Wednesday, February 20, 2013

My Favorite Homeschooling Item (link-up)

If you're just starting to homeschool or you're just starting to think about starting to homeschool and you're feeling overwhelmed by all the supplies and curriculum choices and the classical vs. Charlotte Mason methods discussion and you're pretty sure you're going to ruin your children forever and ever if you don't get it just right the very first hour of the very first day.....
Breathe.

Learning is natural.  Curiosity is natural.  All we have to do, especially in the very beginning, is to facilitate (and maybe bribe a little when it comes to long division [totally evil]) and provide an environment for that natural curiosity to result in the acquisition of knowledge.

Fill your house with books and paper and writing tools.  Talk about important things with other adults in in front of your kids.  Watch documentaries with them.  Slap a calendar, a number chart, and the alphabet up on the wall.  And get one of these:

Oh Mr. Globe, how I love thee!

For the first 1.3 years of homeschooling, we used a flat map of the world.  That was okay.  But when a curious 5 year old starts asking about how day and night and seasons and planets and time work, a map just doesn't cut it.  So he asked for a globe for Christmas (true story).

You guys, not a single day goes by that someone isn't using that globe.  It is amazing.  Geography?  Check.  History? Check.  Reading?  Check.  What time is it in Malaysia when it's 11 a.m. here?  Check.  What country looks like a snazzy boot kicking a misshapen potato? Check!

So many checks.

(and if you really, really, really love geography [guilty]: this)

Do you have a favorite homeschooling item?  Slap it in a post or grab the link and add it here.  Help some sistahs out!

snazzy, I know.



Hip Homeschool Hop Button
post signature
Pin It

25 comments :

  1. When my sister and I were being homeschooled, we loved our globe too! But mostly because it was an electronic one with a geography quiz game and would tell us very seriously to "Find Djibouti!"
    Oh, we were such serious students.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Girl, you know Djibouti is a subject of MUCH conversation 'round these parts!

      Delete
  2. I don't have a blog, so no post or linky. But my favorite tool is my Homeschool Tracker on my computer. Keeps me organized, easily makes assignment lists, keeps track of grades for my older kids. Love it!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Don't forget this important question: Where is South Korea and how can I get my mom to fly us all over there for a visit?

    Gonna think on this one and plan a linky. :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Love this idea! Taking diligent notes...and shopping for that awesome pencil sharpener!

    ReplyDelete
  5. If you love geography, you should consider doing Journey North Mystery Class. We are doing it with a group this year and really enjoying. It's not too late to jump in: http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/mclass/How.html Confusing at first, but super fun as you figure it out week by week.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. try this for a description of how it works. I think she had an earlier one as well, describing it in more detail: http://melissawiley.com/blog/2013/02/01/even-the-sick-days-are-pretty-darn-great/

      Delete
  6. My grandparents had a stand-up globe at their house when I was a kid and I LOVED it. I would give anything to have it now (although it wouldn't even be accurate anymore)

    ReplyDelete
  7. I am adding my post to your linky up, but I see that I am not alone in declaring Homeschool Tracker my favorite :) I hope more post their faves since I like to see what helps other mamas out.

    Thanks for hosting Dwija!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sarah - I listed Homeschool Tracker as mine, also! Love it!

      Delete
  8. Hey when it is 11AM in Michigan it is midnight in Malaysia. I know because I live in Singapore right now! Which is right next to Malaysia.
    eastfareast(dot)blogspot(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  9. I added mine! You know, we don't use our globe much! Maybe I need to pull it out more off my fancy shelves. At some point I need to get some nice maps up somewhere as well...

    ReplyDelete
  10. Your post just inspired me to get on Amazon and order a globe again. We had one a few years ago, but the stand was cheap plastic, and it broke. The globe then became dented/cracked. Buh-bye, globe.

    I just found one made in the USA with a metal stand! Score!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Okay, I homeschooled for 9 years, up to 6th grade. I have a TON of material I won't be using anymore, and can't bring myself to give to Goodwill where I know it will sit and mold. I don't know any homeschoolers currently, so I am going to email you with a list of stuff you can have absolutely free. Don't know why I am sending this as a heads up, I am just a weirdo, and I imagine your inbox is three miles long and you won't see it until March. Of 2014.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I was a link-up punk and forgot to link back to here in my post. Just took care of it! Sorry :(

    ReplyDelete
  13. Another globe lover here. Although I still wish we had the one my inlaws got rid of a few years back; when you lifted the top, there was a liquor cabinet inside. That would totally be my favorite homeschooling item. Now I'll have to think of something else and link up ASAP.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Thanks for the link up! We love our globe, too.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Alas, I am not a homeschooler, Dwija. I love educational toys, though, and have a favorite find. May I link up?

    ReplyDelete
  16. I love the Preschool Prep videos. Highly recommend those!

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...