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HOW TO HELP YOUR CHILD LOVE READING

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     Summer is a great time to get your child reading.  Without the pressure of school and with more free time, summer is the perfect time to introduce them to some wonderful books.  It might be fun to have an incentive program for your child.  You can base this on the total number of pages read or books read.  I like to have my son read certain books during the summer that we usually don’t get around to during the school year.  I offer an incentive for him to read specific books that I pick out.  The incentive should be whatever motivates your child.  For shorter books the reward is smaller and for longer books it is larger.  This has been a great way to get him to read books that he otherwise might not have wanted to read.  This is a list of books we have enjoyed or will at a future date.  Happy Reading!

SUMMER READING SUGGESTIONS YOUR CHILD WILL LOVE

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Sonlight was the first homeschool curriculum we ever purchased.  My daughters were in the 4th and 7th grades respectively and I wanted something that was rich in literature and something we could all do together.  I remember placing that order and waiting for the box to arrive.  It was like Christmas when they delivered the box and we all unwrapped it together.  We were all excited to get started.  I was overwhelmed, having never done anything like this before, and I tried to do everything in the Instructor’s Guide every day (even though they warned me against this).  I finally settled in a little more and we all got to reading those wonderful books!  I had not read aloud to the girls since they were little and so we added a new routine to our day.  My son was a year old then and he started to love read aloud time, too.  We learned so much about America History that year using Sonlight.  I couldn’t believe how much I didn’t know.  I gradually learned that I controlled the curriculum instead of letting it control me.  But, I also appreciated the benefit of having things all laid out for me which helped keep me on schedule. The next year there was no question about what history curriculum we would use.  Sonlight 5 Eastern Hemisphere proved to be very inspiring.  Two of the books from that year still make my youngest daughter’s top five book list.   My older daughter tackled the History of God’s Kingdom - Sonlight 200 (which was at that time Sonlight 8).  It was very challenging, but she gained so much from that study.  Over the years our family has used many of Sonlight’s Core Curriculum Packages and I have always been impressed with their service.  One of my favorite Cores in the one for Kindergarten.  My son and I both loved all those wonderful books!  Even when I began to delve into a more classical approach, I still worked Sonlight into our schedule. 

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Math has always been an intimidating subject for me.  It wasn’t so much that I doubted my own ability in math, but I doubted my own ability to teach it to my children.  I have used no less than six different programs in the past eleven years and by far my favorite one is Teaching Textbooks!  My first experience with this fabulous program was while two of my daughters were in high school.  I needed a geometry program that was self-directed and would have step by step instructions.  This program fit the bill.  My daughters were able to learn the proofs and navigate problems found on the SAT and ACT exams.  I was thrilled! Students using Teaching Textbooks at the higher levels will be effectively prepared for College Board exams and also be able to handle college level courses. 

My second encounter with Teaching Textbooks was a year ago when my son needed a curriculum to go to the next level.  He had been using Right Start Math (which I will review here at a later date) and had completed all the levels that were available at that time.  He was ready for more independent learning and so I started him in Math 6 of Teaching Textbooks.  He was thrilled!  We both loved the detailed explanations and the ease of use.  This program came with textbooks and CD-ROMs, but we never even needed the book.  He loved using the computer for his lessons and his retention of math facts soared.  No longer was I the ogre when he didn’t understand a concept.  With Teaching Textbooks he could go back and listen to the lesson again and watch exactly how the problem was worked.  Math is now his favorite subject! 

What really sets this math curriculum apart from the others, is that it is not just a textbook with problems.  It is a teacher and a textbook combined into one!  The problems are explained thoroughly and in an easy to understand way.  With many other programs I have used, there is a brief explanation and then the problems are assigned.  Even with a solution manual showing the answers, there is often no clear explanation of how to get from point A to point B.  They are designed specifically for independent learning so the explanations are clear and easy to follow.

I only wish this math program had been available when I first started homeschooling.  We would have had much less frustration to deal with.  However, maybe I wouldn’t have appreciated it near as much! 

I am also a big believer in using games for teaching.  If you need some ideas for making math more fun, check out the following program.

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As a veteran homeschooling mom, I have discovered many helpful tools along the way.  With Homeschool Curriculum Reviews my goal is to let you know about products that will make your homeschooling journey smoother and more rewarding.  Since I am still homeschooling (three graduated and one to go), I am continuing to find products and curriculum that I am excited about.  That is what I will be focusing on here. 

Those of us who homeschool have often wished we had a mentor, someone who has been there before us and can guide us in our journey. Homeschool Curriculum Reviews is excited to introduce you to an extremely beneficial resource for homeschoolers – The Old Schoolhouse Magazine.  A magazine dedicated to homeschool families filled with useful information and uplifting articles.  You will meet mentors who share their experiences and their hearts to help make your quest a little easier.  Whether you are a veteran homeschooler, someone just starting out, or are somewhere in between, you will benefit from The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. 

Published quarterly, The Old Schoolhouse is a glossy, full-color magazine that is enjoyable from cover to cover.  It is primarily geared toward Christian home educators, however, any homeschooler would benefit from their extensive product reviews, projects, and suggestions.  Within the pages of TOS, you will find:  the Teacher’s Lounge where other readers write in their thoughts and ideas; great articles written by homeschool dads, students and graduates which add a unique perspective; unit studies; and fun contests with great prizes.

I find myself picking up my issues again and again, re-reading articles and referencing them later when I need encouragement or ideas.  As one reader wrote, “It is a companion, friend, cheerleader, resource, shopper’s guide, catalog, wish book, joke-teller, tear-jerker, and smile-maker.”  The Old Schoolhouse also has an awesome website.  It is a great compliment to the publication, keeping everything fresh and current.  Homeschool Curriculum Reviews declares this a must have resource for any homeschooler!

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