A Great Intro to Homeschooling Your Preschooler

 curriculum, Reviews, TOS Crew  No Responses »
Sep 142011
 

As a part of The Old Schoolhouse’s Crew, I get to review many different homeschool related items. Normally those items are geared towards the Bugs because she is the older of our girls. This time around, we got to try something out with the Beans. Let me tell you, Beans was so happy to have something for her for a change.

This time we got to review Before Five in a Row. As the name implies, it comes before the Five in a Row curriculum. It was put together by Jane Claire Lambert.

Before Five in a Row (BFIAR) is a wonderful curriculum to gently introduce your young preschoolers (it is designed for ages 2-4) to the beginning of their homeschool (or preschool if you decide to not homeschool all the way through) years. BFIAR is at its simplest, a guide of activities, projects and discussion starters that correlate with the gems of children’s literature. While it seems simple it is also more than that. It helps to reinforce listening skills with the youngers, helps them work on motor skills, pre-reading skills, health, art, music, drama and more. So while the curriculum seems rather simple, don’t let it fool you.

You don’t need to go out and buy much to use this curriculum either. Most (if not all) of the suggested activities can be done with common household items and the books used as the spine can be found at most libraries. I will warn you though, even though I do live in a moderately sized town, I was only able to find half of the books listed (we do own Caps for Sale which is a family favorite, however, I couldn’t find over six titles suggested at the library. I’m not sure if that is because they were checked out and lost in the tornado or not.)

BFIAR uses as it’s spine classics like Caps for Sale (HubbaHubba’s favorite book as a child, which he still has memorized); Angus Lost; If Jesus Came to My House; Corduroy; and Jesse Bear, What Will you Wear? I like the fact that these are older children’s books as I know that they won’t have the sometimes questionable content so prevalent in children’s books today. While I still pre-read everything and I do suggest that all parents pre-read the literature they introduce to their children,  these are safe books according to most standards.

Now, since we own Caps for Sale, and it is one of the family’s favorites, I’m going to explain a bit of what we did (now, you can do a book a day, a book a week [what we did] or a book every few weeks. You totally get to set the pace and timing of this curriculum. There is no hard core, set in stone lesson plans for this, so you do what works best for you. It’s very easy to customize).  The theme is that there are many different ways to solve problems. You have a Bible lesson (Proverbs 6:10 & 11). You do counting for some math work (count the caps, count the monkeys, count the different  colors of caps…count your child’s hats, their stuffed monkeys, etc). For vocabulary, we learn what a bunch is and that cap means the same as hat. You can talk about how walking like the man in the story is, is good for your health and then take a walk (P.E. and Health, which can also include safety lessons if you go out for a walk in the neighborhood, and some dramatic fun if you go on a hunt for monkeys).  For art, look at the illustrations and have your child tell you what they see, what colors are used, how the pictures show the progression of the story, and then have them draw a monkey or a hat. You can also discuss how the man must feel to have the hats stolen by the monkeys, how it might be angry and confused. Now, we didn’t do all of this in one day. This was over the course of a week. And each day we read the story again.

I love the concept of BFIAR. I love books. I love introducing my children to the wonders of literature and the comfort of a good book. I like how this is so easy to incorporate into a very busy schedule (moms of more than one can agree, I’m sure). It really doesn’t take very long to do either. Just a few minutes to read the book and do one or two things in relation to the story. It can be done quickly after lunch, while the olders are working on independent school projects and some activities are great for just before bedtime. This is a very gentle introduction to school for the younger children.

I don’t recommend this is curriculum if you prefer a more structured curriculum that is heavy in worksheets and is hitting on the academics. However, if you lean more towards a Charlotte Mason philosophy in your schooling, this is a great product for your first year with the littles. And if you really want to work in some more academics, that is easily done with this curriculum.

For us, with Beans being three and a half, she wasn’t too thrilled with the same story being read every day. And she is above academically for a lot of the suggested activities. I like how I could adjust things and did use BFIAR as more of a springboard for ideas for themed activities I could do with her. I would suggest this for a young three or a two-year-old. And it is so easy to do, if you have enough children to have a buddy system going, the older buddy could do some or all of this with their little buddy.

At the time of this post, Before Five in a Row is available exclusively through Rainbow Resource for $35.00.

If you want to read what others had to say about this curriculum, go visit the Crew’s Blog.

As a part of The Old Schoolhouse’s Crew, I was given the curriculum/book Before Five in a Row by Jane Claire Lambert for the purposes of this review. All opinions are mine and mine alone and no other compensation was received.

TOS Review; How to Have a H.E.A.R.T. For Your Kids

 homeschooling, Reviews, TOS Crew  2 Responses »
Aug 292011
 

Well, it is off on another voyage with The Old Schoolhouse’s Homeschool Crew. And I am delighted to review and perhaps introduce you to our first item of the year.

This year we kick off our review schedule with Rachel Carman’s How to Have a H.E.A.R.T. For Your Kids. Published by Apologia Press, you will want to rush order yourself a copy.
This book was based off talks Mrs. Carman was asked to give years ago at homeschooling conventions. Each time she gave it, she was asked to give it again and the talks just ended up being the essence of what this book is. Some ways of sharing things and the order of things got tweaked along the way into what is now the book.

Rachel Carman starts out with a bit of background about herself and their journey into homeschooling. Each chapter then is broken up into part of the acronym of H.E.A.R.T. It is only five chapters, plus the introduction and the epilogue. So, don’t think that this is another one of those HUGE books that you have to wade through. It isn’t. In fact, the way the book is divided up, you could easily stash it where you can sit down for a minute or two and quickly read some of it, then go on with your day and think about what was discussed in what you read (yes, I will admit to keeping short books like this in the bathroom. Not like we’re never interrupted in there, but at least you can bet on a minute, perhaps two until the children find you…)
Mrs. Carman discusses what is necessary for you to truly have a heart for your children and where your priorities need to lie. First with God and your relationship with Him, and then with your husband, and finally with your children.

This book wasn’t preachy, which is always a plus. I found this book to be a good mentor in the veins of Titus 2 for those of us who may not have access to someone to fill that role. I found Rachel’s wisdom and insights to be invaluable and very encouraging.
Rachel speaks from experience. She and her husband Davis have seven children of their own stretching from high school on down. So this isn’t a how to book, or a book full of advice by someone who has no or few children and isn’t very experienced in their subject matter.

Through this book I was reminded to live in the now. Not look at past regrets with choices we’ve made in regards to our children, but to always seek to do better now. I was also reminded on how important it is to not live for the future. Yes, we need to seek God’s will for the future, plan for it and such, but not live for the day when X happens. If we do, we’ll miss the wonder and joy of living now. Especially when you have younger children. Life travels by all too quickly, and it is important to savor each moment, then when you do reach that someday, you’ll have a magnificent tapestry of memories to hold tight.

I highly suggest that ALL mothers read this book regardless of how you and your husband have chosen to educate your precious blessings. It will change your attitudes towards your children.

At the time of this writing, you can purchase How To Have a H.E.A.R.T. For Your Kids through Apologia Press for $13.00.

To read what other crewmates had to say about this book, go visit the Crew’s blog.
I received a copy of How To Have a H.E.A.R.T. For Your Kids by Rachel Carman from Apologia Press as a part of The Old Schoolhouse’s Homeschool Crew. All opinions are mine and mine alone, and no other compensation was received.

Let’s Set Off On Another Cruise!

 homeschooling, TOS Crew  No Responses »
Jul 012011
 

Well, since life has been hectic recently, I haven’t had time to really do a lot of writing about what is going on.

The most exciting thing right now in the world of our homeschooling is the fact that I was accepted for a repeat voyage on The Old Schoolhouse’s Homeschool Crew. That means that I get to review homeschooling products again this year and writing what I think about them. This voyage takes off shortly so be looking forward to learning about some great new products with me this year. And the reviews of my fellow crewmates.

I was so excited to be sailing again. The review items we get have added so much to our school. It brings in more variety when I forget to schedule us some. And the girls have loved some of the stuff we’ve gotten to try. It is also a lot of fun getting to use products that I probably wouldn’t have thought of trying before. I also love the people I get to play I mean work with ;)

A Book You Must Have

 Read for the Heart, TOS Crew  No Responses »
May 272011
 

I love books.  In fact, I doubt I’ve ever met a book that I absolutely hated. There has to be some kind of redeeming quality or good point in every book nearly (at least in my opinion. I honestly couldn’t tell you of a book that I absolutely hated…). I’ve been a voracious reader for as long as I can remember.

I want to raise my children to love books as well. However, finding good, quality books for them can, at times, be a struggle. There is so much junk out there competing to fill our children’s minds.

So what’s a parent to do?

Well, Read for the Heart is here to help. This book by Sarah Clarkson is more than just a book about books. It is more than just a suggested reading list. It is a book about why we should have books from all the different genres, about each serves a purpose and that there really are TONS of excellent choices for our children and families.

I love how this book was put together. There is a great introduction. Then each genre of children’s books is discussed in their own chapter. She even covers picture books. Then, after discussing the great qualities of each genre, she gives suggested books and authors lists for what she considers is the best for that genre.

Sarah Clarkson loves living books. She loves books that transports you to places you will never be able to go (who can physically return to the War of the Roses? But you can in a good book). She obviously loves books (how many people love books so much that they’ve written a book about books?)

I agree with Sarah that books can and should inspire us. They should fuel our dreams and help us to get where we want to go. And in order to do that, we do need to be careful what we read.  If we read things that are not uplifting and good, then we will sink to where the books are.

I espeically love how the history section was laid out.  She discussed the need for good books about history.  Books discussing the events of history not as dry, stodgy, old textbooks; but as books that are alive and will take you to what you are reading about. She then divided up suggested book lists by period of history and suggests grade/age levels.  So you want a book on the ancients. You just go to that section (page 213 thank you) and find a book for your age grouping.  It is wonderfully easy to navigate. And as a super busy homeschooling mom, who doesn’t like easy to navigate?

I really think that anyone with children should have this book, not just homeschoolers. I wish this book had been in existence when I was a child and my mom had a copy. I would have been able to find many, many new authors that I’m sure I would have loved.  Now, as an adult, I can’t wait to read through the suggestions in this book. I should be busy for quite a long while if I do. Which I don’t mind. Well, if I had the time…

Read for the Heart is available for $17.00 plus shipping from Apologia’s website (at the time of this blog post)

To read what others had to say about this book, go visit the Crew’s Blog.

I was given a copy of Sarah Clarkson’s book; Read from the Heart by Apologia Press as a member of The Old Schoolhouse’s Crew.  All opinions are mine and mine alone and no other compensation was received.

Eagle’s Wings, an Aproach to Science

 TOS Crew  1 Response »
May 252011
 

Recently, I got to try a science curriculum I had never heard about before. It is from Eagle’s Wings Educational Materials and is called Considering God’s Creation.

Eagles Wing’s is a natural science curriculum totally based on a Creation view. It covers topics from the universe, to botany to physiology. It is a great introduction into a lot of the natural sciences.

We received the Teacher’s Manual, the Student book and the CD.  I love the teacher’s manual. It is easy to use. It is clear and so very easy to tweak for a wide variety of age groups (it is aimed for 2nd to 7th grade but I had no problem with adapting it to my 4 y.o. with her level of understanding). The teacher’s manual tells you what to prepare, what to say, and what to do, with enough specifics to make anyone leery of teaching science comfortable using it, but with enough wiggle room to keep those of us who love to tweak things happy to. It is hard for a curriculum to do that.

The student book is harder to adapt, in my opinion. The book has notebooking pages and they are aimed for the middle of the age group it is designed for. While I don’t mind that, it was basically useless with my learning to write child. So, we didn’t use it that much. I used it to get ideas on how to tweak it.

The cd was honestly our least favorite item of the bunch. The voices seemed to be flat or totally off key often, and the recording isn’t the best. If your child needs or benefits from music while learning, this could be beneficial for you.

I do like Eagle’s Wings. A lot. Bugs loved doing the unit about the solar system. I like how easy it is to use to meet our needs.

Right now, Eagle’s Wings can be purchased for $29.95.

To read what other Crew members thought about this product, please visit the crew blog.

I recieved Considering God’s Creation (teacher book, student book and CD) from Eagle’s Wings Educational Company for the purpose of this review as a member of The Old Schoolhouse’s Crew.  All opinions are mine and mine alone and no other compensation was received.

*I’m sorry about the brevity of this review. However, I live in Joplin and we were just hit with an F5 tornado last Sunday. Instead of spending a lot of time on my reviews and blog this week, I have been assisting in relief efforts. I hope you understand.

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