Homeschool

If you want to hang with the best moms in the Houston homeschool community join us at the Greater Houston Moms Homeschool Group.

Boy and Girl Summer Reading

By:
On:
In: Book Club, Homeschool, School Age Kids


Summer is coming and with that summer reading programs!  Not every kid loves to read but all kids love free stuff! Even if they are natural bookworms, getting rewarded for something you were going to do anyway is just a bonus.  Teachers and parents worry about the “summer slide” which unfortunately is not as fun as it sounds.

The summer slide is the regression of learned material from a lack of schooling throughout the summer.  How to lessen it without setting up a summer homeschool?  Read! Read! And, read some more!

Fortunately, the summer reading program is a popular idea and your kids can enroll in one or all, maintain their literary fluency, and have fun while earning some cool prizes.

Need some suggestions? We include kids’ books in our Book Club Lists check out some past picks.  Or do you have a little-little person?  We have a comprehensive Kindergarten Reading List that will keep you busy for a bit.

1. Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Journal

The Barnes and Noble summer reading program is quite straightforward. Keep a journal, log eight books, and tell which part of each book is your favorite and why.  Bring the completed journal to a store between May 15th and September 3rd, 2018 and choose a free book from the ones listed on the journal page.

2. Half Price Books Feed Your Brain Summer Reading Program

For all school-age kids.  Read 15 minutes per day in June and July. Log it on the provided page, add the minutes up, and have a parent initial it each week.  Once your child logs 300 minutes they can exchange their logs in a store for Bookworm Bucks, on or before August 30, 2018. Children can complete more than one log, but only one per month per child.

Teens must read a book from a chosen list and write a review to receive their bookworm bucks.

3. H-E-Buddy Summer Reading Club

The HEB program is for Texas children between the ages of 3-12.  I have confirmed that it will begin in July (though the link has not been updated yet to reflect the 2018 program). Previously, kids need to read ten books and record them in the provided log.  An adult initials the log and mails it in by October 1st for a t-shirt.

4. Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge

The Scholastic Challenge runs from May 7th through September 7th, 2018. Students must receive a username and password from their educator, librarian, or other registered leaders.  They will log their reading minutes into the Scholastic website and earn digital rewards as they complete weekly reading challenges. If you homeschool register as an educator and when it asks you to choose your school choose “My school is not on the list” and you will be prompted into the homeschool section.

Local Library Summer Reading Programs

5. Houston Public Library John P. McGovern Summer Reading Program

The program runs from June 1, 2018 to August 1, 2018 and registration will open on May 15, 2018.  Any day that kids read for 20 minutes they can log online.  Prizes can be picked up at local libraries and adults can participate with their actively participating child!

6. Fort Bend County Library Summer Reading Club

The program runs from May 28, 2018 to September 1, 2018 and registration will open on through the main website on May 28, 2018 (click the ‘SRC Sign-Up’ image).  Kids should log the titles of books read and/ or the number of hours read in to the online reading log.  They will earn prizes like bookmarks, pencils, and even a trophy!  Plus there will be weekly challenges. Open to anyone regardless of residency.

7. Chuck E. Cheese Reading Rewards Calendar

Parents initial a two-week chart.  When the kiddo has read daily for two weeks they can exchange it for 10 free tokens (with food purchase). Available year round.

8. Pizza Hut BOOK IT!

This one does not run through the summer but you do need to register early and it is still fun and free!

You can register as a homeschooler or as a teacher.  Each instructor sets a reading goal for each child and when they reach their goal they get a Reading Award Certificate which is good for a free one-topping Personal Pan Pizza.  The goal can be individualized to the child based on minutes read or the number of pages or books.

It is for grades K-12 and runs from October 1 through March 31. Registration begins on March 1 for schools and May 1 for homeschool families.  Only one per household.

9. DOGO Books

Runs April 21-August 31, 2018.  Kids pick books from a preselected reading list.  Then they review 3 of them, at least 25 words.  Then they get to pick a FREE book from the Prize list.  They can read and review as many as they wish during the summer program.

What is on your kids’ summer reading lists?



Summer Reading Programs
Girl working at her computer in front of a window

By:
On:
In: Homeschool



Online schools are becoming a great source of support to the homeschool community. Whether you are new to homeschooling, looking for help in subjects you don’t feel confident in teaching or just need a change, an online school may be a valid option for your learners.

What is an online school?  It is basically what it sounds like.  A full curriculum with teachers or a computer teaching and testing your child.  Some are accredited some are not.  If that is something that is important to you then read the fine print carefully – accredited are going to be more expensive because they usually involve actual man hours from a remote teacher.

If you don’t need a full teacher but help in specific courses many of these online schools can be cherry-picked for specific classes.  And, as you start moving into educating older children you can look to your local community college for dual course enrollment options.

FAQ About the List:

  1. Is it exhaustive? No, there are so many options.  These listed below are the ones that were most often suggested in various homeschool forums. They are listed in alphabetical order.
  2. What about k12 & Connections Academy?  Those are not in the spirit of homeschooling as they are really just public school at home.  It does not mean they may not be great for your family but they are not on this list.
  3. What about for Pre-K and Kindergarten?  They don’t really need all this.  Play with them, visit the library, read books, go to the park, make a mess.  There are a ridiculous number of options for the littles if you feel they need a computer program I would suggest a curated number of apps and a time limit.

The Best Online Schools for Your Home Learner

Abeka Academy

Abeka Academy offers an accredited version and an independent study option with their video homeschooling for Christian home educators with students in K4-12th.  Abeka’s program can be customized to mix and match their video homeschooling with using their books and teaching at home.  Expect to spend around $1000 per year per student for the accredited version. Abeka has declined to adopt Common Core.

Acellus

Acellus is a complete online homeschool course for Grades K-12.  It includes progress reports and keeps records automatically.  Registration is rolling and you can begin at any time and a placement exam is included.  Pricing options are available by the month or for the year $9.99/ student per month or $99.99/ student per year.  There is not a contract and you can cancel anytime.  Additionally, there is a common core filter so you can specify your wishes.

Alpha Omega Academy

A fully accredited online Classical Christian Education for K-12. Complete grading and record keeping.  Several of the upper courses provide dual credit. Multiple start dates and pricing ranges from  $199-299/ student per month (with a yearly discount option). AOA has declined to adopt Common Core.

BJU Press Distance Learning Online

BJU DLO has an online or DVD option. In is designed as an all-in-one Christian homeschool solution for grades K4-12. It is organized to allow the student to move through courses at their own pace.  It has complete record keeping and online support. Records are kept and parents can make a transcript from them. It is priced by course and begins at $199 – classes can be purchased individually. Students are given From July to the following December (1.5 years) to complete a course. BJU has declined to adopt Common Core.

Debra Bell’s Aim Academy

AIM is geared toward 4th-12th grade students with the goal of college prep and taking AP/ CLEP tests.    There are individual courses and complete curriculum in various subjects.  The classes are taught by a live instructor and are fully interactive.  Price varies by course so expect higher prices because this is not an automated service – there are actual schedules and time commitments.  Expect prices to range from $225-700 per class or course.

Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool

It’s FREE! There are other reasons it is popular but if you are starting to homeschool and don’t know where to begin it’s here because it’s complete and free.  It is not secular but the Christian parts can be easily skipped.  It is for K-12 and you can follow along or cherry pick classes quite easily. FPA has declined to adopt Common Core.

Freedom Project Academy

Classical Christian curriculum for grades K-12 – common core free.  They follow a yearly schedule and offer live teachers (and access to recordings).  Assignments are graded and students tested.  Full records and transcripts are offered.  Placement tests are given so children are put at the appropriate levels.  Full-time students are $2200/ year per student that can be paid over 8 months.  Individual class options are available as well. FPA has declined to adopt Common Core.

Kahn Academy

Another popular offering that is completely FREE!  Kahn can be used as a complete curriculum or as an individual course offering.  There are courses from K-12 (and beyond) in almost any subject you can imagine.  You will have to build your own transcript though records are kept so you can track your student’s progress. Common Core aligned.

Next Level Homeschool

Next Level Homeschool is a secular option for a la carte classes geared at learners in the 7-17 year old range. Classes run for a given time period. Course material is uploaded weekly so students can access it on their timetable, as opposed to a designated live time for which they would need to be at a computer.  A forum is available for interaction and questions. A grading option is available. A 10% discount is applied for those purchasing $300 or more per semester.

Outschool

Outschool is a class marketplace.  Independent teachers choose their topic and coursework and offer live online classes for students K-12.  Prices will vary by course and teacher but are very reasonably priced, some as low as $5 per student.

Time4learning

This option is a self-paced online education for PreK-12.  It is reasonably priced starting at $19.95 per month per student with a sibling discount. Time4Learning includes automated grading and records keeping, with an online parent support forum.  There is not a diagnostic test but student have access to three levels. T4L says they have not changed their curriculum to align with Common Core.

Veritas Press

VP is an online Classical Christian School with a diploma option. It offers both live online classes and self-paced courses.  The diploma option is more expensive. Enrollment ranges from $199-549, then $179-649 per course, and, finally, books and materials.  Many of the secondary options are also available for dual credit.  Online courses are not available until 3rd grade but before that, the curriculum is available for the parent to teach. VP has declined to adopt Common Core.




By:
On:
In: Camps, Education & Activities, Field Trips, Homeschool, LOCATION: San Antonio, Reviews, School Age Kids



We participated in the SeaWorld Overnight program in San Antonio and it was a blast! Our scout group is really active, even throughout the summer, but we try to keep it fun.  SeaWorld Overnight was definitely fun!

The program was well run and reasonably priced and not too far from Houston.  This experience is in reference to their 2017 summer offerings it is possible that the prices or schedule have been updated so please contact SeaWorld directly for current program details.

Booking

Booking your SeaWorld Overnight is fairly simple, but know that you do have to originate the process with their main number which will send you to the Florida call center.  This was probably the most annoying part because of the wait and hold times. It was also a little nerve-racking for me as I wanted to be sure I was booking everything as locally as possible.  But, no worries, once you are in the system you will be contacted by a local Program Assistant with a direct phone number and email.  So further contact, follow-ups, random questions will be answered in a timely and easy to access fashion.

If you’ve booked group overnights you will realize prices vary wildly so we were pleasantly surprised that the program price was very reasonable.  We paid $80 per student participant and $50 per adult.  This price included (for adults and participants): Pizza dinner on Saturday night, breakfast tacos Sunday morning, a camp water bottle, a SeaWorld camp t-shirt, and a 1-day parking pass.

There were also several add-ons available.  You could get a park ticket for $36 per person for use on Saturday before the program or Sunday after the program.  And there was a behind the scenes tour for $10 per person that began after the regular program ended Sunday morning.

The Paperwork

The SeaWorld Overnight program has their own participant forms they need completed and brought in hard copy to the program for adults and minors.  This is where I got a bit off as the paperwork says the program needs them 5-weeks in advance so I emailed them.  Unfortunately, I did not bring hard copies (which it also says to do in another place) so we had a bit of a hiccup getting those printed and downloaded, but everything worked out.  However, save yourself and group some trouble and just bring copies too.

Additionally, you’ll need to send them a list of drivers and they will send you a parking pass that you will also need to print out, disseminate to your group, and each person will need to bring it to present at the gate and place in their window.

And, lastly, you will need to send them your t-shirt sizes so they can have them ready.  Don’t stress over perfect sizes as they can make adjustments on site.  I have a feeling they must have boxes and boxes of t-shirts sitting around.

Arrival and Check-In

The gate at SeaWorld has changed from my youth. You no longer get your tickets scanned at the main gate.  It is now done further into the park to accommodate different tickets (waterpark vs. regular park, etc.).

We were instructed to unload our gear (nicely wrapped in trash bags with our names on them) in front of a blue awning and then park nearby.  The program representatives will meet you out front at the drop-off area as they will bring a van and toss all of your things into it and transport it to the sleeping area for you.  So, obviously, nothing bulky and weird is allowed like air mattresses or coolers.  Just your bags and sleeping bags.

The Program assistants that are not taking away luggage then get assigned to groups and your program begins at 5:30 pm.

SeaWorld Overnight Walking Map
Wear comfy shoes you will likely walk the entire park. The red path is day one and the yellow path is the morning of day 2.


Unfortunately for us, that is about the time a great monsoon hit. The park shut down and we had to shelter in place near the front bathrooms for about an hour and a half.  The kids loved it!  Not so much, but nothing to do about that.

The Saturday Program

They reserve the right to switch up the activities and we had to hustle a bit to make up for lost time but once the rain passed we headed to dinner.  It was pizza.  It was probably hot at 5:30 p.m. before we had to shelter in place.  But, it’s still pizza and that’s pretty much fine for me at any temperature!

From dinner, we headed to the Penguins for a talk and craft time.  Then down to Shamu Theater for the Orca Show.

After the Orcas, we walked to the Pacific White-Sided dolphins and beluga whale stadium.  There was no show. Instead, we got to go behind the scenes and see the complete setup.

Remember, stay behind the blue line. They are pretty serious about that.

This is where I met my spirit animal. Slow moving, a little chunky, poor eyesight, generally happy…



But wait! There’s more!

After we left the dolphins we walked across the park to Explorer’s Reef. The building that houses the shark and coral reef aquariums.  This is where we spent the night.  There were other options available as well but for smaller group sizes.

The building is quite large and loosely separated into two chambers. The coral reef side and the shark side.  At this point, we retrieved our bags and set up “camp.”  The reef lights are turned out for sleeping time so it is pretty dark, but you are in a giant room with loads of people so earplugs and eye masks are a good idea if you have trouble sleeping in those situations.

The program assistants sleep in the entryway room so they are available if necessary.  Also, you’ll have to go through there to exit the building in the event of nature calling.  The bathrooms are outside in a nearby building.

The reef after lights out.

For those not quite ready to turn in, there is another behind the scenes opportunity.  This one takes you on a tour of the maintenance of the large shark and coral reef aquariums.  You get to see the staging areas where the trainers set up food. The board that shows which animals get what and a view from the top. Very cool. Lights out are at 11:30 p.m. And, believe me, the kids are ready!


Sunday Morning

Upon wake up, you get your camp t-shirts. Almost all the kiddos immediately put them on!  Then it’s breakfast and a visit to another animal area.  We headed over to Pacific Point Preserve, home to the seals, the sea lions, and one otter who seemed a bit inconvenienced to be seen so early.

One of the neatest parts of this walk is seeing the park completely empty.

Elmo’s ghost town!

Once we arrived the seals were pretty uninterested in us but the sea lions were ready for the people.  Or the fish that the people provide!  Everyone was provided with a tray of fish and plenty of time to feed the sea lions and explore the area.

At this point your SeaWorld Overnight is over. Unless you are taking the add-on Behind the Scenes tour.  Which we were, so, onward!

The Behind the Scenes tour is back across the park near the orca and dolphin stadiums. In fact, it’s behind them. Off the paved road (actually, it’s all paved).  So, we hiked back across the park.

It’s a lengthy walk back to the tanks but completely worth it.  There are several off-display animals back there and then the training and quarantine tanks.  The tour shows the type of transport sling used to move large aquatic mammals and then heads to the stingray tank.  Where they swim in circles and all the kids try to touch them!

After the stingrays, we headed over to touch a shark.  Yes, a shark!  My kiddo was elated.  A little hesitant, but excited nonetheless. The shark is in a little pen and the kids can climb up and reach into pet it.

Our tour ended with a trip by the dolphins.  They were total showoffs.  I think they were trying to get everyone wet.  Thank goodness for that blue line on the ground!

And, this concluded the tour and the SeaWorld Overnight program.  We were escorted to the front gates to retrieve our bags that were brought up, by van to the dropoff area, and then departed.

It was one of the best overnight group experiences that we have enjoyed and it is the one that most people continue to comment and ask when we’ll go back.  SeaWorld has their program down. It runs smoothly and is a great value!

To book your group’s program visit the webpage for SeaWorld Overnight Programs.

Quick Tips

  • Wear your walking shoes, you will walk the entire park
  • This is not a day at the park.  There will not be stops for rides, food, or shopping. If you want a park experience buy the add-on ticket.
  • Check-in may not be under a blue awning.  Many of the awnings were missing.  Just unload out front on the drop-off drive, to the right. They’ll find you.




Gifts for Homeschoolers

By:
On:
In: Holidays, Homeschool

Gifts for homeschoolers can be a lot of fun to buy.  Typically, homeschoolers travel outside of the mainstream in wants.  Since they are not around a ton of like-aged kids the peer-pressure element tends to lessen.  The desire for name brand clothes and shoes seems to be a bit less (my kids wouldn’t know the difference between generic sports shorts and Under Armor and my pocketbook is happy).  Often they are unaware of the “it” toys.  Homeschoolers tend to be a bit of a different breed when it comes to gifting.

Homeschooling is very tailored to the child(ren) often you are buying things year round.  Often the children have very specific wants that may not be obvious because they may be learning about a certain topic and be all-in.  It is really best to chat with the parents to find out instead of just grabbing the hard-to-get item of the year.  There are really good odds the kiddo has no idea what it is.  So, if you don’t already have a list a mile long of “things to buy” (I have an Amazon list just for homeschool books!) then here are some sure-fire options for the little homeschooler in your life.

Subscriptions

There seems to be a subscription or magazine for everything these days.  Some of the best-reviewed ones are (almost all have a discount code available for the first box, definitely check for current ones before ordering):

1. Amazon STEM Toy Club
($19.99/ month): STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) toys are sent each month, you can choose the age range that would be appropriate and they will handpick STEM toys and send them each month.

2. BitsBox (from $19.95/ month): For ages 6+, teaches kids to code by delivering insanely fun app-building projects in the mail every month. Kids code their projects on the Bitsbox website and their apps work on any device with a web browser.

3. Creation Crate (from $22.49/ month): Teaches you electronics, coding and high-level problem-solving. For ages 12-75. They say, “Once you receive all 12 badges you will have more hands-on programming experience than 99% of current college-level computer science students.”

4. Groovy Lab in a Box (from $24.95/ month): For ages 8+, blends Scientific Inquiry and the Engineering Design Process, which allows children to create ingenious inventions, enhance critical problem-solving skills and have FUN!

5. History Unboxed ($19.99/ month): For ages 5-young adult. You will receive a welcome box including an interactive timeline poster; A welcome letter and coloring sheet; A time capsule kit to create your own historic memento; A worksheet to help students understand how to read a timeline; A Family Tree kit for exploring your student’s personal history.  Subsequently, then each month you will receive a new box exploring a different place in time, according to the era you selected. Each box contains an age-specific coloring sheet; 1-2 (very!) high-quality crafts; A sticker for your timeline; 2-3 items of additional enrichment material.

6. Ivy Kids ($39/ month): For children ages 3-8, the kits are developed by early childhood teachers with children of their own. The goal is to provide monthly resources and tools to parents and caregivers looking to have more meaningful learning experiences with their children. Each month you will receive a kit containing more than ten activities based on a classic children’s book.

7. National Geographic Kids Explorers Club by Pley (previously the Junior Explorers Club) (from 17.99/ month): For ages 5-11. Each month your child embarks on a virtual adventure to a different ecosystem to solve a mystery that teaches them about that habitat and the wildlife that lives there.

8. The Magic School Bus Science Club ($19.99/ month): For ages 5-12.  This one is perfect for fans of the show.  Each month children will explore science through exciting and thrilling experiments that will spark an interest and curiosity in science.

9. Kiwi Co. Crates (from $24.90/ month): Kiwi Co. has monthly “crates” curated to specific age groups. Cricket is from 24-36 month (soon to expand to 4 months and up) and is designed for the youngest kids to explore and discover.  Koala is for ages 3-4 with hands-on play and learning. Kiwi combines science and art for ages 5-8 and will include a maker project and more.  For ages 9-16+ there are two options Doodle Crate, which focuses on art & design, or Tinker Crate, which focuses on science and engineering.  The entire line is well reviewed and comprehensive.


Memberships

10. Museums: Nearly every city has a museum for a kid.  Fortunately, here in Houston we have a ton of museums so you can pick and choose to suit your child’s interest.  The more common ones are Houston Museum of Natural Science and the Children’s Museum of Houston. But, we have some great more specific Museums like the Lone Star Flight Museum or Space Center Houston and more. Check out our extensive list of museums for other ideas.

11. Zoos:  Not many kiddos wouldn’t love a zoo membership (and someone to take them!).  This basically sells itself.

12. Sports & Athletics:  Many sports themed businesses offer memberships.  Here in Houston, there are several Rock Climbing Gyms, Ninja Warrior Gyms, Parkour, Crossfit Kids, and more that offer memberships for kids.



Handwork & Modeling

13. Knitting:  Knitting is a great skill for kids to hone their hand-head connection.  There are a lot of kits and books to get you started. And, using something like a loom or a knitting nancy is a great way to ease them in. It is an excellent skill for boys, too! Don’t forget extra yarn!

14. Clay: Again, something kids can work with their hands is a great option. There is always play-doh, but for something more permanent modeling clay is a great next step. You can start with a tub of air dry and some simple tools and move on from there if it is something your child enjoys.



15. Models: The sky is the limit here.  Models, as a hobby, can be as simple as a 3d puzzle to the more complex models like cars, buildings, and recreations.


Building Toys

Some of our favorite building toys are:

16. Lego: If you’re kid is into it they probably already have a very specific list…

17. Bloco: High density foam and connectors are used to build fun creatures!

18. Trio: Trio blocks are the most fun discontinued toy around.  If you see someone selling these at a yard sale or online pick them up, they are great! They’re similar to mathlink cubes but have the fun spin of lego with branding and connectors, wheels, etc.

19. Straw and Connectors:  The Children’s Musuem of Houston has a table full of these downstairs, they’re great!

20. Rockets: I’m not sure if this is a model or a build, but either way shooting things into the sky is always a popular past time!



21. Books

So many books so little time! Here are some favorites:

Toddler: Board books by Byron Barton.  Personal faves are Planes, Trucks, Trains, and Boats.

Pre-K & Kindergarten: Here are 493 Options!  But, if you don’t want the whole list Strega Nona by Tonie dePaola is great.  As is, Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson, Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams, and The Story of Ferdinand by Munroe Leaf.

Elementary:  Little House on the Prairie Books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, Peter Pan and Wendy by J.M. Barrie, The Story of the Treasure Seekers by E. Nesbit.
    

 

Pre-Teens: By the Great Horn Spoon! by Sid Fleischman, Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink, Jane of Lantern Hill by L.M. Montgomery, The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis.

 

Teens: Beauty by Robin McKinley, Black Beauty by Anna Sewell, Men of Iron by Howard Pyle, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, Just David by Eleanor H. Porter, Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson.

For the Teacher

22. Laser Printer – If she doesn’t lust for a laser printer is she really a homeschooler? Seriously, the amount of printing and ink consumed in this chosen endeavour is astronomical.  With the cost of ink, I sometimes think it would just be cheaper to buy a new printer everytime I run out of ink!  I do like having the scan and copy function too so let’s swing for fences and go all in on this.  If I were buying for myself I would choose the Canon.

23. Laminator – Another gadget I love is my laminator.  Particularly if you are teaching your way through multiple children and you want to be able to reuse things – laminating is the way to go.  I don’t think they make the one I personally have but this 3-in-1 by Blusmart has awesome reviews and actually includes the two add-ons I would have suggested – a paper trimmer and corner rounding punch.  Mind. Blown.  It also seems compatible with the Scotch laminating pouches that are sold everywhere.

24. Something not “School Related”

As homeschoolers, it is sometimes hard not to find the opportunity to learn in everything we do.  Sometimes the kiddos just want some dinky hard plastic migraine-inducing noisy toy.  Get it for them.  Just one.

25. Stocking Stuffers

Stockings are a prime place to load up on pencils, pens, Crayons, colored pencils, dry erase markers, markers, glue, Play-Doh, and for more ideas check out our suggestions for the Best Stocking Suffers!

 

Did your favorites make our list?  Do you have other ideas? Share below and Happy Holidays!




Cherry Blossom

By:
On:
In: Homeschool

TGTB, Where Have You Been All My Life?!

I don’t know where I first learned about The Good and the Beautiful.  Probably in one of my many (many, many) Facebook homeschool groups.  I really am a member of too many and while it’s hard to keep up it’s also so much better than Yahoo Groups.  I really do not know how they have survived when all of the other Prehistoric Internet entities have faded into obscurity (goodbye, AOL Instant Messenger). But, I digress.

The Good and the Beautiful (TGTB) is everything I was trying to accomplish on my own and at a price that is really too good to be true.  So good, in fact, that the meat and potatoes of the curriculum is free.  Yes, free.  No promo codes needed.  Each and every day you can download Levels 1-5 of their language arts curriculum for free.  So, I did.  It was love at first site (get it web-site?! Bwahaha!).

What is it?

Our homeschooling background is largely classical in goal.  The Well Trained Mind, by Susan Wise Bauer, is the most pivotal homeschooling book I have read.  I have a serious literary-crush on Mrs. Bauer.  Her method is beautiful and the education I would have loved to have had.  It is also time-consuming.  To give your child a traditional classical education is not for the faint of heart.  It involves no less than the basics, plus music and art and Greek and Latin, a broad array of quality living books, and a firm time commitment to accomplish those things in a manner that you feel you have done your child and the work justice.




We even dallied with enrolling our youngest in a private Classical Hybrid School.  It was almost perfect. Unfortunately, the distance was too much for the family and we sadly only completed a semester.  Then, last summer, I found it and I downloaded it and it was beautiful.

We are year-round homeschoolers so I started my eldest on the Language Arts curriculum over the summer.  Without being expressly classical The Good and the Beautiful feels classical.  There is an emphasis on quality and beauty.  Where we were struggling to incorporate spelling, writing, grammar, poetry, handwriting, art, reading, phonics, and faith, The Good and the Beautiful has it neatly bundled into a single curriculum.  Before I had a spreadsheet to try to hit certain subjects so many days per week.  Now, they flow naturally as we follow the curriculum.

Another thing I really value is TGTB’s emphasis on time limits.  It spells out the suggested times for you very simply and stresses that each lesson may not take the 30-minutes (which is the recommended time for LA lessons).  Some days you may do multiple lessons. Some lessons may take multiple days.  You are able to take the lessons at your child’s pace without trying to hit some imaginary benchmark that may lead to exhaustion, fights, and tears (I’ve heard this happens in some homeschools…it’s mine, it has happened in mine).

After spending the summer with TGTB’s Language Arts curriculum I decided to purchase the printed versions of the Language Arts Kindergarten level, for my younger son, as well as the History – Year One, and a science unit – Space Science.

Why purchase? For several reasons.  First, the Kindergarten level is not free, just Language Arts Levels 1-5.  However, even if it were I would have still purchased the printed set.  This summer I downloaded the first set and printed it myself.  If you have a laser printer this may be a good option to get a quality print.  If you are using an inkjet then you will use a lot if not all of your ink.  With the cost of ink and paper, the set is reasonably priced – plus you get all the digital files too.  If you are looking into having it printed and bound the costs are astronomical.  The only place that is even a little affordable is The Homeschool Printing Company and many online have used and recommended them. I have not.  For the cost, I prefer to simply order the printed set directly from TGTB because it’s very affordable and high quality and it’s nice to have the people who came up with a product I love receive profits for their wonderful work.

Here you can see what the Kindergarten level looks like:

The Good and the Beautiful Language Arts Level K – Lesson book, Reader, and Phonics Cards
The Good and the Beautiful Language Arts Level K – Lesson example and mini book (they are included but you cut apart and assemble) – my kiddo loves checking those boxes on each page!
The Good and the Beautiful Language Arts Level K – Reader
The Good and the Beautiful Language Arts Level K – Table of Contents

Historically, Speaking

I have been talking pretty extensively about the Language Arts portion of the curriculum but we also began using the History – Year 1 curriculum.  Previously, we used The Story of the World (SOTW), also by Susan Wise Bauer.  Classical education approaches history in cycles that focus on time periods.  Generally, you begin with Ancient History to the fall of Rome. Then from the fall of Rome through the Renaissance.  Followed by AD 650 to the Civil War (1850) and the fourth year would be from 1850 to modern times.  On a four year cycle, you would repeat the cycle three times and progress in depth of ideas commensurate with your child’s intellectual level as you retread previously learned time periods. The Good and the Beautiful approaches history a little differently.




TGTB’s history is also divided into four cycles. However, instead of focusing on one time period across the globe the curriculum begins in Ancient times and moves to modern times throughout each Year.  They have separate courses for US Constitution & Government and Economics & Finance.  As with most homeschool history curriculums, they are also designed to be completed family style with different student explorer sections for the different grade levels.  As well as different literature suggestions as the reading levels progress.

Is it better than SOTW?  It is different.  I enjoyed SOTW as did my children.  The audiobooks are great and are available from the Harris County Library System.  The problem I was running into was based on the aforementioned shortage of time.  We would prioritize math and language arts and everything else got pushed back.  Some years we wouldn’t even finish or the kids would just listen to the audio and we wouldn’t really have time to go deeper with activities and such.  This is our first year with TGTB History so I have not been able to see how it will play out, but I’m hoping since we will make it to modern times each year it will give us more of a chance to explore the children’s interests. For instance, WWII had a big surge in our house last year, but we never made it to it when we were actually studying history. So, while we read great books and watched documentaries, we never got to the original foundation on which to frame all that information.

TGTB History also comes with an audio “story” that my kids are enjoying.  The open and go nature of the curriculum makes it very user-friendly and easy to use.  So far, the whole family is enjoying it and I am enjoying slightly less reading (or at least being able to break it up into more manageable “chunks”).

Here’s a look at TGTB History Year One:

The Good and the Beautiful History Year 1 – Year 1 Coursebook, Year 1 Big Book of History Stories, Keys of History Game, Novel (suggested but not included)
The Good and the Beautiful History Year 1 – Keys of History Game to be used over multiple years
The Good and the Beautiful History Year 1 – Lesson 24 (See the direction to read from the Big Book of History and to play an audio recording)
The Good and the Beautiful History Year 1 – Lesson 24 continued
The Good and the Beautiful History Year 1 – Big Book of History story
The Good and the Beautiful History Year 1 – Big Book of History story continued
The Good and the Beautiful History Year 1 – Big Book of History full color maps

Science as Unit Studies

As we have rolled along our homeschool adventure unit studies have reared their heads.  A unit study is taking a topic and diving in whole-hog.  You can buy unit studies, you can make your own, you can just immerse yourself in a topic.  There is no one way to do a unit study. Lapbooks are a very popular option for unit studies because they frame the topic a bit so you don’t end up down the rabbit hole of unending knowledge.  The Good and the Beautiful handles Science as unit studies.  Our first unit is Space Science.  There is a little prep work but then it is just open and go.  This includes all of the “text” parts of the study as well.  So, there are no additional books (outside of those you choose to incorporate).




The science units are also designed to be taught family-style with older children expected to delve more deeply into the topics within the unit.  Again, the units are very affordable.  To have the printed set sent (and included pdf – which is great for printing off copies for multiple children) the prices currently start at $16 and do not exceed $22.  The paper is high quality and the illustrations are very nice.

Here’s a look at how I have our Space Unit set up:

The Good and the Beautiful Space Science – Binder
The Good and the Beautiful Space Science – The pages come loose. I keep each lesson in one or two sheet protectors and pull them out as needed. You can see the high quality prints of the planet cards compared to my at home print of a second set (the ones with Saturn on top in the binder sleeve).
The Good and the Beautiful Space Science – Lesson 3, The pages come loose because not all of them need to be hole punched. Also included are mini books that will need assembly, like the one above called ‘The Sun’

It’s a Beautiful Thing

Another thing that TGTB has in common with classical education is the priority it places on quality literature.  A word that often comes up in classical circles is ‘twaddle.’  Twaddle are books that are trivial and foolish.  Books that do not develop language and character.  You can find some beautiful books on classical lists.  They will usually be wholesome in nature with vocabulary and stories that do not talk down to your perfectly intelligent child.  Books you may find on such lists would be The Velveteen Rabbit, Beatrix Potter’s stories, The Story of Ferdinand, Charlotte’s Web, Blueberries for Sal, the Frog and Toad Series, The Little House on the Prairie Series, The Secret Garden, Aesop’s Fables, Robinson Crusoe, Dracula, The Illiad, Shakespeare, The Chronicles of Narnia, and the like.




The Good and the Beautiful offers a similar list.  TGTB is a faith-based curriculum, as are most Classical curriculum’s I have looked into.  One of the many benefits of homeschooling is that you can pick and choose what is right for your family.  If you are looking for something Biblically based you will have no problem with TGTB. The only issue I could forsee Christians having, in general, is dependent upon their view of Creation (TGTB “supports creationism from a general Christian viewpoint, but does not point to an old earth or young earth theory”). A few minutes of pre-reading before presenting to your children should allow you to note anything you would like to skip or change.  The vast majority is Christian but not controversial.

If you are not Christian you may need to do a bit more pre-reading to weed out what you would like to skip but it is still a viable option.  You should be able to get a good idea from the samples provided on their website.

The reason I address the issue of religion in relation to literature is that The Good and the Beautiful’s book list is more restricted than the average classical list (many are the same) in that you will not find much magic (and it is noted) or anything that may be unwholesome in the least.  In their own words, “…these books [are] free from unclean language, taking God’s name in vain, and disrespectful or inappropriate behavior made to look funny or acceptable.”  What you will find on TGTB’s book list is a curated list of wholesome, clean, and highly appropriate books.  Each and every book has been actually read and vetted by TGTB team.

Each year a new book list is released and through November 11, 2017, you can download the current list for free.

2017 The Good and the Beautiful Book List

Have you heard of The Good and the Beautiful?  We would love to hear your thoughts (especially in regards to using this curriculum with older children). Please leave us a comment or chat over on our Facebook page.  So far, I love it and the kids seem happy with it.  We will continue with it and I look forward to trying some of the other science units, delving into our nature journal, and generally spending time with together in a learning environment that is just as they say, good and beautiful.




Girl walking through a field homeschool

By:
On:
In: Homeschool

Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda!

Deciding to homeschool is a very personal and specific decision.  There are variables that make this not a one-size-fits all question.  And, a lot of the time, it may come down to just because you can, should you?

You wouldn’t be here without the thought crossing your mind so I’m going to pose some questions that you should consider before making the leap into Homeschool Land. I guarantee you few of us could just decide to do it and not end up drowning in guilt, insecurity, and an endless parade of options.

    • Are you frustrated with the school your child currently attends?
      • Is this decision a “knee-jerk” reaction to an incident?  Would taking a few days to reflect on it or speak to the appropriate teachers and/or administration help you work out the issue?
    • Would you like more control over your child[ren]’s education?
      • Do you want to allow your child more time to be a kid?
      • Do you want them to learn values from your home as opposed to state curriculum?
      • Do you feel like the school is not servicing your child’s needs appropriately (e.g. not following ARD directions or letting your gifted child coast because they’re done with everything and find worksheets boring.)
      • Do you want to expose your children to subjects that public school doesn’t teach, such as Latin, cursive, Turkish Underwater Basket Weaving?
      • Do you want your child to have the opportunity to learn in a more hands-on environment?
        • Are you prepared to pay for, travel to see, and/or arrange these experiences?
      • Do you want to be the one who gets to see the moment your child “gets it”?
    • Have you researched what it takes to start legally homeschooling?



  • Have you discussed it with your child’s other parent?  And, are you both in agreement? Is your child at least interested?
    • Do you have a child[ren] that you feel would benefit from a non-traditional instructional setting?
  • Do you want to be with your children all day? Do you enjoy being with them (no one is looking answer honestly!)?
    • Do you understand this may mean forgoing your career or taking a pay cut if you have to reduce the time your work?
    • Do you understand that homeschooling is equivalent to at least a part-time job? Even if you unschool you are still directing your child and helping them get the resources they are interested in, taking them to classes, etc.
    • Are you prepared to learn and read a lot as you research everything (from how children learn, how to teach to XYZ, who is Charlotte Mason how is she different from Maria Montessori, what’s the difference between a toad and a frog, what does snake poop look like? EVERYTHING.)
    • How are you going to handle teaching subjects that you are weak in?
  • Does your family have the resources or are they prepared to do what it takes to give your child the education and opportunities you want them to have?
    • Can you afford curriculum? There are no write offs here.  There are free and low-cost options available but they may not be what you want and you may have to spend a lot of time piecing it together exactly what you want if you can’t afford to buy it.
    • If full-time homeschooling does not work but you don’t want them back in regular school can you afford supplemental tutors or part-time programs?
  • Do you want the flexibility to travel whenever you want?
  • Do you want more family time?
  • Do you want your children to be able to sleep as much as they need to?
  • Are you worried about your child’s socialization? (That’s a trick question, Homeschoolers hate the topic of socialization because, particularly since we are based in a large city, we have more opportunities to “socialize” our children than kids in traditional 9-3pm schools)
    • Do you want your children to be able to play with each other and other children of various ages?
  • Can you handle the emotional responsibility of being the primary educator? You’re the one (usually) that the weight tends to fall on and with it, from time to time, comes feelings of inadequacy, guilt, and worry.  You can tell yourself not to compare your child to that nine-year old who is doing Trig or the Supermom who looks like she taught her children Latin, worked out, took a shower, put on makeup, AND got dinner ready, but sometimes you do.  It can be a heavy weight.
    • Can you handle making your child cry over math?  Obviously, this is not the goal but it happens more than you think it will.
    • Can you handle crying over math?  Frustration levels can run high in subjects that are not easily grasped by the student or they find boring.
  • Do you have a lot of friends who are doing it?  This is not something to go into over peer-pressure. A few bad days at school are not a good reason to homeschool.  It may look like it’s all park days and field trips but it’s not.
    • Where will you find support?
    • Are you prepared to deal with less-than supportive people (some of them might be people you love dearly, some might be random people in the grocery line being nosy about why your kids aren’t in school)?

I know it’s a lengthy list but consider it akin to those questions you were posed if you did pre-marriage counseling because for some of you it is going to be an 18+ year relationship.


Kids on a couch with computer and book

By:
On:
In: Homeschool

I don’t want to read just show me the Quicklinks!

Homeschooling Houston Where Do I Begin and Do I Want To?

Families come to homeschooling for many different reasons.  Some come with an academic ferocity to bolster their child to greatness.  Others for more traditional reasons – religious beliefs or grappling with a learning difference that they felt were not being handled well by public schools.  Some want the flexibility to teach their children at their own pace or let the children really delve into and follow interests that may only be brushed in passing in a brick and mortar school.

Many turn to homeschooling because they have become disenchanted with public school but can’t afford private schools.  In a city as big as Houston and with a homeschool population in the many thousands, we have heard a myriad of stories that have led families to take that first step down the path to homeschooling.

The big question is do you really want to?  This is a really big question so I’m going to send you to our post, Should I Homeschool?, because it is truly a family decision that needs to be carefully contemplated before deciding to change your entire family dynamic.  Because it will.  Becoming parent and teacher is a big decision and it is not for everyone and that is okay.  Maybe what you need is just a different school or a tutor or a girl’s night out.  Frustration can make us really evaluate the choices we make for our family so you need to be really committed before you decide to make the kind of change that impacts your children’s futures.

From here on out, I’m going to assume you are on board.

Welcome! Now let’s get you started!

How to Begin

This one is easy. You just begin.  Texas is one of the best places to homeschool. Every homeschool is considered an unaccredited private school and you have enormous freedom to teach your children in the way you think is best.

All that is required from the state of Texas is that your “curriculum is designed to meet basic education goals including reading, spelling, grammar, mathematics, and a study of good citizenship.”

If you are starting at the beginning with a Preschooler or Kindergartner you do not need to inform the school district you may simply choose your method and get going.

If you are taking your child out of public school you do need to inform them.  But, that is all.  You do not have to use “accredited” curriculum or keep records, transcripts, or portfolios (though you may want to as you get into the high school years if your child is college bound).  Your child is not required to submit to state testing.  Your child will not be eligible for a state diploma or participation in school sports, electives, etc.  You are still entitled to services from your local school district such as speech therapy etc.

What you do need to do is send them a letter (or drop one off).  The letter is simply your letter of withdrawal and needs to include:




    • The day’s date,
    • A statement that the child is to begin homeschooling,
    • The date the homeschooling will begin, and
    • The parent or guardian’s signature.

Some districts have withdrawal forms but the letter is all that is legally required (disclaimer: not a lawyer but it clearly stated by the TEA).

If the school district suspects a child is being homeschooled they may request a letter of assurance from the parent.  Parents (or guardians) are not required to make a personal appearance with school officials or present curriculum for review.

Your Style

There are numerous styles of homeschooling and finding your perfect fit may take a little trial and error.  The way most parents begin is by replicating school at home. Sometimes down to the cute school desks and a large whiteboard.  There is comfort in familiarity for the parent who came up through traditional schooling.  Very few homeschoolers maintain this rigorous structure.  Mostly they abandon it because they realize they can.  They start discovering the awesome things that keep people homeschooling like the ability to be flexible (even if you’re a planner), to drop and go when you hear of an amazing experience that’s happening tomorrow, to be the one who gets to the see your kid’s “A-ha!” moments. Once you become more comfortable taking on the role of teacher-parent you can find your rhythm.

Personally, we have fluctuated and it took awhile to find our cadence and what I could handle and the kids were happy with.  Part of the “problem” is that there are so many opportunities for homeschoolers in Houston.  It is sort of the comparison of shopping at HEB and Aldi.  At HEB you can become overwhelmed with the sheer number of olive oil options.  Do I need it cold pressed, organic, extra light, swirled by fairies?!  When you swing by Aldi you get what you get.

I’m not advocating for “you get what you get” schooling. I am advocating with starting somewhere and exploring.  And, not feeling bad when you completely abandon that expensive curriculum that makes your kid cry and you take nature walks for two weeks and keep a journal instead.




All that being said you do need to start somewhere and the place I usually recommend to start with is Easy Peasy All-In-One Homeschool. I am not an affiliate (it’s FREE) but it is a really good place to start because it is comprehensive, it does include religion but it is extremely easy to strip out, and, as I mentioned, it is completely FREE.  Currently, it goes through middle school.  If you feel like you need to do something this is a good place to start.

Next, I would suggest visiting The Homeschool Store.  Here you can actually lay your hands on curriculum.  It has a small play area in the store so feel free to bring your kids.  If you are already researching options online then bring some printouts because there is absolutely no cell phone service in the building.

Once you’ve got a good idea for who you are and what your kids are like as students then I would say reach out and start looking for your homeschool tribe.  There are a lot of options for groups, classes, and co-ops but if you don’t know what you can handle these may actually make your week harder instead of easier.

When you are ready to reach out come join us in the Greater Houston Homeschoolers Group. It is private and for Houston-area based Homeschoolers.  If you are neither of those two things we have a public group and there is always the regular Greater Houston Moms Facebook page.

Also, check out our list of Houston Homeschooling Days and Ongoing Classes & Activities .

Going Back

Sometimes the need to homeschool is only temporary due to illness, sports, or travel, etc.  Sometimes the children ask to go back. Sometimes the parents decide they need to go back.  Going back into the public school system is very common and not at all a problem.  Each district has their own policies and procedures on how to re-enroll and assess the mastery level of homeschooled students. Simply call the school you are zoned to and they will guide you through the process.

Good luck and feel free to ask you questions, join in the conversation, or just lurk about here or in the groups!

 Quicklinks

COMMUNITY, CLASSES, ACTIVITIES 

CURRICULUM

HOMESCHOOLING ARTICLES & MISC.


By:
On:
In: Education & Activities, Homeschool

Fun with Phonograms

Reading is all about the phonograms.  There are so many theories out there and sight words absolutely have their place, but it all comes back down to being able to blend sounds together to make words.

Two of the more popular systems out there are All About Reading & Spell to Write and Read, both use 70 basic phonograms as the basis to successfully teaching a child to read.

In my school, we incorporate the letters with movement, but none of our cards had it all together in a nice easy way to go through it. Plus, it is kind of a pain to sort cards while you are jumping. So, I’ve compiled a slide show that shows the upper and lower case of each letter, its main sound(s), and a physical movement to do along with it (tying movement to the letter and sound cements it into a child’s memory).

This presentation is the basic 26 letter of the alphabet which is appropriate for beginning readers of pre-K through Kindergarten age – always depending on the readiness of your individual child.

I highly, recommend downloading the free All About Reading App to familiarize yourself with the proper pronunciation of each phonogram. And, say them out loud so you can correct any errors in your own pronunciation before teaching your child (for instance ‘duh’ for the letter d, instead of a clipped /d/ sound).

click here >>>>>   26 BASIC PHONOGRAMS 




By:
On:
In: Education & Activities, Field Trips, Homeschool, Preschool, School Age Kids

We’ve just added a great page to our directory that covers Houston Groups and Field Trip Opportunities!

Sometimes you just have to get a group together!  There are some great places to go and things to see with your group, be school, scout, or any other! Also, check out our Calendar of Events for information related to specific education days and events where groups are often welcome.

What kind of trip are you taking?

The list is sorted into the categories of Historical; Nature, Outdoors, & Animals; Theatre & the Arts; and STEM.

We are always looking to grow and expand the list so if you find something that would be an excellent addition please drop us a comment!




By:
On:
In: Featured, Homeschool

Houston Homeschool Days and Ongoing Weekly Events & Activities 2016-2017

There are many resources for finding classes and groups for homeschoolers in and around Houston.  What I was in need of was a relatively simple list of day-to-day activities so that I could better manage what will fit into our schedule on a given day (and week-to-week).  It soon became apparent that Houston is a font of homeschooling awesomeness!  There are so many things we want to try!  If you know of something that would be a good inclusion feel free to comment below or shoot me an email or post it on the facebook page.  I’m easy peasy to contact but sometimes a bit slow to respond and update (homeschooling takes a lot of time!).

This list includes places that offer specific Homeschool days (though we add specific dates to our Calendar of Events, please check there for the most up to date information); activities by day of the week; and a general list of classes, speakers, and events for individuals & groups; as well as, a list of museums and parks to check out.

Check out the list  through the link below (also, it can be located in our directory):

Houston Homeschool Days and Ongoing Weekly Events & Activities

 

joangonzalez / Pixabay