I like to devote a good portion of summer to getting rest and making preparations for the upcoming school year.  There are MANY educational opportunities in the summer months so by no means do we discount those times!  But I wanted to share a few tips with you on getting up and running. Although this post doesn't share what you need to do to start homeschooling legally (signed affidavit, objectives etc.), there are some practical helps to be gleaned! There are some links in the post to ideas for teaching history too! This was a homework assignment at the Talk-a-Latte sessions with Cindy Rushton. More info. can be found on her website!

1. How we set up our home to learn
   We remain available for our children and keep our ears open for discussion.  We have invested in learning tools and equipment (over the years, little by little).  In addition to our home, we use our car! We do read alouds on trips and listen to educational cds, praise music and Christian artists.  We also use our backyard for things like gardening (botany).  We installed a small inexpensive pond (but we've enjoyed it so much that we've discussed building a bigger one next year because the fish are nearly 5 years old and they're getting too big!  We plan to make our own pond layout, a fun learning project!  Ponds also come in handy for those lab, biology highschool years but are by no means a necessity to cover lab sciences!
   
   
2. Tips for getting ready to homeschool
   Look to the Lord for GUIDANCE.  It's exciting to see how He he meets our needs and provides answers!  Decide upon a doable way to maintain good records.  It doesn't even have to be fancy!  I have a form that utilizes check off boxes for those times when I can't write everything down.  The form also has lined spaces on the side to add details.  Take time to rest and plan out the year.  Ask God to give you a vision for the upcoming year.
   
   
3. Getting your homeschool organized
   Declutter, then declutter some more.  I never get rid of the unwanted items in one sweep or even one day.
   * A neat tip to keep your windows clean: We bought a pack of the thick terri-cloth towels NOT a regular bath towel, (you can find them in the automotive section in Walmart) you don't even need window cleaning solution to make your windows shine when you use these!  Just dampen a corner, wipe down the window to remove dirt, then use the dry part to shine them up.  I love these!
   * Get rid of clothes that you can't use anymore.
   Laundry time will become bearable again (I'm in the middle of this one myself!)
   I try to always keep the dishes tidied up because it's more difficult to do them after they sit for a day.  If you let them go too long you will actually begin to see the 2nd law of thermodynamics in action, and there are more fun ways to learn about science! :-)
   
   * Balancing everything
   Set up a schedule but remain flexible!  It always helps me when I write down those things that I need to accomplish throughout the day or week.  When I plan things ahead of time and *write them down* in a planner, I am more apt to follow through.  Cindy Rushton has created The Organized Mom Superset available on her website,    One facet of this set includes some very nicely decorated forms to help you keep your time balanced, there are homeschool planning forms, a Bible reading plan, and even more.  You have to check it out!
   * Making your home teach
   Get a few pets!!  Pets are a never ending source of delight and learning!  Your children can be taught the responsibilities of caring for one of God's creations.  Play classical music or music of the renowned composers when studying fine arts or even if you're not, it sets a nice atmosphere in the home.  Use your wall space for awards or special pictures drawn by your children.  Mount the pictures on construction paper.  Your kids will love this and it will boost their confidence. 
   
   
4. Ideas for keeping it all organized;
   SHELVES!!!  We started small and purchased a med. sized shelving unit years ago but after our library began to grow, we chose one wall and we built shelves across the whole space.  It didn't cost much and wasn't very hard to create either!  I highly recommend starting a family library, you won't regret it!
   We purchased inexpensive Rubber maid containers to hold things like colored pencils, tape, index cards, paper clips, staples, markers, lab supplies etc.  These containers are then labeled and placed in an easily accessible spot on the shelves.
   
   
5. Favorite history read alouds/biographies;
   If you haven't set aside a regular time to read aloud to your children then you don't know what you're missing!  One of our all time favorites is The Story of Liberty (before America was established) AND Sweet Land of Liberty (American History) by Charles Coffin)  The Hiding Place (Corrie Ten Boom) We have the dvd too, it's very good.  Historical fiction like, Morning Star of the Reformation, these are published by Journey Forth or books from The Sowers Series.  We've also enjoyed The American Adventure books by Barbour  (Here's a short snippet from the above website;    (The American Adventure books are written from a Christian perspective and include Bible verses, prayers, hymns, and moral lessons related to each story. They emphasize the significance of God in our country's history, the importance of having godly character, the relevance of wholesome family values and traditional gender roles.)
   We liked the Little House Books so much that we bought each of the TV episode seasons (Michael Landon), as they were released over the past couple of years.  I always get in the mood to can tomatoes or apples after watching a few of these!
   
   
6. Favorite history teaching resources;
   Visiting historical museums and taking virtual online field trips to historical websites when travel isn't an option.  Here are a couple of examples;
   
   The Washington Monument     
   
   The Smithsonian Institute    
   
   Seven Wonders of the Ancient World    
   
   The Mayflower    
   
   e-History 
   
   We have kept the TV in our home for two reasons; (1). educational shows and (2.) to monitor current events.  It provides us a way to watch our own educational video selections as well.
   The History Channel ,and the Public Access Channel have some very good programs scheduled.
   
   Let's Make a History Timeline Notebook by Cindy Rushton,
   When at all possible, we like to learn through song.  We have used Diana Waring's History Alive Through Music books. Some of these are out of print but you can still find them at used books stores.
   
   Blackline Maps from Knowledgequest,   (We just recently purchased these from Teri Johnson!)
   
   We have a 4 volume cd set from Homeschool Radio Shows,  (Living History for the Ears by Jim Erskine)
   Another of our all time favorites is Richard Little Bear Wheeler!  He is an excellent storyteller and historian. We have a 4 volume cd set that covers the Civil War (more PA history btw), that we plan to use in the fall.  His ability to narrate history makes learning history fun and enjoyable at any age, highschoolers included!
   
   
7. Ideas for teaching history
   In addition to studying history chronologically or in units, our *favorite* way to learn about history is by keeping a (Timeline Notebook) or a (Book of Centuries).  We have found that  through the years these creations provide an easy ongoing way to keep the appetite for this subject alive if an emergency situation arises, (sick family member, unforeseen out of town trips), etc.  We like to draw sketches of famous people through the ages.  We plan to integrate more subjects into our history studies this year, for example (music during Lincoln's era and geography or layout of the land/ territory in those times).
   Ancient history for us begins in the Garden of Eden.  Looking for the Lord's thumbprint throughout all of the study of history is THE best approach for a Christian homeschooler!

(PA HSN Contributor)

Here is a great resource from TOS.  It's a brochure to help new homeschoolers get started and hopefully answer some of the many questions they have.  You may download it and print as many copies as you need free.

http://www.thehomeschoolmagazine.com/How_To_Homeschool/tosbrochure.pdf

Let Nancy Baetz of TOS know what you think of the new brochure.  She's looking for constructive feedback in order to help new homeschoolers on their journey.

What do you like about it?

What don't you like about it?

What would you add to it?

Should something be taken out?

Did it help you in any way?

Do you use it?
You can either leave me a comment on my blog, or if you would rather not, just email Nancy at her personal address. Nancybaetz@yahoo.com.
 Blessings,

Barb

Creating a Meaningful Portfolio

One of the most difficult parts of any task is sometimes JUST GETTING IT STARTED!  For the past several months, we had been gathering the documentation from our past year of learning in order to assemble our portfolio. I had a hard time getting motivated for some reason!  After a gentle nudge from the Lord, I now have before me a beautiful record of learning from the past school year.  Here are some tips from a website that you can use all year long.  Whether or not your state homeschooling law requires you to compile a portfolio, they provide a great lifelong record of your child/ren's learning and events that might otherwise be forgotten. It will also stir your creative juices as you and your children put it all together. This can be lots of fun too.  Portfolios are also a great way to share the learning that took place with family and friends.  Don't wait until the last minute though, if you are rushing through it, that may take all of the joy out of the process!  If you find the article below helpful, click on the link for a more detailed look at each tip!

by Ellen L. Stanclift
Compiling your children’s portfolios does not have to be difficult, but it can be time consuming. Here are some ways to stay on top of things, as well as ways to put your own personal mark on these “end of year” collections:
   
Begin organized and stay organized. Keep a file for every subject area, for every child. You will find that just having a folder into which your children can place their work will save you hours of running around at the end of the year. Date all completed worksheets and place them in the appropriate file immediately. For books (like math consumables), you can date the appropriate worksheet and leave it in the book, tearing out examples when you put your portfolio together.
   
Document everything you can.   

Write a weekly log.
   
Take lots of pictures!     

Take photos of items too large to fit into the scrapbook.
   
When in doubt, keep it! It’s a good idea to keep all sketches, diagrams, spelling tests, maps, current event projects, reports, handwriting samples, book reports, creative writing examples, math worksheets & tests, foreign language samples, ticket stubs to special events (such as museum trips, theater events, etc.) and map & time line projects. You can always weed out later ! But by saving them in an organized, methodical way, you will be able to pick and choose which samples you can best include.
   
Give yourself plenty of time to sort and compile your portfolio.

Neatness does count!
   
Don’t forget the basics. Make sure your child’s name, address, and other relevant information is contained on the front or within your portfolio.
Have fun!

In conclusion, remember that your child’s portfolio is a memento that will record his homeschool journey. Ask yourself what meant the most to you this year and make sure all those events or projects are included. Look at this book as your own keepsake, as well as the message you hope to convey to your evaluators. Taking the extra time to make it special will make it a treasure for you, but it will also help to give the best window into your homeschool. Make sure that window is one you want everyone to see! In doing so, you will provide yourself with a record of a moment in time that will last a lifetime.

Cathy (PA HSN Contributor)