Homeschool Nature Club: nature study resources for all ages

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I love nature study, and I have loved doing it with my kids over the years. However, I’ll be honest, it’s one of those subjects that I have the most guilt about. I love it, but it doesn’t always fit into our week. I love it, but I don’t always know how to actually get it done. And, as my kids have gotten older, a lot of the nature study resources haven’t “grown with them.” A lot of what is out there for homeschool nature study is geared toward the younger kids. The result is that our love for nature study, particularly my teenagers’ love for nature study, has kind of fizzled out. I wanted to find something that would appeal to my older kids, or at least my fifth grader, and would help me pursue nature study successfully for myself.

So when I was given the opportunity to review the Homeschool Nature Club membership, I was absolutely thrilled. First, because it looked like the perfect solution for providing whole-family nature study courses, with “mature” nature study resources for my older kids. And second, it felt like coming full circle, as this membership website is the new and improved platform for the nature studies (originally written by Barbara McCoy) that were our very first introduction to nature study 10 or more years ago. 

And let me just say at the start here, I have loved this nature study membership as much for myself as for my kids.

Freedom from Procrastination Book Review

I’m not sure I’ve met anyone who doesn’t ever struggle with procrastination, but I know it’s definitely something I’ve struggled with. And I can see that those I know who have ADHD definitely struggle with procrastination. Some of that battle has to do with time blindness and time management, but there’s also a heart-battle involved. That heart-issue leading to procrastination is what caught my attention when I saw Barb Raveling’s book Freedom from Procrastination mentioned on instagram. She graciously provided a pdf copy for me to review and share with you. The book has been extremely helpful, as I’ve mulled over it for the last couple of months, working through the different “Renewal” questions and worksheets provided, and studying the devotional parts of the book. If procrastination is your struggle, and you are ready to get to the heart of the issue, this book is a tremendous resource.

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Freedom from Procrastination review:

Getting to the Heart of What’s Holding You Back

Homeschooling Independently Responsible Learners: a book review

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Transitioning from homeschooling little ones who can’t read and need you for nearly every task to homeschooling older, independent learners is no small task. Trust me. I have two in high school now, and my youngest is in fifth grade this year. Independently responsible learners are not created overnight. There is definitely a process involved, which is why I was excited to get my hands on Dennis DiNoia’s book Teach: Creating Independently Responsible Learners. I’m always on the lookout for books that help me to be a better homeschool teacher, and this book definitely fit the bill. Teach is an easy-to-read resource with lots of practical ideas for “creating independently responsible learners.”

Dennis DiNoia (perhaps better known to many of us as Mr. D from the online courses Mr. D Math) writes a compelling autobiographical sketch of his journey as an educator of high school students. From public school educator, to tutor, to online homeschool course creator, Dennis provides practical tips that he has learned and put into practice in multiple settings.

Choosing the best ADHD Homeschool Math curriculum for your child

I’ve often said that there is no perfect “ADHD curriculum,” because kids with ADHD are just as varied as kids without. Any curriculum you choose will need some adjustments, and just about anything you use can be adjusted.  With that in mind, these ADHD homeschool math options are quirky and creative, colorful and engaging, or hands-on with lots of variety. Plus, these particular options for ADHD homeschool math are items we have used personally. Though these homeschool math curriculum choices won’t solve all your ADHD challenges, choosing from this list may help you find something that, with a few adjustments, could be the perfect curriculum for your child.

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The ADHD Homeschool Math Curriculum List

Shifting the Mood in your Homeschool: Strategies for Emotional Dysregulation

 

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Homeschooling a child with ADHD, dyslexia, or another learning challenge means there are probably some pretty intense moods. The brain regulates more than just attention, and those emotions can dysregulate pretty quickly. A subject takes longer than expected, an assignment or project is different than your child first thought, the pencil lead breaks, a math problem needs to be erased—it honestly doesn’t take much for the whole day to spiral into a meltdown (and some of those meltdowns are my own, if I’m honest). But just because emotions are high doesn’t mean the day is lost. There is a way, even in the emotional storm, to shift the mood and regain the day with a few simple strategies.

Tips for Growing Organizing Skills in your ADHD homeschool

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Growing and cultivating takes time and patience. Nothing grows overnight. You can’t plop a plant in your garden and hope to pluck the first fruit tomorrow. Growing organizing skills and time management, particularly in a child with ADHD, takes time and patience. There is no “miracle-gro” for these executive functioning skills, and progress looks different for each child. With all that said, I want to walk you through some of the “baby steps” along the way that have helped us in growing organizing skills in our kids and give you an honest look at where each of them are today.

Tips for Growing Organizing Skills in your ADHD homeschool

Organizing the ADHD family with weekly planning

Our family is ADHD multiple times over, which translates to lots of distraction and forgetfulness and miscommunication if we aren’t proactive. As our kids get older and add more to their schedules, it becomes increasingly difficult for my husband and I to keep track of everything we have going and everywhere we need to be, especially when one or more of us forgets to mention an activity or commitment until just before we need to be there. One of the ways we stay on the same page as a family and teach self-management skills for our kids is to have weekly family planning meetings as part of our regular routines. Organizing the ADHD family is not simple, but these weekly meetings have helped to simplify some of the chaos.

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