Homeschool Resources Archives - Eva Varga


July 30, 2019

We traveled to Washington, D.C. a couple years ago and while there, visited the Holocaust Memorial Museum. We took our time in the exhibit halls to absorb the messages communicated through the artifacts and stories. Later that evening as we processed what we had seen, the kids recalled visiting Norway’s World War II Resistance Museum in Oslo many years prior. 

Their continued questions and maturity have now convinced me it was time to look into World War II in more depth. As any parent or teacher can tell you, nothing engages a child in the learning experience like hands-on activities. Home School in the WoodsAmerica in World War II (from the Time Travelers series) provides the perfect resource. 

Teen using Home School in the Woods' timeline figures and notebook to create a visual timeline of World War II
I received access to this product in exchange for a review. I was compensated for my time and was not required to make a positive review.

Time Travelers: America in World War II

The CD includes 25 lessons that cover Hitler and the Nazi party, the Holocaust, Pearl Harbor, the war in the Pacific and Africa, battles and conflicts across the European continent, and so much more. After looking over the material, we decided it was a topic interesting enough and the materials extensive enough to make it into a year long history study. 

Timelines and maps provide the “when” and “where” while 3-dimensional projects, drama or history dress-up, cooking, and living books transport us back through time. These hands-on activities bring history to life for students and engage them in meaningful learning. 

Bring history to life by coordinating a living history museum for students.  Portrayed here are Irena Sendler and Arnold Mærsk McKinney Møller.

There is also a supplement page full of recommended books, videos, audio files, and more to explore the subject to its fullest potential. There are so many enrichment activities, I know we will have a rich and varied unit study all through the coming year. 

WW2 History Timeline Projects & Schedule

Like all the titles in the Time Travelers U.S. History series, a calendar style overview of all 25 lesson plans is provided that lists the activities and projects for each. We decide how frequently a lesson is introduced and how deep we explore each topic. We can do a lesson a day (choosing minimal projects) or a lesson a week (choosing a different project each day). The schedule is very flexible.

The project pages and activities for each lesson vary according to topic but all lessons include penmanship practice, figures for a timeline, and a short writing assignment (newspaper style article). Other project masters include maps, songs, recipes, and historical facts such as culture and people. 

Teen using Home School in the Woods' blackline maps to geographically depict the battles of of World War II
Using blackline maps from Home School in the Woods to visualize the War in the Pacific

Our favorite activities include the timeline and maps which allow us to visualize the expansion of German and Japanese power over the course of the war. Conflicts through battles, conquests, and attacks are displayed clearly and concisely.

It was refreshing to find a unit of study that went into great depth without feeling like we were just skimming the surface. The format also encourages children to explore deeper the parts in which they are most interested. 

The material is well written and affordable. However, I must admit it can be a little confusing at first to organize and print out what you need. It just took a little time to familiarize myself with how everything was organized. Access to a printer and ink is certainly a must, too.  

The US History Time Traveler series has many different historical eras to choose. Other great products include our favorite timeline trio which includes the “Record of Time” timeline notebook (we’ve been using it since my kiddos were in grade school) and Project Passport for world geography studies.

Join their educational community and get a free unit study on famous authors, too!

An Ultimate Giveaway

Enter the giveaway today! This is one you don’t want to miss. One very lucky winner will receive The ENTIRE COLLECTION of both Project Passport (5) and Time Traveler (7) products—$311.90 VALUE! The winner can be anywhere in the world because this is a digital product. 



August 3, 2015

The annual Homeschool Omnibus is back!! I couldn’t be more excited to share with you this incredible collection of digital homeschool resources – eBooks, curriculum, MP3s … there is just so much!

iHomeschool Network's 4th annual Omnibus sale • the original homeschool bundle

The affiliate links included are for resources we absolutely love and truly depend on. Because one of my Science Logic curriculum units is included in the Homeschool Omnibus, if you purchase through my affiliate link, I will receive a percentage of the sale for no extra cost to you. 谢谢 – Takk – Gracias -Thank you for your support! Please see my disclosure policy.

 

This is the best bundle available – with over a hundred products from well known homeschool authors. There are so many resources, I printed off a list of all the books in the bundle or check out this gorgeous online catalog that lists them all! Just click on the image below to see the full 2015 Omnibus Catalog.

Science, writing, American Sign Language, history, literature, geography, art, planners and printables, and high school resources ~ plus a lot of homemaking inspiration for parents. All these topics are covered in this year’s bundle.

iHomeschool Network's 4th annual Omnibus sale • the original homeschool bundle

One of the featured resources in this year’s Omnibus is my Ecology Explorations curricula. This is a 10-week middles school science unit which includes 20+ activities and lesson plans fully outlined for you. Background knowledge, notebooking pages, and suggestions for extension activities are included. It is valued at $19.90 alone!

Purchasing the Omnibus also provides you with over thirty additional discounts and freebies, including 50% off a product of your choice from my Science Logic store. 

There are so many wonderful homeschool resources in the Omnibus, many of which we use regularly ourselves all year. Whether you consider yourself to be unschoolers, homeschool from a Charlotte Mason perspective, or use a classical approach, you’ll find something that suits your homeschool style.

One of my favorites include Stephanie Harrington’s Wildflower Notebooking Pages. Stephanie has generously offered a free sample of these beautifully designed nature study pages. You can find more of Stephanie’s titles at Harrington Harmonies.

Another favorite is Mary Prather’s Squilt Curriculum. Squilt is a simple and fun way to integrate music study into your homeschool curriculum. Mary blogs at Homegrown Learners, where you’ll find inspiration and support for music and Classical Conversations. Mary has also generously provided a free sample of Squilt Volume 3: The Romantic Era.

These samples will be r​emoved a​t the conclusion of the Omnibus sale so be sure to download and save them to your hard drive before August 9th.

iHomeschool Network's 4th annual Omnibus sale • the original homeschool bundle

Breaking it Down

  • 124 total resources: 47 MP3s and 77 books
  • from 100 speakers/authors
  • for homeschoolers by homeschoolers
  • total value is $754
  • your cost is $25 (with $9 DVD add-on)
  • cost is just 3% of the value
  • PDFs also come in Kindle/mobi format (where appropriate)
  • 33 bonus resources, discounts, and/or freebies
  • sale runs from August 3-9, 2015, specifically 12:01 AM Eastern Time, August 3 to 11:59 PM Pacific Time August 9.

An Additional Bonus

When you choose to purchase the Homeschool Omnibus through the links on this page, I get a percentage of the profits. This is a huge blessing to our family, and I’d like to say an extra “thank you” by offering one of my additional ebooks FREE with your purchase!

My ebook Ecology Explorations is already included in this year’s Omnibus, but if you order the bundle you can also choose from the following mini-units:

To claim your bonus, just order your Omnibus through the links on this page and forward a copy of your receipt to me and mention which eBook you would like. 

The Omnibus is only available for a limited time. Buy it this week to take advantage of this incredible offer.

BuyNow

 



January 25, 2015

Do you have children in the middle school grades? Are you apprehensive about continuing to homeschool in junior high or high school? Are you looking for inspiration or encouragement to continue your homeschool journey?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then iHomeschool Studio is just what you need. It is like attending a homeschool convention but from the comfort of you home!

studiopiniHomeschool Studio will provide homeschool parents with the continuing education and encouragement they need to persevere in their homeschool journey with excellence and resolve. The 24 convenient online sessions will take place during the afternoons and evenings of Tuesday, February 10 through Friday, February 13, 2015.

This spring 2015 webinar will focus on what happens after elementary school —  middle school and high school. If you have a child nearing this transition to the upper grades, it’s a perfect time to learn what you need to provide your tweens and teens for long-term educational and career success.

Your ticket price of $25 gives you access to:

  • the 24 live sessions
  • the MP3 audio recordings of all 24 sessions (available to download March 3 – May 31, 2015)
  • special discounts, door prizes, and giveaways from our speakers and sponsors

As a special for attendees, I will be providing a 25% discount on your entire cart purchase of Science Logic materials. I am also hostessing on Tuesday – so come join me! It’s going to be so much fun!!

You do not have to attend the live sessions to have access to the recorded sessions. Your ticket price includes all MP3s whether you attend live or not.

Purchase your tickets securely through PayPal on January 28, 2015.



June 29, 2014

After making the initial decision to homeschool, the choice now rests on how to homeschool.  The most arduous of tasks is choosing curriculum. But it doesn’t need to be .. come along and I’ll guide you.

When meeting homeschool families, some of the first questions homeschoolers tend to ask are, “What curriculum do you use?” and “What kind of homeschooler are you?” To new homeschoolers, this can be completely overwhelming.

curriculum_resourcesDefine Your Style – What Are Your Goals?

Take a minute to think about what you desire for your children.  What are your goals for their education. Write out everything you believe about education. This is your mission statement; it will become your foundation for all of the choices you will make along the way.

After you have your mission statement, you will have a better grasp on what methods/theories will best suit you. Research the homeschooling methods out there and find one that matches your core beliefs. Here are a few of the most common styles.

  • Classical (including Thomas Jefferson and Well-Trained Mind)
  • Unschooling (including Delight Directed, Relaxed, Child-Led, and Radical Unschooling)
  • Charlotte Mason
  • Religion or Faith Based
  • Hybrid Schooling (including Virtual Schools, Online Charter Schools, or Distance Learning)
  • Montessori
  • Waldorf
  • Eclectic (aka, a combination of two or more styles)

As you progress along the journey and discover new tools and styles, don’t be surprised if your mission statement evolves or changes to better suit your family.  This is natural and one of the benefits to homeschooling.

Once you have a grasp of your homeschooling style, you will be better able to choose curriculum that is right for you and your children.

Choosing Curriculum

When looking to purchase curriculum, there are a few things to keep in mind. There are A LOT of options available today and so take time to peruse samples.  Request catalogs from publishers (Rainbow Resource, Classical Conversations, Peace Hill Press, Home Science Tools, etc.).  Many curriculum providers also have free samples or excerpts available online.

Read reviews and reach out to other homeschool families.  We love to talk about the choices we have made.  Ask us what we’ve used, whether we liked or disliked it and, most importantly, why. The very reason that a certain piece of curriculum didn’t work for my family may be the exact reason that it will work for yours.

The biggest thing to remember when choosing curriculum is that there is no one perfect curriculum; there is only the best fit for your family.  You may even decide NOT to use curriculum for every subject – and that is perfectly okay.

Keep the learning style of your kids in mind. If your child is a visual learner, workbooks might be the best choice for him. If, on the other hand, your child is a kinesthetic learner, you may want a more hands-on approach. Your voracious reader might enjoy a literature-based curriculum.

Utilize your library (if they don’t have what you are looking for, they may be able to get it via interlibrary loan). You may also be able to find it used – either at a local curriculum swap or online.

Don’t overlook the work that other homeschool families share online.  Many homeschool bloggers like myself make the materials we create available for free.  Click here to see my free science materials.

Finding Resources

Even if you have filed an R4 (establishing your own home-based private school), don’t feel like you have to do it all alone. If you are open to it, there are many ways in which you help your child achieve her goals in unconventional ways.

Homeschool Co-ops are groups of homeschooling families who join together to enrich their homeschooling experience by learning from and with one another. Often these groups will participate in field trips, sports, classes, etc. There are often mom’s night out activities and retreats to encourage and refresh us moms in the midst of our busy lives. As with any organized group, structure and rules vary from group to group.

Some homeschool parents volunteer their time to teach private classes for other homeschool families.  These small-group classes vary depending upon the skill and knowledge of the parent but may include literature circle (book club and/or writer’s workshop), art, woodworking, sewing, cooking, hands-on science, etc.  There are even online classes especially for homeschool families.

Similarly, you may seek out a private tutor or instructor for one-on-one classes.  This is particularly applicable to foreign language and music.

One area that many families overlook are resource specialists in you community. I have found that many specialists in the community love sharing their knowledge and skills with young people. This is particularly true of agencies funded by our tax dollars like the Forest Service, Fish & Wildlife, and National Parks.  Reach out to them and see what programs or opportunities they may offer. Many of these agencies also have extensive resources and lessons – even complete units – available for free on their websites.  Do a little digging and see what you can find.

Join me again next week when I discuss, Homeschooling in California: Preparing for College.

Don’t live in California? Starting July 1st, I’m joining homeschoolers across the nation to help bring you resources for all 50 states, plus a HUGE Homeschooling Giveaway with over $800 in prizes!