Homeschooling is all about thinking outside of the box. Homeschooling created the most brilliant minds in history before there was an internet connection and pricey curriculum. Learning is living and living is learning. It is really that simple.
Outside of the Box Learning
Let’s imagine a world without books, internet, and state standards. How would you teach your child? Now, as time goes on and your child progresses through the high school years, she may need online resources, tutoring, and calculus. Understood. Let’s push that aside for the moment and concentrate on the purpose of homeschooling that is to create critically thinking and productive adults who honor Christ (if you are a Christian).
Bible Lessons: No better resource exists than the bible for these lessons. No better teacher exists than the Holy Spirit. Remember in Star Wars, when Luke was trying to hit that flying ball with a light saber? He was having difficulty and Obi Wan Kenobi told him to let go and even went so far as to blind fold young Luke. It was then he was able to hit that flying ball. Well, teaching bible is similar. We don’t need a well thought out lesson plan. We don’t need a curriculum. God gave you charge over the spiritual guidance of your children not some faceless author of a pricey curriculum. Now, don’t throw tomatoes….there are plenty of fine resources and curriculum. My point is that you do not need any of it. Study the bible as a family. Even if you are muddling through together, you are together and that will teach far more than any curriculum.
Cost: $0
Finance: If you do not teach about money they will learn it on the streets….or from one of those annoying credit score commercials. Young children can learn money by showing them real money. As you pay for items in the store, show your child the coins and bills and eventually test them on what you will use and how much change you will get back. You will also be teaching addition, subtraction, counting fives and tens, as you teach money.
Have your child keep a mock checkbook that you make out of regular paper. Give an amount at the beginning, a base pay, and expenses. Then discuss the expenses and how best to spend discretionary funds. As time goes on you can teach your child about bank accounts, taxes, and investments.
Cost: $0
Spelling: Now, for lists online you can google free spelling lists and you will find more than you can handle, Home Spelling Words, being on of them. However, you do not need the internet to create your own spelling words. Use words from early reader books and word families to start with a young student. Continue on to days of the week, months of the year, apostles, bible names, books of the bible, rhyming words, etc. Print off a list and give your own test at the end of the week.
Cost: $0
Copy work: The easiest class you will teach for free. Simply use quotes you find online, scripture, or sentences from a current literature book. You can make up your own sentences. To make it more profitable and teach grammar, have your child circle the noun, underline the verb, etc. You can also give your child a mixed up sentence and have her put it in order when she writes it.
Cost: $0
Literature: Your library is your best friend for lit class. Borrow a book and begin to read! You will also find books discussing famous works of literature at your library also.
Cost: $0
Math: Again, use your library. Young children can learn how to tell time by using a clock in your home. Fractions can be taught by dividing up a piece of paper, a hot dog, a cookie, a pizza, etc. Cooking will teach measuring units. Walking upstairs can teach counting. We use math everyday….discover it and share it with your child. These real experiences will connect the concept of math to the concrete. That is an invaluable lesson.
Cost: $0
Join me in the next segment for free curriculum.