Reading books to our children isn’t merely an ideal way to cement family relationships or enjoy a pleasant afternoon. It’s also an excellent method to introduce new vocabulary words to our children and help them master those words.
Here are seven easy tips for teaching and reviewing new vocabulary learned during read-alouds with your children. Pick and choose from these different options. You don’t want to use every tip for each new word you encounter. Choose the words that you think are most integral to the story or words that your children are most likely to encounter in their daily lives or academic reading.
1. Stop and define the word
Stop reading as soon as you run into the new word and define it immediately. Your children will immediately hear the word in context and how it’s used in literature.
2. Ask children to define the word
Instead of defining the word yourself, ask your children if they know what it means. If they don’t, help the children figure out what the word means from the context and see who can come up with the best guess.
3. Look it up in the dictionary
Another way to learn a new vocabulary word is to look it up in the dictionary after you ask the children to predict what the word means. This is also an excellent way to teach dictionary skills and ingrain the lifelong habit of checking the dictionary for any definitions the child doesn’t know.be assured that you can cover nearly every academic subject with almost any topic. Look for the connections between your child’s current passion and math, science, social studies, English, writing, and history. And then set them free to learn with full excitement!
5. Review new vocabulary at the end of the session
Defining new words is important, but it’s also just as important to help the kids retain the new vocabulary words. As you finish the day’s read aloud, ask the children to review the new vocabulary words and their meaning with you. See who can remember the most words and hand out high fives to the kids as they define the vocabulary.
6. Define words at dinner time
Every evening review the new words at dinner time. Make an impromptu game to see who can use the most new vocabulary words at the dinner table. How many unique and challenging sentences can be spoken?
7. Use the word as many times as possible
Use the words yourself as many times as you can during the next week. The children may not use the vocabulary word in their spoken vocabulary, but even the smallest child will begin to understand the vocabulary words as they hear them in use.
Read-alouds bring a wonderful opportunity to expand your children’s vocabulary. Using these seven tips to discuss and review the words in context will cement the vocabulary in your children’s mind better than any program.sitive emotional and social benefits far beyond merely escaping a negative public school environment where bullying is rampant.
I want to develop my child’s natural love of learning. But some days it seems he’s more interested in smashing through the next level of a favorite video game than doing his homeschool assignments.
Yes, kids can lose steam with their school work even with the most engaging of curriculum. Encouraging a child’s accountability for their assignments is a challenge, but it is a worthwhile endeavor. When you can motivate your child, you curb their dawdling, you teach them time management, and—in the long run, you raise a young person who can self-regulate.
So, what can a parent do to help a child who seems to be slacking? How can a homeschool parent provide the accountability a child needs without micromanaging?
1. Creating a Partnership Between Kids and Parents
First, we need to understand that sometimes what looks like slacking can actually be boredom or feeling trapped in a routine that they have little control over.
Creating a partnership between yourself and your child is a great step in encouraging accountability and responsibility. It begins by listening to each other and respecting each other.
The outcome of this dialogue will likely include giving children control over their education. Look for all the possible ways you can allow them to choose. Some kids prefer a more structured homeschool plan of checklists while other kids may enjoy an unstructured rhythm. Your child may prefer to do much of their work online, while others may prefer hands-on activities, or a literature-rich approach. Give them ownership over their education by letting them choose topics, curriculum, schedules, formats, etc. The more control they have, the more motivated they will be.
2. Getting Kids Invested in Their Work
A child’s interests can be a great way to get them invested in their work if they are slacking off. Ask your children what they want to learn about. This shows that you care and value their opinions.
Any of those topics can be the focus of a rich homeschool study. Let your kiddo choose the topic! Go to the library and pick books and videos all about the thing that interests them. Let your kid read, research, and dive deep. When your child has satisfied the thirst for knowledge on that subject, let them pick another topic! Or perhaps you may want to have several different interests going at the same time.
If you are concerned about leaving out any particular topics, be assured that you can cover nearly every academic subject with almost any topic. Look for the connections between your child’s current passion and math, science, social studies, English, writing, and history. And then set them free to learn with full excitement!
3. Empowering Accountability
To be successful at anything, our children need accountability to be responsible. The primary way to instill responsibility is two-fold:
be clear about expectations
help your child set bite-sized goals to work through
In all things remember that you want to preserve the joy of learning. So take a step back and consider whether you need to adjust your expectations when your kids appear to be slacking.
External force and negative incentives (punishments) have been proven to be poor motivators in the long run. On the other hand, positive reinforcement and natural consequences are far better ways of building a work ethic in children.
4. Modeling Accountability
If you really want to bring home the idea of accountability, then show your kids by modeling that behavior in your life. Show your curiosity for learning new things, and your kids will do the same.Let them see your personal goal setting and then demonstrate consistency in achieving your own goals even when you’d rather do something else.
Let’s face it, we as adults don’t find certain tasks enjoyable either. How many times have we put off taking out the trash, making an important phone call, or creating that spreadsheet for work?
Showing our kids that even the boring tedious tasks must be done, develops a sense of accountability in our lives and the lives of our young learners. Monkey see, monkey do, so to speak.
5. Rewarding Effort
Finding a balance between external rewards (such as screen time, money, gold stars, or candy) and the internal reward of a job well done is key.
Done sparingly, rewards can be good motivators for reluctant learners who are prone to slacking. But try to encourage effortover outcome. This attitude sets your child up for a growth mindset which helps them overcome obstacles later in life.
As a homeschool mom, I always want to to lovingly motivate my kids instead of using force. Rewards can be helpful but may not ultimately change behavior. So, it’s important to encourage perseverance. Teach problem-solving skills while also giving your children the freedom to choose their interests to get them invested in their work.
It’s not easy as a parent to traverse the continuum of pushing our kids too much to the other extreme of coddling and over-sheltering them. But we can all agree that accountability in adulthood is forged in the early years. Now is the time to lay that foundation with loving accountability!f positive emotional and social benefits far beyond merely escaping a negative public school environment where bullying is rampant.
About the Author
I’m Erin, an introverted homeschooling mom to two intense extroverted kids. We are child led with a heavy emphasis on read alouds, games, art, nature hikes, and hands-on everything! My kids just learn better when they can use their hands. You can find me at Nourishing My Scholar.
We traded the hustle and bustle of city life for the quiet that only farm life can provide. This creates a wonderful environment for our children, complete with chickens, goats, ducks, and cows. I’m a huge fan of Harry Potter and Gilmore Girls. When we’re not homeschooling, you’ll find me curled up with a cup of coffee and a good book or possibly enjoying a random dance party in the front yard to the newest Disney soundtrack.
To celebrate going back to school one year, my mom sewed the prettiest pink and purple, paisley bell-bottom pants for me. Because my mom didn’t know bell-bottoms had been out of style for a few years, I was called names and made fun at school that first day back to class. On the outside, I expressed anger and wanted to punch the bullies in the mouth, but on the inside I was crushed.
When I think about the time and love my mom put into those pants (which we never wore again), I get emotional, yet I’m also grateful that I didn’t resort to fist fighting and that the teasing never went beyond a single occurrence related to the funky pants.
What is Bullying?
As a parent, I’ve wrestled with the definition of bullying as I teach my sons the difference between a personality conflict and abuse. The difference is not always obvious to a child or even to an adult, yet understanding the definition of bullying empowers a victim to take a stand if necessary.
It’s almost impossible to cover every warning sign of a bully, but one simple definition of bullying is intentionally hurting another person or deliberate aggression. As we all know, that definition is still too broad. Other telltale signs of a bullying situation are as follows:
continual physical acts and/or verbal abuse over a period of time
(on the part of the person being bullied) stressing over not only what just happened but also what may happen in the future
the stronger dominating the weaker
Homeschooling as a Reaction to Bullying
Bullying immediately brings out that maternal feeling to shield her child from harm. Parents want to do something, and they may consider a huge change—even leaving public school to homeschool.
So is homeschooling a viable option when a child is facing bullying at school? I say yes! It is a parent’s natural (and good) instinct to shelter her child. If a child is unable to protect himself, it falls to the parents to do so for him.
Is homeschooling the easy way out as some critics may say? Should kids be forced to work out their problems on their own, grow a tough hide, learn how to ignore caustic remarks, and fight back when physically confronted?
Does homeschooling turn our kids into socially inept sissies who can’t handle the pressures of normal childhood squabbles?
No way.
I homeschooled my boys, and they still learned how to get along with their peers and constructively face relationship problems. My children are now reaching adulthood, and they’re confident, secure, and capable of making decisions that go against the crowd. This didn’t happen because I sent them to public school to duke it out with mean girls or bullies.
Is Your Child a Victim of Physical or Verbal Bullying?
When I worked in a lawyer’s office handling divorces, I saw many cases of abuse, and it never got easier to observe. I remember key advice social workers would give an abused spouse—You can never change the person you’re living with. The message was that a victim of abuse has two choices: leave the abuser or live with the abuse.
When an abused spouse choses to leave, nobody thinks that she is not facing up to real-life problems or trying to escape the real world! In another example, no one thinks poorly of the employee who stands up in the face of workplace bullying to exert his legal right to a safe work environment free from prejudice and abuse.
Quite the contrary. We applaud victims of abuse when they take a stand to escape a toxic relationship or to assert their rights.
Bullying is a type of abuse that we don’t tolerate when it happens to adults. Why should a child be forced to stay in an abusive situation that is destroying his sense of safety and confidence? Living in such a fearful situation is no way to build character in a child.
So, yes, homeschooling is a viable fix for bullying (not an easy fix as homeschooling is a big responsibility and sometimes sacrifice). But homeschooling is good for so much more than merely pulling your children out of a toxic environment of bullying.
Here are additional ways homeschooling benefits your child socially:
When a child studies what interests him and manages his time to do so, he grows in to self-confidence.
When a child is focused on his own learning and interacting with others who care for him instead of forced to fend for himself in a doglike pack hierarchy, he can learn truelife skills.
A child can flourish with social skills when he is involved in public speaking in a co-op setting and focuses on rigorous academics.
A warm and loving home is the best place for a child to learn how to build character. School, after all, is an artificial, institutional environment.
There are many team building opportunities in homeschooling like 4-H, football, basketball, and volleyball where a child can learn to work out personality conflicts with others.
A child has the right to learn in a stress-free environment, supported by adults who love and protect him.
When I was a student in my paisley bell-bottom pants, homeschooling was not a well-known option to escape bullying at school. Fortunately, what I faced was a one-time episode of teasing and not full blown bullying. So my parents didn’t have the tough decision of handling a toxic learning environment. If you are considering homeschooling because of persistent bullying, don’t listen to the people who accuse you of being too protective or being a helicopter parent. Trust your parental instincts to protect, and know that homeschooling will provide a wealth of positive emotional and social benefits far beyond merely escaping a negative public school environment where bullying is rampant.
About the Author
Tina Robertson celebrated the graduation of Mr. Senior in 2013 and Mr. Awesome in 2015. Because of her love for new homeschoolers, she mentors moms through her unique program called New Bee Homeschoolers. She loves all homeschoolers, though, as she shares her free 7 Step Curriculum Planner, unit studies, lapbooks and homeschooling how tos. She can’t sing, dance, or craft, but she counts organizing as a hobby. She is still in the homeschool trenches blogging at Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool Plus.
Navigating the Homeschool Landscape in a Standardized World
As education evolves, homeschooling is becoming a popular choice for families who want a more personalized learning experience. However, this freedom also comes with the challenge of navigating various educational standards that influence homeschooling. In our blog post, “Exploring the Effects of Educational Standards on Homeschool Families: Challenges and Benefits,” we take a closer look at how these regulations, designed to ensure quality education, can both support and complicate the homeschooling journey. From dealing with compliance to exploring creative teaching methods, we explore the balance between meeting standardized expectations and crafting unique learning paths for each family.
Introduction to Educational Standards in Homeschooling
Homeschooling offers a unique educational journey, allowing families to tailor learning experiences to their children’s needs. Yet, as the landscape of education evolves, so do the expectations surrounding it. Educational standards in homeschool settings have become a hot topic among parents and educators alike.
But what exactly are these standards?
How do they influence homeschooling approaches?
For many families navigating this path, understanding these dynamics can mean the difference between feeling empowered or overwhelmed.
In this exploration of educational standards in homeschool contexts, we’ll delve into both challenges and benefits that arise from setting benchmarks for learning. Whether you’re a seasoned homeschooler or just starting out, it’s essential to understand how these factors impact your family’s educational experience. Join us on this enlightening journey as we unpack the world of standards in homeschooling!
Understanding Standards and Accreditation: What’s the Difference?
Understanding homeschool standards can be tricky. Many families get confused between “standards” and “accreditation,” but they’re not the same thing.
Standards are educational benchmarks set by various organizations to guide what kids should learn at different stages. They help parents track progress but aren’t mandatory.
Accreditation is different—it’s a formal recognition given to homeschooling programs that meet specific quality criteria. This involves a thorough evaluation and can add credibility to a program.
Many homeschool families skip accreditation because it’s demanding and might limit their teaching flexibility. Knowing the difference between standards and accreditation helps parents decide how to best structure their kids’ education, balancing standards with their own learning goals.
The Impact of Educational Standards on Homeschool Families
Educational standards can have a big impact on homeschool families. These benchmarks often help parents plan their curriculum and lessons, ensuring kids get a well-rounded education.
But not all families find these standards helpful. Some feel overwhelmed by the pressure to follow them, which can lead to stress and anxiety. Trying to stick too closely to these guidelines can sometimes limit creativity and personalized learning.
On the bright side, educational standards can bring accountability, encouraging parents to regularly assess their child’s progress. This structure can lead to more effective learning for some students.
In the end, while educational standards offer helpful guidance, each family has to find their own balance between structure and flexibility. This balance is key to creating a positive and enriching learning environment at home.
Challenges Faced by Homeschool Families in Meeting Standards
Homeschool families often face challenges when trying to meet educational standards. One big issue is the lack of clear guidelines—every state has different rules, which can make it confusing to know what’s required.
Time management is another struggle. Parents, who are already juggling multiple responsibilities, might find it hard to carve out enough time for lesson planning and making sure they meet the standards. This can add stress to the family
Resources are also a key factor. Not every family has easy access to the materials or support systems needed to meet these benchmarks. It can be tough for some to afford quality curricula that align with the standards.
On top of that, many parents wrestle with self-doubt about their teaching abilities. They might wonder if they’re doing enough to prepare their kids for the future while sticking to the guidelines. Finding the right balance between their teaching style and external expectations is a constant challenge on the homeschooling journey.
Benefits of Implementing Educational Standards in Homeschooling
Implementing educational standards in homeschooling has several benefits for families. First, it gives a clear framework for learning, helping parents organize their teaching methods and curriculum choices more effectively.
Sticking to set standards also boosts accountability. Parents are more likely to stay focused and committed when they have clear goals to meet throughout the school year.
Another big plus is that it helps parents better assess their children’s progress. With established benchmarks, families can track how their kids are doing in core subjects, making sure they’re on the right path academically.
Educational standards also create consistency across different homeschool settings, which can make it easier for children to transition back into traditional schools without missing a beat.
Finally, these standards encourage homeschool families to share resources. When everyone’s on the same page, it’s easier to exchange ideas and materials, making the homeschooling experience richer for everyone involved.
Alternative Approaches to Meeting Standards in Homeschooling
Homeschooling offers a world of flexibility. Many families look for alternative approaches to meet educational standards without sacrificing creativity.
Project-based learning is one option that encourages hands-on experiences. Kids can explore subjects through real-life projects, blending various disciplines into practical applications.
Another approach is the use of online resources and courses tailored to different learning styles. Platforms offer diverse curricula that align with standards while allowing parents to customize their teaching methods.
Co-op programs provide an excellent opportunity for social interaction and shared teaching responsibilities. Families band together, pooling skills and resources to cover more ground effectively.
Lastly, integrating life skills into education can also fulfill standards in unique ways. Cooking, budgeting, or gardening teaches valuable lessons beyond textbooks while meeting academic requirements in engaging formats.
These alternatives empower families to find what works best for them within the framework of standards in homeschool education.
The Role of Parents in Developing and Maintaining Educational Standards for their Children
Parents are the cornerstone of a child’s education, especially in homeschooling. Their involvement shapes the learning environment and influences educational outcomes.
Setting standards in homeschool begins with understanding individual needs. Parents must assess their child’s strengths and weaknesses to create a customized curriculum. This personalized approach is often more effective than rigid guidelines.
Maintaining these standards requires commitment. Regular evaluations help track progress and identify areas needing improvement. Parents can adapt teaching methods or materials to keep pace with their child’s development.
Collaboration also plays a key role. Engaging with other homeschool families fosters shared resources and ideas, enriching the educational experience for everyone involved.
Moreover, parents should stay informed about state regulations regarding educational standards in homeschool settings. Being proactive ensures compliance while still allowing for flexibility within their unique framework of learning choices.
Does My Family Have to Meet State Educational Standards?
The question of whether or not homeschool families are required to meet state educational standards is a common concern among parents who have chosen to educate their children at home. The answer, however, may vary depending on the state in which the family resides.
In general, most states do require homeschool families to meet certain educational standards. These standards are put in place to ensure that homeschooled children receive an education that is comparable to what they would receive in a traditional school setting. These standards typically cover subjects such as math, science, English language arts, and social studies.
One way that homeschool families can demonstrate that they are meeting these standards is by keeping detailed records of their children’s academic progress. This can include samples of coursework, grades or evaluations from standardized tests, and any other relevant documentation. Some states also require homeschool families to submit annual reports or portfolios for review by a certified teacher or education official.
While adhering to state educational standards may seem daunting for some homeschool families, there are actually several benefits to doing so. One major benefit is that it provides structure and accountability for both the parents and students involved in homeschooling. By having clear goals and expectations set by the state, parents can feel more confident in their ability to provide a quality education for their children.
Additionally, meeting state educational standards helps ensure that homeschooled students have access to resources and opportunities that may not be available otherwise. For example, many states allow homeschooled students to participate in extracurricular activities at local public schools if they meet certain criteria, such as maintaining good academic standing.
However, one challenge facing homeschool families when it comes to meeting state educational standards is finding curriculum materials that align with those requirements. This can be especially difficult for families who follow alternative methods of education such as unschooling or Montessori-style learning. In these cases, parents may need to supplement with additional materials or create their own curriculum plans in order to meet the state standards. See your state’s Department of Education website for the latest information.
Finding a Balance between Standards and Flexibility in Homeschooling
Navigating the world of homeschooling often requires careful consideration of educational standards. These benchmarks can offer a framework for what children should learn, but they also introduce challenges. Parents may feel pressure to meet these standards while ensuring their child’s unique needs are addressed.
Flexibility is one of the primary advantages of homeschooling. Families can tailor education to fit individual learning styles and interests. This adaptability can enhance engagement and motivation in students, allowing them to explore subjects deeply rather than superficially ticking boxes.
However, finding harmony between adhering to standards and maintaining this flexibility is key. Striking that balance enables parents to provide a quality education while still offering personalized experiences that traditional schooling may not allow.
As families consider implementing educational standards, it helps to remember their purpose: guiding learners toward essential knowledge and skills without stifling creativity or passion for discovery. Embracing both structure and freedom might just be the ideal path forward in the evolving landscape of homeschool education.
It’s important for homeschool families to research and understand their state’s educational standards in order to ensure compliance. This will not only help them stay in line with legal requirements, but also provide a framework for their children’s academic success. By meeting these standards, homeschooled students can receive a well-rounded education that prepares them for future academic pursuits and beyond.
I admit it, verbal sparring is my knee-jerk reaction when I’m asked about homeschool socialization. Even as a seasoned homeschool mom, this topic still puts my emotions into overdrive. To prevent knee-jerk sarcasm or snarky one-liners, I have prepared 10 quick-witted comebacks. Maybe you can use one or two when you get the dreaded socialization question.
1. “Though my son had good teachers, none of them can provide the love, time, patience, or energy that I can.”
This answer takes the attention away from socialization and puts it on why I really homeschool, which is the superior one-on-one tutoring. I emphasize the flexibility and adaptability of homeschooling.
Homeschooling is all about change. As the child’s needs change, so do the curriculum, teaching methods, and schedules. Most reasonable people will admit that level of flexibility is almost impossible for a public school to achieve.
2. “Schooling at home builds self-esteem which is the foundation of healthy social skills.”
Everyone knows the reality of bullying and how it can impact children even well into adulthood. Homeschooling minimizes those negative interactions so that children have a chance to build their own self-worth.
3. “Public school is a very recent happening. Before public school, everyone, including the founding fathers, was homeschooled or used private teachers.”
Not every reply has to be short. A well-researched reply explaining the history of public education can help a person appreciate that you’re using a time-tested method of instruction.
4. “I want my kids educated not entertained.”
To elaborate, I may explain my exasperation with the notion that every moment of a child’s life has to be planned. Being constantly entertained leaves little room for imagination and intuition.
5. “The only way my homeschooled kids won’t make friends is if we don’t get out.”
6. “I prefer that my children socialize with others of different ages because I want my kids to accept people of varying backgrounds and ages.”
7. “We homeschool because if a schedule or curriculum is not working, I don’t have to get the principal’s approval to change it.”
8. “Homeschooling is the best option for our family.”
This is another one where it’s hard for people to pick an argument with you when you state that your family benefits best from this type of teaching.
9. “This year I will need to cut back on our socialization activities because we need to stay home to school.”
Why do people think we lock away our kids at home? Sometimes the situation is quite the opposite and homeschool families find themselves out and about far too much of the time.
10. “Standardized tests are flawed and don’t really measure how well children learn. However, I have some stats here for you if you would like to know how homeschooled kids perform.”
Stats and facts help naysayers to understand a situation in a way they process information.You can either print out articles from National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) or direct them to that website for their own research.
Being prepared is part of my nature, but finding humor and being good-natured when asked about homeschooling is something I like doing too. Sometimes you can find humor in a statement and other times you have to give an explanation.
Ever since my oldest decided to go back to school, I’ve mourned the days when our schedule was our own and we traveled off-season whenever we wanted. I loved the lack of crowds, the discounted pricing, and how spontaneous we could be. I also loved how we could take our learning with us wherever we went. When we visited family or joined my husband on a work trip, we could maintain a familiar structure to our day.
BookShark is now making homeschooling on the road a lot easier. BookShark Virtual allows students to tap into their lessons and assignments anywhere with internet access! So whether you’ll be vacationing for a week or traveling for a year, BookShark Virtual makes it easy for students and parents to homeschool.
If you are considering an RV adventure this year or are already on the road, BookShark Virtual will help you homeschool wherever your travels take you. Here are some of the awesome features you can use the next time you hit the road.
1. Mobile Friendly Browser-Based View
BookShark’s virtual program is hosted through Buzz which features two main views, allowing parents and students to stay up-to-date with lessons and activities:
Teacher view: Parents (or a teacher supervising through a charter school situation) can assign and record grades, track missing assignments, communicate with students, view assignment descriptions, and update due dates. The adult using this view can also see which assignments were submitted and what still needs attention.
Student view: Students can view their grades, post discussions, watch videos, take quizzes, and communicate with their teacher/parent. They can also use embedded links to access their lessons. In addition, they complete Science and Language Arts Activity Sheets directly through the app.
The calendar feature in the Buzz apps is especially helpful. The assignments show up in list form, showing the day they are due. In addition, everyone can set reminder notifications.
2. A Digital Instructor’s Guide + More
When I travel, I live by the motto “Less is more.” I don’t want our car or camper packed to the gills. I love my big blue Instructor’s Guide binder, but it is not travel-friendly.
Thankfully, everything you and your student needs is now digital and housed in BookShark Virtual. You’ll find the weekly and daily plans, discussion questions, worksheets, and even assessments—all online. Leave the bulky IG at home and just grab the great books you’ll read.
3. Option to Download
When we travel, wifi is not always an option, so downloading the Activity Sheets is a huge perk. Once downloaded, students can complete the activities digitally as PDFs. Or print them and fill them in on the road, using the app to keep track of the assignments. Assignments can also be uploaded so students have all of their finished work in one place.
4. You Still Set the Pace
BookShark Virtual lets you set the pace. Weekly lessons are your guide, but it is up to you how fast you work through the curriculum. Your student has access to the virtual curriculum for a year, so there is plenty of time for them to take breaks or spend extra time on a lesson.
Traveling can also set our pace. If the weather’s bad, our kids might have extra time for schooling. At other times, school work might need to take a backseat to exploring museums, or nature preserves. It’s nice to know your students aren’t going to fall behind. BookShark curriculum is a flexible four-day-a-week program that meshes well with an RV or roadschooling lifestyle.
5. You Still Enjoy Great Books
I love that BookShark Virtual still includes physical books. Since most of the books BookShark uses are novels, you won’t be lugging around heavy textbooks. And students spend the majority of their learning time away from screens and with a good book in their hands.
I love that BookShark Virtual still includes physical books. Since most of the books BookShark uses are novels, you won’t be lugging around heavy textbooks. And students spend the majority of their learning time away from screens and with a good book in their hands.
On the road or not, the new virtual option gives us homeschoolers even more flexibility. Take your lessons to the park, study on a field trip, or head to a local coffee shop. Wherever you go, near or far from home, you can now effortlessly take BookShark with you.
*This post was updated 02/21/2023 to reflect the current Virtual platform.
About the Author
Kelly left teaching middle and high school English to homeschool her children and reclaim how she and her family spent their time. Followers of interest-led learning, her family’s days rarely look the same, but they tend to include a lot of books, art supplies, and time outside.
Kelly facilitates local writing circles for women and children and blogs about nurturing the love of learning on her blog, Curiosity Encouraged. She loves to journal, read memoirs, hike, and travel. She seeks quiet mornings and good coffee daily.
My son is in fifth grade this year. He’s at that age where he’s growing up fast but he still loves to snuggle on the couch with his mom occasionally. One of the things he loves the most is reading together.
We have a long-standing tradition of reading a book together each night, usually one that has a movie coming out that we’d like to see.
This year with BookShark as our curriculum, that nighttime reading tradition has become part of our homeschool day, too! Since he’s an independent reader, we haven’t included Read-Alouds in our homeschool for several years. I admit that it’s something we let slide while we were using other curriculums. But now that we’re on the BookShark bandwagon, I’m realizing how wonderful it is to use reading aloud with a middle schooler!
I’m Reading What He’s Reading
I make an effort to read almost everything my son reads, but it gets difficult especially during busy times in our lives. With Read-Alouds, we are reading together, and that means I’m sharing the story with him.
We had an awesome experience this year with our first Read-Aloud, Pablo’s Journey(from Level 3), a story about a young boy aboard Columbus’ ship. What we learned in the novel was made even clearer when we toured replicas of the Nina and the Pinta. Our field trip took on so much more meaning because we were able to discuss aspects of the book and relate it to what we were seeing!
If we hadn’t shared the experience of Pablo’s Journey, our field trip would have not been as rich of an experience.
It’s a Soothing Part of Our Homeschool Day
Between math problems and writing activities, it is great to have part of the day when we savor a little quiet and connection.
During Read-Aloud time, my son can enjoy a snack, and the dog joins us on the couch. It is a reminder of why we homeschool in the first place—to nurture and enjoy our family relationships!
Reading aloud is a part of our day that my son looks forward to the most. He asks when we’ll be reading together and will happily sit to hear more than what the lesson plan calls for that day! It is great to have at least one thing each day that I can count on to be enjoyable for everyone.
BookShark Has Chosen Great Books
BookShark has curated such an awesome collection of books for reading aloud that it makes it pleasant as a parent to share in the adventure with your child. These living books bring history to life in a way that is enjoyable and fun. They open up conversations about the time periods and spark interest in aspects of history that may not have interested your child before. The books you read make all the difference in an successful lesson, and so far we have loved all of our books this year.
There comes a point in homeschooling when your child is older and capable of reading silently. That’s when you may ditch the Read-Alouds. But that might not be the best choice! BookShark has reminded me why Read-Alouds are such a great part of learning. I’m thankful for how the books have helped me connect us with my son this year!
About the Author
Krista is the homeschooling mom of 3 boys. After 13 years she has learned the value of chilling out, going with the flow and keeping homeschooling fun! She is the blogger behind Far From Normal where she hopes to encourage parents and homeschoolers, and inspire a life lived happily outside the box!
When I was in graduate school, one of my literature professors assigned a text called The Elements (and Pleasures) of Difficulty (2004). It arrived from Amazon in a tiny box, a thin volume with an 80s-inspired cover. Irritated, I flipped through the pages and tossed it aside. I had weighty selections from the Victorian canon awaiting my time and attention. Why did I have to wade through fluff?
Probably that attitude, for starters. With the exception of the aforementioned book, the reading list for this course was challenging. I had begun to rue the day I decided to pursue this path and was contemplating withdrawing from the program.
Fortunately for me and my graduate career, I finally picked up the little book on difficulty. What a change it made in my attitude! The book not only taught me how to conquer the challenge of a difficult text, but how to recognize and appreciate the beauty of that challenge as well. The more I viewed difficulty as opportunity, the more successful I became in my academic endeavors. Challenge had become a stepping stone, not a stumbling block, and it showed.
The Growth Mindset Philosophy
Several years later, I stumbled upon the research of psychologist Carol Dweck. Her work with thousands of elementary students reflected what I discovered in graduate school: certain behaviors and habits of mind can support or suppress intellectual growth. Dweck called these habits mindsets, noting the crucial role of a positive attitude in rebounding from setback and failure.
In 2007, Dweck compiled her research and analysis into Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. In it, Dweck outlines how students learn and succeed when they move from a fixed mindset (“I’ll never be good at that.”) to a growth mindset (“I’m struggling with this topic. What do I do next?”). According to Dweck,
“When students believe they can get smarter, they understand that effort makes them stronger. Therefore they put in extra time and effort, and that leads to higher achievement.”
Dweck’s title received immediate acclaim. Educators and parents sought to implement the ideology in their classrooms and homes. Students and teachers who exhibited a growth mindset saw an increase in achievement across the board, regardless of age or ability level.
Cultivating a Growth Mindset in Your Homeschool
As parents, we are the primary influence on our children’s mindsets. Children can’t challenge negative internal dialogue or attitudes effectively until external forces are neutralized. Take some of the fixed mindset phrases we often say without thinking:
“It’s okay, honey. Math is hard.”
“Don’t worry. I’m not much of a reader, either.”
“Don’t compare yourself to your sister. Not everyone’s an expert in the arts.”
There may well be truth to these sentiments. Math is hard, not everyone enjoys reading, and we all have our own talents and interests. But if we want our children to change the way they look at challenge and difficulty, we must change the way we see it as well. It isn’t easy, but putting the next four tips into practice will put you well on your way.
Growth Mindset Tip #1: Practice Purposeful Effort
Doing your best is commendable. Doing your best with the intent to move mountains is admirable and more helpful in the long run.
Growth Mindset Tip #2: Find Joy in the Process
Great minds are curious, not ambitious. Embrace learning for the sake of learning and let go of the desire for accolades.
Growth Mindset Tip #3: Encourage Reflection
Take time to evaluate the progress you have made. Ask these questions:How have we grown?What have we conquered?What lessons have we learned that we can apply going forward?
Growth Mindset Tip #4: See Weakness as an Area for Growth
Remember: Challenges are stepping stones, not stumbling blocks. We all have weaknesses, but they neither define us nor dictate our actions.
Preparing for the Future
Looking back on my own academic career, I’m struck by the number of opportunities I let slip by because I was afraid of the challenge. I don’t want that for my own children. We’re working on developing a growth mindset in our own homeschool, and we’re closing in on the day when all of us view challenges as stepping stones. There’s great pleasure to be found in difficulty, as long as you know where to look.
About the Author
Ginny Kochis is a former high school English teacher and adjunct professor of English turned homeschooling mom and business owner. She writes about faith, motherhood, homeschooling and family literacy at Not So Formulaic
If you homeschool for any length of time, you’ll inevitably struggle with the idea that a fresh curriculum might be better for you and your child even if you are having no problems with your current curriculum! That maxim about the grass appearinggreener on the other side of the fence can apply to homeschool too.
Why We Chose BookShark Homeschool Curriculum
My oldest loveshistory and reading, and we chose BookShark for that exact reason. While using BookShark, my son received a strong historical overview of the time period that we were studying, but he also got plenty of excellent historical fiction related to the events he was studying in history.
Each day, he spent time in his room reading on his own. Later in the afternoon, after my youngest two were done schooling, my son and I read our current read aloud together. Sometimes even the younger kids listened in, asking questions and commenting on the book. BookShark fit our family perfectly, and we all enjoyed it.
The Temptation to Switch Curriculum
However, our family doesn’t live in a homeschooling bubble. Catalogs from various publishers come in the mail, and I often read other homeschool moms raving online about different science or history programs. Unlike years ago, today there are a myriad of curriculum options for a homeschooler.
Last summer, when I was reading a book about homeschooling high schoolers, I saw mention of a curriculum I’d never heard of before. Like any good homeschooling parent, I hopped on the computer to research this company.
It sounded like such a great program! There was a lot of history, perhaps even more than BookShark programs because this alternative included more non-fiction along with their list of historical fiction. I contemplated buying this curriculum for a while before I finally took the plunge.
Within two weeks of using this alternative homeschool program, my son and I both knew I had made a huge mistake!
Why We’re Back to BookShark
True, the other curriculum did win high points with us for the interesting non-fiction selections that gave my son an even deeper knowledge of history. But honestly, that was the only advantage this curriculum had over BookShark.
We missed so many features of BookShark!
As a teacher, I missed BookShark’s easy all-in-one, open-and-go format. With the other curriculum, I had to spend ninety minutes to three hours every weekend, choosing my son’s assignments and laying out a schedule for him for the week. I didn’t have time for that! With BookShark’s Instructor’s Guides, I could simply glance at what was coming up for the next week. Prep took almost no time.
Both my son and I also missed the questions BookShark includes at the end of each reading. The other curriculum didn’t have that and instead relied on students doing projects or lapbooks to show their comprehension — neither of which my son enjoyed. While BookShark has projects and lap books, they are optional add-ons and not essential to the program.
We missed the historical fiction in BookShark. Because the other curriculum was so heavy on non-fiction, there were fewer novels to read. While my son loves history, he also loves reading fiction, and he really missed the quality fiction books he was reading with BookShark.
After only two weeks, we set aside the other curriculum and are happily back to BookShark. Now, though I may still get catalogs and read others’ comments online, I can rest assured that BookShark is the best curriculum for us.
About the Author
Melissa is a homeschool mom to three kids. BookShark is her primary curriculum, and she and her kids love it! When she’s not homeschooling, she’s either shuttling kids from one activity to another or working from home as a freelance writer. You can read more about Melissa’s homeschool journey at her blog Moms Plans.
We all can recall that feeling from our days in public school when the teacher distributed a test full of letters to be circled and blanks to be filled in. Our sharp pencils would start to tap on our desks as we tried to recall something—anything—about what we had crammed the night before, but it’s gone. We draw nothing but blanks.
We carefully read and reread the questions, maybe ruling out a C here or a D there and making our best guess between A and B. When the test is mostly filled in, we hand it in, hope for a passing grade, and it’s on to the next chapter in the textbook to repeat the cycle again next week.
These icky memories of tests are why I’ve never been a traditional test-giver as a homeschool mom.
I know that my soon-to-be high schooler will need to have testing skills eventually, and we will work on that as it comes, but for younger kids, especially kids who stress out easily, paper tests can be the straw that breaks a love of learning for your child.
As parents though, we want to make sure the things we’ve spent hours teaching our children has stuck with them. For that reason, I want to test my kids but not with tests in the conventional sense. Here are non-test ways I use to gauge a child’s learning without completely stressing them out.
Presentation
At the end of a unit or section, have your child prepare a presentation to give to the family. Invite the grandparents over to make it more official. Give them a short list of things from their Science or History lessons that you’d like them to prepare, for example, recite a part of a speech or create and explain a model of a battle. Set a date for the presentation and have them work a little bit on it daily until it’s ready.
Oral or Written Report
Writing a report, whether it’s several pages or just a drawing that your child talks about is a great way to see all your child has learned. There are lots of ways to do a report.
Have them type a traditional research paper based on what you’ve studied together.
Cover an empty cereal box in construction paper, then print pictures, write out information, and draw maps and cover all the sides of the box with information.
Skit
Have your children choose roles to play based on things you studied and write out their own skit. Have a lot of it be ad lib, because then you’ll know it’s not just memorized to get through the skit. Have them create costumes and a simple setting. When my kids acted out a scene about Alexander the Great and his parents, I saw exactly what they learned about him in a playful, no-stress way.
News Show
Put on one of dad’s ties, set up a desk, give your child a coffee cup, and have them play newscaster for an evening news show. In advance, have your child write out what he’ll talk about on the news. Makes sure he adds in lots of facts and details. It could be all about a new science discovery or ways to do long and short division or a battle in a war in history —anything you’ve studied in homeschool. Just pretend he’s saying it on the news!
Dinner Party
I love tying up a unit study with a great dinner party. Plan a dinner based on a time in history or a fun science theme you’ve been learning about. Gather supplies from around the house and let your child take the reigns. Cook food together, let him decorate, and allow him to have talking points throughout the dinner about things he’s learned. Have him share these facts with the guests at dinner. He’ll love showing off what he knows.
There’s more than one way to make sure your child is retaining what you’ve taught. Pay attention to how your child learns and what makes them tick and what makes them shut down and use those clues to figure out creative ways to test them. You’re going to learn so much together!
