Homeschool Archives - Page 5 of 8

Paradigm Accelerated: Principles & Precepts of Economics Review

March 20, 2017 by Susan Leave a Comment

I have always said that one of the very best things about homeschooling is that you can do what works for you and your kids. One thing I’ve learned in teaching two boys who learn differently than I do: It’s my job to find what works for them.

That’s what we do as homeschool parents. We think about how our kids learn, try different things, and soon we start to see a pattern of what works and what doesn’t.

With that in mind, I’d like to tell you about an economics curriculum that I’ve had the pleasure to review and help you determine if it would be a good fit for your family.

Picture Books from Candlewick Press: Practicing the Art of Strewing

March 8, 2017 by Susan 5 Comments

Do you practice strewing? If you don’t strew, you’re missing some teachable moments with your kids. You probably strew and don’t even know it. Are you asking: What is strewing?!

Strewing is simply consciously leaving material around the house for children to discover and engage with.

One of the places I like to strew is in the bathroom…captive audience, you see. One of my nieces said once that she loved using the bathroom at my house because she always learned something. (At the time, I was swapping out pages with the Greek and Latin roots to English words in a clear page protector hung on the wall).

Depending on the ages of your kids, you can strew building toys, art supplies, or puzzles. Lately, I’ve been strewing books. And I have found a fantastic resource for them: Candlewick Press.

We Returned Our Homeschool History Curriculum After One Week (And Replaced it With This)

January 11, 2017 by Susan 16 Comments

I love shopping curriculum.

When we started homeschooling years ago, I had so much fun perusing and selecting. I was especially excited about history curriculum. My boys had both told me that they ‘hated social studies’. The reason why was that they had studied essentially the same material from kindergarten through 5th grade.

Communities, maps, Native Americans, the colonies, and settlers. Every year.

Because of that, I chose to start our homeschool adventure with a chronological study of history, starting with the ancient world.

I was so excited about the curriculum I had chosen. It had positive reviews, lots of activities, and audio discs to accompany each lesson that were said to engage and delight students.

And it ended up being a perfect example of what has become my favorite thing about homeschooling: If something doesn’t work you get to try something else. (We learned this with our math curriculum, too!)

2016: Top 10 Posts

January 2, 2017 by Susan 20 Comments

So here we are, all having to get used to writing 2017. How’re you doing so far? Me? It’s usually at least March before I don’t have to think about it. But I’m the girl who forgets how old I am. (I know what year I was born, and have to calculate it every time I’m asked.) Anyone else?

As I was compiling this list of your favorite posts of 2016, based on the number of visits to each post, I was pleased to see a variety of topics represented. That’s what The Sparrow’s Home is all about, after all. Our homes are made up of many different spheres.

So here they are…the Top 10 Posts of 2016

Integrating Gaming, Crafts and Other Real World Learning into Your Homeschool

December 14, 2016 by Susan 7 Comments

I received a free product and am being compensated for my time writing this post. As with anything on The Sparrow’s Home, my thoughts are my own.

I’ve been seeing the neatest things pop up on the blogs of unschooling families. When I see them, it can sometimes cause me to re-evaluate my own homeschooling philosophy. I’m definitely a bit of a free spirit, go-with-the-flow kind of gal. But I am also my mother’s daughter, and have a need for some organization and structure.

My boys are in high school now (my eldest graduates this year) and we are sold-out on our method of homeschooling high school. But I got to thinking…what if we had been unschoolers?

{Insert wavy arms and dream sequence music]

Fall Poetry Printables

October 12, 2016 by Susan 20 Comments

One thing I really do love about Minnesota are the distinctive seasons. On Monday I got to spend the day in Duluth with a friend. Wow! God was really showing off! (Sadly, I didn’t get any really good pictures of the leaves. Sorry!)

I frequently and sincerely thank our Father for his creativity. I mean, He could have made everything black and white, one kind of tree, one season. Thank you, Lord for your goodness to us with these lovely gifts!

In honor of the crisp air and the crisp leaves, I’d like to share some snippets of poetry in printable form with you.

I hope you find something that reminds you to savor this beautiful season.