My Dilemma as a Homeschooling Mom

I spent a couple days planning our 2nd half of the year science- Astronomy. I’ve found some books that probably will help, as well as some websites. Here’s the thing- we are off of school this week so the plan doesn’t start until Monday.

I got the books and they are in plain view, easy to get to and look at. I don’t want to lock books up, saying, “No, these are for this and that when we do it at this specific time.” Books are encouraged. So of course one of my kiddos {the other’s to busy with other reading} reads through them- all of them.

While I love that they love to read and explore and all that- they don’t like to do it for school. I’m really hoping {actually praying} that the attitude will still be one of excitement and wonder when we start on Monday. Otherwise, it will all have been ‘learned’ in a day and quickly forgotten, to never appear again.

Now, the books I’m referring to are primarily picture books and they are below either of my kids’ reading level. The other books I have are much more ‘boring’ and primarily text {and I hope not too above their reading level!}.

I’ve never really thought that unschooling would work with us- we wouldn’t truly focus as we would need to to learn what we need to. Legos is not all there is to an education; and no, adding in Minecraft doesn’t balance it out.

So my dilemma is …how am I going to keep them {or at least the one} ‘into’ the Astronomy when we get started since he will have ‘learned’ about it already? I don’t have an answer but I’m trying to stretch myself- and them in the meantime- by including notebooking that will include writing and drawing. Using Charlotte Mason for our school sometimes feels like there is ‘nothing to show’ for what we do and learn. Since I’m not personally an out-of-the-box thinker, I’m relying on others- such as SchoolhouseTeachers.com Everyday Astronomy, Homeschool Launch premade notebooking pages, and a few blogs (here’s one) that have some references to what we’re studying.

I want that initial excitement to carry on…for at least a little while- preferably the entire time! And I’m going to be doing all of the same exact work that they are going to be doing. There is no “I know more; I’m the teacher” deal here. I’ve found the resources and we’re all going to use them.

Anyway, my dilemma is how to get out of their heads what they are reading/learning when it’s not school time, and that they don’t share or seem to think is important other than when it’s not school.

Highlighting Links by Subject for Schooling- Sites of Interest for Learning/Teaching

Each week there will be a post {or two or three} highlighting some links that have been collected and compiled on the Links by Subject for Schooling page on my blog. At this point, I plan to go alphabetically through the subjects because that’s how I am but the websites most likely won’t be alphabetized…sorry for any confusion!

Sites of Interest

Sites for Teachers- a collection of websites where you can find resources for teaching. It was being ‘upgraded’ last I checked (it is still accessible and still works). FYI- I think it may be moving to a different page/site.

All My Faves/Education- this is a site with so many sites listed you'll just have to check it out to see how great it is! Not all the sites are free but I'm sure there are a lot!

CK-12- open content, the mission is to reduce the cost of textbook materials for the K-12 market both in the U.S. and worldwide. (Thanks to Laurie from 3RHomeschooling for the great resource!)

SAT Practice & 4Tests.com- FREE practice! (fyi- the 2nd one does have occasional unrelated pop-ups) 

Hippo Campus great site for upper grades (rising middle schoolers through high school) features Algebra*, Statistics, US History, American Government, Biology, Calculus*, Environmental Science, Physics, Psychology, Religion *offered in Spanish also.

Those are some of the links for Sites of Interest for Learning/Teaching that have been collected. Stay tuned for more link ‘highlights’ every so often.