Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Activity, Change, Progress

Tina Robertson

2019 New Year New Goals Printable – MORE of this & LESS of this

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

Today, I have ready the 2019 New Year Goals Free Printable.

I love this form because it not only reminds me to keep goal setting simple and not pen in a lot of goals so that I can reach them, but most important I remind myself to have Less of This.

It’s important to remind myself that some things I need to let go.

I don’t want to have pie in the sky goals, but to be reminded to homeschool and live simply.

New Year New Goals

I can only do that when I let go of things that are not working at the end of the year.

For some years, the goals have been to be less critical of myself, to be less hard on my kids, or to be less judgmental.

As homeschoolers we’re constantly criticizing ourselves and can be our own worst enemy when it comes to meeting goals. We push ourselves to do more and more.

Goal Setting Means Doing LESS OF THIS

I’ve learned doing more means that I have to let go of something. Different things can weigh me down. I mentioned being too critical of myself is one thing that holds me back.

Letting go each year or at least reminding myself to let go each year, I can start with a fresh slate.

Also, I am renewed to keep homeschooling.

Maybe this next year you need to do more of something which is productive. Just remember that being productive means doing less of something. It means making room for it.

What are you going to be doing LESS OF this next year?

It’s easy to fill out because it requires few words! Keep goal setting simple.

Grab this form in my Facebook Group!

(Note: This is a facebook group only freebie.
You know I love ya, but please do not email me letting me know that you don’t have facebook and asking me to email you the form.  I have special freebies for my loyal blog followers and I have freebies for facebook followers too. I appreciate your loyalty.

Also, you’ll love these awesome 2 page per month calendars and the other planners. You can see all the options here on STEP 2.  Choose Calendar/Appointment Keepers.

 

How to Teach Homeschool Preschool From the Inside Out (And Preschool Skills)

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

What does it mean to teach homeschool preschool from the inside out? Any change or growth whether it’s physical or mental starts from the root or inside and comes to the surface.  After 20+ years of homeschooling, I’ve come to appreciate deeply that teaching preschool is a similar approach.

I’ll give you a bird’s-eye view of preschool skills, but more than anything I want you to understand that unless you work from where your child is on the developmental rung and go up and out your teaching efforts could be in vain.

Even more important than perhaps wasting your time is that unintentionally you could be holding back your preschooler from higher learning instead of giving him a solid framework to build on. A hate of learning can then emerge with burn out in only second grade. You can avoid it. I’ll show you how to put the odds in your favor of succeeding at homeschooling from the very beginning.

Homeschool Preschool First Things First

What does it mean to teach homeschool preschool from the inside out? Any change or growth whether it's physical or mental starts from the root or inside and comes to the surface.  After 20+ years of homeschooling, I've come to appreciate deeply that teaching preschool is a similar approach.

Most parents are overly worried about having a child that will be behind. It’s a valid concern. Key to reining in that fear is understanding how a preschooler learns. It’s differently than other ages.What I’ve learned after homeschooling three homeschool graduates and now helping to mentor my fourth preschooler is that foundation is everything. And the foundation at home looks a LOT different than public school with all of its research-based reports. More on that in a minute.

What does homeschool preschool curriculum look like?

I’ll say it once, okay, maybe not. I will say it many times. Homeschool preschool is not about worksheets. I know you’re wanting a guide. Some guideline to follow to be sure your child is on track is really useful.

Here is the problem with choosing structured formal curriculum. Most of it is not developmentally appropriate. A lot of curriculum use worksheets as the spine. A spine is the framework for which all learning is based. From the beginning, you can set up your preschooler to have problems because worksheets are not age appropriate.

That is a key phrase to remember when homeschooling preschool from the inside out. Why? Because kids this age learn primarily through play. They learn through being with YOU. They learn by you modeling what you want your preschooler to learn.

Your role is not just vital, but it’s essential in how a preschooler learns. Research-based reports can leave out that significant component.

Bottom line: You’re teaching pre-reading skills, pre-writing skills, learning through dramatization, fine and gross motor skills as well as a whole set of skills dealing with cognitive development.

At this age, a child needs to learn how to remember things, learn how to think about thinking which is also called meta-cognition (not as easy as one may think), along with how to plan, take care of their needs, and organize.

I’m don’t want to overwhelm you, but to empower you and inform you by pulling back and looking at this from a bird’s-eye view. Preschool skills like coloring and cutting aren’t a waste of time, but were valuable precursors to the beautiful cursive and handwriting my kids had later.

Repeating Old Goose nursery rhymes over, over, and over again are not foolish childhood dawdle and rereading the same Dr. Seuss book for what seems the fiftieth time are ways to train my kids to hear the subtle differences in words.

Without hearing the subtle differences in sound there will be spelling struggle later. Not making time to read aloud beautiful literature to a preschooler now could mean hitting a brick wall with a kid who is book hater.

Teaching preschool does not mean you shouldn’t have or use some laid out programs. I’m not saying that.

I will be sharing more of the components I hand picked for teaching preschool, but one I love is ABCmouse. You get ABCmouse.com – First Month Free – Click here!

Munch-King can do this on his own for short periods of time.

The key to remembering how to use it is that it means YOU teach and model. The program should recognize how a preschooler learns which is through play, hands-on, and moving.

Homeschool Preschool Foundations

What does it mean to go out on the developmental rung? Hint: It’s knowing the value of enrichment and not just skill-based teaching.

A colossal mistake of many homeschoolers is constantly pushing ahead to the next grade or level. They don’t know the immense value of pushing out and away from the same level a child is on.

It reminds me of how a tree naturally grows. As a tree is growing higher, it also widen flourishes out. That is the exact thing that should happen to kids as they grow.

What I want you to know is that unless a child has special needs, he will go up in his development. What he may not do without your guidance is go wide or branch out. Anything that does not grow out as it grows up is stunted.

Going sideways on the same rung is just as vital as going on to the next level. Here is why.

Not IF but WHEN a child has a slow time in development, he can still grow and be enriched on the same level he is at. This enrichment is vital to being a well-rounded learner. Slowing down is a natural way for a child’s mental development to catch up.

Enrichment is a test in self-respect, self-worth and pursuing passions. When kids are constantly graded or taught from a skill-based approach, they learn to compare their advancement to others.

Teaching a child how to learn from observing, experimenting, expanding, and deepening his knowledge on a topic gives him time to master it. Becoming a master scholar happens when a child is allowed to delve and dwell on topics at hand, but peer at them in a close up manner.

Bottom line: Homeschooling is self-education. Let me repeat that again – homeschooling is self-education.  A preschooler loves to learn, but as a child grows older his love for learning wanes. It doesn’t have to IF we allow them to explore trails, discover new twist and turns on information they already know. They are learning to self-educate. This skill will last them through to high school and beyond as they take a college or career track.

Homeschool Preschool Skills

Now that you understand how important it is to work with a child’s developmental stage, not set up a formal environment, and to allow a child to stay at his level until he feels mastery, you want to know what skills to teach a preschooler.

I’m sharing a few of the things I’m using as I watch for signs of developmental delays and developmental milestones. In addition, these help me to lay a foundation for Munch King’s next developmental level.

I’ll be sharing more of how I’m using them, but here is a partial list:

Also, look below at a good rule of thumb guide that I’m using. Remember, just like you waited for readiness before your child crawled or walked, this stage of learning is the same. Be ready with arms open to help him as he reaches for the next rung.

  • Context Clues
  • Visual Discrimination
  • Numbers
  • Phonics
  • Vocabulary
  • Rhyming Words
  • Comprehension
  • Fine Motor Skills
  • Counting
  • Graphing
  • Writing
  • Action Words
  • Gross motor skills
  • Simple chores
  • Explore the world around him
  • Music
  • Nature
How to Teach Homeschool Preschool From the Inside Out (And Preschool Skills). What does it mean to teach homeschool preschool from the inside out? Any change or growth whether it's physical or mental starts from the root or inside and comes to the surface.  After 20+ years of homeschooling, I've come to appreciate deeply that teaching preschool is a similar approach. CLICK HERE for the tips!

In some upcoming posts, I have some pointers to share on additional things we’re using for preschool to help you lay a foundation that is as unique as your child.

You’ve GOT this and I’ve GOT you all the way to High School and a bit beyond! With me?

You’ll also love these other tips:

Hugs and love ya,

100 Easy Ways Kids Can Fight Boredom & Celebrate Childhood

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

“I’m bored!” Two infamous words that make every parent cringe. It’s frustrating to hear our kids complain about having nothing to do. We immediately feel resentful and turn into our own parents hollering the phrases we swore we’d never say ourselves. How can you possibly be bored?! I’ll give you something to do!  Anybody else guilty of this?

I’ve rounded up 100 easy ways kids can fight boredom and celebrate childhood. We live in a world where our kids don’t know how to be bored. Having minimal activity is so underwhelming they just give up altogether. I’ve noticed this all or nothing attitude from my own kids and some days it makes me crazy. If our kids aren’t stimulated on a superpower level they don’t feel stimulated at all. Sigh…

Now more than ever our kids are having to learn how to be “bored”. For lack of a better word. As much as I want to throw some chores and school work their way when my kids complain about being bored, I’m trying to respond in a way that gets me the results I really want.

One thing that doesn’t work for me is getting an attitude. Believe me, I know. This is the tactic I’ve used a thousand times, but for some reason, it doesn’t help. Go figure?

They’ve also never willingly taken me up on my offer to have them do chores. Yeah, yeah. They get the point, but they also don’t find anything productive to do.100 Easy Ways Kids Can Fight Boredom & Celebrate Childhood. "I'm bored!" Two infamous words that make every parent cringe. It's frustrating to hear our kids complain about having nothing to do. We immediately feel resentful and turn into our own parents hollering the phrases we swore we'd never say ourselves. How can you possibly be bored?! I'll give you something to do! Anybody else guilty of this? CLICK HERE to grab these AWESOME 100 Easy Ways Kids Can Fight Boredom!

3 Simple Strategies for Responding to Bored Kids

Humor

“I’m bored.”

“I’m Mom. Nice to meet you.”

They hate it, but they always laugh.

Fantasy

I love responding this way to my youngest. It works every time!

“Wouldn’t it be awesome if we had an activities planner? Like a life coach that keeps us from ever being bored?”

He eats it up.

Time

It’s hard to admit, but when my kids are complaining about being bored, they often crave time with me.

They aren’t going to admit this. Especially older kids! But? It never fails. If I take a few minutes to give them my attention, listen to what’s on their mind, or even offer to watch a short show, it makes a big difference.

It’s not always easy to deal with bored kids, but the next time your kiddos are looking for something to do see what happens if you respond in a new way. And if all else fails, here’s a mega list of chore-free ideas to help give them some direction.

100 Easy and Fun Activities For Bored Homeschooled Kids

Read a book. Look at 5 BEST Books to Create an Around the World Unit Study (and Hands-on Activities)
Go outside.
Make homemade sun catchers.
Draw a self-portrait.
Write a letter to a loved one. Even a short card, most grandparents delight to get.

Learn morse code.
Ride your bike.
Invent an app.
Make a stop motion video.
Go for a walk. Check out this fun Above and Below a Pond Unit Study. Something about exploring in water that most kids of any age can’t resist.

You’ll have to check out these fun and quick file folder games too. Great boredom busters!

Plant a tree.
Go on a scavenger hunt. Check out Hands-On Middle School Math: Everyday Math Scavenger Hunt (Printable) and Geoscavenge – A Rock and Mineral Hunt: Day 6 Hands-on Learning.
Try bird watching.
Do 10 jumping jacks.
Make a friendship bracelet.

Learn how to play chess.
Bake a cake.
Freeze something weird.
Make a homemade cat condo out of cardboard.
Play a game with your brother.

Take the dog for a walk.
Make an indoor fort with pillows and blankets.
Listen to music.
Have a dance party.
Learn to write in Japanese.

Build a Viking Ship.
Do 10 push-ups.
Make slime.
Jump rope.
Record a funny video.

Be sure to check out Ellen McHenry’s Basement Workshop for lots of hands-on activities and free ones too.

The Basement Workshop Store

Make homemade ice-cream.
Sell old games and figures on eBay.
Paint a picture.
Make a birdfeeder.
Write a story.

Take your fingerprints.
Make a collage of all your favorite pictures.
Rearrange your bedroom.
Make rock candy.
Do 15 squats.

Play a board game.
Watch a movie.
Make a list of things you like about yourself.
Learn to play an instrument.
Do an easy hands-on history activity.

Create a vision board.
Try learning sign language.
Learn to crochet.
Do 5 yoga poses.
Go for a run around the block.

Make edible rocks.
Cook dinner for your family.
Collect garbage around the neighborhood.
Learn to crochet.
Do 20 sit-ups.
Destination Switzerland CASE OF ADVENTURE
Make a timeline of your life.
Find a service project.
Call a grandparent.
Play “I Spy”.
Collect leaves for crafts.

Use a metal detector in your backyard.
Do a handstand.
Look at leaves under a microscope.
Learn a foreign language.
Have a lemonade or hot cocoa stand.

Make a time capsule and bury it in the backyard.
Pack a bag of old toys to donate.
Make a message in a bottle.
Build a tent with bed sheets.
Make a costume. Check out my post Bring History To Life With Historical Costumes: Fun, Fashion and Unforgettable.

Art classes help too.

Interview a grandparent.
Do 24 lunges (12 on each leg).
Offer to help a neighbor.
Cook a dish from a different country.
Design an outfit.

Make a list of places you want to visit.
Start a journal.
Try origami.
Bake cookies.
Make a flip book.

Learn about the human body.
Take a personality quiz.
Do a science experiment.
Plank for one minute.
Go outside and take some pictures of nature.

Learn how to tie knots.
Write a list of countries you want to visit.
Make a family tree.
Create a sculpture with found objects.
Do 25 jumping jacks.

Create a product.
Research your dream job.
Make oobleck.
Bake bread.
Create a “dream” Amazon wish list.

Make mixed media flower art.
Do a backbend.
Collect canned good to donate to a food pantry.
Memorize the state capitals.
Make a diorama of a scene from your favorite book.

Even though it can be frustrating, sometimes I think our kids just genuinely don’t know what to do with themselves. In our fast-paced, technology-filled society, they are looking for that constant flow of information. I don’t have all the answers, but a fresh list of ideas is always helpful!100 Easy Ways Kids Can Fight Boredom & Celebrate Childhood. "I'm bored!" Two infamous words that make every parent cringe. It's frustrating to hear our kids complain about having nothing to do. We immediately feel resentful and turn into our own parents hollering the phrases we swore we'd never say ourselves. How can you possibly be bored?! I'll give you something to do! Anybody else guilty of this? CLICK HERE to grab these AWESOME 100 Easy Ways Kids Can Fight Boredom!

You’ll also love these other ideas:

How do you deal with bored kids?

Hugs and love ya,

 

BEST Homeschool Resources Black Friday Deals 2018 (Cyber Monday)

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

Do you love homeschool deals and steals? Of course you do. I do too. If you haven’t shopped for homeschool resources at this time of the year, it’s a great time to snag a deal. I rounded up some of the BEST homeschool resources Black Friday Deals and Cyber Monday Deals for 2018.

Hurry, check out these super deals for Black Friday to Cyber Monday for 2018!I think you’ll love them. Because I decided to do this at the last minute, I’ve just listed them without organizing them by grade, subject, or terms.

So what I’m saying is take your time in reading the terms. The savings varies when each one begins and ends and have various terms.

Bottom Line: Read each entry carefully, I think you’ll love some of these deals AND be sure to snag them. Some of the discounts may not apply to all items, but I tried to list all of the details I could find.

In addition, I’ll keep adding as I find them. Happy Hunting!

Homeschool Resources Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals 2018

Literary Adventures for Kids Black Friday Deal.

You know Literary Adventures for Kids is fast become one of my favorite literature on line resources.

Holiday Sale 2018

Masterpiece Society Black Friday Deals.

You’ll love these art lessons. 30% off sale on all art courses and curriculum via our store. use code: MASTERPIECE30

Look at my recent post here Online Homeschool High School Poetry (No Teaching Involved) to read about this super unit for middle and high school kids.

This sale is a GREAT deal!

Holiday Sale Poetry and a Movie

Learn Music in our Homeschool Black Friday Deal. It’s LIVE now! Go check it out for their deals because they have different classes.

30% off everything at Learn.MusicinOurHomeschool.com with code THANKS2018

Then you know how much I love hands-on history and Home School in the Woods is one of my favorite hands-on curriculum. Check out what they have.

Home School in the Woods Black Friday Cyber Monday

1. From the site: “Looking for some FUN? Check out the Ultimate File Folder Game Library on our BLACK FRIDAY through CYBER MONDAY menu!

This set comes replete with a whopping 16 of our interactive, educational File Folder Games for one low price!”

2. From the site: One of our BLACK FRIDAY through CYBER MONDAY special bundles is a timeline treat!

The Timeline Trio with a BONUS NOTEBOOK (timeline figures on CD, TWO notebooks, placement guide) is a steal, adding savings and freebies onto an already great deal!

 

Chalk Pastel Deals

  • Enjoy 25% off all our video art courses (there are NEW ones!), bundles and more at ChalkPastel.com!

The sale lasts from Tuesday to Tuesday! 
You ARE an Artist Curriculum Bundle

Homeschooling High School With College in Mind Black Friday Deal

45% off at only $3.95 for Black Friday through the whole weekend for Homeschooling High School with College in Mind

ABCmouse Black Friday Deal.

ABCmouse is offering 62% off on annual subscription for Black Friday from 11.19 through 11.26. That’s a full year for only $45 and their top performing offer! Hurry on this one too!
Get 1 year for only $45 - Over 60% off!

Real Science 4 Kids Black Friday Deal.

Ends November 30 – Hurry!

Moving Beyond the Page Black Friday Deal.

Enjoy free shipping and 5% off of all full year packages this weekend. Nov 23 at 12 AM – Nov 26 at 11:55 PM EST.
Use the code 4+6 = 10 (no spaces)

Check out Moving Beyond the Page Unit Studies.

  

 

Bright Ideas Press Black Friday Deal.

We are extending our holiday sale through Monday, November 26 at midnight ET.

Geography is one of our favorite subjects. You’ll love their products.

Geography bundle -- North Star Geography and WonderMaps


 Deliberate Mom Black Friday Deals.

Deluxe Alphabet / Word Card Set, Becoming a Deliberate Mom: Reflective Parenting Workbook, and more.

30% off everything in the shop with the coupon code bf2018

Sonlight Cyber Deal.

Warm Hearts Publishing Black Friday Deals.

The Black Friday Cyber Monday Sale starts this Friday (11/23) and ends the following Friday (11/30)! Save 25% on your purchase with coupon code THANKS25. (Digital downloads only)

Say Sí to Spanish: Alphabet Poster Pack
180 Fun Writing Prompts Bundle

You may not need anything right now, but I know you love freebies. Some of these freebies can only be downloaded with  my links.

I want to be sure you have them.

Snag some Homeschool Freebies of Things I Love Below (Just Because)

I’ve also added some freebies you can snag! You know I love them.
Winter Activities Bundle

Scotland Free Printable Pack.

From the site: Want to show your kids the world, but can’t afford to travel? Try our COUNTRY-THEMED KIDS ACTIVITY BOOKS. Adventures in faraway lands, at home!

 Fortuigence is one of my favorite essay help writing curriculum for older kids.

Hurry, check out these super deals for Black Friday to Cyber Monday for 2018!

Online Homeschool High School Poetry (No Teaching Involved)

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

I have an awesome online homeschool high school poetry movie or class to tell you about. Also, look at my page How to Homeschool High School for more great tips and resources!

When my boys entered the high school years I admit feeling intimidated to teach poetry.

An online homeschool high school poetry class with no teaching involved sounded pretty good.

Online Homeschool High School Poetry (No Teaching Involved)

Besides fighting my sons’ perception that poetry is too emotional and for girls only, I struggled with the humdrum way I was taught poetry in high school.

I was given this product for free. All opinions are my own and for sure I will always tell you what is on my mind. When I do accept a product it’s because I’m giddy to tell you about it. Read my full disclosure here. Now on to the fun!

High School Poetry

When I saw that Literary Adventures for Kids had an online homeschool high school Poetry & a Movie literature course, I couldn’t wait to get started on it with my third teen.

Movies, an online self-paced course, and a hands-off approach to teaching the Poetry & a Movie literature course piqued my interest. My son not so much.

However, by using this course I’m so tickled that I’ve been able to ignite my son’s interest in poetry.

This course has easily become one of my favorites and must-haves for teaching high school teens poetry.

Online Homeschool High School Poetry (No Teaching Involved). When I saw that Literary Adventures for Kids had an online homeschool high school Poetry & a Movie literature course, I couldn't wait to get started on it with my third teen. Click here for this fun high school course!

Overview of Poetry & a Movie

Let me back up first and give you a bird’s-eye view of this super course:

  • it’s self-paced and online
  • there is no physical product and my high school teen loved to pick up and go at his leisure
  • the literature course has 10 units
  • it is a study of the master poets and their poetry
  • it is a study of the poetic devices or literary elements
  • videos are scattered throughout
  • it has a grammar component
  • it’s designed to give your teen the broad strokes of literary elements so there is no overwhelm
  • you can purchase the books used in the course or borrow them from your local library
  • a movie suggestion is included for a unit end celebration
  • there is flexibility to use this course as a full high school credit, one-half of a language arts course, or enrichment

Although studying literary elements is the foundation of poetry over prose, I couldn’t take that usual approach with my son. 

Another roadblock of high school programs is that most use a textbook method.

My son is an auditory learner.

Online Literature Course for Homeschooled Teens

You know my struggle through the years with him because taking notes doesn’t work well with him.

I need to blend different styles of teaching to fit his need to learn in a way that appeals to him and make this course a challenge. 

Taking information in through audio works extremely well.

The Poetry and a Movie course uses an eclectic method of teaching by combining video, text, and real books. Win!

Besides searching for courses that match his learning style, I had to overcome his perception that poetry is not manly.

If you have boys you know what I mean. Challenge on.

Online Homeschool High School Poetry (No Teaching Involved)

Instead of picking up another boring textbook about literary devices and beginning there, the course begins with a series of videos about what is poetry.

I won’t ruin the videos for your kids, but I heard a chuckle or two from my son.

Poetry and Living Books for Teens

Using the living book in the course that is suggested as a spine or frame for this course is what my son loved.

Remember, a spine is normally a living book that is the foundation on which a course is built.

That is another win for the course because real books should still be used in high school.

Online Homeschool High School Poetry (No Teaching Involved)

Now that I had my son hooked on the course, the next step was to choose a master poet that would help my son let go of his negative perception of poetry.

Before I tell you what I did, it’s important for your teen to cover the master poets in order.

If this is your middle or high school teen’s first introduction to the beauty of poetry, don’t skip ahead like I had to do.

I was tickled to see Edgar Allan Poe listed as one of the master poets.

We moved right to his poems first because my son needed to understand that poetry is not just about love; poetry is about real things in the world like cruelty, war, nature, despair, and friendship.

Because the powerful words of Poe were the first ones that inspired me, I was almost sure his words would not make my teen yawn. It worked.

Online Homeschool High School Poetry (No Teaching Involved). When I saw that Literary Adventures for Kids had an online homeschool high school Poetry & a Movie literature course, I couldn't wait to get started on it with my third teen. Click here for this fun high school course! #homeschool #homeschoolhighschool #poetry #onlinehomeschool #highschoolteens

Next the unit moves on to helping your teen define literary devices by using video to teach them and giving examples.

At this point, your teen will set up his poetry notebook.

Online Homeschool High School Poetry (No Teaching Involved)

Poetry, Literary Elements, and Trivia are the tabbed sections in the notebook.

Teaching Teens about Literary Elements

Guide your teen to help him set up the tabbed sections because they give your learner a way to break down learning into meaningful and fun parts.

After all, learning poetry should have an organized approach so as to not miss one tiny detail.

The teacher in me needs to be sure my son comes away from high school with a foundation in literature and appreciation for figurative language and not just analytical writing.

The trivia section in the notebook helped my teen to see that poetry is lively, upbeat, and challenging.

I mentioned before that this course uses many different teaching styles, but it equally incorporates different homeschool approaches.

Online Homeschool High School Poetry (No Teaching Involved)

The study of poetry is both a classical and Charlotte Mason feature.

Charlotte Mason touts studying one artist or composer for a while.

Studying one master poet thoroughly is the same approach in this course.

Instead of quickly shifting focus, poetry requires lingering on words and digging deep for the intentions of wordplay by master poets.

After my initial fast forwarding to a point in the course to hook my kid on poetry, we benefited from staying focused on one poet for a considerable length of time.

Mastery is also a unit study feature and that was one huge benefit for us in this course.

Living Books and Online Poetry Study

Online Homeschool High School Poetry (No Teaching Involved)

Having a culminating activity like watching a movie together or having teatime with your teen keeps it fun. 

Of course I didn’t dare mention teatime to my boy, but popping some popcorn and lighting the fireplace before a movie made it memorable.

Although the course is designed so that your teen can learn independently, don’t miss out by not reading the poems together. Poetry is supposed to be read out loud.

Mentoring your teen doesn’t stop in high school.

If you want him to appreciate figurative language and rhyme, then he needs to hear your voice.

I enjoyed reading the poems out loud with my teen, but you don’t have to.

Another benefit of the program is that he can read it along side the narrator on each video.

I have to admit, my voice was no substitute for the narrator reading “The Tyger” by William Blake. Your teen will love listening closely as the poem is read to him.

Although you can use the course for writing lessons, my goal was to use the time to kindle my son’s appreciation for poetry.

 5 More Things You Should Know About Poetry & a Movie

One/  The specifics of the course are the introduction, the master poets which are Samuel Taylor Coleridge, William Blake, Edgar Allan Poe, Walt Whitman, Lord Alfred Tennyson, Langston Hughes, William Wordsworth, William Butler Yeats, Dylan Thomas, and Robert Frost.

The last section is a Final Project writing essays.

Two/  You will need to determine beforehand how much credit you will assign to your teen.

Of course this depends on how extensive you want to use this online language arts course.

Third/ Each poet has been planned for a month-long study. Because I wanted to get the flavor of the course, we initially skipped around as I explained earlier.

Now, my son prefers to cover one master poet in-depth.

Four/ There is unlimited access to the course and I see this as a huge savings. 

If you don’t know by now, curriculum for older kids is more expensive.

We’re preparing teens for adulthood and curriculum shouldn’t just impart knowledge or rote facts; it should stir a teen’s mind to be included in the bigger picture of life after high school.

Teaching a teen how to think using poetry as an analysis cements beautiful thoughts in our kid’s mind and reciting poetry is a memory aid to use into adulthood.

You don’t want to miss covering poetry and it’s especially fun when there is no stress planning.

In addition, this course can be used in a few different ways to get your money’s worth.

The master poets and literary elements can be introduced in middle school.

In high school, use the course again, but fold in the grammar and essay components for high school credit. It’s a two-fer.

The best part is that you can use this with all of your younger kids. What a deal for a course that is prepped and ready to go.

Five/ Literary Adventures for Kids is owned by a homeschooling family. Y

ou know how much I prefer curriculum prepared by a homeschooling family because they get it when we need curriculum easy to teach and that appeals to a variety of learners. Another win for me.

Poetry Study for Homeschool High School

Poetry & a Movie may be a good fit for your family:

  • if your child needs multiple approaches to learning
  • if your child prefers using real books instead of a textbook
  • if you want to foster independence with your middle or high school teen, but want your child to have a framework to follow
  • if you fear teaching poetry and want to learn alongside your teen
  • if you prefer an online self-paced course over a physical product
  • if you need a course prepped and ready to go with minimal teacher planning

Bottom Line: I’m extremely delighted with Poetry & a Movie and any apprehensions I had that my teen son may find poetry only a girl’s subjects has been put to rest. Hearing him repeat part of the poems he learned as he goes through his day is a proud mama moment.

I am so pleased with this course and I just can’t think of anything that needs to be changed.

I would highly recommend it if you have a teen that needs to learn outside the box, but don’t have time to prepare a unit study.

Poetry & a Movie is a keeper in my home and I plan on going over it again both as a standalone course and to use as a review tool. 

I look forward to seeing my son build on the foundational skills he learned in this poetry course. This has been a rewarding experience and has helped my son enjoy learning to write and read poetry!

Thanks to Literary Adventures for Kids for this excellent product to serve the homeschool community!

Go on over and give it a look see. I’ll know you love it as much as I do!

How to Purchase It.

Product Name: Literary Adventures for Kids – Poetry and a Movie

Website: Literary Adventure for Kids/Hide the Chocolate
Grade Level: 7th grade and up Note: There are products for your younger kids too.
Type of product: These is an online course. No physical product will be shipped to you.

Online Homeschool High School Poetry (No Teaching Involved). When I saw that Literary Adventures for Kids had an online homeschool high school Poetry & a Movie literature course, I couldn't wait to get started on it with my third teen. Click here for this fun high school course!

Also, you’ll love these other helps for high school:

Hugs and love ya,