Free Homeschooling Resources!

With so many schools closed due to the COVID-19 outbreak, I thought I would make for you a list of FREE resources for home learning. Remember, during this time it is okay to take a little break from formal instruction and just reconnect as a family. This is a stressful time for us all and strengthening our family bonds can only be helpful.

With only having two or three months of instruction left for the traditional school year, it is ok to do some delight-driven learning only. That means you find out what your children are interested in and then you help them investigate that topic. You can help them do more than passively consume info by doing projects. Learning about pioneer times? Make a "covered wagon" in the living room. Interested in counting and sorting? Haul out the Legos and start putting them into piles by shape or color. How many are there? You get the idea.

Homeschoolers have long loved reading aloud as a means to learning and bonding. This is great for all ages and really builds vocabulary in younger learners because you can stop and explain what that last sentence meant. If you would all like to listen, Audible has made a number of stories free to listen to right now: https://stories.audible.com/start-listen

Okay onto the list of free resources. I hope some of these are new to you.

• Easy Peasy - Complete elementary & high school curriculum.
• Homeschool College USA - Complete high school curriculum.
• K12Reader - Elementary and high school language arts resources.
• Glencoe Literature Library - Very detailed literature study guides based on various books.
• Incredible Art - Art lessons for all ages.
• Guide to Writing a Basic Essay
• Free Math Worksheets

Also check out this page for more casual learning ideas.

Please check out my other posts for ideas and lots more content. This week I pledge to update them all!

Video-Based, Online Writing Program

 

When I was at my local homeschool convention this June, I ran across the booth for Here to Help Learning. I met the founder and listened to her description of the program. I was pleased with the approach and the price. I have started using the program with my two learners. I am using both levels of the program - mastering paragraphs and mastering essays. So far, we have really been enjoying it!

It is a two-day-per-week program. On the first day, you watch the videos and do a little writing. The other day of the week, kids do an assignment (like homework).

I feel like I know what good writing looks like, but explaining it without a curriculum was daunting for me. I was also concerned about introducing literary concepts without structure or guidance. So, I knew I needed help, but my kids (especially my son) HATED everything I tried. This program has been more palatable to him. He likes how it is broken into digestible chunks. My younger daughter loves the fun videos and the doggie mascot.

The program is Christian, but the focus is definitely the writing! I had never encountered a video-based writing program before and I thought perhaps you had not either. I hope this post proves helpful to you. Enjoy!



Updated 3/24/2020.

Spring Round-Up

 

Happy Spring, Homeschoolers! Today I wanted to present resources for your Spring!

1) Let's kick it off with lapbooks. Lapbooks are so fun! Here are some Spring kits of pages to put in your folders. and a book that helps make great lapbooks. And here are some colorful file folders.


2) Here is a list of Spring printables, primarily for younger kids.

3) Here is a cute little game about planting and growing seeds. And here are a bunch of other online games and activities with a Spring theme.

 4) The Travel Channel has an article about Spring Festivals around the world. "Spring is in the air, and so are these lively festivals: From the White House Easter Egg Roll to a spring equinox party in Mexico, these celebrations of the season will put a spring in your step."







5) Here are 20 Spring writing prompts. "Yippee, spring is finally here! Here are some writing prompts to keep those young minds engaged!"







6) Here is a rather high-brow video about English country gardens. It would be great to put on at quiet time and shows some very pretty gardens.

7) Here is the History Channel's page on Easter. It has articles, videos, and more. "The exact origins of this religious feast day’s name are unknown. Some sources claim the word Easter is derived from Eostre, a Teutonic goddess of spring and fertility. Other accounts trace Easter to the Latin term hebdomada alba, or white week, an ancient reference to Easter week and the white clothing donned by people who were baptized during that time. Through a translation error, the term later appeared as esostarum in Old High German, which eventually became Easter in English. In Spanish, Easter is known as Pascua; in French, Paques. These words are derived from the Greek and Latin Pascha or Pasch, for Passover. Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection occurred after he went to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover (or Pesach in Hebrew), the Jewish festival commemorating the ancient Israelites’ exodus from slavery in Egypt. Pascha eventually came to mean Easter."


8) Here is a list of read aloud books for Spring from Scholastic. "Celebrate the season with these refreshing read-alouds."




9) This page offers a wealth of information on the science of plants. It includes ideas for experiments and science projects as well!



10) Here is a Spring walk scavenger hunt list I made. My kids love looking for things when we walk! We often do things like count things painted blue, butterflies, or birds on the walking path. Sometimes we look for silly stuff just to shake things up. Anyway, I made you a list to get you started. If you want you can offer prizes like, each kids gets a cookie or gumball if you find X number of things.


11) Finally, don't forget Spring kicks off conference season! I love going to conferences - I feel so "normal" and encouraged at them! Check out my list of conferences for one near you.

Update 3/25/2020.