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BrainPOP for Home Schools Rated A+ By Teachers and Parents The More You Know The More You Know www.BrainPOP.com
Saturday, February 28, 2009

Gather Your Kids Around The Computer For This Video!

Thursday, February 26, 2009

BrainPop.Com - An Awesome Homeschooling Resource

While looking for some information on an electromagnetic spectrum one day, I came across this website. I fell in love with it!

Tim and Moby are the main characters. They have a little movie in which they talk about a certain subject. For instance, and electromagnetic spectrum! Whatever science we are doing, I can find at LEAST 3 movies that will fit in with our topic. The movies are a wonderful added resource to what you are teaching. They even have a quiz at the end of each movie! You can do it on the site or print it out! There are also activities for each movie as well!
During October, we started watching movies on the Electoral College and the history behind the political parties and more.

They cover Math, English, Science, Social Studies, Arts & Music, Health, and Technology. In each of these subjects are MANY different topics/movies to watch. Some public school districts use this site, too.

I have been using it since the beginning of school, I have had NO complaints about it and have seen topics that I may struggle with making it crystal clear to my children, become clear after viewing a movie about it!

Another plus is that they give a special price for homeschoolers! It is well worth the investment for all the added resources it gives you and the entertainment it gives your child while they are learning. My kids actually argue over who gets to get on first. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this site for any homeschooling family.



BrainPOP for Home Schools
Rated A+ By Teachers and Parents
The More You Know The More You Know
www.BrainPOP.com



Thursday, February 19, 2009

Mini Unit Studies

I am so excited! I have finally gotten my first mini unit study PDF'd and ready to share with everyone! It took quite awhile as I am always busy doing something else...hmmmm can't imagine what. Homeschooling, spending sometime with my Savior, writing for eHow, maintaining website Our Alphabet Soup, maintaining blog A Bushel 'N A Peck, maintaining this blog, and maintaining children, animals, house, children again, and...oh yeah, that split second for me! If there are any problems downloading, please let me know. Not that I could fix it, (not much techno-wizard in me), but I will find someone who can! My kids and I had a blast doing the Matter and Weight mini, I hope you will find it fun, too. Again, if you have any questions, please contact me!
You can find the link right under my "About Me" section in the "Mini Unit Studies - Feel Free To Download Them".
Monday, February 16, 2009

Homschooling Myth #1 - You Need A Degree In Teaching.

You don't need a college degree to homeschool your child. I do not feel any less qualified to teach my child because I didn't get a college degree in teaching. The only way I would question your ability to teach your child, is if you have absolutely NEVER taught your child one thing, like coloring, throwing a ball, tying their shoes, brushing their teeth, etc.
I know that the thought of teaching your child/children seems overwhelming, but it is absolutely achievable. All YOU need is a heart to do it. There are a few different ways you can do this.
Curriculum like Abeka and Bob Jones, tell you daily what to do, what to say, and even what questions to ask. If you can read...you can do that!
Abeka and Bob Jones also have DVD curriculum where THEIR teachers cover each subject's daily teaching via a DVD! You are there to grade papers (Abeka has an accredited program where you send all your child's work to THEM to grade!), help with any problems, and direct your child to the correct DVD for that day.
Switched-On Schoolhouse is a complete year's curriculum done from your computer.
Lifepacs curriculum teaches through your child working through consecutive workbooks.
These are just a few of the different styles for the parent who is unsure of their ability to teach their child.
Bob Jones Curriculum
Abeka DVD Curriculum
Monday, February 2, 2009

My Homeschooling Story

My daughter was going into 3rd grade that year. I believe it was Labor Day weekend and my friend and were having another discussion about home schooling. I thought she was nuts. I had tons of reasons why it was NOT for me. Then something happened.
Some legislation was going to be passed that would force schools to add into their curriculum, teaching the children to accept and tolerate a certain lifestyle. I did not agree with that. I am a firm believer in LOVE the sinner and HATE the sin. I am a firm believer in what the Bible teaches about this subject. There were other reasons, but none that were as deciding as this one.
Now, I needed to find a curriculum. I researched as many as I could stand to. I was overwhelmed. I like choices, just not 800 choices! I had heard of Abeka and I knew that it was based on God and His Word. There was also Sonlight, which is again, based on God and His Word; the same with Alpha and Omega, Bob Jones, and Konos.
I decided on Abeka for only one reason, there were other people in my community that used Abeka and talked to me about it. So, with a smile on my face, I went to their website to order books. My smile soon turned into a frown when I saw how expensive it was. Now what to do?
I found two resources to be very useful VegSource
and Ebay. I found all the books I needed. I bought 90% of them used. My mom and I spent sometime erasing the penciled in answers. Some of the books were not the current edition, either. But seriously, how much does math change? Especially in 3rd grade? I saved a lot of money.
As the books started coming in, I was so excited. I turned my bedroom into a makeshift schoolroom. I bought a white board and some markers and erasers. The school even let me have an old desk! I decorated the walls as best I could to make it look like a schoolroom. I had a blast. I also started looking through the books and was delighted in the fact that not only did the curriculum tell you what to do every day, it also told you what to say, when to say it and what questions to ask. This was so awesome as I was very nervous about how to "teach".
The first "year’ was definitely a learning experience. As the years went by, I found more places to get books, or made sure to save enough money to just get the Parent-Child Kit from Abeka. I began to tweak the schedule, asked my own questions and do my own projects.
I, personally, would have probably given up if it had not been for all the structure of Abeka. I needed that to get set the example about what IS needed daily, what IS NOT needed daily, and my own teaching style. I even used the Abeka DVD program when my daughter was in 7th and 8th grade. I chose to do that because I was now I was now teaching my son as well. I didn’t know exactly HOW to do this. The DVD program was great, in that she had a different teacher for each subject, had a bit of interaction, as in shouting out answers to the TV screen, and a more structured day. I could then concentrate on my son, who I knew would NOT be able to do the DVD program; it would have been a punishment.
This year we are not doing Abeka. I am doing Christian Cottage. It is a more structured unit study curriculum. I am able to teach BOTH children. The vocabulary words are broken down according to primary, elementary, intermediate and advance levels. My son is in elementary and my daughter in intermediate. The activities each day are also broken down according to these levels. That is what makes this perfect for us. NOW. In the beginning, I would have felt like I was drowning. With a couple of years under my belt, I feel like, at least, I have some "floaties" around my arms so I won’t sink.
I wouldn’t trade this experience with my kids for anything. Don’t let fear keep you from doing this. Pray about it. Fear = a lot of "what if"’s and "could have"’s. Don’t let that word ruin a great adventure that you and your family could have.

If you are looking for a Christian curriculum start here first:

"Christian Home Educator’s Curriculum Manual" by Cathy Duffy. There is an elementary book and a junior/senior high book.

These books are great reading and have an abundance of information and resources to help you to be the best homeschooling momma ever!

"Reaping the Harvest" by Diana Waring The Bounty of Abundant-life Homeschooling

"Things We Wish We’d Known" by Bill and Diana Waring. 50 veteran homeschooling families share their experiences. This one helped me move from Abeka to Christian Cottage.

"How to Get Your Child Off the Refrigerator and on to Learning" by Carol Barnier. (one my favorite authors, check out my post on her) Homeschooling Highly Distractible, ADHD, or Just Plain Fidgety Kids

"If I am Diapering A Watermelon Where’d I Leave the Baby?" By Carol Barnier. For the highly distractible, or ‘Gloriously Regimented Mom".

"Homeschooling The Teen Years" by Cafi Cohen A guide to successfully homeschooling the 13-to 18-year old.
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