We’ve often said that your local library has nearly every resource a homeschooler needs for learning. If your library is currently closed, you can still use online libraries, either through your local library or through online websites.
For free books, here’s links to great sites for easily reading books or picture books online, or downloading free classics, fiction, or nonfiction on a variety of educational topics.
So even if you can’t visit your favorite library right now, you can still have fun and continue learning every day!
Also, continue to share your homeschooling knowledge and experience with all those who are suddenly learning at home, too!
Happy homeschooling from EverythingHomeschooling.com!
Saturday, March 14, 2020
Thursday, January 9, 2020
New Year! New Knowledge! New Ideas!
As the New Year unfolds, New Learning Ideas are available from EverythingHomeschooling.com.
Examples include:
1. New Views of Our Galaxy
2. Fascinating Facts about Our Galaxy
3. Earth – Layer by Layer
4. Science Vocabulary and Terms
5. Dogs - Fascinating Facts
6. Cats - Fascinating Facts
7. Math Strategies
8. Math Flashcard Games
9. Climate Change Teen
10. Reading Aloud for All Ages
- Reading Suggestions for Ages 3-6
- Reading Suggestions for Ages 6-8
- Reading Suggestions for Ages 9-12
- Reading Suggestions for Ages 13+
Visit Everything Homeschooling at EverythingHomeschooling.com.
Happy New Year and Happy Homeschooling!
Examples include:
1. New Views of Our Galaxy
2. Fascinating Facts about Our Galaxy
3. Earth – Layer by Layer
4. Science Vocabulary and Terms
5. Dogs - Fascinating Facts
6. Cats - Fascinating Facts
7. Math Strategies
8. Math Flashcard Games
9. Climate Change Teen
10. Reading Aloud for All Ages
- Reading Suggestions for Ages 3-6
- Reading Suggestions for Ages 6-8
- Reading Suggestions for Ages 9-12
- Reading Suggestions for Ages 13+
Visit Everything Homeschooling at EverythingHomeschooling.com.
Happy New Year and Happy Homeschooling!
Thursday, January 31, 2019
Learn Through Nature
Nature is all around us -- the woods by our house, the park down the street, the yard outside our back door. Take 20 or 30 minutes today to explore your yard, park, or woods. Then, in a small notebook, jot down everything you notice during your explorations. This can be your field guide to the natural world surrounding your home or neighborhood.
Draw your observations in your notebook, too. Even a quick, rough sketch of a few things you and your child noticed will help you recall your field trip into nature. Over the coming week, revisit the notebook and sketches, and research nature's beauty: the crystal ice formations in a puddle or creek, the patterns found on a pine cone or fern leaf, the intricate chimney of a crayfish.
Why -- and how -- does the magic of nature occur? Read, research, question, discuss, and learn! Nature provides a bountiful education covering a world of topics for all ages!
Happy homeschooling from EverythingHomeschooling.com!
Draw your observations in your notebook, too. Even a quick, rough sketch of a few things you and your child noticed will help you recall your field trip into nature. Over the coming week, revisit the notebook and sketches, and research nature's beauty: the crystal ice formations in a puddle or creek, the patterns found on a pine cone or fern leaf, the intricate chimney of a crayfish.
Why -- and how -- does the magic of nature occur? Read, research, question, discuss, and learn! Nature provides a bountiful education covering a world of topics for all ages!
Happy homeschooling from EverythingHomeschooling.com!
Tuesday, July 31, 2018
Fun Homeschool Activities and Learning!
We hope all of you had a great summer!
As always, my heart sinks a bit when I see the “Back-to-School” sales being advertised in July! "Hey, it's still summertime in my world!" July and August should consist of the "dog days" of summer, the “lazy, crazy days" of summer – swimming, picnics, ice cream socials, county fairs, and relaxing in the sunshine, letting daydreams dance across our minds.
Soon, though, we'll be gearing up for a new Homeschool Year at Everything Homeschooling. And we have LOTS of interesting and fun learning ideas to share!
We make it SO EASY for you to help your children learn at home, at their own pace, in their own ways. Remember: You don't need to be a "teacher" – just continue being your child's parent, the person they love and look up to the most!
Visit us often at EverythingHomeschooling.com for fun learning activities and more educational ideas for the coming year!
Happy homeschooling!
As always, my heart sinks a bit when I see the “Back-to-School” sales being advertised in July! "Hey, it's still summertime in my world!" July and August should consist of the "dog days" of summer, the “lazy, crazy days" of summer – swimming, picnics, ice cream socials, county fairs, and relaxing in the sunshine, letting daydreams dance across our minds.
Soon, though, we'll be gearing up for a new Homeschool Year at Everything Homeschooling. And we have LOTS of interesting and fun learning ideas to share!
We make it SO EASY for you to help your children learn at home, at their own pace, in their own ways. Remember: You don't need to be a "teacher" – just continue being your child's parent, the person they love and look up to the most!
Visit us often at EverythingHomeschooling.com for fun learning activities and more educational ideas for the coming year!
Happy homeschooling!
Thursday, July 27, 2017
Back to Homeschool + Summer Fun
I hope all of you had a fun, memorable summer!
My heart always drops a bit as soon as I see the “Back-to-School” commercials on TV or “School Sales” in the stores – in July! In my mind, July still embodies the “lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer” – picnics, swimming at the lake, or simply playing in the sunshine and letting daydreams consume my mind.
Childhood summers are special and should be as long as possible. There will only be one summer when your child is six, only one summer when your child is eleven, only one summer when your child is fourteen. Each summer should be treasured. These wonderful, carefree summers will be gone far too soon.
Whatever their age, your children should be able to enjoy their childhood summers to the fullest. Each summer should be full of fun, explorations, and great memories – even if the summer is “only” spent in your home and backyard. That’s where many of the most wonderful childhood memories are created!
So walk on past those “Back-to-School” sales in the big stores! Ignore those TV commercials!
Rather than purchasing paper, make your own paper as a fun experiment and learning activity. Read about the history of paper-making, too. The act of making their own paper is something your children will always remember.
Rather than buying backpacks, let children make their own by sewing, quilting, crocheting, or leather-crafting. Then, instead of filling it with school supplies, fill it with picnic supplies and spend a day at your nearest beach, pond, or park, learning about nature and biology, first-hand.
Rather than buying pencils or pens and those required boxes of tissues (for classrooms that will be full of colds and flu), encourage your children to pick up paintbrushes and shred colorful tissue paper. Allow them to express themselves while creating splendid mixed-media art or colorful collages.
And because they’re able to learn at home and have the freedom to explore real life – at their own pace, in their own ways – the memories of their childhood will be memories to cherish for a lifetime.
Visit us often at EverythingHomeschooling.com for more memorable activities for the coming year!
Happy homeschooling!
My heart always drops a bit as soon as I see the “Back-to-School” commercials on TV or “School Sales” in the stores – in July! In my mind, July still embodies the “lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer” – picnics, swimming at the lake, or simply playing in the sunshine and letting daydreams consume my mind.
Childhood summers are special and should be as long as possible. There will only be one summer when your child is six, only one summer when your child is eleven, only one summer when your child is fourteen. Each summer should be treasured. These wonderful, carefree summers will be gone far too soon.
Whatever their age, your children should be able to enjoy their childhood summers to the fullest. Each summer should be full of fun, explorations, and great memories – even if the summer is “only” spent in your home and backyard. That’s where many of the most wonderful childhood memories are created!
So walk on past those “Back-to-School” sales in the big stores! Ignore those TV commercials!
Rather than purchasing paper, make your own paper as a fun experiment and learning activity. Read about the history of paper-making, too. The act of making their own paper is something your children will always remember.
Rather than buying backpacks, let children make their own by sewing, quilting, crocheting, or leather-crafting. Then, instead of filling it with school supplies, fill it with picnic supplies and spend a day at your nearest beach, pond, or park, learning about nature and biology, first-hand.
Rather than buying pencils or pens and those required boxes of tissues (for classrooms that will be full of colds and flu), encourage your children to pick up paintbrushes and shred colorful tissue paper. Allow them to express themselves while creating splendid mixed-media art or colorful collages.
And because they’re able to learn at home and have the freedom to explore real life – at their own pace, in their own ways – the memories of their childhood will be memories to cherish for a lifetime.
Visit us often at EverythingHomeschooling.com for more memorable activities for the coming year!
Happy homeschooling!
Saturday, April 29, 2017
Re-Energize Your Homeschool
Re-Energize Your Homeschool: Coping with “Burnout” and Sparking New Ideas
Burnout is usually a result of trying to do too much or trying to stick to an old format. It can be a sure sign that it’s time to try something different, to broaden your horizons, to make changes not only in your homeschool, but in your lifestyle. Change can help us keep growing and lead to many happy years of exciting, rewarding homeschool experiences.
Encouragement for Your Homeschool Journey
Burnout can occur after ten years of homeschooling or after two years. Parents may feel that they have exhausted all the ideas that once seemed so fabulous and endless. After a few years of homeschooling, the kids might not be as excited about the homeschool experience as they were in the beginning. Getting them to open a book or finish an assignment seems like a losing battle. But it needn’t be a battle with the kids nor yourself.
Eliminating Stress
Stress is one of the main causes of burnout. Parents may find themselves trying to fill two full-time roles in the home: as a parent and as a “schoolteacher”. This adds unnecessary stress to your life. As we've noted in previous articles, learning is a natural part of living, and homeschooling should be a natural part of your family’s lifestyle. Homeschooling is not “school at home”. Teaching your children is simply a part of parenting your children.
Burnout also comes from setting expectations too high, then trying to reach them, day after day, and finding yourself falling short. If you feel you’d be a “better teacher” if your children were ready for learning every morning at 8:00 A.M., dove into their lessons with glee each day, stayed on task throughout the morning and afternoon, achieved 100% on all their assignments, and were able to deliver the Gettysburg Address over dinner, then you’re only setting yourself up for disappointment. Occasionally, a day may work out this way, but it’d be a miracle for nearly any teacher to experience such success.
If you, on the other hand, feel you’re accomplishing your goals when your children enjoy most of their lessons, like to explore things that interest them, are learning new information and skills, and can deliver the Gettysburg Address by the end of a school year, then you and your kids are probably enjoying the homeschool process, and you won’t be as likely to burn out.
Preventing Burnout
As they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Lower your expectations for yourself and for your children, and you will lower your feelings of stress and chances of burnout. It’s true that you’ll want your children to attain certain goals, so you naturally have some expectations of them. Just remember that you have an entire year to reach those goals. And then there’s next year, too, and the year after that.
When you begin to get that nagging feeling that maybe you’re not doing enough in your homeschool, or read or hear about the fantastic adventures of other homeschool families, take some moments to step back and look at your own family. Consider the happiness and well-being of your own children. Consider how much they’ve grown, how much they’ve learned since you began homeschooling.
Overcoming Boredom
If your children are exhibiting signs of boredom, then they may not be challenged enough. Set the learning rail a little higher for them—just enough to entice them to try a little harder. But not so high that they become frustrated, which will lead to feelings of frustration and burnout for everyone.
Revisit areas of interest or new ideas for learning. Explore new hobbies. Learn new art techniques, try a different musical instrument, or try a new sport or recreational activity. Create something, invent something, no matter how simple. The fun and learning occur as a result of "doing" and "exploring".
Less Structure and More Flexibility
Remember that childhood is a time for being a child, not for squeezing hundreds of lessons or extracurricular activities into their lives. Remind yourself that childhood is a time for being curious and explorative, for daydreaming and thinking, playing and learning, having fun and being happy. The child who has plenty of time for these simple activities will grow into a curious, creative, thinking, happy adult who enjoys the freedom and fun of learning.
More Helpful Tips
For more Helpful Homeschool Help, visit us often at EverythingHomeschooling.com site. (Portions of this article are excerpts from our Everything Homeschooling Book by Sherri Linsenbach.)
Happy homeschooling!
Burnout is usually a result of trying to do too much or trying to stick to an old format. It can be a sure sign that it’s time to try something different, to broaden your horizons, to make changes not only in your homeschool, but in your lifestyle. Change can help us keep growing and lead to many happy years of exciting, rewarding homeschool experiences.
Encouragement for Your Homeschool Journey
Burnout can occur after ten years of homeschooling or after two years. Parents may feel that they have exhausted all the ideas that once seemed so fabulous and endless. After a few years of homeschooling, the kids might not be as excited about the homeschool experience as they were in the beginning. Getting them to open a book or finish an assignment seems like a losing battle. But it needn’t be a battle with the kids nor yourself.
Eliminating Stress
Stress is one of the main causes of burnout. Parents may find themselves trying to fill two full-time roles in the home: as a parent and as a “schoolteacher”. This adds unnecessary stress to your life. As we've noted in previous articles, learning is a natural part of living, and homeschooling should be a natural part of your family’s lifestyle. Homeschooling is not “school at home”. Teaching your children is simply a part of parenting your children.
Burnout also comes from setting expectations too high, then trying to reach them, day after day, and finding yourself falling short. If you feel you’d be a “better teacher” if your children were ready for learning every morning at 8:00 A.M., dove into their lessons with glee each day, stayed on task throughout the morning and afternoon, achieved 100% on all their assignments, and were able to deliver the Gettysburg Address over dinner, then you’re only setting yourself up for disappointment. Occasionally, a day may work out this way, but it’d be a miracle for nearly any teacher to experience such success.
If you, on the other hand, feel you’re accomplishing your goals when your children enjoy most of their lessons, like to explore things that interest them, are learning new information and skills, and can deliver the Gettysburg Address by the end of a school year, then you and your kids are probably enjoying the homeschool process, and you won’t be as likely to burn out.
Preventing Burnout
As they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Lower your expectations for yourself and for your children, and you will lower your feelings of stress and chances of burnout. It’s true that you’ll want your children to attain certain goals, so you naturally have some expectations of them. Just remember that you have an entire year to reach those goals. And then there’s next year, too, and the year after that.
When you begin to get that nagging feeling that maybe you’re not doing enough in your homeschool, or read or hear about the fantastic adventures of other homeschool families, take some moments to step back and look at your own family. Consider the happiness and well-being of your own children. Consider how much they’ve grown, how much they’ve learned since you began homeschooling.
Overcoming Boredom
If your children are exhibiting signs of boredom, then they may not be challenged enough. Set the learning rail a little higher for them—just enough to entice them to try a little harder. But not so high that they become frustrated, which will lead to feelings of frustration and burnout for everyone.
Revisit areas of interest or new ideas for learning. Explore new hobbies. Learn new art techniques, try a different musical instrument, or try a new sport or recreational activity. Create something, invent something, no matter how simple. The fun and learning occur as a result of "doing" and "exploring".
Less Structure and More Flexibility
Remember that childhood is a time for being a child, not for squeezing hundreds of lessons or extracurricular activities into their lives. Remind yourself that childhood is a time for being curious and explorative, for daydreaming and thinking, playing and learning, having fun and being happy. The child who has plenty of time for these simple activities will grow into a curious, creative, thinking, happy adult who enjoys the freedom and fun of learning.
More Helpful Tips
For more Helpful Homeschool Help, visit us often at EverythingHomeschooling.com site. (Portions of this article are excerpts from our Everything Homeschooling Book by Sherri Linsenbach.)
Happy homeschooling!
Monday, November 14, 2016
Thanksgiving Unit Study and Fall Unit Study
Our Thanksgiving Unit Study provides a multitude of fun crafts, along with history lessons on the first Thanksgiving. Follow the Pilgrims' journeys, learn about Native American lifestyles and the challenges for the Pilgrims, tour the Mayflower and see the passenger list, and much more at EverythingHomeschooling.com!
Our Fall Unit Study also includes fun Fall crafts! Plus, you can learn the science of frost formation, the changing colors of leaves, how to separate colors in a leaf, an Autumn plant project, and more!
Watch for our Christmas and Winter Unit Study coming soon to EverythingHomeschooling.com, too!
Happy homeschooling!
Our Fall Unit Study also includes fun Fall crafts! Plus, you can learn the science of frost formation, the changing colors of leaves, how to separate colors in a leaf, an Autumn plant project, and more!
Watch for our Christmas and Winter Unit Study coming soon to EverythingHomeschooling.com, too!
Happy homeschooling!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)