It's been noted that school children lose about 2 months of knowledge over the summer. As a result, school teachers spend 4 to 6 weeks re-teaching material that students forget during the summer.
Homeschooled children have an advantage over traditionally schooled children during the summer months. Here's a few reasons why:
1. Homeschooled children are accustomed to learning every day, whether it's a weekday, weekend, holiday, or vacation. Learning is simply a natural part of each day, just like eating, sleeping, playing, living.
2. Homeschooled children have a sense of responsibility where their education is concerned. When learning is a natural part of each day, it ranks right along with brushing teeth, getting dressed, giving hugs, caring for others, helping friends or family, choosing a book to read, making something new, solving problems, and other daily activities. Education isn't something that occurs only at school. Rather, it's a natural part of a homeschooled child's everyday life.
3. Homeschooled children enjoy learning, they enjoy challenging themselves, and they enjoy finding new things to learn, whether it's summer, fall, winter, or spring. With the freedom and flexibility to explore a world of knowledge, they are off and running! One idea will lead to another, and -- just like a tree that branches out into new and varied directions -- the homeschooled child follows new topics that consistently branch off into areas of new knowledge and fascinating activities.
Join us at www.EverythingHomeschooling.com to share ideas on Summer Learning through our Message Board, or to see dozens of Summer Activities that have been suggested.
Happy homeschooling!
Monday, July 6, 2009
Summer Learning: Retaining Skills and Knowledge
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Summer Homeschool
For most homeschool families, summer is a time to relax, take a vacation, or enjoy a couple "get-away weekends." This doesn't mean that learning has to be suspended for two or three months, though!
Vacations or day-trips can provide plenty of learning opportunities. It's usually easy to include geography, history, and science themes during most trips. Include math concepts, too, by figuring distances, speeds, miles per gallon, costs for attractions, lodging, meals, and the total cost for the entire vacation.
Even if you don't leave home, there's plenty of activities to keep children learning all summer long. Join your library's Summer Reading Program. Books can open doors to new worlds, new experiences, and new knowledge -- a wonderful way to gain an education!
Become involved in 4H or summer programs at the local Parks & Recreation Department. Try new hobbies. Try old hobbies! Take art classes, music classes, woodworking or weaving classes.
Visit local museums, nature centers, zoos, state parks, and other areas of interest. Then create crafts and activities based on the places you visited and the things you saw there.
Make a list of all the new things children want to learn, then learn them together. Jot down fun learning ideas on paper, cut them into strips, then place the strips into a jar. Draw a "learning idea" strip from the jar each day, then create fun ways to learn about the topic.
Use books, such as 365 Simple Science Experiments or The Everything Kids' Science Experiments Book for educational science projects. Check into the Summer Smarts Activities or the Summer Bridge Activities books, too.
The "Summer Activities" on our www.EverythingHomeschooling.com site provides dozens of learning ideas! And new summer learning ideas are added all the time!
Happy Homeschooling!
Vacations or day-trips can provide plenty of learning opportunities. It's usually easy to include geography, history, and science themes during most trips. Include math concepts, too, by figuring distances, speeds, miles per gallon, costs for attractions, lodging, meals, and the total cost for the entire vacation.
Even if you don't leave home, there's plenty of activities to keep children learning all summer long. Join your library's Summer Reading Program. Books can open doors to new worlds, new experiences, and new knowledge -- a wonderful way to gain an education!
Become involved in 4H or summer programs at the local Parks & Recreation Department. Try new hobbies. Try old hobbies! Take art classes, music classes, woodworking or weaving classes.
Visit local museums, nature centers, zoos, state parks, and other areas of interest. Then create crafts and activities based on the places you visited and the things you saw there.
Make a list of all the new things children want to learn, then learn them together. Jot down fun learning ideas on paper, cut them into strips, then place the strips into a jar. Draw a "learning idea" strip from the jar each day, then create fun ways to learn about the topic.
Use books, such as 365 Simple Science Experiments or The Everything Kids' Science Experiments Book for educational science projects. Check into the Summer Smarts Activities or the Summer Bridge Activities books, too.
The "Summer Activities" on our www.EverythingHomeschooling.com site provides dozens of learning ideas! And new summer learning ideas are added all the time!
Happy Homeschooling!
Friday, May 1, 2009
Homeschool Activities + Homeschool Lessons + Unschooling
Homeschooling begins to wind down for many families in May and June. However, your children can continue learning with fun, educational projects all Spring and Summer at www.EverythingHomeschooling.com.
It's a great time to try the "unschooling" method of homeschooling, too. Our site provides a section just for unschoolers or for those of you who would like to incorporate some of the unschooling strategies into your homeschools.
You might be so impressed with how much your children learn through "unschooling" over the Spring and Summer, you'll continue unschooling year-round! If so, come visit us often at www.EverythingHomeschooling.com, and watch for our expanded "Unschooling" section debuting soon on our Everything Homeschooling website.
Happy homeschooling!
It's a great time to try the "unschooling" method of homeschooling, too. Our site provides a section just for unschoolers or for those of you who would like to incorporate some of the unschooling strategies into your homeschools.
You might be so impressed with how much your children learn through "unschooling" over the Spring and Summer, you'll continue unschooling year-round! If so, come visit us often at www.EverythingHomeschooling.com, and watch for our expanded "Unschooling" section debuting soon on our Everything Homeschooling website.
Happy homeschooling!
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Successful Homeschool Activities
Successful homeschool experiences are most often the result of "student-driven interest" and the willingness to be flexible and adaptable to the learning opportunities that present themselves each day.
We hear from many parents who are thinking about homeschooling their children. Some of their most-pressing questions revolve around "grading" and "testing" their children. However, grading and testing are tools that are used for judging a large mass, when you, otherwise, do not have the time nor opportunity to determine a child's true knowledge, skills, and abilities, one-on-one.
Most tests simply show how well children do in taking tests. They are an indication of test performance, and little more.
When considering homeschooling or a homeschool curriculum, try not to become overly concerned about "grading" and "testing." "Grading" is done through discussing each day's learning experiences with your children. "Testing" is achieved through observing their strengths and weaknesses in the subjects and topics you've been covering.
Yes, tests can be "interesting" and quizzes can be "fun" when they are kept in perspective. But for determining your child's learning successes, you can focus more on discussions and observations to see, first-hand, how well your child is progressing or where he or she might need extra help.
For more insight, read the articles from actual homeschooled students on our "Articles" page at www.EverythingHomeschooling.com. Read "Confessions of an Autodidact" and "Taking a Look Back" to see how flexible homeschool activities and "student-driven interest" led to successful homeschool experiences.
Happy homeschooling!
We hear from many parents who are thinking about homeschooling their children. Some of their most-pressing questions revolve around "grading" and "testing" their children. However, grading and testing are tools that are used for judging a large mass, when you, otherwise, do not have the time nor opportunity to determine a child's true knowledge, skills, and abilities, one-on-one.
Most tests simply show how well children do in taking tests. They are an indication of test performance, and little more.
When considering homeschooling or a homeschool curriculum, try not to become overly concerned about "grading" and "testing." "Grading" is done through discussing each day's learning experiences with your children. "Testing" is achieved through observing their strengths and weaknesses in the subjects and topics you've been covering.
Yes, tests can be "interesting" and quizzes can be "fun" when they are kept in perspective. But for determining your child's learning successes, you can focus more on discussions and observations to see, first-hand, how well your child is progressing or where he or she might need extra help.
For more insight, read the articles from actual homeschooled students on our "Articles" page at www.EverythingHomeschooling.com. Read "Confessions of an Autodidact" and "Taking a Look Back" to see how flexible homeschool activities and "student-driven interest" led to successful homeschool experiences.
Happy homeschooling!
Monday, April 13, 2009
Library Week Activities
Celebrate "National Library Week" by adapting these Book and Literature ideas in your Homeschool!
1. Select and Read New, Interesting Books
2. Try Fun, Unique Book Reports
3. See How to Create Silly Stories and Tales
4. Enjoy Author Activities and Learn About Authors
5. Create Your Own Picture Books
6. Turn Favorite Stories into Plays or Musicals
7. Construct Dioramas of Scenes from Favorite Books
8. Join a Kids Reading Club
9. Join a Teens Reading Club
10. Take Part in MORE Activities in Our FREE Writing Ideas Section!
Get started at www.EverythingHomeschooling.com by clicking our Free Writing Ideas!
Visit your local library this week, too, and thank your hard-working librarians!
Happy homeschooling!
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Easter Activities, Spring Activities, Homeschool Activities
Enjoy Spring and Easter Activities, freshly updated, on www.EverythingHomeschooling.com! What, exactly, IS Spring? Why do plants and animals "spring" to life in the Spring? What examples of "birth" and "rebirth" can you find this Spring and Easter?
Make flowers out of eggshells! Make eggs hatch from balloons! Visit our www.EverythingHomeschooling.com site to do these Easter activities!
Why are birds building nests now? What are nests made from, and how many different types of bird nests are there? How can you help birds during their nest-building season? Visit www.EverythingHomeschooling.com to learn more about birds, nest-building, and other Spring activities!
Spring is a wonderful time to make Nature a part of your Homeschool Lessons!
Happy Homeschooling!
Make flowers out of eggshells! Make eggs hatch from balloons! Visit our www.EverythingHomeschooling.com site to do these Easter activities!
Why are birds building nests now? What are nests made from, and how many different types of bird nests are there? How can you help birds during their nest-building season? Visit www.EverythingHomeschooling.com to learn more about birds, nest-building, and other Spring activities!
Spring is a wonderful time to make Nature a part of your Homeschool Lessons!
Happy Homeschooling!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
How to Start Homeschooling
We've had some questions lately from parents who'd like to know where to start homeschooling.
Our site, www.EverythingHomeschooling.com, is simple to use, and we'll provide information on using it.
First, as far as starting to homeschool your children -- the best place to start is WITH your children. Discuss what THEY want to learn, what they want to do, regardless of their age.
Remember that "homeschooling" is not "school at home." Rather, it is a natural part of living and learning each day. When families try to "school-at-home," both parents and children often end up disappointed, confused, or frustrated. That's why we are here for you.
Flexibility, variety, and fun ways of learning ARE the KEYS to successful home education.
Read some of the Free Articles on our "Articles" page, which are written by homeschooled youth, such as Andrew Tipping, Michelle Healey, and Hannah Glenn. Their first-hand experiences are very insightful. Simply click the "Articles" button in the menu on our Website.
If you're just starting out, it's helpful to check your state's homeschool regulations and see what they require. The state laws often sound intimidating, but generally they're quite simple to comply with. If you have questions about your state laws, please e-mail us.
In many cases, homeschool families keep a homeschool portfolio, which can include homeschool records. Our "Homeschool Forms" page includes printable Weekly Planner Sheets, Reading Logs, and other forms for our subscribers. Click the "Homeschool Forms" button in the menu on our Website. You may use the Forms if you are unschooling, deschooling, homeschooling, or eclectic-schooling.
To use our Weekly Lessons, go to our Grades K-2 Lessons, Grades 3-8 Lessons, or Grades 8-12 Lessons and do the activities with your children. Start with Week 1 or start with any week listed there.
Or, you may click the Lessons by Subject, on our Home page, such as: Language Arts, Social Studies, Math, Science, Life Skills & Health, or Arts & Music. Then choose your grade level, and choose a lesson or activity.
Go as far as your children would like to go with the activities -- and, most importantly, let them branch off into any other directions. That's the beauty of homeschooling -- pursuing amazing paths and new adventures sparked by one small idea.
Do the Weekly Challenges, the Hands-On Activities, the Daily Activities, Daily Writing Prompts, Field Trips, Unit Studies -- all included on our Website and designed to provide ideas and inspiration that are interesting, enjoyable, and educational. Write down the activities your children do on the Weekly Planner Sheets from our "Homeschool Forms" page. (Older children can write down the activities they do each day or each week, to save you time.)
We have a "Teens Place" page with more advanced educational activities and interesting topics for teenagers. And we have a "Preschool Place" to keep preschoolers learning while you're working with your older children.
The main goal of our site is "Click and Do." It's simple for working parents, single parents, stay-at-home parents. We provide hundreds of educational activities throughout each year.
Simply "Click and Do" the activities, and allow your children to learn, to explore, and to pursue the activities and special interests, or follow new ideas, as well. Help guide them along the exciting paths that inspire or enthuse them.
Feel free to e-mail us with your questions. Our contact information is on our Contact Us page.
Happy Homeschooling!
Our site, www.EverythingHomeschooling.com, is simple to use, and we'll provide information on using it.
First, as far as starting to homeschool your children -- the best place to start is WITH your children. Discuss what THEY want to learn, what they want to do, regardless of their age.
Remember that "homeschooling" is not "school at home." Rather, it is a natural part of living and learning each day. When families try to "school-at-home," both parents and children often end up disappointed, confused, or frustrated. That's why we are here for you.
Flexibility, variety, and fun ways of learning ARE the KEYS to successful home education.
Read some of the Free Articles on our "Articles" page, which are written by homeschooled youth, such as Andrew Tipping, Michelle Healey, and Hannah Glenn. Their first-hand experiences are very insightful. Simply click the "Articles" button in the menu on our Website.
If you're just starting out, it's helpful to check your state's homeschool regulations and see what they require. The state laws often sound intimidating, but generally they're quite simple to comply with. If you have questions about your state laws, please e-mail us.
In many cases, homeschool families keep a homeschool portfolio, which can include homeschool records. Our "Homeschool Forms" page includes printable Weekly Planner Sheets, Reading Logs, and other forms for our subscribers. Click the "Homeschool Forms" button in the menu on our Website. You may use the Forms if you are unschooling, deschooling, homeschooling, or eclectic-schooling.
To use our Weekly Lessons, go to our Grades K-2 Lessons, Grades 3-8 Lessons, or Grades 8-12 Lessons and do the activities with your children. Start with Week 1 or start with any week listed there.
Or, you may click the Lessons by Subject, on our Home page, such as: Language Arts, Social Studies, Math, Science, Life Skills & Health, or Arts & Music. Then choose your grade level, and choose a lesson or activity.
Go as far as your children would like to go with the activities -- and, most importantly, let them branch off into any other directions. That's the beauty of homeschooling -- pursuing amazing paths and new adventures sparked by one small idea.
Do the Weekly Challenges, the Hands-On Activities, the Daily Activities, Daily Writing Prompts, Field Trips, Unit Studies -- all included on our Website and designed to provide ideas and inspiration that are interesting, enjoyable, and educational. Write down the activities your children do on the Weekly Planner Sheets from our "Homeschool Forms" page. (Older children can write down the activities they do each day or each week, to save you time.)
We have a "Teens Place" page with more advanced educational activities and interesting topics for teenagers. And we have a "Preschool Place" to keep preschoolers learning while you're working with your older children.
The main goal of our site is "Click and Do." It's simple for working parents, single parents, stay-at-home parents. We provide hundreds of educational activities throughout each year.
Simply "Click and Do" the activities, and allow your children to learn, to explore, and to pursue the activities and special interests, or follow new ideas, as well. Help guide them along the exciting paths that inspire or enthuse them.
Feel free to e-mail us with your questions. Our contact information is on our Contact Us page.
Happy Homeschooling!
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