May 22, 2012

A Few of My Favorite Homeschooling Websites

Throughout the next few weeks, I’ll be joining in with the bloggers from iHomeschoolNetwork to offer some of my Top 10′s. The Top Ten Tuesday link up is hosted by my friend, Angie from Many Little Blessings.

This week, we’re sharing our favorite homeschooling sites. I’m going to warn you right now…mine are different in the fact that few of them are actual homeschool sites. However, these are the sites I find myself going to over and over again throughout the course of a homeschool year and that’s why they are on my list. {By the way, these are listed in order of how often I use them.}

—- #1 —-

SCHOLARIC – I was introduced to Scholaric by Amanda from The Pelsers, but it took me months to finally sign up for a free trial of their lesson plan software because I have always shied away from such things due to how complicated they usually are. I do not like software that requires hours of inputting data to make it work, and nearly everything I had seen on the market took more setup than I was willing to take the time for. I really didn’t expect Scholaric to be any different, but it was!

It is web-based so I use it on my iPad. (this is part of what has endeared it to me - I don’t have to be tied to my laptop/desktop!) I type in assignments, but my big kids can also add in their assignments since I don’t always keep track of where they are. I have never been more impressed by a lesson plan software in all 10 years of my homeschooling! And yes, we use it every single day multiple times a day.

—- #2 —-

GOOGLE IMAGES – I use the images from Google searches primarily for history and science. For example, yesterday I was teaching the older kids about the Babylonian captivity of the Jews. I Googled things like “hanging gardens”, “synagogue” and “hamanatshen”. But, then I clicked on IMAGES instead of trying to search through EVERYTHING.

Again, I am using my iPad so the kids can easily pass it around and look at the pictures while I read (please be aware that not all search images are appropriate, but usually the first several rows are perfect!). Having a visual to go along with what we are learning about is priceless!

—- #3 —-

AMAZON – I already told you about my freebie finds for next school year on Amazon, but then one of my readers told me about all the amazing Henty and Ballantyne books for free and I added even more to my Kindle app! And in the process, I found the McGuffy readers there too! A huge thank you to Reformation Acres for feeding my obsession for free books!

I also search Amazon first when looking for must-have books for the school year; however, you will see in a moment, this is NOT where I start my search…

—- #4 —-

PaperBackSwap – I told you in my post on creating my own history curriculum exactly how I use PaperBackSwap. I just listed a long list of books we no longer need and am greatly anticipating sending those off and adding more to my list of needs for next school year!

The reason this site is near the top of my list is because the books come trickling in all year long, so don’t think just because when you initially post your wants and don’t get everything you want that you won’t see it pop up later in the year. The things I can’t wait on, I buy from Amazon, but if I can wait, I’d rather try to get it via PaperBackSwap.

—- #5 —-

ChristianCinema.com – This is something brand new to our family, but it has already created some big excitement around here!

When we dropped our Netflix membership, we talked about getting an Amazon Prime membership so we could watch videos or subscribing to Hulu, but neither one of those options were distinctly Christian and the selection was a little iffy. After our decision to be more purposeful with our movie watching, we decided to search for something more in line with what we were trying to accomplish. I ran across Christian Cinema via an internet search engine and decided this was more what we were looking for. They even have a “homeschooling” category!

—- #6 —-

HOMESCHOOL SHARE – I’ve told you before how this is the first place I look for supplemental material during our homeschool year. This site has an amazing selection of free stuff! And in case you are interested in getting a ChristianCinema membership and then lapbooking what you learn, here’s the link to their Movie Lapbook!

—- #7 —-

THE HOMESCHOOL CHANNEL – I don’t utilize this site as often as I should, but it really is a great resource for the homeschooling family! But beware, you WILL get lost looking for items of interest there! It is endless!

—- #8 —-

CurrClick – I have had a CurrClick membership for years and used it periodically to get freebies, but this past April at 2:1 in Washington, D.C., I actually met Leah from CurrClick and came to the realization of just how extensive and awesome the site is!

For instance, did you know there are online classes your child can take via CurrClick on everything from Biology to Math to Government to Essay Writing and all for very reasonable prices considering the last time I looked at an online class through a homeschool company, it was $250!

Leah also told me about their FREE Clubs. There are Lego Clubs and Chess Clubs (yes, they actually get to play chess in a safe online environment!) and many, many more! There are even parent’s groups where you can talk about specific homeschooling issues and get the help you need from parents who have been there.

The actual products available through CurrClick are all digital, so if you are looking for less clutter in your homeschool, please check out CurrClick!

—- #9 —-

HOMESCHOOL SANITY – This was an off-shoot of Sherry’s original site Large Family Mothering and it used to be called McGuffey’s World (you’ll see it’s still under that in the URL). I started reading it because I have this strange fascination with McGuffey Readers. Probably the same reason one-room schoolhouses fascinate me. Sherry gives very practical educational application, and because she runs a large family household, I know what she offers will be doable for my homeschool.

—- #10 —-

MOM’s MUSTARD SEEDS FREEDOM FRIDAY – This is a series I have had bookmarked since it started! I want to go through the entire thing with my older kids. It is 12 weeks of Government classes from Lynn at Founder’s Academy and it is entirely FREE! The classes are presented via video, there is a reading list and worksheets and quizzes – absolutely AMAZING opportunity!

So, what would your top 10 be? You might even want to write a post about it and link it up to Top Ten Tuesday!

May 15, 2012

Free Books I Found While Planning for Next School Year!

This is not my typical kind of post, but if you could have seen me the other night hooping and hollering every time I snagged a freebie from next year’s book list, you would get why I just had to share with all of you!

In my post on affording the large family homeschool, I talked about using free stuff to homeschool. One of the free things I mentioned was public domain works. Now that I have an iPad these are a little more enticing to me. I never wanted to use these before because I didn’t want to lug my 17″ laptop all over the house with me. But having a much smaller and more portable device and the ability to use the Kindle app (works for PC too!) to store the books on Kindle until I am ready for them gave me the idea that I ought to search through my list of books for next year and see what I could find that was public domain.

By the way, we have decided to use Tapestry of Grace Year 2 for next school year, so the book list I was searching was from there and primarily for my junior high and high school aged children. And yes, I promise to write a post about our choice to go back to Tapestry of Grace after all these years.

Please remember these books must be previewed by you, the parent. Also be aware that you do not see HOW I use these materials in our homeschool. I may be skipping sections, giving an overview of the work, or reading the entire book aloud.

So, here’s what I found!

I went with this version of Arabian Nights because one review called it the “sanitized children’s version”.

For those of you unfamiliar with the real “unsanitized” version of Canterbury Tales, this is not a book you read straight through.

Beowulf is not an easy read and I didn’t read it until I was in college, so I plan to skim sections with my children. There is a children’s version available, but not for free.

Not a light read I am sure!

This book, set in the middle ages, is one that I am very excited to be putting in the hands of my oldest son!

Frankly, I’m looking forward to reading this! I’ve heard it is a good read.

If you buy this in the complete version it is $.99, but if you get the two volumes separate, it is free. Go figure.

My oldest son will be earning a Government credit next year. This is part of that credit.

We own a hardcover version of this book as well (picked up from a used book sale!), but I wanted the opportunity for two children to read the book at the same time without needing to share the book.

In order to get Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, I had to get this selection rather than just the sermon itself which costs $.99.

The reviews on this particular book won me over as this being the sort of thing I was looking for.

Again, we own this in hard copy, but I wanted to give both my older children the chance to read this at the same time and not have to share a book.

As for the other books on my list, I am saving up Amazon gift cards from being an affiliate and as Swagbucks prizes. I’m starting to list what I need on PaperBackSwap as well with the hopes I can find some there for cheap too. I also plan to utilize my library as much as possible!

May 9, 2012

The Radio Drama My Children Love! {plus a Giveaway!}

The second we unwrapped the CDs and put them in the radio, I knew we had a new favorite in our house! My children sat glued to the CD player listening to the adventures of real missionaries.

As a mom, I was thrilled with the quality of the audio dramas and the fact that the main characters are a large homeschooling family. I was also thrilled to see my younger children playing “Missionary Boot Camp”! It proved to me that what they were hearing was really penetrating their little hearts and minds.

Every single one of my children from 14 down to 19 months listens to these and almost all of them can quote them forward and backward (that’s how many times they have listened to them in the past several months!).

Since we purchased our 15 passenger van we have been without a CD player in the vehicle, but I’m considering finding a way to economically install one with good speakers so that we can listen to these while on vacation. Listening to audio dramas on family vacation is a tradition I sorely miss and these would be perfect! And I found out recently the Bultmans are getting ready to write Season 2!

I would also encourage you to contact your local Christian radio stations and ask that they carry the Brinkman Adventures as a summer special. More than 70 stations already have them slated for play!

And if you know any good, true stories of missionaries who are currently serving, Brinkman Adventures would love to hear from you!

My dear readers, it is the Bultman’s prayer that these missionary stories get into as many people’s hands as possible. You will find they truly have a heart for missions and for the Lord’s work everywhere. Even though they provide their CDs on a “pay as you are able” basis, please, please consider donating more to help further their work. And don’t miss the opportunity in the giveaway widget to download the first 3 episodes as their gift to you.

May you be blessed as our family has been blessed
{email readers, please click HERE to enter the giveaway}
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May 3, 2012

The Wonderment Curriculum

wonderment

Children see the world through a fresh lens. It’s almost as if they have a better understanding of creation than we adults who are racing and organizing and pushing. They have the time to see the vibrant colors of a butterfly, the fluffiness of a cloud, the funny gait of a “watopillar” (otherwise known as a caterpillar…otherwise known as a roly-poly). They wonder at the world around them almost as naturally as they breathe.

Having children has taught me something beautiful. It has taught me a sense of wonderment.

As homeschool moms we need to harness this wonderment. We need to take the natural curiosity and joy of learning our little ones possess and choose curriculum and ways of infusing information that correspond with this.

boys sitting

You will find I am not a big advocate of preschool “curriculum” because I don’t think preschoolers NEED curriculum. They need mama and daddy. They need books read to them and smiles and hugs. But, it seems moms and dads who are new to homeschooling are eager to add their preschooler to a rigorous school day (I know I was!).

So, I beseech you to consider The Wonderment Curriculum.

baby looking at flowers

No, this isn’t any particular curriculum, it’s a general frame of mind, if you will. It’s the homeschooling frame of mind that says

Young children need only the opportunity to explore and learn from what they discover with mom and dad at their sides to guide their learning.

It is Delight-Directed for little ones!

So, if you must “do school” with your preschoolers, here are my top picks for building a Wonderment Curriculum for days full of delightful learning!

Free Ideas:

Your local library – choose a topic and grab up as many children’s books as you can! Take books you already own and supplement with library books, cookbooks, and online videos and information!
Out of doors – There is so much to explore outside no matter where you live. Take regular nature walks and keep a journal of what you find!
Less electronics – Less entertainment-driven media (which almost always creates an environment where the child is told what to think) will easily and cheaply foster creativity.

Toys that encourage creativity:

Playsilks – Oh, the possibilities!
Dress Up Clothes – This doesn’t have to be fancy and definitely doesn’t need to be store-bought!
Critter Catcher or other safe way of catching and observing bugs.
Kitchen sets – this can be anything from stuff you pick up at a thrift store to the nice play kitchens you see in stores. There is just something about kids and the opportunity to concoct with dirt and water!

Actual Curriculum:

Five in a Row Series – literature-based in an easy style.
Unit Studies – A quick Google search of “Free Unit Studies” will net you huge results!

Books for mom and dad that facilitate Wonderment:

And don’t forget to infuse your little ones with the Bible! Everything you do and say and teach should be out of the overflow of a heart that loves the Lord! He is the Creator of these little ones and their sense of curiosity. Lead them to Him!

{photos by thegodlyphotographer.blogspot.com}

April 18, 2012

Affording the Large Family Homeschool

Welcome back to 10 Days of Large Family Homeschooling!
Start at the beginning of the series.

For any family seeking a private Christian education in the home, money quickly becomes an issue. While programs like K12 and other public-school umbrellas exist, they do not offer the freedom of choice so many homeschoolers are looking for. Nor do they offer a Christian education.

Most homeschooling families opt to buy their own curriculum so they can truly be in charge of their child’s education. When a homeschooling family has many children, curriculum buying becomes an exercise in creative frugality.

Here are a few ways you can save and stretch money in your homeschool:

1. Buy supplies in bulk.

My absolute favorite place to get school supplies is Discount School Supply. Every year, I order all the paper, pencils, crayons, paint, craft supplies, etc. we need for the year (and often, they will last longer than that). I buy crayons in bulk, pencils in bulk, glue in bulk and whatever else I know we use a lot of. Discount School Supply’s prices are amazing and the shipping is FREE if you have an order over $79.

Another place we buy from is Miller Pads and Paper. I have never purchased from them online, but they go to a lot of conventions and I buy things from them like dry erase lapboards and specialty papers. They are also a terrific source for higher level art supplies (I need to keep this in mind when getting extras for See the Light Art!)

2. Utilize free sites.

There are entire websites devoted to offering free curriculum like Ambleside Online and Old Fashioned Education – there is a great list of free curriculum sites on Successful Homeschooling. Free curriculum websites are amazing resources that often use public domain materials. If you go this route, I would highly recommend investing in some type of eReader like a Kindle or Nook so your children are not confined to staring at a computer all day. I also like Sherry’s (Large Family Mothering) idea of investing the money to print off free books and then bind them yourself.

There is also a new website, FreeHomeschoolDeals.com, that offers several freebies every day, including free Kindle ebooks. And on Fridays at Gricefully Homeschooling and Kathy’s Cluttered Mind there is a FreeBee Friday with a link up where other homeschoolers can link up their freebies.

I also use places like Homeschool Share for free unit studies (like when we needed a Farmer Boy supplement for our Little House on the Prairie study). And of course, never forget your local library!

You could easily pull together a full curriculum for all of your children with all the free stuff on the internet. It would take a little diligence, perseverance and time, but it is definitely doable.

3. Dream big and one at a time.

Most homeschool moms go into their school year with a budget in mind. They say things like, “I have $500 to spend for the entire school year. How can I get the biggest bang for my buck?” I would like to encourage you to come at your budget in a little different way.

Rather than seeing your children as a collective, look at each child individually and their individual interests and needs. Include the things most people consider “extras” and dream big. You can always pare down from there.

For instance, we’ve decided our youngest children only need Phonics and Math. The rest of their schooling can come from books we already own, library books, or just plain life. We focus the bulk of our budget on our older children and increasing our own library of resources. (by the way, the numbers in the photo are random )

I start high with my homeschooling dreams and work my way down when deciding on a reasonable amount to spend each year. I write down each child’s name and all the items I think they could use in a year and the price of each item. From there, I start paring down and searching for online resources to replace some of the items until I land on a more reasonable number.

Dreaming big for each individual child teaches you to see each of your child’s strengths and weaknesses and interests in the context of education and discipleship. You may find yourself very surprised and very excited by the prospects of budgeting this way because it gives such insight for each child. In the Subscriber Pack, I’ve included a Budget by Child sheet where you can try this method of planning.

Subscribe to Raising Arrows here:

4. See your purchases as an investment.

This is the number one thing I tell homeschooling parents of many. Your purchase today will be passed down from one child to the next. If there is a curriculum you really think would benefit your homeschool, but the price feels too hefty, don’t always walk away from it. Consider how many of your children will be able to use it and other places you can scrimp in order to purchase it. The money you spend now will be well worth it in the long run.

And I want to urge you to realize your child’s education is not just about academic scores. This is the very reason I wrote Homeschooling with Purpose. Homeschool parents have to move beyond test scores and textbooks as their measure of success. Get your free copy of Homeschooling with Purpose until the end of this month by liking the Raising Arrows facebook page and clicking on the Only Likers button!

And don’t miss the other blogs participating in the 10 Days Series! Click the button below to find a listing of all the blogs and topics!

April 9, 2012

You Thought I Should Try Norwex…So I Did! {Welcome Home Link Up}

A few weeks ago, I told you how we had gone back to a One-Day Home Blessing after years of cleaning zones day by day. {yes, we are still thrilled with the results!}

Several people mentioned in the comments of that post and on my facebook page a product I had heard about in passing from my friend, Renee…a product line called Norwex. Right after I wrote that post, Renee (who had no idea I had just written that post), emailed to ask if I would be interested in learning more about Norwex. I almost laughed out loud as I typed back and said, “Absolutely!”

Renee sent me the Envirocloth for my kitchen, a window cloth, the dusting mitt as well as a facial cloth.

I have admit when I found out these cleaning products were microfiber, I was a little worried. I own microfiber cloth diaper inserts and every time I go to stuff my diapers with those particular inserts, I cringe. Why? Because they hurt my fingers. Perhaps I’m the only person who deals with this (remember, I have that lovely thing called Sensory Processing Disorder), but no matter, I had a moment as I was opening Renee’s package when I thought, “These may be the greatest thing since sliced bread, but if they hurt my fingers there is no way I can use them.”

I quickly realized not all microfiber is the same. Yes, the Envirocloth and the facial cloth were similar to my inserts, but as soon as I wet those down the texture changed completely and I LOVED how they felt! The polishing cloth and dusting mitt were not rough on my fingers at all. I was impressed by that simple fact.

Then, I used them…

This is my front window:

We have two huge picture windows in our home. The front one is where the children stand to watch for Daddy, to watch for deer, and to watch for the mailman. They pull chairs up to it, press noses against it, and touch it…constantly.

I have always used a name-brand window cleaner because nothing else worked. Now, don’t get me wrong, I LOVE natural cleaners, but when I can’t find anything that works decently, I’d rather cave and have a smudge-free window…for at least a few seconds.

When I read that all I needed to make the window cloth work was a spray bottle of water, I chuckled and thought, “Yeah, right.” (Sorry, Renee – I am such a skeptic!)

But, I decided to give it a shot…I could always just redo it.

I sprayed on the water and began wiping the window down and was shocked! The window was not streaked, the smudges came off easily, and it was beautiful! I ran around the house looking for more windows and mirrors to clean! In fact, on cleaning day, I insist on being the one to clean all the windows and mirrors! I love the results that much!

The other items did not disappoint either. I use the Envirocloth more than my beloved sponges, the facial cloth is amazing, and my daughter (our resident duster) uses the mitt all the time. In fact, I am searching Renee’s catalog to figure out what else I want…ahem, NEED…because:

This was one of those moments in a homemaker’s life when she realizes the tools of her trade really do matter.

So, please, take a look around Renee’s site and if you would like to order something I get hostess credit (YAY!) if you email your order to her at

drposchen @ cox. net
(remove the spaces)

So, what have you been discovering in the wonderful world of homemaking this week? Link it up!