Language Arts Spotlight - Schoolhouse Teachers

Language Arts Spotlight

Schoolhouse Teachers.com

This post contains my affiliate link. Thank you for supporting my blog and our homeschool!

Do you ever have those moments as a homeschool mama that make your eye twitch and you realize that Language Arts just isn’t your favorite thing to teach? No? Well I'm here to share a spotlight on some great Language Arts classes!

Back in my teaching days, I was the Language Arts teacher, but to this day I still do not like teaching spelling. All. The. Rules....now that makes my eye twitch. This is just one of the reasons why I'm grateful that I have access to SchoolhouseTeachers.com. With so many classes to choose from, I know that I can provide the opportunities to help my children to be thoughtful spellers and master the English language.

I had already planned to read several different versions of well-known fairy tales to my children this year, but I had not create the lesson plans yet. (Yes, so much to do and not enough time.) The other day I was scrolling through the Language Art classes offered on Schoolhouse Teachers.com and found this gem: Fun with Fairy Tales. Happy dance!! Now all I have to do is download and print the lesson plans then grab our stack of fairy tale books. As a busy mama of five that is a win-win in my book. 

Each class offered at SchoolhouseTeachers.com provides a clear and straightforward approach to the subject of Language Arts. Visit now to see what classes are available for your child. There are over 350 courses to choose from at Schoolhouse Teachers.com

Here are just a sampling of the classes available:

We have pre-reading, reading, and literature covered with courses such as:

ABC: What Will I Be?

Adventures with Books

African American Literature

All About the Alphabet

American Folklore

American Literature

Christian Values in J.R.R. Tolkien

Daily Puzzlers

Everyday Games

Literature Kits

Monthly Book Lists for Families

Pre-K Activities: Read and Play

Reading Lessons for Young or Struggling Readers 

Teaching Reading through Play
Worldviews in Literature

We can help your kids brush up on grammar, spelling, memorization, and research skills with courses including:

Daily Grammar

Fun with Memorization

Little Language Arts

Research Skills 7th Grade

Schoolhouse Spelling

Ways to teach writing abound with courses such as:

Adventures in Writing

Beginning Handwriting

Benjamin Franklin Writing Method

Creative Storytelling

Creative Writing

Daily Writing

Essay Writing 101

Everyday Copywork

Lapbooking

Sparking the Noggin: Creative Writing with Pictures

Writing

Writing: Advertising Copy

Writing: Mechanics

Our New School Year 2017-2018

Plans for Our New School Year

2017-2018

This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting my blog and our homeschool!

Wow! Can you believe that it is already October? I feel like this school year is flying by too fast for me. How is homeschooling going at your house? 

I think that our motto for this year is going to be "slow and steady wins the race". We are still working on our routine and line up for some of our subjects, but for the most part we are finding what works for us. 

This year, I have a 10, 8, 6, 3, and 1 year old. We are all learning to be more flexible than before with little ones. I have had to adjust our schedule to make room for those "interruptions" that will happen and really that's a good thing. I want my children to value people more than a to-do list, and since I'm their example I first have to show it. This homeschooling journey is becoming more beautiful the more I am learning to trust God's leading on what it is suppose to look like for our family. 

We are eclectic homeschoolers, with a CM bent, because "one size does NOT fit all" in my house. This year we will be using resources from Ambleside Online, SchoolhouseTeachers.com, Reading Eggs, Teaching Textbooks, and unit studies. I will include links below to each one so that you can check them out.

Last year was the first time that we ventured into a more Charlotte Mason approach to learning, but since I am still slowly reading through her volumes and learning myself we are not doing everything 100%. I get to help design some of the curriculum found at SchoolhouseTeachers.com, and I'm very excited to have this resource this year. I am using Reading Eggs with my struggling reader, and Teaching Textbooks for math with my artistic-driven learner. Then for fun, because my children actually like unit studies, I have sprinkled some throughout the school year. I hope you are having a great school year so far! You can tell me more about your school year in the comments below. I would love to hear from you!

Ambleside Online 
http://amblesideonline.org/

SchoolhouseTeachers.com
https://schoolhouseteachers.com/dap/a/?a=29803 {aff. link}

Reading Eggs
https://readingeggs.com/

Teaching Textbooks
http://teachingtextbooks.com/

Unit Studies by Amanda Bennett
http://unitstudy.com/

Also I am working on my own unit studies for the blog as well!! 

Creative and Frugal Homeschooling Tip #2

Creative and Frugal Homeschooling Tips

3 Part Mini Series
(This post contains my affiliate links. Thank you for supporting my blog and homeschool!)

In the last post, I shared with you about utilizing your public library for a creative and frugal homeschooling tip. Today, I am going to be talking about a tip that is new for our family. Some of you may have heard of the homeschool magazine called The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. I have been reading this magazine for many years now. It is filled with informative and interesting articles related to homeschooling and information about homeschool-related products. 

So my second tip is the curriculum site for The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, Schoolhouse Teachers.com. There will be link below for you to find out more information about Schoolhouse Teachers and about the Autumn sale that is going on until October 31st.

This is our first year to use Schoolhouse Teachers.com. Did you know that there are over 300 classes to chose from for your whole family? And even more classes are being added weekly. Wow, this is going to be a game-changer for our family this year!! I love the fact that I can pick and chose which classes to use with each of my children, and with so many to pick we will not run out of learning ideas. There is also an area for parents that include tools such as a scope & sequence, monthly menus, schedule builders, report card creators, courses, special needs helps, and the World Book Online. This site is truly a one-stop for a family education. We believe in our house that homeschooling is so much more than just teaching our children academics, it is a lifestyle for us.

So now, let's chat about the special that is happening now. From now until October 31st, you can get a Limited Membership for grades PreK-8 for $9.95/month (reg. $14.95/month) using the code CORNCOB or an Unlimited Membership for grades PreK-12 for $10.95/month (reg. $19.95/month) using the code SCARECROW. There are BONUSES as well too:

• two FREE fall-themed PRINT back issues of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine*
• a bushel of digital goodies (see overseas restrictions below)
• And, members automatically qualify to receive FREE ongoing issues of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine in the mail. The next one releases January, 2018.* (see the overseas restrictions below)

Harvest Special at Schoolhouse Teachers.com

*Sorry, physical gifts/magazine free to U.S. addresses only. For information on international shipping, please contact Customer Service. The 2010 & 2011 Fall Print Issues will be given out while supplies last. Due to limited quantities, you may receive a past Fall Print Issue from a different year (not shown). You will still be sent two of our fall-themed back issues filled with wonderful tips and autumn-related content. 

Creative and Frugal Homeschooling Tips #1

Creative and Frugal Homeschooling Tips

3 Part Mini Series

This week I will be sharing three creative and/or frugal homeschooling tips. It's that time of the year again for most -  "Back-to-Homeschool" If you are like me and still planning for the up-coming school year, then maybe one or all of the tips from this week can help you. I hope that you will find these tips to be useful, and I would love to hear how you plan a creative and frugal homeschool year.

So without further ado... 

First Tip

 

Use the resources at your local library. Sounds simple enough, right? That is because it can be if you spend time at your library, browsing the shelves, and asking your librarian questions you have. I spent about 6 years working in my hometown's public library. I had the privilege of helping numerous patrons who visited the library because that was what I was there to do. It was my job to help patrons find the books they were looking for or get set-up with their own library card or do an internet search for a homework assignment.

Sometimes I feel like this is an underused yet valuable resource available for homeschool families. Normally it is free to sign-up for a library and to check out the resources. Some libraries now have an E-book service that allows you to check out a select number of e-books at a time. In addition to books, sometimes you will find audiobooks, CDs, DVDs, magazines, newspapers, a genealogy department, puzzles, blocks, and public computers. Even if the library doesn't currently have a specific book that you are looking for, they may be able to order a copy for you to check out. 

Whether you find yourself in a tight financial place or not, please don't overlook this wonderful resource. With your library card and your child's curiosity, together your family can have a creative and frugal homeschool year.

Tomorrow I'll be back with tip #2. 

Prayers for a New School Year

Prayer is so important in the life of a believer! Prayer is our lifeline to the Lord. I know that I have to pray all of the time because I also know that I can't make it in this life without the help of Jesus. There is always someone or some situation that I am praying for and about to the Lord. 

August is the time when I start praying more intentionally for the beginning for our school year. I ask the Lord for His guiding hand, peace for our days, excitement for the opportunity to learn, and most importantly that we always make Him Lord of our school days. We wouldn't even be on this journey without His leading as well as His provision. 

In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NKJV), we read "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.". (Emphasis mine) We should always be rejoicing, giving thanks, and praying without ceasing.

I want to share three verses with you for this upcoming school year. Write the verses on index cards. Hang the verses somewhere so that you will see them and be reminded to pray daily.

The first verse is about God's PLAN.

Jeremiah 29:11  (NKJV)

" For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."

The second verse is about God's PROTECTION.

Psalm 91:1-2 (NKJV)

"He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
² I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.”

The third verse is about God's PEACE.

Philippians 4:7  (NKJV)

"and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."


Let's spend some time mediating on these verses this coming week and set a goal of starting the day with prayer. I pray that your children will have a great start to their new school years.



Scripture source: Bible Gateway

Summer Fun 2017

Wow! Our summer has flown by this year! It is hard to imagine that it will be time to start a new school year soon. My children are actually asking to start school, which we will start (hopefully) in about three more weeks.  How has your summer been? Are you (or your children) ready for "Back-to-School"?


We have participated in summer reading programs, played card and board games as a family, the children loved making mud puddles with the water hose in the backyard, they spent time with the grandparents, and they played at a near-by creek. Summer memories have been made! 


If I were to ask my children to name their favorite thing we did this summer, it would probably be the Summer Reading Program for our local library with some homeschooling friends. A sweet homeschool mama headed up this great program. They had a goal of reading 400 minutes over a 5 week period and were able to collect pledge money for meeting this goal. Afterwards, they each got to pick out a book from Usborne as a reward. Usborne also let the children pick out a book valued at half of their pledge amount collected to be donated to our local library. I love having opportunities for my children to help their community as well as our local library. 

Summer is also my time to plan for our upcoming school year, review what did or did not work for us last school year, and to continue my teacher training. I read a lot of books and online articles concerning how to teach children, child development, and educational methods. Over the past year, we have been dipping our toes in the Charlotte Mason philosophy. A good many of my books in my reading pile reflect this as well. Here is a list of what I have been reading here and there over this summer:

1. Different by Sally and Nathan Clarkson (rereading)
2. A Different Kind of Hero by Sally and Joel Clarkson (rereading)
3. Buried Secrets by Irene Hannon
4. Charlotte Mason Education by Catherine Levison (rereading)
5. More Charlotte Mason Education by Catherine Levison (rereading)
6. Give Your Child the World by Jamie C. Martin
7. Beyond Survival by Diana Waring
8. Drawing with Children by Mona Brookes
9. Charlotte Mason Companion by Karen Andreola

My summer reading!

In other news, I wrote my first magazine article this summer for The Old Schoolhouse Magazine! I am still tickled pink that I had this opportunity. I've been reading the TOS magazine since we first decided that we were going to homeschool. You can read the current issue online at The Old Schoolhouse Magazine

My copy of the Summer 2017 issue.

Here's a Mini Update For Our School Year

We are currently on our fifth week in the new school year. This year is keeping me jumping with three children and an on-the-move baby. Things can get interesting real quick. It is becoming a lesson for me and the children to be more flexible and not to expect everything to be perfect. There's that word again - perfect. When it comes to my children I set the bar high in my ideals of how I envisioned our homeschooling journey to be. I tend to be an overwhelmed perfectionist, meaning that sometimes I will give up or give in because no matter how much I try it still will not be perfect. Everyday I have to ask God for the wisdom to teach my children and His love to pour out of me onto them. Homeschooling for us is more than just academic. It is just as much if not more about showing and introducing my children to my Savior.

Our character trait that we are currently working on is DILIGENCE. The definitions that we are using comes from two homeschooling moms. The first one is from Marilyn Boyer at The Learning Parent, and the second one is from Heather McMillan at We Choose Virtues. We have been using the Character Studies from The Learning Parent since the first year that we started homeschooling. I absolutely love her character trait curriculum. The other one from We Choose Virtues is new to us this year. I actually won a set of her character trait cards in a contest hosted by The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. So now for the definitions.... The first one defines diligence as "doing my very best at very task given to me". The second one defines being diligent as "I start fast, work hard and finish strong". Each one also has a memory verse to help your child to learn. We have focused on the character trait of OBEDIENCE for awhile and from time to time review it. 

If you would like to learn more about either of the above mentioned companies, then I have included links for you.
The Learning Parent - Marilyn Boyer
http://www.characterconcepts.com/store/
Ok. So apparently they have changed their name to Character Concepts. The reference made to their character curriculum can be found in their store. It should be apart of their Preschool Package.

We Choose Virtues - Heather McMillan
http://wechoosevirtues.com/

And of course here is the link to one of my favorite homeschooling magazines. You can also read the current issue for FREE.
The Old Schoolhouse Magazine
http://www.theoldschoolhouse.com/

Here is a picture from our first day of school.

Just FYI, I am not being compensated from either of the above companies. I am just sharing what we are learning. However, I love talking to other homeschool moms about what they are using in their homeschools. Have a blessed week!

It's Almost That Wonderful Time of the Year!

One of my favorite times of the year is "Back to School". Fall is definitely my favorite season of the year!!! But I am also in love with the cooler weather, the changing color of the leaves, the game of football, and of course school supplies! I still get excited to buy school supplies even if it is for my children. There is a wonderful feeling of getting to start over and the challenges of getting to learn new things that excite me.

So we are in count down mode for our first day back to school. This year I will have a 2nd grader, 1st grader/finishing up some Kindergarten work, a Pre-K5, and a 14 month-old baby. This is going to be an interesting year because the older children are getting older and having a baby in the mix. I will be praying for extra patience and wisdom to know how we need to schedule our school times and "mommy and me" times. I love all my children, and I want them to know that I love each of them individually. My biggest goal or area of growth that I would like to see is that the children and I memorize several scriptures from the Bible. It is my prayer that the children desire a relationship with Jesus and become a follower of Him.

I need to get started with some more lesson plans and finish organizing the children's binders. Oh my! So much to do and so little time!!!