At Homeschool Journey Guides, we often get asked about academic standards. State content area standards reflect the knowledge and skills students are expected to learn at a given grade level. These standards sometimes include language that is challenging to interpret. Nonetheless, they can be a helpful resource to homeschool families. Ways to Interact with StandardsA common thread in homeschooling families is the desire for freedom. This may include freedom from a rigid schedule, freedom from testing, and/or freedom to teach our children what they need as individuals. As a result, some families choose to ignore state standards. However, some homeschoolers (either by choice or because of state regulations) weave standards into their homeschool plan. If you choose to incorporate state standards, you can interact with them in multiple ways: Standards as a Map: If learners intend to transition back to public school in the future, it is a good idea to keep an eye on the standards so that they learn the same topics at the same pace as their peers in the public schools. Standards as a Menu: Some families visit state standards at the beginning of each year to set goals. They peruse the standards and choose some to add to their learning objectives for the year. Standards as a Ruler: Some families use standards as a ruler to determine whether or not a curriculum has an adequate scope and sequence. Home educators may compare a curriculum’s table of contents against state content standards to decide if it is a fit. Standards as an Inspiration: Standards have been thoughtfully curated by professional educators in each state. They may have some ideas about what to teach in a certain subject that we just haven’t considered. The standards use a lot of words that correlate with higher level thinking skills (visualize, appraise, formulate, compose, discriminate, etc.). These words can spark ideas for activities or projects which will allow our learners to engage with topics on a deeper level. Making Standards Accessible
Helpful LinksContent standards are relatively similar from state to state. Most states (although not all) have adopted Common Core Standards for math/ELA and NGSS standards for science. If one state provides more accessible language for the same standard, feel free to adopt it!
For support integrating state standards or developing your own customized learning objectives, contact us!
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Scroll to the bottom of this post for printable bookmarks! Should we read aloud to learners who can read to themselves? Experts agree, the answer is absolutely yes! Educational research backs up our natural instinct to share stories with our big kids. In this post, we discuss the emotional and academic reasons to read aloud, how reading aloud can benefit us as well as our learners, tips to enhance the experience, and how read alouds are super simple language arts lesson plans for our tweens and teens. BondingBonding is one of the top reasons for us to read aloud to our older learners. When we read aloud to them, time seems to slow down. The books they choose are a window into their interests and we often end up enjoying stories we never would have picked ourselves. For us, that was Percy Jackson! It’s wonderful to share stories and have “inside” jokes and references with our kids. Emotional ProcessingAlso, when we share stories we can help our learners process difficult issues and emotions. Sometimes it is better to read about a character grappling with conflict than to receive a lecture. Stories can open a door to those difficult conversations. They can help us develop empathy and perspective, especially if the stories are followed up with thoughtful conversation. For a list of books that can help foster empathy and hope, check out this list from Elena Aguilar. Academic GrowthThe academic reasons for reading aloud to older learners are numerous. Benefits include improved vocabulary, listening skills, and comprehension. Reading aloud models fluency, expression, and a love of learning. Plus, if we are reading non-fiction, we can use read aloud time to deepen understanding of other subjects. Exploring Literary DevicesReading aloud to older kids is also a great way to enjoy the classics that we may have missed in our youth and explore literature. Enjoying classic literature together allows us to enjoy not just the overall story, but also the intricacies of the writing. We can point out different literary elements and later remind our learners to experiment with those elements in their own writing. The Boomerang and Arrow curriculum from http://bravewriter.com are helpful for this exercise. Informal AssessmentBefore resuming our read aloud, we like to ask, “What is the last thing you remember from the story?” This narration exercise allows learners to demonstrate comprehension. Narration is an assessment method, like a verbal quiz (but don’t tell your kids that). If it’s kept casual and relaxed, it is a strong method for students to demonstrate learning. It is a perfect pre-writing activity as well. When learners are asked to verbally express their knowledge, they must use critical thinking, organize their thoughts, and develop the habit of paying attention. Expanding KnowledgeReading aloud to older learners doesn’t necessarily mean reading chapter books together. Big kids can enjoy picture books and short stories, too! In fact, a recent Jeopardy champion included children’s books as his study strategy. Check out this article on how children’s books helped him become a game show millionaire. Using picture books to introduce a topic or help learners recall prior knowledge is a great strategy to use in our homeschools. Tips to Enhance Your Read Aloud
Another beautiful part of reading stories to our older kids? It’s educational time that involves practically zero planning. Your prep can simply be pre-reading (or skimming) the chapter before bed at night and scribbling some customized questions on the back of your bookmark. We have got a lot to juggle and simple, effective lessons are an important part of a happy homeschool family. If our learners are working harder than we are, we are doing it right! Happy Reading!
November is Native American Heritage Month. While the official website offers an important and impressive list of lessons and research aids for teachers and students, there are many resources available to help guide your children’s year-round study of the rich and diverse cultures, traditions, histories, and contemporary achievements of Indigenous people across the United States. Here are some of our favorites: Tribally-operated museums have the mission of preserving, perpetuating, and revitalizing the cultural and historic heritage of native peoples. They are a great place to research and learn online or in person. Find a museum near you. American Indians in Children's Literature (AICL) provides critical analysis of Indigenous peoples in children's and young adult books. It's a smart place to start when tracking down good quality fiction and non-fiction. It even includes reviews of resources children should use (or should not use!) for research projects. Their discussion of reasoning behind problematic phrases is particularly helpful. The National Museum of the American Indian is a treasure trove of educational resources including virtual field trips, primary source collections, online exhibits, and forums on current events. We’re looking forward to digging in to their Rethinking Thanksgiving curriculum materials later this month. The American Indian Library Association Youth Literature Award recognizes the best writing and illustrations by Native Americans and Indigenous peoples of North America. Check out this year's selections! Homeschool Journey Guides encourage all educators to embrace meaningful, well-researched, and inclusive curriculum materials.
What are some of your favorite resources? Share in the comments! “For every job that must be done there is an element of fun, find the fun and snap! The job's a game!” -Mary Poppins
Board games are an entertaining and easy way to encourage learning. As educators and parents, we know that getting children engaged is the first challenge on the road to meaningful learning. Beyond engagement, research describes the increased learning that occurs when children play games with intrinsic value. Games are a perfect way to engage learners and practice essential skills. They are excellent brain breaks, too! Board games promote the relaxed and alert state of mind in which learning happens best. Below are some of our favorite learning games. Games with an asterisk are our household favorites! Language Arts: Apples to Apples - vocabulary, grammar, reasoning (11+) Listography - writing, critical thinking, collaboration (9+) Bananagrams - spelling, vocabulary, spatial thinking (8+) *Mad Libs - parts of speech, story telling, reading (5+) Scrabble - analytical thinking, concentration, creativity, spelling (10+) Math: Mobi - arithmetic, cooperation, visual processing, sequential thought, recognition, identification, hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills (5+) Sorry - strategic thinking, problem solving, cooperation, concentration (6+) *Qwirkle - spacial recognition, planning, patterns, problem solving (5+) Zeus on the Loose - arithmetic, strategic thinking (8+) Buy it Right - money recognition, adding, making correct change, decimals (5+) Social Studies: *Timeline Classic- reviewing history, practicing chronological reasoning, making historical connections (8+) *Ticket to Ride - learning states and capitals (other locations and time periods depending on version), measuring distance, strategic thinking (8+) Scrambled States - United States geography, observation, hand-eye coordination, visual discrimination, language riddles (8+) Science: *Brain Builders - fine-motor, strategy, physics, basic engineering skills (7+) Wildcraft - teaches 27 important healing herbs and edible plants, teamwork (5+) Timeline Inventions - history of science, chronological thinking (8+) When we slow down and play games with our kids, we let them know that lifelong playful learning is enriching and worthwhile. In The Brave Learner, Julie Bogart reminds readers that, “Whenever a child asks you to play a game with them, drop the agenda and play!” Let that advice guide you this week and tell us what happens! Homeschool Journey Guides are here to help you find creative and playful ways to teach and learn. Contact us for customized homeschool plans and support. Wildheart Nature School’s homeschool classes are for families who want their children to feel deeply connected to the natural world.
Wildheart Nature School has been a very special part of our lives in Central Oregon. As homeschoolers, it took us a little while to find school-aged friends for our kiddo. Wildheart was our connection to the community and the place where our son made his first Oregonian friends. The positive changes in our son after one week of summer camp were extreme. He is a very cautious person. On Monday, balancing on the log to cross the river was terrifying and he needed his counselor Brenden to hold his hands all the way. By Friday, he was running across the log without any help! He could identify the local plants and animal tracks, he taught his dad and me new games and songs, and he is still very proud of his Wildheart Nature Name. Wildheart has become special, not just to our son, but to our whole family. The staff at Wildheart are exceptional. Our child bonded with his counselors on a level that I never expected and they have stayed in contact with our family over the years. At Wildheart, our children get to spend time outdoors learning, playing, and exploring. Research shows that time outside benefits our children's emotional health, physical health, social development, and their happiness. Wildheart offers programs specifically for homeschool families with children ages 6 to 12. If you didn’t get into a fall class, don’t worry! They have new opportunities beginning in January. In the Homeschool classes children will…
For more information, and to sign up for Wildheart Nature School, visit their website. Homeschool Journey Guides are here to help you find homeschool programs that fit your vision and your child's interests. Contact us for customized homeschool plans and support. Homeschool parents ask homeschool coaches one question more than any other: What can we do to make sure that learners are tuned-in? Even the most creative homeschool families will have days that just fall flat, but research and experience tell us that there are easy-to-apply tips that can help: A: Make it ACTIVE Sometimes learners need to move! Research on moving while learning demonstrates that exercise and movement stimulate nerve growth and have an impact on children’s ability to learn. Try to incorporate movement and physical activity into lessons. Examples include:
E: EXPLORE together Authentic, first-hand, sensory experiences like field trips engage students in learning. Fortunately, homeschool field trips involve much less advanced planning than school field trips! Focus in on learning objectives and translate them into a memorable experience. Local examples include:
I: INTEREST-Based Learning We know that learners engage better when learning is meaningful and relevant to them. Connect whatever your children are learning to their interests. We use this method more than any other! Examples from our practice include:
O: OPTIONS If what you’re doing isn’t working, there is always another way. Even with the most creative teaching approaches, most students need options that focus on learning objectives over learning mechanism. Some of our favorite ideas include:
U: UNSCHOOL it Unschooling is a popular choice for homeschoolers that involves allowing a child’s natural curiosity to drive learning. Remember that summer when your child, without prompting, dove into an amazing craft project, stack of books, or elaborate LEGO sculpture? That was unschooling! While unschooling full-time isn’t a match for every family, sometimes a subject is enough of a struggle that you have to put your relationship with your child first and take a break while you figure out a more productive approach. During these times, unschooling can be a lifesaver. Let the curriculum go and find ways to allow casual family activities intersect with learning. Let your child’s interests lead and turn on a documentary, take a hike, break out the art supplies, visit a museum, check out some library books, learn a new board game, download a language app, or embrace any other activity your child gravitates toward in their free time. Trust your child to know what they need to learn and give yourself time to figure out what homeschooling should look like for your family. For some families, unschooling might be the place you land. And sometimes Y...Understand WHY
Sometimes there a is a genuine issue that contributes to reluctance to learn. If your instincts tell you that extra support is needed, early intervention is helpful. The sooner you can identify concerns related to sensory processing, hearing, speech, vision, anxiety, or other issues, the sooner you can get your child (and you!) connected to the services and support needed. Experts in our community can share solid strategies that will help your child engage in learning. Your child’s pediatrician is a great starting point for resources and information. Homeschool Journey Guides are here to help you implement these strategies and others. Contact us for customized homeschool plans and support. |
AuthorJenny and Sara Jo help families fi nd joy and academic success in the journey of K-8 secular home education in Central Oregon and beyond. Archives
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