Typing Programs

In: College Bound, Directory Homeschool Curriculum, Education & Activities, Electives, Family, Homeschool, Kids & Teens, Lifestyle, School Age Kids

Let’s talk typing! Many people now consider it a more essential skill than handwriting (and especially cursive – but that is an entirely different discussion!). All schools eventually administer some kind of typing, keyboarding, and/ or word processing course. Even if you homeschool learning efficient keyboarding is essential. While many homeschooling families do not introduce typing papers etc. until later than public schools eventually a using a program with structure is helpful. Having the basics down for typing is without a doubt a skill we all need these days. Even if your kiddo is just playing Minecraft (again) being able to type quickly in chatsRead More →

teaching place value rainbow colored abacus

In: Directory Homeschool Curriculum, Education & Activities, Homeschool, Math, School Age Kids

Teaching place value takes abstract thinking and concepts to hands-on fundamentals that children need to build their entire mathematical understanding. For some kids it is easy to pick up for others it takes a few different approaches before the concept “clicks.” We have used many options in our own homeschool and rounded up our top picks from those from educators who have been there. Table of Contents Get Practical & PracticeLet the Kids TeachSimple TipsManipulativesWhole Body LearningGamesDigital Games & ResourcesSongs and Videos Place Value Books Take a Break Taking a break from an idea and revisiting it later is a great strategy for many disciplines.Read More →

In: Directory Homeschool Curriculum, Homeschool, Science

Disclaimer: I don’t know Getting Nerdy. They’re not paying me. I just think it looks cool – and, I’m cheap! I ran across these 3-D Paper Dissection Models at Getting Nerdy and thought they looked really good. If you’re not going to use a real one then these would be a great option. Unless you are moving into the upper sciences I don’t see why accurate paper models wouldn’t work and may be preferable. For starters, unless you, as the teacher, have a Biology background it’s probably been a while since you did a dissection on something real and identifying those parts may not beRead More →

In: Directory Homeschool Curriculum, Homeschool, Social Studies

If you’re into Classical Homeschooling like I’m into Classical Homeschooling, then you are down with The Well Trained Mind (referral link).  I love this book so much I actually buy the new editions when they come out. I know, weird.  By the by, memorization is part and parcel of the classical model and here are some printables that go along with Grade Three and are in line with the typical third-grade history cycle – years 1600-1850. Here is a link to the pdf for Well Trained Mind 3rd Grade MemorizationsRead More →

In: Directory Homeschool Curriculum, Homeschool, Science

Chemistry is the suggested science for third grade in the Classical cycle. As another year begins on our homeschooling journey we hit this milestone. Like years before, my process begins by rereading The Well-Trained Mind, by Susan Wise Bauer. It is basically the classical home education Bible. Seriously, I love it. It is the best. The Well-Trained Mind while an amazing guide is definitely more ambitious than I could ever endeavor to follow faithfully. Fortunately, the author recognizes this as well. She emphasizes it is a guide but encourage families to follow their own path. For instance, the third-grade chemistry recommendations are to spend 2-3Read More →

In: Directory Homeschool Curriculum, Homeschool, Science

Earth Science and Astronomy are the sciences suggested for Second Grade in the Classical Cycle. For our homeschool, we use (sometimes loosely) the framework in the book The Well Trained Mind, by Susan Wise Bauer. The book is in invaluable for the classical or classically-inspired homeschool. It is suggested that for Second Grade you divide the year into two 18-week sections: Earth Science and Astronomy. For us, that is a little ambitious; especially since we do so much supplemental scienc-ey things and classes. This is the first image ever taken of Earth from the surface of a planet beyond the Moon. Taken by the MarsRead More →