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10 Fun Amazon Prime Movies for the Youngest Homeschoolers

May 16, 2019 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Occupying or teaching the youngest homeschoolers can be tough. Whether you need a break from the little dears or you need to give the older set of kids your time, you’ll love these 10 fun Amazon Prime movies for the youngest homeschoolers.

10 Fun Amazon Prime Movies

Too, add in a few of these hands-on things I list below each movie and you can have a fun and full homeschool day without much fuss.

Look at these 10 fun Amazon Prime movies you can stream anywhere you have Amazon Prime:

10 Fun Amazon Prime Movies for the Youngest Homeschoolers

Justin Time

Follow Justin and his friends . . . as their imagination takes them to bite size historical adventures – from building a giant stone monolith without cutting corners, to a balloon journey in Paris!

Team Umizoomi

Use your mighty math powers to race around Umi City, explore super shapes and turn Umicar into a firetruck, and save Bot on his crazy skates! . . .

Magic School Bus Gets Lost in Space.


Climb aboard the Magic School Bus with Ms. Frizzle and her class for a wild ride . . . as they learn about science first-hand in this . . . science-adventure

Add in a few science kits and have a movie and science day!

Amazon Prime Movies for Young Learners

Reading Rainbow

Skill Sharpeners for Grades PreK, K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

Odd Squad

Designed to help kids ages 5-8 learn math. The show focuses on two young agents, Olive and Otto, who are part of the Odd Squad . . . whose mission is to save the day whenever something unusual happens in their town.

Daniel Tiger

Leapfrog

Tumble Leaf

Tumble Leaf is a series aimed at preschoolers, set in a whimsical land where a small blue fox named Fig plays each day and discovers adventure . . . around every bend in the path.

Nature Cat

An animated series that follows Fred, a house cat who dreams of exploring the great outdoors. Once his family leaves for the day, Fred transforms into Nature Cat, an outdoor explorer extraordinaire . . .

Occupying or teaching the youngest homeschoolers can be tough. Whether you need a break from the little dears or you need to give the older set of kids your time, you'll love these 10 fun Amazon Prime movies for the youngest homeschoolers.

You’ll love these other fun things to do:

  • How to Teach Homeschool Preschool From the Inside Out (And Preschool Skills)
  • Homeschool Organization – Preschool/Kindergarten Free Morning Routine Flip Cards
  • A to Z List: 100 Fun Summer Homeschool Unit Study Ideas
  • 7 Educational Movies for Kids About Westward Expansion
  • 365 Days Hands-On Homeschool Activities – One for EVERY Day of the Year!
  • Homeschool History Teaching Ancient Civilizations Using Netflix

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Avoid the Homeschool Blues, Be an Exceptional Homeschool Teacher, Homeschool During Crisis, Homeschool Multiple Ages of Children, Homeschool Simply, Homeschool When Nobody Wants To Tagged With: Amazon Prime, homeschool preschool, homeschoolreading, movies, multiple children, teachingmultiplechildren

BEST Curriculum by Homeschoolers for Homeschoolers

August 1, 2018 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Homeschooling today is different than it was when I started. Today, it seems all types of educational companies are wanting to make a buck off of homeschoolers. Don’t get me wrong. I love all the choices, but when it comes to teaching our kids at home some homeschool curriculum is superior to others. One area of curriculum that I’m thrilled to see an explosion in is curriculum by homeschoolers for homeschoolers.

3 Reasons to Love Curriculum by Homeschoolers For Homeschoolers

If you don’t already appreciate why that is important, look at these three reasons why you’ll love curriculum by homeschoolers.

I love all the choices, but when it comes to teaching our kids at home some homeschool curriculum is superior to others. One area of curriculum that I'm thrilled to see an explosion in is curriculum by homeschoolers for homeschoolers. CLICK HERE!Then, you’ll love the round up of homeschool curriculum which makes our job of teaching at home a delight.

One/ Curriculum written by a homeschooler assumes we don’t have a teacher’s background in a subject. You have to love that part.

When I started teaching my first son at home, I remember that the math book which was written for a public school was hard for me to understand.

Like most of you, I’m fairly capable of teaching any subject or at least tackling it if I knew a bit of the background information.

Curriculum written by homeschoolers can take more time to explain the foundation or background of a subject. Giving me a foundation or direction as to what I’m teaching educates me too alongside my kids. It gives me the bigger picture of what I’m aiming for when I teach.

Two/Curriculum written by a homeschooler understands our need to teach multiple ages of children at one time.

I always respect copyright on curriculum; I follow the direction of whether or not I can use it to teach more than one child. Most curriculum I’ve used understands our need to have a teaching tip for a grade up or below the level of the just purchased curriculum. This is a great time-savings tip when teaching our kids together.

Public school curriculum is set out to teach a classroom and the tips are to use for teaching the masses.

Three/Curriculum written by a homeschooler is normally priced better.

Budget is something we have to talk about. I’m not always about free because it’s true you get what you pay for. Again, though, curriculum written by a homeschooler understands our need to stretch our curriculum budget. They try to give us not only great options for purchasing, but deliver it in different formats to save costs.

Curriculum that is unique and hard to find suited for our purpose at home is easier with all the unique finds we have available today.

My reasons for loving special and unique curriculum by homeschoolers could be more expansive, but I wanted to give you a few treasures I’ve enjoyed through the years.

Look at a few of the homeschooling families I’ve come to treasure because of how much they have helped to give my kids an excellent education.

Homeschool Curriculum from the Pak Homeschooling Family

I remember the first time I saw something created by Amy Pak because I absolutely knew her way of teaching history, hands-on and engaging fit my idea of how I thought history should be taught.

Not only have I used their beautiful curriculum with my kids, but I’ve used it in a co-op setting.

After all, hands-on history is so much more fun when you have somebody to make a mess with.

Look here at Amazing Hands-on History Activities for 14 Ancient Empires (free notebook cover too) to see how we had fun with the Great Empires Activity Study,

You’ll love ALL of their hands-on projects and will have a hard time choosing which ones to do this year and which ones to do next year.

Homeschool Curriculum from the Bauer Homeschooling Family

I’ve used a lot of resources by Susan Wise Bauer because they’re timely, rigorous, and easy to use. Did I mention she is a lovely person in person too?

The Ordinary Parent’s Guide to Teaching Reading, Grammar for the Well-Trained Mind, Writing with Ease and Writing with Skill are just a few of the really helpful and rigorous language arts program.

From elementary to high school, you’ll love how the Bauer family at Peacehill Press lays out their curriculum in a friendly way for the homeschool educator.

Look at her curriculum here on my elementary age language arts Amazon board here, my middle school language arts Amazon board here, and my high school language arts Amazon board here.

Homeschool Curriculum from the Berg Homeschooling Family

Also, from the Russel and Rea Berg homeschool family, you’ll fall in love with all of their products.

I’ve used many of them for years. Be sure you start early collecting their products because I feel at times there are not enough years to homeschool to use them all. I’ve sure tried.

Beautiful feet books is about combining living history with history, geography, or even science to make it meaningful. Look at a few of their beautiful products that you’ll go crazy over.

BEST Curriculum by Homeschoolers

You’ll want to browse all of them from K to High School.

Medieval History Adv. Int. & Jr. High Pack

Early American History Primary

History of Science.

Geography through Literature

Homeschool Curriculum From the Kautzer Homeschooling Family

I remember the first time I used WriteShop, I thought I was in cupcake heaven. Oh, maybe saying that was corny, but I felt like that teaching writing. It was as easy as baking cupcakes.

Many years, we used WriteShop because of all the teacher empowerment tips they give along with planning ideas. I attribute WriteShop with my first son’s love for writing.

WriteShopAdventure Builder StoryBuilders

Homeschool Curriculum From the Hogan Homeschooling Family

The Hogan family has created many helpful programs like their science programs and geography programs. You’ll want to look over the curriculum which just like the others is created to open and easily use.

I love their curriculum because I could get several of it in digital format so that as my sons got older they could keep it on their device.Geography BundleThen, I’ve really been excited about these next two homeschool families because they have filled a void I’ve had for a while when it comes to making literature studies interactive and finding electives.

Homeschool Curriculum From the McVey Homeschooling Family

Literary Adventures for Kids helps parents and students to dig deeper, go on rabbit trails, and add a little adventure all while enjoying great literature.

Facebook and Twitter

And I especially love the high school help.
Poetry and a Movie PIN

Oh I’m not finished yet.

Don’t you love knowing that there is curriculum written by homeschool families with an expert background in just about every subject?

Talking about every subject, we don’t want to leave out enrichment.

Homeschoool Curriculum From the Mayo Homeschooling Family

Anything Gena puts her hand to for enrichment only adds beauty to your homeschool.

You’ll love all of her programs. Below are just a few of them.

Be sure to look over all the courses.

https://learn.musicinourhomeschool.com/courses?affcode=50562_c5avrhro

A lot of easy formatted books like ebooks for science have been a life saver for me too both when we moved overseas and just when I was limited on storage. You’ll love some of these easy science finds too.

Did I mention it’s usually affordable when it’s in a digital format?

Homeschool Curriculum From the Goodwin Homeschooling Family

Not having a science background, I appreciate these families who have a strong science background. They make it easy for me to teach.

Not only do they appreciate I’m a homeschool mom who wants to be involved, but I like things easy for me too.

Hands-On Science Bundle

Homeschool Curriculum From the West Homeschooling Family

I’ve used Cindy’s science living books for multiple ages to save my mind. Easily downloadable and with activities for any season, you’re ready to go with minimal preparation.Look at a few links of how I used her curriculum:

Hands-On Nature Study: Bird Color Bar Graphing Activity, Hands-On Nature Study: Make a Fun Bird Nesting Bag, and Easy and Fun Nature Study: Beautiful Birds.

I love all the choices, but when it comes to teaching our kids at home some homeschool curriculum is superior to others. One area of curriculum that I'm thrilled to see an explosion in is curriculum by homeschoolers for homeschoolers. CLICK HERE!

Too, I want you to know that I believe in supporting families that support our homeschool lifestyle and always look to them first when choosing curriculum.

Not only is their homeschool curriculum easy to use, but it’s superior at times. Now you know the secret of how to easily homeschool.

You’ll love these other resources:

  • How to Build Middle School Curriculum Directly From Amazon
  • Digital Homeschool Curriculum – Big Ol’ List 
  • Big Ol’ List of All-In-One Homeschool Curriculum (a.k.a Boxed)

Hugs and love ya,

 

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Choose Curriculum Tagged With: boxedcurriculum, composition, curriculum, earthscience, grammar, history, homeschool grammar, homeschoolcurriculum, language arts, life science, multiple children, science, sciencecurriculum, teachingmultiplechildren

How to Create a Homeschool Unit Study – Step 2: Separation

January 31, 2018 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

If you’re wanting to homeschool out of the box, but are unnerved about the planning part of unit studies, you’ll want to start first with understanding the learning process.

How to create a homeschool unit study is done easily when you follow my mnemonic I-SIP.How to Create a Homeschool Unit Study - Step 2: SeparationI-SIP is something I created after I looked back and understood the 4 steps I followed regardless of whether unit studies are lengthy or quick.

The I-SIP steps are immersion, separation, individualization and personalization.

Homeschool Unit Studies: Moving From Immersion to Separation

In my first post on how a unit study unfolds, I shared points to identify the first step which is immersion. It is the one that can be most tempting to quit unit studies because you get totally immersed in an overwhelming amount of information.

Today, I’ll be sharing Step 2 which is separation and giving you tips on how to separate all the information or resources you’ve amassed. A lot of any good thing still needs to be spaced out and manageable in the best way to teach your kids.

At this point because you didn’t really limit subtopics, but explored them along with your kids, you now have an idea of the ideas or subtopics that interests your kids and which ones do not.

The length of time to stay in the  immersion or Step 1 varies for us with each unit study. When I first started doing unit studies, we would stay days or weeks on this step.

Looking back, I almost quit unit studies because I went overboard with the amount of information I tried to cram in.

So after doing unit studies for quite a few years, my most basic tip is that Step 1 shouldn’t last as long you may think. Whetting the appetite of your children is the goal and that can be anywhere from a few hours to a few days.

Delving into subtopics deeper is Step 3 – Investigation. Slicing and dicing material is what you’re doing in Step 2 – Separation.

5 Ways to Tame the Unit Study Information Beast

Also, this separation step is the first step which makes a unit study unique to your family.

Look at these 5 ways to tame the unit study information beast.

1)  Select subtopics that interests your kids and limit the subtopics.

This is an obvious because you want your kids engaged. Allowing them to pick some of the subtopics piques their interest and your kids understand that this is their education.

By allowing them to choose the subtopics or themes to your unit study you already have kids that are engaged.

Also, it’s at this step that you narrow the teaching points so that your kids learn instead of trying to cram in too much information.

Look at my FBI sample below where I limited the subtopics to about 8.

2) Select subtopics that you need to introduce to your kids or that meet your scope and sequence goals.

Here at this point is the hidden benefit of unit studies. Folded in with subtopics that pique your child’s interests are topics or teaching points you need or want to teach your kids.

For example, when we did our FBI Unit Study, I chose a subtopic Why Formed because I knew we needed to cover Russian history and world history.

My kids chose topics like espionage and radio wave learning and I added in some hands-on ideas like finger prints and invisible ink for a fun unit study.

The point is that covering world history was so much more engaging when we studied it in light of  my sons’ desire to learn about the FBI.

3) Plan for subtopics that build character or have lasting value for your family.

Also, every family is different, but at this point I also look for ways to make teaching points for character or for real-life learning.

Some unit studies like novels or literature may be easier to adapt to teach a moral or about the effects of making good or bad choices. Other topics like science unit studies may not be as natural to find a character point to teach.

4) Start planning for hands-on ideas or projects that fit your subtopics or themes.

From the subtopics that are coming to the surface that interest your family, you can start brainstorming easy projects or hands-on ideas to cement teaching points of each subtopic.

For example, in planning our Meso-America unit study we were going to learn about rubber. My youngest son was interested in games using the rubber made ball.

Some subtopics like nature may seem an easier fit for hands-on activities while a literature unit study may not be so apparent.

Just remember that you can add hands-on activities in as you move along in your unit study.

5) Include subtopics or ideas for both younger and older children.

What I really love about unit studies is that you can cover topics or ideas for your younger and older kids. Be sure to grab a mix of them. You can see how I do that below.

Including your kids in helping to plan is part of unit studies, but this step is one that is mostly for you.

Look at my planning page from my Ultimate Unit Study Planner.

Sample of how to plan FBI Homeschool Unit StudyMy unit study theme is in the center of my brain storming ideas.

Then look how I numbered the subtopics that emerged around that main theme.

Some subtopics like espionage my boys chose, but look how I folded in number 2 which is a U.S. Government study. This was a high school level unit study and we needed to focus on a deeper study of the U.S. Government.

The green line connecting the study of the U.S. Government to the 3 Branches of the U.S. Government shows how I broke down that topic for my younger son.

In addition, look at number 7 where I added in study themes for my older boys which are communism and understanding Russia.

Here are the subtopics that have emerged after I started planning the FBI unit study and after my sons had a day or two to see what piqued their interests.

  • J.Edgar Hoover
  • U.S. Government
  • Effects of World War I and World War II
  • Other Important People During the Forming of the FBI
  • World of 1908
  • Science behind Labs
  • Why Formed?
  • Espionage

As you can see, it ended up being a balance unit study plan.

I had history, geography, and science as subjects that could easily be covered in a natural way without a forced fit.

Planning is that easy. Now, it’s time to move on to the next step which is personalization.

Does this mnemonic help you to remember how to start off planning a unit study?How to Create a Homeschool Unit Study Step 2: Immersion. If you're wanting to homeschool out of the box, but are unnerved about the planning part of unit studies, you'll want to start first with understanding the learning process. Look at tips on how to separate the overwhelming amount of information.Here are other tips, you’ll love.

  • Step 1 – Immersion. Unfolding of a Homeschool Unit Study – An Easy Mnemonic { I-SIP}
  • How to Grade a Homeschool Unit Study for an Older Child (& high school assessment).
  • Ultimate Homeschool Unit Study Planner – Which Lesson Planning Pages to Use.

Hugs and love you,

 

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Be an Exceptional Homeschool Teacher, Do Unit Studies Tagged With: homeschoolmultiplechildren, multiple children, teaching tips, teachingmultiplechildren, unit studies

3 Ways to Instantly Gain More Time in Your Homeschool Day

May 27, 2017 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

With the growing amount of digital curriculum and multiple devices that most homes have now, you’re supposed to get more time in your homeschool day. But I find the opposite is true.

More than ever homeschoolers are stressed to the max with growing to-do lists.

When I read that some homeschool days are 8 hours or longer, I’m shocked. And all I can think of is how every bit of learning is sucked out of a day. I shudder to think if the homeschooled child will grow up loving to learn.

I started homeschooling where we only used the computer for after school time. I’ve also homeschooled where things have changed to family members having multiple devices each. That doesn’t always equate with more time.

3 Ways to INSTANTLY Gain More Time in Your Homeschool Day. Read the tried and true tips at Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

I have 3 ways to help you instantly gain more time in your homeschool day.

Minimalist Game is not for Mindless Morons

ONE/ I talk many times how everything we needed for living overseas had to be packed into just two suitcases per person.

One small thing that gave me big time-savings results instantly without overwhelming me in ridding myself of clutter in an almost 4,000 square foot house was to play the minimalist game.

On the first day of the month throw away one thing. It can be anything, a homeschool book or something in your kitchen.

On the second day, chunk two items.

On the third day, pitch three items and so on for every day of the month.

What works best when you’re overwhelmed in the day is to have a solution that is easy and simple to implement.

Solutions that require tons of energy just don’t work because of our homeschooling lifestyle.

The return on the minimalist game is that less to organize and less to clean in your day frees up time in your day for other things like spending time on yourself, on field trips or just resting.

In addition, instead of feeling like you’re paralyzed before you start a project like sorting through all of the books at the end of the year and deciding whether you need it or not, it becomes a doable and easily conquerable project.

TWO/ Set up your children’s learning area where they can manage it, not you.

Another mistake I’ve seen which wastes value time is rounding up the curriculum for the day.

Even preschoolers can be taught to take and return their learning toys to the right places. By training my sons from the time they were young that everything has a place, I’m spared stress in the morning.

For younger kids, use rolling storage. True, you may need to roll it out in your learning area, but they learn to put it away and learn from a young age to not leave things out.

It takes time to set up a learning area, but it’s so worth the effort. I start by measuring every book and every item that each child will need for the year. Then I decide the storage containers.

Some years, we used stack of drawers and other years, I used baskets on bookshelves.

Start slowly, again, by measuring every item so that it fits into a storage container.

Your day should start by your children getting their own supplies while you enjoy some last minute time to yourself. Your day gets off to a much better start and you don’t waste time collecting curriculum.

THREE/ I’m not saying switch your homeschool approach, but I am saying to tighten it up.

I’d like to tell you that there is one homeschool approach that works better, clutter wise, than the other, but there is not.

Each homeschool approach brings its own amount of curriculum clutter. And then add to that enthusiastic teachers and we can over teach. We’re just doing too much for our student.

In addition to your children having their own learning space setup to suit them, you need to see ways that you can slash your teaching.

There simply is no need to do every math problem or to assign homework in homeschool.

Look at these practical ways that have worked for me through the years.

  • Never cover one subject when you can cover two subjects at one time. If you’re going to survive and thrive in homeschooling, you must abandon the thought of keeping subjects separate. For example, if your child loves science, then his reading assignment or literature should be about famous scientists and how-to books. Forget trying to cover the extra reading of literature if you can get a two-pher out of it. The same idea applies for history. Leave the reading of literature that you couldn’t work into your day to your child’s spare reading time or for leisure. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that readers don’t need to be channeled to read literature that you have removed from your formal day. It’s okay to not leave all the choices up to the kids for what to read during leisure time.
  • At a certain stage, my boys always seemed to want to start to fighting when our day began. One remedy was to have one or two of them do their chores while I worked with the other one at the table. This not only worked off a bit of energy, but it kept them from not being around each other constantly. The added bonus was that chores got worked into the day and made my day shorter.
  • If your child is steadily doing math, which should be done every day, cut back some lessons to half.
  • In addition, if you have a strong math guy like I have, then focus on reading a living math book for the day and move on to another subjects that requires attention. Sure, my math lover didn’t mind doing extra lessons and he could from time to time. But also, as the teacher, I needed to guide him to using his time to investigate other subjects and strengthen in skills in them. So if covering a subject orally can be reinforced that day through a book or audio book, do it.
  • Give each kid his own printed schedule. Teaching your kids to stick to a routine helps them to move through their day quicker too. Are you using my teacher and student schedules?

Expect the Unexpected – Roll with It!

THREE/ School like you live life. Plan for the unexpected.

I have a method for cooking each week. I cook a bit more at the beginning of my week. If I cook chicken, I make a bit more in the beginning so that I don’t have to cook at the end of the week. I already have my chicken cooked for my chicken tacos at the end of the week.

Homeschooling is the same. Unless you need to, quit trying to balance the days.

My advice is if you can squeeze more school into the beginning of your week before it gets busy, then it’s less that needs to be done at the end of the week.

Homeschool from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m for three days and then for the last two days quit by noon.

You’ll gain way more time in your schedule by pushing a bit in the beginning and the best part is if that something unexpected comes up, you’re still rocking on fine.

Let go of stressful homeschooling because I’m telling you in the end what matters most is the time spent together. Make room now for more of it.

With the growing amount of digital curriculum and multiple devices that most homes have now, you're suppose to get more time in your homeschool day. But I find the opposite is true. More than ever, homeschoolers are stressed to the max with growing to-do lists. Having started homeschooling where we only used the computer for after school time and homeschooling now where things have changed to family members having multiple devices each, I have 3 ways to help you instantly gain more time in your homeschool day. Click here to read these tried and true tips!

You’ll love these other tips!

  • Teach Your Homeschooled Teen the Art of Studying (without nagging)
  • 7 Homeschool Lies I Want to Tell My Younger Self
  • Should You Switch to a 4-Day Homeschool Schedule.
  • 26 Best Fifteen Minute Self-Care Tips for Homeschool Moms
  • 7 Advantages to Starting Your Homeschool Year in the Summer 
  • How to Use Summertime to Put a Foot in Homeschooling
  • 10 Biggest Homeschool Burnout Triggers (and how to cope)

Hugs and love ya,

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Visit Tinas Dynamic Homeschool ‘s profile on Pinterest.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Be an Exceptional Homeschool Teacher, Homeschool Simply, Organization, Teach/Which Subjects to Teach/Cover EVERYTHING Tagged With: homeschool, homeschool challenges, homeschool schedules, homeschoolmultiplechildren, multiple children, relaxedhomeschooling, schedules, teachingmultiplechildren, time saving tips

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

April 22, 2017 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

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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  • You’ll also want to read How to Easily Add Poetry to Your Homeschool Subjects,
  • 24 Borderline Genius Ways To Relieve Language Arts Boredom and
  • How To Teach Your Homeschooled Children Shakespeare.
  • Online Homeschool High School Poetry (No Teaching Involved)

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