homeschool help

Homeschool Help: Bible Curriculum

September 16, 2013 3 Comments

For the past 4 years that we have been homeschooling, we have used a couple of curriculum for our Bible study time. I’m sharing with you 3 Bible currciulum that we have tried. We liked them but each has its own advantage and disadvantage. Of course, you should still give these curriculum a try to see if it fits your own family. Please also note that this is not a sponsored post.

For our first year, we have opted to try the Alpha Omega Lifepac Bible series. It comes in a box of 10 individual workbooks. It is a complete package already as it contains readings, worksheets and tests. Answer key is also provided and minimal intervention from the teacher is needed.

We used this material for 2 years. What we didn’t like is that the workbooks are consumable, meaning, I have to buy another set for my next child and it is quite costly. I also didn’t like that it inserted english lessons in between certain unit studies. It was out of synch for us since we were not using Alpha Omega Lifepac for our other subjects. I am also looking for something that I can use on a multi-level homeschool.

So we moved on to Big Book of Questions and Answers by Sinclair Ferguson. It contains a list of questions about the Christian faith. It has a list of activities, prayers and Bible references.

We liked this curriculum because it was very simple and straight forward. The kids enjoyed the activities and clarity of the lessons. The questions were thoroughly discussed and answered.

This curriculum is better used with the guidance of the teacher and family discussion would prove to be the best way go with this curriculum. We were able to buy this at a local Christian bookstore. We finished the 2 books in one semester.

After we finished, we moved on the Bible Study Guide for All Ages by Mary Baker. This curriculum was recommended by a friend and we liked this curriculum because it goes through the entire Bible, chapter by chapter and you can use this study with the whole family. Everyone studies the same text and family discussion works for our family. Aside from theology, the kids learn to apply what they learn in their lives.

I enjoy Bible Study Guide for All Ages since I get to learn along with the kids. I also love the family discussions we have and the in-depth study that we get out of this curriculum. This has 4 units and each unit has 104 lessons. Each unit can last for one school year.

We hope to continue on with Bible Study Guide for All Ages for the next few years.

Homeschool Help: Learning Math

September 9, 2013 1 Comment

Math is a challenging subject for my daughter. Because of this, we have tried many different approaches to make learning Math easier for her.

For learning and memorizing the multiplication table, we have been using the big visual multiplication table. We bought this multiplication table from last year’s Manila International Book Fair. Since my daughter likes visuals, this has been a great help to her.

Since we are using Singapore Math, we have used ThinkingBlocks.com to help understand Math problems better. This free program uses blocks to visualize the given numbers and understand what is missing in the problems given. You can use this program on your PC over the Internet and on your iPad.

We also use manipulatives from Math U See. The blocks are in groups of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10. The blocks help Kyla remember the multiplication process and also understand the division process.

As for fraction and decimals, we use coins, pancakes and any other object we can find inside the house which uses fraction and decimal. There are also available manipulatives which you can buy.

We also tried Life of Fred. It is a Math curriculum with a very different approach. This curriculum has allowed my daughter to enjoy Math and see Math from another point of view.

Learning math entails practice and for non-math lovers, we take it one step at a time. If you know of any other ways of learning Math easier, do share them and leave a comment.

Filed Under: homeschool, homeschool help Tagged With: math help

Homeschool Help: Setting Up Your Home For Homeschooling

July 2, 2013 Leave a Comment

Most people think that when you homeschool your children, you are just moving the school to your home. While it is partly true, homeschooling is so much more than just reading books, answering worksheets and finishing the curriculum. Homeschooling is actually making your home a place where learning takes place.

The home is a place of refuge for the family, but it is also a place where learning happens every day. Thus, it is important that the house is set up properly to provide a condusive place to study, to research, to learn and to grow.

There are several ways to set up your house to accomodate homeschooling. If possible, set up a study room. Put a table and place the school materials in that area. You can also create a creative area where you can make the art materials accessible for the children. Setting up an accessible library area is one of the best ways to encourage your child to read.

Another idea would be to set up an area, where you can do circle time. This is done in the floor so it would be best to install flooring that is suitable for children to sit on. Carpet flooring would be ideal so that the children will not get cold sitting on the cold tiles but if the children uses art materials, the carpet would not be the best option. The laminated floor tiles would be another option. You can Discover More Here and choose which would be the most suitable flooring for your family needs.

Some use the dining area or the living room area as their primary study areas. Of course, it all depends on the rooms available at your house. Just make sure you arrange your furnitures so that there are enough spaces for the children to move around.

Homeschooling is best when the home is comfortable and accomodating to learning.

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Homeschooling A Preschooler FAQ

June 4, 2013 1 Comment

Over the years, I have received several emails asking me about homeschooling. I think it would be most helpful to list down the frequently asked questions and their answers. If you have any questions, just leave a comment and I will try my best to answer.

Is homeschool expensive?

It actually depends on the family. If you have limited budget,when you enroll with a homeschool provider, you can choose the less expensive schools or choose the local curriculum which are usually cheaper.

Is it better to homeschool a pre schooler? What are the advantages and disadvantages?

I believe it is better to start to homeschool a pre schooler. You are in the perfect situation where you can be the main influencer and teacher of your child. Good habits are easy to establish in this stage. You can also discipline your child easier in this stage.

The disadvantage would be the parents need to spend more time and effort in this stage.

What is the common routine for preschoolers?

The daily routine usually lasts for 1 to 1.5 hours a day. It includes read aloud time, copy work, phonics, mathematics and science. You can incorporate crafts and arts into the different subjects. You can choose which subjects you want to do daily or alternately.

What is the best curriculum for reading that is budget friendly?

I suggest that you read Dr. Seuss books or choose books from Sonlight curriculum and try to buy the books from Booksale or Books for Less. Your first goal should be to read to your child daily. Eventually, he will become interested to read and you can slowly introduce phonics to him. You can also use starfall.com. There are many free resources found around the web that you can use.

What are the target/goals for pre-schoolers?

I believe that the goals for pre schoolers should be to establish good habits. Read daily together and remember to choose good books. Classic literature would be a good choice.

It would be good to read Ruth Beechick’s The Three R’s Series to get a more detailed list of what your preschooler should be learning.

How do you dicipline your children and motivate them to love learning even when they are at home?

Discipline is heart work. You need to make sure that your child understands what he has done. I suggest reading Shepherding A Child’s Heart by Tedd Tripp for more information on disciplining your children.

Love for learning begins when we spend time reading to our child. Don’t stress too much about what you are not doing but enjoy the time you spend with your child. When you enjoy learning with your child, you allow your child to enjoy what you are doing too. Don’t be afraid to try new activities with your kids. Try Five in a Row curriculum, it suits preschoolers. I also wrote a post on how to keep your kids excited about school.

Please also check out my earlier post about how to begin homeschooling your preschoolers.

Filed Under: homeschool, homeschool help Tagged With: homeschool questions

Homeschool Help: Homeschool Mom Blogs in the Philippines

May 17, 2013 4 Comments

As the new school year starts in June, it will be our 4th year homeschooling the kids. My daughter will be an incoming fourth grade student while my son will be in first grade. The past years have not been easy. It required a lot of discipline, commitment, perseverance and grace from the Lord. There were days when I wasn’t sure if I should continue in homeschooling or not. But then, the Lord always finds a way to speak to my heart and reassures me that this is what He wants us to do.

One of the ways that God continues to speak to me is through other homeschool moms blogs. When I feel lost, and unsure what to do, I often come across their blogs and find inspiration.

Here are the Filipino homeschool mom blogs that I read often and have been a source of encouragement to me, maybe they will be useful to you as well.

Winnie of Living and Learning