Category: Language Arts

Susan Evans Workshops

Tracy

The other night, I listened to a Susan Evans workshop on “Making Literature Fun.” It was my first time listening to anything from Susan Evans, and I enjoyed it immensely. She was fun, casual, informative; it was like listening to a fellow homeschool mom from your co-op. Her ideas were fantastic! Everything from art projects, to science experiments, to dramatic historical productions were suggested as ways to make the classics an unforgettable experience for your toddler and your high schooler.

Susan taught for seven years in a variety of settings, working with several different age groups, before homeschooling her four children. She related so many fun memories of activities that she did with her own children, interwoven with some fantastic tips. For instance, she suggests that you do watch the movie BEFORE reading a book if that book has a complicated plot (what I had always considered a no-no in all circumstances). She offers several tips on how to get active young children to sit still during your read-aloud time and a myriad of ideas for unit studies to supplement the books you are reading. Her one hour workshop (available for only $5.50 on her website) mentions over 39 classics specifically and tons of hands-on ideas.

I was also able to listen to Susan’s recording of “Overcoming Math Frustration,” which provided a moving story of her own struggles with her children in this area and the lessons God taught her as she prayed through those struggles. She also reviews a few different math approaches during the talk and provides some “living math” ideas along with a few tips to diffuse the tension from math-battles in your home.

Susan’s website offers more information, articles, unit studies, and other workshops that she has done. Also, if you sign up on her website, you can get her newest items for free before she posts them for sale in her store. I signed up for her freebies and can’t wait to be getting the first installments in my inbox. I’ve also bookmarked her website to get more ideas when we begin our study of ancient history in the fall.

Browse around her website, check out her Youtube videos, and get totally inspired. It’s like a customized homeschool convention, and you never have to leave your home!

*Disclaimer: I received two free audio workshops in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.

Language Arts Lesson: ‘s

Tracy

I mentioned in a previous post that I was tackling A Beka’s language arts without a workbook this year; and while this particular lesson might not have actually shown up in their workbook, I thought it might still give a few ideas of how we loosely use the A Beka plans.

In my lesson planning for A Beka, I made notes at the bottom of our phonics work pages when a test or a language arts concept was scheduled. The other day, we encountered the first of my language arts notes. “LA ‘s vs. plural s” is what I had written at the bottom of the worksheet. So, I grabbed our $2 dry erase board and a marker.

First, I wrote “Dan’s dogs” on the board and talked him through the difference. “Both of these words end in s, but this word ends in what’s called an apostrophe.” (I had him repeat that to me.) “Now, is Dan’s telling me that he owns the dogs or that there are more than one Dans.” (He giggled and gave the right answer. I had him circle the apostrophe.) “An apostrophe tells us that he owns the dogs. Now, let’s look at dogs. Do the dogs own Dan or are there more than one.” (Again, he giggled and gave the right answer.)

Oldest with his LA lesson while Middle-est practices scissor skills beside us.

I erased the board and wrote “Ann’s cats,” and we repeated the process. Next, I wrote “Bill’s bugs” and had him do the teaching, walking me through the same questions and steps. I praised and cheered him when he was finished. Then, I had him come up with his own combination. At first he chose “Tom’s fish.” I let him talk me through the apostrophe, pointed out that fish didn’t need the s to be plural, and suggested we change it to birds. He eagerly made the adjustment (thinking through his phonics sounds to spell the word, a lesson in itself) and then talked me through his concept.

The whole process took five minutes MAX, and it was so fun! I tell you, a dry erase board and a marker can totally make a kid’s day. It’s absolute magic.