Homeschool Tips and Tricks Archives - Page 2 of 28 - Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers

6 Creative Ways to Easily Homeschool Foreign Languages

December 6, 2018 By Sara

Try Sara’s fun, simple tips to homeschool foreign languages without a curriculum. The tips are perfect for kids of all ages, including high school students.

Written by Sara Jordan Panning of Heart and Soul Homeschooling

In high school, my oldest wanted to learn Japanese. I ordered a Japanese language learning set, but she just dabbled around with it. Now, she’s married and living in a rural area without a lot of job opportunities.

Except with this one large company. They’re always looking for applicants fluent in – can you guess? Japanese. If we had dug in and made learning Japanese a priority, she could have a cushy office job right now. {sigh}

So, heads-up, y’all. Use Sara’s easy and creative tips for including foreign language lessons in your homeschool. ~Kris

Teaching your kids a foreign language has benefits beyond just earning credits on their high school transcript. In a global marketplace, fluency in a second language can provide a competitive edge. Not only that, learning a second language can improve a student’s English grammar and mechanics skills and increase vocabulary.

But how can you squeeze foreign language studies into an already packed homeschool day? Read on for six creative ways to easily homeschool foreign languages, even when your schedule is full. [Read more…]

What You Need to Know About Multiple Literacies and Homeschooling

October 30, 2018 By Kris Bales

We’d played for five minutes, tops. My onscreen character spent the entire time walking in circles and staring up into the sky or straight at the ground. Josh quickly realized that I had not overstated my ineptness at video games. My eight-year-old reached over, removed the controller from my hands, and said gently, “Maybe you should just watch me play, Mom.

Yeah, my digital literacy is severely lacking, at least as far as gaming is concerned.

What You Need to Know About Multiple Literacies and Homeschooling

For most of us, being literate means we can read and write. However, the term literacy has expanded to encompass the many ways in which we receive and share information. Today, educators recognize the importance of multiple literacies.

Types of Literacy

With the expansion of the term literacy, currently four main types are recognized.

Textual

Textual literacy is the most similar to a traditional view of literacy. It refers to a person’s ability to understand and express themselves through written communication. This includes books and magazines, personal and professional documents, and websites.

However, textual literacy is more than just being able to read and write. True literacy includes the ability to analyze and evaluate the information.

Visual

Visual literacy isn’t foreign to most homeschooling families, especially those who include Charlotte Mason style picture study in their lessons. It consists of the ability to understand, interpret, and express oneself through images, symbols, infographics, photographs, and videos.

The ability to express themselves visually doesn’t mean that all kids will become artists. It does mean that they need to know how to do things like creating an effective PowerPoint or video presentation.

Intelligence manifests in many ways.

Digital

Digital literacy is vital in today’s technologically-saturated world. It includes the ability to locate, interpret, and analyze information obtained through digital sources. These sources include the Internet, smartphones, and, yes, even video games.

Digital literacy doesn’t mean merely knowing how to use these devices. It also means knowing how to evaluate the information obtained from them and assess its credibility.

Technological

Technological literacy goes hand-in-hand with digital literacy. It refers to a person’s ability to use digital media (social media, texts, and websites) safely, ethically, and responsibly.

Kids should know how to protect their privacy, interact online safely and respectfully, and understand and obey copyright laws.

Why We Need to Integrate Multiple Literacies in Our Homeschools

Most homeschooling families have a good handle on the integration of textual and visual literacy. We’re reading and writing, analyzing literature, and doing picture study during tea time.

However, we get a little shaky when it comes to digital and technological literacy. Especially those of us who are a bit older. We may not see the need for our kids to have smartphones. Perhaps we’re uncomfortable with social media. Maybe we think our kids need to practice their beautiful cursive writing skills on reports and essays.

The fact is that technology is changing the way we live and work no matter how we may feel about it. It’s not enough to equip our kids with specific skill sets anymore. The skills they need change almost faster than we can teach them. Instead, we must prepare our kids for a changing workforce.

We’re already good at teaching our kids how to learn and instilling a life-long love of learning. However, we need to make sure that how to learn includes technology and digital media. These literacies are going to impact our kids’ lives whether we like it or not.

And, don’t think you’re off the hook just because your kid has the latest smartphone and is active on social media. Although our kids are digital natives (people born in the information age), they may not be fully literate when it comes to technology. Donald Lue of the University of Connecticut’s New Literacies Research Lab noted that today’s students demonstrate a very low proficiency in online research and comprehension, even in guided exercises.

How to Integrate Multiple Literacies in Your Homeschool

We must prepare our kids to work and live in a digital world. Don’t misunderstand. I’m not saying that we should focus only on multiple literacies. Who knows what’s going to happen in the future? It’s also wise to make sure our kids know how to cook, garden, sew, and take care of their basic needs without technology.

However, don’t miss opportunities to teach your kids how to use technology and how to do so effectively, safely, and responsibly.

Make sure that they know how to assess a site’s credibility and an author’s bias and how to protect their privacy.

Impress on them the need to be mindful of their digital footprint and how it may affect future opportunities.

image credit

Tips for integrating multiple literacies in your homeschool:

Assign a semester-long or year-long research project on your child’s choice of topic. Guide him in doing online research and in using digital media (Mircosoft products such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint or Google products such as Docs, Sheets, and Slides) to prepare a multimedia presentation of his work.
Encourage your students to create and edit videos (using movie editing software) instead of written presentations.
Let your tween or teen start a blog or YouTube channel (Use this opportunity to teach him online etiquette and safety guidelines.)
Listen to podcasts
Engage in social media (following age restrictions and safety guidelines)
Allow gaming time (Capitalize on the educational value of gaming, particularly games such as Minecraft.)

We’ve done a couple of things that I’ve found particularly helpful. First, I have Megan type her writing assignment rough drafts in a shared Google Doc. I use the “add a comment” feature to suggest edits, and she uses them to write her final draft.

Second, we’re using a shared Google Sheet for Megan’s assignments. That has been fantastic! I can add assignments from my laptop and she accesses them on hers. She highlights the assignments as she completes them and hides rows for completed weeks.

The best part is that I’m showing the kid who helps me use my phone how to use Google Docs and Sheets. Honestly, I was surprised at Megan’s unfamiliarity with them. Both are a vital part of my daily workflow. I’m thankful for the opportunity to increase her digital literacy in practical ways at home.

Have you read much on multiple literacies? How do you incorporate them in your homeschool?

How to Conquer Procrastination and Make Homeschooling Happen

October 25, 2018 By Sara Dennis

Written by Sara Dennis of Classically Homeschooling.

You’re just about to call the kids to start school when your phone emits that distinctive ding. It’s the siren song of a Facebook notification beckoning you to see who liked or commented. Laughter and giggles from the next room tell you that the kids are happily playing. They’ll be fine. Surely you can put off starting school for a few minutes for a quick scroll to check up on family and friends

Then, there’s a buzz. Your sister’s name pops up on your phone screen. Maybe just a few more minutes.

Sara explains how five tricks will help you conquer procrastination and establish and consistent homeschool schedule.

Consistency is the most crucial factor in homeschooling success, but it’s so hard to maintain. After years of experimentation, I’ve discovered five tricks that are essential for a consistent homeschool.

Set Regular School Hours

What are your homeschooling hours? Don’t have any? One trick for establishing consistency is setting regular hours for homeschooling.

That doesn’t mean that you need to be homeschooling from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. every single day. Your homeschool hours may be from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. when Dad is home to join in the fun. Homeschooling in the afternoon works well for other families. Instead of quiet time after lunch, maybe that’s when your family schools.

The hours you choose don’t matter; the key is setting a regular time for school. Regular school hours keep us on track and help combat the urge to postpone school.

Some days I keep telling myself we’ll read later. We’ll complete math after lunch. Science can happen this afternoon. But you know what happens when you postpone everything? It never gets done.

So set regular school hours and stick to them. You’ll stop procrastination in its tracks!

Have a consistent homeschool by avoiding distractions.

Know What You’re Going to Do Before You Start

Nothing is worse than sitting down with the kids and wondering what you should do today. Should your kids read a book? Perhaps it’s a good time for memory work.

Sometimes winging it works in a pinch, but rarely does it work long-term. You forget to do map work. You skip the science experiment.

Each weekend I spend a few minutes creating a list of tasks I’d like to accomplish in my homeschool in the upcoming week. A little time on the weekend saves us hours of frustration during the week. I can see at a glance what we need to do.

And the kids know I won’t suddenly come up with another three activities we must do after they thought the school day was over.

You don’t need to plan the entire week if it’s not your style. Try making a list of activities for the next day as you’re wrapping up the current homeschool day. The system isn’t important, but the plan is.

Get into the habit of writing down your plans, so you know what you need to do when it’s time to homeschool.

Plan for Interruptions

I wish I could say otherwise, but interruptions are a fact of life. Children squabble. The phone rings or a salesman knocks on the door. The toddler has a blow-out diaper.

Interruptions derail your homeschool. The secret to dealing with those inevitable interruptions is to plan for them. How are you going to deal with bickering siblings or the salesman at the door?

Consider allowing the phone calls to go to voicemail and have a set time for responding later in the day. Keep diaper-changing supplies in the schoolroom.

Knowing how you’ll respond to schoolday interruptions is a lifesaver. A plan allows you to be proactive instead of reactive.

Mix in Some Fun

Homeschooling can get monotonous if you keep the same routine day in and day out. When your homeschool feels boring, it becomes increasingly tempting to skip a day here or there. And the next thing you know you’ve lost your homeschooling consistency.

It’s vital to include fun in your homeschool routine. Why not head to the swimming pool or park once a week after the schoolwork is complete? Plan a playdate with friends for the weekend or add a fun science project to next week’s lesson plans.

When we discussed germs as part of my kids’ science lesson, I poured glitter on their hands. Glitter is just like germs; it sticks to anything you touch! We soon had shimmering floors. My kids had sparkly arms. So did the chairs! The children quickly figured out that washing their hands got rid of the glitter just like it gets rid of germs.

Have a consistent homeschool by adding in fun.

We had a blast! Until I had to clean up all that glitter. Despite the cleanup, a bit of fun in our science lesson helped keep our school day fresh and exciting.

So plan fun into your school day.

Keep Your Homeschool Streamlined

Keep your homeschool to a minimum. You may even consider minimalist homeschooling. Don’t keep adding and adding to the lesson plans. When you do that, you end up with a school day that never ends. It takes forever to complete!

It’s much easier to be consistent with a streamlined school day. After all, it’s easy to make time for 15 minutes of reading and finish the homeschool day. It’s doable when you know that school is over after you’ve completed a phonics lesson, math lesson, and a writing assignment. Yay! I can do that.

But what about a day that includes writing, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, Latin, logic, music, art, history, science, and geography? If you’re spending 30 minutes on each subject, the day will never end! Especially when the kids start fussing, whining, and complaining.

Keep your day streamlined so you can finish it in a reasonable amount of time. Kids need time for a social life and hobbies. So do you!https://www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com/making-homeschool-happen-on-busy-days/

Maintaining consistency in your homeschool isn’t difficult when you have a strategy, keep your day reasonable in length, and plan for interruptions. And most of all, add in some fun to keep your homeschool hours fresh and exciting.

Have you discovered tips that make it easier to maintain consistency in your homeschool? We’d love to hear them!

Exploring the World on a Budget

October 18, 2018 By Chelsea Gonzales

Written by Chelsea Gonzales of Wonder Wherever We Wander.

One of the best parts of homeschooling is exploring the world with our kids. After all, not every parent has the unique opportunity to watch their children learn, grow, and experience all the amazing things the world has to offer.

We can do a lot of this exploring from our own homes. Many homeschoolers like to take full advantage of this fact by spending much of their time snuggled up on the couch or playing in the backyard. After all, it is called homeschooling.

Still, even those who are total homebodies know that it’s important for their kids to get out and about once in a while. And people with go, go, go personalities (like me!) can barely stand to stay home for more than a day or two at a time. Unfortunately, exploring the world isn’t always easy.

The most common problem homeschooling families run into? Money.

Going on field trips costs money, and the costs can add up quickly. All those super cool extracurriculars offered by the local museum? They’re not free. Admission to the nearby zoo? That’s going to cost a pretty penny as well.

Considering that most of us homeschoolers are single-income families, this can pose a real problem. Thankfully, most homeschooling parents figure out ways frugal options pretty quickly. However, if you’re new at this and are still looking for clever solutions, this article is for you!

So how can you help your kids explore the world without cutting into the grocery budget? Below are nine of the best ways to get your family out and about and enjoying the world beyond your home, all while keeping your money safe and sound within your wallet.

Memberships

If you have a limited amount to spend on field trips, one of the best ways to save money is investing in a membership of some sort. Most museums, zoos, theme parks, and other local attractions offer memberships. Often member benefits include reciprocal memberships, which allow members access to multiple attractions for free or at discounted rates.

Check out the museums, zoos, and aquariums near you and investigate their benefits to find the best bang for your buck.

Volunteer Work

Volunteer work is an excellent way to teach kids to give back to their communities. It’s also an excellent opportunity to celebrate the diversity in your community by meeting new people from all walks of life.

Every community has numerous volunteer opportunities, and best of all, it’s ultimately free to jump in and help. Your kids may even pick up some life skills along the way.

Co-Ops

Co-ops are an awesome option for homeschoolers. (Though many co-ops do charge fees so make sure you pay attention to the details.)

The type of budget-friendly co-op you’re looking for is one that requires every parent to teach a class or volunteer in some other way. That means you’ll you have to put in a bit of effort, but it’ll open up doors for your children to take new and exciting classes that you may not be able to offer on your own.

Don’t have a co-op like this in your area? Consider starting a homeschool co-op of your own!

Homeschool Groups

Of course, you could always go the more laid-back route and join a homeschool group. These groups often host “park days” and “craft days.” They may also offer group discounts on field trips and activities. They may even take advantage of volunteer opportunities as a group.

Homeschool groups are an awesome way to build strong friendships, often without spending a dime.

Camping

Nature exploration is a vital part of childhood. Encourage this exploration in your children and take a mini vacation while you’re at it by planning a camping trip. Camping is a fantastic family activity to enjoy at least a few times a year, and if you choose a state park, tent camping should be incredibly inexpensive.

Library Events

Most local libraries host a variety of events. These are almost always free and are a great way to try new things. Also look for clubs that meet regularly at your local library. These may provide a way to build friendships and have a regular weekly outing that your kids can count on.

Bartering

Do you have a little dancer on your hands? Maybe your little one is set on doing karate? If your child has a particular interest in something that is far too expensive for your budget, consider making it happen through bartering.

You’d be surprised how many instructors are willing to work with parents, giving lessons in exchange for office work or janitorial services. Many teachers are especially happy to help out a particularly passionate student.

Online Classes

Another great way to learn a specific skill without spending a fortune is through online classes. There are many amazing online courses. Some even include private one-on-one tutoring for a fraction of the cost of traditional private lessons.

Try Outschool, TakeLessons, or Udemy for a variety of options. Or, look for instructors running their online courses such as Hoffman Academy or Aistear Irish Dance.

Festivals

Finally, seek out nearby festivals. Nearly every community puts on festivals in the warmer months, and if you’re willing to travel a bit, you’ll likely be able to find an awesome event every single week during spring, summer, and fall.

Festivals are the perfect opportunity to learn about different cultures, try new foods, and witness new art styles. Considering that so many of these events are free to enter, there’s no reason not to take advantage of them when you can.

Hopefully, some of these ideas will inspire you to think outside the box and find interesting ways to get your family out of the house on the cheap.

What tips would you add for exploring the world without breaking the bank?

How to Handle Homeschooling When You Move to a New State

October 11, 2018 By Sara

Written by Sara Jordan Panning of Heart and Soul Homeschooling

Moving to a new state can be both exciting and unsettling. Much like the decision to homeschool. Both also require careful thought and planning.

When we moved from state to state, I knew that I wanted to keep up with homeschooling no matter where we lived. I learned some things along the way that will hopefully help you handle homeschooling when you move to a new state.

Helpful Tips for Homeschooling When you Move to a New State

There are several important and practical things to keep in mind when you’re moving and want to continue homeschooling. Use this as your checklist to help cut down on the stress.

Download this free Homeschooling While Moving Checklist to help.

Before the Move

1. Know the law.

Research the homeschooling laws in your new state to see how they compare to what you’re currently doing. We moved from a moderately regulated state to one with stricter regulations. I wanted to have a plan in place ahead of time so that I would be prepared as soon as we arrived.

It also depends on what time of year you move. Is it summer, which allows for a little more breathing room in filing your paperwork? Or is it mid-school year when some states require that you submit paperwork within 14-30 days of residence?

A great place to find the answers to these types of questions is the Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA). If you’re not a member and you’re moving to a state with moderate to strict regulations, you might want to consider joining at least until you feel comfortable in your new state. You can speak with someone at HSLDA who specializes in your state’s laws.

2. Check out homeschool groups.

Before the move is also an excellent time to research homeschool groups that will be local to your new area. Facebook is a great place to start, along with a Google search for state homeschool groups. Researching ahead of time will help you plug into homeschool co-ops, activities, and support for you and your kids right away. A homeschool group is a great place to make new friends.

3. Look for homeschool-friendly areas.

Another consideration is choosing a homeschool-friendly school district if possible. If there are several school districts in the general area you’re moving to, you can check with homeschool groups to see if one district might be easier to work with than others. It might help you make a decision when choosing a place to live.

I learned that our district was generally more favorably responsive to homeschool paperwork than another one just five minutes away. It helped us narrow down our choices when looking for a house to rent.

During the Move

Moving is a stressful time of transition for the whole family. A little bit of planning ahead can help make it easier. Here are a few tips I learned:

1. Pack a separate backpack and/or plastic storage bin with essential homeschool books and supplies for each child.

Keep this handy in the car, rather than lost amongst a jumble of boxes in a moving van. This will save your sanity and allow you to keep learning even while you’re traveling, without having to search for everything once you reach your destination frantically.

2. Make use of media during the transition time.

This is an excellent time to listen to audiobooks in the car or watch educational DVDs on a portable DVD player. Learning doesn’t always have to look like a traditional textbook/worksheet method, especially during a major life change.

I recommend Jonathan Park CDs for science, classic literature that you can download for free as mp3 files, and fun, educational DVDs like LeapFrog or Drive Thru History. If you have a laptop and an internet connection in your hotel room, you can make use of educational websites and even Netflix. Kindles are a great way to “carry” a lot of books without taking up much space.

3. Take advantage of the travel time to see new sights and make it a field trip!

History is everywhere. Odds are that there will be some type of educational stop you can make on your trip. Many are free or low cost, too!

We’ve seen old one-room schoolhouses, Revolutionary War cannons, locks on a waterway shipping line, old mills, and other small historical sites of interest. It doesn’t have to be a huge tourist attraction like Niagara Falls (though we saw that on one of our moves) to be fun and educational.

We’ve homeschooled in hotels and in the car when necessary while traveling. I figure if people can live in an RV full-time and homeschool, I can manage to homeschool on the road for a while. It just takes a little creative thinking.

After the Move

Even once you move into a new place, there is always the initial process of sorting, unpacking, and getting settled. At least that’s been my experience. Organizing skills don’t come naturally to me. And, even the best-laid plans can get shuffled when you move to a new state.

That’s why my number one bit of advice for after the move is to relax and take your time finding a new homeschool routine. It won’t hurt to take some time away from the books to learn some real-life lessons together as a family. Things like patience, grace, and coping skills are essential things to learn, too!

My number one bit of advice for after the move is to relax and take your time finding a new #omeschool routine. It won't hurt to take some time away from the books to learn some real-life lessons together as a family.

Take some time to learn the area in your new state. See some of the sights. Do something fun to break up the stress. Since you’ve planned ahead before the move, you’ll be ready to join any groups or file your paperwork when the time comes.

When you’re committed to homeschooling as a lifestyle, it’s only natural that you’ll continue homeschooling no matter where you might live. I hope these tips will help make the move a bit smoother for you!

Have you moved while homeschooling? What tips would you add?

« Previous Page

Types of Literacy

Textual

Visual

Digital

Technological

Why We Need to Integrate Multiple Literacies in Our Homeschools

How to Integrate Multiple Literacies in Your Homeschool

Tips for integrating multiple literacies in your homeschool:

You Might Also Like

Set Regular School Hours

Know What You’re Going to Do Before You Start

Plan for Interruptions

Mix in Some Fun

Keep Your Homeschool Streamlined

You Might Also Like

Memberships

Volunteer Work

Co-Ops

Homeschool Groups

Camping

Library Events

Bartering

Online Classes

Festivals

You Might Also Like

Helpful Tips for Homeschooling When you Move to a New State

Before the Move

1. Know the law.

2. Check out homeschool groups.

3. Look for homeschool-friendly areas.

During the Move

1. Pack a separate backpack and/or plastic storage bin with essential homeschool books and supplies for each child.

2. Make use of media during the transition time.

3. Take advantage of the travel time to see new sights and make it a field trip!

After the Move

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