It's December and I am still working on my holiday shopping list, or you, too? Each year, when my 2e daughter was young, we always filled our list up with hands-on fun holiday gifts for her, that were educational.
50 FUN Hands-On Gifts for your Homeschooled Kids
It's December and I am still working on my holiday shopping list, or you, too? Each year, when my 2e daughter was young, we always filled our list up with hands-on fun holiday gifts for her, that were educational.
Homeschooling Early Math - Manipulative Kits and More -
Summary: How to homeschool preschool and kindergarten, using hands-on activities to teach early math, through discovery.
We began homeschooling when our daughter was ready for Kindergarten but was too young and was already reading, showing an interest in math, too.
Early Learning Activities for Homeschooling Preschool - Early Literacy FUN!
Summary: How to teach early learning and literacy skills to preschoolers, homeschoolers and how to homeschool special needs learners. Activities to teach early reading skills to toddlers and preschoolers. These early learning activities are good for homeschooling preschool curriculum and for care givers in any preschool setting, plus parents at home, too.
Are you looking for ways to encourage your kids's early learning? Did you know that dictation and simple writing activities can help further early reading skills?
Encourage your LIttlest Author -
Summary: Easy ways to encourage your young kiddos to want to write their first words.
Are you looking for ways to encourage your kids' writing skills?
Book Making for Homeschooled Kids -
Do you have a little writer in your family?
Develop Hand Strength with Clay Activities
Summary: Activities and tips for strengthening the hand, wrist and finger muscles for good handwriting development. Homeschool handwriting curriculum for hand strengthening, is mentioned, too. #handwriting #homeschooling
Do you have a child who struggles with handwriting? What do you think is their main challenge?
BJ's Frugal Guide to Handwriting -
Summary: Here are free or frugal resources to teach your children how to write their letters. There is no need to purchase an expensive handwriting program if you don't want to.
Do you have little ones in your house who are interested in letters and wanting to learn how to write?
Small Muscle Games for Handwriting
Summary: Tips for developing fine motor skills through games and other creative Occupational Therapy techniques. This article outlines specific activities for hand strength, finger coordination, and for developing a mature grasp pattern.
Or maybe you have a child who hates working in his handwriting book..... How about taking a break and doing some fun small muscle games instead?
"This is a great idea as when a child is struggling with writing they will not want to write, but they may want to play a “game!” Great post, BJ’s Homeschool."
Today, I'd like to share specific activities that are fun to do, and can help your kids to:
1. Develop hand strength
2. Develop finger coordination
3. Develop a mature grasp pattern
Often handwriting struggles come from either a lack of hand strength or poor fine finger coordination.
These things can be improved by using fun, playful games.... And that can give your child a break from their handwriting routine, too!
Let's start with fun ways to develop hand strength...
Today, I'd like to share specific activities that are fun to do, and can help your kids to:
1. Develop hand strength
2. Develop finger coordination
3. Develop a mature grasp pattern
Often handwriting struggles come from either a lack of hand strength or poor fine finger coordination.
These things can be improved by using fun, playful games.... And that can give your child a break from their handwriting routine, too!
Let's start with fun ways to develop hand strength...
1. HAND STRENGTH
Squirt Bottle Art Activity
Squirt Bottle Art builds wrist and finger strength. This is one of the small muscle activity cards from Play Pack - Fine Motor Focus. These cards show many more fun activities.
In Squirt Bottle Art, the child squirts colored water onto a sheet a paper that is taped to the fridge high up.
That places the wrist in the right position for strength building.
Next, I have an activity that good for strengthening the whole hand and the fingers, too. It's called Pizza Party.
Next, I have an activity that good for strengthening the whole hand and the fingers, too. It's called Pizza Party.
 |
| The Pizza Party Activity |
Pizza Party is another great activity from the Play Pack cards.
First, your child makes a pizza from play dough, or biscuit dough, then cuts the pizza into slices with scissors. It's FUN and strengthening at the same time.
Adding toppings to the pizza, etc can provide even more helpful practice. Have your child use the tips of his fingers to mold little tiny balls of clay/dough.
Next, let's look at finger coordination...
2. FINGER COORDINATION
Activities such as cutting, drawing, finger painting, lego building, playing jacks, and playdough are all great activities to develop the finger muscles.
The Cotton Ball Catch is a super on for coordination development.
I also have a bunch of small muscle FUN coordination activities on my PDF here 9 FUN Ways to a Mature Grasp.
And finally, let's look at activities that can help develop a mature grasp of the pencil...
Betsy
And finally, let's look at activities that can help develop a mature grasp of the pencil...
3. DEVELOPING A MATURE GRASP
Developing a mature grasp pattern takes time. In fact, little ones naturally start with a whole hand grasp, using the whole hand to grab their crayon or pencil.
Kids often start with this “palmar grip” pattern, which means holding the crayon in the palm of the hand, with the fingers wrapped around it.
What does a mature grasp look like? It can vary a lot, but here is a photo of what it looks like:
What does a mature grasp look like? It can vary a lot, but here is a photo of what it looks like:
Some kids naturally move to a mature grasp pattern, over the years, as they grow, but some don't.
Here's a fun game, to help encourage this more mature grasp:
 |
| Bubble Wrap Maze
For the Bubble Wrap Maze activity:
Just get a piece of bubble wrap and let your kids pop the bubbles.
Popping the bubbles with the thumb, index and ring fingers, pressing together, like in the picture above can really help.
Make it a game and pinch along a path on the bubble wrap! Click here for my review of the Play Pack Fine Motor Cards.
|
Thanks for stopping by BJ's Homeschool,
Betsy
Betsy is mom to her now college senior, whom she homeschooled from preK through high school. She blogs at BJ's Homeschool, about the early years, high school & college and wrote - Homeschooling High School with College in Mind. She offers free homeschool help through messages at BJ's Consulting.
Resources for Homeschooling the Middle School Years - -
Oak Meadow English 8 is all about introducing the components of good literature to your middle schooler, and getting them writing about it, too.
We loved how Oak Meadow’s focus is on hands on learning and it works to meet the child when she is: head, hands and heart......
We loved how Oak Meadow’s focus is on hands on learning and it works to meet the child when she is: head, hands and heart......
Thanks for stopping by BJ's Homeschool,
Betsy
Betsy is mom to her now college junior, whom she homeschooled from preK through high school. She blogs at BJ's Homeschool, about the early years, high school & college and wrote - Homeschooling High School with College in Mind. She offers free homeschool help through messages at BJ's Consulting.
Thriving in the Early Years with Your Sensory Kid -
For down to earth tips for dealing with your sensory child, just click here, as this post has moved to this new link below....
Thanks for stopping by BJ's Homeschool,
Betsy
Betsy is mom to her now college grad, whom she homeschooled through high school. She blogs at BJ's Homeschool, about the early years, high school, college, gifted/2e. She offers free homeschool help through messages at BJ's Consulting, and has had her articles picked up by the Huffington Post.
Want to stay in touch?
Copyright 2019
All Rights Reserved
Homeschooling High School with Confidence -
Overview - Preparing to homeschool doesn't have to be hard! This article tells you all about the keys to homeschooling high school, including assigning credit, searching for homeschool high school curriculum, making those homeschool transcripts, and.... what are core studies, anyway?
Is homeschooling high school really not that hard? Have you seen that saying around on the web?
What do you think?
Well, first I would say yes it really is not that hard. But then I would say no, it can be hard in some ways, too.
It was harder for us than middle school, just because there were more things to think about...like college, or trade school, or entering the world of work....Where will my teen be heading?
So what's a mama to do?
For us, we knew that our teen wanted to go directly into college after graduating. We wanted her to have the high school years to just be a high schooler, and decided not to go the dual credit route, except for a course or two.
It was harder for us than middle school, just because there were more things to think about...like college, or trade school, or entering the world of work....Where will my teen be heading?
So what's a mama to do?
For us, we knew that our teen wanted to go directly into college after graduating. We wanted her to have the high school years to just be a high schooler, and decided not to go the dual credit route, except for a course or two.
Are you nervous about continuing to homeschool all the way through high school?
I was, when contemplating it during the middle school years...My daughter was doing so well with her homeschooling, that we wanted to continue all the way, to allow her to explore her interests and prepare for the next step in an individualized manner.
I was, when contemplating it during the middle school years...My daughter was doing so well with her homeschooling, that we wanted to continue all the way, to allow her to explore her interests and prepare for the next step in an individualized manner.
Today I'd like to share how I became confident as a mom who was homeschooling her teen.
There were four key pieces of information that were important to me for my high school planning....And once I got them under my belt, my confidence grew....a lot.
Once I could understand how to deal with Credits, Curriculum, Core Studies, and Transcripts....Then I was ready to take on high school with confidence.
If you have these 4 tools under your belt, more specifically, having:
- an understanding of high school credits
- resources for choosing your curriculum
- an understanding of what core studies your teen would need
- how to's for making your teen's transcript.....
Then you will be much better equipped to take on the high school years.
First of all, let's talk start with high school credits.
1. Assigning High School Credit
It is not that hard to assign high school credit. Here are 3 ways to do just that.
I call them ...................1. the Textbook method
2. the Hours method
3. the Mastery method
All of the work that your teen does earns high school credit! This includes courses that you make yourself, volunteer and paid work hours, internships, time spent reading, etc.
The textbook method is the traditional way.
The hours method involves keeping track of the amount of time spent in learning activities.
The mastery method refers to assigning credit based on demonstrated mastery of a subject or a skill. That could be video making, playing an instrument, etc.
The textbook method is the traditional way.
The hours method involves keeping track of the amount of time spent in learning activities.
The mastery method refers to assigning credit based on demonstrated mastery of a subject or a skill. That could be video making, playing an instrument, etc.
We did a lot of different kinds of learning, and all of it counted! I have a post on this, which you can find by searching my blog for "3 Ways to High School Credit"
It is also included in my book, mentioned below.
Secondly, let's talk curriculum.....
It is also included in my book, mentioned below.
Secondly, let's talk curriculum.....
2. Curriculum Search Resources
First we started with our favorites from middle school. I wanted to keep whatever was working best for my daughter. For example, we used SOS from www.aop.com for math in middle school, and just continued with it for most of high school. That was a no-brainer.
My daughter was a big part of this process. Together, we searched the internet, our favorite blogs and homeschool catalogs, and talked with our homeschooling friends, to find new ideas.
Here are my favorite resources for your search:
------ There is a great CURRICULUM DIRECTORY at Let's Homeschool High School
This curriculum directory for high school is the most complete one I have ever seen! And it includes TONS of links, too!
------ THE CURRICULUM CHOICE
This site is full of curriculum reviews, written by a team of authors (me, too!) who have used the curriculum, at home with their families. There are reviews of curriculum such as Tapestry of Grace, IEW for literature and writing, Oak Meadow, a number of Charlotte Mason options, and tons and tons of many more reviews, too.
We used a combination of faith based and secular resources. My book on homeschooling high school with college in mind, has lots more information on choosing curriculum, and what we chose to use in our homeschool. Along with many other options, too. You can also find more info on our favorite high school curricula, by searching my blog.
We used a combination of faith based and secular resources. My book on homeschooling high school with college in mind, has lots more information on choosing curriculum, and what we chose to use in our homeschool. Along with many other options, too. You can also find more info on our favorite high school curricula, by searching my blog.
Thirdly, you want to be familiar with what core courses our student will need to complete.
3. High School Core Studies
Core studies are just the basic high school courses, in math, english, social studies, and science.
What your choose for core studies is most often up to the individual homeschool family. You do not need to follow the public school graduation requirements, only those laid out in your state's homeschool law.
Most states do not lay out requirements for a homeschool diploma. It is usually left to the homeschool family to decide when to graduate their teen.
So in most states, you can shape your teen's high school years around their needs, depending where they will be heading.
If your teens might be going to college, then you will want them to do the core studies that are outlined by the colleges, ie, the college entrance requirements. Checking likely college websites is essential for college bound teens. I have much more on that in my book, laying out typical requirements for a different kinds of colleges, mentioned below.
If your teen is headed to community college, it is adivsable to just check in with admissions there. In our state of WA, the incoming students just take an entrance test, which evaluates their math and english skills.
It is usually SO much less complicated compared than going into a 4 year college, and usually the SAT/ACT is not needed.
AGAIN - You do not have to follow the public school graduation requirements....those are for public school kids!
Now that you have the resources for finding your curriculum, and you understand what core studies are, let's talk about searching for high school curricula.
Before we ordered anything, we spent time talking about my teen's special interests.
Those influenced our choices for core studies and also became my teen's high school electives!
What is your teen passionate about? How do they spend their time, when they have free time? What are their gifts?What is your teen passionate about?
The beauty of homeschooling high school is that you get to build and nurture your teen's interests and help them to discover their strengths. Even with preparing for college, my teen had lots of time to do electives and try out her interests in activities.
Now that we finished talking about credits, curriculum, core studies and a bit about electives, let's talk transcripts.
3. High School Core Studies
Core studies are just the basic high school courses, in math, english, social studies, and science.
Most states do not lay out requirements for a homeschool diploma. It is usually left to the homeschool family to decide when to graduate their teen.
So in most states, you can shape your teen's high school years around their needs, depending where they will be heading.
If your teens might be going to college, then you will want them to do the core studies that are outlined by the colleges, ie, the college entrance requirements. Checking likely college websites is essential for college bound teens. I have much more on that in my book, laying out typical requirements for a different kinds of colleges, mentioned below.
If your teen is headed to community college, it is adivsable to just check in with admissions there. In our state of WA, the incoming students just take an entrance test, which evaluates their math and english skills.
It is usually SO much less complicated compared than going into a 4 year college, and usually the SAT/ACT is not needed.
AGAIN - You do not have to follow the public school graduation requirements....those are for public school kids!
Now that you have the resources for finding your curriculum, and you understand what core studies are, let's talk about searching for high school curricula.
Before we ordered anything, we spent time talking about my teen's special interests.
Those influenced our choices for core studies and also became my teen's high school electives!
What is your teen passionate about? How do they spend their time, when they have free time? What are their gifts?What is your teen passionate about?
The beauty of homeschooling high school is that you get to build and nurture your teen's interests and help them to discover their strengths. Even with preparing for college, my teen had lots of time to do electives and try out her interests in activities.
Now that we finished talking about credits, curriculum, core studies and a bit about electives, let's talk transcripts.
4. Making your High School Transcripts
 |
| Volunteering is a great leadership building activity and the colleges love to see this on their applications. |
Compiling your teen's transcript is really not that hard! Really! Here is a post that includes frugal resources for compiling your transcripts, called of course Frugal Help for Transcripts.
Transcripts are just a document that lists all of the courses that your student took, with grades, a place to put their SAT or ACT scores, with identifying information on it. More on transcripts can be found on my blog.
My book below also has a full chapter on how to put your transcripts together, with lots of planning forms and a fillable and editable transcript form for you to just fill in.
High School was my favorite time, of all of our homeschooling years.
No it was not easy. Yes, it was much more complicated than the earlier years. But having my daughter at home meant that she her individual educational needs could be met.
She also had more time to try out new activities and develop her interests, and go to youth conferences, etc. And watching her blossom and grow, during the teen years... priceless!
Have you seen my frugal book yet on high school?
Transcripts are just a document that lists all of the courses that your student took, with grades, a place to put their SAT or ACT scores, with identifying information on it. More on transcripts can be found on my blog.
My book below also has a full chapter on how to put your transcripts together, with lots of planning forms and a fillable and editable transcript form for you to just fill in.
High School was my favorite time, of all of our homeschooling years.
No it was not easy. Yes, it was much more complicated than the earlier years. But having my daughter at home meant that she her individual educational needs could be met.
She also had more time to try out new activities and develop her interests, and go to youth conferences, etc. And watching her blossom and grow, during the teen years... priceless!
Have you seen my frugal book yet on high school?
Paperback on Amazon
Get my best tips on college from a homeschool perspective! Make your high school planning easier!
My book includes 12 high school planning printables plus a fillable transcript form, the type that the colleges are used to seeing!
Subscribers will get the first chapter free!
Click here to get yours!
What are people saying about Homeschooling High School with College in Mind?
Heidi, from Starts at Eight says:
"If you are planning on homeschooling high school then Betsy's book is the one that you want to have on the shelf"......click here to read the rest of her review."
I have tons more posts on high school on Pinterest, too:
Homeschooling high school yielded us so many gifts, for my daughter, for our family, and for her high school education.
What are your top worries or concerns re planning for high school for your college bound teen or for your teen who will go right into a vocation? I love getting your comments, and they can help encourage other families as well.
Thanks for stopping by, and I hope that this post will help you in your important work with your teens,
Betsy
Betsy is mom to her college grad whom she homeschooled from preK through high school. She blogs at BJ's Homeschool about the early years, high school, college, and is the author of "Homeschooling High School with College in Mind". She offers homeschool help through messages at BJ's Consulting.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)