How To - - -

Day 26 Tips for Resistant Learners And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

December 2, 2022 | 3 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today is day 26 tips for resistant learners You’ll find the other tips on 31 Day Free Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers.

Channeling a self-willed child is like either hitting a concrete wall or floating along a calm stream.

In my experience, I know that a child alone does not determine whether you hit this wall or float calmly.

Day 26 Tips for Resistant Learners And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

Our children, like us, are products of what they have experienced learning to be at this point in their lives. They are a reflection of positive or negative experiences.

I agree that it can be hard to look at the positives of a self-willed child, but we need to understand the difference between a rebel and a resister.

They are not the same.

However I want you to understand that a rebel is somebody that consistently disobeys authority.

Resistant Learners

On the other hand, a resister is somebody who can refrain or just not do something or they may actually just resist you.

Even the most well informed parent has a hard time telling if it’s resistance or rebelliousness.

Take a look at some of these tips to decide which is which and put them in your homeschool arsenal for when you need them:

1) Does your child only express what you think is rebelliousness during school? If so, then it may be resistance no matter how ugly the show down between you and your child was. This tells me that whatever assignment he is doing could be causing some anxiety. Is it too hard? Is he gifted and it’s too easy? Are you presenting curriculum that is hard to learn because it is not his learning style?

On the other hand, if he is rebellious about doing his school, doing chores and is cruel on a daily basis to his siblings and shows disrespect to you as his parent, it may be rebelliousness and not the new homeschool routine. It becomes a case of discipline or parenting

Homeschool Rebels or Resistant Learners

Hear my heart on this. If this is the case, you are not alone.

Some children do grow out of this, but just have a hard time dealing with body changes and hormones.

Don’t be too quick to pin the label rebel on him, but if it does happen, cut back your school to focus on what is important and that is your relationship.

I have found more cases than not, kids are resistant learners.

2) What value is learning if we can’t investigate our interests? Children, like us want to learn about things that interest them too. A child may become self-willed if he was forced to bend to another one’s will or stay in sync to a scope and sequence that was not a good fit. If that force was not motivated by love as it is by parents, then a child might be asking “why risk getting hurt?” Then rebellion sets in and it becomes a battle of the wills. Again, place a precious value on what your child tells you and this helps them to resist the urge to be a rebel.

Too, I’m going to switch gears here on you.

Who is Tina Robertson

But before you can appreciate how I can help you, here are a few things about me. Sure, this free new homeschooler boot camp is all about you.

However, you need to know that I’m not new to the homeschool world.

It has been several years since I wrote this series and I want to update you on my successes. And I’ve helped HUNDREDS get on the road to homeschooling.

Too, I have 3 homeschooled grads. So I’m well past having my oldest kid being 10 years old.

Day 21 Time Tested Tips For Homeschool And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

But the best part is that what I have for you works.

Also, look at a few other things about me.

I am the author of the book Homeschooling 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers: When You Don’t Know Where to Begin

And I have a detailed self-paced online homeschool Kickstarter course. It is a detailed comprehensive course for first time homeschoolers.

That is enough about me.

New to Homeschooling Start with the Basics

1 – 7 Start with the Homeschool Basics

8-14 Homeschool Organization 101 for Beginners

15 – 21 Best tips for New Homeschoolers Choosing Curriculum

22- 28 Homeschool Preschoolers, Highschoolers, and Resistant Learners

Even if his ideas are far-fetched, he knows you gave him a listening ear.

3.) Boundaries equal limits and children thrive within them. A rebel will push and test the limits. Inconsistent discipline, inconsistent school schedule and inconsistent rules breeds a rebel. All three of these things can be taxing to get a handle on when you’re new to homeschooling.

It is better to do less in the day and keep expectations clear so that you are not frustrating any of your children, than it is to push ahead and then take off days because you are behind.

Consistency, no matter how small keeps mutiny in homeschool to a minimum.

Create boundaries and a few rules so that they are easier to remember. A

flexible, but clear schedule posted in a prominent place helps everybody to see how to get the day started.

We all have buttons that can be pushed, so we need to realize when our resistant learner is pushing them. If you have to postpone correction because our emotional tanks are empty, do so.

When both a child’s and parent’s emotional tanks are empty, this is a collision course and not the best time to correct behavior.

You are not alone. We ALL deal with resistance and rebellion and as long as we’re human we can’t completely eradicate it, but we can cope successfully with it.

Hugs and you know I love ya,

Day 26: Homeschool Rebel or Resister - Are You the Cause? {31 Day Boot Camp For New Homeschoolers on My Blog}

Ancient Egypt DIY Simple and Fun Mummification Process Game

November 27, 2022 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, I have an Ancient Egypt diy mummification process game. You’ll love the other History Games I have on my page.

If you are studying Ancient Egypt and need a great hands-on activity to help teach your child you’ll love this mummification process game.

Yes, we made a game for that.

Games are an incredible way to learn something new.

Ancient Egypt DIY Simple and Fun Mummification Process Game

And games reinforce a topic that you are learning.

Now, I’ve bought all kinds of ready-made games.

However, creating your own game from the ground up and including your child in the process is the best way to learn.

I came up with this game that doesn’t require any special items and let’s your child be in charge of the game creation.

Creating the game will help the facts that they learn stick in their head better.

Benefits of Game Playing

Also, it will help teach your children research skills and give them a sense of pride in accomplishment.

I wanted to be sure it included more than just the history of this Ancient Egyptian ritual.

For younger children rolling and adding dice is a simple way to also incorporate math into your day.

They will learn or reinforce anatomy lessons through the anatomy drawings and labels.

I created a printable with the basic rules and values for the dice numbers rolled.

Creating the game requires reading, writing, and art skills

Before you begin use videos, resources, and books from your personal collection or borrow them from library to learn about the mummification process.

Fun Ancient Egypt Resources

This will make creating the cards much easier and give your child an understanding of the why.

Here are a few resources and activities that you might enjoy along with this diy mummification process game.

Inside Out Egyptian Mummy

These Toob Organs are a great teaching tool not only for anatomy but here in Ancient Egypt Studies. Also, they can be used for inspiration when drawing the organ cards. We have also used them in making large canopic jars as well.

There is also the Ancient Egypt Toob that can be used for art inspiration, sensory bins, dioramas, and so much more.

Let each child be responsible for creating their own set of cards for when you play

More Fun History Games Resources

Look at them below.

Depending on their age and ability level they may create the entire card on their own or may need some assistance.

They will be tickled with their own contributions to the game.

You don’t need anything other than the cards and dice but the props sure are fun to set the

How to Make a Mummification Process Game

Here is what you will need:

White cardstock
Colored cardstock
Paper slicer
Glue stick or double sided tape
Markers, colored pencils, or crayons
2 dice

First, cut white cardstock into 3 ½” x 4 ½” rectangles. You will need 9 for each player.

Then cut 9 of one colored cardstock for each child to 3 ¾ ” x 4 ¾”.

Write or instruct your child to write one of each of these phrases on the top of each of the 9 cards:

1-Wash body and remove organs
2-Remove brain through the nose
3-Place lungs in canopic jar
4-Place intestines in canopic jar
5-Place stomach in canopic jar
6-Place liver in canopic jar
7-Fill body and cover with salt for 40 days
8-Wrap body in linen bandages
9-Place body in sarcophagus

Next, encourage them to draw something to represent each of these steps.

I encourage a bit of silliness if it has something to do with what they are trying to accomplish for the step.

Use markers, crayons, colored pencils, or whatever they like to make it fun and colorful.

Here is a look at some more of the cards we created.

Glue the white completed cards to the colored cardstock to make it a bit sturdier.

Write the step numbers on the back of each card so they can easily be lined up for play face down.

Below is a printable with the rules and the assigned “value” for each dice combination.

You can choose to roll one or two dice depending on which numbers you need.

For instance, if all you are missing is a #1 you would want to roll only once die to attempt to get the number you need.

How to Get the Free Printable Rules

Grab the free page. It’s a subscriber freebie.

1) Sign up on my list.
2) Grab the freebie instantly.
3) Glad to have you following me. Look for my emails in your inbox now.

Rainforest Science Activities For Kindergarten Amazing and Fun Living Terrarium

November 26, 2022 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

If you’re looking for rainforest science activities for kindergarten, you’ll love this living terrarium craft. Look for my other kindergarten tips and crafts on my page Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum. Also, look at my pages Rain Forest – Amazon and Rainforest Activities for Kids.

Are you learning all about the beautiful and fascinating rainforest habitat?

You can have your child make a diorama the old-fashioned way or try something new and end up with a beautiful living decor piece.

Rainforest Science Activities For Kindergarten Amazing and Fun Living Terrarium

This living rainforest diorama terrarium can be a great hands-on way to teach your child about the animals and plants of the rainforest and a lesson on self-sustaining environments.

This mini ecosystem becomes a self-sustaining environment with living plants once the lid is closed.

And it is a beautiful addition to your homeschool or living room. Add this idea to your rainforest science activities for kindergarten.

Nature Book

Also, I wanted to share this beautiful resource I found with you that is perfect for adding some botany into your studies.

Botanicum is an oversized book which has gorgeous illustrations that look like vintage museum prints.

There is a good section with information on rainforests including tropical trees and plants

Also, beautiful, detailed pictures that are great for tracing or using as inspiration to draw your own.

Also, here are some rainforest facts.

Rainforest Facts

The Amazon Rainforest is the largest tropical rainforest.
In addition, there are two types of rainforests- tropical and temperate.
The average temperature in the rainforest is 82℉.
6% of the earth is covered by rainforests.
More than ⅔ of the world’s plant and animal species live here.
It can take all the way up to 10 minutes for a raindrop to fall to the ground because of the thick canopy cover of the trees that slows it down.
25% of medicines in production come from the rainforest regions.
The rainforest contains over two million types of insects!
Most animals and plants live in the canopy area of the rainforest.

And the rainforest is made up of 4 different layers:

The dark, damp Forest floor.
The Understory, the part that makes up the shorter tree space between the canopy and the forest floor.
The Canopy, the lush thicker tree filled area where most animals live.
The Emergent Layer, the thick treetops that stretch up into the open air.

Other Kindergarten Resources

Too, be sure to not miss these other homeschool kindergarten resources.

Additionally, you love some more rainforest activities.

You’ll love all the Amazon Rainforest resources.

More Amazon Rainforest Activities

19 Fun Hands-on Rainforest Activities for Kindergarten
Rainforest Crafts for Kindergarten: Make an Easy Paper Plate Monkey
3 Free and Amazing Amazon Rainforest Lapbooks for Kids
These slithering Paper Chain Pythons.
The Ultimate Guide to the Flora and Fauna of the Amazon Rain Forest
An adorable Paper plate Sloth.
Plants and Animals in the Tropical Rainforest cards make a great resource.
Fun Pineapple Candle
100+ Best and Free Tropical Amazon Rainforest Educators Resources

Now, let’s dive into making this amazing living terrarium.

How to Make a Rainforest Living Terrarium

First, you will need the following items.

Potting soil
A large sealing glass jar, a gallon size is perfect.

Small succulents-real or faux
Other small tropical plants
Small rocks or pebbles
Rainforest animals

Moss. I used dried moss from Dollar Tree and you can include live moss on the forest floor if you have some.
Sticks or small limbs from the yard
Hot glue gun/glue sticks
White labels

Then, here are the directions.

Add a 1” -2” layer of small rocks or pebbles carefully to the bottom of the jar, this will help with drainage.

Next, place 2” of potting soil on top of the rocks.

Before planting the succulents spritz them well with water or give them a good dunk under water.

Now you can use real or fake succulents if you don’t want to keep up with watering but the care for succulents is minimal.

And once established, they need little care.

Plant your succulents and spread around the jar. We used a mix of real and fake succulents to fill the space.

Now to create the tall full lush trees we used some sticks we gathered from the yard.

Break them down to size so that they fit a couple inches below the lid once pressed into the dirt.

Make your trees by putting hot glue all around on the top of the stick.

Then, roll it around and press it into the moss.

Rainforest Science Activities For Kindergarten

You may repeat this step to fill in your tree as full as you would like.

Don’t forget to add some to your lower branches if your tree has them.

Once the glue has hardened you can press them down into the soil and rocks.

Finally, add in some rainforest creatures to live in your habitat.

Additionally, these toob animals come in handy for so many projects. Try to spread them out among the 4 different layers.

Spritz everything well and close up the lid.

Now your habitat is also a fantastic demonstration on the water cycle as moisture will form on the inside and on the plants.

That moisture will drip down and water the soil.

The cycle will repeat itself over and over. It is good to open the lid once a month for a few minutes and allow the plants to get fresh air.

Now, to learn a bit about the 4 layers -use a white label to write the 4 layers that make up the rainforest- The Emergent Layer, Canopy, Understory and Forest floor.

Have your child place them in the correct place on the side of the jar to label each one.

Your terrarium just needs indirect sunlight and do not place directly in the sun.

Day 25 Homeschool High School And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

November 23, 2022 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today is day 25 homeschool high school. You’ll find the other tips on 31 Day Free Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers.

Quite a few years back in my humble homeschool beginnings my best friend and I went to a convention.

We paraded right to the very front row of a workshop about homeschool high school.

It was one of our first homeschool conventions.

Sitting happily, we were hoping as if by osmosis that we could devour every seasoned veteran’s experiences about high school.

Day 25 Homeschool High School And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

Then we both realized as the speaker started to talk that no bolt from the heavens would come down and infuse us instantly with high school expertness.

Bewilderment turned to plain anxiety when the speaker asks that parents of 14 and 15 year old kids come to the front row now so that he could assist them with the other parents presently sitting there.

A graceful and fast exit we tried to make as we had determined that we could not find a teen among our 3 year old and 5 year old.

Homeschool High School

I still get a huge chuckle today when I think about this, but it also reminds me of the deep-seated fear that I had of the high school years.

I agree with Sir Frances Bacon when he said: “Knowledge is Power” and especially when it comes to homeschooling in high school.

Knowledge is acquired over time so that it becomes of value and you will acquire it too.

3 Tips to Homeschool High School

Instead of focusing on exactly how you are going to do it, focus on foundational pegs that will keep you moving to homeschooling while in high school.

Here are some foundational pegs to take notice of:

1. Homeschool High school is Just A Continuation of Education.

Keep in mind that you still ARE the best teacher whether you arrive at highs chool after many years of homeschooling or whether your teen has just left high school.

Highschool is a readiness program for adulthood. You as the parent are the one most qualified to do that.

Focus on the 3 R’s and on creating a unique experience for your teen by pinpointing subjects that he will need.

I heart this motto and have kept it in mind as I planned courses for Mr. Senior 2013 and now planning for Mr. Awesome: “Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else” by Judy Garland. How VERY true in high school.

2. Plan Backwards by Looking Forward.

Plan for life after high school by looking forward and working your way back for courses to fulfill.

If your child is college bound, then take time now while they are a teen to find out what the requirements are for college and adjust your transcript accordingly.

Not all highschoolers are college bound, but may prefer a vocational school or missionary service.

You still need to look forward at the requirements and work on those over the teen’s course of middle school and high school.

Learning to weed out knowledge or courses that are not relevant to your final goal should be accomplished during high school.

In other words, high school is not the time for busy work, but rather for subjects that will help your teen reach his goals.

3. Your Hat Changes from Teacher to Supervisor.

A few parents may yammer at the thought of given their child the teacher’s manual, but that IS part of homeschool high school.

However, how can they teach themselves if they don’t have access to it?

Sure, in the beginning a teen just out of high school may use it to find answers.

Then again that is all he may have been taught from his previous educational experience.

When he realizes that he actually needs to learn the subject, he builds an appreciation for learning.

He sees that you have placed confidence in him and that he needs to take his learning seriously.

Both of my older boys work their problems, then look at the teacher’s manual. However, I check their work by having them tell me at ANY given time what they know.

That is mastery of learning and the teacher’s manual becomes a tool.

Homeschool High School Tip

Resorting back to the teacher’s hat too during the high school years is common too.

It may sound absurd when I say you actually need to homeschool until 12th grade, but it is very true.

It is the manner in how you homeschool a young adult that will change.

They need your guidance and patience.

Whether they apply for colleges, look for part time work, look at missionary work or take care of their first car, your teens need you.

There is life after graduation and high school is just a continuation of the journey.

Too, I’m going to switch gears here on you.

Who is Tina Robertson

But before you can appreciate how I can help you here are a few things about me. Sure, this free new homeschooler boot camp is all about you.

However, you need to know that I’m not new to the homeschool world.

It has been several years since I wrote this series and I want to update you on my successes. And I’ve helped HUNDREDS get on the road to homeschooling.

Too, I have 3 homeschooled grads. So I’m well past having my oldest kid being 10 years old.

But the best part is that what I have for you works.

Also, look at a few other things about me.

I am the author of the book Homeschooling 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers: When You Don’t Know Where to Begin

And I have a detailed self-paced online homeschool Kickstarter course. It is a detailed comprehensive course for first time homeschoolers.

That is enough about me.

New to Homeschooling Start with the Basics

1 – 7 Start with the Homeschool Basics

8-14 Homeschool Organization 101 for Beginners

15 – 21 Best tips for New Homeschoolers Choosing Curriculum

22- 28 Homeschool Preschoolers, Highschoolers, and Unique Learners

Day 25: Homeschooling Happily Through Highschool. {31 Day Boot Camp For New Homeschoolers on My Blog}

The Best Free Viking Lapbook and Hands-on Ideas

November 18, 2022 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

My free Viking lapbook is such a fun lapbook and unit study. Be sure you look at my other fun Homeschool Lapbooks.

In the West, they were called Northmen, Norsemen and Danes.

In the East, they were known as Rus or Varangians. Vikings came from a word in the Old Norse language meaning “sea raiding.”

The Best Free Viking Lapbook and Hands-on Ideas

The Vikings came from Norway, Sweden and Denmark.

Their land was rocky and they found it hard to grow crops.

Fun Viking Facts

The Vikings used long ships to raid and steal from other lands.

And the long ships were powered by sails or by rowing with oars.

Constantinople was the main city of the Byzantine empire. The Vikings traded there.

The Vikings were farmers and where it was colder they hunted game and fished.

Norse farmers grew barley, rye, oats, cabbage, onions and other root vegetables.

Also, they were both excellent sailors since they could maneuver so easy and soldiers since they knew how to fight too.

Next, look at some of these hands-on activities to go with this Viking lapbook.

Hands-on Viking History Activities

Here are a few you’ll like.

And add a few books for reference.

Finally, look below at the minibooks which come with this free Viking lapbook.

Other Homeschool Lapbooks

You’ll love my other lapbooks for multiple ages.

Minibooks for Free Viking Lapbook for Homeschooled Kids

The minibooks included in this download are:

Drakkar-Knarr-Viking-Ships minibook
Key dates in Viking History timeline
Viking Woman Coloring Page or Front Cover
About Viking Ships Notebooking Page
Draw Your Vikings and Who Were the Barbarians Notebooking Pages
Iceland, Greenland and Newfoundland Layered Book
North America Explorers Cover
Vikings are Known For Their …. Book
The Vikings are Less Well-Known For
Viking Ship Base
Were Also Known As. ..
Words and Pocket
Land of the Vikings Geography
Who Were the Vikings minibook
Written in Stone – About Runes minibook

How to Get the Free Lapbook

Finally, how to grab the free page lapbook and notebooking pages. It’s a subscriber freebie.

1) Sign up on my list.

2) Grab the freebie.

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

How To - - -

Resistant Learners

Homeschool Rebels or Resistant Learners

Who is Tina Robertson

New to Homeschooling Start with the Basics

1 – 7 Start with the Homeschool Basics

8-14 Homeschool Organization 101 for Beginners

15 – 21 Best tips for New Homeschoolers Choosing Curriculum

22- 28 Homeschool Preschoolers, Highschoolers, and Resistant Learners

Benefits of Game Playing

Fun Ancient Egypt Resources

More Fun History Games Resources

How to Make a Mummification Process Game

How to Get the Free Printable Rules

Nature Book

Rainforest Facts

Other Kindergarten Resources

More Amazon Rainforest Activities

How to Make a Rainforest Living Terrarium

Rainforest Science Activities For Kindergarten

Homeschool High School

3 Tips to Homeschool High School

1. Homeschool High school is Just A Continuation of Education.

2. Plan Backwards by Looking Forward.

3. Your Hat Changes from Teacher to Supervisor.

Homeschool High School Tip

Who is Tina Robertson

New to Homeschooling Start with the Basics

1 – 7 Start with the Homeschool Basics

8-14 Homeschool Organization 101 for Beginners

15 – 21 Best tips for New Homeschoolers Choosing Curriculum

22- 28 Homeschool Preschoolers, Highschoolers, and Unique Learners

Fun Viking Facts

Hands-on Viking History Activities

Other Homeschool Lapbooks

Minibooks for Free Viking Lapbook for Homeschooled Kids

How to Get the Free Lapbook

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