Comments on: Summer home school ideas

By: Hannah Rae

Hannah Rae — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 18:41:07 +0000

Any suggestions are welcome, Amanda. Two years is still longer than me. You are so blessed to have such smart kiddos.
I can’t do the reading in the car thing, cuz that would make me sick, and we DO have more audio dramas than just Narnia.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 05:29:18 +0000

I really wish I had more to offer, but your boys are quite a bit older than my kids. I do enjoy year round schooling in our house. In the summer or on vacation, it is not as intensive or based on a cirriculum, though I still have a little workbook for them year round just so he doesn’t forget how to sit still. The car is a great place for reading read to them have them read to you, books on tape. (Narnia audio drama only counts once)

I think the schedule is the key. Go for a walk everyday about the same time, wherever you are. Great chance for conversation, exercize, and learning about nature.

Also, I know you have mentioned that you have creative boys on your hands, you should be able to use it to your advantage. They can draw what they learn about in history or science. I think the key to all learning is to find out what the kid likes to be doing and creatively exploiting it to your educational advantage.

*note-Take everything I say with a grain of salt. I have only homeschooled two years and may be a little idealistic.

By: MN Dad

MN Dad — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 04:41:20 +0000

Your challenge will be to balance structure and innovation. The best teaching tools for your youngest will be life experiences. I concur with studying what is in front of you, whether it is the glacial gouges on Duluth’s North Shore or the math required when you go shopping. Content will be less important than instilling the joy of learning! That is what I did with you and your siblings…

By: Amanda Wiering

Amanda Wiering — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 14:26:23 +0000

I’m not sure about any of that yet, we plan on homeschooling our children. Angela has home schooled all her kids. and i think 4 of them are done..or the 4th one in just within the next few months. But..she’s been doing this for YEEEEARS..so I’m sure you could talk to her at church or something if you wanted. ;0)

By: Kimberly @ Raising Olives

Kimberly @ Raising Olives — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 20:58:04 +0000

Ditto on the unschool science. We like keeping nature journals. I post about that here http://raisingolives.com/2009/03/homeschooling-nature-journals/

We liked Aleks math for Algebra. It’s an online math program, a little pricey, but excellent teaching and our kids enjoyed it!

Lots and lots of reading!

Don’t forget to explore and spend time together. That’s the BEST thing that you can do for your family.

By: Hannah Rae

Hannah Rae — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 03:27:25 +0000

Rock! Thank you, Christine. I will definitely look into those books. And thank you for reminding me about Time 4 learning.

Blessings!

Hannah

By: Christine

Christine — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 22:39:18 +0000

Teaching Textbooks (www.teachingtextbooks.com) for Algebra rocks the Casbah!
Time 4 Learning may be JUST what you need (you pay month-to-month) http://www.time4learning.com/

Read for at least 30-60 minutes a day to them. Find great books and slowly work your way through them via family story time. Good therapeutic books might be “Touching Spirit Bear” or the Heartland series by Lauren Brooke (even my boys like these – when I’m reading them aloud). Reading aloud to your kids absolutely helps with THEIR reading. You can also pick out books just for Miah and take turns reading pages or paragraphs together.

With history, I would stick to videos. They make it come alive more.

We unschool science. See a cool animal? We run look it up. Have a question about that tree? Google it. Want to know more about bats? YouTube!

Even in the summer, things are “routine.” We have a regular day we go to the pool, or skating, etc. Bedtimes and mealtimes do not change, etc.