Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Activity, Change, Progress

Homeschooling

6 Ways a Homeschool Daily Planner Beats a Weekly Planner

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

Hands-down my preference is a homeschool daily planner when I create my homeschool planner. Although a weekly or even monthly planner have a place, it doesn’t even compare to a daily planner.

In addition, many planners can be overly classroom focused. Some planners make the mistake of having columns for too many students while others seem too minimalist.

Besides flexibility to add forms you like in a daily homeschool planner, it doesn’t need to be complicated.

Today, I’m sharing 6 reasons why I use and create daily planning forms here on my site Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool Plus.

6 Ways a Homeschool Daily Planner Beats a Weekly Planner

First, look at my original l80 daily lesson planning page.

6 Ways a Homeschool Daily Planner Beats a Weekly Planner

As you can see, the top part has room for skill subjects and the bottom part is for content subjects.

The skill subjects are math and language arts. And the content subjects which you can teach your children together are Geography, Science, History, Foreign Language, Bible and Art share

That box at the bottom of the form for content subjects has enough room to write or lesson plan. There is enough room because you do not do content subjects every day.

From this form, came by passion to stick to this kind of planning.

Benefits of a Daily Planner

Look at my 6 other reasons for using such a solid planner.

  1. The best reason is you have ample room for thoughtful legible plans.
  2. When the planner is undated, it can be used for an academic year or to school year-round.
  3. Also, if you prefer to print as you go instead of binding the planner, daily plans can be checklist.
  4. Adding the sections you need for each year matter. For example, you may be in a state which requires attendance. Simply download the attendance record of your choice. If you need high school planning, grab forms for high school planning.
  5. Stress levels can be managed daily. Weekly planning can get out of control, but with a daily planner, you have a pulse on what is going on day to day. I prefer to head things off before they get to a stressful point.
  6. And the last big point for me is that we homeschool to adjust at the moment when our children change. Whether my children need to move ahead or stay a few more days on a subject, I have that luxury with this type of planner.

How to Combine Types of Planners

However, I feel that a section should include glancing at your week.

Although a day to day planner is my preference for my homeschool, there is an advantage to glancing at your week.

Moreover, a glance for the week is a big picture while a daily planner is a smaller one.

Using both in your homeschool can fill both of those needs. My weekly planning form below you can find at Step 5a. Choose Unique Forms JUST for You. I have several color choices.

Even a month at a glance works. Placing those forms either at the beginning of your month or week can give you direction for meeting your goals.

You determine how you choose to plan.

However, planning perfection can be time consuming. It’s best to choose a method and stick to it.

Every now and then I will place weekly glancing pages in my planner, but for the most I prefer a larger daily planner.

If you want a daily planner, you’ll love this one. You can read more too at The Best Colorful Undated Dynamic Daily Homeschool Planner.

What type of planner do you find useful?

6 Ways a Homeschool Daily Planner Beats a Weekly Planner

Look below for more tips:

10 Popular High School Chemistry Homeschool Curriculum

| 2 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, I’m sharing ten popular high school chemistry homeschool curriculum. Sorting through popular chemistry homeschool curriculum can be daunting. Check out my how to homeschool high school page for awesome tips.

However, a practical high school chemistry homeschool curriculum should be easy to understand.

Both a non-science oriented teen and strong science oriented teen can find a curriculum to match their interests.

10 Popular High School Chemistry Homeschool Curriculum

Also, I’ve included choices for homeschool chemistry curriculum whether your teen is on a college track or career track.

The beginning of teaching chemistry can seem scary; I’m not sure how a fear of teaching chemistry began.

I know, I felt that way at first too.

However, as a non-science mom and after three homeschooled grads, my love and education for chemistry has grown.

With the right choices of curriculum and ideas, you and your teen can really enjoy the study of chemistry.

Besides, we practice or use chemistry every day.

From the food we eat to watching lightning produce fire, chemistry can be a fun subject to learn.

Once I moved past thinking it was only for science majors, my teens and I could dive into learning even beyond the basics.

The point is chemistry can be fun and should always be hands-on.

And one of my favorite parts is that any science study can be tied to learning the history of it. Chemistry is no different.

5 Pointers Before Choosing High School Chemistry Curriculum

And as you sort through each one, here are a few points to be aware of:

  • A lot of the major providers suggest prerequisites like having completed Algebra 1 and/or Geometry before chemistry;
  • And some providers integrate physics and chemistry because they feel all science subjects are intertwined and best taught together;
  • Still other providers which integrate physics and chemistry don’t require complex math to encourage student curiosity;
  • Too, some courses are a honor course and still others are basic chemistry; and
  • Lastly, pay attention to the credits assigned, if any, and the worldview. Some are secular and some Christian.

High School Chemistry Homeschool Curriculum

Next, look at these ten popular high school chemistry homeschool curriculum.

1. BOB JONES CHEMISTRY

BJU Press offers Chemistry in the 11th grade. They recommend that students should be taking Algebra 2 and Chemistry at the same time. According to their site, students in Chemistry have already completed Algebra 1 and Geometry.

This set is an example of an all-in-one. The complete set has a student edition, teacher’s manual, lab manual, assessments, and answer key. And like their other courses at this level, it is a solid college prep course and strong Christian worldview.

2. DISCOVERING DESIGN WITH CHEMISTRY for non-science student

3. DISCOVERING DESIGN WITH CHEMISTRY, SUPPLEMENT 2 for science student

Then, Discovering Design With Chemistry series were designed for use in 10th grade and require Algebra 1 math level. Too, they have a strong Christian worldview.

Designed as an all-in-one, they also offer video on demand classes.

4. FOCUS ON HIGH SCHOOL CHEMISTRY

Another awesome option is Focus On High School Chemistry.

When Real Science 4 Kids came on the homeschooling scene homeschoolers swooned. They’re still swooning at the ease and options offered.

Focus On High School Chemistry is offered for grades 9 to 12. It introduces students to high school basic chemistry and some concepts found in college-level chemistry.

This curriculum goes into more depth than a lot of chemistry high school programs, but does not cover all topics.

You’ll love how the experiments are broken down and easy to implement.

This original series is a one-semester course and can count as half of a high school credit. One more note of detail is that this course has a secular slant.

If your student is wanting a basic overview of chemistry, is undecided about chemistry as a science major, or wants just an overview, this curriculum keeps all options open.

5.FRIENDLY CHEMISTRY

Further, there is a reason this next chemistry option is called Friendly Chemistry.

This high school chemistry curriculum uses friendly language and introduces chemistry in a fun way.

I’ve not looked at the current editions, but some of the first editions had several typos. To some this can diminish the weight of the content.

Although I don’t like typos, I know it happens. I have a higher standard for curriculum providers. But I do not think it is a reflection of the content and the way the chemistry is taught.

Many homeschoolers love using it because their teens can use it independently.

The same lessons are taught in like a traditional high school course.

Unlike some other courses, motivated junior high-aged children complete the lessons in Friendly Chemistry.

Because this is a high school level course, you can count it as a credit because it’s intended to be completed in a year.

6. CHEMEXPLAINED

Next, if your teen prefers to learn online and take a college-prep course, then ChemExplained may be a good option.

Taught by a chemistry teacher, the videos are short and explanations are well.

Too, you’ll want to encourage your teen to take notes while learning.

Additionally, it’s hard to find faith-neutral curriculum.

A faith-neutral curriculum strives to leave religious or secular slants out of their curriculum. If you want to teach your own worldview, this is an option.

7. INTEGRATED PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY

Not to be overlooked is Integrated Physics and Chemistry by Paradigm Accelerated Curriculum. I’ve used several of their worktexts and my teens have loved the different courses.

Unlike other programs, the pacs are separate worktexts.

Encouraging the teen to learn independently with minimal supervision is the focus on their courses.

The course has twelve chapters of text and twelve companion student activities.

Whether your student chooses 9th or 10th grade to study Integrated Physics and Chemistry by Paradigm Accelerated Curriculum, it introduces students to the people, places and principles of physics and chemistry.

Also, it is a secular curriculum, but I found it easy to add faith-based ideas.

8. CONCEPTUAL CHEMISTRY

Then another solid choice is Conceptual Chemistry.

As the title of the textbook states there is emphasis on concepts, but with a fun conversational quality.

Non-science majors will love the practical part of the explanations in easy to learn language.

Introducing easy hands-on activities is another strength of this curriculum. With structure to encourage an independent learner, there is enough content to also foster critical thinking skills.

If your will teen will be a non-chemistry major or has a solid, but basic understanding of math, this is a great option. It can be used for any grade in high school.

9. Chemistry in the Kitchen

In addition, Chemistry in the Kitchen by Guest Hollow is a fun slant on chemistry.

Cooking their way through learning chemistry, teens in 9t to 12th grade don’t have to have higher levels of math.

Just a love of science and to learn in a different way are all that are required.

10. Homeschool Buyer’s Selection.

Finally, another popular option is the assortment which Homeschool Buyer’s Co-op offers each year. It’s popular because who doesn’t like to save money when you can.

Each year, Homeschool Buyer’s Co-op will list chemistry options and supplements. Be sure to check what is discounted there too.

10 Popular High School Chemistry Homeschool Curriculum

Be sure to look at my fun ideas for all ages to add to supplement your curriculum.

What do think? Are you feeling a little less intimidated about choosing a homeschool high school chemistry curriculum?

Chemistry Homeschool Ideas

If have some other chemistry homeschool ideas to help make teaching this subject fun like it should be.

12 Great Options of High School Literature Curriculum

| 3 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Next to math, deciding high school literature curriculum for my first high school teen was scary for me. Today, I will share practical pointers in choosing high school literature curriculum. Also, look at How to Homeschool High School for more ideas.

Looking back after three homeschooled grads, I’ve learned you need to be absolutely clear of your goal.

Choosing curriculum versus stand alone components was confusing as well.

So, I want to help you make a better choice.

12 Great Options of High School Literature Curriculum

First, confusing to me in the beginning was what to teach from high school literature.

Also, how to transition from teaching your child reading to literature wasn’t clear.

Quickly, I learned there is a shift in high school to not just reading a variety of literature, but to analyzing it.

What to Teach With High School Literature

As you can see, the elements you look for in a high school literature curriculum will vary depending on your goals.

If your teen is on a college track, analyzing literature is a basic requirement for most colleges.

However, if your child is on a career track, you decide if analyzing literature will benefit your teen.

That was the part that confused me. My English teacher in high school taught me like I was in an AP Lit class. I was not, but her love for literature was obvious.

The very basic reason why you teach high school literature is to move your child beyond the reading is fun stage. Appreciating why literature moves us, how to be involved in the great conversation, and how to analyze literature is one goal.

Another goal is to help your child appreciate the variety of genre. Think about it.

You have doing this all along as you taught your child to read.

Teaching a love of reading doesn’t stop in high school, but you want your child to now dig into the literature.

In addition, one more thing to be aware of before choosing curriculum is to decide if you need the other components of language arts.

Besides literature, grammar, vocabulary, composition, and writing are other components of language arts.

Teens are normally all over the place on each component of language arts, I encourage you to try to choose just literature curriculum.

High School Literature Curriculum Goals

One huge advantage to choosing just high school literature curriculum which is not tied together with the other components is to save time.

I don’t think teens should get bogged down with the other components when focusing on beautiful pieces of literature.

However, some options I share below is curriculum which does not make deep dives into analyzing.

That too has been a great option some quarters in high school when your teen needs a change of pace from analyzing in depth.

Covering all the components together may be your goal.

The point is your teen, your choices, and your goals should stay front and center when poring over options.

Furthermore, tying literature to history is another fun way to bring both subjects to life.

This is a slant that many teens enjoy.

On top of that, some choices will be more faith-based and others with a secular focus.

Keep all those facts in mind as you compare curriculum below.

12 High School Literature Curriculum

Finally, look at these twelve high school literature curriculum.

  • Progeny Press is another favorite because of how many activities they have and ease of use.
  • Learning Language Arts Through Literature is not as well know today as it used to be. I love it because it’s gentle and has a Charlotte Mason flair. Some years, we just needed light language arts and literature. So, I’m listing it as option. There is both American and British literature options. It’s just a beautiful option
  • Sonlight has been around for years. Started by a homeschool family like some of other companies, it too has a comprehensive language arts program.
  • Total Language Plus is just what it says. All the components of language arts when you want to cover them at one time. We love this curriculum as well.
  • The Art of Poetry is a resource we just absolutely loved. If your teen is wanting to dive deeper into poetry, you’ll love this resource. In addition, this resource can be used for middle school kids too.

These are not all the resources available for you, but they are ones I know will work.

They give your teen guidance; And the best part is they create a love of literature and push your teen out of his comfort zone.

Which ones have you tried?

12 Great Options of High School Literature Curriculum

Look at some more posts which will help you:

21 Fun All-In-One Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum

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

When it’s your first time, choosing an all-in-one kindergarten homeschool curriculum can be stressful. New ones are popping up all the time. You’ll love my other tips on kindergarten homeschool curriculum.

So, I’m sharing timeless tips on how to choose an all-in-one kindergarten homeschool curriculum. In addition, kindergarten is not about buying a bunch of worksheets.

21 Fun All-In-One Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum

You need to know what skills should be learned; better yet you need to be equipped in how best to teach the skills.

Furthermore, drawing on my 25 years of experience, you’ll know what is important to teach now and what can wait.

All-In-One Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum Definition

First, here is the definition of an all-in-one.

An all-in-one kindergarten homeschool curriculum or boxed curriculum means that all your core subjects like the 3 Rs – reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic are laid out. Too, content subjects like science and history are included in the program.

Today, all-in-one means online curriculum, physical curriculum, or a mix of both.

In summary, all the basic subjects are covered in a school year which can be anywhere from 160 to 180 lessons.

In addition, most all-in-one providers have teacher’s manuals or teacher notes along with suggested schedules on how to cover the material.

However, what is important at this age is to equally align academics with how a child at this age learns best.

Don’t make my mistake of being too formal because you’re afraid you’ll drop the ball on an important skill.

Why You Shouldn’t Buy Numerous Kindergarten Worksheets

The way children learn best in kindergarten is through play learning.

Conversation, movement, and exploring through personal experience are more ways children learn. Being outside and learning through nature is a natural and organic way to learn.

Not one point in my definition included worksheets.

I’m not saying I’m against the use of worksheets.

However, completing worksheets does not mean your child mastered Kindergarten.

And completing a curriculum does not mean your child fully understands all skills.

Also, look at my tips on my video What Is An All In One Homeschool Curriculum a k a Boxed Curriculum

At the Kindergarten level, you’re not looking for your child to master skills.

Your goal is to lay a strong foundation with purpose.

Because children are learning with every breath they take, you build a master learner by recognizing their development.

This means your teaching should align with your child’s development. Would you force a six-year-old to drive?

Ludicrous you say. I know, but that is the exact mindset of pushing beyond development that some parents have.

6 Reasons to Use An All-in-One Kindergarten Boxed Curriculum

With that being said, look at six reasons to use an all-in-one curriculum.

  1. Using a package gives you an idea of how you may or may not want to lay out your day.
  2. Especially when I had all younger children, my time to prep lessons plans was almost non-existent. A laid-out framework was sanity-saving for me.
  3. When it’s your first child, you may want the reassurance that you’re doing enough for the day.
  4. If you live in a state which requires record keeping, boxed curriculum can help you meet the requirements.
  5. On top of that, some all-in-one teacher’s manuals are exceptional with background information. Having teaching tips and background information at your fingertips saves time.
  6. Lastly, I learned from an all-in-one a pattern for teaching. A pattern is something you repeat over. Learning to follow a pattern when you’re new to homeschooling catapults your teaching experience.

Next, you also need to know how to NOT use an all-in-one curriculum.

Like any tool in the world, you need to know how to use an all-in-one kindergarten homeschool curriculum.

5 Ways How to NOT Use An All-In-One Homeschool Curriculum

  1. Do not use a curriculum which does not align with your goals. Like I mentioned at the outset, there is an explosion of public-school minded advocates entering the homeschool world. We welcome them, but the public-school approach and homeschool approach are two completely different approaches.
  2. Tweak EACH day’s lesson to fit YOUR child. If your child needs to move, stop and MOVE. Or better yet, stop the lesson and do something outside or play.
  3. Forcing your child to sit for long periods signals to me that a curriculum is trying to teach robots. Children learn in spurts and NOT all learning occurs while a child is sitting. The lesson plan should fit the age of the child.
  4. Another problem is thinking you must do EVERY lesson. You do not. There is NOTHING MIRACULOUS about forcing your child to complete everything. On the other hand, trust your intuition. Skip lessons as needed and remember ALL curriculum is a framework, not the exact.
  5. Choosing a teacher’s manual that is not comprehensive is another mistake. Any company can provide a glorified answer key. Narrow down your choices by asking questions on what kind of information is included in the teacher’s manual. Ask about teaching tips, schedule suggestions, and other ways their teacher’s manual is of value.
  6. Foremost, do NOT rely on the curriculum to teach. Curriculum doesn’t teach anything, you do. Through everyday conversations with you is how your child learns.

Equally important before you choose an all-in-one kindergarten curriculum is knowing the skills of math and language arts need consistent teaching.

Teach the Skills Subjects First Using Content Subjects

The fun subjects like science, history, geography, music, nature, and hands-on crafts are the vehicles used to learn math and language arts.

An example of how you mix living and learning without worksheets during the natural flow of your day is below:

Reading – You read aloud to your child or have them listen to an audio book.
Math – Bake cookies and learn measurements. Learn weights and understand dollars and cents while at the grocery store.
Geography – Understand what we do at the post office by visiting it and explain who are folks in the community we call for help.
History – Stories about famous Americans can be read together or build the pyramids made by ancient Egyptians.
Writing – Copy a beautiful poem for handwriting. Then, have your child dip his finger in chocolate paint and write on a cookie sheet. A bit of finger licking allowed.
Science – Any explosion is an awe factor of any kid. So, build a volcano and explode it. Take a simple nature walk or have your child explore his backyard to collect and identify his collection.
Art – Even the youngest child appreciates art. A trip to the museum fosters the love of beautiful art pieces. Or, a game like Professor Noggin’s History of Art Trivia Card Game piques interest in art in a fun way.

21 All-In-One Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum

Finally, look at these twenty-one providers.

21 Fun All-In-One Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum

Kindergarten Fun Supplements

Adding fun pages can be part of your program, but not the framework. I love books like

What do you think? Have any questions on some of these?

Here are some more posts you’ll like:

Best High School Homeschool Curriculum Packages (Accredited and Not Accredited)

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

With the explosion of homeschooling, more families need access to high school homeschool curriculum packages. Check out my how to homeschool high school page for awesome tips.

If a student chooses to do a boxed or all-in-one homeschool program, there is still enough room in lesson planning to make it uniquely yours.

Best High School Homeschool Curriculum Packages (Accredited and Not Accredited)

Let’s face it, life can throw you a curve ball like it did me and I needed the help of laid out plans for my teen.

Besides, using a high school curriculum package doesn’t mean you have to use it exactly the way it’s laid out. That is unless you are using an accredited school.

First, let’s sort out this mystery about the term accredited.

High School Homeschool Curriculum Packages

Back in the day when I coached families whose student wanted to go to the military they had to have a diploma from an accredited school.

That has now changed.

Accredited has NOTHING to do with curriculum. The term accredited applies to a school which voluntarily decided to meet learning standards with certain agencies.

However, if you choose an accredited high school, your teen has to complete and have graded by the school certain parts of the courses.

This is the only way for the school to maintain their accredited status.

Accredited is a way that some parents know that a certain standard is being maintained.

Whether it’s teaching to excellence, credentialed teachers, or higher critical thinking ability, some families are of the opinion that accreditation is a higher standard.

More Homeschool High School Teen Elective Resources

It’s up to you to determine if that standard is high or as high as a private school which is not accredited.

In my 25 years of homeschooling, I’ve seen accredited schools which have too much busy work for my standard.

More Creative Solutions for High School Posts

The same can be said about a parent who has busy work for a teen that is not using an accredited school. A parent may feel that more is best and try to push a kid to be an overachiever.

Accredited and Not Accredited High Schools

On the other hand, I’ve also seen families who do not use accredited schools and their children entered college on full scholarships. As well, teens can enter 4 year universities without accreditation.

Homeschoolers who use accredited schools normally have particular reasons.

  • Because record keeping is done, you may need to show records to an ex-spouse.
  • Some families want to maintain certain standards between schools.
  • In addition, some homeschoolers have had problems getting into technical schools because they didn’t use an accredited school. Although, it’s not required, some technical schools are not informed and want diplomas only from an accredited school. Your best bet is to ask ahead of time if your teen pursues this track.
  • Also, some teens want the accountability with teachers, grading, and deadlines.

Next, let’s dive right into homeschool high school curriculum packages.

High School Curriculum Packages By Schools Not Accredited

The list below are high school packages from companies or a school which is not accredited.

A few more things to know is that with online or print curriculum companies you remain the teacher to guide your students. With accredited schools you use their teachers and adjust to the school’s schedule.

Granted, online schools have added in more flexibility, but again the pace is set to the online accredited school.

In addition, some homeschool companies have set up an online school which is accredited so that they could offer their curriculum through it.

Option for Either Accredited or Not Accredited

Look below at some of the companies who have set up online schools so that their curriculum can be used in the accredited schools. You have choices when you visit the sites.

Your teen can do an independent type of study using their packages.

Or choose a company’s online schools which are accredited.

Accredited High Schools

Then, below are online accredited high schools. There are packages where your child makes a choice for electives.

Each school is different when they offer high school curriculum packages. Some allow you to choose a language arts portion and math portion; other schools have guidelines for what they consider the essentials.

Too, I know some families including myself used an online school when tragedy hit my family. Even so I added in my own subjects too. It was a way for us to pursue what my teen’s goals were at the time, but to have guidance as well.

Best High School Homeschool Curriculum Packages (Accredited and Not Accredited)

Look at the total credits to graduate when selecting a school; choose a school with lower number of credits to graduate if you want to add in your own credits.

This will keep it a doable load for you and your teen.

As you can see there are many paths in high school. Exploring options is key to fulfilling what a successful high school homeschool curriculum package looks like for each of your grads.

You love these other tips and resources: