high), and a place where maps can be on the wall for reference in history, geography and more.

These are just a few tips to help you get started on homeschool organization. Different ways of doing things work for each individual. Most would agree though that being organized and knowing where things are takes a lot of the frustration out of educating your children.

Extra Curricular Programs

Do you as a homeschool parent start to wonder if your children are doing too much? Or do you wonder if they aren't doing enough? I think that perhaps all parents, no matter how their children are educated, come to this crossroads more than once in the child rearing process. I for one am someone who has a hard time balancing things and am all or nothing so I am always seeking for that fine balance between work and play, even with my kids.

My children do a full day of coursework as well as their individual reading and their music practice (30 minutes per day minimum). They have a great neighborhood social life, a church social life and my boys are both in the Boys Scouts of America and very active in that. My oldest just signed up for a basketball team which should be fun.

I guess that at any given point in time the needs of the child are different as are the opportunities! I have a three year old that is definitely waiting for preschool in the fall but she will go. Despite my homeschooling efforts for all other grades, preschool is something I just don't do. I have a seven year old that I think should finally get into music lessons, possibly dance and we are looking into Girl Scouts for her. She needs more social interaction. Not because she is "backwards" or socially impaired but because she thrives in social situations and I want to foster that. She is also very artistic and I want to plant her in places that she can bloom. She is my third child but she is the first that I wasn't quite sure if we should homeschool all the way. We take it year by year, month by month. I am ever evaluating our children's needs to see if a change is in order and I am very open to the thought of it.

The most important thing that experts warn parents about is finding that balance and not over scheduling our children. It is a very fine line we walk as parents between giving our children opportunities and helping them develop skills and talents and then over scheduling. It takes a lot of time, thought and energy. I hope that as your year continues you are better able to find this balance and I hope we can bring you more postings with information on ways to do that.

Homeschool Incentives and Rewards

In a perfect world we wouldn't need to entice our children to do what is simply expected of them and hopefully this is usually the case. Many child psychologists are against rewarding good grades in school and think that a child's education is just what their work is during childhood. While I agree with that to an extent and will not be rewarding a child's grades I do know that it is hard to keep up self motivation while homeschooling. This comes from homeschooling my children since Kindergarten (I now have a 7th grader).

We all become disenchanted with our lots at some point and we need some sort of change of pace and incentive to get us through at times. With this thought I started a new program with my kids today that I thought I would share. We came into this new year behind in science so I was trying to find a way to get my kids excited about catching up because quite frankly, the idea of just being caught up isn't doing it for them any longer.

This morning I made a list of this weeks educational goals and told them that if they achieved these (music practicing included) that we would go to a movie at the end of the week. When I say movie I should clarify. We are lucky enough to have a $2 per seat theatre in our town and so for under $15 we can all go to a movie at a theatre. And we were lucky enough to get gift certificates for Christmas.

The goals for this reward were not just science related. As I noted, we added music practice in but they also had all of their other daily assignments as well as personal reading time included. This means that they have to stay up on current work and get an extra science lesson in each day to get their reward. It will also be a reward for me! Win - win!

For those the unschool or don't do a boxed curriculum as I do you can do your own incentives. I'm sure there are many ways to mix things up for just about any homeschool style. I am a fan of just about all methods of homeschool and have tried many but I know the reality that we all at some point get bogged down in how large the task seems. It is good to have something to look forward to and it is always good to go do something fun as a family. The reward does not even have to be called a "reward" and most definitely wouldn't have to cost a dime. My children would be just as thrilled if not more so if I told them we would spend an hour or two at a park for an outing. Children of all ages are generally pleased with the more simple things in life, it seems that the adults tend to complicate things.

So what will you do when you are in a bind? Will you entice your kids by having something to look forward to?

K12 Curriculum Review

In this post we will look at the K12 curriculum. There are pros and cons to all programs so it is wise to shop around before signing up for any particular school or purchasing any curriculum products.

K12 is an innovative approach to home based learning. They offer curriculum for kindergarten through 12th grades. You can buy this curriculum on your own and pay privately but it is pretty pricey. The elementary grades average about $1200 per year. You do get almost everything you need but you will have to buy certain things for science projects and typical school supplies. What I am getting is that they do not provide your pencils and notebooks. It's like normal public school in that respect.

Another option with K12 is their Virtual Academy programs. Available in most states this is an extraordinary program and most are publicly funded. This means that in the states available there are programs where you student is actually enrolled in the public school system in your district and then they receive K12 curriculum at no cost to you. You just buy the few homeschool supplies that are needed and you do have to have a computer and Internet connection. You then have a teacher assigned to you through your school district that works with you to help you accomplish the educational goals you have for your student.

The great thing about the Virtual Academy programs is that they allow for some great resources like a teacher to contact and there are extra curricular activities, clubs and more. The support of a teacher is a great bonus because no matter the skills you have as a teacher there will be times where you present information in every way that you know how and a particular student still won't understand a concept. A teacher can just step back and give you a fresh look. It should be noted that the teachers in this program are not there to breathe down your neck and be task masters but you are accountable for attendance and you are required to do standardized testing through your state department of education.

Overall K12 is a great company. The math has had a few complaints because the program does not seem fluid and organized but my understanding is that they are building a new curriculum for their math program at this time because the users have spoken up and K12 listened. There is a lot of online support and the online school interface is easier to use than a simple email program. It is wonderful. If you can get the publicly funded version I highly recommend it but it is well worth the money if you have to pay out of pocket.

Homeschool Curriculum

Choosing a homeschool curriculum is a time consuming job. Especially if you are new to homeschooling. A few things that you will want to look for when choosing your homeschool curriculum are:

• Cost - can you afford the curriculum for each student that you are homeschooling. Some boxed curriculums can cost a fortune and some of them are worth what they charge. There are also the options of building your own curriculum or trying free homeschool curriculum using the library, Internet and other resources available to you.
• Learning style of the child - as a parent you are the expert on your child. If this is your first year of homeschooling it may take you a few tried to come up with the right homeschool curriculum for your child's needs.
• Time and schedule - Some curriculums have more rigid guidelines than others. If you build you own, you set the pace and schedule. You do have to keep in mind that your state homeschool laws may have attendance requirements that may include how many hours per day you spend doing instructional course work. Make sure you adhere to the laws in your state.
• Unschooling vs. schooling - Decide if you are unschooling your children or if you like the concept of a traditional school room in you home. Unschooling parents believe that you learn as you go and that the rigidity of school as we have come to know it needs to be taken out of the equation.
• Support - Different curriculum choices offer different levels of support. It is always a good idea to get involved in homeschool support groups. Choose a homeschool support group on your own or if you want to start your own homeschool support group. It is easy to find other parents looking for different alternatives and new support groups.

There are many things to consider when choosing a homeschool curriculum. This time of year parents are frantically putting things together for the year. The important thing to keep in mind is the needs of you and your child. Homeschooling can be an ideal choice for the whole family if you will be flexible, keep your priorities in tact and if something isn't working don't be afraid to change things around.

Homeschooling Program Blog

Welcome! We have put this blog together to help all involved in homeschooling to navigate their way through their homeschool experience.

Here we will review homeschool curriculum, provide free homeschool curriculum ideas, free homeschool resources, homeschool tips, and more.

It's back to school time and we have some wonderful ideas for homeschool organization, homeschool record keeping, help for different subjects and more. So, please check back often. We will always have new and exciting ideas and information.