Sunday, May 29

Spring on the Farm

Our son, Xander, loves the farm life! I'm sure you'll see him many times over the course of our journey here at Homeschool On the Range. If you love his work, click on the Xander tag at the bottom of this post to find more!

One thing you may not know about me is that I like to take pictures. Here are some pictures I took this spring that I think you will like.

Here we are taking the compost pile to my mom's garden and plowing the garden to get it ready for the spring.

Below are some of our chickens, and the one in the back is a Polish Silkie.

My mom is shoveling cow manure for her garden.

Here are our cows.

Lucy is one of our goats.

Wednesday, May 25

Why We Choose Quality Literature from the TGTB Library

Since as far back as we can remember (which is to say, since the first kid was born), we've started our days with a little bit of reading together time. Now that they're teens, I see no reason to stop this tradition. We just change the book selections!

Seriously though, your teen might grumble that it's not cool to read together with his little siblings and his mom, but inside, he's truly loving it. Here lately, I've been reading aloud while the boys eat breakfast. They're teens, and they're sleeping in later than usual, so this is a gentle way to start the day.

And can we just step back for a moment and reflect on the blessing that homeschool affords us with that flexibility to sleep in? So many teens have to stumble through their early morning classes before their brains, biologically, are even capable of fully functioning. I like knowing that that extra hour or two gets them good sleep, boosting their immunity and helping them to start the day off right!

Once this time is done (usually a couple of chapters), we have a quick rundown of the day. Sometimes this is a quick once-over of their daily assignments. Other times, it's a reminder that we have appointments or a field trip or something special going on.

One of the main tenets of TGTB is the use of "good books," both within the curriculum and in extracurricular reading. Much of modern literature is flooded with negative messages about education, family, and moral character, but these books are entertaining and appealing to youth. These are not good books. They don't inspire or teach good values, and many don't even challenge the reader to grow their vocabulary.

Good books will provide students:

A varied & rich vocabulary
Increased focus, concentration and memory
Longer attention span
Stronger analytical thinking skills
Greater empathy for others
Improved writing skills
Reduced stress
Increased knowledge of history people place cultures
More depth of character

For more information, see How Books Have Changed in the Last Century

There is a fabulous and FREE book list available to download for you to get started on the journey to filling your shelves with good books! They also have a searchable database, where you can filter by reading level, author, and genre. Many of the books feature parent reviews, as well as commentary about the moral, literary, and educational value. You do NOT have to use the curriculum to use their book list. It is just a guide of vetted, 'good' books.

Download the Good & the Beautiful book list here.

Here are the books we're incorporating into this school year, including a couple of lower level ones I'll be using to teach a young niece to read! Have I mentioned that I can't wait to become a homeschooling abuela yet?? We'll read them throughout the year...at breakfast, after lunch, and in the evenings. They might be teens, but I'm still a big proponent of reading together as a family. In the summertime, too, we've been known to spend lazy afternoons all stretched out over each other in the family hammock reading aloud together. And now that they're older, if mom gets tired, she can pass the book on for someone else to read!!

Pushback & Lowering the Level

One point of note...we don't always read 'at level' books either. As an adult, don't you sometimes appreciate stepping back and reading something not at a collegiate level or beyond? Our kids do, too. There's so much merit to be found in these books, and sometimes we like being able to zip through a book in a day or two...so we often fill in the spaces between longer books with lower level reads.

If you have kids who aren't really into these types of books -- which is a real possibility, especially if they have been reading popular books for any length of time -- you can expect a bit of pushback. Choosing these shorter books, and talking about them, will continue to expose your children to the good things without diving in headfirst. Think of it as repeating putting one piece of broccoli on their plate until they begin to eat it. Just one piece...you wouldn't start by asking them to eat the entire heap! (Substitute with your child's least favorite food, if they happen to like broccoli.) Families new to this type of literature may want to check out How to Get Kids Interested in Good & Beautiful Books.

Thursday, May 12

High School Help with SchoolhouseTeachers

Looking for high school help? As the homeschooling community continues to grow, one of the biggest concerns we hear from parents is that they don’t know what to do for high school. It’s not the academics that are nerve-wracking so much as it is all of those ‘special things,’ like testing, applications, and deadlines that must be met for a smooth transition into college.

At SchoolhouseTeachers, there are several targeted learning centers designed to help parents with specific seasons of homeschooling life. One of these centers is High School Help for the Homeschooler. ALL of the resources included in this parent center are included with your family membership...

What is SchoolhouseTeachers?

For those of you who are new to the program, SchoolhouseTeachers.com is the homeschooler's one-stop site, with complete curriculum, aids such as printables, daily lessons, lapbooks, free e-books, and conference recordings on various homeschool topics prepared by recognized homeschool leaders. You have access to daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly lesson plans by some of the best from within the homeschooling community. The Ultimate PreK-12 Annual Membership covers grades Pre-K through 12th grade...every subject! It even includes post-graduation and parent helpers. (Meal planning, anyone?)

High School Help

I see a lot of folks who are intimidated by the thought of homeschooling in the high school years, but these can be some of the richest, most rewarding days a homeschooling parent and student can experience! The teen years are challenging, and by homeschooling you have the opportunity to have those hard conversations as they arise, to help navigate your child, and to guide them through murky waters.

In the high school help center, you'll find information and worksheets for taking standardized tests, finding colleges and scholarships, creating transcripts, and more. (As always, be sure you are familiar with your own state laws and requirements, and keep good records.)

The center includes downloadable eBooks on various topics, including:

College Success Begins at Home
Homeschooling the High Schooler
The Things I Learned When My Kid Went to College
Transcripts, CLEPs, and Other Ways to Get Into College
Career Training, Mentorship, and Parenthood
Help, Lord, I’m Getting Ready to Start Homeschooling My High Schooler

The Preparation Worksheet Collection includes:

High School Transcript
Test Prep
High School Plan
Course of Study
GPA Calculation
Hours / Tracking Log
Individualized High School Plan
College Planning Checklist
College Study Plan
Checklist for College
Credit Your Own Course

Additionally, they host an online College Directory. It seems to only include religious-based institutions, but that may be exactly what your child is seeking.

One-on-One Consultations

Maybe you still want a little bit of assistance. After all, there are a lot of moving parts to high school, especially if your student is college-bound. At Sparks Academy, a nationally board-certified school counselor will help you with transcripts, scholarships, and making the transition!

Every consultation includes:

Two ebooks: Through the Door + A Genius in Every Seat
Consultation meeting – typically runs 45-60 minutes – an opportunity to gain insight into current needs, provide an outside perspective/accountability, and assign relevant modules and activities.
Evaluation of student academic and extracurricular background
Course planning (for 6th-10th graders) - OR - Writing consultation / feedback for one scholarship or application essay (for 11th & 12th graders)
Reading list recommendations
Prior to the meeting, the student/parents are sent a short form to complete to evaluate progress on the established plan and to help set goals for the meeting. Meetings are conducted via telephone or Zoom
Follow-up email with meeting summary and action points

Just want to do it yourself?

While the transition itself, for the homeschooled student, is not so different from the traditionally-schooled student, the homeschool parent must take on the roles of teacher, counselor, and school administrator during this time. In ‘Through the Door,’ you’ll learn the tips & tricks most counselors use to give their students a jump start on their bright futures!

The book’s accompanying work text features reproducible planning and organization pages, essay practice and guidance, life skills exercises, career planning surveys, request forms, and more to help guide you through this hectic time and keep track of everything in one place!

Detailed Helps for SchoolhouseTeachers

Tuesday, May 3

Using the Good & the Beautiful US Constitution Curriculum in High School

Like many families, we love the relaxed yet comprehensive fit of The Good & the Beautiful curriculum, and we plan to keep using it through the high school years. To that end, along with the assistance of a few other moms, we've created a suggested plan for using the US Constitution & Government course for high school students...

What is the course?

The US Constitution & Government course covers both the text and context of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and all 27 Amendments. It immerses students in the lives of the Founding Fathers and Mothers as well as the important events and documents that formed America’s government. Additionally, History Case Files are included in the course book to walk students through how to critically think about bias, truth, facts, and primary sources. Included audio biographies provide inspirational accounts of the lives of important men and women during the framing of the Constitution.

If teaching family-style, there is an optional activity book for grades K–3 which allows for younger students to learn along with their older siblings. The Activity Book is not integrated into the course, nor does it follow the scope and sequence of the course. It simply has fun activities about colonial times and Founding Fathers for younger children to enjoy.

The company has taken a lot of flak for this course, but it does a great job of walking through the Constitution and the complicated issues the Founding Fathers faced in setting up our nation. I truly appreciate the care they took in presenting a positive viewpoint while not downplaying the challenges and controversial issues. They also took care to present diverse viewpoints, including those of women and people of color.

This plan beefs up this course to high school standards, and includes:

Additional readings
Videos & film
Independent research
100-question test
Documentation log

It is our hope that these printable plans with supplements will help you to continue family-style learning with your elementary and upper grades children.

For families wanting to add Economics at home, we recommend the Uncle Eric - Bluestocking series. Featuring a real-world, history-based approach to government and economics, this makes a perfect elective for our high schooler. (You can opt just to use the economics books.)

Additional Reading

Political Philosophies (optional workbook)

Videos

Further Resources

Historic Documents collection (Wallbuilders)
Immigration Test (includes answers)

Writing Assignments

Write a 2-page research on a founding father or mother. Include their history and contributions.
Write a 5-paragraph compare / contrast paper on the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights. Address all three documents.
Write a persuasive essay regarding why slavery should or should not have been included in the Constitution. Address both sides, then persuade the reader to your argument.
Write a process essay on the amendment process.

Access the Good & Beautiful Extensions Page (lots of extras for every subject!)

Co-op Classes

Sparks Academy offers two versions of the US Constitution & Government class as part of their online courses. One is a single-semester government course, while the other is a year-long course that also includes a semester of economics and entrepreneurship.

For a peer group setting and /or more structured needs (available for language arts, science, and history), Sparks Academy provides blended classes. These are classes hosted online that include textbook and video elements, discussion feeds with peers, and live, virtual meetings. Each week, the students are interacting through facilitated discussion in a private forum. Classes “meet” weekly via shared assignments and moderated discussion during the school year (August 15,2022 – May 5, 2023 for the ’22-’23 school year).

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