Analytical Grammar (A Homeschool Review)

Product - Analytical Grammar curriculum and DVD.  (A systematic approach to language mastery.)

Recommended age - Grade 6 and up.

Website - http://www.analyticalgrammar.com/

Created by - R. Robin Finley (A retired language arts teacher.)

Contributing author -  Erin Karl (Robin's daughter. Erin taught middle school language arts.)

It is quite intimidating writing a review for a language arts program. Of course, I will second - guess every thing I write!  But this program is exceptional.  I have been using it with my teenage son.

Here are the basics:

There are two bound workbooks. 

One is the student book -

There are 35 units which cover such lessons as:  pronouns, comma rules, helping verbs, active and passive voices, and many more.  These are designed to be done in order, each lesson building on the last one.

A lesson consists of:

Notes:  Explains the objective, uses definitions and examples, and introduces the lesson.

Exercise #1:  Since we used the DVD along with the binder, we watched the lesson on DVD.  The Teachers were wonderful. It was like having private tutors who were professional, to the point, and took the time to carefully explain the exercise to viewers.

Exercise #2:  The student does this on his own.  It is similar to the first exercise.

Exercise #3:  Similar to the previous exercise, continuing the practice and work required to thoroughly learn the unit.

Some of the units include a "Skills Support":  A lesson for the student to complete.

Each unit ends with a Test.

What I love about this program is that each exercise is only one page long.  It is not cluttered up with directions or endless text.  It is to the point, clearly written, and helps the student get the job done.

The teacher book is the same as the student book but has all the answers filled in.

DVD:

This is a set of four DVDs.  All 35 units are included here.  This is very well done.  I found it to be an invaluable teaching resource to go with the workbook.

Overall, the program is just what I have been looking for.   We did this program first thing most mornings. If we were at the table, I would set up a laptop for my student to watch the DVD.  He could also watch it on television in another room.   He worked wherever he found a quiet room.  I greatly appreciated the DVD because I felt like my student was in the capable hands of excellent tutors, who could teach this subject better than I could! Why? Because they have dedicated much of their lives to the study and teaching of this one subject.  Their teaching method and curriculum is well tested and worked beautifully for us.

 Mrs. Finley and her daughter have uncomplicated language arts and made it very easy to learn.   I was impressed with the quality of the program and how well everything was explained. 

My student has a greater appreciation of sentence structure and the purpose of grammar.  He has always been a struggling learner.  This program has improved his reading and writing skills, by helping him focus specifically on the study of language arts.


*Disclosure - I received this item for review purposes.*

Home as a Little Christian School

In this modern day, the worldly culture has seeped into our homes.  It doesn't belong there.  Home should be a little school of Christian living.  Here is where children see Mother and Dad read the Bible, say prayers, and model good manners and morals.

We should also see great industry.  We should see cheerful and happy workers in Mother and Dad.  They set the example.  Dad often takes great pride in the care of the home and yard.  We may see him mowing the lawn, repairing porch steps, working on the car, and fixing screens.  He is busy with making the property look pleasant. He maintains the little christian school called "home."

Mother is busy with preparing meals.  She might be mending a torn curtain, ironing shirts, washing the floor, or baking pastries.  She does this cheerfully, happy to be doing a great work for the Lord in the little home.

Along the way, children are added to the family.  They walk beside the parents.  They help in the care and keeping of that little school at home.  They join in the prayers, the Bible reading, and happy chores.  Often young children find chores pleasant and fun because they get to do them with their parents, whom they love and admire.  They enjoy the company of the parents and want to do the work along with them.  Through this, their own good manners and morals are developed.

Home should be a place which is not a stumbling- block to sin. There should be no liquor, no drugs, no crimes happening (little thefts within the family), no lies, no scantily dressed residents, and no evil or inappropriate television shows. The family ought to take a stance against the world, and stand for a godly home with good policies and rules in the little school at home.  Mother and Dad must model this behavior and set the example.

There is a culture of  the world's school, in some homes.  This does not build the Christian family. Here is where the world's ideas and theories are paramount.  Modern parents often buy their children gadgets and gifts and trips to make them happy, but don't ask the children to work for such frivolity.   Bible reading or prayers don't happen because modern parents are often embarrassed by it, or their children roll their eyes when it is offered because this is not the kind of little school they attended.  It is foreign to them.  They were trained in worldliness, amusements, taking it easy, and enjoying being "young." 

Mother and Dad must set the patten in little Christian homes.  They must study Scripture and pray and immerse themselves in holy living.  This is what will bring a light of wisdom and beauty and godliness into the little school at home.   Family Altar, Sermons, Memorizing the Bible, Modesty, Patience and a Servant's heart should be modeled by the parents. This should be done every day.  This is what makes a happy, joyous home, when Mother and Dad have a heart, and a love, for the Christian School. It ought to be their life's work, their hobby, their everything.

This modern culture is heading to a great ruin.  Let our little homes be strong Christian Schools, and let us bring hope to a dying world, by living heavenward lives, even if our little school is the only one in our community. 

Blessings
Mrs. White


From the Archives:

How precious - Sweet Hours at Home.

This is so important - Godly Home, Marriage and Family.

Daily Life - Ideas for a Happy Home.




For Home-keeping Inspiration, order my book - For The Love of Christian Homemaking. 




An Invitation - Subscribe to The Legacy of Home and have it delivered directly to your email. 

Early Morning Revival Challenge

"Inspired by the life, writings, and journals
of John Wesley (1700's), the author has created
a 90 - day Bible study challenge. .

The program consists of four, easy to follow, daily
assignments. Readers are expected to rise earlier
in the morning than normal; Spend 20 minutes in
prayer, Bible reading, writing in a journal, and
reading quotes from Ministers from long ago. . .

The study is simple to follow, but will take a
tremendous amount of discipline to stay consistent to the very end. . .

If you are up for a challenge and ready for a revival, this book is just what you need!"

 -  This is the description from the back cover of my new book, "Early Morning Revival Challenge."

6" x 9"
List Price: $12.99

The Legacy of Home Press
ISBN-13: 978-0615861050
ISBN-10: 0615861059
Early Morning Revival Challenge

By Mrs. Sharon White

This is a slim, 72 page, paperback book.  The interior has an "antique" look with "cream" colored paper, rather than the traditional "white."  The cover has a photograph of our Vermont Estate Grounds, and looks very peaceful.  I spent hours searching through my home library, to glean a selection of inspiring quotes from Ministers from the 1600's, 1700's and the 1800's.  These include Richard Baxter, Thomas Boston, John Wesley, Samuel Rutherford, John Bunyan, and more (one for each day of the challenge).  The book includes a complete bibliography of quotes, so you can see exactly where they came from.

I intend to start this challenge myself, in just a few days.  I have also ordered a copy for my youngest homeschool student (age 16).  I believe this will be an excellent addition to his studies.  The discipline of reading 2 chapters in the Bible each day (from Psalms and Proverbs), writing in a journal, and praying, before the day begins will be a blessing to both of us!



Blessings
Mrs. White



From the Archives:

Lessons from my Boston Aunt - Manners Learned at the Finishing School.

Please Don't Be One of These -  Bossy Wives.

Remember This for Your Homeschool - Education Must Not Be Rushed.





An Invitation - Subscribe to The Legacy of Home and have it delivered directly to your email. 

Learning to Live in the Rural Countryside

Something in the soul tends to slow down and be at peace, out in a rural area.  We think of a vacation spot, getting out of the hectic "city" and just taking a break.  Perhaps we avoid some technology (television, phones, etc).  Maybe we spend most of our time fishing, taking strolls, camping, and just watching a little TV in the evening hours.

We visit more. . . We are more neighborly. . . We have an abundance of time.  We can read, study, write, bake, cook, and take the time to say "hello" to the few we happen to meet in a day.  There is less of a need for money.  This takes away many burdens and much pressure.

This, to me, is something like homeschooling. 

Often we think we need to be bombarded with social opportunities. We think we need lots of activities to be normal.  When we aren't constantly busy, or around a ton of people, we think something is missing.  This is like learning to live in a rural area; A place where few people live, limited stores,  and the only public transportation depends on how far you can walk.   This is often a culture shock, just like starting a homeschool.  It is so different. 

Somehow, as we learn to get through the adjustment phase, we find a blessing.  We find the joy that is hidden underneath all the social expectations, and all the things we are told we are "missing out on." 

We find that being in a rural area, is just the place to thrive. . . and grow. . . and become a productive, pleasant citizen.  It is a place where our children can thrive, and grow in character and nobility.  We are protected from the onslaught of humanism, ungodliness, and a worldly culture.  We appreciate many more things.  We are grateful.

We often have more time for prayer, for focusing on the needs of others, and for doing good deeds. 

This is what I am learning, in the middle of nowhere, "trapped at home with no car," in Northern Vermont.

Blessings
Mrs. White







For Home-keeping Inspiration, order my book - For The Love of Christian Homemaking. 




An Invitation - Subscribe to The Legacy of Home and have it delivered directly to your email. 

Homeschooling with Grandbaby

We sat in the parlour in our old antique chairs.  Baby was in his carriage.  My teenage student was beside me.  Baby had a little toy to keep him occupied.  The children listened while I read, "The Declaration of Independence."  John (15) and I discussed a little about our nation's history and the characters of the signers.

Soon it was time for a Math test.  John sat at the kitchen table and started his test.  Baby and I went into an adjoining room so John could have quiet.  I could still see him through the doorway.

I set up baby's carriage near my chair and pulled out a fun game, "Phonics Firefly."  This light-up game teaches letters, sounds, spelling and the alphabet song.  I went through all the games with him. He heard the letters and sounds over and over again. He was intrigued! 

Later, I read colorful books to baby. I enjoy the stories and love to have a young one to read to again.  . . Baby listened to our family worship time (Bible reading, hymns, etc.).

We walked the gardens at our Vermont Estate and were delighted to see strawberries ready to be picked.  We noticed 2 of the rosebushes are showing white and yellow roses!  Every so often baby hugs me, and pauses to look at me with a smile.

Then I walked baby over to the high flagpole on the front property.  He looked up to see the American Flag waving in the wind. . .  Baby sighs.  . . It is so precious when Baby sighs.

Regular life is mixed in with our homeschooling hours.  There are meals to cook and dishes to wash. I clean bottles and dress the baby.  I rock him to sleep, and soothe his fussiness at naptime.  My favorite part of the day, with baby, is kissing away his tears.

Our house is full of all kinds of books and toys for children of all ages.  While I am finishing up the last years of John's Home Education, I am grateful to have baby here to begin again.  Whether baby grows up and goes to a regular school or not is up to his Mother.  But anytime he is here, just like regular daily life at our Estate, he will always be homeschooled at Grandmother's house.


Blessings
Mrs. White




For Home-keeping Inspiration, order my book - For The Love of Christian Homemaking. 


Tweet



An Invitation - Subscribe to The Legacy of Home and have it delivered directly to your email.

Historic Summer Lessons at the Estate

[1936 Home Schooling in PA: Carl Mydens: Library of Congress]

With political upheaval happening all over America, our religious heritage must be taught repeatedly to the next generation.  Starting today, and during the entire month of July, I will be reading and teaching my last Home Schooled Student from Marilyn Boyer's Book, For You They Signed.  I bought this a few years ago, at a great discount from the Boyers, when I had money. It is an incredible investment.

Last Independence day, John (15) and I read The Declaration of Independence (1776) and studied all the signatures (in the beginning of Marilyn's Book).  We also read about the life of one of the signers.  It was thrilling, sad, and convicting.  This year, we will spend the month reading the entire book. This will become a tradition in our family - to remember, and to apply it to our  lives.

In this culture of endless entertainment - video games, computers, cell phones and movies, it is often hard to get students to sit still, to reflect, to concentrate and to think.  It is essential that we provide a routine of quiet study time, even if there are distractions happening all around us.  To be quiet and read despite the culture around us, is one of the greatest needs of our time.  We Home Schooling Mothers have to find a way to make it happen.

To Teach children to focus, we can play games of mental math drills, spelling drills and Bible trivia.  Many years ago, I had a group of children I was tutoring.  I also had an adjoining room full of preschoolers who were loudly playing.  The students sat in a row and had to listen to my random questions and answer as quickly as possible.  One of the children (around age 12) kept laughing and was distracted by the noise of the other children. We had fun, but I kept encouraging him and practicing with him, how to "tune out" the noise, and focus on the drills.   It was a wonderfully, productive afternoon.  We must teach our children to tune out the distractions around us, so they can learn and study essential truths.

John and I will spend a little time in the late morning, reading Marilyn's book.  We will find time in the twilight hours, and we will find time in the parlour, sitting in our antique chairs while supper is cooking. We will find the time and the concentration  to read the entire book and to reflect on the amazing Christian History of our nation.  I am sure we will be talking about it with guests and family members. It will spread, and it will infect us with courage and bravery to live God's way, even if no one else in this Country seems to.

Blessings
Mrs. White




For More information about Marilyn's book, visit her store: "For You They Signed"


Tweet

An Invitation - Subscribe to The Legacy of Home and have it delivered directly to your email. 

The Homeschool Letters

My youngest student is a teenage soon-to-be man.    I have been working with him all his life, and he has made tremendous progress. This student is my only one out of five, who was learning disabled, and wasn't able to learn to read well until he was 10 years old.  It just didn't click for him until then.  Day after day, year after year, from the time he was 5, I worked with him.  Now, all these years later, he reads the KJV Bible fluently.  But we still have such a long way to go.  The difficulty is understanding our relationship.  I am his Mother. He is growing up and will be a man.  He doesn't always want to do things my way.  He sometimes senses that I am "nagging" him in our little school at home.  I must adjust.

I realized that we need to communicate in a different way.  We need a way that will work, or his education with me will not progress.    The way I have discovered is through letters.

For a student to learn, he must have time to think.  He must have time to seek out his education.  He must have time and quiet to evaluate and analyze.  He must study and solve.  How can this happen knowing his mother is hovering nearby waiting to "help?"  This is why I have backed away.  I will let him stumble and struggle while he learns the skill of learning for himself, rather than learning for me.

On each weekday morning, I have a set of letters waiting for him.  These are formal letters, with dates and indented paragraphs, and a proper signature.  The letters are instructions for the day, where to find the books he needs, and a little chart to show him a specific lesson I would have showed him in person.  He will use these letters to guide him through his homeschool day.  He will also take notes and write me back, telling me what he learned, and telling me what he needs help with.

He will also see the chalkboard, with problems and puzzles to solve.  They will appear "mysteriously" on the board because I will write them when no one is around to see me.  This adds intrigue and adventure to his learning. 

Each night, I will read his letters to me and check his books.  I will then write back, explaining problems he had trouble with, and giving him the new day's directions. 

As he learns to work all day long, without a hovering mother, he will begin to grow and think more independently.  He will acquire mighty skills he needs in order to be a man.  He will become less dependent on me.  He will also rise in wisdom and knowledge because there is a sense of intrigue in these letters and secret chalkboard puzzles, which will create in him a thirst for learning. 

These Homeschool Letters are my key to finishing the last few years of his education.  I am stepping back, while he is stepping up.   This is the last phase of my mothering of a child.


Blessings
Mrs. White



For Home-keeping Inspiration, order my book - For The Love of Christian Homemaking. 


Tweet

An Invitation - Subscribe to The Legacy of Home and have it delivered directly to your email.  I would also love to have you connect with me on Facebook and Twitter!

Closing my Household Account

Throughout the year, I kept a record book of my household expenses.  The majority of entries were entered by my youngest son, John (15). I have taught him general bookkeeping by having him look over my receipts, organize them, and enter the totals of my spending. 

At this very moment, he is closing out my accounts for the year.  He is in the process of getting monthly spending totals, by looking over the handwritten entries in my old fashioned ledger book.  He is analyzing the numbers and thinking about all the different things his mother spent money on this year.

 (There is no computer doing this for him. It is an old fashioned method of thinking and seeing the history of our financial life.)

When he finishes the monthly totals, he will give me a final figure of exactly how much money I spent during the entire year. 

Tomorrow, we will set up a new household account in our ledger book. This will be for 2013. We will make plans and goals and find ways to be as economical as we can.  Since John has been working with me all year, I will seek his advice, ideas and input.    This is a very precious way for him to learn how to manage money, by helping his Mama to manage her household funds.

Blessings
Mrs. White


Great Peace - The Note in Mother's Pocket.

When Things are Going Wrong - Forgotten Kindness in Marriage.

We Took One of These - A Vow of Poverty.







Tweet

An Invitation - Subscribe to The Legacy of Home and have it delivered directly to your email.  I would also love to have you connect with me on Facebook and Twitter!

Homeschooling at the Library

When home got too difficult, distracting and unfriendly- to- quiet for my youngest homeschooler (15), I packed up his books and took him to the library.   Every morning, we got dressed up and took his books to the large, elegant library in town.  We went upstairs in the antique building with all its stately furniture, and sat in a large room, for 2 hours, and did his studies.  It was inspiring!

It seemed like we were in Boston, sitting in one of the rooms at Harvard College. (Okay, I have a vivid imagination!)  But the environment of that library inspired us to want to learn. . . To want to be quiet and to really study.   While my teenager worked on his books, his math and his writing, I crocheted or read from John Wesley's journals.  I sat across the table from my student and was available at any moment to help him.  But we mostly worked quietly and independently because that is how the best of learning takes place - when one is thinking and analyzing on one's own.

At times we would take breaks. I would look at the archives of historic books in the vaults, or take in the old artwork on the walls.  My student would walk through the different rooms and see what kinds of books were available. Then we would get back to our quiet little world of learning.

This daily excursion went on for months.  All too soon, the season changed and many new patrons were arriving to use computers. The tables and desks in every room were crowded with people needing wifi, and that took away the beauty and the silence of the inspired world of old fashioned learning.  So we stopped going.

I am remembering this today because, once again, my home has become crowded with noise, distractions and a great many people. The environment has become unfriendly to education.  So I must find a way to turn my own stately old home into a library of sorts. I will work on enticing the family to want to sit and learn in any of the rooms. I must pull out exciting literature, decorate the walls with art that makes one think, and try my very best to compete with the allurement of video games, computers and television. Somehow, I will make my home into a pleasant type of library that is far more interesting than the distractions that go on here.  And once I set my mind to do this, the happiness it brings me will be infectious!  All the children will think learning is pleasant, and that studying is delightful.  Even if it is only for 2 hours each day. 

Blessings
Mrs. White

Never Forget This - Education Must Not Be Rushed.

The Comfort of Home - The Light in the Window.

No Chores For Me - Mother's Cleaning Recovery.





Tweet

An Invitation - Subscribe to The Legacy of Home and have it delivered directly to your email.  I would also love to have you connect with me on Facebook and Twitter!

Home Studies in the Evening Hours

In the old days, farm families worked hard on their land. There were plenty of chores for the entire family.  Yet, somehow, they managed to do some studying and schoolwork.  Since homes were not full of distractions (like television, video games and computers), studying with the family was a lovely way to pass the time.

Today, many homeschoolers use a strict schedule of starting school at 9 a.m. each day.  I used to do this when my children were little. As they got into the teen years, life became more complicated. It was no longer the sweet, slow-paced "nursery" phase.   In this modern day, we are also going to be constantly fighting to maintain a balance of using technology (being entertained by it) with learning, studying and producing.   This lesson must be learned by today's children.

In the last week, with the addition of a new baby in our family, I have been very preoccupied.  There has been more laundry, more cooking, and much more work for me.  This also means less sleep! (gentle smiles).  Even though this is a joyous time, I have been struggling with a way to keep up with homeschooling my 15 year old (John).  He needs to be reminded to do his assignments. He needs to be motivated and encouraged to do independent work.   Daily I have been trying new methods to get him on track. 

Tonight, I think I found a solution.  Our spending time together is centered around chores and school.  When we are together, it is when we are cleaning or cooking, or he is reading me his McGuffey or a Bible passage.   Tonight, even though we were both exhausted after a long day, we sat at the table to do his math lesson. We laughed at all the mistakes we both made. But this helped our analytical skills as we found the mistakes and re-solved them.  This is what quality time has become in our home - a time for learning. 

Life never lets up.  We often say that tomorrow, or next week, we will fix our routine.  Or when things calm down, we will get back on track. But life will keep throwing us something new to juggle.  The goal is not to wait until things are better, but to do them in the middle of the challenges. 

Right now, maybe I can't play cards with John or watch movies with him. But I can do school.  School became the fun.  We are fitting it in, the same way things were done in history; after a long day of heavy chores and hard work.  Our home studies are happening in creative ways.  They are happening in a simpler way, from a simpler time - by the hearth, with laughter. . .   It has become our evening entertainment.


Blessings
Mrs. White

Oh, Let This Not Be True! -  Only Rich People Have Clean Houses.

Much Better to use these - Mother's Rose - Colored Glasses.

When There Isn't Much Money - The Homemaker's Despair.



Tweet

An Invitation - Subscribe to The Legacy of Home and have it delivered directly to your email.  I would also love to have you connect with me on Facebook and Twitter!

Independence Day in Vermont

Yesterday, in our homeschool, I read the Declaration of Independence. It was heartbreaking, sad and amazing.   As I read, I explained brief sections, difficult vocabulary words and phrases, making it come alive for my student.     We were both amazed at what happened in our country.  We are both grateful for the freedom in America and the fact that our country was built on a strong Biblical foundation.

Today, I will read about some of the signers.  I am using "For You They Signed," by Marilyn Boyer.  We will continue to study it for many months.  There is enough inspiration in this book to last an entire year.

Today, we will celebrate and remember.  I will bake a lemon cake and decorate it with cool whip, strawberries and blueberries.  We will have corn on the cob and watermelon. 

Some of my children will attend a parade, here in rural Vermont.    There will be fireworks in town later tonight.    We will have a few visitors throughout the day.  We will use the opportunity to discuss the founding fathers of this country and the sacrifices they made.  It will strengthen our own courage, and our faith.

Right now, I am missing my home state of Massachusetts. One of my children was born in Boston and we are so proud! (smiles)  There is so much history in that great city!   The parade in my hometown is the most incredible, patriotic event I have ever attended.  I miss it dearly!   To soothe some of my homesickness, I will watch  "Boston Pops" on television.  When I was a teenager, I took the subway into the city of Boston, with some relatives, and we saw the entire live performance.  It brought tears to my eyes. Tears of pride and gratefulness.

May this special day be full of meaning for you and your family. 

Blessings
Mrs. White


Calling the Children to Supper - Mother's Dinner Bell.

Those Were the Days - When Television Was Special.

Fighting off Feminism - The Old Time Housewife.


Tweet


An Invitation - Subscribe to The Legacy of Home and have it delivered directly to your email.  I would also love to have you connect with me on Facebook and Twitter!

The Early Years of Homeschooling

When my five children were little, we spent much of our time at home. We managed to venture out only once a week. This was our big errand day. We would leave early in the morning, just after breakfast. We went to the post office to pay the bills and pick up an enormous box full of mail. (We all had numerous pen-pals, lots of home-published magazine subscriptions, and were producing our own home made publications, which brought us plenty of letters and orders.) We did all our grocery shopping just before heading home. But in the middle of all those errands, we went to our favorite place - the library.

The children all picked up cart loads of books to keep us occupied for the week.  The youngest children were delighted with The Berenstain Bears, or books by Lois Lowry. The older children (up to age 15) were selecting anything from biographies, historical documents, trends in fashion to the latest math textbooks. We also scoured the classic video department and came home with several films from the old days, like the Andy Hardy series, Fiddler on the Roof, For Me and My Gal, It's a Wonderful Life, and so many others. This, too, was part of their education.

But the best part of our day was coming home to a homemade lunch, and settling beside each other on the couches and floor to delight in other worlds by reading for hours.  This was the most important part of our home education.  The quiet, scholarly devotion to learning from books was invaluable. This was the slow-paced foundation of our academy at home.

Looking back, I dearly miss those early years of homeschooling. I really must find some classic literature to read to my last student (age 14) before our homeschooling years fade away entirely.

Blessings
Mrs. White

Passing on the Legacy  - A Homemaking Lesson Learned from Mother White.


A lovely way To start the morning with a Formal - Breakfast at Home.

Need help with Homeschooling? - Index of stories and ideas from our School at Home.

Tweet




An Invitation - Subscribe to The Legacy of Home and have it delivered directly to your email.  I would also love to have you connect with me on Facebook and Twitter!

Homeschooling Stories and Ideas - Index of Articles

I started homeschooling in 1990. Things are so different now! We have more resources, more curriculum choices, and the public is generally more accepting of this kind of education.

My five children were homeschooled from pre-school through high school. My oldest (now 23) has graduated college. My second child, (now 22) has completed 3 and 1/2 years of college. My 18 year old and 16 year old have finished school with me, and have gone on to experience life in the working world!  I am currently teaching my youngest, who is 14 years old, and has a slight learning disability.

Through the years, I have kept to a very basic teaching philosophy that has stood the test of time. I have mostly used 1800's school books, including the McGuffey Readers, and Ray's Arithmetic. I have also used all kinds of curriculum from various publishers.

My children are not Harvard - bound geniuses, they are average and normal, like their father and I.  However, they are extremely creative, inventive and have amazing life skills.

Through the years, and with seasons of change, I have adjusted our homeschooling plans. There is no fixed right or wrong way. We all need to be flexible and make changes as often as necessary. Sometimes what works for one child, will not work for another.

The following are a list of stories and memories of our homeschooling experiences. There are also a few articles that share ideas and encouragement for your own home school. 

This index of articles will be updated, so keep checking back!

Socialization:

How My Children Learned Social Skills. (Fun memories of their daily lives!)


Teaching Reading and Writing:

Efficient Teaching Ideas - Using the 1800's McGuffey Readers.

Efficient Teaching Ideas - Creative Writing using the 1800's Websters Dictionary.

Efficient Teaching Ideas - Teach Proofreading and Editing in a fun and easy way!


Teaching Math:

Efficient Teaching Ideas - Using Ray's Arithmetic (1800's) and an Amish Math book for Mental Math.

Chalkboard Math for Teenagers.

The History of our Financial Lives


The Bad Days:


When Mama Falls Asleep on the job. (A Very busy day!)



Life Skills:

Teaching Life Skills to Sons. (Memories of working with one of my Sons.)

Teaching Home Economics to Daughters. (A Series of Posts.)

Homeschool Schedule for a Teenager. (A Look at one Possibility)

An Easy Way to Prepare a Homeschool Student for College. (What we've done.)




Daily Life:

Education Must Not Be Rushed.

Homeschooling Today at the White House.

The Last Years of Homeschooling.

School at Home without a Lesson Plan.

Homeschooling as a Way of Life. (Preventing Burnout.)

The Little School at Home.

The Mailbox in the House. (A Special way of communicating when busy.)

Mother as the Coach.  (The sum of motherhood and homeschooling.)

Home Studies in the Evening Hours. (With a new baby in the house, and not much time.)


Tweet



An Invitation - Subscribe to The Legacy of Home and have it delivered directly to your email.

School at Home without a Lesson Plan

I love the image of old schoolhouses in early American History. There were many brilliant teachers who did an outstanding job educating our children, using such great books as the McGuffey Readers.

Yet, in most of our homes, copying the method of those historic schools just isn't reality. We are home with our families and have children of all ages, or perhaps only one child.  We have chores and responsibilities that take up most of our time.  It would be impractical for me to run a little school at home.

Ma Ingalls was a teacher before she married.  She owned the hardcover schoolbooks her own children needed.  In times of isolation, and when there were no schools, she took on the task of teaching her children with those classic books. She managed to fit this in around chores, caring for the house, husband and children. She made it a gentle part of their lives.

I have been a homeschooling teacher for more than 2 decades. I have graduated children and am currently homeschooling only one child - a teenage boy with learning disabilities.  I have given up on traditional methods of home education and am taking a slower approach. There is no rush for this child to graduate. He is on the road of life-long learning.

I teach without a lesson plan.

Instead, I take his stack of books and he works through most of them on his own. I help him with some of the subjects and correct his work.

I don't judge his progress by how many pages he finished, or which subjects he covered. I judge his progress on the improvement of skills and an increased knowledge.

At the end of each day, I take my Class Lesson Planner, and write down what he did, not what he was supposed to do. I use the book in my own way, not necessarily the way it was intended. And it works wonders for us.    I write down notes about his achievements and his struggles. It is like a short diary of his education.  It gives us a visual record of what he has accomplished.

Each Mother/ Teacher must find her own way of educating her children. There is no set rule.  Making it as pleasant and stress-free as possible is something we must always strive for.

Blessings
Mrs. White

When Mother Settles Down - A Cozy Morning at The White House.

Do I do Enough? - What I Learned from My Husband's Weariness.

A Precious Memory of - The Mailbox in the House.


Tweet



An Invitation - Subscribe to The Legacy of Home and have it delivered directly to your email.

Plans for a Special Day at Home

I was sitting in the parlour when the sun came up this morning. It was like a slow burst of gentle light through the drapes. The house is quiet and cozy.

 I am sitting here planning all the lovely homemaking tasks I want to do this morning. I only wish I could wake up even earlier each day!

I will make meatloaf for the children to enjoy this afternoon. I will also bake muffins and prepare fudge. I will clean and tidy, while chatting with the children, as they go about their day.

I will play games with my darlings, at the table, and do puzzles. We will play cards and Boggle and checkers. We will sit in our favorite chairs and read books, while sipping on hot chocolate and eating freshly baked treats.

We have taken the day off from formal school to enjoy a precious, unhurried day at home. It will be an ideal day of cheerfulness at our old Vermont estate.

Blessings
Mrs. White

We all need Domestic Incentives.

The Essential - Housewife Contract.

Homeschooling - Education Must Not Be Rushed.



Tweet



An Invitation - Subscribe to The Legacy of Home and have it delivered directly to your email.

Log Cabins For Sale

A Great Thanksgiving Resource from Hal and Melanie Young

Book - We Gather Together - Sanity and Celebration at Thanksgiving. (66 page E - book)

Authors - Hal and Melanie Young


Price - $7.50

This helpful book contains the Young's Thanksgiving menu, recipes, fabulous cooking tips, forms and ideas to make your Thanksgiving go smoothly. You'll also find history lessons and encouragement to help your family make the most of the Spiritual opportunities available on this special Holiday.

I printed out their menu, some of their recipes and their suggested "Order of Events."  I also printed out the history lessons. I plan to read some of these to the children during the morning of Thanksgiving, while we we are preparing food, enjoying snacks and waiting for the main meal.  I also love the idea of Thanksgiving songs and never even realized this was possible. The Youngs have included some wonderful songs, including "We Gather Together," which has a clickable link so you can hear the song for yourself.

I was inspired by Melanie's menu because it added a simple, loving touch to the festivities. The entire book reminded me of a detailed program for an important event. I loved it!

Here is what I am going to do today, as a homeschooling project with my teenager (currently my only student):

1. We will decorate and design a Thanksgiving Menu.
2. We will create place settings for all of our guests.
3. We will start baking and preparing some of the foods.
4. We will begin reading some of the stories from the Young's book.

The book has inspired a few ideas of my own:

5.  I might create a small program booklet for each guest to take home with them.
6.  I am seriously considering having everyone sign a guestbook.

As for tomorrow, I plan to use the book as a guide to help make the day extra special.  I will read Abraham Lincoln's Proclamation of Thanksgiving (from page 24) and several other selections from the book.

Overall I have never come across such a wonderful resource, and am thankful for the Youngs dedication in putting this book together.

Blessings
Mrs. White


*Disclosure - I received this book for review purposes.*

To find out more about my commercial breaks, please see my disclosure page.

Tweet


An Invitation - Subscribe to The Legacy of Home and have it delivered directly to your email.

The Last Years of Homeschooling

When my five children were younger, we would gather around the kitchen table for our studies. There was a healthy competition among them. They wanted to see who could shout out the answers first - in subjects like math, spelling and geography.

I would give them a writing assignment - something fun. They would head off into different rooms, smiling, wanting to come up with the BEST story. When they were all finished, they would come back into the room, eager to read their creation to the other children.

Those were the days when homeschooling was easier. Now that I am only teaching one student - my youngest at 14, there is no competition to help motivate and inspire him.

Our schooldays are more quiet. We sit together and do his assignments. He often studies on his own, completing much of his homework without me. He also does some of his work on the computer.  It is a strange new experience.

I miss seeing all the children at the table, excited about their writing projects, or happy to finish their math. We have entered a new phase in our home - the last years of homeschooling - and it is difficult to adjust.

I would love to hear some creative ideas from you mothers who are homeschooling only one student. Will you share your stories and ideas?

Blessings
Mrs. White


Creating A Restaurant Style Breakfast at Home.

I am Just a Regular Mom.

Hard Times - How The Old Time Mothers Survived Poverty.


Tweet



An Invitation - Subscribe to The Legacy of Home and have it delivered directly to your email.

Pajama School - Giveaway

Book - Pajama School - stories from the life of a homeschool graduate

Author - Natalie Wickham

Paperback, 330 pages




This delightful book was written by a talented author who is a homeschool graduate. She shares her childhood memories of family life, adventures and education.

Here are some highlights:

- She spent part of her childhood in Germany!

- She and her family had lunch with Doug Phillips!

- She and her siblings were charmingly creative and ran several offices (home businesses) in their basement for fun!

- When things got very difficult, and homeschool lessons were harder to finish, real life lessons were learned by all.

- She worked as a Page at the State Capital in Topeka.

 I have had the most lovely time reading Natalie's story! I was able to get ideas for my own homeschool. I was also encouraged to see how she turned out! I could relate to the trials her mother experienced at home, trying to cope with new babies, hardship and such, while trying to educate her children.

There was one section in the book, in particular, that greatly encouraged me. Her parents had a system, from the time the children were young, to teach them about money. Some of their ideas are similar to mine, but theirs are even more creative. At one point, I thought her Father was being a little mean, expecting the children to pay for too much, with their own hard earned money! But as she described her growing up years and her experiences with finances, I was greatly relieved and realized how essential a financial education is for our children. Her parents did an excellent job!

Natalie has a sweet, godly heart. I was inspired by her experiences as a graduate. I love how she prayed over decisions. I was encouraged by her shortcomings and her honesty in the things she worked on changing, with God's help. She is a normal person, from a good Christian home. And she has normal trials, just like the rest of us.

The book is written as an autobiography. Her memories and stories are enjoyable, entertaining and informative. I hope she writes another book soon!

The Giveaway

How would you like a chance to win your own autographed copy of "Pajama School"?  Natalie has generously offered one in a giveaway. 

All you have to do is leave me a comment, sharing your favorite homeschooling memory.

For additional Entries:

1. Post about this on Facebook. (Share the link to your post in a comment.)

2. Post about this on Twitter. (Share the link to your post in a comment.)

3. Write a post, linking to this giveaway, on your own Blog. (This is worth 3 entries. Please leave 3 separate comments.)

4. Become a Public Follower through Google Friend Connect, or let me know if you are already a follower.

5. Choose to "Like" Natalie on Facebook.

*Please leave a separate comment for each entry.*

One random winner we be selected on Monday, July 18, 2011. (U.S.  Entries only.) If I am unable to reach the winner within 48 hours, an alternate winner will be selected. Your entry is only valid if you include a way for me to contact you. 

This contest is closed. The winner is Tristan.

*Disclosure -  I received this book for review purposes.*

Want a chance to win more presents? Please visit my giveaway page.

To find out more about my commercial breaks, please see my disclosure page.

Tweet


An Invitation - Subscribe to The Legacy of Home and have it delivered directly to your email.

Education Must Not Be Rushed

In my little homeschool, I have gotten in the habit of rushing our lessons. We had errands to do. We wanted to relax in the afternoons. We wanted to hurry and finish our work. I would be too tired later and wanted to rest. So we hurried.

But yesterday, I slowed down. I started a new schedule. We were to have school from 9 a.m to 4 p.m. We would have a one - hour lunch break. We would have short breaks throughout the day.

Yesterday, great things happened.

My 13 year old (dyslexic) son took the time to research and study. He relaxed over his lessons. He did not dawdle, thinking he couldn't wait to finish, or daydream about what he could do instead. He actually studied and learned and made me proud.

It made me remember the old days of our homeschool. We spent hours in the library. We read and we searched and we relaxed. We learned without rushing.  Education was everything.

I think of great scholars who lean over their books with a curious mind. They want to learn. They are eager to learn. They get excited about knowledge.

I also learned that, just like small children need a bedtime story to settle down to sleep, my student needs to have a quiet, enjoyable lesson to ease him into his assignments. I read to him about the pioneers in the 1800s. Then I ask questions. Then he does his math. We work at his pace. We work slowly and steadily. We learn that school requires effort. It requires concentration and focus. We also learn that weekends and holidays are far more appreciated when we labor in our books all week long.



Blessings
Mrs. White

The Old McGuffey Readers - Efficient Teaching Ideas for Busy Homeschooling Mothers.

A precious idea - The Mailbox in the House.

Clean Your House in just 2 Hours a Day!





Tweet


An Invitation - Subscribe to The Legacy of Home and have it delivered directly to your email.

As For Me and My House - Giveaway and a Homeschooling Link-Up

 

Welcome to the last day of my open house party.

Today is about homeschooling. I have been teaching my children at home for more than 2 decades. I am now old and tired. (smiles) So after this party, I'll clean up the mess and enjoy a long rest this weekend!

I want to tell you about a great new book, by homeschooling author, Elizabeth Wiens. You'll even have a chance to win your own signed copy!

Then we can talk about homeschooling in today's link up.

The Book - As For Me and My House (A Novel) by Elizabeth Wiens. This is the sequel to Bringing Them Home, which I loved!

Publisher - OakTara

Paperback, over 200 pages.

In this realistic story, we are back with the Knight Family. We watch as the children enter the teen years. David and Cassy continue to search Scripture for answers and guidance in teaching their children at home.

Here are some of the things they encounter:

1. Worldliness and modernism in youth groups.

2. Should their oldest daughter attend college?

3. Is traditional dating okay for Christians?

4. Volunteer jobs at a local crisis preganancy center.

5. Apprenticing a son, by having him work with Dad.


I love their approach to test things out, pray and see where it leads, rather than making snap decisions. I greatly appreciated seeing how real emotions and problems appeared throughout the difficult times.

Cassy has the best homeschooling ideas! I loved reading her creative teaching methods and how well it worked with her children. The parents kept their teenagers very busy with projects, work and homeschooling.

If you've ever wondered what a conservative Christian homeschooling family was like, or wanted to understand how it worked during the teen years,  you will love this story!

Elizabeth is an excellent writer. I trust and respect her work. I hope she writes many more books!

The Giveaway

Elizabeth has sent me an autographed copy of her book for one of my readers. Would you like a chance to win? All you have to do is leave me a comment, telling me your thoughts on home education.

For additional Entries:

1. Post about this on Facebook.

2. Post about this on Twitter.

3. Follow me on Twitter.

4. Write a post, linking to this giveaway, on your own Blog. (This is worth 3 entries. Please leave 3 separate comments.)

5. Become a Public Follower through Google Friend Connect, or let me know if you are already a follower.

6. Choose to "Like" The Legacy of Home on Facebook.

7. Subscribe in an email to The Legacy of Home Blog.

*Please leave a separate comment for each entry.*

One random winner we be selected on Thursday, June 23, 2011. (U.S.  Entries only.) If I am unable to reach the winner within 48 hours, an alternate winner will be selected. Your entry is only valid if you include a way for me to contact you. 

This contest is closed. The winner is:

Very Blessed Mamma

*Disclosure - I received this book for review purposes.*

To find out more about my commercial breaks, please see my disclosure page.

Now for the Link - UP!

We are currently struggling with hot summer days and trying to keep our year-round homeschooling schedule. We took several days off, but will get back to work on Monday. Are you homeschooling? I'd love to hear your tips, stories, and plans! All you have to do is write a post on your blog. Then come back here to link-up!


Be sure to link back to this page, so we can visit one another during this open house celebration!




Thanks so much for participating!

Blessings
Mrs. White

Tweet


An Invitation - Subscribe to The Legacy of Home and have it delivered directly to your email.