Posted in Lesson Plan Ideas

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.  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!

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 cd's, 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!

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.

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.

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.


Favorite history read alouds/biographies;
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 following 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!


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 that we plan to use in the fall.  His ability to narrate history makes learning history fun and enjoyable at any age, highschoolers included!


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!

Till next time,