My best friend's back...

Oh yeah... it's summer... it's crazy...
it's camp meeting time at church... and my best friend is home.... who hooo...

I am trying to be mature and spiritual and act my age and all that... but I can't help feeling like...

a little girl.

I just want to giggle and be silly and have fun!

I just love my best friend...

Let's go have fun... want to???

I'll take that as a YES! :)

Homeschool Science

Science is one of those subjects that has so much to offer.  Each child can find a place of interest in this much encompassing subject.  It is so amazing, but also makes home school science all the more important. Regardless of how important the subject is, a good science curriculum is very hard to come by. In the last few years, I have found a few favorites that really meet my expectations. Below you'll find my list designed to make your search for science home school materials easier!

I know I've mentioned before in my other posts about Abeka and Bob Jones being the oldest curriculum out there. They do have a good track record and definitely get the job done. Abeka is available as a basic parent/teacher led curriculum or as a DVD/internet based lesson. Either way the curriculum is top notch. Bob Jones is of similar quality, and they have a satellite program available to homeschool students that puts the student in touch with the teacher and classroom. However, when you have many children to teach science to each day - Abeka and Bob Jones can be very time consuming.

This difficulty in teaching many grade levels at once is what caused me to "shop around" the last few years. I was literally pulling my hair out trying to teach 4 grades of science and history at once. I went on a hunt for a science curriculum that I could teach to all four of my grade levels at one time, that made allowances for their achievement levels, and that presented the information in an easy to understand yet challenging way. It wasn't long before I stumbled upon Apologia Science. I was thrilled when I found this homeschool resource. We have used it for 2 years now, and haven't looked back.  I still have several of the science books from ABEKA that we used prior to Apologia, but I let them read those books as readers now... it works pretty great!  They enjoy it!
We also use a supplemental science home school curriculum that is internet based called Time4Learning. It has interactive games and activities that teach the lesson and let the children practice what they have learned.

Another computer based curriculum is Alpha Omega's new program, Monarch. They say it is well designed and computer integrated in a way that engages the learner. I have not used it, but I do know that behind Bob Jones and Abeka, Alpha Omega has been around almost as long. Alpha Omega also presents several other types of homeschool curriculum from Lifepacs to Switched on Schoolhouse.

A program that I recently discovered is Exploration Education's Homeschool Science Curriculum. As I previewed it, I was impressed by the hands - on aspect of learning that it incorporated as well as the many testimonials on their website.

A few free science resources include: Lesson Pathways - this program started out as a paid subscription, but is now free, Core Knowledge, PBS teacher source, Hotchalk Lesson plans page, and a great educational search engine to find more free lessons online.

A few free science review games resources include: Free interactive educational games, Nobel Prize based games, Edheads activate your mind, and Gamequarium.



Other related posts may include:
Home school resources
Language Arts Home school

Where are the Lazy Days of Summer????

My thoughts today...

I love summer, always have... I enjoy the summer break from

home education

and

tutoring

as much as my children... well, at least I usually do!

This year it seems like no "break" has come??

What is up with that?

 I think I need a vacation from my summer vacation....

Am I big - or still your baby?

"Am I a big girl?"... Chloe asked me this morning with her sweet blue eyes shining.

" Sure sweetie", I replied. "You are growing every day, you are three now!"

It wasn't but a moment, and she was climbing on my lap. "But mommy I'm still your baby!"


Oh... my... goodness....moments that take your breath away!

..... if only I could just keep these precious moments fresh forever!

A Day of Rejoicing....

Most of you know that I have my own business as an educational consultant/tutor -as Reach Educational services. I tutor many different types of people from high school math to adults in college.   Well, yesterday was a day of rejoicing for me in that area in many ways...

One of my long term students a young Vietnamese woman came yesterday for her session.  The week before I had given her the book "Ultimate Questions" by Jeff Blanchard... only it was in Vietnamese.  I had spoken with her about the Lord several times, as I know her husband had as well.  But yesterday when she came she was almost glowing - she said she had read the book and she finally could understand what her husband and I had been telling her about Jesus.  She said as she read the book - she wanted to be saved and stopped and asked the Lord to save her and cleanse her from her sins.  She told me yesterday that she was concerned about finding a church to be faithful to and to be baptized in. Praise the Lord -  She even told me that she was worried about her mother in Vietnam and called her to tell her about Jesus... but her mother quickly told her that she believed in Buddha.  Join me in praying for this young lady and the desire she has to serve a LIVING God.

Also, yesterday four of my previous students graduated from high school!  What a joy to have been a part of their lives and to have helped them reach this goal!! Congratulations to Kenny, Lyndsey, Josh, and Jared. I wanted to go to the graduation, but I came down with a strange allergic reaction and have really strange itchy hives... well I guess that may be too much info....

Praising God for many things today!! ( even though I'm itchy)

Homeschool Resources

I wanted to post about some great homeschool resources that we use.  These are free internet based sites that offer a lot to augment your child's homeschool education. Take a look at what I've listed, I am sure you will find a "goodie" to take with you!

Are your children having trouble remembering the various vocabulary words – such as homophones, antonyms, synonyms, prefixes, suffixes, and root words? Try this Free Vocabulary site that has all levels from Kindergarten through Twelfth grade. This is fun and educational – your children will love it!!

Here is a great site that offers free educational games for children.  These are actually pretty fun - you need to try 'em!

Try Spelling City - they have a paid service but also some free resources.

Lesson Pathways also offers free lesson plans that are cross curriculum and organized by grade.

Looking for something specific...Education bug is a great site to begin when looking for anything homeschool. They are a forum based site with information on almost everything that has to do with homeschooling. If you need it – this site will help you find it!

If you are a homeschooling parent who likes to be organized you can find all kinds of great organization tools here. Check out the planner …. I love it!

Are you needing a report card to be able to “show off” your child’s progress this year? Here is one that may help… remember there are lots of places that will give your children free things in return for a good report card.

Do you want legal help in protecting your right to homeschool your children? Check out the Homeschool Legal Defense Association – this is also a great place for other homeschool resources – and to find out what is going on in your state.

Are you looking for a place to connect with other homeschooling parents? Try a parent forum or a Homeschool forum. You will enjoy the camraderie and encouragement.

Are you into notebooking or lapbooking? We do it with science and history, and love it! It really connects the material for the student. Try these free notebooking pages in your next project!

Homeschool blogger is a great place for you children to start "Journaling" on the computer.  I started my older children with this and they took off... they loved the creative side of blogging and I loved the fact that they were writing... on a daily basis!!
If you have any great FREE resources that you would like to share - please comment and let me know about them...
Until next time…



Related posts

Christian Homeschool

Homeschoolers are cool... by the way! - or at least we think so!

Easter 2010

I can't tell you how many times I have been somewhere and gotten "looks" or have been asked if my  six children go to school.  When I answer, "No they homeschool", invariably I get the "Ohhhh" response. Why does the public respond so negatively to something that is different? Homeschoolers are just good mommies and daddies who want to have an active part in their children's education. The public also assumes that homeschool parents are just uneducated people who think they can do it better than the government.  That is so wrong - some of the most educated people I have ever met are Christian homeschool parents. Most of my homeschooling mom friends were actually teachers in their previous life ( :) before children.)  I taught for 15 years and even earned an Ed.D. in curriculum and instruction, yet still choose to stay at home with my children.  People should be more open and accepting to this type of parenting. But instead, most people think that the parents who are thrilled that their kids leave every day are the "normal" standard of parenting. 

Anyway... off my soapbox... homeschooling is on the rise and acceptance of the homeschool lifestyle is becoming less offensive to our "modern" thinkers.  (Though it really doesn't matter to me whether they think it's ok or not.) Yet, it is kinda funny how most people have a predetermined "idea" of what a homeschool family looks like... you know from the blue jean jumpers and tennis shoes to the unsocialized 6 year old rocket scientist.  It's crazy - every homeschool family is different. (By the way, I don't own a blue jean jumper... and my kids surely are not rocket scientists... but they ARE definitely socialized!) Most homeschooling families are just "real" people trying to do what they think is the best for their children.

The Homeschool Family

This video from Tim Hawkins - is hillarious - depicting what people THINK homeschool families are all about... I laughed so hard - I cried....