Special Collections
Homeschool Resources
Description: Everything that you need to prepare for home schooling. #homeschool #homeschooling #homeschoolresources
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How to Teach Nature Journaling
by John Muir Laws and Emilie LygrenExpanding on the philosophy and methods of The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling, John Muir Laws and Emilie Lygren have developed the first-ever comprehensive book devoted to helping educators use nature journaling as an inspiring teaching tool to engage young people with wild places. In their workshops Laws and Lygren are often asked the how-tos of teaching nature journaling: how to manage student groups in the outdoors, teach drawing skills (especially from those who profess to have none), connect journaling to educational standards, and incorporate journaling into longer lessons. This book puts together curriculum plans, advice, and in-the-field experience so that educators of all stripes can leap into journaling with their students. The approaches are designed to work in a range of ecosystems and settings, and are suitable for classroom teachers, outdoor educators, camp counselors, and homeschooling parents. Full-color illustrations and sample journal pages from notable naturalists show how to put each lesson into practice. Field-tested by over a hundred educators, this book includes dozens of activities that easily support the Common Core and the Next Generation Science Standards—and, just as important, it will show kids and mentors alike how to recognize the wonder and intrigue in their midst.
Independent Study That Works: Designing a Successful Program
by Geraldine WoodsIndependent study programs aren’t for the “best” students; they are populated by students at their best. Student disengagement from school is a trending concern, and many schools have turned their attention to independent study programs as a way to nurture student motivation and creativity. But where to begin? Geraldine Woods offers a practical, step-by-step guide based on her experience designing and directing the much-admired independent study program at the Horace Mann School. Under the supervision of teachers, students embark on a remarkable variety of projects and become teachers themselves, conducting seminars with their peers along the way to preparing their final product—which could as easily be an interactive website or musical composition as a research paper. Woods’ book details the nuts and bolts of the approach and shows how to customize it for a variety of age groups, budgets, and curricular requirements. It is a gift to all educators—including homeschooling parents—who want to give students the freedom to pursue their interests.
Is It Dyslexia?
by April McMurtreyHands-on resources for screening readers of all ages for dyslexia In Is It Dyslexia?, certified dyslexia assessment specialist April McMurtrey delivers an accessible, hands-on framework for screening readers of various ages for dyslexia.. The book offers comprehensive, clear, and step-by-step processes you can apply immediately to confidently and accurately screen readersfor dyslexia. The author shares the tools and strategies used by professional screeners, as well as first, next, and final steps you can take as you move forward with your screening results. The book includes: Explanations of what dyslexia is, as well as an overview of common talents and strengths often found in readers with dyslexia A collection of recommended accommodations for students with dyslexia in the home and school and effective literacy instruction for students with dyslexia A comprehensive dyslexia questionnaire, eleven different screening tests, and step-by-step instructions for administering themIdeal for tutors, homeschool teachers, parents, instructional coaches, counselors, and speech-language therapists, Is It Dyslexia? comes complete with reproducibles and links to video tutorials required for screening students of various ages.
The Knowledge Gap
by Natalie WexlerThe untold story of the root cause of America's education crisis--and the seemingly endless cycle of multigenerational poverty.It was only after years within the education reform movement that Natalie Wexler stumbled across a hidden explanation for our country's frustrating lack of progress when it comes to providing every child with a quality education. The problem wasn't one of the usual scapegoats: lazy teachers, shoddy facilities, lack of accountability. It was something no one was talking about: the elementary school curriculum's intense focus on decontextualized reading comprehension "skills" at the expense of actual knowledge. In the tradition of Dale Russakoff's The Prize and Dana Goldstein's The Teacher Wars, Wexler brings together history, research, and compelling characters to pull back the curtain on this fundamental flaw in our education system--one that fellow reformers, journalists, and policymakers have long overlooked, and of which the general public, including many parents, remains unaware. But The Knowledge Gap isn't just a story of what schools have gotten so wrong--it also follows innovative educators who are in the process of shedding their deeply ingrained habits, and describes the rewards that have come along: students who are not only excited to learn but are also acquiring the knowledge and vocabulary that will enable them to succeed. If we truly want to fix our education system and unlock the potential of our neediest children, we have no choice but to pay attention.
Learning Outside The Lines
by Edward M. Hallowell and David Cole and Jonathan MooneyLearning with YOUR purpose in mind -- not your parents', not your teacher's, not your school's Every day, your school, your teachers, and even your peers draw lines to measure and standardize intelligence. They decide what criteria make one person smart and another person stupid. They decide who will succeed and who will just get by. Perhaps you find yourself outside the norm, because you learn differently -- but, unlike your classmates, you have no system in place that consistently supports your ability and desire to learn. Simply put, you are considered lazy and stupid. You are expected to fail. Learning Outside the Lines is written by two such "academic failures" -- that is, two academic failures who graduated from Brown University at the top of their class. Jonathan Mooney and David Cole teach you how to take control of your education and find true success -- and they offer all the reasons why you should persevere. Witty, bold, and disarmingly honest, Learning Outside the Lines takes you on a journey toward personal empowerment and profound educational change, proving once again that rules sometimes need to be broken.
More Fun Games and Activities for Children with Dyslexia
by Alais WintonDyslexic teacher Alais Winton is back with all-new games and activities to make learning simple and fun.This inventive and practical workbook is packed with tried-and-tested games and activities to help children aged 7-13 who have dyslexia. It is ideally suited to home-schooling, independent learning, or classroom or small group setting, and includes activities such as The Multiply Matrix Game, Drop the Ball and Number Tag.The book is packed with cartoons, and there's a quiz at the start to help you discover whether you learn best from pictures, movement, socially or through music. You can use this book to find the strategies and activities you enjoy the most, and that support you to learn most effectively. If you have ideas about how you would like to add to the games or invent your own, go for it!With even more engaging activities and updated advice for parents and carers, this is another essential tool for making learning simple and enjoyable.
The Phonics Playbook
by Alison RyanA guide for K-3 educators who need to teach phonics at different levels in diverse classrooms—without burning out The Phonics Playbook is the one phonics-focused resource that offers a solution for phonics instruction in real-world K-3 classrooms. Understanding phonics instruction in theory is one thing, but actually integrating it into daily classroom life—in a way that meets the needs of diverse students—is another. This book offers simplified instruction and practical guidance for differentiating instruction using three models: whole group instruction with elements of differentiation, phonics-focused small group instruction, and small group reading instruction that also incorporates phonics. You will learn to assess student needs, choose the model that’s right for you, and make data-based adjustments as time goes on. In addition to guidance on differentiation, this book also weaves in best practices in phonics instruction and effective strategies for teaching phonics skills, which is especially helpful for newer teachers. The Phonics Playbook guides you from start to finish and helps you develop a positive, effective mindset around differentiation. Confront the problem of “so many needs and so little time” in a productive, sustainable way and avoid burnout with this excellent guide. Review the basics of phonics instruction and learn three different methods for differentiating instruction in K-3 classrooms Help students progress with their reading, even when you have many different reading levels in class Reduce the workload necessary to provide differentiated instruction in phonics and reading Find practical ways of implementing phonics instruction in real-world classrooms with real-world challengesNew and experienced K-3 educators, principals, and literacy coaches, as well as homeschool educators and parents, will appreciate the no-nonsense approach in The Phonics Playbook.
Raising Critical Thinkers
by Julie BogartA guide for parents to help children of all ages process the onslaught of unfiltered information in the digital age.Education is not solely about acquiring information and skills across subject areas, but also about understanding how and why we believe what we do. At a time when online media has created a virtual firehose of information and opinions, parents and teachers worry how students will interpret what they read and see. Amid the noise, it has become increasingly important to examine different perspectives with both curiosity and discernment. But how do parents teach these skills to their children? Drawing on more than twenty years&’ experience homeschooling and developing curricula, Julie Bogart offers practical tools to help children at every stage of development to grow in their ability to explore the world around them, examine how their loyalties and biases affect their beliefs, and generate fresh insight rather than simply recycling what they&’ve been taught. Full of accessible stories and activities for children of all ages, Raising Critical Thinkers helps parents to nurture passionate learners with thoughtful minds and empathetic hearts.
Science in Seconds for Kids
by Jean Potter and Samuel Cord StierHelp your kids explore the wonders of science with over 100 easy and accessible experiments Science in Seconds for Kids: Over 100 Experiments You Can Do in Ten Minutes or Less, 2nd Edition makes learning science with your children fun and practical. Using ingredients and components found mostly in your home or classroom, Science in Seconds for Kids instructs caregivers and educators on how to create dazzling and enlightening experiments from scratch. This book utilizes bright and colorful illustrations and diagrams throughout, making the simple experiments even more accessible. Guide your kids through experiments including: Making rainbows on the floor Popping balloons with light Bending water from a faucet Making lightning in a room Keeping paper dry underwater The experiments will fascinate youngsters of all ages and encourage a love of science and learning that could last a lifetime. Science in Seconds for Kids is perfect for elementary, traditional, and homeschool educators, as well as parents, grandparents, and other caregivers.
Teaching Your Kids New Math, 6-8 For Dummies
by Kris JamsaIt’s not too late to learn new math tricks—and help kids learn them, too! Teaching Your Kids New Math, Grades 6-8, For Dummies teaches you the new standard way of teaching kids math. It’s all about thinking through how to solve problems and using strategies, rather than just memorizing the procedures. In this book, parents, guardians, and tutors will learn how to use these methods and standards to effectively teach kids Common Core math for grades 6-8. Teaching Your Kids New Math, Grades 6-8, For Dummies shows you how schools are teaching kids math these days, and gives you tools to support kids through the homework and test prep process. You’ll love this book’s clear explanations and examples organized by grade level. With Teaching Your Kids New Math, Grades 6-8, For Dummies?? you’ll also get access to online tools, including dozens of math worksheets for additional support. Learn how to teach 6th through 8th grade math according to the Common Core Discover the new methods and formulas that are standard for math instruction Get best teaching practices, example problems, and tips about common math pitfalls Help your kids with math homework and enhance the homeschool journeyThis is the perfect Dummies guide for anyone who needs guidance on how to teach kids math using new methods and concepts—they’re different from what we learned in school! Future math teachers will also love this user-friendly guide to middle-grade math.
Teach Your Own
by John Holt and Pat FarengaThe classic guide to teaching children at home for a new generation of homeschooling parents In 2019, there were more than two million children being homeschooled. That number doubled during the pandemic and is now likely to continue increasing as more parents worry that school might not be the best place for their children to learn and grow. Teach Your Own helped launch the homeschooling movement; now, its timeless and revolutionary message of recognizing the ways children come to understand the world has been updated for today&’s environment. Parents and caregivers will discover how to navigate: Learning in a classroom versus learning in the worldThe difference between a learning difficulty (which we all experience every time we try to learn anything) and a learning disability.Schedules that achieve the homeschooling-work-life balance that you want as a familyThe relationship between learning and playHomeschooling and technologyAnd much more. John Holt's warm understanding of children and his passionate belief in every child's ability to learn have made this book an essential resource for over forty years to homeschooling families.
Think Differently About Learning
by Maren Goerss and Angela SizerHosts of the Homeschool Unrefined Podcast show you how let go of traditional measures of success, and instead measure learning by curiosity, joy, self-regulation, and critical thinking.Children deserve more than the systems we're currently using to educate them. Hardworking teachers, diligent administrators, and devoted parents are trying their best in an outdated system that isn't meeting our children's complex needs. Instead, imagine a different way to learn.With helpful, practical tips and anecdotes from homeschooling families, this guide covers all you need to know about learning differences, mental health, devices and technology, socialization, and more. It's for traditional school families who are learning to balance outer expectations with their own needs with a different way of learning. It's for homeschool families who are looking for a more inclusive, supportive, and authentic approach. Angela and Maren pair their years of teaching in a variety of different schools with their years of homeschooling their combined seven children. As they know first-hand, any parent, child, or family can thrive as they unlearn old ways, lean into their own strengths, and celebrate unconventional wins.
This is Homeschooling
by Katie Rybakova MathewsThe number of homeschooling families has grown in recent years, along with the number of methods for learning at home. In this timely book, you’ll meet diverse families that are engaging in the day-to-day work of a variety of approaches, including self-directed learning, unschooling, nature-based education, farmschooling, wildschooling, and worldschooling. Chapters and interludes are written by scholars and families engaged in this work, who show how their approaches take a balanced, slower-paced, and nature-minded approach to learning, nourishing the child’s heart and brain. They also address common critiques of homeschooling and show how it is something that can be normalized and encouraged as a positive educational tool, helping families bond and live life to the fullest. Each chapter includes practical applications you can use right away in your own journey. Simultaneously inspirational and practical, this book will help guide and motivate those who are either considering or already homeschooling to see the possibilities of what learning and education can truly be.
Time For Home School
by Daisy UptonAn exclusive first look at Five Minute Mum: Time for School with the Maths chapter. It may not clear all those home school headaches, but it will make life easier- and a bit more fun too! The Maths chapter from Five Minute Mum: Time for School, is packed full of fun activities to immediately help support your child's maths learning including learning your number bonds, timetables and everything in between. Time for Home School: Maths is THE book you need if you're home-schooling, from former teaching assistant, bestselling author and social media superstar Daisy Upton AKA Five Minute Mum. This short chapter is all based around the maths your child will be taught in their first few years at school - Early Years, Reception and Key Stage 1 - will bring some much-needed laughter to your at-home learning and, if nothing else, give you five minutes where you feel like you are getting it right.Remember: 'IF YOU ARE TRYING, YOU ARE BRILLIANT' Daisy Upton brings her unique five-minute, learning-through-play method to these quick and easy, fun games and activities that are all maths based, using stuff you probably already have at home. Maths is taken from Five Minute Mum: Time for School- the ultimate handbook to support your child through Early Years, Reception and KS1 - available from 15 April 2021. Praise for Five Minute Mum: Give Me Five: 'I love Five Minute Mum. She's managed to come up with a huge array of activities for kids that are fun and educational yet don't require an Art degree or Diploma in Patience to execute. Her blog makes these kinds of games accessible to everyone and for that, I am grateful! - Sarah Turner, Unmumsy Mum 'So many fab ideas in here! Love it' - Rosie Ramsey
Wild Learning
by Rachel TiddWild Learning answers a call in the educational community for practical, easy-to-implement activities that bring core curriculum out of the classroom and into the outdoors. Outdoor learning has risen in popularity in recent years, and it has tremendous benefits. Being outside is healthier, helps children form a strong connection to the natural world, supports a variety of learning styles, increases engagement and motivation, and improves mental health. This book gives teachers practical activities that they can immediately implement, and helps educators overcome common barriers to outdoor instruction. These activities can be done in common outdoor spaces that are accessible to teachers in all school settings, and they are adaptable to their current curriculum—not an extra thing to try to fit into their day. Get ideas for fun outdoor activities that cover core subject matter already being taught Take learning outside, taking advantage of commonly accessible areas, no matter the educational setting Help students develop a healthy appreciation of the outdoors and support hands-on learning styles Support students' physical and mental health without sacrificing learning time This book is a much-needed resource for elementary and special education teachers, as well as those in alternative schools, forest schools, and homeschooling parents.