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The Ultimate Guide to Poetry for Multiple Ages (For the Intimidated)

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In creating this ultimate guide to poetry for multiple ages, I’ve recalled my own lack of experience in teaching poetry. Unlike other areas of language arts, poetry can be intimidating to teach.

Taking the abstract to concrete, associating images with thoughts, limited experiences of child and teacher to appreciate figurative language, and comprehending the difference between imagery and metaphor are just a few of the elements that caused me to delay teaching poetry.

The Ultimate Guide to Poetry (For the Intimidated). Like living books, poetry needs to be appreciated first for the ability to move a reader. Rhythm and meter are art forms of poetry. And choosing the right words, a pause or space in between stanzas, and giving life to soulless objects are ways that a skillful poet evokes thoughts, feelings and imagination. Click here to learn how to skillfully teach poetry!

Crippled with my lack of education in understanding the language of poetry, I used prepared lesson plans to teach it in the early years of homeschooling.

Gaining momentum in the middle and high school years to move away from laid out resources and learn alongside my sons, I learned that poetry is similar to my love of reading; it’s more about the experience of reader to language than identifying all the poetry elements.

Like living books, poetry has to be appreciated first for the ability to move a reader.

Rhythm and meter are art forms of poetry. And choosing the right words, a pause or space in between stanzas, and giving life to soulless objects are ways that a skillful poet evokes thoughts, feelings and imagination.

Releasing the Inner Bard

Poetry is now one of my essentials in a reading program.

Although it may seem strange to an avid writer or reader, one point I appreciate more now is that a person is not obligated to share the joy of reading, writing or an emotional connection with a poem.

It can be intrinsic and the reader can possess an inner satisfaction without feeling compelled to tout all of his life’s experiences,  positive or negative to the whole world.

Personal views and intimate thoughts about poetry can stay as an inner secret. Or if you want to join the great conversation of the world, a poem can pull you and others into discussing feelings, thoughts and experiences.

Like discussing a great book, agreeing with another person or not when discussing poetry isn’t the point. It’s about the power of moving you to think beyond your own life’s experiences or predetermined cultural values and expressing yourself with profound meaning.

Conversations with others, like reading words painted by a poet, are educational, entertaining, and expand our understanding of them. And reading poetry is like conversations with ones you love, like your children. It’s about speaking the right words in the correct order.

It’s taken me almost my whole journey of homeschooling to grasp those two very different views I can take to poetry. I hope it won’t take you that long to look beyond teaching the elements of poetry and peer into the hidden power of poetry.

Poetry Needs to Be Read Outloud

In this ultimate guide to poetry for multiple ages (for the intimidated), I hope to give you a starting point in reading and writing poetry.

Encourage your children to write poetry. Even the simplest word from their heart is rich with meaning and it is the stepping stone to creative writing. Encourage your children to read poetry outloud. They’ll love the option of keeping an inner secret or delighting others by publicly expressing their emotions through picture words.

General Lesson Plans, Teacher Guides, and Unit Studies

Haiku Writing Lesson
Poetry and Prose Lesson
Traditional Sonnet Forms Lesson
Immigrant Poetry Lesson
Culture Through Poetry Lesson
Line Breaks in Poetry Lesson
T.S. Eliot Biography for Children
Middle to High School: The Odyssey 104 page download.
Shape Poetry 2 page download.
Leaf by Leaf Autumn Poetry Lesson Plan		Writing Acrostic Poems Lesson
Rebus and Rhyme Lesson
Cinquain Poems Lesson
Emma Lazarus Lesson
African-American Poetry Lesson
Shel Silverstein Lesson Plans
Emily Dickinson Poetry Guide
My Book of Poems
17 page download
Sixth Grade Poetry Unit 59 page download.


Printable Poetry Resources

Poetry Memorization Printables
Lyric and Free Verse Notebooking Pages
Ballad Notebooking Pages
Pastoral and Sonnet Notebooking Pages
Printable Motivational Poems
Fall Poetry Printables
Poetic Devices Minibook
Nursery Rhymes Notebooking Pages
Printable Limerick Exercise
Cinquain Poem Printables
Printable Nonsense Poetry
Printable Jumbled Poetry Worksheet
Rhyming Couplets Worksheet
Irony in Poetry Worksheet
Poetry Foot and Line Flash Cards
Simile Poem Worksheet
Poetry Terms Worksheet
Street Sign Poetry Worksheet		Printable Robert Frost Copywork
Poetry Memorization Cards
Narrative Poetry and Haiku Printables
Villanelle Notebooking Pages
Limerick and Nonsense Verse Notebooking Pages
Emily Dickinson Riddle Poem Cards
Printable Limerick Activity
Over the River Poem Copywork
Mother Goose Rhyme Copywork
Printable Five Line Poem Worksheet
Acrostic Poem Printables
Printable Poetry Language Planner
Pirates Acrostic Poem Worksheet
Poetry Vocabulary Match Worksheet
Poetry Alliteration Worksheet
Biography Poem Worksheet
Writing Onomatopoeia Worksheet
Writing a Ballad WorksheetNarrative Poetry Worksheet
Epitaph Poetry Printable Activity
Rhythm and Rhyme in Poetry Printable
Poetry Uses Rhyme Worksheet
Printable Greece Poetry Copywork
Printable Texas Poetry Copywork

Homeschooling Poetry Tips

Charlotte Mason Poetry Homeschool Routine
Haiku Poetry Lesson
Self-Expression Exercises for Kids
Describe the Sky Exercise
How to Write a Diamond Poem
Using Poetry for Family History
Ways to Use Poetry in School		Reasons to Teach Poetry
5 Steps for Studying Poetry
How to Notebook with Poetry
How to Teach Shakespearean Sonnets
Tips for Teaching Haiku Writing
50 Tips for Teaching Poetry
How to Write a Name Poem
Exercising Imagination Activity


Poetry Crafts and Hands-On Activities

Life-Sized Poetry Board Game
Mary Mary Quite Contrary Craft
Poetry Journaling
Historical Poetry Writing
Create a Poetry Scrapbook
Poetry Smelling Game
Throw an Open Mic Poetry Party
Lunch Bag Sestinas Writing		How to Add Fun Teatime To Your Homeschool Poetry Study
DIY Magnetic Poetry Kit
Creating Art Haiku
Picture and Poetry Activity
Poetry Shopping Spree
Poetry Invisible Ink Activity
Jump Rope Rhymes
Poetry Charades Game
Photographic Poetry Activity
Writing Found Poetry
Photograffiti Poetry
Blackout Poetry
Poetry Learning Station Ideas

Poetry Books for Homeschoolers

Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets by Kwame Alexander
Poetry Speaks of Who I Am: Poems of Discovery, Inspiration, Independence, and Everything Else by Elise Paschen
Poetry Matters: Writing a Poem From the Inside Out by Ralph Fletcher
The Random House Book of Poetry for Children by Jack Prelutsky		 Here’s a Little Poem: A Very First Book of Poetry by Jane Yolen
Where the Sidewalk Ends: Poems and Drawings by Shel Silverstein

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Hugs and love ya,

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This blog hop is organized by iHomeschool Network, a collaboration of outstanding homeschool bloggers who connect with each other and with family-friendly companies in mutual beneficial projects.

Click the image below to visit all the other blog articles from the homeschool moms of the iHomeschool Network.

When It’s Your Fault that Your Homeschooled Kids Don’t Do Chores

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When the kids were young, I made chore charts, taught them how to clean, and made them do it. I’ve never been the kind of parent that gives up easily and does the chores myself. How did it become my fault now? Click here to read what happened AND how I changed it!

Before I come down hard on my kids, I first recall things they’ve done right. I try to mete out the same standard to myself. So when the kids were young, I made chore charts, taught them how to clean, and made them do it. I’ve never been the kind of parent that gives up easily and does the chores myself. I’m pretty mean determined that way. If I had done that, I knew it would’ve come with a great cost when they were grown. They would not be able to take care of themselves, but who wants to roommate with a slob. So at the cost of having a house cleaned exactly to my standards, I’ve always known the importance of my sons learning to clean. With that being said, recently I had become relaxed in coming up with a new system to fit our changing circumstances. And it’s been my fault that my homeschooled kids don’t do chores.

Quit Making this Common Mistake

Recently, I had to step up and change things in my home because it was much easier to have the kids clean while they were little. Now that they are older they have a full academic and work load. I’m still learning and changing as we go through the seasons of homeschool.

And what is ironic is that my kids have never rebelled or have a bad attitude for chores. Like me, they too simply got caught up in a new schedule.

My older two sons take business courses, are working an apprenticeship and have an active social life as young adults. I’m still homeschooling my younger son and this makes for a very hectic and different household.

Recently, I was wondering why I felt like dropping dead after mopping the floor. Before that I had wiped the baseboards and scrubbed the shower. All of those are chores my sons have no problem doing. They put on their headsets for music and happily do their chores.

But knowing that all of my sons are well past chore charts, I had to have a family meeting. Yes, that is what we call it now.

From that meeting, I learned three things that I hope can help you if you find yourself in a situation where your circumstances seem to change overnight and you may not have adjusted.

ONE/ I will always have to accept a kid-friendly cleaned house.

When the kids were young, I dreamed of times like now when the boys are older and are vibrant with energy because I knew the house would be cleaned to my standards.

Nope, it’s still not like that.

Although it is much cleaner, my boys are inexperienced in a relative sense – my sense. In other words, now, I’m the only that can tell if it was cleaned to my standards.

It’s the same feeling you have if somebody else came in and cleaned your home. It will never be you and you’re grateful that you don’t have to do it all yourself; if you’re a perfectionist, like I tend to be, you learn humility.

I’m grateful for still being trained in my thinking when I accept their methods of cleaning. Too, I do get surprised by the short cuts my sons teach me.

TWO/ I’ve learned to give up control for when my house will get clean. Try that on for a control freak like me.

Another thing I’ve had to learn is to accept when my sons can do their part on their schedule. Like I said, when they were little, it was much easier to plan my cleaning schedule although I didn’t think that at the time.

Now, no matter what I tout when I want things done, that is not reality. It won’t happen IF I want my sons to pursue their academic life after graduating.

With school, apprenticeship, volunteering and working, their chores at my home, like most young adults, have to bend to their schedule, not mine.

I miss those days when I could decide which days we did our housework and assign their chores on sweet little chore charts.

THREE/ Chores have not last their value in character building even with young adults.

Mostly what I value, though, is that now that two of my sons are taller than me and it’s starting to look like I live with all grown men in my home, chores reinforce willpower.

Doing things each day or each week that require routine is what adult life is all about. Most of adult life is about routine and it reinforces responsibility. It is a daily test of strength of character.

When my oldest two sons were teens they tried to undermine the value of their chores like taking out the trash, stacking the dishwasher, or doing their laundry. What I mean is that when it was accompanied by a lot of back talking and complaining, I was resolute about it being done and with a great attitude.

Repeatedly, I explained to the boys that their contribution to our family is like making an investment in themselves and will serve them a lifetime. Also, I continually reminded them that as adults we are tired too, but when chores are done willfully and happily it contributes to less stress in the home.

I’m so glad I didn’t let them view their chores as menial.

The Zen of a Well-Kept House

Dealing with pressures as teens, even the everyday seemingly mundane things, has now built great strength of character in my sons. What more could I ask of my sons.

Yes, it was my fault that I didn’t have a family meeting earlier, but I learned that if life gets hectic there is always time to make another set of plans.

Homeschooling is ever changing. Besides the kids want to help and they too need reminders about pitching in at the home.

Also look these articles and tips. Inspiring Your Homeschooled Kids to Do Chores – Cleaning or Character Building, 11 Tried and True Ways to Tame the Home When You Homeschool and 100 Ways to Organize Kids.

Hugs and love ya,

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Don’t forget to follow BOTH of my Pinterest accounts for AWESOME pins.

Visit Tina Robertson’s profile on Pinterest.


Visit Tinas Dynamic Homeschool ‘s profile on Pinterest.

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21 Hands-on Ideas for Homeschool Spelling From a Seasoned Mom

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

Wanting my sons to love words and spelling as much as I do, I was anxious when I started to teach spelling. And there was plenty I did wrong, but there was a lot I did right. I want to ease your fears by sharing this list of 21 hands-on ideas to teach homeschool spelling because playing with letters and learning sounds in the beginning builds a solid foundation into adulthood.

Holding my sons responsible for their spelling from the time we started doing formal spelling lessons until they graduated high school was key. But good spellers don’t start with formal lessons.

Spelling, like the three Rs, is a skill subject. This means you look for a period of readiness that comes before formal steps. Children need time to explore with letters, sounds and parts of words until they formally put them together. Don’t rush it like I started off doing. That is why it’s called preschool. Pre-reading, pre-math, and pre-spelling come before formal lessons.

Backing up, I put away my formal lessons in Kindergarten to be sure my first son had plenty of time to explore the concept that a symbol or letter represented a sound. Teaching my children after him followed that same pattern.

I’m here to tell you, at the beginning stages it’s not so important to teach letter names as it is the sound they represent.

This doesn’t mean you have to push aside playing an ABC game in spelling, but try to think in terms of how spelling flows into reading.

Reading is partially about memorizing words but strategies for attacking unknown words begins with solid spelling skills.

As you begin applying 21 hands-on ideas to teach homeschool spelling, remember that you’re building a foundation for spelling mastery. And by communicating with your child every day, he has already picked up a lot about spelling through natural interaction with you.

I had wished that mindset was something I valued more at the time, but it’s hard to appreciate that when you feel you may mess up your kids for life. Right?

Although it wasn’t back in covered wagon times when I started homeschooling like my boys think, it was back before more information was available about using a multi-sensory approach.

That is just educational jargon for learning to take information in through more than one sense. Learning hands-on and through sight makes the language of spelling stick.

Here’s how to do it.

Practice beginning homeschool spelling with chocolate pudding. Yum! Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

1. Write in chocolate pudding. No arguments from the kids – ever. Yogurt works great too.Practice beginning homeschool spelling with licorice and white icing. Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus2. Write using candy licorice. Using a clean pair of kid-friendly scissors, my boys cut the shapes of letters and stuck them in white icing on a graham cracker. Yum. That is the way I got their sugar in for the day.

3.  Write in salt.

4. Write on a chalkboard.

5. Cut out letters from card stock and spell words.

6. Write with a squirt bottle of water or paint on sidewalk.

7. Write with a paintbrush dipped in paint.

8. Write in shaving cream.

9. Paint on small rocks. The boys also loved this activity. They would play for hours arranging the rocks to spell words.

10. Form words and letters using play-doh.

11. Form words and letters using edible peanut butter dough.

Hands down this was a favorite for my boys. It worked beautifully with each son as they showed readiness. I timelessly used this recipe of powdered milk, peanut butter and honey over and over again.
And unless your kids are allergic to peanut butter dough, you’ll love using this recipe for letters, words and teaching ending and beginning sounds.

12. Match pictures or cards with sounds. Toys and manipulatives always engage young children. Buying a few games and educational learning supplies early, I was able to use them extensively with each child.13. Use music for singing and spelling words. Big books aren’t just for a classroom. My kids fell in love with them at home. I used them for teaching spelling.

We listened to the music, while looking at the letters and singing along R – E – D red.

The wonderful thing about this is that a child can touch the letters, point to them while listening to the words and letters through music. It’s a way to learn through another mode.

Spelling Super Tips

14. Use magnetic letters.

Magnetic letters placed on the refrigerator and at the height of the your child encourages him to learn letters and practice spelling in quick learning spurts. This timeless teaching tips still works in today’s techie world.

15. Write with a magnetized pen to trace over letters.

16. Write using a trace erase board. I had no idea when I purchased the trace erase board how much I would use them through the years. I started using them spelling practice and purchased other pages to insert inside them for other skills. I loved these because I could take them with us.

The kids write on the acrylic face. In other words, unlike slipping a page into a plastic sleeve, your kids always have a hard surface to write on. There is a space between the face and the backboard to insert pages. You can change out the skills. Writing, erasing and practicing kept my kids learning for a long time.17. Use alphabet sound teaching tubs. I bought a set of tubs and used them for several years with each child as they came along. When I bought them they were not as expensive as they are now; I bought mine from Lakeshore Learning. I think this alphabet object set is just as good if you don’t have time to hunt for one or make your own.

Something else you can do is to make your own set. Save small plastic dishes with lids or buy an inexpensive set at a dollar store and collect miniature dollar store toys.

I did this too and it works great although some letter sounds are hard to find.

18. Hole punch letters. This is what I call a two-fer. Not only do your kids work on their fine motor skills more directly, but they learn their letters.

19. Write using stencil sets.

This also was a big hit at my home. Finding a large size stencil is not hard. These Karty Large Alphabet Stencils work great for coloring, placing glue in the area and pouring glitter (uggg, not my favorite, but the kids loved it), tracing and filling in with tiny pom poms, cereal, beans, play-doh or paint.

20. Match letters-the fun way. This is an easy project you can set up at any time.

Instead of drawing lines on a boring page to match lettters get creative to make it hands-on and engaging. For example, I used a slab of play-dough to form a big square. Creating two columns, I placed plastic letters on each side and my husband’s golf tees (he “lost” several that way) above each letter. My boys used yarn to match the letters.

21. Hit a balloon up in the air. This is great for boys because they can hit something and not each other. I know, I used it with each son and it always returned great learning results.

Blow up a bag of balloons, use a marker, and write one letter on each balloon. Your kids can play, hit the balloon in the air while saying the letter or sound. This works great for pretty well anything like numbers, math facts, and cvc words. I know that is beside the point, but when beginning to teach it takes time to get the teaching wheels turning so I’m hoping it will get your creative juices flowing.

Having used numerous spelling programs but without a multi-sensory approach, I was delighted to be able to use All About Spelling when it came out.

It truly is one of the best spelling programs I’ve used and I’ve used many. I know you’ll love how easy All About Spelling makes spelling now.
All About SpellingI hope these tips will help you to teach spelling in a way that make your children become master spellings because they worked for me!

What spelling ideas have worked for your kids?

Do you want to see how this step leads to the next one?

Look here at how early letter writing and spelling blossoms into beautiful writing. Teaching Handwriting When Homeschooling the Early Years Part 1, Teaching Handwriting When Homeschooling the Early Years Part 2 and Teaching Handwriting When Homeschooling the Early Years Part 3.

Hugs and love ya,

Signature T

Don’t forget to follow BOTH of my Pinterest accounts for AWESOME pins.

Visit Tina Robertson’s profile on Pinterest.


Visit Tinas Dynamic Homeschool ‘s profile on Pinterest.

The Big List of Unit Study Hands-on (and Hands-off) Curriculum

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

Switching from a strictly classical approach to a homeschool unit study curriculum wasn’t a quick decision, but it was the best choice for our family. Besides learning how to homeschool means making the best choice for your family

Homeschool unit studies allow us to work on a mastery-based level on topics that fascinated us instead of learning in small bites.

The Big List of Unit Study Hands-on (and Hands-off) Curriculum

Two things I quickly learned was that prepared homeschool unit study curriculum was not as readily available as curriculum for other homeschool approaches and that not all of my boys wanted to do hands-on activities.

Although there may not seem as many choices for curriculum using the unit study approach, there is still a variety.

Listing some of the ones I’ve used and which ones have more hands-on ideas, I’m hoping one or two here will help you to make the switch to unit studies easier, ease your planning time or just let somebody else take the teaching reins for a while.

Homeschool Unit Study curriculum

Also, where possible if there is a discount available, I’ll point that out because I like to save money too.

Beautiful Feet Books.

Beautiful Feet Books is based on history centered literature and I’ve used it for my boys at the middle and high school level.

Be sure to grab the coupon at my article Medieval History for Homeschool Middle School and read about using Beautiful Feet Books.

You can add hands-on ideas here, but it’s not required.

Before Five in a Row

Before Five in a Row and Five in a Row are literature based unit studies based on living books and I used them when the boys were young.

It’s one of my top choices for the younger years and lot of hands-on ideas are sprinkled throughout which I feel is a valuable component for younger grades.

BookShark.

BookShark is the secular version of Sonlight and I classify it as a unit study because of the literature based focused. I love their 4-day a week schedule and this is an all-in-one program or boxed curriculum because it comes with everything you need for a year.

I like BookShark because it allows me to add my own Christian view. Too, hands-on ideas are not required but I love the fact you can add your own activities.

GeoMatters.

Combining our love for geography, history, living books with a Charlotte Mason twist, makes GeoMatters a fun unit study. We loved doing their Trail Guide to Learning.

HomeschoolLegacy. 

This is an all-in-one unit study provider where the planning is laid out for you.

I’ve tried one of the history ones and enjoyed how easy it made lesson planning. And it has a nice balance of both laid out planning and hands-on ideas.

Home School In the Woods.

If you love history like we do and build a lot of your unit studies around it, then you’ll love the approach taken by Home School in the Woods which is through timelines, lapbooks and hands-on activities.

I love how many ideas are given for hands-on projects, but also a good amount of information is given for background information. If you’re looking for long-term hands-on projects, this is a great option.

In the Hands of a Child.

Then this is a lapbook approach to unit studies. The best part besides the fun lapbook is that they can span many ages.

Intellego Unit Studies.

I love these unit studies though they are light on hands-on ideas and are secular.

I’ve used several of these studies when I first started because I didn’t want to have to research all the information. I like them because the background information is well laid out.

Unit Study Curriculum

I normally end up adding my own Biblical content anyway and have ideas for hands-on.

There is very little hands-on required.

KONOS.

Yes, it’s true they are the absolute granddaddy of unit studies and I used them when I first got started. It is a very comprehensive unit study and you can buy just what you want or buy a laid out curriculum. They have more fun hands-on ideas than most other unit studies.

I love the amount of hands-on ideas for each age given, but again it’s not required because there is a sufficient amount of information given without having to do the hands-on activities.

Learning Adventures.

This is one I’ve been eyeballing and would love to try because it includes all my favorites. It’s for upper grades or 4th to 8th grade, it’s based on living books which I try to always use in our unit studies and our passion for history is what is at the center of the themes.

The Big List of Unit Study Hands-on (and Hands-off) Curriculum

I’ll let you know about the hands-on ideas after I use it, but wanted to be sure you knew about it.

Moving Beyond the Page.

This is a favorite when I need a literature based all-in-one unit study.

They have rigorous academics and when you need a more rounded out unit study, they are a great choice.

My Father’s World.

Incorporating classical education and hands-on, this is a very comprehensive unit study approach.

NaturExplorers.

My favorite curriculum for science always uses a living book approach and is hands-on which is why we love NaturExplorers.

From Beautiful Birds to the Fungus Among Us, you’ll find a title your kids will love.

There are a good amount of hands-on ideas which I love because science should be about doing and not just reading.

Nia Unit Studies.


Though a much smaller company, I love that the unit studies take a notebooking approach and are downloadable as e-books. This is a great choice if you want to get started quickly and inexpensively.

I’m hoping to see more titles, but I love mom-and-pop shops.

Homeschool Unit Studies

TRISMS

Having used TRISMS as well, I love the history approach to unit studies. However, it is very comprehensive because it adds in all other subjects.

I love the research aspect of it and there are several activity ideas to include for each theme.

This was challenging for my middle school boys when we started and I loved that aspect of it. I could make it as challenging as I wanted it to be for them.

Hands-on ideas are offered but don’t have to be done.

Weaver Unit Studies.


Weaver has been around for years too and gently covers multiple subjects with a Christian view. If you want to take a more gentle approach, add in more information and want more of a Christian view, then you’ll love this one.

WinterPromise.

This is another wonderful all-in-one program where the themes are based on history using a Charlotte Mason approach.

Also, I’ve rounded up some other curriculum help below.

Whether you’re new to the unit study approach or if you’re like me and your needs change each year, I know you’ll like having this list at your fingertips.

Switching from a strictly classical approach to a unit study curriculum wasn’t a quick decision, but it was the best choice for our family. Homeschool unit studies allow us to work on a mastery-based level on topics that fascinated us instead of learning in small bites. Two things I quickly learned were that prepared homeschool unit study curriculum was not as readily available as curriculum for other homeschool approaches and that not all of my boys wanted to do hands-on activities. Grab this Big List of Homeschool Unit Studies to get some ideas!

How Early Should I Begin Homeschooling My First Child & Free Checklist

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

Being both anxious and excited, I couldn’t wait to begin homeschooling my first child, Mr. Senior 2013. Also, look at more tips on my page The Dynamics of How to Homeschool Easily and Smarter.

Being around the homeschool community because my mother homeschooled my younger sister, I had an idea of how to begin.

As I began, I knew some things, but it was nowhere near what I needed to know.

How Early Should I Begin Homeschooling My First Child? (and free checklist)

I still had many questions.

For example, when do I formally start, where do I purchase curriculum, what is considered curriculum at the preschool years and how much do I really need to teach my son at two or three years old.

These were just a few of my anxieties and probably some of yours as you begin homeschooling.

Begin Homeschooling with Little Ones and Not Panicking

I wanted details or some way to know when to move to the next step.

So I’m hoping some of these important details will ease your mind.

  • When do I formally start? 

You already know that kids begin learning from the time they are born, but estimating a more formal start is not as easy.

Like public school, you can use kindergarten or about 5 years of age as a formal start.

However, the one thing I could not possibly appreciate was that my son was very advanced in some skills and at the same time such a baby.  It seems a paradox and hard to explain as I look back.

Stay with me as I give you the full circle view.

When my son was 2 years old, I started receiving a box monthly with age appropriate activities for him.

It had a craft, a music cassette (yes this was before all the free downloads now) and age appropriate language building skills. It was always centered on themes.

Little did I know then that I would create my Kindergarten curriculum around that format. Back to my point.

My son was already writing his name, knew his letters and was reading before Kindergarten.

Out of my stupidity (I say this kindly about myself) meaning I really didn’t know what I was doing, I taught him to read.

It was normal to me for him to be that advanced and we were ready to go on to other skills in Kindergarten.

It set me back in Kindergarten when I realized that the curriculum I purchased started off with the same skills I felt my son had mastered.

Things I taught him like colors, one to one correspondence, opposites, letter sounds and about science were being introduced in the Kindergarten curriculum.

Homeschool Preschool Resources

Too, I had another problem. The curriculum required too much sitting time for such a young age.

Did you know that Kindergarten only requires short periods of sit down work done in about 10 to 15-minute spurts?

And that preschool and kindergarten are not the grades to make kids sit for hours because you decided to make a more formal start?

I’ve asked forgiveness from my first son.

I’m here to tell you that he turned out beautiful, but it was hard to forgive myself for being so overbearing anxious. Don’t make my mistake.

I knew that playing is learning in the preschool years and like any developmental age, it shouldn’t be rushed.

It’s hard to grasp that when you feel the whole weight of your child’s future rests on your shoulders and all he wants to do is play, chew on toys and destroy your house.

However, those precious years are momentary flashes that you can’t ever bring back if you rush homeschool.

If you search the definition for kindergarten, it would probably say something like a grade or class to prepare your child for first grade.

But the meaning has been lost through the constant push of the education world, and you need to resist the urge to hop onto the formal education track too soon.

How Early Should I Begin Homeschooling My First Child? (and free checklist)

The translation of Kindergarten means “garden for the children” and a child has a right to a stress-fress childhood that is full of play, tender moments and your warm embrace.

Here is a tip that will ease your mind if you ever feel like anytime in your journey you are behind; in one grade or even one month, a child can make significant learning leaps.

No pushing or cajoling on your part will move him ahead faster.

The years before and during Kindergarten should be about singing, dancing, crafting and practicing fine motor skills.

I gradually folded in preschool and kindergarten; it wasn’t until first grade that I required a bit more sit down time.

When You’re Anxious to Use Homeschool Preschool Curriculum

  • Where do I purchase curriculum? And what is considered curriculum during the preschool years?

Again, I can’t do anything balanced. I had curriculum overkill. My curriculum could have been scaled back to living books and crafts. And what I didn’t realize was that my house was already full of things ready to use.

Things like dried macaroni, dried beans for counting, measuring cups, bowls, jump ropes, dried cereal for graphing, rice for pouring, paper for painting, graduated mixing bowls, music for dancing to the alphabet, hopscotch made by chalk, building blocks, and toys for strengthening fine motor skills are what should consume a child’s day.

What I needed more of were living books.

Living books are opposite of basal readers, which are written by textbook writers.

Living books are written in a story form and uses rich vocabulary, which is the stepping stone to effective reading and writing skills.

Ditch the formal curriculum until about first grade and focus just on teaching your child how to read and more important, nurture a love for reading. How do you do that?

Reading aloud is the key to a lifelong reader.

When You’re Anxious to Use Homeschool Preschool Curriculum

But I know I wanted help too in the early years. I have listed some formal curriculum below that fits what a relaxed beginning should be.

12 Homeschooling Preschoolers Resources, Activities, and Curriculum

There is no doubt play-based learning is hands down the best way for preschoolers to learn.

You'll love some of these resources which can help you both teach and schedule if you want to do a bit more formal teaching.

Mommy, Teach Me: Preparing Your Preschool Child for a Lifetime of Learning

n Mommy, Teach Me author Barbara Curtis, a mother of twelve, shares secrets on how to turn everyday experiences into learning opportunities for preschool children. 

Before Five in a Row: Second Edition

Designed to be used with children ages 2 through 4, Before Five in a Row is a rich treasury of creative ideas that help you gently, consistently prepare your children for the lifelong adventure of learning.

Photo Credit: www.goodandbeautiful.com

Preschool Language Arts Course Set

Preschool Course Book, Preschool Folder Activities, Preschool Practice Sheets, Access to Learning Songs and Videos 

Pathways for Preschool

Encourage a love for learning as you engage your child in active, hands-on learning with this BJU Press Homeschool Pathways for Preschool Activity Packet! 

Horizons Preschool Curriculum Set

With the fun, engaging Horizons Preschool Curriculum Set, preschoolers are introduced to social studies, language arts, math, phonics, and science. 

Photo Credit: www.mothergoosetime.com

Toddler – Experience Early Learning

A bit more pricey but they provide themed kits each month.

Photo Credit: ivy-kids.com

Ivy Kids | Subscription Box STEM Kids Children Ivy Kids Kits

We have loved every subscription box we did in the preschool years.

The Montessori Toddler: A Parent's Guide to Raising a Curious and Responsible Human Being

It’s time to change the way we see toddlers. Using the principles developed by the educator Dr. Maria Montessori, Simone Davies shows how to turn life with a “terrible two” into a mutually rich and rewarding time of curiosity, learning, respect, and discovery.

Photo Credit: blossomandroot.com

Early Years Curriculum

Blossom & Root Early Years was designed to provide parents with a preschool (Vol. 1) or Pre-K (Vol. 2) curriculum that focuses on the development of the whole child. Each of the 36 weeks of lesson plans

The Giant Encyclopedia of Lesson Plans for Children 3 to 6

This newest addition to the best-selling GIANT Encyclopedia series expands the scope of the series by offering complete lesson plans. Written and created by teachers, The GIANT Encyclopedia of Lesson Plans has more than 250 complete lesson plans, covering topics from colors and numbers to seasons and nursery rhymes.

Slow And Steady Get Me Ready

Since children don't come with directions, a retired kindergarten teacher with over 25 years of experience wrote this how-to manual which bridges the gap between home & school. It is a money-saving preschool resource which informs parents & caregivers as to what they could & should be doing to teach basic readiness skills that are necessary for a child to achieve success in school.

Photo Credit: shop.busytoddler.com

Playing Preschool Year 1: Homeschool Preschool Program

Looking for a homeschool preschool curriculum for your child? Meet Playing Preschool Year 1: a new way to preschool at home. This is a 190 day program of hands-on, play-based learning. Themed units anchor the learning as children explore math, reading, science, art activities, and much more!

I’ve said many times how I’m not quite sure what I did to help Mr. Senior 2013 read, but I do know for sure that I read a variety of books he loved over, over and over again.

Too, I included nursery rhymes every day so that he could predict the next word.

Then, one day he started to mouth the words and took off reading with easy books. Look at my tips at Teach Your Homeschooled Child How to Read in 20 Easy Lessons.

I know you want some kind of format for how to teach this age and a few my favorite programs are Before Five in a Row and Moving Beyond the Page Curriculum for Preschool.

Here is a list of read-aloud books to get you started.

These are just some of the ones I read to each son as I got ready to formally teach them.

They instill a lifelong love of reading.

Here are more tips, because knowledge IS power!

More Begin Homeschooling Resources

Remember that everything you do daily like conversations and reading gives your child a foundation for grammar, phonics and reading more than any curriculum can do.

From Public School to Homeschool For a Relaxed Lifestyle

You are your child’s first teacher. Savor it.

Do what your heart moves you to do each day in a natural way because he will learn and anything that you drop the ball on regarding teaching, you always have time to make up.

Relax, you got this!

How Early Should I Begin Homeschooling My First Child? (and checklist)

How to Get the Free Get Me Ready for Kindergarten Checklist

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How Early Should I Begin Homeschooling My First Child? (and checklist). Being both anxious and excited, I couldn't wait to begin homeschooling my first child, Mr. Senior 2013. And being around the homeschool community because my mother homeschooled my younger sister, I had an idea of how to begin. As I began, I knew some things, but it was nowhere near what I needed to know. mess up my sons, they turned out fine!

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