This week has been so quiet at my house. My children are enrolled in a music camp for the week. For three days in a row I had no children at home. That is a first for me. As a homeschool mom, I often don't realize that I need a break. Then, when the respite comes, I relish it because I truly did need it. That's how it has been for me this week. I have enjoyed the peace and quiet in my home. I drank my coffee and read my book in silence. I organized closets without interruption. I ran multiple errands alone. Wow. And God has used this peaceful week at home to refresh my spirit in ways that I didn't even know were needed.
I am so thankful for the opportunity to have my children at home and I honestly wouldn't have it any other way. The almost constant noise and activity in our home is a testimony to the fullness of life represented here. I would be sad and lonely if my life was always quiet. But this week has reminded me to seek out the quiet moments more often. I need to take the time to be refreshed and rejuvenated -- to allow God to 'fill up my tank', so to speak-- in order to be a more patient and kind mother during the busyness of daily life.
Dear Lord, Thank you for loving me and for calling me to be your child. Thank you for my children and for always providing for our family. Help us to love You more. Help us to glorify You in our daily lives. Help us to make time for quiet moments and to seek YOU during those moments. I know that You long to fill us with your presence and love. Help me to remember that and not to become distracted by my daily activities. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Psalm 46:10a: He says, “Be still, and know that I am God...."
(NIV)
How are you taking time to rejuvenate this summer?
Friday, June 22, 2012
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Homeschool Co-ops
I have had a rather tepid attitude toward homeschool co-ops over the years. I love some aspects of co-ops even while I dislike other parts. For five of my seven years as a homeschool mom, I did not ultilize a co-op. For two years, I did. In theory, I love the idea of a homeschool co-op. The social interaction, the group learning without jeopardizing flexibility, the fellowship with other moms…sounds perfect. In larger areas, there are even specialized groups for homeschoolers, such as fine arts co-ops. I love that idea! On the surface, it all seems like a win-win situation. As with everything in life, however, there are some pitfalls. In my rural area, there are not a lot of co-op opportunities for homeschoolers, but I have tried the ones that are available. Although co-oops have their positives and their negatives, we are excited that we are once again joining a homeschool co-op for the upcoming school year.
A few years ago, my children and I spent a year as part of the only co-op in our area, which consisted of two churches of the same denomination that had joined together for cooperative classes. Although we did not attend either of those churches, they allowed our family to join. Overall it was a great year with many valuable learning experiences. The best parts were that my children made some new friends that they got to see regularly, they were able to participate in group activities that they would not have been able to be involved with otherwise (i.e., PE, group discussions with their peers), and they gained the experience of accepting instruction from an adult other than me. The negative aspects involved the issues that commonly occur among group situations with children: Someone feels left out or is picked on, some children don't get along, etc. It is important to remember that the same issues that affect kids when they are herded together in school will also occur in a homeschool co-op setting, albeit on a smaller scale usually. The silver lining is that many caring mothers are present to help the children deal with such issues as they occur. The timing wasn't right for our family to continue with the co-op, so we left after only one year. For the upcoming year, we are enrolling in this co-op once again and we are excited about it. This particular co-op includes a mothers support group, which I am definitely looking forward to.
Last year, I started a new co-op in my area for only one year. I approached the women in a Charlotte Mason support group that I attended about beginning a co-op based on Charlotte’s educational methods. The women were interested and the Living and Learning Homeschool Co-op began with just two classes. I was the director and I taught the music class; a woman from the support group who is also a good friend taught the art class. It was a great year and I think everyone enjoyed it, but we decided not to continue it for next year. My friend who taught the art class is relocating to another state, so we needed a new art teacher. Also, I needed to lessen my responsibilities within the co-op due to a possible job change for my husband as well as some health issues in our family. The other women in the group were unable to take on those responsibilities due to their own family circumstances (i.e., new babies, too many other commitments, etc.), so the co-op has ended. God may have plans to begin it again in the future, but it isn’t meant to be for the present time.
Although it isn’t a co-op, I want to mention that my children were involved in a homeschool drama troupe for the past two years. It was a wonderful group that brought so many rich experiences into their lives! This drama class was honestly the best group learning experience that my children have ever had. Although I wish the ‘Encore Players’ group could continue forever, it appears that it may not. The teacher and founder has decided to enroll her children in a Christian school full-time. At this writing, the future of the Encore Players is uncertain.
It is amazing to see how God has always provided for the needs of my family, including my children's need for social interaction. At various times, God has used cooperative learning experiences as part of his divine provision and I am thankful that such opportunities are available to homeschoolers. Although it hasn’t always been perfect, my family has gained much from the co-op experience.
Have you been a member of a homeschool co-op? Has your experience been a positive one? Please comment below…I would love to read your story!
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Rowing and Beyond
I absolutely love the Five In A Row curriculum by Jane Claire Lambert. I used volumes one and two with each of my daughters when they were in kindergarten and first grade. If you are unfamiliar with Five In A Row, it is a miniature unit study for children ages 5-8 that uses high-quality children's literature as the starting point for lessons in social studies, science, language arts, fine arts, and math. At the time I was using it, I worried that Five In A Row didn't provide enough educational "meat" for my daughters, even though I used separate curricula for reading, language arts, and math. Looking back, however, I realize that Five In A Row lacked nothing academically. In actuality, it was the catalyst that encouraged a love for literature in my daughters. Also, the interactive lessons stimulated a desire to learn that no other curriculum has replicated in my children.
During my oldest daughter's fifth grade year, she liked almost nothing about school; every academic subject seemed to be a battleground. At the end of the year, I asked her to tell me something she had liked about school in the past so that I could use that information to help make positive changes for the following school year. She thought about it carefully before replying that she had loved school when we used Five In A Row. Her comment was poignant because I hold those memories of reading and learning together with her very close to my heart. Not only did she learn through our Five In A Row lessons, but we created memories together in the process that will never be forgotten. Based on my daughter's comment, I purchased the third volume of Beyond Five In A Row to use with her in sixth grade. Beyond Five In A Row was written by Jane Claire Lambert's daugher, Becky Jane Lambert, and is recommended for ages 8-12. I did not use Beyond Five In A Row as a core curriculum, but it provided stimulating supplemental lessons that gave me the precious gift of quality time with my daughter. There have been aspects of sixth grade that my oldest has not liked or have proven difficult, but Beyond Five In A Row lessons were always something that she looked forward to. That alone makes this curriculum worth its weight in gold in my estimation. The literature that we used in Beyond Five In A Row Volume 3 included The Saturdays and A Cricket In Times Square, as well as biographies about Neil Armstrong and Marie Curie. These quality books provided starting points for lessons on various topics from world history, science, fine arts, geography, language arts, and issues of human relationships.
I attended a homeschool conference this spring and Jane Claire Lambert happened to be a featured speaker at the convention. I was happy to have the opportunity to stop by her table and tell her how much her books have meant to me; not only from an academic perspective, but for fostering family relationships, which is really what homeschooling is all about.
I created a chart for each book used in Beyond Five In A Row Volume 3 to help me stay organized with the lessons I chose. Although I made these for my personal use, they are available below to use in your homeschool.
To access the chart for The Childhood of Famous Americans Neil Armstrong:
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B5NDM85dUVI0OVhKX2ZqNWptclU
To access the chart for A Cricket In Times Square:
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B5NDM85dUVI0NkkxZWdjR2dIQU0
To access the chart for Marie Curie and the Discovery of Radium:
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B5NDM85dUVI0YmY2b1B2a1lybDQ
To access the chart for The Saturdays:
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B5NDM85dUVI0YkY0Q19aRDNwd1k
To purchase Five In A Row or Beyond Five In A Row, please click the link below:
http://www.exodusbooks.com/details.aspx?id=5848&referral=xmj3rp76
To look at literature lists for each volume of Five In A Row and Beyond Five In A Row, go to http://www.exodusbooks.com/category.aspx?id=7771&referral=xmj3rp76.
During my oldest daughter's fifth grade year, she liked almost nothing about school; every academic subject seemed to be a battleground. At the end of the year, I asked her to tell me something she had liked about school in the past so that I could use that information to help make positive changes for the following school year. She thought about it carefully before replying that she had loved school when we used Five In A Row. Her comment was poignant because I hold those memories of reading and learning together with her very close to my heart. Not only did she learn through our Five In A Row lessons, but we created memories together in the process that will never be forgotten. Based on my daughter's comment, I purchased the third volume of Beyond Five In A Row to use with her in sixth grade. Beyond Five In A Row was written by Jane Claire Lambert's daugher, Becky Jane Lambert, and is recommended for ages 8-12. I did not use Beyond Five In A Row as a core curriculum, but it provided stimulating supplemental lessons that gave me the precious gift of quality time with my daughter. There have been aspects of sixth grade that my oldest has not liked or have proven difficult, but Beyond Five In A Row lessons were always something that she looked forward to. That alone makes this curriculum worth its weight in gold in my estimation. The literature that we used in Beyond Five In A Row Volume 3 included The Saturdays and A Cricket In Times Square, as well as biographies about Neil Armstrong and Marie Curie. These quality books provided starting points for lessons on various topics from world history, science, fine arts, geography, language arts, and issues of human relationships.
I attended a homeschool conference this spring and Jane Claire Lambert happened to be a featured speaker at the convention. I was happy to have the opportunity to stop by her table and tell her how much her books have meant to me; not only from an academic perspective, but for fostering family relationships, which is really what homeschooling is all about.
I created a chart for each book used in Beyond Five In A Row Volume 3 to help me stay organized with the lessons I chose. Although I made these for my personal use, they are available below to use in your homeschool.
To access the chart for The Childhood of Famous Americans Neil Armstrong:
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B5NDM85dUVI0OVhKX2ZqNWptclU
To access the chart for A Cricket In Times Square:
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B5NDM85dUVI0NkkxZWdjR2dIQU0
To access the chart for Marie Curie and the Discovery of Radium:
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B5NDM85dUVI0YmY2b1B2a1lybDQ
To access the chart for The Saturdays:
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B5NDM85dUVI0YkY0Q19aRDNwd1k
To purchase Five In A Row or Beyond Five In A Row, please click the link below:
http://www.exodusbooks.com/details.aspx?id=5848&referral=xmj3rp76
To look at literature lists for each volume of Five In A Row and Beyond Five In A Row, go to http://www.exodusbooks.com/category.aspx?id=7771&referral=xmj3rp76.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Charlotte Mason Homeschool Co-op Becomes A Reality
It seems that while the summer drifted by in intense heat waves, I never wrote a single blog post! I have little excuse aside from the typical busyness of motherhood. My daughters and I spent the first half of summer involved in a community theater project, which we enjoyed immensely. There were additional activities and commitments as well, including our church’s annual music camp, VBS, swim lessons, and a couple of very brief getaways. I never did get around to my plan of helping my kids get ahead in math. Somehow, I truly needed the break from academic work that summertime provided. Often I think that I require breaks more than the kids do and I have truly enjoyed the summer respite. As I prepare to get back into the swing of our school schedule, I wanted to write about something I have been working on this summer. Something that I feel particularly excited about.
My previous blog entry was about my dream of a Charlotte Mason inspired homeschool co-op. I am delighted to report that such a co-op, the “Living and Learning Homeschool Co-op”, will become a reality this fall! After writing my blog entry in May, a friend and I discussed offering a small co-op to our local Charlotte Mason support group. There seemed to be sufficient interest from within the group, so we decided to forge ahead with the plan. We are starting out small; around thirty children in kindergarten through eighth grades will be participating this fall. We are offering music, art, and monthly nature field trips. Music class will consist of classical music/composer study, hymns, patriotic songs, and basic music theory concepts. During the Fall 2011 semester, the children will study Bach as well as hymns with lyrics written by Fanny Crosby. Art class will consist of artist/picture study as well as hands-on techniques. The artist for the Fall 2011 semester will be Claude Monet. My friend is teaching the art classes and I am teaching the music classes and directing the co-op as well. I am especially excited about the monthly field trips because the lady organizing them is passionate about nature and has so many wonderful ideas for our group. She is even bringing in some experts from outside our area to teach the children about nature journaling!
I really wanted to share this happy news! My children are so looking forward to making new friends and to learning more about art and music via the gentle methods of Charlotte Mason. I am covering this effort with prayer and I am hopeful that the co-op will be a blessing to all who participate. As the director, I fear that my administrative abilities may be weak. At the same time, I acknowledge that God has placed me in a leadership position so that I might depend upon Him solely as my source of strength. I prayerfully anticipate the beginning of the new school year and the start of “Living and Learning Homeschool Co-op” with hope and expectation. I pray that you are also looking forward to the year ahead and that you experience God’s blessings as you nurture your children.
My previous blog entry was about my dream of a Charlotte Mason inspired homeschool co-op. I am delighted to report that such a co-op, the “Living and Learning Homeschool Co-op”, will become a reality this fall! After writing my blog entry in May, a friend and I discussed offering a small co-op to our local Charlotte Mason support group. There seemed to be sufficient interest from within the group, so we decided to forge ahead with the plan. We are starting out small; around thirty children in kindergarten through eighth grades will be participating this fall. We are offering music, art, and monthly nature field trips. Music class will consist of classical music/composer study, hymns, patriotic songs, and basic music theory concepts. During the Fall 2011 semester, the children will study Bach as well as hymns with lyrics written by Fanny Crosby. Art class will consist of artist/picture study as well as hands-on techniques. The artist for the Fall 2011 semester will be Claude Monet. My friend is teaching the art classes and I am teaching the music classes and directing the co-op as well. I am especially excited about the monthly field trips because the lady organizing them is passionate about nature and has so many wonderful ideas for our group. She is even bringing in some experts from outside our area to teach the children about nature journaling!
I really wanted to share this happy news! My children are so looking forward to making new friends and to learning more about art and music via the gentle methods of Charlotte Mason. I am covering this effort with prayer and I am hopeful that the co-op will be a blessing to all who participate. As the director, I fear that my administrative abilities may be weak. At the same time, I acknowledge that God has placed me in a leadership position so that I might depend upon Him solely as my source of strength. I prayerfully anticipate the beginning of the new school year and the start of “Living and Learning Homeschool Co-op” with hope and expectation. I pray that you are also looking forward to the year ahead and that you experience God’s blessings as you nurture your children.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
A Charlotte Mason Homeschool Co-op
I have been contemplating homeschool co-ops quite a bit lately. A Classical Conversations program is starting up in my area and I am thinking and praying about enrolling my children in it. However, it is very pricey. Also, Classical Conversations is obviously a classical program and I prefer using CM methods to educate my children. I have a slight fear that a strictly classical program would overwhelm them. For a year my children and I were involved in a traditional homeschool co-op. It had its pros and cons and someday I might write a blog post about the pros and cons of co-oping in general. For now, it will suffice to say that I have been weighing those pros and cons a lot lately and dreaming about my “ideal” homeschool co-op. Specifically, as a Charlotte Mason enthusiast, I am envisioning a co-op that incorporates her wisdom and unique educational philosophy.
My ideal Charlotte Mason co-op would meet for 2-4 hours weekly. Depending on the class or topic, each lesson or class would range from 20 minutes to one hour. Rather than tackling the core subjects, I would leave those classes at home because we all have different preferences for curriculum and methods, as well as children with unique learning styles. I believe that a mother is the perfect person to make those decisions for her children and to be the primary teacher for core subjects. Instead, I would like a co-op to address those “extras” that make a CM education so rich. To clarify, I know that Charlotte Mason did not consider these said topics to be extras at all and she fully included them in her core curriculum. I am labeling them as extras because so many of us have a difficult time including them in our daily lessons. We are able to finish math, spelling, language arts, reading, history, and science without much of a struggle, but when it comes to picture study, composer study, hymn study, or nature study, we often fall short. In order to avoid the exclusion of those wonderful subjects, many CM-focused mothers would benefit from implementing them within a supportive, like-minded group.
All moms involved in a CM co-op should concur in at least one respect: All should be attempting to include some of Charlotte Mason’s ideas in the education of their children. Perhaps each mom should be required to attend a Charlotte Mason support group or to verify that she has read at least one book about a Charlotte Mason education to ensure that she is familiar with the philosophy.
Now for a few more logistics. Mostly, a CM-inspired co-op would not need to have classes segregated by age. Families could participate in the majority of these activities together in one group. All moms would be required to participate in the teaching and organizing of the co-op, whether it be as the director or as a teacher, assistant teacher, field trip organizer, or snack coordinator. If classes were held in the morning, everyone could bring a sack lunch and eat together at the end. For an afternoon co-op, ending with a snack and fellowship time would also serve the purpose of allowing the children to get to know each other and build friendships.
Following are the results of my brainstorming session for co-op class ideas using a Charlotte Mason model:
1. Circle Time - I really like the idea of beginning together as a group and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and singing a hymn together. Perhaps pre-designated children or families could then recite a poem, present something learned during the week at home, or prepare another type of “show and tell” to present during circle time.
2. Art Appreciation - Picture study in a group could be just as simple as it is when completed at home. Charlotte’s desire was to familiarize her students with at least six works by the same artist in order for the children to become familiar with that artist’s style. The easiest way to acquire art prints for your group would be to use those that moms in the group already own and are willing to share. Copies of famous art works can be printed online and oversized art books can often be found in the “bargain books” section of large bookstores. For example, I once purchased an oversized book of art by Georgia O’Keefe for $12 at Barnes and Noble. For picture study, the teacher would show the art print being studied to the group and then the class would discuss (narrate) it. Also, the teacher might ask the students to write or draw their impressions of the picture (this is also narration). These simple steps could completely encompass a Charlotte Mason art appreciation class. Of course, it would be great to include skill-based art lessons in the class as well. As a person with no creative art skills, I love the idea of my children learning drawing or painting from a mom who possesses those skills. Although this obviously would not be a necessity, it would certainly be a nice addition. If an actual art curriculum is desired, look at Artistic Pursuits for a curriculum that includes the technical and expressive aspects of art as well as picture study. Visit http://www.artisticpursuits.com/index.html for more information.
3. Music Appreciation - A co-op music class could be taught in so many different and effective ways that it would be challenging to decide on only one. Charlotte Mason’s students studied classical music, so this should be an integral part of a CM music class. The music of the studied composer could be played for 10-15 minutes at the beginning of class while the children quietly drew in their sketchbooks or completed another quiet assignment. An appropriate selection from the wonderful Classics for Kids composer story CDs could also be played during this time. Following this, group singing with piano or guitar accompaniment would be enjoyable for the kids and allow them to learn hymns, folk songs, or patriotic songs together. Singing is an activity that is naturally enjoyed in a group setting. If those in the group desired more structured musical instruction, basic music theory or simple recorder lessons could easily be incorporated into the class.
4. Literature discussion groups/book clubs - These groups could be divided by age or interest and could be quite informal. For preschool non-readers, it could be as simple as story time with a quality picture book or two. There could also be a group of younger beginning readers that would read picture books for their book club discussions. Additional groups would be designated that read chapter books and increasingly mature literature. Essentially, the kids in each group would read the same book at home and then discuss it together weekly in their literature group or book club. Remember, dialogue and discussion (i.e., narration) yield relationships and retention. An adult facilitator could be available to keep the kids on track and to ask open-ended questions when there was a lull in the conversation. Discussion questions are available online for many literature selections and published guides can be purchased inexpensively. One very important rule for these groups: NO TWADDLE ALLOWED!
5. Memory work - If the families involved wanted to include memory work in the co-op, scripture, poetry, and the history timeline, among other topics, could be utilized. There are many music CDs available to help us memorize scripture or other materials more easily and it might be fun for a group of children to listen and memorize together. My personal goal for group memorization would be to prevent the children from experiencing any pressure from it. Such stress would squelch the desire to learn faster than almost anything, I think. To me, this is one huge difference between a CM education and a classical education. Followers of Charlotte Mason believe that education is “a science of relations” and that a large amount of rote memorization is not the factor that best maximizes learning potential. Also, in keeping with Charlotte’s philosophy, competitions and rewards should not be part of memorization. Memory work, especially in a co-op setting, should be low-key, non-competitive, and fun. That does not mean that memorization should not be utilized at all; Charlotte Mason’s own students certainly memorized information. But the amount and scope of memory work should be left at the discretion of the parents without putting unnecessary pressure on the kids. Charlotte Mason believed that education is a gentle art of learning. Memory work might have a place in a CM homeschool co-op, but it must be done in a gentle way.
6. Shakespeare - There are so many Shakespeare enthusiasts in the world, and for good reason. Why not find out if there is a mom in your group who loves Shakespeare? If there is, ask if she is willing to tackle the job of teaching and inspiring the children to understand, enjoy, and even perform Shakespeare!
7. Handicrafts - Charlotte Mason differentiated handicrafts from “futilities”, which would include the mindless cutting and gluing crafts that are often seen in classrooms and Sunday schools. Charlotte was advocating that children learn crafts that take time, patience, and concentration. Essentially, she wanted them to learn life skills. Examples of handicrafts would include sewing, knitting, beadwork, needlepoint, woodworking, and basket weaving, among many others. Most modern women do not possess a lot of “handicraft skills”, but often we each have skills in one or two areas. Moms in the co-op could take turns teaching the handicrafts that they know to the group, allowing the children to learn and experience a few throughout the year. Wouldn’t it be a great opportunity for moms to learn these skills right along with their children?
8. Nature Study - I can think of two primary ways to effectively incorporate nature study into a CM homeschool co-op:
10. Hero Admiration - Charlotte Mason believed that education should encompass all that is good, noble, lovely, and worthy of admiration. While we all know that children crave heroes to look up to, most of us also know that the roles models provided by our culture (i.e., Hollywood) are not good, noble, lovely, and worthy of admiration. Instead, historical biographies and literature provide our children with examples of people who have demonstrated character worth looking up to. Our children can learn courage, for example, from many throughout history who have faced and overcome nearly impossible circumstances. Reading biographies about various historical figures, from Pocahontas to Harriet Tubman, has been very beneficial for my oldest daughter. I believe that such biographies have strengthened her sense of empathy toward others and have caused her to feel more grateful for her own life as well. But how can hero admiration be made into a “class” for a homeschool co-op? Here are a couple of ideas:
My ideal Charlotte Mason co-op would meet for 2-4 hours weekly. Depending on the class or topic, each lesson or class would range from 20 minutes to one hour. Rather than tackling the core subjects, I would leave those classes at home because we all have different preferences for curriculum and methods, as well as children with unique learning styles. I believe that a mother is the perfect person to make those decisions for her children and to be the primary teacher for core subjects. Instead, I would like a co-op to address those “extras” that make a CM education so rich. To clarify, I know that Charlotte Mason did not consider these said topics to be extras at all and she fully included them in her core curriculum. I am labeling them as extras because so many of us have a difficult time including them in our daily lessons. We are able to finish math, spelling, language arts, reading, history, and science without much of a struggle, but when it comes to picture study, composer study, hymn study, or nature study, we often fall short. In order to avoid the exclusion of those wonderful subjects, many CM-focused mothers would benefit from implementing them within a supportive, like-minded group.
All moms involved in a CM co-op should concur in at least one respect: All should be attempting to include some of Charlotte Mason’s ideas in the education of their children. Perhaps each mom should be required to attend a Charlotte Mason support group or to verify that she has read at least one book about a Charlotte Mason education to ensure that she is familiar with the philosophy.
Now for a few more logistics. Mostly, a CM-inspired co-op would not need to have classes segregated by age. Families could participate in the majority of these activities together in one group. All moms would be required to participate in the teaching and organizing of the co-op, whether it be as the director or as a teacher, assistant teacher, field trip organizer, or snack coordinator. If classes were held in the morning, everyone could bring a sack lunch and eat together at the end. For an afternoon co-op, ending with a snack and fellowship time would also serve the purpose of allowing the children to get to know each other and build friendships.
Following are the results of my brainstorming session for co-op class ideas using a Charlotte Mason model:
1. Circle Time - I really like the idea of beginning together as a group and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and singing a hymn together. Perhaps pre-designated children or families could then recite a poem, present something learned during the week at home, or prepare another type of “show and tell” to present during circle time.
2. Art Appreciation - Picture study in a group could be just as simple as it is when completed at home. Charlotte’s desire was to familiarize her students with at least six works by the same artist in order for the children to become familiar with that artist’s style. The easiest way to acquire art prints for your group would be to use those that moms in the group already own and are willing to share. Copies of famous art works can be printed online and oversized art books can often be found in the “bargain books” section of large bookstores. For example, I once purchased an oversized book of art by Georgia O’Keefe for $12 at Barnes and Noble. For picture study, the teacher would show the art print being studied to the group and then the class would discuss (narrate) it. Also, the teacher might ask the students to write or draw their impressions of the picture (this is also narration). These simple steps could completely encompass a Charlotte Mason art appreciation class. Of course, it would be great to include skill-based art lessons in the class as well. As a person with no creative art skills, I love the idea of my children learning drawing or painting from a mom who possesses those skills. Although this obviously would not be a necessity, it would certainly be a nice addition. If an actual art curriculum is desired, look at Artistic Pursuits for a curriculum that includes the technical and expressive aspects of art as well as picture study. Visit http://www.artisticpursuits.com/index.html for more information.
3. Music Appreciation - A co-op music class could be taught in so many different and effective ways that it would be challenging to decide on only one. Charlotte Mason’s students studied classical music, so this should be an integral part of a CM music class. The music of the studied composer could be played for 10-15 minutes at the beginning of class while the children quietly drew in their sketchbooks or completed another quiet assignment. An appropriate selection from the wonderful Classics for Kids composer story CDs could also be played during this time. Following this, group singing with piano or guitar accompaniment would be enjoyable for the kids and allow them to learn hymns, folk songs, or patriotic songs together. Singing is an activity that is naturally enjoyed in a group setting. If those in the group desired more structured musical instruction, basic music theory or simple recorder lessons could easily be incorporated into the class.
4. Literature discussion groups/book clubs - These groups could be divided by age or interest and could be quite informal. For preschool non-readers, it could be as simple as story time with a quality picture book or two. There could also be a group of younger beginning readers that would read picture books for their book club discussions. Additional groups would be designated that read chapter books and increasingly mature literature. Essentially, the kids in each group would read the same book at home and then discuss it together weekly in their literature group or book club. Remember, dialogue and discussion (i.e., narration) yield relationships and retention. An adult facilitator could be available to keep the kids on track and to ask open-ended questions when there was a lull in the conversation. Discussion questions are available online for many literature selections and published guides can be purchased inexpensively. One very important rule for these groups: NO TWADDLE ALLOWED!
5. Memory work - If the families involved wanted to include memory work in the co-op, scripture, poetry, and the history timeline, among other topics, could be utilized. There are many music CDs available to help us memorize scripture or other materials more easily and it might be fun for a group of children to listen and memorize together. My personal goal for group memorization would be to prevent the children from experiencing any pressure from it. Such stress would squelch the desire to learn faster than almost anything, I think. To me, this is one huge difference between a CM education and a classical education. Followers of Charlotte Mason believe that education is “a science of relations” and that a large amount of rote memorization is not the factor that best maximizes learning potential. Also, in keeping with Charlotte’s philosophy, competitions and rewards should not be part of memorization. Memory work, especially in a co-op setting, should be low-key, non-competitive, and fun. That does not mean that memorization should not be utilized at all; Charlotte Mason’s own students certainly memorized information. But the amount and scope of memory work should be left at the discretion of the parents without putting unnecessary pressure on the kids. Charlotte Mason believed that education is a gentle art of learning. Memory work might have a place in a CM homeschool co-op, but it must be done in a gentle way.
6. Shakespeare - There are so many Shakespeare enthusiasts in the world, and for good reason. Why not find out if there is a mom in your group who loves Shakespeare? If there is, ask if she is willing to tackle the job of teaching and inspiring the children to understand, enjoy, and even perform Shakespeare!
7. Handicrafts - Charlotte Mason differentiated handicrafts from “futilities”, which would include the mindless cutting and gluing crafts that are often seen in classrooms and Sunday schools. Charlotte was advocating that children learn crafts that take time, patience, and concentration. Essentially, she wanted them to learn life skills. Examples of handicrafts would include sewing, knitting, beadwork, needlepoint, woodworking, and basket weaving, among many others. Most modern women do not possess a lot of “handicraft skills”, but often we each have skills in one or two areas. Moms in the co-op could take turns teaching the handicrafts that they know to the group, allowing the children to learn and experience a few throughout the year. Wouldn’t it be a great opportunity for moms to learn these skills right along with their children?
8. Nature Study - I can think of two primary ways to effectively incorporate nature study into a CM homeschool co-op:
- Physical co-op classes could occur three times per month, with the fourth week of each month set aside for nature walks and excursions. After all, Charlotte believed that children needed to regularly and actively experience nature. This would also be a nice opportunity for a once-a-month group picnic! Of course, alternate field trips or activities could be planned as back-ups for inclement weather.
- If actual nature excursions are not possible for your group, some homeschool resources may be adaptable for a group class. Check out Simply Charlotte Mason’s 106 Days of Creation Studies (http://simplycharlottemason.com/books/106-days-creation- studies/) or Queen Homschool’s Discovering Nature Series (http://www.queenhomeschool.com/productpages/Discovering%20Nature%20Series/discoveringnatureseries2.html# Discovering).
10. Hero Admiration - Charlotte Mason believed that education should encompass all that is good, noble, lovely, and worthy of admiration. While we all know that children crave heroes to look up to, most of us also know that the roles models provided by our culture (i.e., Hollywood) are not good, noble, lovely, and worthy of admiration. Instead, historical biographies and literature provide our children with examples of people who have demonstrated character worth looking up to. Our children can learn courage, for example, from many throughout history who have faced and overcome nearly impossible circumstances. Reading biographies about various historical figures, from Pocahontas to Harriet Tubman, has been very beneficial for my oldest daughter. I believe that such biographies have strengthened her sense of empathy toward others and have caused her to feel more grateful for her own life as well. But how can hero admiration be made into a “class” for a homeschool co-op? Here are a couple of ideas:
- A simple book club that reads and discusses historical biographies.
- Youth With a Mission (YWAM) publishes numerous biographies of “Christian Heroes” and “Heroes in History”; unit study curriculum guides are available to accompany each of these books. These unit study guides contain ideas for some of the following activities and assignments related to each biography: Essay writing, creative writing, hands-on projects, critical thinking, devotional application, meaningful field trips, service projects, current events, life skills, project displays, oral presentations, and more! Unit studies typically have a vast array of ideas to pick and choose from. A unit study based on a Christian hero or historical figure would be a lot of fun for a group of children to complete together. For more information, go to http://www.ywampublishing.com/c-39-hero-biographies.aspx.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Frugal Tip for Kid-Friendly Food
This is going to be very basic, but sometimes I find myself needing to be reminded of the essentials. What are two foods that are notorious favorites for children? Yes, pizza and chicken nuggets! How often do we buy these favorites at restaurants, fast food windows, or in the frozen food section of the grocery store? The truth is, we can make our own pizza and chicken nuggets at home and save our weekly food budget from hitting the roof in the process. My kids actually like the pizza and chicken nuggets that I make at home better than they like them anywhere else. I do understand the convenience of fast food and pizza delivery on nights when the kids have soccer practice or some other activity that makes it difficult to cook dinner. I have been there and done that many times. It is better to plan ahead for such evenings, however, rather than to spontaneously eat out when we find ourselves unable to “get it together” in time for dinner. Eating out or purchasing convenience foods on impulse will destroy the food budget faster than almost anything else. It might be wise to use the slow cooker on days that are especially busy or to double a recipe each week to freeze for later use on busy nights (more on this in future posts). To save money by providing our children with home-cooked pizza and chicken nuggets, read on!
Fried Chicken Fingers
1 - 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Oil for frying
2 eggs
1/3 cup milk
2 cups flour (use unbleached white flour; whole wheat flour does not work well for this)
3 teaspoons salt
3 teaspoons black pepper
1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
1 teaspoon rubbed sage
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
Cut the chicken into “fingers” or “nuggets”, depending on your preference. Heat about 4 inches of cooking oil in an electric deep fryer or deep pot on the stove to 375 F (use a candy thermometer to gauge the temperature if you’re not using an electric fryer).
Beat the eggs and milk together in a medium bowl. Set aside. In a 9 x 9 baking dish or gallon-sized zipper bag, combine dry ingredients.
Dip the chicken pieces completely into the egg mixture and then transfer to the flour mixture. Roll each piece (or shake if using a zipper bag) to coat completely.
Carefully place each piece into the hot oil and fry for approximately 10 minutes until bubbling slows and chicken is golden-brown. (The number of chicken pieces you can cook at one time will depend on the size of your fryer or pot. Do not crowd the fryer).
Remove cooked chicken from oil and drain on paper towels.
*It will be necessary to double the dry ingredient amounts if you use a larger amount of chicken.
The World’s Easiest Pizza Crust
I have attempted many pizza crust recipes and this is the one that my children like the best. Thankfully, it also happens to be the easiest one! Homemade pizza, using this crust recipe, is far from difficult. In fact, pizza is one of the “easy” meals that I save for busy days. Many children prefer cheese pizza or pepperoni pizza. If this is true at your house, be happy because you won’t need to cook or chop any additional toppings! Preheat oven to 425 F. Dissolve 2 packets of yeast in 1 ½ cups very warm water. In a large bowl, stir 4 cups flour, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, and yeast mixture until blended. Knead a few times, cover bowl, and let dough rest for 5 minutes. Brush two 12-inch pizza pans or baking stones with olive oil and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon cornmeal. Pat or roll dough onto bottom of pizza pans, creating rims at edges. Pre-bake for 5 - 10 minutes, then remove, spread with pizza sauce, and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and desired toppings. Return to oven until cheese is melted and crust is golden.
Tip: Although the above crust preparation is extremely easy, it will not result in a particularly crispy crust in most home ovens. For a crispier crust, preheat pizza pans or stones in the oven prior to greasing them. Roll out the dough on a separate, floured surface, then carefully transfer to the preheated pans.
For an easy pizza sauce, combine one small can tomato sauce, one can tomato paste, 2 minced or crushed garlic cloves, a pinch of sugar, and Italian seasoning to taste (I like to use an Italian seasoning grinder for this).
Enjoy these recipes and be inspired to make foods at home that you typically buy elsewhere. It will save you money, it will be healthier for your family, and your children will think you are a fabulous cook! Have a great week!
Monday, May 9, 2011
Favorite Homeschool Freebies Part 1
Those of us who homeschool our children are typically living on one income, which is never an easy feat in our modern world. Homeschool curriculum can cost a pretty penny too, making quality free resources highly valuable to us. Below is a list of some of my favorite free resources that are currently available to homeschoolers.
1. http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/typing/
free online typing program from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). Targeted for ages 7 - 11, your kids will learn to type while playing games that feature entertaining animation.
2. http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/websites/4_11/site/languages.shtml
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) website also offers free online foreign language courses for children up to age 11. Online instruction features lots of games, cool animation, and FUN! Choose from Spanish, French, or Mandarin
3. http://www.c-spanclassroom.org/
C-Span offers free online resources and links for social studies teachers (homeschool teachers included). In addition, if you register with this website, you will receive notification of periodic special offers. For example, I received a free, full-color timeline poster of American presidents from C-Span. This high-quality poster was mailed directly to me at no cost just for registering on the website. Although the poster offer has expired, more special deals are sure to follow. Register now so you will know about them when they become available.
4. http://www.yourstoryhour.org/article.php?id=17
Clubhouse, a free online magazine for children available from Your Story Hour, can either be read online or printed from their website. This magazine is full of stories, jokes, and puzzles for kids.
5. http://www.yourstoryhour.org/article.php?id=16
“Adventures in the Holy Bible” is a free series of Bible lessons for children available from Your Story Hour. Currently, you must sign up online or via telephone to receive the lessons, which arrive a few at a time in the mail (lessons might be available online in the future). The quizzes at the end of each Bible lesson must be completed and mailed back to Your Story Hour in order to receive the next group of lessons. This series also includes a set of 13 free CDs containing audio dramas about the life of Jesus that are mailed out along with the Bible lessons. The materials and CDs are yours to keep.
6. http://www.donnayoung.org/
Donna Young’s website offers free homeschool planners and numerous printable resources based on many academic subjects and topics. Her handwriting pages are especially popular among homeschoolers!
7. http://home.pct.edu/~evavra/KISS.htm
KISS Grammar is an online grammar program that is very comprehensive. All materials are free and printable for your use. This program is a bit complicated to use at first, but becomes easier to understand and is quite feasible after a thorough reading of all of the information and instructions on the website.
8. http://children.cccm.com/site/curriculum.htm
A series of 325 children’s Bible lessons from the old and new testaments are available for free from Calvary Chapel. These online lessons are printable or you may send for a free CD-ROM containing all of the lessons. Each lesson contains Bible verses, a coloring page, puzzles, games, and comprehension questions.
9. http://www.aboverubies.org/
Above Rubies magazine has been a ministry of Nancy Campbell and her family for over 33 years. Subscriptions to this magazine are free and she also offers a newsletter and many additional resources on her website. I personally receive this magazine and find the articles to be encouraging and uplifting. I was even pleasantly surprised to receive a personal, hand-written note from Nancy along with my first issue. Please be aware that this magazine unabashedly promotes a large family size. I do not have a large family, however, and still find lots of encouragement and information in the pages of Above Rubies.
10. http://www.homeschoolshare.com/
Homeschool Share offers LOTS of free lapbooking templates and unit studies! When I used Five In a Row curriculum with my kids a few years ago, this site was invaluable to me. Free lapbooks and notebooking pages are available to go with almost every FIAR story!
11. http://www.abcteach.com/
An educational site offering 5000+ free printable theme units, word puzzles, writing forms, book report forms, grammar lessons, math lessons and more.
12. http://gardenofpraise.com/
Garden of Praise offers free online art appreciation lessons, Bible lessons, biographies, downloadable songs to assist with the memorization of facts, and much more!
13. http://www.handsofachild.com/
In the Hands of a Child is the premiere company for lapbooks, in my opinion. Their website always has a link for a free lapbook and they also offer a $5.00 e-book that changes weekly.
14. http://www.amblesideonline.org/index.shtml
Ambleside Online is one of my favorite homeschool websites. This Charlotte Mason-inspired website features a free curriculum guide that is very comprehensive and utilizes living books. Their other free resources, information, and links are too numerous to mention! One of my favorite resources on this site is the free, downloadable art prints. Ambleside Online has inspired and enabled me to teach art appreciation in my home.
15. http://bringinguplearners.com/mosaic-myths-maps-and-marvels/
Mosaic History is an absolutely free history curriculum and guide. This site includes many other free educational resources as well.
16. http://www.enature.com/birding/audio.asp
This is ideal for nature study! E-Nature features audios of the songs and calls of more than 550 North American birds. Listen online or download.
17. http://www.birds.cornell.edu/bbimages/PDFs/ColoringBook.pdf
Another great resource for studying birds! I know that most people recommend drawing (rather than coloring) birds for nature study, but this free Feeder Birds Printable Coloring Book has been perfect for one of my children who LOVES to color.
18. http://thehomeschoolmagazine.com/Digital-Supplement/Homeschool101.html
Homeschool 101 is a lengthy, comprehensive, AMAZING digital supplement available from The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. Who needs to buy a book about the basics of home education when this is available for free?
19. http://www.oklahomahomeschool.com/unitstudies.html#free
Free unit studies based on history, science, and other various topics.
20. http://www.aesopfables.com/
Aesop’s Fables online for free! 655+ fables are on this site. Some include the text only, while others have an audio option.
21. http://digital.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/t/text/text-idx?c=nietz;page=browse;id=navbarbrowselink;cginame=text-idx;cc=nietz;key=title;value=m
19th century McGuffey readers are available digitally for free!
22. http://filefolderfun.com/
If you like to supplement your curriculum with independent activities such as file folder games, this is a great site for you! You’ll find numerous printable templates here for making your own file folder games.
23. http://www.bookitprogram.com/enrollment/homeschool.asp
Yes, homeschoolers are eligible for Pizza Hut’s famous Book-It program! Every month, the teacher (i.e., mom) sets reading goals for each child. When those monthly goals are accomplished, the child is given a coupon for a free personal pan pizza. Book-It offers suggestions for goals based on grade level, but those objectives are ultimately determined by you. Example goals would include the child reading a certain number of pages each week or for a certain amount of time every night. My personal disclaimer: As a follower of Charlotte Mason’s educational philosophy, I am not a huge fan of this type of reward system. I feel that children (and adults) ought to read simply for the joy of it. However, rewards do have their place and I am glad that well-known programs such as Book-It are available to homeschoolers. We signed up for Book-It for the first time this year, and although we didn’t do it every month, the kids liked going out for pizza when we did!
I would like to include two additional resources in this list even though they are not true freebies.
24. The “teacher toolbox” feature of The Old Schoolhouse website is free for paid magazine subscribers only. The Old Schoolhouse is the best homeschool magazine available, in my opinion, and the online “teacher toolbox” feature includes a monthly menu/meal plan with recipes, e-books, unit studies, crafts, printables, and more! The regular price for a one-year subscription to The Old Schoolhouse magazine is $29.95, but they frequently offer special deals. Check online at http://thehomeschoolmagazine.com/.
25. This is a discount rather than a freebie, but I am including it on the list because it is highly valuable for homeschoolers. Homeschool teachers are eligible for the Educator Discount Program at Barnes and Noble. If you have not taken advantage of this “perk”, ask to enroll the next time you are in the store. You will receive a card that entitles you to 20% off the regular price of all purchases for classroom use. It’s a fabulous deal, especially if you use a lot of literature in your homeschool.
Enjoy these freebies and feel free to post YOUR personal favorites that are not included on the list. We all love finding great resources to help make our homeschooling experience a little bit more affordable!
1. http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/typing/
free online typing program from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). Targeted for ages 7 - 11, your kids will learn to type while playing games that feature entertaining animation.
2. http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/websites/4_11/site/languages.shtml
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) website also offers free online foreign language courses for children up to age 11. Online instruction features lots of games, cool animation, and FUN! Choose from Spanish, French, or Mandarin
3. http://www.c-spanclassroom.org/
C-Span offers free online resources and links for social studies teachers (homeschool teachers included). In addition, if you register with this website, you will receive notification of periodic special offers. For example, I received a free, full-color timeline poster of American presidents from C-Span. This high-quality poster was mailed directly to me at no cost just for registering on the website. Although the poster offer has expired, more special deals are sure to follow. Register now so you will know about them when they become available.
4. http://www.yourstoryhour.org/article.php?id=17
Clubhouse, a free online magazine for children available from Your Story Hour, can either be read online or printed from their website. This magazine is full of stories, jokes, and puzzles for kids.
5. http://www.yourstoryhour.org/article.php?id=16
“Adventures in the Holy Bible” is a free series of Bible lessons for children available from Your Story Hour. Currently, you must sign up online or via telephone to receive the lessons, which arrive a few at a time in the mail (lessons might be available online in the future). The quizzes at the end of each Bible lesson must be completed and mailed back to Your Story Hour in order to receive the next group of lessons. This series also includes a set of 13 free CDs containing audio dramas about the life of Jesus that are mailed out along with the Bible lessons. The materials and CDs are yours to keep.
6. http://www.donnayoung.org/
Donna Young’s website offers free homeschool planners and numerous printable resources based on many academic subjects and topics. Her handwriting pages are especially popular among homeschoolers!
7. http://home.pct.edu/~evavra/KISS.htm
KISS Grammar is an online grammar program that is very comprehensive. All materials are free and printable for your use. This program is a bit complicated to use at first, but becomes easier to understand and is quite feasible after a thorough reading of all of the information and instructions on the website.
8. http://children.cccm.com/site/curriculum.htm
A series of 325 children’s Bible lessons from the old and new testaments are available for free from Calvary Chapel. These online lessons are printable or you may send for a free CD-ROM containing all of the lessons. Each lesson contains Bible verses, a coloring page, puzzles, games, and comprehension questions.
9. http://www.aboverubies.org/
Above Rubies magazine has been a ministry of Nancy Campbell and her family for over 33 years. Subscriptions to this magazine are free and she also offers a newsletter and many additional resources on her website. I personally receive this magazine and find the articles to be encouraging and uplifting. I was even pleasantly surprised to receive a personal, hand-written note from Nancy along with my first issue. Please be aware that this magazine unabashedly promotes a large family size. I do not have a large family, however, and still find lots of encouragement and information in the pages of Above Rubies.
10. http://www.homeschoolshare.com/
Homeschool Share offers LOTS of free lapbooking templates and unit studies! When I used Five In a Row curriculum with my kids a few years ago, this site was invaluable to me. Free lapbooks and notebooking pages are available to go with almost every FIAR story!
11. http://www.abcteach.com/
An educational site offering 5000+ free printable theme units, word puzzles, writing forms, book report forms, grammar lessons, math lessons and more.
12. http://gardenofpraise.com/
Garden of Praise offers free online art appreciation lessons, Bible lessons, biographies, downloadable songs to assist with the memorization of facts, and much more!
13. http://www.handsofachild.com/
In the Hands of a Child is the premiere company for lapbooks, in my opinion. Their website always has a link for a free lapbook and they also offer a $5.00 e-book that changes weekly.
14. http://www.amblesideonline.org/index.shtml
Ambleside Online is one of my favorite homeschool websites. This Charlotte Mason-inspired website features a free curriculum guide that is very comprehensive and utilizes living books. Their other free resources, information, and links are too numerous to mention! One of my favorite resources on this site is the free, downloadable art prints. Ambleside Online has inspired and enabled me to teach art appreciation in my home.
15. http://bringinguplearners.com/mosaic-myths-maps-and-marvels/
Mosaic History is an absolutely free history curriculum and guide. This site includes many other free educational resources as well.
16. http://www.enature.com/birding/audio.asp
This is ideal for nature study! E-Nature features audios of the songs and calls of more than 550 North American birds. Listen online or download.
17. http://www.birds.cornell.edu/bbimages/PDFs/ColoringBook.pdf
Another great resource for studying birds! I know that most people recommend drawing (rather than coloring) birds for nature study, but this free Feeder Birds Printable Coloring Book has been perfect for one of my children who LOVES to color.
18. http://thehomeschoolmagazine.com/Digital-Supplement/Homeschool101.html
Homeschool 101 is a lengthy, comprehensive, AMAZING digital supplement available from The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. Who needs to buy a book about the basics of home education when this is available for free?
19. http://www.oklahomahomeschool.com/unitstudies.html#free
Free unit studies based on history, science, and other various topics.
20. http://www.aesopfables.com/
Aesop’s Fables online for free! 655+ fables are on this site. Some include the text only, while others have an audio option.
21. http://digital.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/t/text/text-idx?c=nietz;page=browse;id=navbarbrowselink;cginame=text-idx;cc=nietz;key=title;value=m
19th century McGuffey readers are available digitally for free!
22. http://filefolderfun.com/
If you like to supplement your curriculum with independent activities such as file folder games, this is a great site for you! You’ll find numerous printable templates here for making your own file folder games.
23. http://www.bookitprogram.com/enrollment/homeschool.asp
Yes, homeschoolers are eligible for Pizza Hut’s famous Book-It program! Every month, the teacher (i.e., mom) sets reading goals for each child. When those monthly goals are accomplished, the child is given a coupon for a free personal pan pizza. Book-It offers suggestions for goals based on grade level, but those objectives are ultimately determined by you. Example goals would include the child reading a certain number of pages each week or for a certain amount of time every night. My personal disclaimer: As a follower of Charlotte Mason’s educational philosophy, I am not a huge fan of this type of reward system. I feel that children (and adults) ought to read simply for the joy of it. However, rewards do have their place and I am glad that well-known programs such as Book-It are available to homeschoolers. We signed up for Book-It for the first time this year, and although we didn’t do it every month, the kids liked going out for pizza when we did!
I would like to include two additional resources in this list even though they are not true freebies.
24. The “teacher toolbox” feature of The Old Schoolhouse website is free for paid magazine subscribers only. The Old Schoolhouse is the best homeschool magazine available, in my opinion, and the online “teacher toolbox” feature includes a monthly menu/meal plan with recipes, e-books, unit studies, crafts, printables, and more! The regular price for a one-year subscription to The Old Schoolhouse magazine is $29.95, but they frequently offer special deals. Check online at http://thehomeschoolmagazine.com/.
25. This is a discount rather than a freebie, but I am including it on the list because it is highly valuable for homeschoolers. Homeschool teachers are eligible for the Educator Discount Program at Barnes and Noble. If you have not taken advantage of this “perk”, ask to enroll the next time you are in the store. You will receive a card that entitles you to 20% off the regular price of all purchases for classroom use. It’s a fabulous deal, especially if you use a lot of literature in your homeschool.
Enjoy these freebies and feel free to post YOUR personal favorites that are not included on the list. We all love finding great resources to help make our homeschooling experience a little bit more affordable!
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