I am so impressed by how much thought and time you put into your homeschool year. As a former public school teacher who now homeschools my 4 kiddos, I can tell you that you are doing an amazing job from both the public school and homeschool standpoint! You rock! Your children are so blessed to have you as teacher and MOM!
My niece kept flunking her spelling test so I had her write the spelling words on a list and put it on the fridge and every time someone opened up the fridge they had to yell out a spelling word to her and she had to spell it and when she opened the fridge she had to yell out a spelling word and somebody in her family had to spell it she started getting 100's on her spelling tests and it was a lot of fun for the family and every week they put the new words on the fridge. When her 22-year old brother or her mother or father would get one of the words wrong she would giggle and giggle 😂
This is one of the most realistic, helpful homeschool videos i have ever watched. I have liatened to it 3 times and i am taking notes this time! Thank you!!!
Erica, THANK YOU! This is just what I needed right now. We are also a military homeschool family. I have been having a homeschool momma moment. This helped to get me excited again about the upcoming school year. ❤
I have never homeschooled my children, as a single working mom, it just was not something I could do. I am so impressed with all the available resources. You have put so much thought and effort into planning and selecting the right subjects, and thoughtful expectations. Thank you for sharing.
Love your videos! We are a homeschooling family also. We read The miraculous journey of Edward Tulane this past year. My daughters, 5 and 10 years old, loved it. We all cried!
We’ve been homeschooling for 10 years now and we unschool. I recently minimized our homeschool stuff and wielded it down to arts math games and writing supplies with some puzzles books board games etc. it’s been wonderful not having so much stuff where
hats off to you what a lot of work and research! Just a top tip if your son is going to be using the computer more please please do touch typing lessons! its a still for life and so much much harder with older children start young he will thank you when he's older - my kids have!
I'm blown away by your organization! And how you know exactly what you're doing and when you're doing it. I'm heading into my 4th year homeschooling and I feel like I'm STILL trying to figure things out. I'm loving some of the stuff you're using, though, and will definitely look into some of them!
As a teacher of 27+ years, I love your attention to detail, planning, and tailoring the subjects and levels for your children. I also love that you are teaching cursive and phonetic spelling. Learning to spell with phonics will make them great spellers.❤
A great poetry picture book is called Kiyoshi’s Walk, it’s about a kid going for a walk with his grandfather and along the way they talk about what they observe, how it makes them feel, what poetry is about, and I think the poems are haikus. Definitely recommend checking that one out.
You're doing great! Such a heads up on this year's lesson plan. I thought of a resource that might be of some use to you. My kids go to a Christian school and they use Khan Acadamy for math and science lessons. I saw 62 videos in the Biology playlist on RU-vid and it's free. The RU-vid channel "Extra History" has great videos that are so fun that my kids watched them without being assigned. Love your videos!
A book cover was one of the "book report" ideas that was popular with my teenagers. The cover had to be different from the original book. It needed a book blurb. I only remember some of the other parts. I haven't done "book reports" for probably 20 years. After that, I did book logs where students filled in a paper with the title, author, start date, end date, and what was memorable about the book. Sadly, I dropped even that requirement during the last two years I taught. Reading is essential to me. When I watch the people whose RU-vid channels I have chosen to follow, I am always disappointed that there are few books in their houses. I grew up in a home where books were essential and going to the library was necessary. There are about 1500 (maybe 2000) books in my living room. I have over 2000 books on my Kindle. I have challenged myself to read 250 books and 75,000 pages a year for the last three years. I am currently on book 145 and have read about 43,000 pages. I remember my vice principal talking at lunch about how he was walking past one of his twins (a teenager at the time) showering and shouted out, "Don't forget the dangling bits." We all found it extremely funny. "Dangling bits" are things that need to be washed and are often forgotten by boys.
We can all tell (I think) that you are a journal enthusiastic! Those book report sheets, genius. I'll have to show and tell them to my daughter in law.....I'm not sure what she uses for her seven kids. I'll have to look more closely next time I'm there. You sure look ready!
All these homeschool prep videos are making me miss when I used to homeschool! I have my kids in a school where they teach from a homeschool curriculum, only it’s taught in a classroom/group setting. My high school son’s material was too difficult for me to teach and my daughter has been begging to go to school, so we compromised. But I do miss it so. Wishing you and your kiddos a wonderful, successful school year!
I have worked in child protective services for over 30 years. I always think of foster children or teens when I read the end of “The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane” when he has hardened his heart against caring and being loved. That was one of my son’s favorite books.
I wish I hade a homeschool mom friend that can come home and explain to me whit more care how to do things and how to organize to homeschool because I have never homeschool and School’s know day are so bad it’s not funny. I have been doing research after research and I still can’t find the answers I personally need.
You gave me such a great idea of how to tackle the states. It never even crossed my mind to learn/review them based on when they were added, so thank you!!
I have only watched 7 min. of your video and all I can say is WOW! I didn't realize that there was so much work involved in homeschooling. I guess the popular misconception is that when kids don't to to public/private school and stay home they end up playing all day and maybe once in a while have actual learning time. but the way you describe your curriculum, they way of organizing your resources and the passion you put into this, I see why you children are doing so well. they can feed off of your positive energy to teach and makes them want to learn. Keep it up.
Although my oldest unschooler graduated from college this year, your hs plan is giving me severe FOMO. 😂 You have a ton of exciting things planned for your kiddos this year. We did a few Brave Writer poetry teatimes with friends. We found lovely poetry books full of Irish poetry for St. Pat's (fam heritage.) The old folk songs like Woody Gutherie, etc....those are poetry too 😉😉. Caroline Kennedy has a lovely collection of poems for kids too. Ultimately, I think my fav resource for limerick style was Edward Lear's Nonsense Omnibus.
I love the Penderwicks!🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 You should read Wonder with them. So beautiful. The 68 Rooms is also wonderful. Then you can come to Chicago to see the miniature rooms.
I memorized Shel's "Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout would not take the garbage out" in 1974-5 ish! 4th or 5th grade..I presented it to class, each of us presented our memorized poems in class ☺️
Thank you for a resource I was seeking, and I shall return the favor re: poetry. Sing a Song of Seasons (check your library). This developed an appreciation of poetry for myself personally. Instead of it being this "thing", it became a simple wonderment and exercise in observation and really a kind of people watching. To notice with each poem what had caught THAT persons attention so much so that THEY were trying to capture it and articulate it for us. It's fascinating and relateable.
You are freaking amazing ! There are things you are making sure that get covered that weren’t done when I was in public school in the 60s and 70s. For example phonic wasn’t in fashion… I have been trying to teach myself for decades. I am so very very proud of you!!
2 big poetry books we read from (hi from Australia Erica!) are I am the seed that grew the tree (seasonal) and Tiger Tiger Burning Bright (animal poems) They both have a poem a day, and all different poems
I homeschooled my 2 boys for 8 years. I had forgotten how much planning and prep I did. We didn't have a dedicated room, so I had to set up and take down every day. I love that you use the childrens' input in choosing some of the units. I also love how organized you are!
Idea: When I taught poetry, sometimes I would read the poem aloud to the children and they could drum up their own ideas and images and interpretation and sometimes I would let them know the author's translation of their poem, the meaning, the story behind it. Often I would play music and have them paint the images that were created after I read the poem aloud. They would sometimes write a story of what the poem meant to them or their translation...and then we would turn that into an English/grammar lesson. Sometimes it was a historical poem about a certain period or a scientific or geographical poem. I tried to cross as many content areas as I could in that one assignment. So from just reading one poem we hit upon language arts, sometimes history, sometimes science, art, music... Just sharing some ideas with you Erica. I think you're doing a wonderful, incredible job with your children.
I have watched your homeschooling videos over and over. This is our first year and I feel so overwhelmed with how to organize curriculum, when to do each subject etc. Thank you for these videos. They have helped so much! Any suggestions with teaching two kids in the same grade who learn completely differently?
Very fun to see this! Reminds me of the "Old Days." I have only 1 student left at home and she's a senior. I've homeschooled for 18 years and I guess I'll retire this Spring. 😮😊
I am a public high school teacher and am hugely impressed by your detailed organization and how much you have already prepped before the school year even starts out. Hats off to you! My ADHD anxiety always kicks in when mapping out a lesson plan for more than a week or two, so I am even more impressed how far ahead you already are in planning!
Amazing video! Homeschooling is illegal in my country, so I try to "supplement school" as I call it, meaning that my child goes to school but we do additional work where needed. It would be very helpful if you can share a video on how you pick the resources that you use for homeschooling.
Just a thought. For your home open shelving probably is. Not a great idea. Bili (spelling) bookcases would look better. Also you have an entire basement. Why not put puzzles there on a shelf and have a kid go down to get one as needed. Everything does not need to be 2 steps away.
Sue Wolfe- In 4th grade we did a unit both in Homeschooling and in traditional school on the state in which we lived. It's a great focus for the kiddos to learn all of the interesting history of their state. We went on field trips to significant places and they all loved it. We moved to a different state when my 2nd son went into 4th grade, so I went on his field trips when possible to learn as much as I could about our new state.😂❤
The real question is, what are your hole punching tips and tricks?! LOL no matter what I do, how I line it up, the papers are either high or low, never in the middle like yours... teach me your ways!
I truly admire homeschooling moms out there who tackle this. My children, in their 50's, would have benefitted, but it was not a widely popular , even legal, thing to do so much back then. Have a great school year!
Wow! I am so impressed by your curriculum. Another item you might consider incorporating into the study of the states is the state quarters with symbolism of the state and the "America the Beautiful" quarter series which followed it to learn about the National parks and historic sites in each state.
That was so interesting! I wish that I had been s hooked that way! It would have been so much better for me. I also wish y children had had that opportunity as well-you are so organized and have the year well thought out! Kudos to you!
Off topic question. I was thinking about getting the action Bible for a fun read. Can you tell me if it teaches that the trinity- God, Jesus, and the holy ghost are one or does it teach they are separate?
I love the idea for those planning sheets you’ve done in Canva! We’re doing ‘my brother’s keeper’ over the summer and enjoying it. During the school year we use ‘Answers Homeschool Bible Curriculum’ (answers in Genesis) I’m curious about that CNN10 thing. I’ve heard a lot about ‘World Watch News’ as it comes from a Christian world view, but think my kids (8.5/4.5) are still a bit young. Anywho thanks for this video - we’re also in the organizing/prepping stages!
There's a really cool book we used when my kiddo did a biology/human body unit. It's called Illumanatomy, and I found it used on thrift books! The Human Body Pop Up Guide to Anatomy is another one. For poetry, we have loved Sing a Song of Seasons, A First Book of the Sea, and A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.
I can tell from the last few videos you are getting your groove back! I love how you tailor the curriculum to the desires of each kiddo. They are blessed to have you as a teacher and momma. Keep on rockin'! ~Mrs. C
From Beth: I do love to read poetry bc my dad read us poetry. He read us The Golden Treasury of Poetry selected by Louis Untermyer. But we've enjoyed many group Poetry books. This one covers many classics, funny poems and an intro about the author or style. He has sections on animals or funny poems... my kids still laugh with many of the funny poems. Older book.
A book series that our 8 year old Granddaughter love is Campground Kids National Park Adventures by C R Fulton. She has read and reread the first three books we got her for her birthday last year. We have already purchased the next three books for this year, her birthday is Christmas day. We bought them on line from Bakken Books.
I would love to learn why so many women homeschool. I have never fully understood it, but I would like to learn more about it. My son is seven & he attends a wonderful public school with an amazing community. As an only child, I think he’d be lonely without other kids each day. Erica, I am so impressed with all of the planning you have done in the midst of your grief. It was so bittersweet to know your son will be reading a book your mother bought for him. I’m hoping the planning was a good distraction. It does help to keep busy when we’re learning to live with loss. Big hugs!
Jack Prelutsky for poetry. Also Ogden Nash. Love your curriculum choices and amazing planning and organizing. Just remembered the writing curriculum my daughter used for her kids. She liked Essentials in Writing because of the teaching videos that were used. I think it is a great idea that you are letting Brandon use the computer to do his writing. Handwriting can just be torture for some, especially boys.
A Child's Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson is a poetry classic. There are so many versions with different illustrators so you can find beautiful copies. I would imagine your library has some you can check out before you purchase.😊
I love that you are going to teach poetry! As for recommendation: Now We Are Six by A A Milne is such a delightful book. I also loved the random house book of poetry for children, lots of different poets to discover. there is also a lovely series called poetry for young people, the emily dickinson one is beautiful! They are all really cheap on Abebooks too!
I love the ladder word book idea! We are working extra with our youngest with extra reading help. He can use more spelling and writing help. Thanks for sharing.
I forgot to mention I love reading these two books to my grandkids "love your neighbor" by Melody Carlson and "Priscilla and the pink planet" written by Nathaniel Hobbie, they are both written in rhyme.
I feel like our sons are so similar! Mine is also going into 4th grade, loves reading, science and STEM things. And he doesn’t like handwriting lol Sad we didn’t meet when you lived in PA lol
