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How Do I Socialize My Homeschooled Kids?

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

How do I socialize my homeschooled kids is one question we still get asked. Also, look at my page The Dynamics of How to Homeschool Easily and Smarter for more tried and true tips.

If there is one question we get asked over and over again as homeschoolers, it has to be, “How Do I Socialize My Homeschooled Kids?”.

How Do I Socialize My Homeschooled Kids?

Again though, this has to be a topic where your definition of socialization has to be defined.

Next, look at my book with tried and true answers

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Homeschooling 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers is a real eye-opener on homeschooling. It will alleviate a lot of the anxieties about getting started homeschooling.

Then, look at these first time homeschoolers tips.

Tips for First-Time Homeschoolers

For example, it is a valid concern because nobody wants children that grow up to be social misfits.

Start here to zero in on a well-rounded definition of socialization.

  • Is it interaction with other children their age?
  • Is it going places or field trips?
  • Is it being with people?
  • Is it knowing how to interact with people of different beliefs and cultures?
  • Is it knowing how to interact with children who are not their age?
  • Is it knowing how to carry on a conversation with an adult?
  • Is it knowing how to tolerate the company of younger children that throw temper tantrums?
  • Is it knowing how to be respectful to any who are not respectful in their speech or conduct toward homeschoolers?

Guess what? Homeschooling is ALL of those things!

Contrary to what some folks feel is homeschooling, the homeschooling environment has all those things I just mentioned.

I feel the bigger question and more important question to ask is this:

WHO IS GOING TO TEACH YOUR CHILD ALL THOSE THINGS?

In life, as my mom always told me somebody is going to inflict their will on your child. Isn’t that what a peer does?

Why then should that peer be somebody who does not care or cares little for your child? Why can’t the parent be the one who models the behavior or sets the pattern? A parent can be a peer.

However, we know kids love being with other kids and we want to nourish friendships.

In the homeschool world, each city or area is different in what they offer as far as activities.

Activities include homeschool football teams, basketball, volleyball, national spelling bees, Bible bees, geography bees, plays, reenactments, co-ops to learn just about any subject or topic under the sun from sewing, baking, cooking, being a responsible babysitter, to legos and robots.

Check out my article Day 6: Homeschool Hangouts & Socialization Situations
Check out my 5 Days series on a Homeschooling Co-op Convert

Adopt your definition of socialization and whatever definition you adopt, be sure the emphasis is on family learning.

Sure, we all could probably go for days and not leave the because we love our homes and set it up for relaxed learning.

MORE HOMESCHOOL SOCIALIZATION TIPS

However, I have seen homeschoolers focus only on the needs of one or two of  their children instead of learning together as a family.

Why is this fine point worthy of mention?

Because it goes straight to the heart of socialization, which is that its the right, responsibility and privilege of the family to foster social skills. The whole homeschool journey should not just revolve around one or two kids because life is not like that.

How Do I Socialize My Homeschooled Kids - Are We Really Talking About this AGAIN @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Parents model social skills by reacting to various scenarios throughout the day and thus model behavior that children will want to follow.

Beginning with the family is a great place to start socializing homeschooled kids!

What about you? Have you over joined too many support groups and need to spend more time together as a family?

7 Things to Try When a Homeschool History Curriculum Isn’t Coming Together (Hint: Try a Primary Source or Two)

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

Today, I’m sharing 7 things to try when a homeschool history curriculum isn’t coming together. Sometimes it’s just not working.

Besides, homeschool history is far from humdrum when the right hands-on learning tools are applied.

Primary sources have a way of not only stoking the imagination, but are crucial to understanding past events.

7 Things to Try When a Homeschool History Curriculum Isn't Coming Together (Hint: Try a Primary Source or Two)

Primary sources have a way of taking events from just being imagined to reality because your child is reading , interacting and interpreting real objects created by people who lived during a specific time.

Today, in sharing 7 things to try when a homeschool history curriculum isn’t coming together, I want to give you a list of some items that make history real to your child.

7 TIPS TO MAKE HOMESCHOOL HISTORY COME TO LIFE

1. MAPS

Maps are probably one of the most obvious primary sources.

Beyond just showing a geographical location, maps also give tell-tale signs about the political thinking of a time period and they can give a glimpse into the natural resources that existed at a particular time period.

For example, look at Documents of Freedom: History, Government and Economics Through Primary Sources which is free.

And look at Primary Sources Throughout History for more hands-on ideas.

2. PHOTOGRAPHS

Photographs are one of my very favorite ways to learn history. When studying an old photo, it makes your child wonder who the people are in the photo? What kind of life did they lead? Photos provide many details as to the people or events of the time period.

It can also be one of the most mysterious piece of history evidence to explore because you question for what reasons were the photo taken? Was it staged by a creative photographer or was it a true depiction of the time period?

3. POLITICAL CARTOON CONVERSATIONS

Political cartoons are really a great example of the saying that a picture is worth a thousand words.

Whether through exaggeration or humor, they give a glimpse into past feelings about the political word.

4. ORAL HISTORY/EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS

A person’s eye witness account of an event is another fascinating topic that should be mulled over.

What makes this part of history so fascinating is that not are people’s memory fallible, but everyone interprets events differently.

5. FILMS

This is one primary source I would love to find more of to view.

6. ADS

Films from a time period are super helpful to sketch in our mind the way a place or event looked.

Just like ads today, they have a purpose and method and produced with a specific purpose in mind. Whether it’s to influence you to buy a certain product or to change your mind the way you view a product, ads are worthy our study.

7. SONGS & MUSIC

Songs and music have not only been part of history to invoke the present state of feeling among people during wartime, but it has been used as way to communicate ideas.

Certain political organizations have used certain parts of music to broadcast the spirit and purpose of their organization.

Studying the songs and music of the past helps us to relate world events of the time.

Pitching the curriculum to study hands-on objects of the past is key to keeping history alive.

7 Things to Try When a Homeschool History Curriculum Just Isn't Coming Together (hint try a primary source) @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Have you tried one of the primary sources?

MORE HOMESCHOOL HISTORY TIPS

Critical Thinking Homeschool Curriculum | Free 1 Year Inquiry Based Worksheets

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

I’ve rounded up some critical thinking homeschool curriculum. Also, look at my page Homeschool Learning Styles to learn more about homeschool approaches.

And look at my page The Best Homeschool Curriculum by Grade Level for more ideas. Too, I have a free year long inquiry based worksheets to help your child develop critical think skills.

A critical thinking homeschool curriculum is a set of lessons, activities, and resources designed to help students develop the ability to think logically.

Critical Thinking Homeschool Curriculum | Free 1 Year Inquiry Based Worksheets

You can use curriculum alongside your current curriculum or you can use it stand alone.

It uses what is called a Socratic method of discussion. This means curriculum is built around dialogue, questions and discussion and not worksheets.

The worksheets I have today are to guide discussions.

FEATURES OF CRITICAL THINKING HOMESCHOOL CURRICULUM

Next, look at a few more of the features of critical thinking curriculum.

  • It uses problem-solving strategies
  • Also it evaluates sources and arguments
  • Emphasis is based on the ancient ways of history meaning it uses logical reasoning
  • Encourages independent learning
Critical Thinking Homeschool Curriculum | Free 1 Year Inquiry Based Worksheets

Finally, look at these resources for critical thinking curriculum.

HOMESCHOOL CURRICULUM CRITICAL THINKING

7 Critical Thinking Homeschool Curriculum

In homeschool, a critical thinking curriculum can be a standalone, a specific course or workbook just for logic or reasoning. Or it can be integrated into other subjects like history or science.

Also, look at a few tips of how to choose curriculum by learning style or homeschool approach.

MORE HOMESCHOOL CURRICULUM BY LEARNING STYLE

Finally, look at how to grab your free year long inquiry based worksheets.

HOW TO GET THE FREE 1 YEAR INQUIRY BASED WORKSHEETS

Now, how to grab the freebie. It’s a subscriber freebie.

1) CLICK HERE ON THIS LINK TO SIGN UP ON MY EMAIL LIST & TO GET THIS FREEBIE.

2) Grab the freebie instantly.

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

Why Is Geronimo Stilton So Popular Among Young Readers

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Why is Geronimo Stilton so popular among young readers? Also, look at my page Geronimo Stilton Books for more great activities.

Geronimo Stilton was created by Italian author Elisabetta Dami. But the books are presented like they are written by Geronimo himself.

The first Geronimo Stilton book was published in Italy in 2000 and then later translated into English and other languages.

Why Is Geronimo Stilton So Popular Among Young Readers

And if you’ve seen a brightly colored book with a mouse in a suit dashing across the cover it is none other than Geronimo Stilton.

But why is Geronimo Stilton so popular among young readers?

When we read our first one, we laughed almost the whole way through the fun read.

GERONIMO STILTON BOOK SERIES

First, look at some of the titles of the fun books.

Geronimo Stilton Books 1 - 20

It is not necessary to go in order, each book is its own stand-alone story, and the main characters are properly reintroduced each time.  So, you can choose the books based on your child's current interest, the season, or a unit study topic.

Now, look at some of the fun reasons both parents and children love the series.

WHY IS GERONIMO STILTON SO POPULAR

Look at these facts about the book series.

  • The books have a visual flair both with text and pictures. For example, some text is larger than the other and color coded. It brings attention to certain words to help young readers understand the tone. Basically, the words are different colors, fonts, and sizes.
  • Also, Geronimo Stilton is a mouse and the editor and publisher of the fictional newspaper The Rodent’s Gazette in New Mouse City on Mouse Island. However, he is very human to children.
  • Geronimo is always going on an adventure and is a scaredy mouse. He is curious, funny, and cautious. Because he is not very brave, children of all ages love his charming personality.
  • Many of the books explore geographical areas and historical events, ancient civilizations, and time travel. It’s a fun blend of stepping back in time, adventure and education. Children read about history and geography in a natural and fun way much like a living book.
  • And of course being a mouse, he loves his cheese. He especially loves Mozarella and Swiss. We did a charcuterie board one time as we were reading.
  • Because there is educational information packed into the stories, they pair nicely with our geography and history unit studies.
  • I wouldn’t really call Geronimo a superhero. He is thoughtful and kind. Because he is cowardly but overcomes his fear and helps others, his character can make a great model for kids. He models perseverance and curiosity.
  • Too, it appeals to many cultures because of the universal theme of friendship and courage.

Why Is Geronimo Stilton So Popular Among Young Readers

Finally, look at these activities that we have done to pair with the adventures in some of his books.

MORE GERONIMO STILTON ACTIVITIES

You should try one or two.

Because of the fast-pace, and visual design and adventurous plot the series really appeals to the reluctant reader.

In a world full of digital distractions your young readers will keep coming back from.

Math Lapbook Ideas And Free Time And Money Lapbook

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

I have some math lapbook ideas and a free time and money lapbook. Also, look at my page Homeschool Lapbooks – Powerful Tools For Mastery Learning for more lapbook ideas.

A math lapbook can help children retain math concepts. Besides, too many educators are quick to give up hands-on math like lapbooks when abstract ideas are not cemented.

And contrary to popular beliefs, lapbooks are not just for young kids. Because lapbooks can include games, graphs, and minibooks packed full of facts, it’s a fun way to learn and practice concepts.

Math Lapbook Ideas And Free Time And Money Lapbook

Too, once a lapbook is prepared which can take time, a lapbook is an independent way for a child to review facts in a natural way. It can be used over again and even used the next year if facts are forgotten.

What you put in the lapbook depends on the level of the child not necessarily age.

Some children are ready for more advanced math concepts and others are still review grade level concepts.

LIVING MATH BOOKS FOR KIDS

Next, when you pair math books with lapbooks math is not boring.

You’ll love these math living books.

8+ Living Math Books About Counting, Addition and Subtraction

A living book or story brings math to life. Books like these have a way of explaining math concepts in a story form so young children understand them. Add one or two to your library.

Also, look at these math lapbook ideas.

MATH LAPBOOK IDEAS

Additionally, look at more homeschool lapbook ideas.

MORE LAPBOOK IDEAS

WHAT MATH CONCEPTS TO INCLUDE IN A MATH LAPBOOK

In addition, here are some ideas to include in a math lapbook.

  • vocabulary for math section or create a whole lapbook on math terms and vocabulary words
  • measurement and data
  • basic 4 operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division
  • days of the week
  • fractions
  • time, elapsed time
  • geometry and shapes
  • numbers and counting

What is included in this free math and time telling lapbook

In the download, I’ve included a picture of a suggestion as to where to place the minibooks. Remember that you can add any minibooks to create your unique lapbook.

So, you do not need to include all if you want to focus on other concepts.

But this lapbook includes a pocket for money, time telling, days of the week, a clock, digital time and pieces for a front cover.

Math Lapbook Ideas And Free Time And Money Lapbook

Finally, look below to grab the free time telling and math lapbook

HOW TO GET THE FREE TIME AND MONEY LAPBOOK

Now, how to grab the freebie. It’s a subscriber freebie.

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get my emails in your inbox and you get this freebie.

1) CLICK HERE ON THIS LINK TO SIGN UP ON MY EMAIL LIST & TO GET THIS FREEBIE

2) Grab the freebie instantly.

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