On this channel I show parents how to simplify home education and make it more effective and enjoyable! I also help parents understand and apply Charlotte Mason's methods in a simple, approachable way. On this channel you'll learn how to start homeschooling, how to teach a variety of subjects, and what those teaching methods look like in a real home.
I started the Simple Wonders podcast last year to discuss big ideas in parenting and teaching, in other words the WHY behind methods that actually work. And on this channel I show you the HOW of applying those principles in a real life setting.
I love this video so much! One of my boys has been going to OT the last few months and I’ve been looking for ways to incorporate some of the things he’s learning into our home. Thanks for taking the time to make this 🫶🏼
I just found you this last week and I have binge watched almost all your videos. I’m on my fifth year homeschooling my five kids, 1 girl, 4 boys. I’m also a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It’s taken me five years of changing curriculums that just didn’t jive with my heart and my kids. I hate busy work. I thought it’s pointless and my kids hated it. Then I found simply Charlotte Masons RU-vid channel and have watched around 80 of those (just this week). Then I found you! Your channel and simply Charlotte Mason has been an answer to prayers I’ve been having the past five years. I’m so thankful that you started this channel. I will keep coming back for more and hope you do it for many years to come. ❤
This was very informative and interesting. I wonder do you know of any research that discusses how specific food impact the body/brain? I've been hearing this a lot lately and not sure where I can find research to further review. Thanks.
This is great and so interesting! I like how you say that these can be done outside too. We have our basement as a homeschool space but if we can’t incorporate all of these inside our home, would you say a playground is a good alternative? I would love a set up like this but not sure if we have the space. Thank you for making these tips and signs available on Patreon also. Thank you for sharing your wisdom!
You’re welcome! I’ve been thinking about ways to adapt to a home without a big space and I think a backyard or driveway is a great option. You can keep equipment outside or in an outdoor box. Here are some other ideas: Go outside and jump on the trampoline (proprioceptive), dog run on grass (motor), balance beam while looking at oak tree (balance), bounce ball on the driveway (ball work), then come inside and spin on sit-and-spin board (stored under couch), go to kitchen and do eye-hand-foot work. You could also make each room dedicated to one or two of these exercises and store equipment under the bed or couch.
Also, any recommendations on Charlotte Mason books? I had never heard of it until last couple of weeks from watching yours and a few other RU-vidrs videos about homeschooling.
These seem really helpful!! What age is the When Bright Kids Can’t Learn for? I have a very active 3yo boy and the play book seems like it will be extremely helpful. Should I wait to get the Bright Kids book? Or would some apply to such a young kiddo?
The Ready Bodies Learning Minds is definitely the best one for your son’s age. The When Bright Kids Can’t Learn is for 7+ and, in my opinion, is remediation for kids who didn’t get the opportunities in the RBLM book.
Is the equipment needed for the motor lab expensive or is it items that can easily be made inexpensively? I looked at their website and noticed they sell some equipment but it's very pricey so wasn't sure if it was required in order to implement this method effectively?
So far I’ve found items used or alternative items that work in the same way. I’ve seen tutorials online how to make your own. For example, My husband has a balance board that also spins, we use that instead of the wooden sit-and-spin on the RBLM website. There’s a tutorial on RU-vid as well. I found a balance beam on Facebook for $10, but you can easily make one with a board and some cinder blocks (I’m sure there are tutorials for that as well). Some exercise equipment I may not purchase at all because of price or being hard to find.
Is it important to have the motor lab set up as it is shown in the book or can each station be in a different part of the house? I am wondering if people who don't have an extra space to dedicate to a motor lab can still use this book and perhaps put up the stations wherever they may fit throughout their home or outdoor space.
Absolutely! I’ve been thinking about ways to adapt to a home without a big space and I think a backyard, driveway and garage are a great options. You can keep equipment outside or in an outdoor box. Here are some other ideas: Go outside and jump on the trampoline (proprioceptive), dog run on grass (motor), balance beam while looking at oak tree (balance), bounce ball on the driveway (ball work), then come inside and spin on sit-and-spin board in living room (stored under couch), go to kitchen and do eye-hand-foot work. You could also make each room dedicated to one or two of these exercises and store equipment under the bed or couch. You could also focus on only 3 systems at a time, you don’t need to do all of them all at the same time. For example, do P1, V1, and BW1 for the next two weeks, then do M1, E1, and T1 for the two weeks after that.
Baby wearing is also another great way to minimize retained primitive reflexes. So is long term breastfeeding. I had all C -section babies. All six of them have at least one retained reflex. After working with a special needs advocate that extensively researched a variety of causes and treatments for various symptoms that special needs children struggle with…he set us on a path to treat them. I’ve had a difficult time getting my son to OT. This is an excellent video on creating an at home lab. I’m in medicine and know first hand that every single physician will only recommend ABA, insurance based OT, PT and SLP. Every single one of the insurance based companies were an absolute joke. I don’t agree with ABA but OT, PT and SLP can be vital. I also have an excellent resource in SoCal…Dr Doug Stephey is an eye doctor that has extensively studied retained primitive reflexes. One of my children has a pair of glasses that have a special tint to them that help calm the nervous system. The very moment that my one daughter either ADD put them on, she was instantly calm. She cried. For the first time in her life, she was able to process external stimulation. This is applicable to all ages. Another thing to look into is if your child is tongue tied. There’s extensive research proving that when a child is tied there’s no amount of reflex therapy that will help alleviate the symptoms…anyway, this is awesome. Thank you for sharing what you do :)
Thank you for all the information! I’m interested in seeing a video on the two books you mentioned as well. I’ve got two early elementary boys with ADHD and it’s be extremely helpful. Thanks again!
I’m very interested in the movement books/ lab you mentioned! My son also has ADHD and I haven’t heard if those books (and I know about a LOT of books about ADHD and homeschooling, lol), I definitely want to check them out! Great video overall, it’s nice to see how you modify things (LOVE the hero stories of First Nations idea!)
Thank you so much for sharing your story ❤️ it was really beautiful and wonderful to hear your families success I really hope my family has the same success xxx
Lovely ideas! ❤ We are doing history starting with our state (lots about the Oregon trail and Lewis and Clark this year) and then expanding to the country, then world history. Good luck on the 24-25 homeschool year ❤
I love seeing all the good books you use and the restaurant menu idea is genius. We're excited to try the nature study by Beautiful Feet Books. We got some books ourselves and will check some out from the library!
Very interested in the brain exercises and motor lab just to get an idea of what it is and how you implement it. We homestead so chores are our break. 😂
I hope you have a great year! Once again, Charlotte Mason was right! The slightly older kids really do need more independence, even if we feel like family-style will be easier all around.
Right? I don’t know why, but I struggled so much with it. Especially trying to arbitrarily divide different historical time periods into school years, and each time period has varying amounts of knowledge to learn and varying lengths of books, which made it hard to divide them evenly into years or terms 🤯 just continuing onto the next time period and book when we finish one has brought so much peace and simplicity!
All my kids learn about different continents each year after first grade. So this year we’re learning about Antarctica and the Arctic. It works well because two major explorations of those regions (Robert Peary to North Pole and Shackleton to South) happened during the time period well studied this year in history. We’re reading books about those explorations as well as documentaries. Human Planet and Frozen Worlds.
@@simplewondersacademy also we are doing the same thing for history and also starting with the civil war, I'm using Without Doors. I think it's awesome you prayed about it, I think a lot of us say to ourselves it's silly and then choose not to pray about it or just dismiss it. Thank you for your perspective on everything.
Thank you for sharing this program. I was all set to purchase All About Spelling for one child and Phonetic Zoo for another but now I’m leaning towards this. It looks great and I can get a whole package for $150 and I can use it for all my kids forever!
@@landofkakiakahomeschool I just checked my email settings and it was set to send the email 1 day instead of 1 hour after confirmation. If it doesn’t come soon it will definitely come tomorrow! Sorry about that.
@@01Camillag I just checked my email settings and it was set to send the email 1 day instead of 1 hour after confirmation. If it doesn’t come soon it will definitely come tomorrow! Sorry about that.
I ordered the Wild West book after seeing this video, it came in and I read it over thr weekend and then quickly ordered the other two American history books he wrote. These books are sooooo good!
@@anotherhomeschoolmom1367 aren’t they great?! They are our favorite American history books 🙌🏼 We studied it for most of the year. It took us about two terms.
