Posted by admin on Oct 25, 2008 in
Homeschooling 
In 2004 FAO Schwarz started selling this fabulous world map that I drooled over for months. I kept thinking it would be perfect for homeschooling, plus, it was in all the right Montessori colors! But, I didn’t have an extra $300 and decided if I wanted one I’d just have to make it. So, I did. Since then versions have shown up at other stores such as Pottery Barn Kids, Montessori-n-Such, etc. The price has stayed at around $200, but I was able to make mine for under $15 (Plus several hours work!) Mine is a bit smaller, doesn’t hang on the wall and has flat labels – but, it is a great version for a much lower price! Read more…
Tags: geography, Homeschooling, Montessori
Posted by admin on Oct 24, 2008 in
Homeschooling 
In last night’s post I mentioned The Game of the Changing Paper that Albanesi Montessori sells. Today, I came up with my own version. (Probably similar to Albanesi’s, but different since I have never seen anything but the one page of the activity Albanesi has on the website.)
In my version there are 12 sheets of square 5.5 paper. You print & cut these out. (or use scrapbook paper in the place of the printed paper.) There are also 3 files that include article – adjective strips and noun lables that all say “paper” and a template that the strips fit onto. This provides somewhat an error of control since the lables are different sizes. You can download my version here. FILE 1 ——–FILE 2——–FILE 3——–FIle 4
Tags: Homeschooling, Language Arts, Montessori
Posted by admin on Oct 23, 2008 in
Homeschooling 
For grammar this year we are using the Montessori manuals from Montessori Research and Development. It’s an amazing way to teach grammar – very hands on – but, requires some work from the parent to make the cards. (Find a friend who is interested in using the manuals and share the work!) The teacher presents the lessons in the Montessori fashion and then the students use the materials (cards, solid and wooden grammar symbols, small objects) to make sentences etc. and then records them in a language notebook. (No fill in the blank activities, no worksheets) I was browsing though some Montessori websites and saw a really neat idea at Albanesi Montessori - Montessori Adjective Strip of Paper. They only show 1example – so, I took the idea and made my own. I only had room for 8 adjectives as opposed to the 10 spaces they have. Other than that I pretty much copied their format. So, it’s not an original idea, but since I haven’t seen their other 9 pages mine are probably somewhat different. I also like their Adjective Game of the Changing Paper and will probably try to recreate a version of that as well. Click here to download the zip file with all 11 Adjective Papers.
Tags: Homeschooling, Language Arts, Montessori
Posted by admin on Oct 17, 2008 in
Homeschooling Tonight, as I was writing an email to someone who is considerieng homeschooling their child, I started thinking about how homeschooling approaches, methods and curriculum choices don’t have to be so overwhelming.
So what is a homeschool approach? (Could be called style as well) It can be how you structure your day. Do you get up at 7a.m. each day? or sleep in late? It’s how much input your children have in making choices about what they are studying and how the day is structured. Do you sit at a desk, have a special homeschool room, or throw the dog off the sofa? Do you read a lot of books, go on a lot of field trips or fill in a lot of worksheets? Is schooling done in your P.J.’s on the bed in your room? Do you change your approach daily, weekly, yearly or never? It’s how you teach your children. Do you use a computer, manipulatives or hands-on activities? It’s the way something is taught and learning enviorment. Is the structure of the enviorment relaxed or tightly scheduled? Read more…
Tags: Homeschooling
Posted by admin on Oct 14, 2008 in
Homeschooling 
When we were studying the layers of the atmosphere I came up with a series of lessons I wanted to share. These were a lot of fun and helped Mikah understand our atmosphere better. The first activity is a atmosphere layer cake. Each layer represents a layer of the atmosphere with the icing representing the divisions between each layer. It makes a mighty big cake so plan accordingly! If you want you could make the cake ahead of time before a co-op and then have the students label the layers with toothpick & sticker flags. Another hint would be to use white cake! I only had yellow, so my blue atmosphere layers are a tad green.
Read more…
Tags: Homeschooling, physical science, science, weather
Posted by admin on Oct 9, 2008 in
Homeschooling These are NOT for the faint of heart! They show real human dissetion. (i.e. real cadaver) It’s a great resource for the adventurous science student, however. There are a series of 29 videos ranging from 7-27 minutes long. They are from the Department of Anatomy, University of Wisconsin, Madison Medical School. Are you brave enough to check them out?
Anatomy Dissections
Tags: biology, high school, Homeschooling, science
Posted by admin on Oct 8, 2008 in
Homeschooling We really had planned to be almost through the Civil War by now…. but, are not. So far Mikah has studied the underground railroad, Harriet Tubman & read the American Girl “Addy” series. We have a lot more to read and want to visit some historic sites also. 
(We did go to history day at the Atlanta History Museum. They have a section on the Civil War and The Tullie Smith Farm, and 1840’s farm) At this point we have done no hands-on or lapbooking really. (Other than a little from Story of the World) So the other day I got motivated and found a few resources.
Read more…
Tags: American History, civil war, History, Homeschooling
Posted by admin on Oct 7, 2008 in
Homeschooling 
Mikah uses Singapore Math and has for the past year. (She has completed 1A-2A so far and is very close to completing 2B. We use the Primary Math US Edition) We started off with Shiller Math and it’s great - (wonderful manipluatives, a huge selling point, in my opinion) – but we needed a more workbook approach because she just wasn’t “getting it” once we moved from manipulatives to the paper. (I think Shiller now sells a workbook, fyi) She still sometimes struggles with math on worksheets – so, I try to use a lot of manipulatives to help give her more concrete examples. (although I am not a worksheet mom, math is one area where you have to be able to write your answer down and show how you got it.) We also read Living Math books to help her apply what she learns to the real world.
Read more…
Tags: Homeschooling, math, Montessori
Posted by admin on Oct 1, 2008 in
Homeschooling Do you know about this resource for teachers? If you teach 4th-12th grade then you can get a free DVD each year from izzit.org. All you have to do is provide feedback after your students watch the video to be eligible to recieve another video the next year. This is available to homeschoolers as well and it’s the second year I have requested and recieved a video. Right now there are 11 different DVD’s to choose from mostly in the area of ecnomics & history. Check it out! FREE VIDEO
Izzit.org also provides a daily current event article along with vocabulary and discussion questions each weekday through the school year. Until today I had never looked at them and didn’t know how great they look! I could see having a student do them daily or a few days weekly and keeping them in a binder. It would be an easy way to add current events studies into your school year. Current Events
Tags: economics, freebies, high school, History, Homeschooling
Posted by admin on Sep 30, 2008 in
Homeschooling It’s amazing how much there is out there FREE for homeschooling the high school student! Tonight I found some more goodies I wanted to share.
As I have stated before, Tyler is studying Economics this year. Inside the Global Economy is a free series of 13 videos online at learner.com. This site is a teacher resource and professional development site by Annenberg Media. From the site “Annenberg Media’s multimedia resources help teachers increase their expertise in their fields and assist them in improving their teaching methods. Many programs are also intended for students in the classroom and viewers at home. All Annenberg Media videos exemplify excellent teaching.” They offer a second series of 28 videos in Economics called Economics U$A. Another related series tited Rural Communities: Legacy and Change explores why national and global economic trends effect rural communities. In the area of civics / government they offer a 15 video series called Democracy in America as well as a The Constitution: That Delicate Balance. The video series they have that’s titled Ethics in America and Ethics in America II aslo look very interesting and with some additional reading would complete an indepth course in civics / government. In fact, these videos are a great way to round out a curriculum or provide a basis for a unit study approach for families who are more eclectic in their homeschooling.
Read more…
Tags: American History, American Literature, art, biology, civics, economics, government, high school, Homeschooling, Language Arts, music, science
