Homeschool 101

Jul
04

Liberty’s Kids

When I think of the Fourth of July, many things come to mind: cooking out, watching fireworks, the blessings of freedom, the many lives sacrificed to preserve our nation.

Another thing that immediately pops into my head is Liberty's Kids. It is just too good to forget. In case you've never seen the show, it was a television series produced by PBS. And it rocks. Seriously.

The Liberty's Kids series is a cartoon that walks chronologically through the Revolutionary War period. It follows three kids who are reporting on the events surrounding that time, often getting themselves into the middle of the action. They meet every historical figure you can think of, and likely many you've barely heard of. They tell the stories of the heroes, both famous and obscure, who shaped their future and our present.

And the stories are masterfully woven together in a way that feels natural. They're exciting adventures. In other words, it doesn't feel like the plot lines are just a cheap way to teach a history lesson. Kids see right through that.

I've also been impressed with how the Liberty's Kids series handles some of the issues that other children's programs would like to minimize. People die, slaves are oppressed, religion is a way of life. It is not overtly Christian, but doesn't ignore the fact that faith was instrumental in the lives of many who shaped our nation. The characters talk about Providence and don't hide all religious notions. Impressive for PBS.

My kids have watched the entire series through twice over the course of the past year or so. They know more about the Founding Fathers and the first patriots than most adults do. And, after watching the show with them (or listening in from the kitchen while making dinner), I know more about the Revolutionary War than I ever learned in school.

Whether you homeschool or not, Liberty's Kids is the best tool I've found for teaching that all-important era of history. Watching it would be a great way to spend summer afternoons when you drag in from the pool or when the kids want an escape from the heat. It's educational entertainment worth investing in. I can't say that about many things out there.

This post is linked to Raising Homemakers.

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Jun
02

Homeschool 101: Read a Book


When someone finds out that I homeschool, they usually ask three questions.

-What about socialization?
-Do your kids have to be tested, or does someone have to approve your curriculum?
-Why did you decide to homeschool?

Over the course of these ongoing HOMESCHOOL 101 posts, I'll likely get to all of these questions. But for starters, I thought I'd begin with that last question. It's too big to answer it completely right now, so I'm going to give you one of the most important reasons to me, the mom: I want my kids to like reading good books.

When my oldest son was a preschooler he loved books. I would check-out stacks of books on a variety of subject and just have them around. It warmed my heart to see him there, propped up on his elbows, looking at books on the planets, airplanes, Alexander the Great. He learned to read very early, and he enjoyed the world it opened up for him....until he went to school.

Then, reading was something you did for school. Reading for fun was no longer fun. It broke my heart. When we decided after his first grade year to make the leap into homeschooling, restoring his love for books was one of my top priorities. I'm happy to report that I've been successful. Christopher, and all of my kids, love books (again). We usually have more than one hundred library books on our shelves at a time. My kiddos regularly beg me to take them to the library, which I would gladly to do every day if they didn't want to spend hours there each time!

Whether you already homeschool, are thinking about homeschooling, or think I must be crazy to even bring up the subject, you most likely want your kids to read. This summer is the perfect time to start encouraging your kids to pick up some good books. Not only will it help beat the "summer's getting boring blues", but it can open up a world of information and adventure.

Here's some pointers to encourage your children's love of books:

 

-Go to the library a lot, and check-out lots (and lots) of books. It doesn't matter if people look at you like you're strange. It doesn't matter if it takes you five trips to get all of those bags of books to the car. It's worth it. Trust me.

-Encourage your kids to find out about what interests them through books. My kids regularly check out books on pirates and knights, baseball cards and basketball teams, ballet and drawing, guinea pigs and horses. You name it, they've read a book about it. Or they at least know they can, if they want to. When my kids come to me with a "why is the sky blue" or "what do tree frogs eat" kind of question, my first answer is always, "I don't know, but we can get a book about it from the library." Over their young lives, that simple reply has led them to books on many different subjects, and to many answers for their many questions.

-Get a variety of books. Non-fiction books, full of pictures, are a great way for them to enjoy science and history. Let them get books that are over their heads. It's alright. Sometimes, a photograph of an ancient pyramid really is worth a thousand words. Picture books, chapter books, books to read by themselves, and books for you to read to them. Load 'em up!

-Don't treat all books equally. Some books aren't worth the paper they're written on. I call these "junk food" books. They're no better than watching TV. Actually, I think they're worse. Our kids do not need books that are simple and dumbed down. When in doubt, stick to classics. "Honey for a Child's Heart" by Gladys Hunt is an invaluable resource for finding good books. My oldest son knows the value of a good book, and he's passing this lesson onto his younger siblings. One day, on the way to the library, Mackenzie was talking to Christopher about looking for some books to read. He told her that she should probably stick to books that were written in the 1960's and earlier. He said that "books written after that just aren't as well-written". Now, I know that isn't always the case, but he's learned the value of classic literature. Yea!

-Sign up for your library's summer reading program. Whether your kids are toddlers or teenagers, they can likely sign up for a fun and motivating reading program. The kiddos get prizes for the time they spend reading books themselves or being read to. My kids enjoy filling up their charts with the many hours they spend with their books.

-Look for books on CD (at the library, of course). We listened to the "Chronicles of Narnia" books this way. We still need to finish the last couple of books, and this summer will be the perfect time. Since my husband is often at work during dinner time, I'll put on a CD while we eat. It can continue to play while I'm washing the dishes and cleaning up the kitchen. It makes for a relaxing and enjoyable experience for us all. This is also a good way to tame dinner-time trouble. Who wants to complain, act silly, or fight when Aslan is walking off into the woods with the White Witch? Not me!

 

I hope these ideas will get you started this summer. And I hope you'll continue to join me in the homeschooling discussions. As my summer break starts soon, I'll hopefully write more about why we do it, how we do it, and where to start if you want to do it, too.

Find more helpful summer ideas over on Works for Me Wednesday.

Photo credit: Daniel Hurst

Jun
02

Homeschool 101

When I started this blog, I knew that I didn't want it to be a "homeschool blog". Yes, I homeschool my kids. Yes, it's a big part of our lives. And, yes, I love to talk about homeschooling. Yet, I'm not an expert or an activist. I'm simply a gospel homemaking wife and mother who homeschools my kids.

But, over the past few months I've talked to several moms who want to know more about this subject. Either they're curious about the possibilities it offers, or they're unhappy with their current situation and want to know their options, but they've come to me with questions. Lots and lots of questions. I used to have lots of questions, too. I know that finding the answers can be difficult. The subject of homeschooling seems big, and confusing, and important. I mean, we're talking about our children and their futures. It doesn't get much bigger than that!

I still have lots of questions. Every new year brings on an onslaught of new questions and concerns. But I also have some answers. I've been at this whole homeschooling "experiment" for seven years now (where does the time go?!?). I've developed more of an understanding of why we homeschool. I've learned more about what works for us. I've seen how it affects our lives. So, I've decided to take the plunge into the subject of homeschooling. I won't be sharing expert advice. Sorry. But I'll share what works for us and, hopefully, give you some answers here and there.