Homeschool Archives - Page 2 of 50

Homeschool Math Curriculum for independent learning

January 12, 2021Tracy

Teaching Textbooks update | homeschool math curriculum | dyslexia and ADHD math

One of the greatest challenges with homeschooling multiple children or homeschooling children with learning struggles is never having enough of you to go around. Everyone needs you, and some of your children simply can’t accomplish the work without you sitting right beside them checking each answer. This is especially true with a subject like math. Finding a homeschool math curriculum that allows your child to be independent, to learn without you, to be instructed and corrected and to receive some basic help with their math lesson, can make a huge difference in your homeschool day. Teaching Textbooks is a homeschool math program that equips your child to learn math independently, even if your child has a learning struggle.

Creating a Customized Homeschool Math for your unique child

September 1, 2020Tracy

$CTCMath Customized Homeschool Math$

When my child has trouble with language arts, there is a myriad of resources that help me customize my homeschool to fit that child’s various needs. I can get spelling on one level, reading on a different level, and writing on yet another level. But finding math resources that allow for that kind of flexibility is a challenge. What do I do if my child excels in multiplication and division but struggles with fractions and telling time? Do I hold that child back? Do we work at two separate grade levels? The ability to create a customized homeschool math program that fits my child’s unique needs is one of the top reasons I’ve loved CTCMath.

Homeschooling High School Science with Apologia Biology

August 24, 2020Tracy

For years, I’ve heard homeschoolers rave about Apologia. I’ve seen it show up at the top of many recommended science curriculum lists. And honestly, I probably look at samples online every year and wonder if this will be the year we jump on board with Apologia science. This year, for the first time, I will be homeschooling high school science, and I’m more than a little intimidated. So when I was given the opportunity to review Apologia Biology for high school, I was thrilled to take a closer look at their newest update.

Tips for NOT Overthinking Your Homeschool Curriculum Choices

July 30, 2020Tracy

We’ve been homeschooling for about 9 years now, and every year I tend to overthink my homeschool curriculum choices. This year has been worse than usual. For one, my oldest is starting high school (hear me hyperventilating?) and, with all the COVID limitations, I’ve had far more time to think and rethink and rethink again.

Don’t get me wrong, researching the right curriculum takes time; that’s perfectly normal. There is a normal part of gathering facts, reading reviews, and previewing samples that comes with wise shopping. But when I begin to rethink and second guess the items in my cart, not because of facts, but because of my own fears and insecurities, I’m overthinking.

So if you just can’t bring yourself to click that “purchase” button, or you’ve replanned your homeschool year for the hundredth time, how do you stop overthinking your homeschool curriculum choices and move on? Here are a few reminders that help me.

Middle School Homeschool Curriculum Favorites

June 28, 2020Tracy

This homeschool year, I have two of my kids in middle school—6th grade and 8th grade. To say I was nervous about these transitions would be an understatement. Though I definitely miss the lower elementary years of crafts and messy projects, adventurous learning and cozy read-alouds, these years of growth and independence and deep conversations have been a blast as well. I actually love homeschooling my middle schoolers. And while settling on homeschool curriculum for middle school has been a little bit of trial and error, I’m pretty happy with how our year has wrapped up.

Hands-on Homeschool Language Arts curriculum: review & giveaway

May 20, 2020Tracy

We’ve recently finished the entire Nessy phonics program, and I’ve been on the search for a grammar and writing program that fits the parameters of my son’s personality and dyslexia struggles. His learning style is humor, (and no, you won’t see that on any learning style list, but trust me—it’s a thing). That was one of the key successes with Nessy for him; the humorous videos helped him to finally remember the phonograms we’d been struggling to learn for a while. For grammar and writing, he needed something visual, humorous, and creative—a hands-on homeschool language arts curriculum that was fun.

Finding Guest Hollow’s Language Arts program was like having someone read my mind. Her Beowulf’s Grammar activities and lesson plans are full of picture books, drawing lessons, finger puppets, and projects tailor-made for my son.

(Disclaimer: I received elements of this program for free in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated for a positive review. All opinions are my own.)

Second Grade Homeschool Curriculum Favorites

May 15, 2020Tracy4 Comments

This homeschool year, my youngest began second grade. It’s hard for me to believe that after all these years, I’m done with rainbow counting bears and letters of the alphabet. I’m savoring every moment of these younger years with him; they are some of my favorite in the homeschooling journey. These are the years of enthusiastic wonder, and lots of energy! I love his boyishness and his sense of humor, and how these characteristics play a part in all of his learning.

He has his own set of struggles, working through some mild dyslexia and dysgraphia. And with a family full of ADHD, it’s hard to tell right now how much is second-grade boyishness and how much is his own potential ADHD presenting. He’s my clown and a regular performer, and often after our once a week class at a local charter school, I was informed of his frequent interruptions. When I questioned him about one of those incidents, he answered so matter of factly: “It was interesting and I had lots of questions!” I have no doubt he did, too.

So here’s what it looks like to homeschool a second-grader like mine and the homeschool curriculum favorites that worked well for us this year.