Category: Uncategorized

Throw Out The Classroom Mentality

· Leave a comment ·
Hello again!
This is such a treat to be able to share from my heart and know that I may be actually helping someone out there in cyber space. Today I wanted to talk about a subject that perplexes many of the parents I speak with . Once I tell them I home school I get 2 types of looks: the first one is a total look of almost ( excuse me as I giggle here) awe- as if to say, “Wow! How DO you do it?” The second look I get communicates an , “Ok lady you’re weird and I’m not going to say much to you.” Well I want to expound on the first reaction.
 
Usually parents who want to know how I “do it”, want to know so I tell them this:” First of all if you’re going to home school, you must throw out the class room mentality because if you try to bring the public school class room method into your home, you’re going to go loco.” You see, home schooling is not a replacement of one method of learning over another. No siree, home schooling is a way of life and there for you have to make it fit your life style.
 
Another good question I get often is how long do you teach your kids for? Well a long time ago when I was learning about this amazing field, I learned a new term: UNSCHOOLING– it is an approach to home schooling that allows you the freedom to teach your children any time, any place, anywhere; and believe me a lesson can begin from a single question asked over family dinner and continue to be studied and discussed for days on.
 
So you see, the sky really is the limit once you decide to throw out the classroom mentality and embrace home schooling as a way of life. Adios!!
 

He Who Reads Leads

· Leave a comment ·

Read, read, read. Read everything- the classics trash, good and bad and see how they do it.” – William Faulkner

 
I have been reading to my kids since they were in my belly. As they grew into toddlers and now older kids I still read to them. Reading is an important habit to instill and nurture in your kids because books can become life time companions for them. I have met numerous kids who attend public school and most of them tell me they hate reading. Do you ever wonder why?
 
When I was a student there was nothing I loathed more than getting a book from an English teacher that I had to read for a grade and by a specific time. I did it because I had to and there went the joy in that.
 
A great way to nurture this habit of reading is by making a weekly trip to your local library; loose your kids there and let them freely explore and find material THEY want to read. Let them also see you read and as you model reading to your kids it sends the message out loudly and clearly. Then watch out! Here come life long readers who will likely do the same for their kids later on.
 
One way  I keep the reading habit going is by including it as part of our family’s celebrations. Every time we have a birthday, at the end of the day, before the clock strikes midnight; we all take turns reading THE BIRTHDAY BOOK by Dr. Seuss to the birthday boy or girl. We all laugh at the ridiculously funny lines and we have a great time.
 
Next time you’re looking for a new way to celebrate, include reading together!
 
 

Homeschooling on a Shoestring Budget

· 1 Comment ·
Greetings!
I wanted to share with you today some ideas that I have used over the years as I have grown in this field. I believe home schooling families can attest to the fact that it doesn’t take a whole lot of money to give your children a good education. If you have a good imagination and a little bit of $$ then you are on your way! For starters, books and curriculums cost and they cost more when you purchase your materials brand new. I am fortunate to live in a city where the local libraries sell their discarded books to the public. I have found the majority of my kid’s text books there and I’ve paid very little for them. I also go to thrift stores where I have found a complete volume of A Beka and Rod & Staff books for my kids at a crazy price. So ask around at your local libraries and see what they do with their discarded books. I want to leave you with a list of books that I have found to be valuable tools for teaching over the years. Adios!
 
–PEARABLES Character Building Kingdom Stories (Volume set of 3)
-McGuffy Readers Set of 6
– America‘s Providential History -Mark A. Beliles
– The Gift in You -Dr. Caroline Leaf
-The Parables of Peanuts – Robert L. Short