A Traditional Literature Theme: Tall Tales
Continue your Traditional Literature study in your homeschool with Tall Tales. These stories are short, fun, and engaging. If your children are resistant to reading, Tall Tales can be a great way to capture their interest.
~You can find copies of American Tall Tales here. There are also comprehension quizzes on this site.
~You can find a unit study on Tall Tales at German Town Academy.
~Tall Tales fit into a unit of study on the westward expansion. You can find general information about America in the 1800’s at this website. You will also find a host of educational resources at this website.
~Some Tall Tales are based on actual people. You can have your children research the lives of the Johnny Appleseed and Davey Crockett and compare the facts they find to the exaggerations in Tall Tales.
~You can make a lapbook on Johnny Appleseed. Homeschool Share has a free one.
~Have your children write their own Tall Tales. Remember to include exaggeration in the tales. Illustrations would complete the stories.
Photo courtesy of cliff1066
Filed under Homeschooling Life, Reading, Social Studies | Comment (1)A Traditional Literature Theme: Myths and Legends
Here are more ideas for using traditional literature in your homeschool this month. Try reading Myths and Legends.
Myths
Myths are creation tales that include supernatural activity. For a more detailed definition go to About.com.
- Spark Notes is packed with information about mythology. It can be a great resource for you as you start to learn about mythology.
- Have your children read Myths from various cultures such as Native American and Greek myths. Examine the themes that appear in those myth,s and create a grid to of those themes as a graphic organizer. You can also have your children illustrate the myths in order to help them visualize the stories better.
- Discuss the religious nature of the myths that you read. Since most myths have something to do with creation, take this opportunity to discuss creation according to the Bible. You can even make a creation lapbook with your children. I found a free creation lapbook from Lapbook Lessons.
Legends
Legends are stories partially based on fact, but have exaggerated details.
- Children of all ages, particularly boys, love legends! Who can resist the adventures of Robin Hood and King Arthur? These are great, action packed stories to read aloud.
- Write a script for a favorite legend and act it out, or simply have your children choose a favorite scene to turn into a skit.
- Since it is March, you can research the legend of St. Patrick at History.com. You can also find information about St. Patrick at RiverDeep.net
- Write a modern day Legend after examining others. Have your children include illustrations of the legendary hero and his/her adventures.
Snowflakes Are Falling In Your Homeschool
It is the middle of the winter, and most places have plenty of snow. Learn about snowflakes this month in your homeschool.
~Wilson Bentley is famous for photographing snowflakes. He successfully photographed his first snowflake on January 15, 1885. Try researching his work and life. Watch this informative video about his life. It starts out told in the first person.
-There is a Snowflake Bentley website where you can find out more about his life. There are also copies of his photographs posted there.
-Read the following books to research Bentley’s life:
Snowflake Bentley (Caldecott Medal Book)
The Snowflake Man: A Biography of Wilson A. Bentley
My Brother Loved Snowflakes: The Story of Wilson A. Bentley, the Snowflake Man
~Learn about snowflakes. Go to the Cal Tech website for host of information.
-Read the following books to research snowflakes:
Ken Libbrecht’s Field Guide to Snowflakes
The Snowflake : A Water Cycle Story
-Observe snowflakes. How Stuff Works has a great lesson plan for this science experiment.
~Make snowflakes in various artistic ways. These books can help:
Make Your Own Paper Snowflakes
Easy Tatting (Dover Needlework Series)
~At ProTeacher you can find a few math activities related to a snow theme. My two favorites are:
-Have a snowball fight. Write a math fact on a piece of white paper and crumple it up in a ball. Make a whole pile of these. Throw your “snowballs” at each other for a specified time. Then everyone takes turns reading the math facts out loud. Repeat.
-Use shaving cream on a table or desk as your snow. Have your child write in the shaving cream. Write math facts or draw shapes. Recite a number such as one hundred forty five and have your child write it in the shaving cream – 145.
Photos, Snowflake-024 & Snowflake-009, courtesy of yellowcloud
Filed under Art, Math, Reading, Science, Social Studies | Comment (1)Visit a Floating Museum
I love it when I hear about out-of-date things being re purposed, so I was thrilled to hear about something that is re purposed to provide an exciting supplement to regular education. The USS Midway is a retired aircraft carrier that is now a floating museum that provides exciting and engaging learning opportunities. The focus is on real-life math and science as well as the history linked to the aircraft carrier itself. The curriculum was designed by a Wheelock College graduate, Sarah Mann Hanscom.
If you are in the San Diego area, you and your children can actually take part in the hands-on learning that happens here. The activities on the ship are geared towards children in grades 2-8. There are also pre- and post-visit materials available for grades 4-8. Since the museum is in California, the activities are all linked to the California Content Standards. Your whole family can stay the night, too! There is a long waiting list, so you have to make reservations about 6 months in advance. Reservations open on August 18th.
What a unique opportunity for your family to learn together and have some fun!
Filed under Lesson Plans | Comment (0)Dance, Music, Memories
My family loves music and dancing, so I incorporate both into our school day as much as possible. We are always singing, and I can’t stop dancing! I guess we have a rockin’ home school!
Dancing is a great way of burning some energy on days when we are stuck inside. In order to make things a little more interesting, this past week we went to the library and borrowed some great dance music. We listened just for fun a couple of times first. Then on a day when we were stuck inside, I put on some Latin music and taught the kids the basic step for salsa. We danced for about 20 minutes. It was a really great workout for me and loads of fun for the kids!
What is it about music that brings such joy? “Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp.” (Psalm 149:3Psalm 149:3
English: World English Bible - WEB
3 Let them praise his name in the dance!
Let them sing praises to him with tambourine and harp!) God created music for us, and He wants to sing and dance to praise Him. Why not enjoy this gift with your children? It is so uplifting to move your body, so when you and the kids are in a sour mood, try putting on your favorite tunes, and dance up a storm!
Dancing is a great way to enhance your physical education program as well. Starting a unit on dance will change things up a little bit, and maybe your children’s coordination will improve in the process. It is always great when you can take part in the activities that your children engage in, so learn some different dances together, especially ones that will come in handy at weddings and the like. You can also study the different cultures that the dances come from.
Music plays an integral part in dancing as well. You can teach your children about the rhythm, the particular instruments used in the music, and a little about music theory (if you can get your hands on a copy of the sheet music). Learning about the particular style of music opens a window into a culture, too. You can also study the lives of different musicians or composers known for a certain type of music. Maybe you have a budding musician or composer in your home!
Families all have something that makes them special and unique. In my family growing up dancing was that something special. My mother always wanted to be a dancer, so dancing was her passion. I have great memories of dancing with my mom. We laughed and had so much fun. It was just something that defined my family, and I cherish those memories today. Why not make a few memories with your kids?
Filed under Lesson Plans | Comment (0)My Story
This is my story in a nutshell. I hope that you will see how my journey brought about the foundation of Homeschooling Coach and how we can help you evolve as a homeschooler.
I entered college full of anticipation and hope. I wanted to change the world one classroom at a time. I loved children. I loved teaching. I read everything I could about child rearing – starting at thirteen years old. I watched T. Berry Brazelton and Penelope Leach to find out about child development. I took care of everyone’s children. I worked as a child care provider in a community-based program designed to assist families in need. I knew that I was going to be the best teacher that there ever was. I only applied to Wheelock College. It was a small, private school focused on serving children and families. I walked into that school and felt at home. I dove into my studies and graduated as an elementary school teacher.
I worked in an urban school in southern California upon graduation. This was a tough school with tough kids. It was difficult to work with the parents because of work schedules, misunderstandings, language barriers, and the list goes on. I was frustrated and devastated. Why was I struggling with something that had come so easily to me? I knew that I was meant to be a teacher, and I was failing miserably at it. I stayed there for three years and left to start a M.Ed. in Reading Education at Boston University with the hope of becoming a reading specialist. I figured that I was more suited to individualized work. I still loved teaching, but I was unable to organize everything that a classroom teacher is responsible for – paperwork, grading, assessments, meetings, professional development, and on and on. A reading specialist job would be a better fit with more focused work.
In graduate school I worked for a literacy-based tutoring program as a program coordinator. I managed a group of tutors working in schools all over Boston. I also provided all of the training for the tutors. I designed different workshops myself based on different teaching techniques and projects to do with the children. I led all of the training. I created a tutoring manual as well. I really loved that job – too bad it was a work-study job and not a professional one! College students are great to work with, and I love passing on my knowledge. It was a great use of my talents and strengths.
I graduated from BU and landed a job as a reading specialist in an affluent school district. I was a reading teacher in the middle school; however, I taught one hundred students. I was still managing a classroom, but now I was managing more students than I could have dreamed of being responsible for. At least I was teaching only one subject, and I was part of a team of teachers. I was integral in developing the curriculum – something that has always interested me. This job also proved to be a challenge for me with the demands of evaluating all of those students and keeping in touch with their parents. The work load was too much for me. I did not have enough time with the students, and I really loved teaching part.
During my time in the middle school, I also went on a mission trip to Nepal. God called me to work with a team providing teacher training in a Christian school that my church supported. I had to go! I really loved working with the teachers and the team I served with. It was challenging to teach with limited supplies – even more limited than when I worked in southern California. I appreciated the challenge, though. On top of all of the other hardships, my mother passed away two weeks before my departure for Nepal. I went on the trip anyway; I knew that God wanted me to go. He provided for me, though! I never felt closer to Him than I did on that trip. I started to see glimpses of His plan for me.
I left the middle school job to have my first baby. I decided to stay home with her, but it became apparent that God wanted me to use my gifts in a different way. While I was pregnant, my husband and I had attended a Mass HOPE conference because we were considering homeschooling our children. The conference had sparked an interest in the homeschooling world. God brought great friends who were educating their children at home. It seemed like home education was a possibility for my family, and I wanted to get immersed in the culture. I also wanted other moms to feel like homeschooling could be a reality. I established Homeschooling Coach, a Christian organization that provides consulting and tutoring services for homeschooling families. I began with an e-newsletter and workshops that provided practical curriculum information. The response has been amazing! God has truly provided and has definite plans for Homeschooling Coach. I am striving to obey God and serve His people who are serving their children every day. I am excited to watch the business grow and see God’s plan unfold.
Since starting the business, I have begun homeschooling. My children and I have also been working with some friends who are also interested in homeschooling. It has been great for me to dive into educating my own children and to encourage my friends. I have learned a lot about how exciting it is to teach your children about this wonderful world. I love watching them engage in activities that I have worked so hard to put together for them. It is amazing to watch them understand something and to see the excitement on their faces while they learn! It has been more rewarding than teaching in a classroom ever was. It is also more frustrating when things don’t go as planned or the children are not cooperating with my plans. All of these experiences open my eyes to the needs of the greater homeschooling community. I know that my varied experience will be an asset to home educators!
Filed under Colleen, History | Comments (7)
