Posts tagged ‘curriculum’

For years, The Old Schoolhouse Magazine has been the “go-to” resource for many homeschool families.  We’re proud to present them as part of our partner spotlight series this week!

Are you looking for some great ideas to supplement your homeschool curriculum? The Old Schoolhouse Store is a great place to start!

At The Old Schoolhouse Store , you’ll find a variety of resources – and for every budget – there’s even a Homeschool Dollar Store!

You’ll find something for every aspect of the curriculum – math to science to reading and from preschool all the way through college prep.

Stay up to date with current homeschooling issues and topics by subscribing to The Old Schoolhouse Magazine . It’s wonderfully informative and will provide you with activities, articles, and even tips on meal planning.

The Old Schoolhouse Store has so much to offer – take a look for yourself -you wont’ be disappointed.

Have you shopped the Old Schoolhouse Store before?  What do you recommend?

Crystal P. lives in Illinois with her many children, pets, and her husband.  She is a former (and probably future) middle school language arts teacher.  She is currently working from home as an independent copywriter,editor, and Lesson Pathways team member. You can follow her blog at http://houseofsloth.blogspot.com/.

If you’ve been on the fence about using a curriculum – it’s time to take the leap and check out Calvert and how they can help you with your homeschool needs.

This unprecedented 30% off sale ends in just 3 days.  Use Coupon Code LESSONPATH – it’s good on your full curriculum and enrichment courses too!

Enrichment courses are perfect if you just want a little something “extra” for your child that your current curriculum isn’t providing.  Course offerings include music, art, foreign languages and so much more!

There are a few really cool educational items on sale this week – at almost 50% off.  Breathe some excitement into your homeschool!

Remember, every purchase you make through our Deals & Steals feature help to keep LessonPathways free for everyone!

LeapFrog Read & Write LeapPad®

Bring the magic of books to life with this innovative reading and writing system. The Read & Write LeapPad Learning System is uniquely designed to make stories come to life right on the page through talking characters, engaging narration, music and playful sound effects. Choose from a library of wonderful interactive storybooks featuring your child’s most beloved characters. Children simply touch the book’s pages with the dual-function Magic Pencil to hear letter sounds and words read aloud, make characters come alive and play exciting learning activities.  This system works will ALL of the Leap Pad books & cartridges!

Hooked on Spelling
When your child develops the necessary skills for proficient spelling, it naturally leads to more confident reading and writing. Spelling is a cornerstone for educational growth, and Hooked on Spelling will help your child master it!

Hooked on Spelling will help your child develop a solid foundation in spelling rules and patterns because it was designed with the knowledge of how kids learn best: by combining fun, computer-based lessons with workbook practice and real-world activities.

Science Optics Set

Build your own! Examine the world around you through a telescope, magnifying glass, and binoculars that you’ve built yourself. Set of 49 pieces. Includes real optical lenses.

And don’t forget you can save 30% off your entire Calvert School curriculum by using our exclusive coupon code: LESSONPATH

Have you seen any great deals on educational toys & products?  We’d love to hear about them!

Yearning to make homeschooling easier? Have you considered Calvert School? The greatest joy of homeschooling is helping your child achieve mastery while keeping his or her thirst for knowledge alive. If you’re like many of us, however, the constant need to plan and create lessons just gets in the way. Without this time-consuming chore, you could have more time to do the actual teaching, more time with your family, and more time for yourself. That’s the gift Calvert School offers in its proven-effective curriculum.

Lesson Pathways is always on the lookout for ways to make your homeschool easier and more successful. That’s why we’ve teamed up with Calvert School to offer you a money-saving deal. This month only, you can enroll with Calvert and get an amazing 30 percent off the curriculum! Here’s what you can expect when you use the Lesson Pathways coupon code (LESSONPATH) to enroll:

Use Coupon Code: LESSONPATH

Worry-Free Homeschooling

Calvert School is fully accredited, so you won’t have to worry about the quality of the curriculum. But that’s not the best part. Even better is the fact that you won’t spend hours upon hours preparing to teach. Who needs that? The foundation of this program is the Calvert lesson manual. When you take advantage of this offer, you will receive lesson plans that guide you through each lesson in detail. With Calvert, your lesson is ready when you are. Just jump in and start teaching!

Full-Coverage Instruction

Don’t you hate it when you choose a curriculum and jump in, only to find that you need this supplement or that book to provide a well-rounded education for your child? Leave all that behind with the Calvert School. This program covers the basic subjects like reading, writing, math, and history but also has you covered for subjects like geography, music, and art. And Calvert provides more than just lesson plans. You’ll get all you need for a successful homeschool program–lesson manuals, textbooks, workbooks, and supplies. Everything comes in your box, including paper, rulers, crayons, and writing utensils!

Integrated Learning

Studies show that subject mastery and retention come easier when students explore topics from various angles. Calvert School makes this easy with its integrated learning format. For example, your child may study a history topic and then go on to read and analyze a closely related composition. To further reinforce study, your child may also complete a writing, art, or music project that drives the subject home.

Homeschool Tools and Resources

There’s even more to Calvert than the foundation curriculum. For starters, Calvert understands that children learn in varied ways and provides instructions for appealing to different learning styles in each lesson manual. Calvert School also offers optional assessments, homeschool support, and online tools for both parents and students.

Don’t wait to give Calvert a try! This deep discount won’t last. Use coupon code LESSONPATH by 11:59 PM on February 26 to save 30 percent off any grade level curriculum. Jump right in with both feet now or plan ahead for the upcoming school year. It will be here faster than you think.

“Moooooooooom! Can I have that?! But I neeeeeed one! Everyone else has one!”

That’s a pretty familiar sound, isn’t it? It’s not just my kids is it? It can be hard to know when to say yes and when to say no. We want to teach our children how to manage money, but sometimes it’s hard to keep track of allowances, making sure the kids are spending their money wisely, and learning how to save.

There is help! I’ve found this great virtual banking program called FamZoo. It’s a family-friendly and most importantly, kid-friendly. I like to use it to manage my children’s allowances. My favorite feature is that I can customize the allowance “type” to each child. I can set up my 14-year old’s account to split his allowance into spendable money, money that needs to go into savings, and charitable donations. At the same time, my 2-year old can have her own account where I would track birthday checks, quarters she finds under the couch, etc.

The money is all virtual. You keep track of what is in your kids’ allowance fund (and they can too – each family member gets their own log-in). There are mobile features so that you can check account balances and/or make adjustments while you’re away from home.

FamZoo.com is a great way teach your children how to manage their money and to give them a hands-on lesson to see where their allowance goes. If you’re still not convinced, go have a look around – they have a one-month free trial – just use coupon code HOLIDAY2010 when you register (expires 12/31/10)!

You can also give  a FamZoo gift subscription and help other parents teach their kids good money habits.

Watch the video below for more information and then head over to FamZoo.com to sign up today!

This post was written by Crystal P., a LessonPathways.com Team Member and teacher.  You can read more of her education-related articles at Crystal’s Thoughts.

*This post was sponsored by FamZoo.com, an affiliate partner of LessonPathways.com.  All proceeds from this post and other affiliate commissions go directly towards the cost of maintaining LessonPathways.com and keeping it free for everyone.  While FamZoo.com has sponsored this post, the opinions and review belong to the author.

Maybe you’ve just decided to homeschool, or maybe you’ve been homeschooling and have decided to switch gears.  Or maybe you’re one of the ones (a-hem: ME!) just getting a late start this year!

We recently hosted a series on Planning Your School Year.  We hope you find these posts helpful!

First things first: Where to Start?

Which style fits your family the best?

Child-Led Learning

The Eclectic Approach

Using a Structured Curriculum

Times are tight!  Keep finances in check: Curriculum on a Budget

And to wrap it all up: Record Keeping

Have missed the one piece of advice you’re looking for?  Leave us a note in the comments section and let us know – we’ll try to help you out!

Most homeschool parents want to do more than just teach math so that their children can pass tests. They want to make math meaningful! Instead of memorization alone, many parents want to help their children develop critical reasoning and problem-solving skills and find ways to apply the study of mathematics to real life. Perhaps most of all, however, many parents want math lessons to form a firm foundation on which later instruction can build. This is the first in our blog series Making Math Meaningful. Please take some time to read what long-time homeschooler Nikki Madison has to say about choosing a math curriculum, and then share your opinions in the comments section:

Choosing a math curriculum may be one of the most difficult parts of planning home education. You may hear about a wonderful curriculum that served your best friend’s family well and find that it only frustrates your child. Sometimes the great curriculum your homeschool support group recommends may even become a source of frustration for you–the homeschool teacher (or supervisor, if you prefer). This is because there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to math curriculum choices. Instead, the best math curriculum is the one that fits your child’s learning style as well as your unique teaching style as a homeschool parent. If you make this choice a personal one, you are less likely to go wrong.

One very basic thing to consider when you are comparing math curricula is whether the pages will be in black and white or in color. This may not seem to be such a big deal, but it can be a factor in how well your child pays attention to his math lessons. Some children become very distracted by colorful pages that have photographs or cartoon-like illustrations on them. Others may become bored with simple black-and-white pages. You know your child best and can use this knowledge to select curriculum materials that will keep his attention on his math.

You may also consider how new concepts are taught and already-learned concepts are practiced when you are trying to choose the right math curriculum. Some math programs include lessons or chapters that are separated by concept. With such a choice, your child may practice a particular concept or small group of related concepts for the entire lesson or chapter, mastering the new material fully before moving on to the next concept. In such a case, review work may be provided, but the new concept is the focus. With others, most of a lesson, unit, or chapter may be review, and a small amount of instruction and practice may focus on a new concept. The best choice for your child may depend on the amount of repetition she needs (and can stand without becoming bored or frustrated). Some children need a good deal of repetition so that they do not forget key concepts and methods of problem solving. Others find it easier to master a set of concepts fully before moving on to focus on something else.

As the teacher or homeschool supervisor, your satisfaction with the math curriculum you choose is important as well. Before choosing, you may assess whether you prefer a curriculum you can just jump into and start teaching or want one that requires you to review the concepts and lessons before teaching each day. You may also consider whether you want a curriculum that is scripted or not. Some parents prefer scripted lessons because they feel less worried about what to say and making a mistake. Others feel that the scripts sound too, well, “scripted” and prefer to add their own creativity into teaching math lessons. The best curriculum is the one with which you are most comfortable.

There are all sorts of math programs you can choose, so it’s not just about comparing textbook to textbook or workbook to workbook. You may choose an entirely online curriculum, a textbook/workbook option or a textbook-based curriculum that has an online component. Some materials are centered around math games and activities while others are video based. There are even some curricula that include an audio component for those who learn well by listening.

Sometimes it takes a bit of trial and error to learn what works best for your child, but there’s one way to ensure that the materials you choose are never a total flop: taking a combination approach. Often, attacking math from a number of various angles is the way to go. Doing this may not only help your child to retain the information he’s learning, but may also help to prevent him from becoming bored (a sure killer for true learning). Choosing a curriculum that combines regular bookwork with online or video instruction may prove beneficial. Opting for one that includes math games and hands-on activities, especially those that involve the use of manipulatives, may help as well. Remember, you don’t have to search far and wide for the perfect curriculum. You can supplement a basic math curriculum with other resources to create a math program that is perfect for you and your child.

Ending this blog post without a word about cost just wouldn’t be right. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking the most expensive math curriculum is the best, but this is far from the truth. You could find a math curriculum treasure at a second-hand sale, at a bargain price, or even for free in some cases. Sometimes, however, the curriculum you really want is out of your budget range. If this happens, consider buying it used from another homeschooler or bartering for it (if the curriculum company is willing). Otherwise, you may evaluate the components that make this curriculum the best option and use lower-priced math materials to create a similar program.

Nikki Madison is the mother of four homeschooled children and a freelance writer. After an initial year of trying to mold her oldest to fit an award-winning math curriculum, she learned to choose and adjust curriculum materials to suit the needs of her children.

I’ve planned my curriculum and my daily schedule.  I’ve planned my involvement in coops, sports, and field trips (you know…for all that great socialization!)  I’ve planned my reading lists, my library trips, and my music lessons.  Great!  We’re ready to go, right?

Not quite!  There’s one important thing you forgot!  How are you going to actually prove that you did all those great activities you have planned? How will you show your children’sprogress along the way? How will you document your homeschool journey?

Planning an effective record-keeping system is just as important as planning the details of your homeschool curriculum and schedule!  Let’s ask a few questions and take a closer look at the why’s and how’s of homeschool record-keeping.

“Is record-keeping really that important?”

Records from your child’s homeschool education serve several important purposes.  The first, and arguably, most important reason to create an effective record-keeping system is that detailed records can help you prove compliance with the law.  Secondly, when students apply for scholarships or other honors, school records may be necessary to prove eligibility. In addition, colleges and universities may require detailed records as part of the application and admission process. At times it may become necessary for a homeschooled child to enter (or re-enter) a public or private school.  Appropriate placement within the new school can be more effectively done if complete records can be provided.  Some families may elect to keep records for less pressing reasons.  Records can simply be used to showcase a child’s homeschool experience, or as a nostalgic “look back” for children as they grow up!

“But where do I begin?”

The truth is no one system will work for every homeschool family.  There are just too many variables in question to answer this question with a single “pat” answer. The information that follows is designed to provide you with the information you need to help you create your own record-keeping system—a system that is perfectly suited to meet the needs of your family!

“When should I start working on my record-keeping system?”

Maybe you’re just thinking about homeschooling for the first time. Or maybe you’ve been homeschooling for a long time, but have never developed an effective method for keeping records. In either case, the time to start keeping complete records is now!  It’s possible that you will never be required to produce the records that you have collected.  The advantages of having comprehensive records still far outnumber the hours spent working on them. And how much time will you need to invest?  While the time required will vary somewhat from family to family, most homeschoolers must invest relatively little time in order to create and maintain a well-designed record-keeping system.

“What should be in my child’s records?”

Hopefully, by this point you agree that you should keep a record of your homeschool journey.  The next question that should be considered is this:  What records should be maintained? Several factors need to be considered when answering this question:

• Where do you live?
• With what laws must you comply?
• How old is your child?
• Will your child be entering public or private school in the future?
• Is your child college-bound?

Where you live will significantly influence the decision of what records must be included.  In the United States, the education of all children, including homeschooled children, is governed by state laws.  Families who fail to comply with the laws of their state—either unwittingly or in defiance of the law—may face legal challenge, and could ultimately lose their right to homeschool.  Knowing and understanding these laws will help you determine what records you need to keep for your children.  An online search for the laws that govern homeschooling in your state can provide you with this important information. Homeschoolers in some states have very few requirements to satisfy, but still choose to keep records of their children’s homeschool experience solely for personal and/or sentimental reasons.

The age of your children is the next question to consider.  While it is important to keep records for all children, the need increases for high school age children.  High school records play an important role in the college and/or job application process.  Similarly, families who may eventually want to enroll a child in public or private school may need to present school records in order to simplify the placement process.  A student’s future academic interests and pursuits will also guide you as you put together your record keeping system.  But even if all you want to do is show off your young child’s academic abilities to family and friends, keeping records is a great idea!

“How do I put it all together?”

No two families are exactly alike when it comes to their homeschool experiences.  And that applies to their record-keeping as well!  Exactly how you keep your own student records will be determined by many of the same factors discussed above.  And as your homeschool experience grows and changes over the years, your record-keeping needs will likely change as well.

Of the many possible record-keeping methods you might choose, a portfolio is possibly the easiest, and most efficient way to compile and store your child’s academic records.  A portfolio is a collection of documentation intended to demonstrate a homeschool child’s academic progress. Though legal requirements and personal preference may cause the contents of a homeschool portfolio to vary from family to family, a comprehensive portfolio should contain some combination of the following items:

• A Student Information Page that contains general student information such as name, birth date, address, etc.
• Any Medical Records required by law such as immunization records, annual physicals, etc.
• Documents that prove compliance with local requirements and/or state laws. One or more of the following documents should be included:
  • A list of specific goals and objectives for each academic subject
  • Documentation of communication with local school district officials as needed
  • A listing of educational materials utilized. This list should include author and publishing information for all books, curriculum, DVD’s/videos, and software used.
  • A sampling of student work in all subject areas, particularly those required by law. This collection should honestly represent both the type and quality of all work completed by the student.
  • Documentation of required and/or voluntary assessment. Some states require some form of assessment.  Student progress can be assessed and reported in a variety of ways including report cards, standardized testing, professional evaluations, grade reports, and transcripts.
• A listing of extra-curricular activities such as field trips, homeschool group or church activities, sports, music, drama, etc. These can be presented in a variety of ways, but a photographic journal is an especially effective way to provide this documentation.
• Documentation of special awards, honors, accomplishments, or achievements earned.

Still not sure how to move forward?  An online search of key terms (homeschool portfolio, homeschool records, sample transcript, etc) will provide you with an abundance of ideas, tools, templates, and products designed to help you create thorough homeschool records. In addition, electronic homeschool management systems can provide easy access to much of the documentation needed to put together a complete record of your children’s home grown education.  What are you waiting for?  Now’s the time to stop planning and to start doing!!

This post was written by Linda Difino, a homeschool mom with four wonderful children.  Her homeschool journey began nearly 20 years ago with three daughters (all now graduated) and continues on with a 1st grade son!  When she isn’t homeschooling and
home-making, Linda works from home as a homeschool consultant and enjoys blogging at The Joyful Journey (http://joysandrewards.wordpress.com) and  The Homeschool Apologist (http://thehomeschoolapologist.blogspot.com).

Over the years we have tried a multitude of different curriculums with varying levels of success.  The one constant in my curriculum selection-a very tight budget!  Not matter what curriculum I choose, I always hunt down the best bargain.

Last year, my daughter enrolled in a biology study group at the last minute.  She needed to complete the required reading prior to the first class.  I jumped on the computer to order the text from the Learning Things website.  They offer free shipping and a discount on the text and study guide I was looking to purchase.  I was rather pleased with myself; free shipping and a discount!  I placed the order but soon discovered the shipment would arrive a full week after her first session.  I was a little distraught, to say the least.  After all, I wanted my daughter to be prepared!

I was rather pleased with myself; free shipping and a discount!  I placed the order but soon discovered the shipment would arrive a full week after her first session.

In my desperation to equip my daughter, I began searching for a local supplier or a used copy of the books needed.  I checked Ebay, Amazon and even CraigsList.  I was having difficulty location the edition the group would be using.  In a last ditch effort, I posted a “wanted” ad on CraigsList.  Within 24 hours, I had 2 people offering to sell me their copies and a stranger, but kindred homeschool mom in the next county, who actually offered to loan me her daughter’s copy for free. I was so grateful and my daughter was prepared!  I was able to cancel my original order, with the help of their very accommodating customer service department.  Eventually, I did purchase a like new set from one of the offers I received for less than half of the price I would have paid for new books.  I was one happy momma!

The moral of my story-don’t be afraid to ask! Once you have selected the curriculum that best suits your child, ask your homeschool friends, co-op contacts, even strangers, if they have the curriculum to loan or sell.  This will give you the opportunity to try the curriculum before investing a lot of money.

Sites such as Ebay, Amazon and CraigsList are good sources to purchase gently used items.  There are also many used homeschool resource stores online, such as Educational Accents.  Check out The Homeschoolers Trading Zone, a forum to buy and sell used curriculum and keep an eye out for used book sales through your local homeschool support groups.

Sometimes, after comparing the costs, shipping and resale value, it may be just as wise to purchase new curriculum. Sites such as Penny Wise Learning and Rainbow Resource offer a large selection of homeschool materials.  Also check out the Homeschool Buyer’s Co-Op for great offers (I recently purchased the Dave Ramsey curriculum for teens at a ridiculously low price through a group buy!), and keep an eye out on the publisher’s site-they often offer specials and discounts.

Whatever your curriculum choice, remember there are many ways to stretch your curriculum budget.

This post was written by Christina S., a LessonPathways.com team member and homeschool mom of 2.  A veteran homeschool mother, she and her family are entering their 12th year of homeschooling and looking forward to graduation!

The structured approach of a traditional school-in-a-box curriculum can be a perfect fit for many homeschoolers.  For parents who may be confused and overwhelmed by trying to recreate the eclectic approach practiced by some homeschoolers, a structured, all-in-one curriculum can offer a welcome relief.  For others, a structured curriculum simply fits their lifestyle and/or teaching style.  Still others choose this option for children who seem particularly well-suited to a more structured learning environment.  For these reasons, and many more, this method of homeschooling effectively meets the academic needs of a large percentage of families.  Though in some homeschool communities, the school-at-home method is sometimes disparaged as being “too much like school”, many homeschool families have found it to be a very effective means of providing their children with a first-rate education.

One of the great advantages of choosing a structured curriculum is the relative ease with which it can be implemented in a homeschool program.  Let’s take a look at the basic steps required in planning your school year using a structured curriculum.

Investigate your options

Begin your search well in advance of the start of your school year.  Gather catalogs.  Search websites. View curriculum at a homeschool convention or book fair in your area.  Ask key questions that will drive your decision making process.  Do you prefer a faith-based program?  Or maybe you’d prefer a secular program? Do you want a program that is teacher-driven?  Or are you looking for one that is student-paced?  Would you prefer a computer-based program?  How about a literature-based program?  Investigate your options with these questions in mind.  Narrow down your options and make your final decision using these criteria to guide your decision-making process.

Choose and purchase curriculum and planning materials

One of the biggest mistakes that homeschoolers make is not planning ahead.  Parents who are well-prepared for their school year experience significantly less stress than those who enter the year unprepared.  Curriculum should be purchased at least a month before the start of the school year to provide ample opportunity for planning and preparation.  And families who plan to search for used curriculum should start even earlier.  Many curriculum companies offer sales in the spring to encourage early purchase of materials.  Homeschool conventions and book fairs are often held in the spring and summer and can provide the opportunity to purchase materials at discounted prices. While a structured curriculum can make the planning process less complicated, ample time is still required.  And don’t forget to include planning materials in your purchase.  Many structured curriculums offer pre-written lesson plans and other planning materials that can greatly simplify the process.  Skimping on these “optional” items can make the planning process more time-consuming for a busy homeschool mom!

Plan your calendar and lesson plan

Begin to actively plan by creating your school year calendar.  Because most structured programs are organized into approximately 160-180 lessons per subject, creating a lesson plan is usually quite clear-cut.  Create a lesson plan that takes into account the calendar that you will follow for the year.  Assigning one lesson per day in each subject ensures that all lesson content will be covered within the timeframe of a normal school year (180 days). Electronic planners can help simplify the process, making it easier to make adjustments throughout the school year.  Some computer-based programs may even do the lesson-planning for you!

Gather supplies

Most structured programs include teacher’s guides which provide lists of requiredmaterials for student lessons, activities, experiments, and more.  Failing to gather required materials in advance can bring even a well-planned homeschool program to a screeching halt.

Become familiar with the student and teacher materials

Don’t allow yourself to be taken by surprise on the first day of school.  Make sure that you have a working knowledge of both the structure and content of your children’s lesson material.  Planning lessons at least a week or two in advance can greatly reduce surprises—and frustration—for both students and parent.

Plan your record-keeping

Because most structured programs are more traditional in their instructional methods, they lend themselves well to record-keeping.  Planning in advance how you will keep a record of student work will help to ensure that you will actually do it when the time comes.  A basic grade book provides an ideal place to keep a record of student progress.  Gathering templates for report cards and transcripts in advance helps parents keep adequate records from the very beginning.

Don’t let your school year get away from you before it even begins!  Your children’s future is at stake. Even a structured program requires planning. Take the time to plan for a successful homeschool journey!

This post was written by Linda Difino, a homeschool mom with four wonderful children.  Her homeschool journey began nearly 20 years ago with three daughters (all now graduated) and continues on with a 1st grade son!  When she isn’t homeschooling and
home-making, Linda works from home as a homeschool consultant and enjoys blogging at The Joyful Journey (http://joysandrewards.wordpress.com) and  The Homeschool Apologist (http://thehomeschoolapologist.blogspot.com).