Music is important and children need to learn music to be well-rounded. You can teach your child music appreciation and music history or how to play an actual instrument or how to sing. Kids love to learn about music and teaching your child will foster a life long love of music. If you homeschool your child, then you need to take a look at some of the following music curriculum.

Stories of the Great Composers: This book and compact disc is appropriate for children in kindergarten through sixth grade. This series takes a look at 12 famous composers, their life, a story about the composer, a list of three important compositions and a question and answer page about each composer. This set can be used with all ages and is easy to read and follow.

Meet the Great Composers: There are two books in this series, which takes a look at famous composers throughout history. This set is appropriate for children in 3^rd through 9^th grade. The series shows students important facts about the composer, a story about the composer’s life, interesting facts and activity sheets. In addition, each set comes with a CD with music samples. All activity sheets are reproducible so you can use the set over and over again.

Silver Burdett - Making Music: This series has a book for each grade level. Each book has a complete list of activities and learning activities that will teach children about the history of music, music awareness and music literacy. Each set comes complete with several books, music CDs and other extras, such as hand puppets for the pre-k series. This curriculum series is a bit more expensive than other programs, but it offers a complete music learning experience for homeschoolers.

Pheiffer House Music: This is specially designed with homeschoolers in mind and for parents looking for a Christian approach to teaching music. Sets are available for kindergarten, first, second, third and fourth through sixth. You can even order the entire set for a discount price. The goal of this music curriculum is to enable anyone, even those without musical experience to teach children about music. Each set comes with a detailed booklet and a CD as well as worksheets and flashcards. The CD contains lessons to teach pitch, rhythm and fun songs appropriate for each age level.

Sing N Learn: This company has many books and instruction sets that can be used with homeschooled children of all ages and skill levels. One of the most popular choices if the Classical Kid’s Collection Pack that includes educational information on famous composers such as Bach, Vivaldi, Beethoven, and Mozart. Each unit features detailed information about each composer along with questions about each one and has integrated curriculum to combine music with social studies, creative writing and other subjects.

Essentials of Music Theory: This is a complete set where you can pick and choose the books and CDs you are interested in using. This set is perfect for children that want to not only learn about music appreciation, but also has a keen interest in learning musical theory as well. Choose from books, compact discs and even software that all work together to teach your child all about music. Even if you have very little music experience, you can use this series at home.

Valentine’s Day has long been a day when people show their love and affection towards their family and friends. What better way to teach children about this unconditional love than by giving your child and her friends a Valentine’s Day party? Here are some suggestions and party ideas that are easy and fun for the kids.

Valentine's Day Crafts

Valentine’s Tic-Tac-Toe

This is a craft and game all in one. Start by giving each child a large heart cut out of craft foam. On one side, draw a tic-tac-toe grid in permanent marker. Allow the children to decorate the other side with foam or felt hearts (you can cut out your own and use glue dots or glue sticks or purchase them already ready to use at a craft store). Place eight hearts of the same color (two colors, such as eight red hearts and eight purple hearts) inside a baggie. These will be the markers for the game. Punch a hole at the top of the heart and thread a ribbon through it and tie the bag of markers on to the bag.

Heart Art

Your kids can make a cute heart to give as a gift. Find a box with tall sides. Place a sheet of pink construction paper inside the box. Pick out a couple of colors of tempra paint such as red and white and place a small amount of each in a paper plate. Drop a large marble in each color and coat it with paint using a plastic spoon. Scoop the marbles out of the paint and drop into the box. Have the children tilt the box in all different directions, allowing the marbles to roll around the box. It will create an interesting look on the paper. When the paint is dry, cut it into a heart shape.

Games

Valentine is the Word

When each child enters the room, place six small heart stickers on their shirt. Inform them that the magic word of the day is “Valentine”, (you can also use love, heart or any other Valentine related word). This is the word they must not be caught saying. If they hear another child say the magic word throughout the day, they are allowed to take one sticker. The child that has the most stickers at the end of the party wins.

Heart Scavenger Hunt

Cut out several hearts out of construction paper and hide them throughout the room. Give the kids a certain amount of time to find as many as they can. This may take longer with younger kids.

Preschoolers love making books—and they love talking about themselves, too. You can help your preschool make a mini book that will show the world all about your sweet preschooler. Fill it with your child’s favorites and this book may become his or her favorite bedtime story. You might even think about letting your child glue pictures of friends and family inside the book and write a story or sentences.

 All About Me Mini Book

There are different types of mini books you can make. You can always go online to find printable mini books if you do not want to spend the time cutting and pasting, or you can use one of these ideas below. Once you and your child have finished the book, make each page about your preschooler. Add pages such as:

I am _____years old.

I have_____eyes.

My birthday is_____.

My favorite toy is_____.

I love to_____.

I like to watch_____.

My pets are____.

My best friend is_____.

My favorite book is_______.

 
Here are a couple of ways to make the book:

Index Card Accordion Book

Cut two pieces of card stock paper in thirds, to make several long strips. Fold the strips accordion style making sure you make the folds wide enough to fit an index card. Glue the strips together at the ends making one long strip. Attach the index cards between the folds. Fold the entire book together and use a string or ribbon to close. When you open the book, it will fold out and each index card will be a page.

Flip Book

Flip books are fun and easy to make. You will need three sheets of regular sized copy paper (try using a variety of colors), two pieces of string (about 12 inches long), and a hole punch. Start by stacking the sheets of paper on top of each other and then arrange so that each sheet is about 1-1/2 inches lower than the one before. Hold the papers together and turn them over to the back. Fold the bottom side over so that you now have six pages. Carefully open the fold and punch two holes—one on each side at the top. Thread the string through the inside of the fold and out of the two holes. Tie in a knot. This holds the pages together. If it seems too complicated, you can simply staple the pages together at the fold. You now have a flip book for your child.

Preschoolers learn best by hands-on activities and this is especially true for learning reading, writing and the alphabet. While the ABCs are generally not a hard concept for your child to memorize, your preschooler needs to learn how each letter looks and sounds. Why not engage your preschooler in making a mini-book to help him or her learn the alphabet? 

There are many educational websites that have wonderful ideas for making mini-books with your preschooler. You will want to pick a project that is not too difficult. In addition, you can also find websites that have print outs of mini-books. All you need to do is print the page, and the follow the instructions to put the book together. One handy website is DLTK Teach. This website has a book for each letter of the alphabet. Another useful website that offers printable mini-books is Star Fall. They help with beginning reading and have fun pictures that your child can color.

Here are some ideas for making your own ABC Mini Books from scratch!

Index Card Book

For this mini-book project, you will need a stack of old magazines, glue, scissors, hole punch, ring clip and an index card for each letter of the alphabet. Start this project by writing the uppercase and lowercase letter on each index card. Work with your preschooler to find a picture of something that represents each letter. For example for “c” your child may find a picture of a cat, candy or a computer. Have your preschooler cut the picture out and glue it on the matching card. When all the cards are finished, punch a hole in the upper left hand corner of each card and attach the cards together with the ring clip.

Simple Book

For this book, you will make one for each letter of the alphabet. You may consider working on two or three letters a week until your preschooler has mastered each one. For each book you will need 3 sheets of regular 8-1/2 by 11 white paper. Simply fold each sheet in half and cut on the line. Fold again and stack sheets together. Staple the pages together in the crease. Have your child decorate the cover for the letter. On the next page, have your child practice writing uppercase and lowercase letters. On the next page, have your child try to write a sentence using the letter in a word. For the next few pages, have your child draw pictures of words that coincide with the letter and cut and paste pictures.

Objective

What kid doesn’t love learning about the solar system? The planets are interesting and when your child is ready to learn, there is a wealth of information out there to help you and your child. This lesson will help you teach your child about the different planets and interesting facts about each one. This is also a great time to teach your child about space exploration.

 

Materials

*Books about the Solar System

*Print out pictures of the planets

*Construction paper

*Glue
*Crayons
*Scissors

*Model magic
*Styrofoam
*Paint 

Fact File

*The sun takes up over 98% of the mass in the solar system.
*Pluto, which was the smallest planet, is no longer classified as a planet.
*Mars has a surface and atmosphere that most closely mirrors that of Earth.
*It takes 2-1/2 Earth centuries for the Sun to orbit around Pluto once.
*Some of the rocks found on Earth are actually pieces of Mars. 
 

Activities

Make a Solar System book: One of the best ways to reinforce a lesson is to allow your child to make their very own fact book about the solar system. You can print out pictures of the planets and have them color each picture. Gather books and find websites and have your child write down several facts about each planet. Make a cover out of construction paper and organize the pages into a useful book.

 

A Solar System model is also fun—just do not rely on the store bought kits. Have your child come up with a unique way to make the solar system on his or her own. For example, how about making the planets out if lightweight clay such as Model Magic, or making a mobile?

 

Field Trip Opportunity

There are many excellent places you can take your child to learn more about the exciting world of the solar system. Look for a space center near you. The Houston Space Center offers families an in-depth look at space travel, the planets and much more. Ticket prices are $14.95 for kids and $18.95 for adults. You can get discount rates when traveling with a group and you can even check into overnight stays and day camps that are specifically geared towards scouts and homeschooling families. Don’t forget to tour the nearby Johnson Space Center while you are here. It offers a look at space exploration that your kids will love.

 

Wrap-Up

The official website for NASA is an excellent website when you are looking for just about any information about the solar system and space travel. Your child can even write to NASA and request information by mail. This website features an interactive place for kids of all ages to go and explore space through the Internet.

 

Another fun site for kids is Kids Astronomy. This site is full of easy to read and understand information for kids, all of which pertains to space. Kids can go here to learn detailed information about each planet as well learn about deep space, space exploration and more.

Lapbooks are very popular with many homeschoolers these days, especially for preschoolers and early elementary-aged children.  What are lapbooks you ask?  Good question!

A lapbook is basically a learning tool that is interactive, made from a pocket folder or manila folder, and can be targeted for almost subject that you teach.  Another word for a lapbook might be a portfolio.  It is a fun way for younger children to remember lessons because the lapbook is fun to make and fun to play with after it is completed.

There is no secret that children learn best when they are able to delve into their projects.  Hands-on activities improve how a child remembers information.  What do you think...is it more fun to read a worksheet about volcanoes, or to build an actual working model?

How are lapbooks made?  Another good question!  Lapbooks are made from pocket folders or manila folders.  You can use other materials as well.  The contents are mini books and games/activities that you paste into the folder.  You use the pockets of a pocket folder as a way to make flaps that your child can flip out to find more information.  There are are endless ways you glue things into the folder.  You can add recipes, small worksheets, and other fun things to do, along with the mini books.

It does take effort on a parent's part to put one of these things together, but websites like Hands of a Child, have made it extremely easy by providing pre-made materials for lapbooks called project packs.  They have virtually any subject that you can imagine, and the site is continuing to grow.  If you want to give lapbooks a whirl, they offer quarterly freebies, so you can try your hand at making one!

Benefits of Lapbooks

**Encourages creativity in your child
**Can be used with a unit study or as a standalone learning tool
**Easy to store and use as review material

I strongly recommend that you visit Hands of a Child to see a lapbook in action.  You don't realize the wealth of material you can cover until you actually make one yourself.  Warning:  They are addicting!

Building your child's vocabulary is essential in each year of his education because the older your child gets the bigger his vocabulary should become.  The more vocabulary your child understands the better his reading comprehension becomes, and the better your child is able to communicate with those around him.

Generally vocabulary building activities are found within a language arts curriculum, so often times we don't put too much emphasis on extra vocabulary lessons or take the time to generate vocabulary-specific lesson plans.  But, if you know your child is struggling with vocabulary, here are some great ideas to help him build his vocabulary in a fun and interactive way.  Keep in mind that you can adapt these activities to the grade that your child is in at present.

Word Association through Pictures

Materials:  Poster board, magazines, scissors, glue, dictionay, pencil, paper

Create a poster board that has pictures you cut from a magazine.  Each picture should represent a new vocabulary word that you want to introduce.  An example would be a picture of a popular restaurant, such as "McDonald's" with the word franchise below it.  Have your child look up the word franchise in the dictionary and write out its definition under the picture.

Vocabulary Matching Game

Materials:  Poster board, magazine(s), scissors, glue, dictionary, pencil, paper

Preparation:  Look through the magazine for vocabulary words.  Use only one magazine for elementary and middle school children and two or three magazines for high school students.  Next, write the vocabulary word on an index card.  Make an individual index card for each word you want your child to learn.

Create a poster board that has clues (definitions of words) on it, such as "object used to flip pancakes."  Leave enough space for your child to find the picture in the magazine, cut it out, and glue it under the clue.  Now have your child look through the vocabulary words that you created on index cards and have them match the vocabulary word to the clue/picture that they have already completed.  Let your child use a dictionary to look about the vocabulary words on the index cards to be sure they are matching the right words.

Vocabulary Jigsaw Puzzle

Create a worksheet that looks like a puzzle.  You can also buy cut blank puzzles from a local craft store, if you wish.  Write a new vocabulary word on each puzzle piece.  Have your child either cut apart the pieces or break apart the puzzle, if using a pre-made puzzle, and mix them up.  Now you call out definitions of these words, and your child puts the puzzle back together.

Vocabulary BINGO

Most every child likes to play this popular game.  Turn it into a vocabulary lesson plan by filling in the spaces with vocabulary words.  Call out the definitions and have your child fill a space if they have the matching word.  Give out candy or a small prize to your child, when he wins!  You can even make your own BINGO cards.

If you are like me, then you like to create your own homeschool lesson plans, and tailor what you teach to what your kids want to learn.  Curriculums are great for math and language arts, and I use them wholeheartedly...but when it comes to history, science, and social studies, I am a free spirit.  And, being a Christian homeschooling family, we like to relate the Bible into just about anything we teach/learn.  My kids love to see how the Bible ties into real historical events and how Earth is shaped by the catastrophic events that happened in Bible times (like the flood shaping the continents, etc.)

To this end, I want to list topics at the beginning of each month where you have the freedom to make your own lessons based on these monthly ideas.  These are just ideas, and if you have some of your own ideas, please let me know!  How to Develop a Homeschool Unit Study is a great place to learn how to put your lesson together into a neat and compact binder, and tailor it to meet the needs of children of varying ages, if that applies to you.

On to the ideas for January!

Polar Bear Lesson Plan
     Information about polar bears
     Create puzzles at Puzzlemaker.com
     Bible Reference:  Genesis 1:24-25

Penguin Lesson Plan
     Information about penguins
     Create puzzles at Puzzlemaker.com
     Bible Reference:  Genesis 1:24-25

Winter Theme Lesson Plan
     Book Suggestion:  "The Winter Solstice" by Ellen Jackson
     Science Experiment:  Expanding on Ice
     Winter Writing Prompts
     Make a winter craft
     Bible References:  Genesis 8:22 and Psalm 74:17

Crime Stopper Month
     Take a field trip to your local police station
     Learn about policemen and other community helpers
     Make a police craft
    
The whole purpose of developing your own lesson plans is to gather the information you find useful and put it all together in a way that makes sense to you!  Have fun with it.

Additional Ideas

January is:              

- Bath Safety Month
- Clown Month
- Eye Health Care Month
- Letter Writing Month
- Radio Month
- Soup Month
- Canned Foods Month (great time to donate canned goods to a shelter!)

Have a great New Year!

I thought it would be fun to take a look at some homeschooling statistics.  The list that I have compiled comes from many different sources.  All you have to do is click on the link next to each statistic group to read more information.  Let's take a look.

Christian Home Educators of Colorado

*Based on a study by Rudner, 8th graders who are homeschooled are performing approximately four grades above the national average.

*Homeschooling families average a spending of $450.00 per year.

*Approximately 70% of homeschoolers attend religious services.

*On standardized testing, homeschoolers average in the 87 percentile, while public school peers average in the 61 percentile in reading (white).

*On standardized testing, homeschoolers average in the 87 percentile, while public school pers average in the 49 percentile in reading (minority).

Heart of Wisdom

*Approximaely 18% of homeschooling families earn <$25,000 annually.

*Approixmately 44% of homeschooling families earn $25,000 +/- $49,000 anually.

National Home Education Research Institute

*African American parents that are homeschooling as increased from 85,000 to 105,000.

*Home-based education is growing around the world.

*There are approximaely 2 million children being homeschooled in the U.S.

*The most common reasons for choosing to homeschool include:

     -  Ability to teach a certain set of values and beliefs
     -  To accomplish more academically than can be done in a school setting
     -  To customize curriculum for particular learning styles
     -  Ability to provide a safer environment for children
     -  Ability to enhance family relationships

*Homeschool students are being recruiting by more colleges than ever before.

I think this is outstanding proof that homeschooling is not only a viable option for teaching our children, but perhaps the best way to teach them.  Being a Christian homeschooling mom, I cannot let the opportunity pass to let you know what the Bible has to say about parents teaching their children:

"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." Proverbs 22:6 ~ NIV

We all need a little help and encouragement as homeschoolers.  Sometimes it can feel like you are the only one with a particular problem in your day-to-day teaching or you just feel like you cannot possibly plan one more lesson plan without bursting.  That is what makes homeschool forums so great.  They let homeschooling families all over the globe stay in touch and talk about anything from coming up with a homeschool schedule, to finding where the best math lesson plans are on the web, to ways find homeschool games, etc.

The downside of having homeschool forums are that they are everywhere on the web.  You don't want to get caught up in the habit of signing up for every forum that you come across.  Most of your day will be spent responding to conversations, and you will wonder where the rest of your day went.  It is best to find perhaps two to four forums and stick with that.

You will find that some forums are geared for homeschooling in general, while others are narrowed to particular subjects such as Christian homeschooling, Montessori homeschooling, forums specifically for encouragement or new homeschoolers, to talk about your gifted child, etc.  If you find a great forum to talk about Christian subjects, then you probably don't need to join another one with the same topics.

Here is a list of some rather well-known and active homeschool forums that you might be interested in checking out.  Most forums do require you to register, but is generally free of charge.

*Veg Source Homeschool Forums

*CHF Web Interactive- Christian Homeschooling

*Homeschool World

*Gift Homeschoolers Forum

There are many, many more forums on the web.  You can find them by simply typing in "homeschool forum" in your search engine.  You can even be more specific, like "Christian homeschool forum."  So, I hope you will get in touch with some fellow homeschoolers today, and make new friends and find out great tips and tricks that only those in the trenches are able to give you!

Moms that homeschool the children do not often have the luxury that other moms have when the kids head off to school each day. Homeschooling moms spend each and everyday involved with the kids. While this is a great thing for the family, it can often wear mom down—after all, even homeschooling moms need a break every now and then. How do you find the time to break free from the kids for a little while and take in some pampering? Here are my tips that will help you the next time you need a little “me” time.

 

Get up before the kids:

When you homeschool, you probably have a schedule that you follow with the kids each day. Instead of getting up and then getting the kids up for the day, try getting up earlier than the kids and enjoying an hour or so to yourself. Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and have coffee or tea while you read a devotion or see what's happening in the news. Or, you can take a relaxing shower and use the time to get ready for the day. Some moms even like to exercise or do yoga in the morning before the kids are ready to get up. When you get up before the kids each day, make sure that the time you spend is for you.

 

Stay up later in the evening:

Of course, if you are not a morning riser, then you should put the kids to bed on time each night and have your “me” time after the kids go to bed. Let your husband take over while you go to the gym, take in an occasional movie, or go to dinner with a fellow homeschool mom or friend. If you would rather not go out, then jump in the bubbly bathtub and do what you need to do the most…relax.

 

Start a homeschool co-op:

There are probably many homeschool co-ops in your area. This is where other homeschooling parents get together and help others. Some groups may meet once a week or once a month. You may even find a couple of moms that are willing to do a kid swap with you every now and so you each can have the day to yourself and let the kids enjoy being around other homeschooled children. If you do not have a co-op group in your area, then you might want to consider starting one. This is a great way to get some pampering time in while connecting with others.

 

Hire a sitter:

The whole idea of homeschooling your child is to spend quality time with them each day. Sometimes, however, you can get a little too much quality time with your kids! Never feel bad about hiring a sitter every now and then for your kids during the day. Use this time to get your nails done, enjoy a peaceful lunch with your husband, or just catch up on your errands.  Don't worry, your kids will probably be nice to the sitter, unlike in the picture above!

 

It is possible to get in some good “me” time when you homeschool. You just need to know where to find the time and then enjoy it.

One of the newest and hottest sites on the web these days is WOWIO. This site allows you to download eBooks for free. It is completely legal and you can have access to hundreds of titles that will help you teach your children. You will see how easy it is to find books related to your homeschooling lessons plans, too.

 

What exactly is WOWIO?

WOWIO is an online bookstore that allows you to find your favorite book titles and download them into your computer using Acrobat Reader. You may wonder how it is possible that latest titles are offered for free while still being legal. The answer is that this website compensates the writers and publishers through ads and commercial sponsorships. This is good new for you, especially when you homeschool because it puts hundreds of books right at your fingertips. No more searching through expensive bookstores or rummaging through the library only to find what you need is already checked out.

How can I join?

Before you can begin to use WOWIO, you will need to join the website. Don’t worry. It is easy and they walk you through the process. You can choose your registration process and information is needed to verify your membership. You can choose to enter your email address, driver’s license number, or your credit card information to verify your identity. If you use your credit card number, it is only to verify identity and you will not be charged any amount. After the registration process is complete, you can begin to use the website to download eBooks that are offered. You really do not need any special equipment to get the site working. All you need is a good Internet connection and Acrobat Reader, which is available for you to download for free if you do not already have it.

 

What is offered through WOWIO?

Virtually anything you need is offered through this website. If you are interested in children’s literature or on educational material, simply scroll through the categories and it will help you find titles from those selections. You can also type in a title name and it will search the website for you. Many of the titles offered on this website are educational in nature, meaning that when you homeschool, you now have access to many titles you can use when you teach your children.

How can I use WOWIO to create lesson plans?

You simply need to find eBooks that are related to a subject that you are teaching or plan to teach in the future.  You can use the eBooks to supplement your current curriculum, or to help you design your very own curriculum or unit study.  Either way, you will find lots of useful information.  WOWIO makes it easy for homeschoolers on a budget to find the resources they need in a flash!

You can see that this is a quite useful website for you and your children. Get online today to explore all the titles that you have just by registering with this free eBook site.  For more information, use their Frequently Asked Questions section on the website.  So, why are you still hanging around here...get there now!

When contemplating homeschooling, it may seem difficult to decide upon which method is right for your family.  Part of the reason is that there are so many methods to choose from, and it can be hard to differentiate between them.  My hope is to let you know what the different methods entail, to help answer your questions about homeschooling as it pertains to the methods available.

I'll be honest with you...the way you homeschool your children may require some trial and error until you find the best method that fits your child's learning style.  You may even find that one method that works for one child will not work with another.  But, that's the beauty of homeschooling...you can tailor it to fit a child's direct needs.

So, here are some of the methods used:

Unschooling Method:  This method is used not so much as a learning method, but as a way of life.  Unschooling means that you do not teach using textbooks and workbooks, but rather personal experiences.  It is taking advantage of every day situations to use as learning points.  A great book about unschooling and its successfulness as a way of teaching is How Children Learn by John Holt.

Montessori Approach:  This way of teaching is designed to let children learn at their own pace.  Textbooks and manipulatives are not suited for age groups, but rather just by skill level.  It is thought that when a child can learn when they are ready to absorb new information, they will have learned it for the rest of their lives.

Charlotte Mason Method:  This method is based on teaching the arts, nature, and the love of books.  In fact, the "living books" that support this method of homeschooling are written to open a child's senses and give them a feeling of being part of the stories they are reading.  Children learn the basic skills, such as science, math, etc., but in a natural setting and through stories.

Christian Homeschooling:  This method of homeschooling is based on teaching children biblical principles as their first priority, while catering to their need to learn basic skills.  Subjects such as history are taught to show how the Bible relates to historical events.  Science proves that God is the creator of everything, and backs this up with biblical principles.  Daily Bible reading is a part of many Christian homeschooling families.

Secular Homeschooling:  This type of teaching is based primarily on what traditional schools are teaching children.  Secular homeschoolers use many of the same textbooks as public schools, or may even use some of the methods mentioned above.  They do not have "religious" reasons for homeschooling, but want to have the right to teach their own children at home.

As you can see there are numerous methods for teaching your children what they need to know.  People have different opinions on how homeschooling should be taught, but it is because they found something that really works for their family.  There is no right or wrong way to homeschool your children, as long as you know in your heart you are providng them with the best education that you can.

Some states allow homeschoolers to choose an option where they can use Internet courses as their choice of curriculum.  These Internet courses are referred to as "correspondence schools."  They offer all of the same school subjects that you would expect to find through physical workbooks, and actually often provide you with the physical textbooks your child needs to complete work.

A correspondence school is one that plans the lessons for your child, keeps track of the grades for you, and sends you reports on how well your child is doing.  Some correspondence schools take care of everything, while others will give the parents some flexibility with the lesson scheduling.  Correspondence schools are also responsible for administering your child's tests and quizzes.

A correspondence school will either be one where your child receives physical textbooks and workbooks, as mentioned in the first paragraph, and you correspond through the mail with tests and quizzes.  The other type of correspondence school offers Internet courses and everything is done via Internet and e-mail.  Some or no materials are physically sent to your child, depending on the program you choose.

Advantages of Correspondence Schools

• It's a good way to know that your child is receiving a quality education.
• It gives parents peace of mind knowing everything is being taken care of.
• It does most of the work for you, if you are not a planner.
• Some offer parents flexibility with class scheduling.

Disadvantages of Correspondence Schools

• Internet courses tend to be pricey.  This tends to be the biggest disadvantage.
• Corresponding through "snail mail" takes time to prepare and send off.
• You lose the flexibility to teach the subjects you want.

I know people who use Internet courses, and they love it.  We prefer to pick and choose our own curriculum, but I can't say that I have never entertained the thought of using a correspondence school.

Here is a list of some correspondence schools that offer traditional and Internet classes:

• Alpha Omega Academy - Uses the popular Switched-on-Schoolhouse software
• Bridgeway Homeschool Academy - Both Internet courses and traditional style
• American School - Offers workbooks and textbooks sent to students
• Time4Learning - Complete Internet course study; provides parents with reports

There are many, many more options.  Just type "homeschool correspondence" into your search engine and you will see all of your options.  I do suggest visiting A to Z Home's Cool website for a comprehensive list of correspondence schools.

Homeschooling a preschool child is totally left up to the parents/guardians.  There is not one state in the U.S. that mandates teaching a preschooler by following a standard curriculum.  Many parents seem to want to start teaching their preschooler at home, though, and there are a great number of resources available to these families to start teaching skills that preschoolers should know.

I am going to start with the skills that preschoolers are learning when they attend a traditional preschool facility during the day.  These skills include:

• Learning the alphabet
• Learning their numbers
• Identifying shapes
• Identifying colors
• Learning to follow directions
• Learning patterns
• Working on fine motor and gross motor skills

There are other skills that they learn as well, but this list just includes the basics that encompass many other subsets of skills.

Now you need to know where to go and get the curriculum and activities that help teach these skills to your preschooler.  Curriculum designed specifically for preschoolers includes:

• New Horizons Preschool by Alpha Omega Publications
• Preschool Curriculum.com - Designed especially for homeschoolers
• Creative Discoveries
• The Learning Box
• Time4Learning

When I say "curriculum," I mean workbooks or online places that offer all subjects for preschoolers in one comprehensive package.  They include math, language arts, science, and other subjects as a bundle.

Now I will tell you about a few online resources that provide thousands of free preschool worksheets, online games and activities, and coloring pages galore.  This is a great option if you want to teach your preschooler by making your own curriculum, or to just go about teaching her in a relaxed, unstructured atmosphere (which is perfectly okay).  These resources can also be used to supplement a comprehensive curriculum, if you desire.

• Teaching Shapes to Preschoolers - Fun activities that teach
• Teaching Colors to Preschoolers - Fun activities that teach
• Shirley's Preschool Activities - Includes worksheets and lesson plans
• KidZone Preschool- Lots of printables
• Learning Treasures- Lots of printables and lesson plans

You will quickly come to see that there is no shortage of resources available to you, if you want to start homeschooling with your preschool child.  In fact, the choices are overwhelming, and my advice is to make a list of the skills that you want to teach, pick a few interesting topics that your preschooler might enjoy (like farm animals, "all about me" lessons, etc.), and stick with your goals.

My other suggestion is to remember that your child is a preschooler, so make lessons and activities short and fun.  They are not ready to sit and learn for hours on end.  In fact, about 30 minutes a day of instruction will teach your preschooler all he needs to know by the end of the year.  I know...I've tried it both ways, and learned the hard way.  At least I had three boys to practice on!

Have a great weekend.

Choosing a homeschool curriculum for your child is exciting and overwhelming.  When you see the choices that are available to you, it is mind boggling how you will ever pick the one that works best for your child.  On top of that, if you are a Christian homeschooling family, the task becomes even more daunting, as you want to be sure to provide your child with accurate information as it pertains to the Bible in subjects like science and history.

We know dinosaurs were not around for billions of years.  We also know that rocks and volcanoes were not around that long either.  And, even more importantly, we know that we were created by God who loves us and cares about us.  So, teaching your child about evolution is definitely not an option.

So, how do you know that a curriculum is everything you hoped it would be.  Here are a few tips:

• Pray about it.  God is thrilled that you want to homeschool your child.  The Bible says, "Listen, my son, to your father's instruction and do not foresake your mother's teaching." Proverbs 1:8 (NIV)  Let Him guide you.
• Ask friends who are homeschooling and share your beliefs what they are using.  Then, go to the website of those companies and check them out thoroughly.  See if you agree with their scope and sequence.
• Since women tend to be emotional buyers, it is a good idea that you get your husband's advice when go through multiple curricula.  He may have a more objective point of view about what to choose, and he is part of the family, too!
• Depending on the laws in your state, there may be different options that mandate what you are required to teach your child (i.e., language arts, math, etc.).  Always know your states laws and regulations.  Most Christian curricula adheres to the standards required for language arts and math, but it is best to be very sure before you make a firm decision on a curriculum.

Always remember that if something is not working out for your family, you can switch to something different at any given time.  You are never truly stuck to the methods you are using.  Of course, buying a homeschool curriculum can be quite an investment, so my advice is to not jump in to buying something without researching about it first.

I would recommend that you start with buying a curriculum that covers all of the subjects you want to teach before branching out and creating anything on your own.  But, I do have some great ideas for creating your own unit studies, if you want to check them out.

On to the list...

Here are some of the more popular Christian curriculum publishers, many of which are accepted to be comprehensive and able to provide your child a sound education.  Keep in mind that this list is not exhaustive, just the most popular.

• Abeka
• Alpha Omega Publications
• Bob Jones University
• Christian Liberty Press
• Five in a Row
• Sonlight Curriculum

 What it all boils down to is that the market for homeschool curriculum is too much, so don't think you have to do everything out there.  Find a curriculum that offers your basic instruction, have fun with your kids, and when you feel like you've got this homeschooling thing down pat for your family, then branch out and try new things.  Just stay with the basics until then.

Have fun!

Teaching kids the true meaning of Christmas is of utmost importance in a Christian family.  There are many resources available to us that help us teach the birth of Jesus, so I have decided to consolidate some of these ideas and create a new lesson plan that will help you teach your children about this miraculous and important event in history.

Bible references:  Isaiah 9:1-7; Luke 2:1-20.  Read both passages to your child(ren) and then ask the questions below.

Thought Questions

• Why was Jesus born in a manger and not in a palace?
• What are the names that Isaiah gives Jesus?  What does this tell us about the coming Savior?
• What does it mean that the government will be on his shoulders?
• Why did Jesus come to earth?  Did he accomplish what He wanted?
• Why were the shepherds told about Jesus' birth by the angel?

Jesus/Me Comparison

Create a worksheet that has three columns and five rows in MS Word or other word processing program.  Name the first column "Questions," the second column "Jesus," and the third column "Me."  Now list these five scenarios down the first column:

• I was born in the city of...
• I was born in a...
• When I was born ... came to visit me.
• People that had to travel to see me would...
• On most Sunday mornings you will find me...

Christmas Craft:  For Christian Christmas craft ideas click here.

Coloring Pages:  DLTK has a wide range of coloring pages that tell of the birth of Jesus.

Book Suggestion ~ Authors Lori Walburg and James Bernardin

 

Field Trip Opportunity

This time of year churches are displaying live nativities for people to come and view.  If you have the chance, take your family through one of these live nativity scenes and let them hear and see the sites and sounds of what it might have been like when Jesus was born.  It was cold when Jesus was born, so bundle up because it may be the same for you during your travels.

Christmas Caroling

Another fun event that your family (and possibly a few others) can participate in is singing Christmas carols at nursing homes, for older people at your church who cannot get out much any more, and around your city or town to spread Christmas cheer.  Take the time to tell kids the meanings of the words in these inspirational songs, and what they have to do with Jesus being born.  You can find the lyrics and make your own songbooks by clicking here.

Especially for preschoolers:  The Birth of Jesus Bible Lesson.

I had recently polled kids in my surrounding area of Richmond, VA to find out what they believed to be the benefits of homeschooling.  They managed to come up with some pretty neat responses.  I think it is important to get a kid's perspective on homeschooling because often times parents make the decision to homeschool, but we don't take the time to ask our kids if they see the benefits.  Let's take a look at what they said.  These responses are not in any particular order.

 

*One reason kids like homeschool is because they can take field trips to great places and take as long as they like at their destination.  Public schools need to leave by a certain time to get the kids back to school.

*Older kids really liked the fact that they can learn subjects that interest them instead of following what every student has to learn at the same time in public school.  An example of this includes learning about the Bible.  Some teens who want to become a minister or a missionary can study this during their high school years, whereas you cannot do this in public school.  It gives them a head start on their career much quicker.

*Kids like the fact that they can master a subject in homeschool before learning something new.  In public school, the teacher pretty much has to teach a concept, especially in math, and move on to a new concept within a time frame in order to complete a curriculum on time.  Sometimes kids will ask for their parents help, if they did not understand a concept, and other students will not, and end up with a poor grade.  With homeschooling, you have the opportunity to master a concept before learning new things.  You can basically work at your own pace, and kids like that idea.

*One family shared that they consider a birthday a holiday in their home.  If someone's birthday falls during the week, they don't have school that day.  It is a day set aside to make that person feel very special.  When their child's birthday falls in the summer, that child gets to pick a day towards the beginning of the school year to make his day off.  So, it all works out.

*Taking a vacation mid-year is something a lot of homeschooling families take advantage of.  They are able to rent places to stay during off-season for better prices, and they have the ability to see the sites without bunches of crowds.  It is really cool to be able to go somewhere really fun and enjoy it feeling totally relaxed.

*If an emergency arises at home, homeschooling families know that they have the flexibility to take care of the situation, and school will not suffer because they can make it up easily, or just treat it as an off day.  Homeschooling is a way of life, so it does not have "set hours" that work has to be done by.  Flexibility is something kids really enjoy.

*One child shared that his dad is the "principal" of his school.  That is true for many homeschooling families.  I think that is pretty neat to have a principal who can hug and kiss you, and say "great job."  And just think...you don't have to wait for an appointment to see your principal.  He is always there for you!

*One family gave their homeschool a name.  They put this on letters to the Board of Education, and they display it in their "school room."  They found a way to make their homeschool personal.  Not many students get to name the school that they attend.

I bet you and your kids can think of more advantages to homeschooling.  It is a neat opportunity, and I feel blessed every day that I can teach my kids and enjoy their company 24/7.  How about you?

                     What about me?

Homeschooling with a toddler in tow is not always that easy.  It seems that every time you are ready to sit down with another child to begin schooling, that is the time your toddler needs you the most.  Has that ever happened to someone other than me?  Bless their little hearts.  They just need something to keep them occupied while you are busy.  Here are some neat ways that worked for me.  I hope they can help you as well.

Create a school box for your little one.  Have a "special" pencil box that you pull out for your child to do "school" when you and your other child(ren) are doing schoolwork, too.  This box can contain some crayons, coloring pages that you alternate each week,  along with stickers, and other little goodies that are safe for a child of 1-1/2 to 3 years old.  They will be happy to be doing "school," along with their older sibling(s).

Toddler-Sitting Tag.  This works, if you have multiple children of varying ages.  Have an older child sit and play with your toddler while you work with a different child.  When you have finished with that child, they will take over the role of playing with your toddler, while the other child comes in to sit with you.  As long as your toddler is entertained by someone else, they may be less likely to need your immediate attention.

Toy Box.  Pull out a toy box that is filled with things that your toddler can only play with when you are doing homeschool.  Let your child play in the same room as you.  Every so often, add something new to the box or alternate toys, so that your child sees something new to play with.

TV Time is Okay.  If you need just another half-hour before you will be done school, and your toddler just can't seem to wait that long, consider playing a DVD/VHS or letting her watch a TV show that is entertaining and educational.  Make sure it is a show that she does not already watch a lot, so she is interested in sticking around until its over.  Do not plan to have your child watch TV for extended periods of time.

Plan B.  If all else fails, try to plan your homeschool schedule around your toddler's nap time.  At least you know some work will get done, even if your child takes a short nap.

Please let us hear of your tips and tricks for keeping toddlers happy during homeschool time.  We'd love to know!

Are you homeschooling on a budget?  Many families that are contemplating homeschooling their children are discouraged by the price of new curricula.  Even used curriculum can be pricey, especially if you have more than one child to teach.  So, how can you homeschool your children, give them a quality education, and do it free to virtually free?  That's a good questions.  Let's explore!

I could easily list thousands of websites that offer free games, eBooks, lesson plans, and much more that the Internet offers, but there is just not enough room on this blog to do so.   Here are just a few of my favorites:

• A to Z Home's Cool Homeschooling 
• Homeschool Learning Network
• A to Z Teacher Stuff
• Wowio Free eBook Library - Lets you download up to 5 eBooks a day for free!

I also encourage you to invest in books that help you learn about homeschooling on a budget.  One of my favorites is:

 by LauraMaery Gold and Joan M. Zielinski

Other resources for homeschooling your child for free include using your local library.  There is a ton of information available to you at the library.  Not only can you find books, but also periodicals, audio-books, and videos.  Consider using the library as a source of resources for lessons you are teaching, as well as to find reading material to help improve your child's reading level.  As Dr. Seuss would say, "Oh the Places You'll Go!" if you use your library.

Develop your own curriculum.  Have you considered preparing your own curriculum for your children?  Try unit studies, whereby you can teach multiple kids the same material, but on different teaching levels.  It makes life for a homeschooling mom with more than one child so much easier.  Check out these easy steps to create a unit study yourself.

Your TV is actually a great resource for teaching kids.  The Discovery Channel, How Things are Made, and other programs, such as you can find on PBS, offer programs that teach children in areas of science, language arts, and history.  You can record programs for kids to watch at their leisure or to build a reference library for younger children when they can watch the same programs in later years.

So you see, homeschooling your child on a budget is not out of the question.  Even homeschooling for free is within reach.  You have to use your imagination and know where to find the best resources.