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.

Fall Travel

One of the best things about schooling on your own schedule is being able to take advantage of off-season prices and events! So many destinations offer lower prices, shorter lines, and better weather than you will find in the Summer. Plus, many schools are not doing field trips this early in the year. Here are some ideas for taking advantage of this great time of year to get out there and see things!

A growing number of parks and venues offer special days just for homeschool students. I encourage you to search for days like that for you favorite attractions. But here is a list to get you started:

• Homeschool Days at Conner Prairie Interactive History Park (IN)
• Homeschool Day at Disneyland (CA)
• Homeschool Day at the Biltmore Estate (NC)
• Homeschool Days at The High Museum of Art Atlanta (GA)
• Homeschool Page at The National Museum of the U.S. Airforce (OH)
• Homeschool Day at Space Center Houston (TX)
• Homeschool Days at Mount Vernon (VA)
• Homeschool Programs at the Oregon Coast Aquarium (OR)
• Homeschool Days at Legoland Florida (FL)

I hope you find something in your area that interests you. Enjoy your kids and this time you have together.

Updated 3/25/2020.

A World Reborn by New Dimensions Media

Theodore Rabb

Hi, All! We watched this 30 min. film today. It is currently FREE for Amazon Prime members (and on YouTube -see below). My kids are 8 & 11. I found it to be a good and quick overview of the Renaissance. It wasn't too biased in any one direction and there weren't bloody re-enactments of war. It was mostly illustrated by paintings. The historian narrating (Theodore Rabb) assumed familiarity with some things, like who were Luther and Copernicus, so I had to stop a few times and give just a little background information, but those stops would be a great jumping-off points for more in-depth study! I suggest watching it with your kids to see where they have interest or questions and then finding books or films to facilitate discussion. Enjoy!

I have found it on YouTube as well. It is broken into pieces, but there is an additional short introduction that wasn't in the Amazon version.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9G91J2-F8o

Updated on 3/25/2020.

Facebook Woes

Hi, Homeschoolers. I have a confession - I have been discouraged. Right after I started this blog and its sister Facebook page, Facebook stopped showing most posts from pages to the people who had liked the page. Views went down to 5% of likers! Facebook started asking for pages to PAY to let their posts appear on the newsfeeds of likers! I got very discouraged. I can't afford to pay for all my posts to be put on your newsfeeds. So, I kind of stopped the blog.

But then I realized two things: 1) I still have stuff I WANT to share, even if only a few people see it. And 2) blogs did exist and flourish before Facebook. So please forgive me my panic attack and please subscribe via e-mail if you want to make sure you see new posts.

3/25/2020 - This is still true.

- The Homeschooler's Helper

Studying Neil Armstrong

We have been using Sonlight's science curriculum in which DK's Eye Wonder: Space is a resource. Space is a huge and fun topic, so I decided to take a few detours. One of the tangents we are on is the life of Neil Armstrong.

We started with an excellent little biography called Who Was Neil Armstrong? It had a lot about the man of course, but a lot about the space program, and the history of the US at the time, too. It was just right for kids - informative, straight-forward, and yet insightful, too. We ended up talking about the Korean War, JFK, the Cold War, and Communism.

After we finished the book, we watched When We Left Earth: The NASA Missions, Episode 3: Landing the Eagle. It is told by the actual people involved - astronauts, engineers, and their wives.

I'm so glad I went this route instead of just showing the kids a video of the moon landing. The historical, emotional, and cultural context made a huge difference in their interest level!

Updated 3/25/2020.

Let's Meetup!

Today, Homeschoolers, I want to remind you about a website that has been around long enough to start to be overlooked. Meetup.com helps people with common interests find each other and hang out! There are tons of groups for parents and homeschoolers, depending on your area. So, take a look at who you can find in your area!

Updated 3/25/2020.

Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool

Updated 3/25/2020.

Homeschoolers, today I want to bring to your attention a complete, FREE, online Christian homeschool curriculum for your family. Check out Easy Peasy here.

From their website:

In 2011, I (Lee Giles) began putting my children’s assignments online so that they could work independently and so that I had the assignments saved for their younger siblings. I also wrote it from the beginning to be able to be used by other families. EP grade levels and individual courses include 180 days of homeschool lessons and assignments. It covers reading, writing, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, math, history/social studies/geography, science, Spanish, Bible, computer, music, art, PE/health, and logic. It uses only free materials found on the internet.