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Homeschool Grad 2015 – Proud Homeschool Momma

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

{Warning: Proud homeschool daddy and momma here with lots of happy tears. Viewing these pictures can be a bit icky to look over as all I have going through my mind is that this is the last time for Mr. Awesome’s  “last day of school pictures”. See, I already have tears!}

Homeschool Grad 2015 @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Mr. Awesome 2 @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Such a good looking homeschool graduate.

Mr. Awesome 3 @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Forget my flat hair as Ecuadorean weather can’t be predicted and we had rain, but somehow that didn’t matter as we hired a professional photographer and went dashing all over Cuenca for photos.Mr. Awesome 4 @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

And of course there is no shortage for beautiful places here to take memorable graduation pictures.

Mr. Awesome 5 @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool PlusToo, somehow things turn out just like they should be despite all my worrying.

Mr. Awesome 7 @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

I always say this to you, which is that each kid is different, but somehow I forget my own advice.

Mr. Awesome 8 @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Mr. Awesome didn’t want the official cap and gown photo. I had looked all over everywhere here to find one.  But I forgot one simple thing, just ask him.

He didn’t want a cap and gown or photo like Mr. Senior 2013 did.

Like the rain that day (unplanned), it somehow fit perfectly with what happened in our homeschool journey as we had a day of reflecting.

Mr. Awesome 9 @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Somehow things just turn out better and like they should even when unplanned things happen.

Mr. Awesome 10 @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

As a mom and especially at such a momentous time as graduation, you want it memorable for your child.

Mr. Awesome 11 @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool PlusWhere one kid may want to celebrate one way, the next kid wants to do certain other things like taking traditional pictures here in South America.

Mr. Awesome 12 @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

So he embraced  the life that we are living right now.

Mr. Awesome 13 @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

And spent the day savoring the surroundings we do have which are truly unique.

Mr. Awesome 15 @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus And where Mr. Senior 2013 was a bit more traditional, Mr. Awesome 2015 is not.

As a mom I just embraced it for the day and it was his day.

Mr. Awesome 16 @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

This dad and grad picture is priceless because it’s one Mr. Awesome wanted.

Mr. Awesome 17 @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

And yes, he wanted this one too of proud mom and grad.

Mr. Awesome 18 @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Despite the rain,  bit of cold weather and wet, Mr. Awesome 2015 is just who he is, the sweet baby that didn’t worry about reading or all that academic stuff, but turned out embracing it all in his time.

Finding the right dose of humor and easygoingness was the key to homeschooling this son.

Mr. Awesome 19 @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Congratulations Trever, mom loves you and we are all so proud of you!

Hope you enjoyed this special day of family photos and I can’t wait to share pictures of our party!

Hugs and love ya

Tina Signature 2015c

If you want to see the pictures of my first homeschool graduate Mr. Senior 2013 look at my 10 Days of Planning a Homeschool High School Graduation.

Homeschool Organization – Preschool/Kindergarten Free Morning Routine Flip Cards

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Homeschool Organization

Homeschool organization is something that should be fun. Even the sweetest littlest homeschooler deserves fun and cool organizing tools. Look at my other tips for how to homeschool kindergarten.

And this is one organizing tool that I wished I had when my boys were in the preschool and Kindergarten years.

It is only after training them that I can look back and see what would have worked and teaching homeschool organization starts from the very beginning.

Guess what? You get the benefit of what I know now and I am so excited to share these morning routine flip cards.

Mr. Senior 2013 following his rouinte @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus. Homeschool Organization - Preschool/Kindergarten Free Morning Routine Flip Cards

{I surprised Mr. Senior 2013 as I caught him following his routine and hanging up his shirt. He was 3 years old here.}

The printable is based off the chore or routine that my boys did or that I was training them to do.

Too, I moved away from calling them a chore chart because it was more of training my boys to follow a routine. 

I wanted them to see what came next in the morning and learn to follow it.

Though I used many chore charts on the wall, a flip card on an “O” ring was a much better idea because they flipped the card as they were finished and were ready for the next day.

Hang the O ring cards on a hook in their room and not much wall space is required.

Homeschool Organization Preschool Morning Routine @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

23 Things that can be included in the Morning Routine for a Preschooler or Kindergartener

Look at these things that a preschooler or Kindergartener can do to help around the house and create a routine too.

It’s the best way to start teaching homeschool organization. This is the age that most kids love to learn new things and want to help you around the house.

Again, all of these are based off my chore charts I created through the years and I have added my list here for you.

  • make their bed
  • toilet paper call or refill the toilet paper roll or add more underneath the cabinet
  • get ready for the Bible read aloud
  • hang their clothes up
  • water the plants
  • computer time
  • feed the dog/pets
  • practice or listen to music
  • brush their teeth
  • empty trash baskets
  • fold their clothes and put away in the drawer
  • eat breakfast
  • put their books away in their bookshelf
  • put their toys away
  • sweep
  • set the table
  • take their dirty clothes to the laundry room on wash day
  • fold clothes
  • help wash dishes or work outside
  • change out the hand towel in the bathrooms
  • dusting
  • unload part of the dishwasher
  • wipe down counters, walls and/or baseboards

With all this being said, I did make the mistake of making my list too big each day.

I learned that 5 things to do each day was enough to help train my boys.

So I created these flip cards with only five spaces on each day.

Creating Routine Flip Cards for the Littlest Homeschooler

Here is how to use them:

  • I created 2 sets of flip cards so that the days can be mixed and matched for more than one child.
  • There are 7 days with the names of  the days of the weeks.
  • At the top of the card for each day is a happy face for them to mark off if they completed the routine.  There is a sad face too but hopefully you won’t need to use that picture.
  • There are two pages of pictures for you to cut out and glue on the correct day.

One reason I didn’t add the pictures to the flip cards is because the routine changes each day. 

Also, when my boys were that young and ready to climb in my lap, we would read aloud first.

Bed making didn’t come until after they ate breakfast and brushed their teeth.

Each child is different and your routine is different from mine because you know your child.

So you choose which 5 things that you want your child to do each day. One day they may begin with watering the plants and the next day you may want them to take their laundry to the laundry room on wash day.

  • After you print out how many of each page that you need, glue them on each day of the week and laminate it.
  • Then punch a hole and put it on a O ring. The beauty of this is too that your child can hold it and walk around with it. Then flip it to the next day and they are ready for the routine of the next day.

This is what I have found ideal after I trained my boys and it is what I would have preferred.

I was only able to do this with my last son but then again, my printable skills were not so hot then, but I still created it.

I hope you can use the printable I have now made and will enjoy many years using them.

Download the free printable routine flip cards here.

Hugs and love ya,

Also, check out:

The Great Homeschool Hoax – Public School At Home?

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Like a lot of new homeschoolers, I too just copied the public school system in everything from keeping a similar schedule, to curriculum selection, and even testing my first child, Mr. Senior 2013.

Public School at Home

You see, I was doing public school at home.

I hadn’t embraced the freedom that homeschooling offered. I was afraid.

I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to lesson plan, to teach all of my children at one time, that my children were going to be behind, that I needed testing for grade placement, that my kids need other children their age and that I would totally fail them as an educator.

The Great Homeschool Hoax – Public School At Home. Understanding the two COMPLETELY different approaches is key by Tina Robertson

Did I mention I even had feelings of guilt questioning myself if I was a good mother?

Why do we do that as moms?

I agree that today is so much more easier to homeschool because of all the resources available to us.

However, in one particular way homeschooling was easier way back when because homeschoolers then grasped the full meaning of homeschooling.

About 10 years or so ago, public school at home providers popped up and became popular.

The meaning of homeschooling has become obscured because these companies tout that they support homeschooling. They may or may not.

Can You Really Have One Foot in Homeschool and One in Public School?

Until you let go of the public school at home mentality which models everything after the public school and where you are only assisting your children at home while somebody else teaches them, you will never embrace the freedom homeschooling offers.

Public School at Home Characteristics

  • biggest difference – government controlled
  • normally offered online
  • have testing required
  • have parent and teacher conferences
  • maintain a public school schedule
  • curriculum is put together by educational consultants even though public school at home touts that you as the parent choose readers or have some choice. You may or may not.
  • can be accredited
  • tout they are free because they are public school and public school is free
  • have a teacher assigned to your child
  • a curriculum is one grade level straight across the board a/k/a boxed curriculum or one size fits all.
  • mostly uses textbooks. Some online school use only textbooks while others throw in a few classical readers.
  • schedule is set up to complete on their timetable. Though many programs offer flexibility because they are government controlled, schedules have to be maintained.

If this sounds like the arrangement you just left, then why would you want to repeat it at home?

Homeschool Characteristics

  • biggest difference – parent controlled
  • you can choose all online curriculum, part physical books or mix and match
  • testing becomes the right of the parent who knows the child best and understands that a test is nothing more than a tool
  • conferences are not needed because as the tutor of your children you know what they’re learning. Even if you just begin to homeschool, it doesn’t take long for you to know exactly which subjects your child excels in and which subjects he will need support for.
  • your schedule is adopted based on your family’s needs and not based on an outdated school schedule, which was set up based on a society that was much more agricultural than our society is today.  If schooling year round suits your family, you simply begin and don’t need approval by a governmental agency.
  • curriculum is put together by a parent because she knows the child the best. If the curriculum is not working, it can be changed on a dime. Being in control doesn’t mean you can’t use something laid out by another company, but then that is your choice.
  • accreditation is no longer a term which homeschoolers fear because they know it doesn’t have anything to do with the value of an education. Be sure to read my article, Accreditation – Removing the Shroud of Mystery.
  • homeschoolers know that public school at home is not free. It may be cost-free, but given up freedom like control, having stressful deadlines for testing and parent teacher conferences cost.  Many homeschool educuators give up well-paying jobs because their desire to stay home with their kids is greater than their desire to pursue a career they may even be passionate about.  They know that homeschooling for excellence doesn’t always mean having the most expensive curriculum though they are willing to sacrifice other things if a pricier curriculum is better. Be sure to read my article, Is Homeschooling Expensive? Check out this Essential Guide in How to Homeschool Well on a Budget.
  • children are tutored one-to-one by their parents. Reports show that parents play a major role in their child having above normal intelligence when tutored.
  • the parent stays in control of whether they should purchase a grade level in a box or mix and match grade levels adjusted to the child’s natural abilities.
  • homeschool families don’t have to settle for a few well placed classical or living books placed into a curriculum, but can choose living books consistently.
  • the homeschool schedule is completely flexible to adjust to the needs of the family each year.

There is not anything that the public school at home approaches offers that an informed and hardworking educator at home can’t overcome.

If it’s structure you crave, then choose a laid out program where you are not having constant interference from an outside source.

If you need a more budget friendly curriculum be sure to check out my post Digital Homeschool Curriculum – Big Ol’ List.

Pursuing sports, music, art or any other extra curricular involvement is done easier when you set up your schedule to fit your children’s passion.

Being in control of my children’s education is one of the most satisfying and fulfilling jobs as a mother and parent I ever could have.

We were never promised it would be easy in raising our children, but they are blessings.

What we are assured of is that we will be provided with what we need to aim our children at their targets.

I have been blessed over and over many times, but not without some tears shed, lots of elbow grease, lots of prayers and a dogged determination to stick to what is best for my family. You can too!

Don’t forget so easily what many homeschoolers who homeschooled in the past knew, which is that homeschooling is a precious and extraordinary way of education that doesn’t mix with any other approach.

Look at some of these other resources that will help you to stick to the homeschooling approach.

Hugs and love ya,

The Great Homeschool Hoax - Public School at Home @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Homeschool Learning Styles

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Understanding homeschool learning styles can mean the different between head butting or propelling ahead in your homeschool. Here at Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool Plus, I have many tips to help you determine what is your child’s learning style.

Over 20 years ago, I not only started educating myself on the value of learning styles but helped other homeschool parents and my children to understand their learning style.

I remember reading a Swahili proverb that said “The greatest good we can do for others is not just to share our riches with them, but to reveal their riches to themselves.”

Best Homeschool Learning Styles Tips

For example, recognizing a need helps to identify a way to succeed. 

Learning styles are similar.

Educate a child about his strengths and weakness

When a child has a talent, we are quick to expand on that?

However, when a child has a weakness, we can equally be eager to help him understand tips in how to deal with his weaknesses.

Learning styles imply refers to a personality, the way a person likes to learn and the subjects he likes to learn.

Cathy Duffy is queen when it comes to helping us to understand learning styles.

Up until the time she coined the terms Perfect Paul, Sociable Sue, Wiggly Willy and Competent Carla, only trained professionals could understand what a concrete sequential learner was versus an abstract thinking learner. Uh? Sometimes they couldn’t understand either. That’s just between us though.

Also, much has been said about using the right or left side of our brain as the dominant side.

left brain drawing by Eden
right brain drawing by Eden
{Drawings Copyright Eden @ geeden blogspot} Please Pin from original source.

Why Your Child’s Learning Personality is Important

Because teaching styles are only part of choosing curriculum easily, I’ve included a link to my online course Identifying Your Homeschooled Childs Learning Personality.

How to Determine the Best Learning Styles Approach for Your Child? Determining the best learning style approach is much easier when you know about homeschool learning styles. A learning style is not something I thought about when I started homeschooling or even when my kids were struggling. However, had I taken time to learn what is the best learning style for each of my children, I would have saved myself unnecessary stress.

YOU WILL LEARN:

  • How to understand the way your child prefers to learn so that you can teach him in a way that he enjoys learning;
  • How to pinpoint your child’s learning personality;
  • A starting point in understanding (barring any special learning challenges or disabilities) and accepting your child’s preferred way of taking in information;
  • Understanding when the learning personality emerges; and
  • Teaching tips for each learning personality to stop the head-butting.

Too, much has been written about encouraging children to use both sides of their brain in a balanced way.

However, while I believe we should encourage use of both the analytical and creative sides, I also know we’re born with natural bents.

These natural bents are our personality or learning style.

Like a default setting, we can’t always reset it.

However, as homeschool educators we want to teach a child to use his strengths and to understand why he may struggle in other subjects.

How Homeschool Approaches Can be Aligned to Learning Styles

Too, we know there are many homeschool approaches in the homeschool world.

I’ve learned through my many years of homeschooling that approaches can be matched to learning styles.

But first, it’s important to determine what is your learning style and your child’s learning style.

How to Match Curriculum With Learning Style

Then, one of the most important reasons to understand learning styles is to help you make better choices when choosing curriculum.

Furthermore, the workbook, worktext, approach matches a learning style that normally does well in an academic setting.

Best Homeschool Learning Styles Tips
Homeschooling Learning Styles What's The Difference Anyway @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Gunfight at O.K. Corral – American History through the Life of Wyatt Earp

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

We continued on with some writing about the gunfight at the OK Corral. Also, look at Free American History Lapbook The Old West Through the Life of Wyatt Earp.

We are focusing on our study of American history through the life of Wyatt Earp. 

The gunfight at O.K. Corral is probably one of the most legendary events in American history but it only lasted about thirty seconds long.

Gunfight at O.K. Corral - American History through the Life of Wyatt Earp

Gunfight at OK Corral

On October 26, 1881 in Tombstone, Arizona, a gunfight started at O.K. Corral.

Close to 3:00 p.m., three lawmen, Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp, and brothers Virgil and Morgan went looking for cattle thieves, Ike and Billy Clanton along with the McLaurys.

Gunfight at O.K. Corral - American History through the Life of Wyatt Earp

Too, the gunfight wasn’t at the corral but was at a vacant lot. After the gunfight broke out Tom McLaury and Billy Clanton were dead.

Public opinion was divided as to whom started the fight.

Whatever the facts about the most famous gunfight in American history, it certainly is an exciting enough topic for Tiny to summarize and write about.

Gunfight at the O.K. Corral story and about Tombstone Arizona minibook @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus 1
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral story and about Tombstone Arizona minibook @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus 2 - Copy

So I created the minibook Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.

Too, this a popular enough topic in American history that there are many references for your child to research.

Gunfight at the OK Corral & About Tombstone Arizona minbooks @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Have your child fill in the information he has gathered.

Fold in half vertically and glue the cover on the front outside.

Gunfight at the O.K. Corral story and about Tombstone Arizona minibook @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus 2

Too, the founding of  Tombstone, Arizona is an interesting read and especially about how it got its name.

So I created a mini flip book about the founding of Tombstone, Arizona.

Again, there is no shortage of websites about this famous place in American history.

Research about the founding of Tombstone, Arizona and about Ed Schieffelin.

Have your child write in his research at the bottom insert piece and then glue that into the minibook cover (pictured on top).

Fold over and keep because you know we are not finished.

We have several more minibooks coming as we plod along on this unit study.

Since we already have done a few hands-on activities about the everyday life, we will be working on minibooks next about life during the time of Wyatt Earp and we are ready to write up some quick facts about Earp also.

We are really loving the angle we took on this unit study to learn more about American history. I love it because Tiny is engaged and he loves it because he can write about guns. (okay, okay)

MORE ACTIVITIES FOR LEARNING ABOUT WYATT EARP AND THE COWBOYS

Gunfight at O.K. Corral - American History through the Life of Wyatt Earp
Gunfight at O.K. Corral - American History through the Life of Wyatt Earp
Gunfight at O.K. Corral - American History through the Life of Wyatt Earp
Gunfight at O.K. Corral - American History through the Life of Wyatt Earp
Gunfight at O.K. Corral - American History through the Life of Wyatt Earp
Gunfight at O.K. Corral - American History through the Life of Wyatt Earp
Gunfight at O.K. Corral - American History through the Life of Wyatt Earp

HOW TO GET THE FREE WYATT EARP LAPBOOK, NOTEBOOKING PAGES & BOARD GAME

Update: The lapbook is now complete. Download all the freebies below.

  • Art cards by Frederic Remington about Wyatt Earp
  • Cover pages for the outside of notebooking pages 1800s and 1900s. Look here how to fold ordinary worksheets to interactive minibooks.
  • 8 Features of the SW United States
  • The 4 Southwestern states
  • American History during the Life of Wyatt Earp 1800s notebooking page
  • American History during the Life of Wyatt Earp 1900s notebooking pages
  • Who was Wyatt Earp
  • Who were the Cowboys
  • Who Was Doc Holliday
  • Gunfight at the O.K. Corral Tombstone, Arizona – About Tombstone – Ed Schieffelin
  • Printable Game with Game Pieces – The Most Famous Shoot Out – Gunfight at O.K. Corral

Now, how to grab the free lapbook. This is a subscriber freebie.

 1) Sign up on my list.

2) Grab the freebie now.

3) Last, look for all my emails in your inbox. Glad to have you following me!