Homeschooling: Art Venture

Thankful to Mel who blogged about a great online program for "Art" called Art Venture which you can sign up for a year $99 for a homeschooling family.

I am not naturally into art, not by interest or ability. Yet I recognise both an interest and desire to explore in the areas of art by one sassy child. Desiring to present before my children what interests them in an educational and explorative way I knew awhile ago that I needed something both for her and for me.

I tried You Tube, but I found the tutorials were for people who knew how to hold a paintbrush, who knew you need certain paper for certain art paints/pencils/charcoal and what oil pastels were (hint: they are NOT crayons!).

Kirsty presents her lessons in video format which goes for around 5 minutes each and can be played over and over again.

The children and I appreciate the step-by-step lesson in drawing and painting.

There are over 60 video lessons in varying difficulties and in different subject areas including tips.

The website is safe and content child-friendly, something Youtube lacks greatly.

Just as my science loving kid asks to watch his science DVDs my art loving kid asks to do Art.

We sit around a table and pump out painting after painting.

Now I've heard some disagreements of teaching children a particular 'way' of drawing or painting, but here's my experience... I was never taught to draw, the few items I am able to 'draw' are because I have seen someone else draw them first. As an adult I am a little irritated by the fact I was never taught or had the opportunity to do 'art' like this. I don't know the different painting mediums or that you need certain paper to go with certain paints/pencils/etc. My eyes are being opened to this world called Art for the first time and it has only taken 30 years.

Children, when given the opportunity to explore their creativity will develop a style of their own once they've discovered what they like, what they enjoy and what they are good at.

This is worth it. For me! I am learning just as much if not more than the children... and I like it like that.


5 Things I am Thankful for:
1. Fellow Home Schooling Bloggers who share their walk, their journey and their resources.
2. Art Venture.. It makes teaching Art so easy. In fact I don't teach it Kirsty does.
3. Interests of others being shared by the family together
4. Learning what oil pastels are and how to use them
5. Having my eyes opened to the area of Art, and seeing Art in the illustrations that we read to the children.

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Homeschooling: Science by Sonlight

My Natural Learner loves science, He wants to know the whys and the hows and he loves learning. Imagine my heart rejoice and my mind be relieved when I discovered a DVD Science Experiment series called InquisiKids Discover & Do by Sonlight.

They have 5 DVDs in the series.

Level K (pre-primary)
Level 1 (year 1)
Level 2 (year 2)
Level 3 (year 3)
Level 4 (year 4)

(We have Level  K, 3 & 4)

Each DVD contains 60 - nearly 100 experiments each with full instructions and demonstrations making mums job super easy, especially if science is not your strong part.

I originally brought Level K pre-baby because I wanted 'easy back-up' incase I was unable to teach for a period of time. I thought at least he would be learning even if we were not doing hands on experiments ourselves.

I was pleasantly surprised to witness the natural progression of several children asking for certain items to be brought from the shops so they could conduct experiments and I was pleasantly surprised to see them do experiments as part of their own natural desire to learn and explore. A homeschool mums delight "Can we do science?" "Can we watch our science DVD". I let the children watch these as they please.

It wasn't long before I decided to get the whole set this year for our science resources and teaching methods. Unfortunately the place I picked these DVDs up from has closed down (hence not owning level 1 & 2) and I am unsure where to purchase through Australian sites.

I've written before about our learning styles, I like to SEE things in action so I gain understanding before teaching, these DVDs help me to do so alongside my children.

Even though I have no grade 3 or 4 students my children are still able to understand the concepts in those levels.

I could allow these to be the only science we did and it would be enough, however my children naturally love science and experiments and exploring so we don't, it is just a fun, educational, non-schooly approach to something the children of all ages enjoy, together.

First check them out here to see what you think.

I brought these DVDs myself sand have not been paid or compensated in any way.

This method Works for Us


5 Things I am Thankful for:
1. Natural learning being so enjoyed be everyone and taken into the mind deeply
2. Resources that are set out before me
3. Multi-age method
4. Buy once, use a hundred times type of resources
5. That this can be used as 'play' when friends come over!

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When you teach I am getting it...

Says my 7year old on a regular basis.

He's been learning all sorts of things lately, and later comes to the other parent to brag or share his achievements starting the sentence with 'when you've been teaching me xyz I've been learning it'... And when he sees letters joined together he lets me know what sound they make followed by that's what you've teached me (ok, must correct that word to taught). Or apple starts with a (first word that popped into my head). Or I know the sounds that make the word finished and goes on to spell it to me.. 

He will also let us know that he's doing a good job learning xyz. 

When we enter into a new learning area that he hasn't learnt he asks if this will get him skills. He's interested in learning skills but if it doesn't he does not want to do it. Funny hey!!

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Homeschooling: Teaching history, geology, geography, culture, apologetics and the bible

Every Friday night my family and I gather around 'the big screen' together with some healthy snacks to spend some time together and watch a new-to-us movie. I download a new movie from a trusted source online such as What's in the Bible? or Answers in Genesis.

I want to share some of the movies from Answers in Genesis that we have really enjoyed, and hopefully spur you on to purchase some of these amazing resources for yourself and your children also.
I am also recommending them in this order (below) based on what WE have enjoyed the most.

Swamp Man! Lots of different animals and different places visited. Suitable for all ages! 
I Dig Dinosaurs. Buddy Davis - Suitable for all ages!
Flood Geology - My personal absolute favourite and one we've watched over and over and over

Journey through the Creation Mueseum, probably the closest I will ever get to it ;)









Jurrasic Ark










Six Short Days, One Big Adventure







Another Movie we have throughly enjoyed from Answers in Genesis (but not available for digital download) is A is for Adam & D is for Dinosaur
Watch D is for Dinosaur online here for FREE
They also have books which can be purchased from koorong here
You can download and print out some of the pictures from the book by clicking here and scrolling down a little bit.

The Answers in Genesis website also has Videos that can be streamlined (watched online).
The kids section is great

Since last checking out the digital downloads they have added some NEW ones *yay*
Of course there are many in the adult section this is great also.

I am learning that to be a good teacher, you need to learn also, and I have been learning more than the children have about all these different topics and subjects. 


5 Things I am Thankful for:
1. Downloads
2. Learning in a fast way that suits my brain
3. Children learning as a family unit
4. Variety in subjects to suit interests
5. Family Time, that is also Learning

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Homeschooling: History "Whats in the Bible?"

Every Friday night is our Family Movie Night. We purchase a new-to-us movie (usually paid for and downloaded online) and watch it together while eating some healthy snacks.

For the past 11 weeks we have been enjoying the 11 DVDs "Whats in the Bible?" by Phil Vischer. You may be familiar with Veggie Tales? Well, Phil Vischer does some of those voices ;)

These DVDs cover the bible from Genesis to Acts, they include some stories and also the history of how the bible was written and put together. As adults both Michael and I learnt new things every week, some things were taught to Michael when he was in Bible College.

So if your looking for a quick and easy family friendly way to teach Biblical History, this is one of them ;) 

To download a Whats in the Bible DVD click here
Or view some previews below (or on You Tube)




5 Things I am Thankful for: 
1. Family Friendly and interesting Movies
2. Relationship Building and Nurturing through Home Schooling
3. Costs spread out over a period of 11 weeks rather than a lump sum
4. Children (& Adults) learning through family times rather than 'school hours'
5. Being together, and birthing our baby after watching a DVD

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Child-Directed Learning

A long while back I recognised an interest of 'electronics' in my oldest child. That and his ability to put things together and enjoy it.

Obviously being a homeschooling mum means I am looking out for these kinds of things to enhance his learning opportunities and encourage his interest areas and skills.

I purchased a 144+ electronics kit where you have an instruction book in pictures a bunch of wires and an electronic board.

I think I did the first one, rigging up a light to a battery and made it go, and he did some other ones. Making the fan part go was most exciting and using a double battery made the fan go so fast it would fly off up into the air at rapid speed.

All this time later he is still using it freely as he desires, learning more and more about it and rigging up different things with differing switches.

Even at night time when the house is winding down and babies are put to bed you might find him working on a project on his own by his own choice.

When in a child's interest area they are willing to go and learn and practice on their own accord. I love it xx

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Homeschool, Labour, A New Baby & a Birthday Party

Since last Thursday 11th April we've had 'home school holidays'.

I expected to give birth early Thursday morning on the basis I was having regular contractions but those regular contractions fizzled out into irregular contractions.

Friday we did groceries as a family, went to bunnings, fixed our dogs bed, and hung out as a family. It was lovely.

Saturday was spent loving on our new baby. Answering a multitude of questions and more loving on our new baby.

Sunday was written off - we have our own style of schedule or rhythm and it didn't get adhered to.

Monday we had the Guthrie test, hearing test and a few errands to run. Plus I took over on our schedule which made the day run smoothly.

Interestingly enough 'school' has continued.. There's been Meccano building, history, learning about inventions, questions answered, science, health, human biology, maths, reading and even phonics practice. All naturally and child-led.

They've pulled books out to specifically look at certain things they are interested in, such as babies in the body book.

Perhaps the most interesting topic being Space, Space Stations and a 55 minute virtual tour on you tube of a space station with all sorts of interesting things being told. Did you know they have to tape their pencil to the wall or it will float away and get lost?

By the end of the week we were hosting a birthday dinner of 20 people for my FIL. This meant for Isaiah making a Paper Chain. I showed him how to use my craft cutter, actually how to use the measurement part and he did the rest. He worked for many hours over 4 days to complete this ultra long chain for decorations. Isaiah even got to learn how to fix the stapler when the stapler gets stuck. He did really well, although that sort of thing is just his thing. He used up a heap of my old scrapbooking paper scraps that have been sitting in the kids craft box for around 2 - 4 years.

Hosannah is doing really well, sleeping in 3 or 4 hour blocks throughout the night, feeding 2-4 hourly during the day, attaching well and our first baby we've not had feeding issues with straight up (usually takes us a week to get it perfect). She smiles constantly at us, and not those windy smiles you expect!

My body has healed extremely fast after birth, I was blessed to receive a massage as a gift which has made the world of difference to my back and movement. I am sleeping well through the night and not exhausted throughout the day, although I have had a few naps somedays just incase I needed them for the arvo/evening. I have still been processing the labour, delivery, birth, and afterwards and fielding all sorts of strange and curious questions from friends and acquaintances.

The Birthday Party went really well I thought, I wasn't stressed and the prep & evening seemed peaceful to me.

So, that was our first week with our 5th baby wrapped in less than point form. Before I forget and have no time to write.. ;)


5 Things I am Thankful for:
1. Easy labour & birth
2. Peace and loads of it
3. A smooth transition
4. Having Michael home for an ENTIRE week
5. 5 Blessed lil souls, that He sees fit to have given to me... ME!

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Maths - Place Value

For Maths I like to use a variety of resources.
My favourite remains the Math U See (Australia store here) program because of the hands-on approach and the Visual Representation with the:

DVD/Video application,
Block manipulatives plus
workbook.

Having children with differing learning styles I am finding that the Math U See Program caters for all of them. I can then add to the lesson by incorporating other books, games, questioning and so on.

At the end of lessons there are often 'games' that can be played, that are fun and educational and correlate to the lesson and other lessons.

The website also has worksheet generators and drill pages for additional work if needed.


 Here's one on learning place value:

For more YouTube clips from Math u See click here

We've been using the Primer, Alpha and Foundations. Foundations is VERY OLD so you can't 'get' it anymore, but still have value in the content. (Foundations is basically Alpha & Beta together.

I like to look at the contents page as a guideline to what the children could be learning and the lesson plans to see how to show them. I can then use this information in regular day-to-day life naturally, bringing maths to life with meaning. For example with saving for China

For Practice I like to play the game "Digits". You have a set of cards with numbers, each player receives two cards for 10's place value three cards for 100's. At the same time turn the cards over, make the largest (or smallest) number you can, use manipulative blocks to build the number. The winner is the one with the highest (or lowest) number. I think there are 4 sets of 0-9 numbers in the pack.

Here's a personal bonus for my family. My Mother-in-Law (ex-homeschooler) has purchased the entire lot in the Australian version and is happy for us to use the lot - making the entire program FREE for us.

If you are not in the place to purchase brand new you can often find second hand books from places such as Aussie Home School classifieds. You must be a member so register and see what you can pick up.

I was not asked to do this nor have I benefited from it in any way nor am I an affiliate. Pity.. ;)

5 Things I am Thankful for:
1. Free Curriculum
2. DVD component
3. Easy approach to Mathematics
4. Systematic Teaching
5. Games. The Games are Great!

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Physcial Education

Physical Education
Living coastal means it is important to me the children have the ability to swim and to swim well.
Especially considering going to the beach is an activity we often enjoy together. Freak waves occur although never where we go. I probably err on the side of safety and caution with so many toddlers to watch but the fact remains, people drown in water.

Being pregnant and having small children (for our family) means that I am more than willing to offload this 'responsibility' and have enrolled the children in a variety of physical activities. I am cool with that!

On a very personal note, I was never very 'good' at team sports and didn't enjoy having to participate in sports at school. For me, it was about the competitiveness and the constant message that what I COULD achieve was never 'good enough', 'fast enough', 'high enough' and I never managed to 'achieve enough'. Basically, I wasn't very good at running or fast which doesn't help in competitive team sports. In my weak defence, I had asthma as a kid so rarely lasted long on track anyway.

So far we have enjoyed:
Dancing
Gymnastics
Kindy Gymnastics
Swimming Lessons

As well as:
Kayaking
Mountain Climbing
Bush Walking
5km Family Walks
Rock Wall Climbing
Back Yard Basket Ball
Bike Riding
Scooters and Skate Boards
Skate Park with bikes, scooters, feet and skate boards
Running
Tee-Ball
and the obligatory Park Plays

Free Swimming
In Western Australia, if you join your homeschool child with a school you can enrol them into swimming lessons for FREE. I am not sure who you would need to contact, I contacted the local swimming pool around the time I knew one of the local Primary Schools were going to be doing swimming. All I needed to do was pack 4 kids in the car, to take 1 child to swimming lessons every day (Monday to Friday) for 2 weeks. During Lunch Time. It was still worth it ;)
(This year (2013) I hope to enrol TWO children into swimming lessons this way)

I find Physical Education an easy area to achieve for both of these children, all I need to do is ferry them to their different classes.

These classes are just one way the children gain social interaction with children around their ages. And one way they get to show off their skills and hard work at the end of the year.

5 Things I am Thankful for:
1. Free Swimming lessons
2. Not having to be involved in these sporting events
3. Ease of passing off this area which is a weakness for me
4. Kids that enjoy sports
5. Kids that have natural talents in some areas

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Maths: Skip Count by 2

Here are a few easy ways to teach Skip Counting by 2.
Skip counting by 2 is also like an introduction to multiplication.

Lots of Links:
Free Worksheet
Cool Blog Post 
Pinterest Board

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Homeschooling: How do you? Set Class Times

Background Personal Information
I remember being in Grade 2 and using the cuisenaire rods. After a short period of using these things we had to put them away. I recall not being ready to put them away, I recall not being finished with what was being done, I recall the emotions from that single time.

I am a kinaesthetic learner, which means I learn through hands on experience. I was/am also a slower learner. Okay so I am probably not but for the comprehension to remain and lesson be long lasting I need more time to get my head around it. I wonder how much more I could have learnt if I was given the opportunity to REALLY learn then!

My oldest child is also a Kinaesthetic learner. I can push his limits and teach and teach and teach getting book work done in hardly any time. With a child who has no idea what he has just completed. Comprehension. It is important.

Extended Lessons
I have an extended lesson philosophy.. Meaning.. When a child is absorbed in a concept/lesson/activity that is stimulating to their development I will let them go for it for as long as they freely desire to. If this means using up the entire morning then the entire morning is used up.

Some lessons can take 4minutes in completion, but is interesting enough to hold the fascination of a small child for four hours! I drop other 'lessons' until they've reached fulfillment in their chosen outlet.

This can mean maths only.. Or geography only.. Or language only.. And it doesn't matter one bit!!

It means the lesson is well established in their heart and minds.

Think about
Your in a school setting, and it is Art & Craft. You have a 40 minute time gap to get 30 kids through the painting activity. Naturally you have teachers aids who help with this. Children are brought out in small groups for a small period of time to have a go at the lesson before being cleaned up and whisked back to the classroom.
Sure, they've completed the art work, got messy, have a nice painted thing to take home when dry and have contributed to the lesson in some personal way. Then been taken away before any real creativeness gets going.
It's not enough is it?

At Home
When I open the table to a painting activity I can allow the children to continue until they are finished. THEY are finished. Some times it seems endless, two hours later we've gone through loads of paper and loads of paint. Children are really involved in their creativity. Then it ends.
We can do this because we are at home and have no set time limits.

Benefits
Extended lessons allow the children enough time to really grasp the content of the lesson and therefore extend their overall learning experience. For us it has meant that children can really take ownership over their education and I have found my guys choose to repeat the lesson or use it in their play.
When time is not permitted we can always go back but when I do not allow enough time for the children to learn in that area they are not interested to go back and re-learn yet not always ready to move onto the next stage.

Practical Daily Routine
Hubby is home for lunch between 12 & 1. For us this means we have breakfast around 8am, lunch at 12 until 1 we spend time with him and hubby returns home from work at 5pm.
So we have between 8:30-12 & 1-5 for school and activities. Somehow we get everything done :)



5 Things I am Thankful for:
1. Learning hands on
2. Having time available
3. Knowing my children are not being pushed ahead of their development and leaving them behind
4. Knowing the concept is really understood
5. Encouraging a love for learning in a variety of contexts

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Health

Health and Fitness is one of the biggest sellers in the Western World today, with much focus on eating healthy and leading a fit lifestyle. Our family are into health and fitness to some degree also, it is one reason we juice, provide raw green smoothies to the family and eat a whole foods diet with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as attempt at growing our own foods.
Fitness is also a reason we feel it important to participate in physical activities. Although it is not the main focus of the overall household it is important, to some more than others.

We are blessed to have children who are naturally gifted in certain areas over others, including physical activities which we desire to enhance and encourage.

Excerpt from the Curriculum Framework for Health & Physical Education available for download (link under lots of links)

Health and Physical Education provides students with an understanding of health issues and the skills needed for confident participation in sport and recreational activities. This enables students to make responsible decisions about health and physical activity to promote their own and others' health and well-being.

Health
At this stage we do not formally do any health studies. Health is a natural learning day-to-day actual proceedings that takes place where ever we go. We learn about it through life, discussions and practical application. I see no need to follow a curriculum or workbook in this area and especially at the ages our children are.

 Here's how:

Healthy Eating
While going about our general day-to-day life we talk about all sorts of issues, such as

• what foods are healthy, 
• why should we not eat certain foods and 
• why we eat a lot of other foods.

You know how it is when kids want Ice Cream for breakfast! 

We developed our own style of Healthy Food Pyramid based on

• plant produce (eat most)
• animal produce (eat moderately)
• man made produce (eat least)

Smoking
On another occasion we might walk past someone who lights up a cigarette (we don't smoke, nor do many people we know, and if they do I don't think I ever see them smoke) which will inspire a conversation about why they are 'lighting a fire and eating it'. We discuss the implications of breathing smoke and toxins in and how they go into your lungs. They've seen the pictures on discarded cigarette packets laying on the park floor. (sorry smokers, you know its unhealthy! It is nothing personal)

Dental Care
After meal times or the end of the day we will talk about why we brush our teeth. Actually after meal times when we wash our hands the toothbrushes sit upon the mirror, our Avigail calls for 'teeth' and has a go at brushing her teeth EVERY TIME! Homeschooling means that children ARE usually home after meal times and CAN brush their teeth 3-5 times a day. This is just practical hands on bonuses to homeschooling

Hand Washing
We might discuss why we wash our hands and different aspects of germs and getting sick while driving down the street or coming inside after being outside.

Medical Needs
Then there is the aspect of a child needing emergency medical assistance and taking that spontaneous unplanned homeschool excursion to the hospital. Every situation is an opportunity to learn different aspects of life, even things such occupations and what goes on in different places. (When our oldest contracted Asthma, Bronchitis & Pnuemonia all at once we did 'home schooling' from the hospital bed for a couple of days. We learnt about doctors and nurses and what they do, needles, taking blood tests and even heart rate monitors.) If your looking for opportunities to do home schooling these are just some of the ways to do it, all you need to do is take the opportunities regardless of what is going on.

Medicines
From time to time someone is required to take medication, we always talk about why they are taking it and that if other kids took the medicine when they don't need it they can get very unwell.

First Aid
Bandages and bandaids. We are not a family with a heavy usage of bandaids, they are rarely used. We usually pray for the bangs and bruises for the pain to go In Jesus Name, there to be no lasting effects and for comfort for the child.
On occasions we WILL use bandages or bandaids, to cover the sore/scrape/exposed area and protect from DIRT. Lets face it. Kids play in dirt. Especially when they are on the feet.

Eye Safety
We remind children why we do not shine lights into the eyes of others. Like torch lights. Despite reminding children not to do this, and walking into the Doctors to have them shine a light in their eyes? Hmmm..

Skin Cancer
We look at the pictures in the Doctors surgery while waiting. Children want to know what the different kinds of skin cancers are and how they got them.

Sun Protection
Putting sunscreen on when we go out on hot days, talking about not getting burnt and not getting skin cancers. Discussing why we wear the kind of swimming outfits we wear. Reasons we wear hats when outdoors.

Disease and Sickness
We even talk about diseases and sickness and illness that people get and disabilities, such as leprosy (Jesus healed people with leprosy), the blind (Jesus healed the blind), the lame (Jesus healed people who walked). Some of these discussions arise from seeing or hearing the ambulance or driving past the hospital, other times it is inspired from reading the Bible Scriptures or story books.

Naturally Learning
Most of these activities are either routine or unplanned, inspired by an action that needs to take place or something that we see. All these things and many more, discuss the importance of certain health aspects and adds a hands on practical life experience to the 'lesson'.

Take the Opportunities available
All you need to do is look for the opportunity, answer curious kids questions, practice healthy lifestyle practices. Talk, discuss, question them!

I see no practical point in printing out worksheets and have children complete them when they are learning them in a natural and real environment.

Lots of Links:
Curriculum Framework

5 Things I am Thankful for:
1. Good health for ALL my family
2. Healthy foods available easily
3. Natural learning, where the knowledge is practiced
4. Prayer, for all the aches and pains, illness and sickness
5. Complete healing in all instances

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Home School Library - Organising it

Once you've built up your Home School Library how are you meant to keep it altogether? With books easy to be found when needed.

In short... Like an actual Library.

Fiction 
I like to keep all the fiction together. That is.. all the story books, reading books or just for fun books. At the moment they are kept in the dining room as that is where the shelves are. Eventually they might be moved into the learning room.
I find having them in a main walk way place means they are easier to grab on the way through so we can read in many areas of the home. Having them in a central location means putting books away is faster also. Plus it inspires me to read at the dining table during that time we might be waiting for someone or something before a meal takes place.

Without some kind of book storage a home library really does not work. I used to have them stored in boxes stacked on top of each other and they never got read or even thought about. Get yourself a decent book shelf!!

Board Books for babies
I keep what ever board books that are found in a cubby hole together (middle hole), they are meant to be in a tray facing outwards but it has disappeared. A shallow tray or box (like a kitty litter box) or basket helps little children put them back, and they are stored facing the toddler which makes it easier to find something or catch their attention. Having them in a small container also means you can take the entire container out and read oh I don't know.. 50 books in a sitting.

Sets of Books
I like to keep 'sets of books' together, such as all the Dr Seuss books together. We know the author of the books which helps find them faster, plus it looks nicer and it is begining to teach children book order. Remember. I have lots of LITTLE kids, so books are not always put back exactly where they started off and not a priority of mine to keep in a specific order.

All Other Fiction Books
All other Fiction books are kept in the other cubby holes in any order. I like it this way because they can practically be dumped back on the shelf and are in the 'right' place.
I do not care to sort them into any sort of order whether it be by author or theme. When we are looking for a reading book there are plenty to choose from.
I do not plan what books we are going to read in advance or for special unit studies so it is not a necessary practice.

Added note
Even though I do not enjoy our local library they keep their children's fiction books in much the same 'order'. None. They get taken out of the boxes and returned to other boxes. If it can work for a library which has more kids checking out books than my home then it can work for us too.



Non-Fiction

Bible Books
Most of our bible books are in sets and have had more money spent on them then the other books. I keep the vast majority of these books in the lounge room on the 'fancy' bookshelf up higher than the baby can reach. Yeah, I do get a bit emotional when a child thoughtlessly ruins one of these books and so I keep them out of reach of the smaller children. Older children will collect a book when they desire.

Keeping the bible books separate from the Fiction books means I know exactly where the book should be that I am looking for and I like it that way.

Non-Fiction books

The book shelf for these books are in the storage room, so out of immediate access but still accessible when we are looking for something specific. Children know where they are.

I know where all the 'learning books' are when the children ask a specific question and I need to find references or pictures to flow on from the information I am presenting (Alternatively, google works too!)

The 'learning books' are then kept together in their subject matter eg science, social studies, and within those categories all the human body books, all the atlases etc are grouped together or on display for children to easily seek themselves, depending on what interests are going on at the time.

Display for Non-Fiction books
Currently I have a 'human biology' area where several human body books sit on display with a few posters and a real life x-ray taken of one of our children. With the impending birth of our baby children are interested in the growing babe and the home it is currently living in.
Having these books on display arouses interest even in children previously not interest.



Parent/Teacher Books
Within our Home School Library I like to keep all the 'parent/teacher' books together, so all the art & craft books are kept together, all the maths books are kept together and all the english books are kept together, same with all the Social studies and science books.

As the library itself continues to grow this will continue to develop.

Cooking Books
In the dining room as a 'feature' I keep all our cooking books. It makes sense for cook books to be within easy reach for kitchen needs, so it is. And because I like things to be kept pretty, that is my aim.

Adult Books
All the adult books are in a separate bookshelf so children or rather babies stay uninterested and leave them alone. Sorry book lovers, there is no reason a toddler needs to be flipping pages of our books!

There you have it.

How do you organise your Home School Library? I would love to know

5 Things I am Thankful for:

1. Book shelves

2. A large home to store and have books in

3. Children who learn through reading and actively seek information through books

4. Growing interest areas in all the children + me

5. The love of books within our family

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Building a Home School Library on a budget

One of the beauties of Home Schooling is the multitude of books that come through the home. One of the not-so-beauties is having to pay for them all. At a cost of $20 per book can get a bit.. You know.. Pricey.

Naturally there are more frugal alternatives like using the library.

Library

Personally, I am not a library fan. Perhaps it is because our local library seems to have more inappropriate content in reach of my very small children, or because I would rather not attempt at choosing decent living books with four small children to supervise also.
It could be a bit of a drama when the baby would prefer to play with the toddler-sized-chairs rather than be read to or look at books quietly and a tantrum has ALWAYS ensued a visit, and perhaps the library staff take their sweet time to check out all 30-odd books when we go, and perhaps carrying out 30-odd books to the car while attempting to hold two-toddler hands and stop a runner-5-year-old from skipping her merry way in front of a car crossing the car park.
In short, I don't enjoy library visits as a family outing. Perhaps one day we will, this is not a one-day. I could possibly just go on my own but that would have to be timed well.

Enough about the library.

Home Library
Building a library for home use is an adventure and super fun. Especially when you bring them home by the box load. Here's how:

• Garage Sales
• Op Shops
• Gorgeous Friends who's children have outgrown their books 
• Book Sales
• Library Book Sales
• Toy Library Book Sales
• Online Home School sites
• Birthday and Special Occassion Gifts
• Buy when on $ALE

There, easy. And 1/8th of the price of Regular Retail

(Yes, I would prefer to take my kids into an op shop than the library!)

Buying Second Hand means we are recycling what others are no longer using. 

My Experiences
In the picture above the right hand side cubby hole is Dr Seuss books only. I only have like 38 of them (although I think I have acquired a few more since last count). I picked most of them up for $2ea and the bigger two for $3 in a bulk lot with loads of other books.

At an opshop I went through the entire shelf piling up books of interest, took my pile to the counter and said "How much for all of these? I only have $x so I will have to put some back" She gave them to me for $10 (would have been one of those cubby holes full). I was prepared to put some back but she was happy that the shelves were being cleared.

At another opshop I got two huge boxes full of books, homeschool curriculums and non-fiction books + educational games and puzzles + a few outfits + new glasses and bowls + things for the kitchen. For $30!! I can go to McDonalds for lunch with 4 kids and spend over that amount!!

Honestly homeschoolers, it is worth doing it!! 

Benefits of having a Home Library

• A wide variety of books available to all children at all times
• No late fees or return dates *ahem*
• Can have the book for ages and ages not a mere 3 weeks
• Builds interest in children, seeing different subject matter available all the time means they can choose different books so much easier
• When the baby rips a page out... its less a big deal than a library book (hasn't happened to me yet)
• You can lend your books out to other book lovers without pressure
• No library visits. Or reduced library visits
• Have the exact books that you DO want on hand when you want them
• You can pick up a specific book when a child asks you a specific question. Such as our human body books, when children ask questions we can 'research the answer together' 
• likewise when children want to know something or check on something they know they can find the book and 'teach themselves' or remind themselves. Rather than being 'force-fed' like what can happen in schools
• For us having lots of kids means that children are growing out of younger books and being picked up by younger children, so they are getting used and used well

Are you building a homeschool library? I'd love to know, 

and I'd love to know how you are building it :)

5 Things I am Thankful for:

1. Books available to buy at great prices

2. Amazing friends who's children are older and don't read their books anymore

3. Learning that takes place naturally through literature

4. Language development and interest through literature

5. Self-learning children researching areas of interest themselves (& seeking help when they need it)

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L.O.T.E. (Baby) Sign Language

Avigail's first sign "food"

Baby Sign 

Not a new concept for our family, although we do not integrate it into all aspects of life nor do we use it knowingly on a daily basis. Going on... 4-5 years now and I find I still use it to communicate with our babies. 

As a baby hits a developmental period (between 1 & 3 years of age) where they try to communicate with you and get frustrated at your lack of listening skills (ha!) we begin to get a breakdown in communication between babe and adult and many meltdowns begin. 

I have found that many (not all) meltdowns can be prevented by teaching and using just a couple simple  hand gestures to your tiny tot. 

Here is a very quick list:

Food - Bring your fingers to your mouth as if your putting food into it

Drink - holding an imaginary cup tilt the cup at your mouth

Toilet - place your thumb between your index and forefinger and shake slightly

No - like a crocodile snapping with one hand very fast (Others use a fist and shake from left to right)

Yes - with a fist make it 'nod'

Please - with an open hand rub a circle on your chest

Thank You - With the tips of your fingers (palm towards your face and flattened) move your hand away from your face

Sorry - with a fist rub a circle on your chest (Like please but with a fist)

Lots of Links:

The original site where *I* learnt many of the signs we know today is uhm... lost in cyberspace. There are loads of NEW sites now available with full looking programs! Personally I am uninterested in a full program, enjoying what we already know now. I wouldn't use it (unless I had to iykwim).

Google "Baby Sign Language" or click here.

Or try youtube

A short Testimony

Many years ago, my then 3 year old, would have many meltdowns. I can tell you that he was HARD WORK! He would talk and communicate with me, but not with anyone else. But he wouldn't ALWAYS communicate with me. I even considered him for Autism, ADD, ADHD, or some other disability. Seeking wisdom from other parents who had children with these things, they said he doesn't have it. And they were right!

Anyway, one day we were having a meltdown crisis where I sought the Lord in despair. 

Was I failing as a parent? It sure felt like I was. I asked "What am I meant to do with him?" 

I felt the soft gentle answer "Baby Sign Language". I immediately googled baby sign language, clicked on a link and looked for a few words. This link had videos of a baby doing the sign, all we had to do was watch and copy. I then brought my child to the computer where we learnt 3 new signs in 30 minutes and he suddenly began TALKING. For us during that time was incredible progress, and the added unknown bonus for us was he started talking. Please not that he COULD talk he was choosing NOT TO. We have never had a problem with speech again. 

From memory the words were Please, Thank You and Sorry. 

Honestly parents, these things are too easy to not learn. 

Disclaimer: I am no speech pathologist, I am a parent. I found this to work for US, it may not work for you. Some say that teaching sign language hinders language development, I have never seen or heard or experienced it to be true. If you are concerned for your child's speech development see a professional, or seek the Lord for yourself. I know he is listening and ready to answer ;)

5 Things I am Thankful for:1. Seeking the Lord, Receiving and answer Unique to us
2. Being able to use the skills from that experience on all four children (so far)
3. Communicating non-verbally with babies
4. Clear communications on their wants and needs
5. Less meltdowns and upsets, for both adult and babe

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Hatching Chickens & Ducks

The learning style of both myself and atleast one of our children is kinestic. Meaning, that we learn by hands on experience, which goes well in sustainable living. We don't just learn it, we do it.

This activity was such a low-cost learning adventure that we can do over and over again, for even less costs. Bonus! Frugal! Sustainable!

Hubby bought himself an incubator, and popped a pile of eggs in. 

Hubby carefully checks the eggs, giving them an 'ultrasound' to see if they are alive and how well they are growing. See the veins? That is what your looking for. Amazingly you can see the actual chicken or duck growing inside!!

Hubby and Kids LOVED watching them, turning them daily.

Hubby wrote the dates they went IN to the incubator so he could guess when they were ready. 

After so many days of making sure they had a bit of water, and turning them twice a day they began to make their appearance.

The chicken starts by pecking a tiny hole into their egg shell

The wet bird is exhausted once it has broken out

We left them in the incubator and then moved them under a light, for human scrutiny.
The box of a BBQ was a perfect size for them to be in, kids to be out, and for all of us to look at.

Then its play time, with babies ;)

Isaiah checking out the new life

Jarah seeing the baby

Proud new dad ;)

The same kind of thing, with a larger egg, and a duck inside. 

 

 

Except... Ducks can SWIM :)

 

This Chick got thrown into the bathroom,
 by a 2yr old who didn't know that chickens can not swim.
It survived. 

5 Things I am Thankful for:
1. Hubby-led learning
2. Children learning so much about responsibility and caring for others through natural day-to-day learning
3. I didn't have to do too much 'work' with this project
4. That we can 'do it all again' next available season
5. Ducks and Chickens that give us fresh eggs

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Recycling (for Kids)

Teaching children how to recycle is REALLY easy, set up a rubbish bin for your rubbish, and a recycle bin for your recyclables.

Find out what is recycled in your area.

Show the children the sign to look for. The Triangle means it is recyclable.

Children are very adaptable and learn very fast, especially when you practice daily. 

Recycle Bin
I washed out the recyclable item, passed it onto my child (aged 5, 3 & 2 at the time) and asked them which bin it goes into. Children regularly tip the bucket of recyclable materials into our recycle bin.

Children would then search for triangles on grocery items at the shops before even being purchased.

Bush Walking
Another natural learning activity we took part in was picking up aluminium cans from the bushes, we talked about how it is not good practice to throw rubbish in the bush or on the ground, enforcing using bins.

2 years on the children still talk about doing this and how it is not good for the environment to throw rubbish on the ground

Using up what we have
We always discuss using up what we have already.

Recycling Paper
Being homeschoolers we go through a lot of paper, or a lot of paper comes through our hands. We have dealt with paper by shredding it and...

• Compost
• Worm Farm
• Chicken bed layering
• Baby duck/ Baby chicken bedding
• On the garden
• Local pet shop

Our Personal Journey

We used to live in a VERY small house where space was limited and storage was non-existent. We didn't even have a shed for storage. 

Growing up in a recycling/keep-everything-that-could-be-used kind of home I grew a stockpile or recyclable materials very quickly. The problem was I had nowhere to store it, and was not using it. 

The time came when I discovered that these items would actually be more useful in our local recycling plant than clogging up my home. I packed them all up, put them in the recycle bin, and have never looked back nor missed those items. 

Internally this felt like a much needed release of relief as my home become more manageable and clutter-free.

2 years on, I now put all these items straight into the recycle bin where they can be turned into something else. 

Okay, I admit, now that we are in a bigger home with loads of storage we are growing a 'useful' box of recyclable materials for crafting activities. 

Homeschooling

Teaching children to respect the environment and to practice sustainability naturally means they will be more likely to live it out in their adult years. Under the Government Curriculum Framework this practice falls into the category of Society and Environment. 

To further this area of knowledge, simply go for a walk to your local water ways to discover what has happened to the rivers and lakes. 

You Tube 

We've watched documentaries on what they do with the recyclable materials and what can happen if they are not. I find it interesting and so do SOME of my children ;)

There is so much available to view! Go check it out. 

Recyclable Truck

The kids love watching the garbage truck come every week receiving a double viewing every fortnight when the recycle truck comes. Even after 2 1/2years of weekly stop-what-your-doing-and-run-to-the-window/gate and it gives so much to talk about.

Tip Runs

Naturally we take children wherever we go and specifically use tip runs as educational experiences. Children are so curious as to the environments they are in and the tip is no exception. The smells stimulate our senses in such a way we desire to recycle more and waste less. We drive past the recycle shed as slowly as we can to catch the glimpse inside of sorted-by-hand recycling. 

We discuss the piles of mattress's, metals, plastics and green wastes before dropping our gear off. 

We watch and talk about the giant machinery that workers use. 

We discuss the activitiy of all the different birds. 

We notice the plastics caught in trees and fences along the ways

We drive past the neatly packed recyclable materials ready and waiting to be trucked off to their designated places

Disclaimer: These are just SOME of the ways we are teaching recycling and sustainability to our children. I'm open to ideas if you have any available, and especially any links involved :)

5 Things I am Thankful for:

1. Having a town that recycles

2. Children learning daily and naturally in a way that supports maintaining order cleanliness within the home

3. Enthusiastic interest in the mundane

4. Over-abundance of the country we live in

5. Not feeling that I am being wasteful by 'throwing out' recyclable materials to the recycling plant

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L.O.T.E. Greek

Learning the Greek Alphabet wasn't originally something that I had planned, however, when you come across the claim to learn the Greek Alphabet in less than 10 minutes you kind of decide to go for it. Especially considering the New Testament was written in Greek making deeper connections with the root words used in our english translated bibles.



I was surprised to discover that the Maths U See program we use in conjunction with whatever else (like in natural life cases, workbooks, games and fun things we can source) works in the Greek Alphabet order (Alpha, Beta, Delta, Gamma, etc) which certainly helped. You will find that you probably recognise half of those names from places such as movies.

We do not focus on Languages Other Than English in our home. None of us (to-date) have an overt interest in other languages. When one of us do we will make allowances for that.

The second half of the bible (New Testament) was apparently written in Hebrew then translated into Greek, although some scholars state that it was first written in Greek. Either way some of the earliest texts of the New Testament was written in the Greek language therefore making it an option to learn atleast some words in Greek.


Our main Focus on the Greek Language is situated around the Fruits of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22
I've already dissected a mass amount of these words and definition but I am being lazy (or busy) tonight and posting you to this link here  if you are interested in learning about the Fruits of the Spirit.

5 Things I am Thankful for:
1. Learning the Greek Alphabet in under 10 minutes - for real
2. Receiving FREE (for me) Maths U See Curriculum through my Mother-in-Law who used to homeschool
3. Deeper understanding of the greek words that I researched, especially Galatians 5:22 Fruits of the Spirit
4. Having the ability to use a word to relate directly to a child without others knowing what I am saying. Reminding a child to be "Chrestotes" at the park and seeing instant results. (Kindness)
5. Working on one virtue per week, based on the Fruits of the Spirit and incorporating everyday life into LOTE

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Nature Sensory - Why we don't do it

We are blessed to currently reside coastland, which for us means we are surrounded by water on around 3 sides. We have lakes, rivers, mountains, bush and a significant amount of beaches to choose from.

Sensory Play and Natural Learning
For us this means sensory play at the beach with sand, shells, sticks, rocks, leaves.

It means landform lessons while driving around town, or 'going for a drive' or 'walking the dog'.

It means geography when checking out our local map - for fun.

It means exploring nature, while walking through a bush track.

It means searching and finding unknown animals in rock pools by the beach, or seeing a pod of dolphins jumping from the water, or the resident seal cruising by the jetty.

It means fishing in lakes or rivers.

It means camping in the Great Outdoors.

It means bush hiking, or mountain climbing.


For us, Nature, means ACTUALLY being IN nature, and exploring it naturally.

For us, I don't feel it necessary to find twigs and glue it to paper, or pick up shells and glue them to paper, or sort the different types of leaves there is available.

Now, if we lived in suburbia, then yeah I would probably do the activities.

Into the Classroom
Through natural experiences such as camping, going to the beach, mountain climbing, bush walking discussions come into the learning room or simply at the dining table. Children want to know things so I do the best I can to explain and answer children's questions. Nature games enter imaginatory play in our home where discussions of waves and shells enter in naturally. Kids are learning and sharing experiences with one another.

Play Matters Movement
I think a part of the problem that professionals talk about in regards to children not knowing how to play or gaining sensory experiences is based on the digital age. Many children are indoors watching television, playing video games and other digital devices rather than playing freely outdoors like when say.. I was a child. I am hearing that there are entire 'movements' going on in major sittings encouraging parents to send their children outdoors. I say move to the country ;)

Unschooling
For us, this area of learning fits into the category of Natural Learning or Unschooling. We learn more by participating in this kind of play than we do sitting around the table completing workbooks for educational purposes.

Some of the things we learn are about the animals found in those areas, and we often find them. Relationship building within the family unit. Patience. Getting along with another. Tide and flow, weather, wind movement creating waves, rips and water flow. Land forms, geology. We experience the different textures and flow of water that crashes into our sand pits and wrecks them. We find shells and smooth rocks and sometimes beach balls that we play with.

We also run our Border Collie along the beach and swim with her. She loves swimming. And running.

It is fun, and it encourages a love for learning and life.

Health & Physical Exercise
With children running around and playing we all become refreshed and relaxed, that HAS to be good for the body, mind and spirit!! The running around is even enjoyed and so is the swimming. Children are getting stronger as they get older and more capable of swimming in the waves and recovering. Just wish we had a set of body boards to enjoy with us but time will tell hey!
We are taking care of our mental health also, by relaxing and being together.

When was the last time you took YOUR family to the beach? bush? mountain? camping? 

Does your family enjoy these kinds of activities in nature? 

I'd love to know

5 Things I am Thankful for:
1. The area in which we live and the opportunities that it brings - naturally
2. Having a vehicle that takes us offroad - comfortably
3. Having the hubby who takes his family out into nature
4. Crisp clean air
5. Time. Free Time. That is not bogged down with 'work book work'

This post is linked to:

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