UPDATE ON OUR FAMILY HOMESCHOOLING LIFE

A reader recently left a comment on THIS post from a few years ago. I was pleased to see that this blog is still useful to homeschooling parents. I thought I would post the comment from Dinah and my response. I hope it helps a few more High School Homeschooling families on their path to success. :o)


COMMENT:


I love this blog - its very helpful in planning for our oldest to start homeschooling. I'm wondering however if there is any more up to date info! I don't see anything on here for 2009 - are you still homeschooling high school?
Dinah (MD)

MY RESPONSE:

Hi Dinah,

Our eldest son, Kazz, actually ended up graduating from our homeschool in 2008. I didn't keep up with "the plan" that I have written here because he began zooming through school, life got in the way and keeping this blog updated fell by the wayside.

He began attending our local community college at the age of fourteen. He turned 17 this past July and will graduate this December with an Associate Degree.

Here is the blog post I wrote about our "plan" back then and we ended up working it to the fullest and see the light at the end of the tunnel. :o)

I have 4 more children coming up behind him. Our 12 (almost 13) year old son, Brise, is focusing on Essay writing, Pre-Algebra and other subjects right now in order to get ready for easing into college at the age of 14 also.

Here is one of my up to date blogs.

We use many resources from it,however, for High School I cannot say enough wonderful things about THIS SITE.   It's fabulous!

Please feel free to join the Facebook Page for the Free Homeschooling 101. If you have any further questions I'll try to help as much as I can.

Thanks for reading! :o)
Shelly M.

GEOLOGY CURRICULUM *FREE* (old earth/Christian slant)

I found a comprehensive Geology Curriculum Website today.  It holds an Old Earth slant with a Christian worldview.  The curriculum comes complete with Tests and Quizzes.  I hope you enjoy the freebie as much as we do.


HAPPY FREE HOMESCHOOLING!

HOMESCCHOOL FREEBIE: COMPUTER PROGRAMMING

Alice Computer Programming Software

This website offers "Alice" - free educational software from Carnegie Mellon University that teaches students computer programming in a visual, 3-D environment. It makes it easy to create animation for interactive games and videos and much more. The description from the website best explains it:

"Alice is a freely available teaching tool designed to be a student's first
exposure to object-oriented programming. It allows students to learn
fundamental programming concepts in the context of creating animated movies
and simple video games. In Alice, 3-D objects (e.g., people, animals, and
vehicles) populate a virtual world and students create a program to animate
the objects."

HAPPY FREE HOMESCHOOLING!

HOMESCCHOOL FREEBIE: ART LESSONS AT ARTYFACTORY

Artyfactory has a wealth of information from color theory (both technical stuff
like the color wheel and the emotional impact of colors in painting) to a
thorough overview of African masks and Egyptian hieroglyphs, shading
techniques in pen and ink, etc.

This site can be used directly as reading or coursework for a high school student.

HAPPY FREE HOMESCHOOLING!

HOMESCHOOL FREEBIE: INTERACTIVE GEOMETRY and more...

Learner.org Geometry 3D Shapes provides free multi-media activities about three-dimensional shapes. Students can learn about the mathematical properties of polyhedrons, cubes, prisms, cylinders and pyramids and how to calculate their surface area and volume. Because instruction is presented in 3-D format it makes it much easier to visualize and understand.

Just click on "Geometry 3-D Shapes" and a new page opens where the presentation begins.

This site has so much to offer for grades 6 - 12.

*Math In Daily Life
*Metric Conversions
*Statistics
*Science Interactives
*Language Interactives
*History Interactives
*Arts Interactives

This is an invaluable resource for homeschooling families.

HAPPY FREE SCHOOLING!

HOMESCHOOL FREEBIE: The American Summer Guide

This guide includes all kinds of information that vary according to topic or activity. The site is geared toward all age levels.

Learn the origin of the term "Dog Days of Summer," the history of Summer Vacations, and the science behind the Summer Solstice.

Did you know that "solstice" comes from the Latin for "sun stands still"?


Learn about the rise and fall of roller coasters, get a BBQ Primer, take an Ice Cream Quiz, watch kid-submitted videos of fireworks and more!

HAPPY FREE HOMESCHOOLING!

TODAY'S HOMESCHOOL FREEBIE: TEACHING MATH CONCEPTS

THIS SITE provides suggestions and lesson plans that help educators incorporate technology (spreadsheets, graphing calculators, word processors, and presentation software such as Powerpoint) into math instruction. It also will help provides tips on using a math journal to integrate writing with your mathematics curriculum.

If you have a student with learning difficulties, this site is also geared to help them avoid endless drill work in order to make the subject more meaningful.

Read the "Site Overview" and then explore:

*Math Concepts - This section provides activities covering a range of math
strands commonly taught at the late elementary and middle school level. The
lessons incorporate the use of spreadsheets and/or calculators extending
conceptual understanding and allow students to apply their knowledge in
practical everyday contexts. These activities are designed to enhance
day-to-day curriculum, not replace it.

*Integrated Lessons - This section gives students a framework for
problem-solving. Students collect data and analyze it using a spreadsheet.
Then, they must develop a written report that summarizes the findings and
makes specific recommendations.

*Journals - Get a model for incorporating writing into math instruction.
Find out how students can use a math journal and get prompts that will
inspire students to write about their mathematical thinking.

The idea of the site is to move beyond rote learning, by using a more conceptual (and sophisticated) approach through technologies that will be standard for even minimum wage employment in the future. They have taken over the hand computations that for so many American students in the 20th century was the central goal of mathematics instruction.

HAPPY FREE HOMESCHOOLING!

TODAY'S HOMESCHOOL FREEBIE: MATH DRILLS

TODAYS HOMESCHOOL FREEBIE IS...

MATH-DRILLS.COM

• Math-Drills.Com includes over 6000 free math worksheets with answer keys.
• Classroom teachers use the free math worksheets on this website to assess students' mastery of basic math facts, to give students extra practice, to teach new math strategies, and to save precious planning time.
• Parents use the free math worksheets on this website to give their child extra practice with essential math skills.
• Using the math worksheets over the summer and other breaks allows students to stay sharp for the upcoming school term.

HAPPY FREE HOMESCHOOLING!

FREE CURRICULUM PRESCHOOL THRU PRE-MED!

TODAY'S HOMESCHOOL FREEBIE IS...

FREE WORLD UNIVERSITY Kindergarten THRU Pre-Med Curriculum!

Here is their homepage explanation...

"Our mission is to provide free online education to everyone worldwide. Our primary goal is to develop a pre K-12 program. Our methods of accelerated learning will eventually expand to an online university that will include a wide range of practical subjects such as the computer sciences and trades.
Parents and their students should begin by clicking here to get answers to frequently asked questions, a movie walk through, a downloadable user guide, and a step-by-step tutorial on using the program.
We make learning absorbing and fun by breaking down complex concepts into simple fact units that are placed on electronic flash cards. Our software remembers exactly which units the student knows, and only shows information that has not yet been mastered.
Registration is open to everyone. Your personal information is confidential. You cannot appreciate the dynamic and personalized way that this learning system works without registering. Please click here for free registration."

We have used this for some of our homeschool classes. They are FlashCard oriented. If you like Straight to the point "Quick and Dirty" lessons this is the site for you. There are many subjects to choose from and the price is right! FREE! We have used this when the boys need to get a class under their belt in a quick, easy to understand way.

HAPPY FREE HOMESCHOOLING!!

TODAY'S HOMESCHOOL FREEBIE: OPERA CD'S AND TEACHING MANUAL

Opera for Everyone!

Welcome to the OperaGlass home of Opera for Everyone

This site enables opera companies and educators to access and download FREE digital versions of the Opera for Everyone series of CDs and the Teaching Manual for teaching purposes. Our objective is to have these materials used to introduce everyone to opera -- the remarkable combination of music, drama, dance and the visual arts.

Opera for Everyone provides an excellent opportunity for students and educators alike to become familiar with the background and music of four classic operas -- each related to a different important period of opera: Rossini's The Barber of Seville (1816); Verdi's La Traviata (1853); Bizet's Carmen (1875); and Puccini's Madama Butterfly (1904).

Each CD tells the story in two ways, first with words and then with music.

HAPPY FREE HOMESCHOOLING!

STUDY SKILLS: FREE FLASHCARD GENERATOR

When I was in college I used flashcards to study for tests. They are a beautiful thing. I would hand write the vast amounts of information from my notes and books into small, little bite sized chunks. I would then flash those buggers till the cows came home. The ones I knew went in one pile and the ones I didn't have down pat went into the other. Only when I could rattle answers off willy-nilly was I ready to stop studying.

It was nothing at all for me to have hundreds of flashcards wrapped in blocks with rubber bands when all was said and done with a course. I credit those flashcard information bites as the main reason why I could memorize vast amounts of knowledge and graduate with honors.

Needless to say, I've passed that study skill on to our son who is now in college. He writes and writes and then I flash those cards at gun until his eyes cross. But, he hit the College Dean's List at the age of 15 and has never looked back so it's not in vain. :o)

I've said all that to say, I would have paid a small fortune to be able to EASILY type up and print flashcards. Sure I tried it but I could never get the things to print so that I could fold, cut and flash. Well, lo and behold my son sure can.

Here is the FREE flashcard generator. Print them on a thicker stock paper and your work is half done. Just zip a little glue down the middle before you fold and then cut. Voila! Easy, peasy!

HAPPY FREE HOMESCHOOLING...I MEAN STUDYING!

TODAY'S HOMESCHOOL FREEBIE: LONGLEAF ALLIANCE VIRTUAL TOUR

TODAY'S HOMESCHOOL FREEBIE IS...


The Longleaf Alliance


This website provides a virtual ecosystem tour of an old growth Longleaf
Pine forest. Longleaf Pines, are located in the Southeastern United States
and in 1996 researchers found that less then 0.01% of the remaining Longleaf
Pine forests would be considered old-growth.

The following links will take you to more information on some of the unique plants and animals that may be encountered in the longleaf pine forest.

After the tour, just click on "Information for Educators" on the menu bar at the top of your screen for more educational links.

HAPPY FREE HOMESCHOOLING!

TODAY'S HOMESCHOOL FREEBIE: ORGANIZATION AT IT'S BEST

TODAY'S HOMESCHOOL FREEBIE IS...

Cozi.com: Family Organizer/Planner/Calendar


This planner is designed with families in mind to organize and plan homeschool
days. With this planner we can keep track of each of our family members easily. and We can list our Homeschool's name and assign it a color. Each color
represents the activities, appointments and chores listed for that person or
thing.

This program also allows us to make grocery lists and view recipes. We can list our own recipes and have the ingredients added to your grocery list that can be printed out or accessed from the phone.

This is one for the Freebie Hall Of Fame!

HAPPY FREE HOMESCHOOL PLANNING

TODAY'S HOMESCHOOL EXPERIMENT: RAW OR BOILED EGG

TODAY'S HOMESCHOOL EXPERIEMENT COMES FROM...

Krampf.com

RAW OR BOILED EGG...THAT IS THE QUESTION!

Raw Egg or Boiled video.


Mineral Identification. This video covers luster, hardness,
cleavage/fracture, streak, and other tests.


Mineral ID Chart for use with the Mineral Identification video.


How can you tell if an egg is raw or cooked without cracking the shell? There are several ways? (How many can you find?) This is one of my favorites. You will need:

- a raw egg

- a hard boiled egg

- a smooth, flat surface

- a pencil

- a small bowl


Place both eggs on the table and mix them around until you are not sure which is which. Select one and place it on the flat surface. Give it a good, hard spin and watch carefully. Notice how quickly it spins. Then test the other egg the same way.

You will find that one egg spins very quickly, while the other egg spins much slower. Use the pencil to write “A” on the egg that spun quickly, and “B” on the egg that spun slowly.

Take egg A and spin it again. Once it is spinning, use your fingers to stop the egg and then quickly release it again. You only want to touch it long enough to get it to stop for an instant. Notice that when you remove your fingers, the egg pretty much stays still.

Do the same thing with egg B. This time you will find that when you remove your fingers, the egg starts spinning again.

Egg A is the hard boiled egg, and egg B is the raw egg. How do I know? The hard boiled egg is solid all the way through. When you spin the shell, the entire egg spins. When you stop the shell, the whole thing stops.

On the other hand, the inside of the raw egg is liquid. Crack egg B into a small bowl. Ahhh! It really is the raw egg. We are going to pretend that the bowl is the shell of the egg. Gently spin the bowl on the table. Notice that when it first starts to spin, the egg lags behind. Its inertia keeps it still until the friction between the bowl and the egg is enough to get the egg spinning. That is why the raw egg spun slower. The inertia of the liquid inside was slowing it down.

Spin the bowl again, and this time stop it quickly. When the bowl stops, the egg keeps spinning. Again, its inertia keeps it moving until friction with the bowl slows it down. That is what causes the raw egg to start spinning again when you release it. You stopped the shell, but the liquid inside was still spinning.

The last thing to do is to clean up and get rid of the eggs. I scrambled the raw egg, chopped the boiled egg, sliced some green olives, and used some mayonnaise to make myself and egg and olive sandwich. Yum! Ahh, the fun of science!

HAPPY HOMESCHOOL EXPERIMENTING!

TODAY'S HOMESCHOOL FREEBIE: HOW ALUMINUM IS MADE

Today's Homeschoool Freebie Virtual Field Trip to...

Alcoa: It All Starts With Dirt

Visit the "It All Starts With Dirt" Web site

Alcoa's founders discovered how to make pure aluminum and created a new industry the world over. Explore the amazing process of turning a four-ton truckload of dirt into a ton of aluminum.
enter site
download a printable brochure


"Alcoa Can't Wait"
In the mid 70's, Alcoa commissioned a theme song for radio and TV advertising that was full of hope for a brighter future. Today, the 'Tomorrow' that we sang about back then is coming true — and we still can't wait for what's next!


Alcoa's history (timeline)
Click below for a brief, interactive overview of Alcoa's first 120 years.

go

See how aluminum is made
View a three-minute video that shows the complete aluminum production process.
go

HAPPY FREE HOMESCHOOLING!

HOMESCHOOL FREEBIE: PRINTABLE RULER

TODAY'S HOMESCHOOL FREEBIE IS...

PRINTABLE RULERS ONLINE

Today I could not find a ruler anywhere so I headed over to my handy-dandy computer and found a printable one! Vinze was able to finish his homework and I was able to stay in our cozy warm home, instead of running to the store for the umpteenth time to replace our ruler reserves.

It was a handy little bugger so I 'm passing it on to you!


HAPPY FREE MEASURING!

TODAY'S HOMESCHOOL FREEBIE: PERIODIC TABLE OF VIDEOS

Today's Homeschool Freebie is...

The Periodic Table of Videos

Each short video shows basic information about an element. The Chemists explain the history and use of each element. I would suggest that you tell your child not to try some of the experiments at home and also watch the videos before younger children view them. Some of the explanations are a bit over the top.

HAPPY FREE HOMESCHOOLING!

TODAY'S HOMESCHOOL FREEBIE: THE NATIONAL GALLERY FOR AMERICA'S YOUNG ARTISTS

TODAY'S HOMESCHOOL FREEBIE IS...


The National Gallery for America's Young Artists

Though there are paid portions of this site, the student activities portion of the site offers FREE interactive activities, Online Art Guides and leads to other Free Art sites.

More information about the paid portion is below...

The National Gallery for America’s Young Artists™
is honored to announce the Grand Opening
of the first ever national youth art gallery thru 12th grade.


This art will be featured in conjunction with the magnificent Vatican Splendors traveling exhibit, opening in Cleveland, Ohio on May 31, 2008 for a limited engagement. The Vatican Splendors Exhibit will include 200 of the rarest paintings and artifacts from its archives dating from the third century. To celebrate the rare opportunity for this exhibit to appear in Cleveland, Ohio, The National Museum of Education will coincide the opening with the online National Gallery for America’s Young Artists™. For this new National Gallery, schools will submit digital images of selected student art, which will be chosen for exhibit online. Corporations, universities and private collectors nationwide will then have the opportunity to purchase art for display in their company foyers and board rooms. This has the potential to become the largest national art gallery for youth!

Happy Free Homeschoo0ling!

TODAY'S HOMESCHOOL FREEBIE SITE

Today's Homeschool Freebie site is....

SHEPPARD SOFTWARE VOCABULARY WEB GAMES

This Website Includes,an SAT word list, Medical Terminology and Computer Terminology. It is a great site to brush up before taking the SAT or ACT tests. The presentation is in flashcard and game format so it is fun to use also. It's a practical, easy way to study between studying.

Happy Free Homeschooling!

TODAY'S HOMESCHOOL FREEBIE: The Cabinet of Curiosity

TODAY'S HOMESCHOOL FREEBIE IS...

The Cabinet of Curiosity blog by Robert Krampf.



Video, Experiments, Science Blog and more!


During his thirteen years at the Memphis Museum, Robert Krampf wrote and taught classes in geology, biology, chemistry, archaeology and physics. It was during this time that he became interested in electricity.

In 1987, Robert decided it was time for a change. He put together a traveling, high voltage electricity show, centered on a one million volt Tesla coil. Determined to show students and adults that science can be both fun and understandable, he began an exciting, educational adventure...read more here...

HAPPY FREE HOMESCHOOLING!