Another offering from Facebook that I thought might be a good transfer to this venue. This one is about teaching history in a homeschool environment. Since our family is so politically involved, and we've run a few history/political co-ops, I get asked about how I teach history a lot from homeschoolers we run into. One of the things I stress is that these things have worked *for us* and what works for others may be different. I'm happy to answer questions about any of the books/games we've used.
What Do We Use to Teach History in our Homeschool
Sunday, May 3, 2009 at 11:00pm
Recently a question popped up on our local homeschool group's yahoo group that asked about teaching history. I get asked this question all the time. So I thought I'd post it here in case it might help anyone.
We teach history with minimal textbooks, preferring to read "real" books and good historical fiction instead. Warning, mommy brag coming up: Seems to have worked well as I am constantly amazed at how much my older girls have retained that comes out in obscure conversations.
This is a list of those resources and books we've found helpful. Keep in mind we'ved gathered these resources over 16 years homeschooling and didn't acquire them all at once.
The text books that I do like are by Edward Eggleston such as _A History of the United States and Its People_ and _A First Book in American History_ (no teacher text required, and great questions at the end of each chapter).
I also like the very affordable texts put out by Christian Liberty Press .
For your benefit you may want to obtain the two book series _Streams of Civilization_ (sold by CLP and others) but definitely a high school text as they are good basic and thorough books to have around for reference.
We use lots of Landmark Books and there are some teacher's aides available for them, but you don't really need that. Just read them.
Cornerstones of Freedom are also good books we've used.
Veritas Press has some neat resources such as these 5 homeschool kits (activity book, flashcards and tapes/cds now), where we've been able to suit the needs of all our different learning styles (visual, auditory and kinesthetic). The Old Schoolhouse magazine has a review of them here. They are expensive, so if you know your child's learning style you may want to focus on that portion of the kit as they are sold separately.
Genevieve Foster has some great read alouds. Her books are listed here. Beautiful Feet has some interesting kits for historical study.
Then there's Charles Coffin, his books are great read-alouds, too. Little Bear Wheeler carries some of them here.
Diana Waring is an exciting speaker and she'll [was] at the conference this year! Yea! She has a unit study approach, but just listening to her tapes/cds will encourage you and equip you to make history learning fun and exciting even if you don't do unit studies.
Our most used resource is Christine Miller's _All Through the Ages_. When she first put this resource out it was found by rubber band and hole punched for you to put [into a notebook. Updated and now bound, this dog-earred thing has accompanied us to the library countless times and also to many a used book sale. You can find it here
FYI: Christine Miller was the original publisher/owner/writer of Homeschooling Today before she sold it to the McDonalds. It is a very different magazine today. When Christine was publishing it, it was my favorite homeschooling magazine.
All Through the Ages is a resource that has compiled booklists from 26 sources such as Answers in Genesis, Beautiful Feet, and Sonlight. The lists are separated chronologically (as well as by subject) according to historical date and then further separated into appropriate levels of age/grade level and even further separated into overview of the era, specific events of the era, biographies, historical fiction, literature and culture. This updated version has timelines, and some historical backgrounds and information. If you could only buy one resource to do history, this would be my suggestion since it contains so much useful information.
Lastly, these games have been fun for learning history: Bethump'd With History , The All American Trivia Board Game and there is a junior level at the same site, Oval Office, the Race to be President (looks like they discontinued making it but I think it's available in a computer version now).
July 25, 2009
Homeschooling Quiz
I've been spending more time on Facebook these days rather than on this blog. I enjoy the social aspects of Facebook, whereas this blog has very low interaction. In fact, I don't even know if people are reading it. Anyway... I thought this particular quiz about homeschooling was worth sharing in this venue as well as on Facebook. I will be sharing other things from Facebook here as well.
Questionnaire about Homeschooling (used to be What type of homeschooler are you?)Share
Tuesday, June 2, 2009 at 12:19pm
Copy the questions, delete my answers, fill in your answers and post as a note. Don't forget to tag me back!
1. What time do you get up? 6:30 am. I fail to see how this questoin relates to the type of homeschooler I am. I suspect this is a question meant to see if we're sleeping in late. The more pertinent question would be what time of day do we do the majority of our homeschooling and why? It used to be in the mornings as the afternoons were reserved for piano lessons and practice, playing, napping and hikes and such. But since God has seen fit to bless me with employment at a doctor's office 4 mornings a week, and the two remaining children are night owls, we do the majority of our schooling in the afternoons now and their temperments are better suited to learning. You see, one of the marvelous things about homeschooling is doing it in a way that suits and benefits your family.
2. What do your children wear to school? Well they do wear something. Usually we begin in jammies, and then as showers occur, we apply regular clothing. Although we have been known to stay in jammies all day, regardless of showers/baths, etc.
3. What curriculum have you tried and hated? I haven't really hated any curriculum. My children might reply differently. We have tried things that haven't worked for us and so we've been fortunate to gift that to others or to relieve ourselves of it at a used book fair.
4. Who is your most inspirational homeschooling role model? Don't know that I have one. I am a gleaner, so I take parts from lots of folks that will benefit our family, whether I agree with their overall philosophy of education (and religion sometimes) or not. I have been impressed with and inspired by Treon Goossen's complete devotion to preserving the Colorado Homeschool Law for over 20 years since she helped to broker it and co-wrote it back in the 1980's.
5. Abeka, Charlotte Mason, unschooling or Classical? We are classically relaxed schoolers. I do plan in general, broad strokes, and then we go where our whims and interests take us. However, math and catechism lessons are much more formal.
6. Favorite response to “what about socialization?” Depends on whom I am speaking to. With strangers I am more general and ask questions of them to determine where they are coming from and if they have an open mindset. I won't waste my time speaking with someone who only asked the questions to impart their opinion rather to truly find an answer. For those whom I am more familiar with, I am much more specific about our ideas about what and how socialization is and how it influences us for the better and usually for the worse in an environment where we become peer dependent. I emphasis that we aren't in this quest to please our neighbors but to raise children who are in the world and not of it.
7. Favorite subject? American History, hands down and without even a forethought!
8. Favorite field trip ever? Our trip back East in the fall of 1999 where we visited Revolutionary War and American Civil War sites. My favorite tours were Gettysburg and Valley Forge. The highlight, though, was when Kaitlyn answered a question of a docent at Monticello, "Lafayette! It was Lafayette!" She awed those adults who had studied Jefferson and could not answer the question. (Of course, she awed her parents and sister too, and made us proud that she had not only been listening but absorbing her history lessons.)
9. Best thing about homeschooling? The liberty to raise our children and instruct them as we see fit. The government's only concern should be that it is being done, as I know that an educated citizenry is important. I believe the government fears the true education of its citizens, however.
10. Sports, music, or art? As it applies, and as it seems fit to each individual child and their giftings.
11. Priority for 9-year old: beautiful script handwriting, or lightening fast accurate typing? I won't subscribe to a priority for a 9-year old in general such as this. Depends on the child. However, I deem it important to have readable handwriting and to be able to type as computers and the like are such a part of our life these days and I suspect that will continue.
12. Best one stop shopping for school books? Used to be Billions of Books in Colorado Springs before it went under. I still enjoy perusing used book stores and since we're rather eclectic, I don't think there is a best ONE stop place to buy school books. It's not like there's a Wal-Mart type place to do this in my opinion. The CHEC Conference brings together multiple resources/vendors and so that's beneficial, but we're usually in search of very few things to buy there. I prefer dusty tomes found in dark corners on shelves in book stores where the proprietors really love reading and are willing to talk about books and authors.
13. One subject you didn’t get to this week: Grammar.
14. What will you do when you run out of kids to teach? We'll see what the Lord has in store for us then. For now, we need not face that question for another 9 years.
15. Ever give school books as Christmas or Birthday gifts? Not school books, per se, but biographies or series that are enjoyable to the child and could be counted as reading time.
16. Better late or early (delay formal education at home, or start as young as possible?) Most assuredly late. To foist education upon the young is a disservice to their youth. Better to wait for their cognitive development and sometimes their emotional development to achieve a firm foundation in education and establish a life-long love for learning
Well that's it!
If you care to answer the same quetions, please leave me a message in the comments and direct me to your blog so I can read and learn from your answers!
Questionnaire about Homeschooling (used to be What type of homeschooler are you?)Share
Tuesday, June 2, 2009 at 12:19pm
Copy the questions, delete my answers, fill in your answers and post as a note. Don't forget to tag me back!
1. What time do you get up? 6:30 am. I fail to see how this questoin relates to the type of homeschooler I am. I suspect this is a question meant to see if we're sleeping in late. The more pertinent question would be what time of day do we do the majority of our homeschooling and why? It used to be in the mornings as the afternoons were reserved for piano lessons and practice, playing, napping and hikes and such. But since God has seen fit to bless me with employment at a doctor's office 4 mornings a week, and the two remaining children are night owls, we do the majority of our schooling in the afternoons now and their temperments are better suited to learning. You see, one of the marvelous things about homeschooling is doing it in a way that suits and benefits your family.
2. What do your children wear to school? Well they do wear something. Usually we begin in jammies, and then as showers occur, we apply regular clothing. Although we have been known to stay in jammies all day, regardless of showers/baths, etc.
3. What curriculum have you tried and hated? I haven't really hated any curriculum. My children might reply differently. We have tried things that haven't worked for us and so we've been fortunate to gift that to others or to relieve ourselves of it at a used book fair.
4. Who is your most inspirational homeschooling role model? Don't know that I have one. I am a gleaner, so I take parts from lots of folks that will benefit our family, whether I agree with their overall philosophy of education (and religion sometimes) or not. I have been impressed with and inspired by Treon Goossen's complete devotion to preserving the Colorado Homeschool Law for over 20 years since she helped to broker it and co-wrote it back in the 1980's.
5. Abeka, Charlotte Mason, unschooling or Classical? We are classically relaxed schoolers. I do plan in general, broad strokes, and then we go where our whims and interests take us. However, math and catechism lessons are much more formal.
6. Favorite response to “what about socialization?” Depends on whom I am speaking to. With strangers I am more general and ask questions of them to determine where they are coming from and if they have an open mindset. I won't waste my time speaking with someone who only asked the questions to impart their opinion rather to truly find an answer. For those whom I am more familiar with, I am much more specific about our ideas about what and how socialization is and how it influences us for the better and usually for the worse in an environment where we become peer dependent. I emphasis that we aren't in this quest to please our neighbors but to raise children who are in the world and not of it.
7. Favorite subject? American History, hands down and without even a forethought!
8. Favorite field trip ever? Our trip back East in the fall of 1999 where we visited Revolutionary War and American Civil War sites. My favorite tours were Gettysburg and Valley Forge. The highlight, though, was when Kaitlyn answered a question of a docent at Monticello, "Lafayette! It was Lafayette!" She awed those adults who had studied Jefferson and could not answer the question. (Of course, she awed her parents and sister too, and made us proud that she had not only been listening but absorbing her history lessons.)
9. Best thing about homeschooling? The liberty to raise our children and instruct them as we see fit. The government's only concern should be that it is being done, as I know that an educated citizenry is important. I believe the government fears the true education of its citizens, however.
10. Sports, music, or art? As it applies, and as it seems fit to each individual child and their giftings.
11. Priority for 9-year old: beautiful script handwriting, or lightening fast accurate typing? I won't subscribe to a priority for a 9-year old in general such as this. Depends on the child. However, I deem it important to have readable handwriting and to be able to type as computers and the like are such a part of our life these days and I suspect that will continue.
12. Best one stop shopping for school books? Used to be Billions of Books in Colorado Springs before it went under. I still enjoy perusing used book stores and since we're rather eclectic, I don't think there is a best ONE stop place to buy school books. It's not like there's a Wal-Mart type place to do this in my opinion. The CHEC Conference brings together multiple resources/vendors and so that's beneficial, but we're usually in search of very few things to buy there. I prefer dusty tomes found in dark corners on shelves in book stores where the proprietors really love reading and are willing to talk about books and authors.
13. One subject you didn’t get to this week: Grammar.
14. What will you do when you run out of kids to teach? We'll see what the Lord has in store for us then. For now, we need not face that question for another 9 years.
15. Ever give school books as Christmas or Birthday gifts? Not school books, per se, but biographies or series that are enjoyable to the child and could be counted as reading time.
16. Better late or early (delay formal education at home, or start as young as possible?) Most assuredly late. To foist education upon the young is a disservice to their youth. Better to wait for their cognitive development and sometimes their emotional development to achieve a firm foundation in education and establish a life-long love for learning
Well that's it!
If you care to answer the same quetions, please leave me a message in the comments and direct me to your blog so I can read and learn from your answers!
July 7, 2009
Sanctification Musings
The heart we are told in God’s Word is devious (Jeremiah 17:9). And yet it’s to the heart that we must look when considering actions of others and ourselves.
I struggle with Christian piety when it’s on display for others to comment on and appreciate. My faith teaches me that Christian piety is a response to my faith, a working of the Holy Spirit within me to help me be grateful for and in response to my faith which, again, is not of my own doing, but is of the Lord.
Another way to look at this is via our vocations. God grants us each different talents as we are made in His image. And yet, what He gave for me to do is not what He gave for you to do. As we go about our days, doing the tasks He has set before us in whatever our vocation is, it is natural for us to seek recognition and appreciation for what we’ve done. This is our human nature. But, this should not be the reason we do things. (James 2). It is the Lord’s approval that matters, not man’s. (Luke 16:15)
I think what I am struggling with is the idea of sanctification as it is viewed differently among Christians. When we think that we somehow have a part in our sanctification (like when we claim we have a part in our salvation by making a decision for Christ) then we’ve lost focus of what and who and how we are sanctified. And it is not of our own doing or our own works, Scripture tells us.
So when we deem to take the credit for it, it isn’t out of humility that we do so, it is out of our pride and preening and need to be recognized and to be appreciated. (Luke 16:15 and Hebrews 3:10)
And I cannot condemn others for this if I am not willing to take a somber look at my own complicity with this idea, for I do crave to be noticed and appreciated too.
Still, it bothers me. When folks tout their own works I want to correct them. (Colossians 2:1-5). UGH!
So this is my earnest prayer: … the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)
I struggle with Christian piety when it’s on display for others to comment on and appreciate. My faith teaches me that Christian piety is a response to my faith, a working of the Holy Spirit within me to help me be grateful for and in response to my faith which, again, is not of my own doing, but is of the Lord.
Another way to look at this is via our vocations. God grants us each different talents as we are made in His image. And yet, what He gave for me to do is not what He gave for you to do. As we go about our days, doing the tasks He has set before us in whatever our vocation is, it is natural for us to seek recognition and appreciation for what we’ve done. This is our human nature. But, this should not be the reason we do things. (James 2). It is the Lord’s approval that matters, not man’s. (Luke 16:15)
I think what I am struggling with is the idea of sanctification as it is viewed differently among Christians. When we think that we somehow have a part in our sanctification (like when we claim we have a part in our salvation by making a decision for Christ) then we’ve lost focus of what and who and how we are sanctified. And it is not of our own doing or our own works, Scripture tells us.
So when we deem to take the credit for it, it isn’t out of humility that we do so, it is out of our pride and preening and need to be recognized and to be appreciated. (Luke 16:15 and Hebrews 3:10)
And I cannot condemn others for this if I am not willing to take a somber look at my own complicity with this idea, for I do crave to be noticed and appreciated too.
Still, it bothers me. When folks tout their own works I want to correct them. (Colossians 2:1-5). UGH!
So this is my earnest prayer: … the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)
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