Saturday, June 29, 2013

Site Seeing: Good Books Good Times!

Site Seeing:  An Online Tour of Educational Resources
Today's Focus:  Book Lists
Please be sure to thoroughly preview all links before using them with your children.


Our family loves to read! This post will highlight some of the online book lists that have been helpful to me:

1000 Good Books List-
http://www.classical-homeschooling.org/celoop/1000.html

Book list compiled by the Classical Christian Education Support Loop
The list is divided into four levels:  primary, elementary, junior and senior.

Paula's Archives is home to several helpful book lists:

Living Math-
http://livingmath.net/readersbyconcept/tabid/268/default.aspx

The Living Math website is a wonderful resource for connecting math and literature---and more!  (For now, I'll focus on the books.)  The site has many book lists based on different math concepts such as probability, multiplication, and fractions----just to name a few.

The Scholastic Book Wizard
http://bookwizard.scholastic.com/tbw/homePage.do
This fantastic site enables visitors to generate customized lists of books based on reading level, genre, subject, and book type.

The Great Books.com
http://www.thegreatbooks.com/
This site is one I have bookmarked for the future----a wonderful resource for high school level study of the great books.  Not only are books listed on the site, there are also study guides avaiable for many of the books.   This site is maintained by Worldview Academy, and there is a list of ten suggested books for better understanding the Christian faith as a worldview on the site as well.

And in a post about how to find good books, I feel I would be remiss in neglecting to mention some wonderful curriculum sites I have frequented so regularly that I have committed many of their book recommendations to memory.  My favorites are Ambleside Online, Simply Charlotte Mason, Veritas Press, Heart of Dakota, and Sonlight.

Do you have a favorite online booklist?  Please share it in the comments below.

Registering with the District to Homeschool

One option for educating children at home in Florida, is to register as a homeschooler with your local school district (county).  Registering is very simple, and should be done within thirty days of beginning your homeschool program.

To register you may simply write a dated "Letter of Intent" to your district superintendent stating these things:

  • Child's name
  • Child's address
  • Child's birthdate
Then sign your letter and mail it to your superintendent at the county office.*  Though it is not required, it is a good idea to send your letter "certified, return receipt requested", so that you  know the district received your letter and you have written verification of this. 

Your district may provide forms for you to fill out instead of writing a letter, but please know that these forms are not mandatory----they are completely optionalBy law, you are only required to write a letter containing the above information.  You can see a sample letter of intent on the Florida Parent- Educators Association's (FPEA) site.

The date of your letter becomes the due date of your annual evaluation, so be sure to keep a copy of your letter and write the date on your calendar.

 
At this posting, Clay County homeschoolers are asked to send letters to the Clay County Home Education Office, 2306 Kingsley Avenue Building #20, Orange Park, FL 32073) or you may email hscinfo(at)myoneclay.net.  (District Home Education Website)

If you have any questions or concerns about where to mail your letter of intent, please call the district office directly to confirm the mailing address. (I will update this post if the policy changes.  Last update:  July, 2016 to update county contact mailing and email address.)


Friday, June 28, 2013

Site Seeing: Curriculum Review Sites

A Online Tour of Educational Resources with a different focus area for each "tour".

Today's Focus:  Curriculum Review Sites
Please be sure to thoroughly preview all links before using them with your family.


When making decisions about different curriculum choices, it always nice to be able to view your choices first hand whether it's shopping at a convention vendor hall or local store; or sitting in a friend's home.  However, it is not always possible to come across what you are looking for in person; and as a next best choice----curriculum review sites can really help to give you a variety of viewpoints on materials.

The following sites may provide just the help needed:

Cathy Duffy Reviews-
http://www.grovepublishing.com/
Cathy Duffy's review site is very helpful.  She gives thorough reviews and is a trusted source of information.  As a side note, her book 100 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum has a great section on helping the homeschooling parent discover preferred methods of teaching and learning----and then recommends curriculum based on the results of questions answered.

Homeschool Reviews-
http://homeschoolreviews.com/
Homeschool reviews is a fabulous resource for reviews written by fellow homeschoolers.

The Curriculum Choice-
http://thecurriculumchoice.com/curriculum-reviews/
Although the format is a bit different than the previous two sites and searching for information may take a little longer, The Curriculum Choice is an excellent collection of reviews. Since the site is hosted/written in blog format, you can also subscribe for future updates.  And, if you are interested in writing curriculum reviews, they are looking for more regular writers.

The Old Schoolhouse Magazine Reviews-
http://thehomeschoolmagazine.com/Homeschool_Reviews/
A categorized listing of over 4,000 educational products.

The Well Trained Mind Forum-
http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/
I know this isn't a review site, but if you are willing spend a few minutes searching for information, your efforts will likely be rewarded.  The forums at the Well Trained Mind are some of the most active on the internet and they are a wealth of information.  Just use the "search" feature to find posts about a particular curriculum.  And even though it is the Well Trained Mind board non-"classical" curriculum is discussed there as well.

Many other curriculum companies host forums as well, and those can be a place to find really good information too.  Most posters are interested in helping others and give very frank reviews of materials.

Do you have a favorite source for curriculum reviews?  Please feel free to leave it in the comment section to share it with others.  Thank you!

Clip art source:  http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/--Thank you!

Fourth of July Fun!


IndependenceDay

I recetnly received the latest "Celebrating Holidays" newsletter, and discovered a treasure trove of Independence Day resources-----so nice, I wanted to pass them along!  The site has a section on Independence Day history, symbols, songs, stories, recipes and crafts.

The folks at Celebrating Holidays hope to continue adding content to the site, so you may want to susbcribe to their newsletter to receive future updates as well.
Enjoy!

Site Seeing: Bible Study

Bible
Site Seeing:  A Online Tour of Educational Resources with a different focus area on each tour.

Today's Focus:  Bible Study and the Christian Faith for Children
Please be sure to thoroughly preview all links before using them with your family.

There are some wonderful resources for Bible study online, and today's highlights feature study tools for children and those who lead them. 

Teaching With God's Heart for the World-
http://harvestministry.org/twghw
A FREE one year unit study curriculum.  All lesson plan content is online in PDF files.  
From the website:
The curriculum includes 160 day-by-day teaching plans, missionary highlights, motivational mission stories, crafts, songs, prayer projects, and hundreds of ways to incorporate a passion for the lost into nearly every subject (including Bible Study, Family Devotions, Reading, Writing, Geography, History, Art, Science, and even highlights for Math).
The curriculum presents a “whirlwind tour” of God’s enduring passion for missions, all-the-way-through-history and all-across-the-globe. Using weekly unit-studies, this curriculum is created to be used over a one-year school year, although it can be easily adapted to be used throughout two years. It can be used as a core curriculum guide (for elementary children), or as a supplement to another curriculum. It is written especially for elementary grade levels, but it can also be used for the whole family to study missions together.

Calvery Chapel Children's Ministry Curriculum-www.CalvaryCurriculum.com

325 Bible lessons from the Old and New Testament available in English and in Spanish.  Each lesson includes a Scripture references, a coloring page, questions and other activities.

Devotions from Josh McDowell-http://www.josh.org/resources/daily-devotional/

Keys For Kids Devotions-
http://cbhministries.org/kfk/home.php
Daily devotions for children from CBH Ministries.  You can read each devotion at the website or sign up for email delivery of devotions.

WonderZone.com-
http://www.wonderzone.com/

Bible devotions, a Bible Reading Club, video clips, games and other activities----plus a feature length film about Jesus for children.  Hosted by Child Evangelism Fellowship.  Some activities require site registration.

Wycliffe Bible Translators-Children's Lessons
http://www.wycliffe.org/Resources/Kids/FreeCurriculum.aspx
Ready, Set, Pray- A group of lessons on prayer including a wonderful monthly prayer journal for children (PDF) to lead them in prayer for Bible-less people groups.  There is also a prayer journal for older children (grades 6-9).  Site also includes a group of lessons on Bible translation, service learning project ideas, and more!

Impressionist Art

Renoir-DanceatLeMoulindelaGalette

I originally wrote this article when an impressionist exhibit was coming to town.  It has since come and gone, but the list of resources might still prove helpful for art studies, so I am reposting it now.  :-)

If you know of other resources, please feel free to share them in the comment section below.

(Thank you so much to those who have organized curriculum, written about their own art studies or shared notebooking pages and other resources freely!)
  • Jimmie's Freeebie Page includes an art section with a general art museum trip tips page and artist pages.
  • Ambleside Online's art study page has several impressionists listed through the years.  If you visit this page you will also find links to their art print yahoo groups where you can make prints for your own studies.
Monet-WomanWithAParasol

Books that your family might enjoy (please preview before using with your family):
Degas-DancersAttheBar
DVDs (another reminder to preview....some may be more suited for adults.  I am just listing what I've come across to help others find them too)
  • Linnea in Monet's Garden (available on Netflix streaming)
  • Netflix also has video called "The Impressionists" on streaming and a BBC mini-series called "The Impressionists" which is different from the streaming title.  Also there is a series available for DVD rental called "The Impressionists:  ARTIST NAME"  Artists available are Renoir, Manet, Pissarro, Degas, Monet, Seurat and Van Gogh (a post impressionist)
Morisot-TheCradle
Hands On Art Ideas:

The Cummer Museum offers FREE ADMISSION* each Tuesday from 4:00-9:00 p.m. so plan a visit while this unique exhibit will be in town!  (And then check the calendar for upcoming exhibits as well....there is always something wonderful to see at the museum!)

*Free Admission on Tuesday is available at the time of this post.  Please check the museum website before you visit to find out current admission policies.

Thanks to Wikipedia for Images in the Public Domain

Homeschool Methods: Traditional

The traditional method of homeschooling is also known as school-at-home and most resembles the structure of a typical public or private school classroom.  The day and subjects are organized and scheduled much as if one was in attendance at school.  For example, a set amount of time spent on language arts, math, science, and social studies daily; with time set aside for art, music, physical education and other "electives" as well.

Those wishing to follow a traditional method of homeschooling often use textbooks for most if not all subjects and may order all subjects from one publisher.  Some traditional homeschoolers may also seek to closely follow the scope and sequence of their local public school or a private school and will order materials based on that sequence.  Other traditional homeschoolers may choose to enroll in a local umbrella school that prescribes curriculum or to enroll in a private school distance education program.

Some reasons that families may choose traditional homeschooling are:
  • comfort in knowing that curriculum is thoroughly planned and presented through the publisher/school
  • a desire to teach content similar to that in the local schools
  • a plan to have children return to school outside the home at some point and a desire to prepare them similarly to the school system
  • a desire to keep things familiar to students who begin homeschooling after attending school for a time
Some textbook publishers are:
 Some traditional distance education-school at home options are:


This article is a part of series of overviews on different homeschool methods.  As many homeschoolers are eclectic in method and materials chosen, hopefully highlights from this series will offer insight into what is available to families educating children at home so that they might choose what will best meet the goals they have set for their family.

If you would like to write an article to share with others about how you implement a particular method of homeschooling, please contact Kim:  kimclayhs(at)gmail(dot)com   Curriculum/materials reviews are welcome as well!

Homeschool Methods: Literature Based


SmallbookThe term "literature based homeschooling" describes exactly what it is:  using literature as the base for your homeschooling.  Instead of using textbooks to drive the curriculum, in a literature based home school most subjects are studied through whole books; and even for those subjects that might be textbook based, literature is often used as a supplement whenever possible.  In the younger years, literature might very well be the base of the entire curriculum. 

Parents that wish to use literature based studies may develop their own plans by finding fiction and non-fiction books that bring the subject or topic alive for their children or they may choose to use a program that has done the planning part of the work for them.  There may be an overlap in learning about various subjects in a literature based home school (unit studies) or the parent may choose to follow a set scope and sequence for subjects (similar to a traditional method).   Whatever the route taken to planning, literature based home schools are filled with read aloud, independent reading and discussion time----vital components to literature based education.
The study of history lends itself nicely to a literature based approach, and you will often find it as the organizational center of many curricula.  It may be surprising to find that science and even math can be studied through literature, but it is possible.  It may take a bit more research and a thorough grasp of the subject yourself, but for those so inclined----it can be done.  There are so many good books available to us in our day, that the possibilities are limitless!
Some literature based* curriculum companies/guides are:
  • All Through The Ages (an excellent book which guides one in the study of history through literature)
Free Curriculum guides that are literature based:


This article is a part of series of overviews on different homeschool methods.  As many homeschoolers are eclectic in method and materials chosen, hopefully highlights from this series will offer insight into what is available to families educating children at home so that they might choose what will best meet the goals they have set for their family.

Clipart from:  http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/  Thank you!

Homeschool Methods: Charlotte Mason

Charlotte Mason was a Christian British educator who lived in the late 1800s/early 1900s.  In many ways, she was far ahead of her time, as she thought all children deserved a wide and varied curriculum that would not only engage their minds, but enrich their lives; no matter their station or background.   Today, those that follow her methods, use her name in describing their home schools or public/private schools.

Charlotte Mason advocated the use of living books (well written, engaging, whole books) in education and said that education was a life, a discipline and an atmosphere.  She thought that children should come mind to mind with the best authors through their books and primarily used great books to study most subjects.  Children in her schools studied artists, composers, foreign languages, poetry, Shakespeare, nature and handicrafts alongside the Bible, literature, history, science, mathematics and writing.

Charlotte Mason set out twenty principles she used in developing her educational philosophy, and these can be read at the Ambleside  (AO) site.  In fact, all six of the books Charlotte Mason wrote on education can be read at AO in the original text or as a modern paraphrase.

Those that use a Charlotte Mason (CM) method in homeschooling generally use whole books for as many subjects as possible, engage children through age appropriate lesson times that develop the habit of (full) attention, use narration to help cement learning and gauge understanding, and provide a broad and generous curriculum.  There are other distinctives of a CM education (such as nature study), and there is so much wonderful information available online, that I will simply link to some of the best sites I've found below.
  • Ambleside Online-Here you can find the full texts of Charlotte Mason's writings, many articles from the Parent's Review, and a free curriculum guide
  • Simply Charlotte Mason-Another site with abundant information about CM and CM methods.  A free curriculum guide is available here as well.
  • Charlotte Mason Help- A free curriculum guide is available here as well as numerous articles written by a home educator about how she implements CM methods in her family
  • Mater Amabilis-A free Catholic CM curriculum guide is available here
  • Milestones Academy-CM resource for LDS families-free curriculum guide available here
  • Penny Gardner's website-Lots of great book lists and articles on CM education
  • ChildLight USA- Blog, articles, lectures and home to the annual Charlotte Mason Educational Conference (also working to develop a CM curriculum)
  • Charlotte Mason Homeschooling Headquarters on Squidoo-Lots of links and resources compiled by Jimmie (all of her pages on Squidoo are excellent!)
  • The Tanglewood School Curriculum-Classical and CM curriculum
  • Secular CM- Resources for those who wish to utilize CM methods in a secular home school
Curricula that utilize CM methods available through publishers:
Although reading Charlotte Mason's own writings will give the clearest understanding of her methods, there are numerous books available that are also helpful in understanding a CM education.  Some to look for at your library or local bookstore are:


This article is a part of series of overviews on different homeschool methods.  As many homeschoolers are eclectic in method and materials chosen, hopefully highlights from this series will offer insight into what is available to families educating children at home so that they might choose what will best meet the goals they have set for their family. 

Homeschool Methods: Unit Study

 A very basic definition of a unit study is taking a topic or subject and studying it through as many of the academic disciplines as applicable for a specified length of time.  The goal is to relate as much learning as possible to the chosen topic or theme.  This works very well for most disciplines with the exception of mathematics (though mathematics is a great lens to examine many topic through as well).

For example, one might plan on studying "Ancient Egypt" through history (people and events), geography (maps, cultural geography), science (irrigation practices, medicine), art, and literature.  Another example might be studying "horses" through history (the uses of horses throughout history, the history of horse racing, famous horses in history), science (the care of horses, types of horses, biological needs and systems of horses), literature (stories of horses in literature), etc.

Other unit study approaches examine character traits through different disciplines (such as KONOS), or use a piece of literature as the base for the study (such as Five in a Row) and branch out from there.
Many who use unit studies in their teaching also try to incorporate hands on projects related to the study and schedule related field trips.  Some involve their children in the planning of a unit study and largely base their plans upon the interests of their children.  Unit studies are very popular in traditional school settings as well, and there is abundant information online for anyone wishing to plan their own studies or to see samples of unit studies.

Some curricula organized into Unit Studies are:
Some free resources for Unit Studies are:
Unit Study Helps for those who might like to plan their own studies:


This article is a part of series of overviews on different homeschool methods.  As many homeschoolers are eclectic in method and materials chosen, hopefully highlights from this series will offer insight into what is available to families educating children at home so that they might choose what will best meet the goals they have set for their family.