Welcome to the homeschooling world through Wynfield Christian Academy

Welcome to Wynfield Christian Academy’s homeschooling world. We are not here to turn homeschooling into a private school world. We want homeschooling to flourish as it is. Homeschooling is a wonderful way to fulfill the parents’ God-given responsibilities of educating children. Wynfield just wants to provide more resources to add spice to your teaching and to make it easier to for parents to get their children into colleges without having to limit the homeschooling way. We also help families with special needs children to have more resources to homeschool their children, as well.

Here on this blog we will give you teaching ideas, discuss homeschooling issues, and even review some products for you. The next two post will actually be to review The Old SchoolHouse Magazine’s new digital magazine and their new school planner. Give us your comments or ideas for discussion. We are always listening. If you are interested in learning more about our umbrella program, visit our web site at www.wynfieldca.org. We also have a DeafBlind program to help educate, train, and equip DeafBlind children and adults that you can learn more about, and even learn how to help us on that mission at www.wynfieldca.org/deafblind.html or visit our blog at www.deafblindhope.wordpress.com.

Apologia- Science Curriculum You Can Love

Science has always been one of my favorite subjects. I love teaching science with lots of student exploration and hands-on activities. I believe in an organized method of presenting how to follow the scientific method and why. I want the work of exploration done by the students and the activities to be interesting, beneficial, and fun. By having similar steps to follow while doing the learning, students naturally learn and understand the scientific method and other concepts necessary for science. I haven’t found many curriculums that could capture all of that together and certainly not with a Christ-centered emphasis. Apologia does all of that and in an exceptional way.
Dr. Jay Wile who says he was an atheist for many years actually set out to prove there could not be a God, but proved to himself the opposite. God has now used him well as a Christian professor and as a textbook writer of science texts for grades 7th- 12th. His company also publishes other science texts suitable for K-6th students as well as a geography course and a writing course. He understands homeschoolers as he and his family has homeschooled his children. Dr. Wile began helping teach science at the local co-op. His classes were so popular for their quality and fun that it was often suggested that he publish his lessons. The many Apologia users are so thankful he did.
In his courses, Dr. Wile uses chapters set up as modules. The modules are separated into sections with questions at the end of each section and chapter review questions at the end of each module like many curriculums. The questions check not only knowledge, but higher order thinking, too. Dr. Wile really makes sure the student gets the concepts and can analyze and apply them. Experiments are built in and designed to be done as you come to them when it is most appropriately matched with the reading. The lesson is fresh and the observations from the experiments can help the students thoroughly explore each concept. Each course also has a multimedia cd, or it is built in to the full course that can be purchased as a computer text. These multimedia experiences enhance the curriculum in ways that most students would not be able to do at home or even in a regular classroom giving further exploration and adding interest to the curriculum. Every course has a set of application problems for each module carrying the student into further study and analysis of the concepts. After that, the student completes a study guide with definitions and exercises and essay questions. If your student follows and uses all of these activities making sure they can answer any of the questions, they can be assured of success on the test. The use of these activities in the way it is presented goes a long way to model and teach your student the proper methods of study that can be transferred to all subjects. The high quality of these courses can also help your student if they wish to study one science area through each successive level. In so doing, your student can be prepared to take the Advanced Placement or entry level CLEP tests for a particular area such as Biology or Physics.
As beneficial as the method is, the best part of these courses is the way Dr. Wile writes. He writes in a conversational tone with simple, clear explanations. You actually get the feeling that he is sitting across the table enthusiastically sharing his passion for science with you. The writing appeals to almost all students even those who don’t like science. I have seen many a student including special needs students who hated science become engrossed in his style of teaching falling in love with science. That in itself is the main reason I love this curriculum. You can feel the passion for science coming through the lessons.
Dr. Wile’s curriculums can be found on the Apologia website, www.highschoolscience.com. You can also contact Dr. Wile via email from the site. He is very personable and will help you if you have any questions. I greatly appreciate the help he has given me and my students who can’t see a textbook or hear the audio files. Christian curriculums can’t be found in braille. Dr. Wile has graciously helped us provide a format that our students can use regardless of the equipment that must use to access the text. It is truly a blessing. His courses come in well-made print texts that have wonderfully coated pages that make them great when near the materials used for experimenting. The texts including teacher’s guide and test booklets are $85.00 and well worth every penny. The Full Text on CD-Rom including the multimedia files is $65.00, and multimedia and mp3 cds are $15.00 each. Courses for elementary grades are $35.00. Wonderful prices for such great and thorough curriculums that will surely make an impression on your students. Turn your student into a scientist with the Apologia curriculums.

Schleich Figures for Educational Play

I recently was sent a box of delightful, little animal figures. Schleich, a German company, makes figures of many different kinds. They are great for toys or teaching materials to enhance a child’s mind about just about any subject from medieval castles to farm life to Indians on the Western Frontier to the boundaries of your imaginary world of unicorns and Smurfs.
These figures are a very realistic and durable. I love the textures and fine details of the artwork that was put into each animal. The animals are all natural colors as found in true life. Ripples of muscles, strands of mane, and scales of armor are all intricately molded into the hard, but rubbery material. These figures are not the cheap plastic that you see so often in toys. The designers even took the time and effort to disguise the seam made when the two halves of the models were put together. Details are so intricate that you can easily see them in motion like the croc snapping his jaws down on his prey or the elephant swishing those huge, smooth ears to throw off the biting flies. The colors are so vibrant that the cat’s green and yellow eyes almost seem to glow that eerie glow when the light hits them. The catalog or web site you can find pictures of the over 500 products they sale. The medieval and fantasy figures are among my favorites. The elves are painted so beautifully that they seem more like an artist’s rendering from a magazine that a toy figure. I only found it strange that they all had wings. I know of no fantasy game, magazine, or book that has winged elves. They were beautiful, but I wish they had a few without wings. In addition to the figures, there are also background elements for more interactive play for many of the sets. The company also states that more will be coming out soon in their effort to make their products have even more educational value.
I commend the company for taking the extra effort to create such fine products. No matter if your children are sighted or blind they will enjoy seeing, touching, and creating their own worlds with these figures. You can see more of their beautifully crafted products at http://www.schleich-s.com. The products are also sold at stores like Toys-R-Us and Target with prices ranging from about $2.50-$5.99.

Homeschool in the Woods’ New Testament Activity-Pak

Homeschool in the Woods is a wonderful company operated by husband and wife team, Ed and Amy Pak. They create and publish hands-on activity packs. I received the newest one in their history series, The New Testament. This packet is definitely a product of their belief that hands-on activities are the best way to cement a child’s learning in the mind.
This packet over the New Testament provides fifteen hands-on activities to create a book that a child can hold and follow the course of history from the birth of Christ to His ascension. A child will reveal for himself the Old Testament prophesies fulfilled in the New Testament. This child will then explore the beginnings of the Church that helps us to know how the Church was intended to be and how it needs to be again. There are also two additional activities that take the student beyond the lessons of this packet to teach research and application of scripture verses. You and your child will have no problem creating this wonderful book because the step-by-step instructions are provided along with all the masters to print out and cut out and color photos of the finished products to guide your experience. By putting these activities together and creating this book, the child will have a resource to return to again and again to learn about the wonders of the New Testament.
We enjoyed all of the activities. The children were of different ages and abilities. Many of my students have physical disabilities or learning disabilities. I was able to find an activity for every child and of every age regardless of their issues. For me, this allowed us to work together to put together this book for them to use in the classroom. A homeschool family with multiple children can use the same method, or purchase as set for each student to complete with the parent or alone depending on ability. Sticky fingers are a fun part of it, of course. One child with autism and cerebral palsy wound up with much of the book glued to her, but she was proud of the part she played as she continuously pointed out to everyone exactly which section she did. She adamantly repeated her simplified version of who the twelve disciples were and what they did. I think the newspaper was a big hit with everyone, but the older children were able to fully engage themselves here as they completed the sections and even added some of their own creation. Finally there was lots of glee when we added their face pictures to the soldier in the Armor of God activity. One eight year old child discovered the enlarging capabilities of the school copier and created a paper suit of armor for his small body using his sister’s thin hair bands to tie the parts to his arms and legs after gluing them to poster board. He remembers easily the name of each piece and the verse that goes with it. I was thrilled with it, but I do need to buy more copier paper now. Fortunately, my motto has always been, “Go with the flow.”
If you would like to try this activity pack, New Testament, by Homeschool in the Woods or find other products by this couple, go to http://homeschoolinthewoods.com.

One2Believe’s Tales of Glory Noah’s Ark

Splish! Splash! Let the flood waters rise because we are on the ark with Noah. On One 2 Believe’s playset, Noah’s Ark, we are having fun learning about God’s promises.
After loving the Nativity playset from this company, I couldn’t wait to show my 8 year old DeafBlind student the new set that arrived at my door. This set was made with the same durable materials and had the same delightful, l textured features and colors. The ark comes apart to store the animals and Noah neatly inside when not in play. The little, colorful storybook provided helps to tie the love of reading the story to the imagination of acting out the story with the palm-sized characters. The best part of this set is one unbeatable additive to the mix: Just add water!
Floating on the sea of bath or the blue lagoon of a water play table, you have the makings of some fun adventures in Bible Land. My little boy flapped his arms in excitement as we signed, “toy, new” and then “boat”. He carefully took each piece out of the “cargo hold” of the ark and felt each piece. He signed the name of each piece as he recognized the ones he knew with a big smile across his lips and a twinkle in his beautiful blue eyes. With an unknown figure, wrinkles would appear across his furrowed brow, the facial marker of the ASL sign “what” as his right index finger moved down his left palm signaling that sign. He often gets so excited that he forgets that I can’t see either and signs with a flash before I can place my hands on his to understand his side of the conversation. I can’t help, but smile at his desire for learning like a sponge soaking up water. I taught him each sign for each animal letting him touch my hands to read them. He carefully copied each sign sometimes holding a wayward finger in place. Then with help from my aid, we reenacted the story of the Great Flood in the play table designed for sand and water. We signed every part of the story while placing the ark and each character and animal in place. We signed how Noah is told by God to build that big boat. We signed how others laughed and made fun as Noah told them the flood was coming. We marched those animals and Noah up that gangplank signing that God was going to save them from the rising water. His eyes grew big as we poured water from a large pitcher over his hands while signing “water, rising”. We placed one hand gently on the ark as it began to rise and float with saying, pouring “rain”. Those shining eyes popped wide and the mouth opened and gasped. We signed, “, people, animals, God, save, finish which in ASL means God saved the people and the animals. Now he has a toy he can play with in the water at bath time or wherever, but he also has a vivid memory to remind him of the meaning for the signs “promises, God, keep and “me, God, save”.
My student needs the play to help him understand the world around him and the stories that will help him grow into a man with God’s integrity. All children can use this kind of play. That is why I love the interactive playsets from One 2 Believe. The Tales of Glory playsets like the Nativity written about at Christmas and Noah’s Ark are at great prices between $24.99 and $29.99. You can find these and more great toys from http://www.one2believe.com.

SpellQuizzer!

Have you got the Spelling blues? Many parents and students dread spelling. That usually is because there is so much drill involved. Well, I have found a new tool to put in the arsenal. SpellQuizzer! It is a great way to bone up on those spelling words each week.
SpellQuizzer uses little sound byte recordings to help your student practice the spelling words from any subject. The teacher can also set it up to do the tests at the end of the week with the typical say the word, use it in a sentence, and repeat the word. Now spelling can be done almost independently by any age student if needed. The sound recording is actually a really good length. You can pack a lot of words in that little byte. Downloading the program and installing it was quick and easy. There is also a great update button to get free updates when they are available. The most recent one even lengthened the length of your recordings’ maximum. You can edit your spelling lists and randomize how they are given to the student, too.
I set up different activity files for my different students. There was a testing file and a regular quiz file for each set of words. I was able to name these files in a way the student could identify his file for practice or test time. I also set up a couple of different quizzing features, too. Each one quizzed the spelling, but I also recorded using the definition of the word in the recording or a sentence to help the student review both spelling and vocabulary during his practice time. No, the quizzer doesn’t grade the sentence or vocabulary in quiz mode, but for practice the repetition helps them remember any kind of fact or definition you might want to use. You could have the student write the sentence or definition on paper for later grading if you like to incorporate that in your weekly tests, though. I also let my older students create their own spelling lists including recording the words, sentences, and/or definitions, too, to give further practice while creating the lists for later drill. For some students, this could be a regular way to help them learn their spelling and vocabulary for all of their subjects. They practice and get graded on spelling while recording their own definitions after looking them up in the dictionary or practice using them in sentences correctly.
This is a neat little program and can be purchased and downloaded for a small price of $29.98. You will also find free spelling lists you can download and import into your SpellQuizzer. One I downloaded was U. S. States and Mottos. The spelling of the state’s name was graded, but the recording also pronounced the name, gave a state fact, and stated the motto. The text that can be written for the student to see as a reminder phrase was a fact or the motto. You can create lists using similar features including a statement for the student to see on the screen. These features give you flexibility in what your lists can teach.
SpellQuizzer is a great tool to use to help your students learn to spell words and learn in all their subjects. The software is a small package, but it can pack a lot of teaching for your student. Their web site is http://www.spellquizzer.com.

Five in a Row- Learning to Love Learning

There are two important things that I want students to learn when I teach them. First, I want them to learn to love reading and learning. Second, I want them to learn how to learn, so they will continue it for their entire lives. From those two things, everything else from the alphabet and numbers to concepts of gravity and democracy will fall into place. Curriculums should be written from that stand point. The Five in a Row curriculum series by Jane Claire Lambert does that.
Using good books to weave a plan of learning and fun is the design of the Five in a Row series. The books are carefully chosen to present, as the Lamberts explain, “close family relationships, personal triumphs, and persevering in times of trial”. Activities and discussions are laid out to present how to read and critique books which blends into learning about many subjects through the adventures of the characters.
The method is the most important factor of this curriculum. It is imperative that a parent read each book to the students each day of the week. I love this time of closeness. The students do, too. The modeling I do while reading is important for the children. They get to hear how to glean meaning from the words by the inflection in my voice and the pauses for commas and the stops for periods. They hear my enthusiasm in my voice. They feel the love for the words and the life within those words. Also, hearing the story each day and then doing activities and discussing different aspects of the story or how it relates to another subject like math or science reviews those aspects as many as four times.
The layout is simplified to allow even beginning homeschoolers the ability to succeed in the unit study format of Five in a Row. There are five main subjects used in the units to allow activities to be used in a five-day format. Teachers can choose from many different activities in each subject or even do them all and choose when during the week to do the lessons. Sample lesson plans are provided to help the teacher organize, but it isn’t necessary. Many teachers just check off in the book the activities they wish to do with their students. All of the books used in the series can be found free at the public library making this an easily affordable curriculum to use at any age level. I need braille to read to my students, but I have plenty of time to get the National Library to send me via download the braille text for each book. I often purchase the book and print the braille on overlay plastic to glue with clear glue to the page. I can read the story in braille as my students read the print and look at pictures. This keeps me actively involved with my students’ learning.
There are many levels to the Five in a Row curriculum covering ages 4-8. Each level can still be used for a family of multiple students in that age level easily. The authors even suggest hints for using activities with younger and/or older children. The appendix has the copy sheets for the activities in the book as well as that sample lesson plan. Story disks which are round circles with story pictures on them which can be cut out, colored, and laminated are used in many activities such as geography where they place the story disk on areas of the map such as the water areas found around the island of Nantucket where a story you read takes place. That is a wonderful way to remember about lakes and oceans and other geographical features. You can purchase a set of these on their website if you prefer things pre-done, too.
A teacher will find the series quite complete for ages 4-5 or 6. When you feel your students are ready to introduce phonics or formal math lessons, the authors help you integrate the subjects easily into your day while still seeing the benefits of the unit study series.
The authors have other series for ages 2 thru high school. I have personally used most of them and found them to be very fulfilling and intriguing. There are also additional unit studies for all levels that can be purchased inexpensively on their web site. Check them out at http://www.fiveinarow.com. Unit studies are a great way to teach a lifelong love for learning. Five in a Row and all the other age levels from this author are an easy and wonderful way to accomplish this important goal.

Heads Up! for Your Special Needs Child

Do you have a special kid? A kid that has some special learning needs? If so, you have probably spent a lot of time and money getting resources to use to help your child learn easier. I know I have both as a parent and a special education teacher. In fact, I have access to companies that many homeschoolers have never heard of, but the resources can be very expensive. I now have the site that works for me, and you will pleasantly surprised at the diversity and affordability of products.

Heads Up! Is a special needs company that provides many different types of resources for all kinds of special kids. You will find pressure blanket toys for autistic children, various colored reading frames for low vision and learning disabled children, self-stimulatory prevention aids, etc. The products are all very affordable and durable. Most products from other places tend to be very costly and more suitable in a professional therapist’s office. The products of Heads Up! are durable, but are simply made to be easy to use and more affordable.

I was provided many of the colored frames which have different colored transparent films to lay over the written page. Students with all kinds of problems find specific colors for their issues that make reading the printed word easier by cutting glare, providing contrast, etc. All of my students enjoyed trying the different frames to find one they felt helped them the most. Even my regular education students without learning or vision difficulties found that a certain color reduced the glare helping them to read longer without tiring their eyes. Several even picked out some games and computer software they want to try from the Heads Up! catalog which is overflowing with so many diverse products.

To help you with all of your students’ needs, go to http://www.headsupnow.com.

Math Tutor for Hire

Are you struggling with teaching math like Algebra II, or does your struggling teen need a basic math quick review? Most of you have probably seen the ones that are curriculum specific such as Saxon Dive CD’s, or Bob Jones’s DVD’s. They are just fine, but if you aren’t using those curriculums, they won’t help much. Well, the MathTutor DVD’s are great for just these kinds of times.
The instructor for the entire product line is Jason Gibson. He isn’t a teacher, but he is a mathematician in all ways with a Master’s in Electrical Engineering and a Master’s in Physics. Jason knows how to bring real-life application into the classroom. His no-nonsense, straight to the point style is refreshing for most students, especially those who are math weary and really want to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Jason gives step-by-step instructions working through easy problems to fully explain the concepts. He then works through numerous problems progressively getting to the hard-core problems. He is very capable of teaching complex topics in a short amount of time. He doesn’t use any textbook, so the student can view the material regardless of the curriculum to gain a better perspective of the concepts. These are the reasons that make these products so good for many students of all ages. They can be used for first time teacher-approached lecture for curriculums that do not have a video component. They can be used by struggling students, and students who need a quick review for any reason.
The subjects covered in these series include basic math and basic math word problems. There are fractions and Algebra I and II. You will find geometry, trig, calculus and even Advanced Calculus. There is also statistics and Physics. The best thing about these series is that they are affordable. Prices range from $26.99 for most topics to $49.99 for Calculus 3: Volume 2. This makes great help easy to come by.
Now anyone can hire that math tutor and feel confident that success is only a few hours away.
Check them out at www.mathtutordvd.com.

All About Homophones

Homophones are interesting if you can remember what they are. Do you remember? Homo means the same and phone is pertaining to sound. That is what I need to remind myself of the full definition. Homophones are words that sound alike, but are spelled differently and mean different things. No and know would be two examples. Problem is that many people regardless of age still confuse them when using them in sentences. Many things have been tried. Many may work, but I have found “All About Homophones” by Marie Rippel for grades 1-8, and I think the students will really enjoy it which usually means they will learn and remember!
In what the author calls the tool-kit, you will find a good explanation of homophones that can be easily adapted any grade level including regional homophones which is basically that some words are only homophones in a particular region and dialect. To learn about homophones and how to use them properly, the author uses graphic organizers, worksheets, crossword puzzles, card games, and more written for each different grade level. I think my favorite was the tongue twisters using the homophones. We all laughed so hard that it hurt! Students learn and retain more when they laugh while learning. We need to bring the fun into more of our subjects.
While learning the homophones that are in lists based on grade levels, a student creates a graphic organizer of each pair spelling each correctly, defining it in their own words, using it in a sentence, or even putting a picture with each. Each page can be done uniquely by the student allowing him or her to be very creative in the process. Then choose a worksheet or two with a couple of the activities. All of the student’s work should be kept in a notebook that they create to use and look back over for as long as they wish. Encourage them to add to the list of homophones whenever they find them. Student list records are provided to record the ones they learn.
This little toolkit is quite versatile. Teachers can use it as a onetime unit or pull activity sheets periodically to spice up a day’s activities. Either way, your student is bound to discover that language is fun and interesting.
Check it out at www.all-about-homophones.com. I don’t think you will be disappointed, but take my word for it; you need to exercise the tongue before tackling the tongue twisters.

Math Mammoth

If you are looking for a math curriculum or supplement for next school year, I might have something good for you. Math Mammoth is a worktext series for different grade levels. The program was developed by a Finnish mathematician, Taina Maria Miller, who has taught school, tutored homeschoolers, and homeschooled herself. During that experience her heart was touched by the fact that many homeschoolers struggle teaching math because they didn’t have a good background. I understand this completely since I am learning disabled with math being my biggest weakness.
Although many parents think teaching elementary math is easy, Mrs. Miller states that math often becomes rule memorizing without the whys. Children do not learn to think. They only use the rule to solve the problems for the day. I can relate to that. My own education was based on that rule memorization, and my struggles only became worse along with my self-esteem as I got into higher math. Mrs. Miller’s worktexts teach math thoroughly explaining the whys and allows children to discover the principles themselves creating mathematical thinkers along the way.
The worktexts are self-teaching, so they are perfect for homeschoolers. With the explanations in the text, a separate teacher manual is not needed. This simplifies the entire process for the family. The series include quizzes and tests with the answer keys for each. In addition, the author provides internet resources which include some really great math interactive activities for the concepts covered. All of the packages are affordable for grades 1-8 covering all concepts.
Affordability is something the author has striven for with her products. Some are even electronic downloads with prices for each worktext as little as $2.00-$5.50. Several packages are available. The Blue Series which is 28 self-teaching worktexts covering everything from addition to decimals to geometry in a downloadable package for $70.00 or $75.00 for a cd. A math and language software package, Soft-Pak for Windows XP and Vista, is also included with that package for free. Mrs. Miller’s website also has a separate worksheets collections available for grades 3 through 7 and additionally, Algebra I. These are great for regular school teachers to use for homework, and homeschoolers will find them useful as supplements to any math curriculum they are using. These sheets are far better than mechanical worksheets created by a script with problems emphasizing understanding of concepts and practicing computation. You can also sign up for teaching emails on her site where you will receive 280 free worksheets, 7 math teaching articles, emails discussing her books, and the Homeschool Math Newsletter for free.
From all of this information, I think you can see that Mrs. Miller seems to genuinely care about the teaching of math and not just making money. Her program really works with so many children. Two of mine are using her products now and are excelling for the first time despite their learning challenges. The students say they can now think about the ways to do a problem without just trying to remember a rule that fits. These two now beam when they see its math time instead of groaning. That alone makes me feel better as their teacher, too.
Check out Math Mammoth at www.mathmammoth.com for more information.