Learning Things

Bob Jones French Language Level 2 Teacher Review

I always avoided French in school. The words didn’t look like the way they were pronounced! Wouldn’t you know, God led our family to a French-speaking country and we worked there for many years. I came to love the French language and eventually teach it to my children! (Never say never.)

Bob Jones has a high-quality French language program. I used French 2 for Christian Schools once and am holding on to it to teach it to my up-and-coming high schoolers. This review is for the Teacher’s Edition, which you need to have to use the course.

Strengths:

The vocabulary and scenarios are relevant. Have you looked at other high school textbooks? Oftentimes, the conversations either revolve around dating … Read the rest of this post...

Human Brain Model – Good for Middle School Science

The cross-section human brain model by Learning Resources, is a great prop for science classes, especially middle school to early high school years. We are studying the brain in middle school science presently, and the students really, really, like to have the hands on feel of the brain, as we study the subject. It makes a big difference in learning, to be able to touch something so mysterious and somewhat lifelike. Also, to have a cross-section model of the brain that can come apart, helps a student very much, to be able to remember the inner workings of the brain.

Strengths:
Strong points of this unit are that it weighs about the exactly the same as a real human brain … Read the rest of this post...

Math Games Kindergarten Students Love

Kindergarten students love to play games. Math games are a great way to help them practice basic skills such as the names of numbers, counting, colors, spatial relations, matching, and sorting. There are all kinds of math games kindergarten students enjoy that you can use in your classroom, whether at home or in a school.

For starters, pencil and paper math games kindergarten students like are dot-to-dots and color-by-number. These will have children practicing counting as well as number recognition and the names of colors. Students love seeing the complete image emerge from funny looking combinations of lines as they connect the numbered dots in the right order or color the right sections. There are all kinds of these available … Read the rest of this post...

Homeschooling Unit Studies – a Fun Alternative

One of the great things about homeschooling is that there are all kinds of alternatives for learning that you can use that are not available in a conventional classroom. One of these is the unit study. Homeschooling unit studies are one of the coolest things out there when it comes to homeschooling. But what is a unit study? A unit study is quite simply the opportunity to focus closely on a particular topic and arrange as many subject studies as possible around that topic.

For instance, a unit study on dogs, students might learn about dogs as a motif in literature and art; study the anatomy and physiology of dogs or the habits of wild canines in … Read the rest of this post...

Scott Foresman Math Curriculum Overview

Scott Foresman-Addison Wesley Mathematics incorporates multiple elements of learning to produce a curriculum that will enable children to succeed in math. Each chapter begins with the Instant Check System: Diagnosing Readiness section that will determine the student’s readiness for the material that will be introduced, and several Diagnostic Checkpoints throughout the chapter help gauge your student’s progress. Cumulative Reviews and Test Prep ensure that each child has fully grasped the material. Reading practice is also incorporated with math lessons through problem solving exercises. With the help of Discovery Channel School, students are invited to discover the world around them, such as the Colosseum in Rome, Italy or Komodo dragons, with each interesting explanation reinforced with math exercises. Your students … Read the rest of this post...

Oklahoma Homeschooling Laws and Requirements

Under a remarkable provision in the Oklahoma state constitution, homeschooling is a constitutionally protected right with which no state official may interfere. In this provision, Oklahoma is unique among the states, earning it the number one ranking of Best State to Homeschool. There are no restrictions.

In Oklahoma, there is really no such thing as a homeschool regulation. There is no annual notification requirement like most states have. No parent is required to register with state or local officials or seek any type of approval. Parents do not have to possess any particular qualifications or certificates, nor must they use approved curricula. They do not have to submit to standardized tests or allow public officials into their homes. If … Read the rest of this post...

Wordly Wise 3000 7th Grade Vocabulary Review

STRENGTHS
An expanded and revised version of the original Wordly Wise, the new Wordly Wise 3000 is a comprehensive kindergarten through 12th grade curriculum. There is a new reading comprehension section that concludes each lesson. A new word list teaches a total of 3000 vocabulary words across all 13 years of the curriculum. These words are sure to be a huge help to students in the rest of their schooling, as the words are taken directly from grade level textbooks as well as standardized tests.

In the 7th grade vocabulary books, students are taught many skills that will enable them expand their vocabulary far beyond the 300 new words the book itself teaches. Dictionary skills enable students to … Read the rest of this post...

A Reason For Handwriting Transition Book Review

Strengths:
A Reason For Handwriting is a scripture based curriculum for grades K through 6 with books for mastering both manuscript and cursive writing while memorizing scripture verses and biblical values. All of the books are presented in a fun and colorful manner, making handwriting enjoyable for students. Students do one lesson a day, five days a week, with each lesson only taking ten to fifteen minutes to complete.

The A Reason For Handwriting Transition book is meant for students that are ready to transition from manuscript writing to cursive writing. It is recommended that this book be used for second or third grade in place of A Reason For Handwriting B or C. Mastery of manuscript writing and development … Read the rest of this post...

Safety Tips for Using a Chemistry Set Science Kit

There are many hours of fun and education to be found in a science kit. However, if a child is considering using a chemistry set, certain basic safety guidelines should be discussed. While most kits do not contain problematic chemicals, some common substances can cause skin discomfort and other minor injuries. Children have thinner skin and can be more subject to these effects. In addition, establishing clear safety guidelines is a sensible precaution and teaches children how to handle chemicals properly. These are valuable life skills.

For a start, children should use appropriate protective equipment. While a lab coat is not necessary, read the chemistry set instructions thoroughly before starting. Experiments may require both gloves and safety goggles. Gloves … Read the rest of this post...

Apologia Science Curriculum Changes Hands

Apologia Science is closely identified with Dr. Jay Wile, founder and principal author of the curriculum. The Ball State University professor was so impressed with the ability and enthusiasm of homeschool graduates in his college classes in the early 1990s, that he connected with state and local support groups and began writing science curriculum specifically for home educators. The business grew to the point he left university life to focus on “making parents comfortable teaching science.”

Starting this year, several new names will be associated with Apologia, and a new line of practical and inspirational titles will join the popular science textbooks. After fourteen years, Dr. Wile is handing the management of the company to a pair of veteran homeschoolers … Read the rest of this post...

Study English Grammar Like Spelling

To study English grammar well is somewhat like studying spelling – it is something that requires a certain sort of memory and “sentence sense”. Diagramming is an integral part of this process. It allows kids to recognize how parts of speech fit together to make a sentence that is, in a sense, “spelled properly”.

There is a certain highly successful spelling program known as Spelling Power. It is known as the very best of the best out there. In just fifteen minutes per day, it transforms a child from a non-speller to a very proficient speller – sometimes raising test scores by several grade levels in a single year. This is by utilizing a spelling list tailored to the … Read the rest of this post...

Overview of Singapore New Elementary Math 7th Grade

TITLE: Singapore New Elementary Math 1
PUBLISHER: Singapore Math
GRADE LEVEL: Grade 7
PREREQUISITES: Primary Math 6B or placement test
REQUIRED MATERIALS: None
GENERAL APPROACH:

GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The “elementary” in New Elementary Math refers to “the basics”, meaning that these books cover the basics of higher mathematics. 7th grade math students are here beginning their study of algebra, geometry, trigonometry, etc. This series now emphasizes an improved understanding of applications of math concepts, and also proficiency in mathematical reasoning and higher order thinking involved in problem solving. Of the several 7th-10th grade series’s available from Singapore Math, New Elementary Math is the most popular in the US and Canada.

TOPICS AND METHODOLOGY
New Elementary Math 1 is for 7th grade … Read the rest of this post...