In my opinion, one of the best things you can do for finding peace of mind about your homeschool choices is to set goals and write them down. I’ve had years when I didn’t keep track of any thing (gasp!) and years when I had daily checklist. My children learned though all of those years, in spite of my organizational skills, or lack of them. I do know, though, that my own peace of mind during the years that I planned things out were the least stressful for me. This past year, I bought a planner that everyone was raving about. I spent too much money on it for how often I use it. I tend to do most of my planning online, so I rarely get it out.

Before you buy an expensive planner, I suggest trying one of these free planner links below! You can make it fancy with a personalized scrapbook-like cover and get it laminated and spiral bound at an office supply store. Maybe you would rather put it in a 3-ring binder. The great thing about these planners is that you can put them in the format that works for YOU! You might opt for the online planners that are available instead. Whatever you want to do, here are some free choices.

Five J’s

Joy over at Five J’s, has several helpful resources for planning out your year.  Here is a Weekly Assignment Planner and a gradebook for free download. Check out more of her homeschool planning posts here, including a great post for Home School Inc, which is worth the time to check out.  You’ll definitely want to print out anything that Joy made herself – she is an excellent graphic designer!!

Homeschool Skedtrack

Homeschool Skedtrack is a free online lesson planner, scheduler, and tracking system rolled into one. One of the main features is their automated scheduling of activities. If you miss an activity, Skedtrack frees you from the headache of rescheduling everything. I think this is something worth paying for, but it is FREE! It meets so many needs in one place. You can keep track of high school transcripts, courses, grades (by automated calculations!) and so many other things. You really need to check it out if online planning is for you.

Donna Young

Donna Young doesn’t just give you printable forms, she has numerous tips and advice on how to plan, how to use a planner, and how to assemble her free planner pages to make it useful to you. I have mentioned DonnaYoung.org several times now in this series of How to Homeschool for Free. This site has an incredible array of forms and other necessary things for the home school family. I love Donna Young! I use it all the time, year round for more than my homeschool needs.

Highland Heritage HomeSchool

Highland Heritage HomeSchool has two sections where you can find planning forms. The first is the teacher planning section. It has schedules, calendars, attendance, grade logs, report cards, conference records, co-op planners, lap book rubrics, and many more things for your planner. Print the ones you will use and leave the rest. The second section you will find useful is the Student Portfolio forms. It has checklists of things you can plan to assess and record in the student folders. I also found a student self-evaluation form that I think I might use for my kids.

Homeschool Launch

Homeschool Launch is a free, file-sharing community. It is not just about planners, but I was very pleased to find a huge amount of planning choices. These are pages that actual moms and dads have created for themselves and have shared this in this forum. I saw planning pages for block scheduling, Charlotte Mason planning, Heart of Dakota plans, and so many more that I cannot possible list them all here. You do have to register to view and download files. You may also share your own once you are a member, since that is the service the site is designed to provide.

The Homeschool Mom

The Homeschool Mom is a go-to for any home schooling mom for advice and help. The planning pages are thoroughly comprised and will meet the needs of many home school moms. It is free for personal use. Weekly planner and menu planner pages include FlyLady compatible weekly and menu planner pages, Calendars, High School Course Planner, Chore chart, Weekly Planner page for use with Weekly Assignment page or Unschooling Record Keeper, Assignment Sheet, Reading List, and several more choices for your planning pleasure.

Homeschool Tracker

Homeschool Tracker is Microsoft Windows-based planning and organizing software designed to track your lesson planning and records. With the free, basic version, you can keep track of field trips, grades, assignments, and attendance. It allows you to generate report cards, and a few more things. The PLUS version is the one that is not free, but it does have more features than the free version, as you would expect. It will not work on Mac computers unless you have Windows Parallel.

New Beginnings

New Beginnings has a free curriculum planner. The moms here will show you 7 steps to customizing your planner to suit your needs. It includes Lesson Plan Pages for ALL your children, Calendars, Attendance Charts, Class Schedule, and Teacher Schedule. Again, print the things you need and don’t bother with the rest. I like how the moms here don’t make you feel like you have to do it their way. Personalization is important and they tell you how to do it and make it work for you.

Happy Planning!

Be sure to check out the other posts in the How To Homeschool For Free series too!

Be sure to check out the other posts in the How To Homeschool For Free series too!

A huge thanks to Jody Scott from Red Mixer Bakery for putting together this great series for all of us!

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One of the reasons public or traditional school is not necessarily for every child is because every child is different. I have 2 of my children who would probably fit well into that learning style model, while others are definitely outside of it.

What are learning styles? What do they mean? Do they matter? Well, if you have found a comfort zone and things are flowing smoothly for you, I wouldn’t worry about it. You have found your groove, so go with it! On the other hand, if the day comes when you are butting heads about math or spelling (or any other subject) you might have some research to do. Consider bookmarking this post to keep it as a reference for getting some help. I have a variety of links that provide free information related to teaching in different ways, as well as identifying what might be your child’s learning style or method of learning preference.

Homeschool Christian

Homeschool Christian presents three basic categories of learning styles: visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. You will read that most children are kinesthetic when they are younger because the visual and auditory skills haven’t developed as much. As children get older, you can observe and determine which category your child is in.

HSLDA

HSLDA has a helpful page that labels learners as Lookers, Listeners, and Movers. It also explains how the teaching style should compliment the learning style as much as possible. I found that the list on the page that gives characteristics of the different styles was helpful because it also gives specific things that might be a struggle for each kind of learner.

Homeschool Views

Homeschool Views has designed 3 quizzes will aid you in identifying your child’s learning style, as well as your own. As a result, you can tailor your teaching in a way that best fits your child and discover how your family learns while uncovering both weaknesses and strengths. I had my oldest daughter (13) take the quiz and it confirmed what I suspected, that she is an auditory learner. She loves music and can plunk out tunes on the piano by ear. She had a good balance of the other styles as well, which explains why she can generally excel at whatever she has he heart set on.

Sonlight

Sonlight presents a thorough webinar on learning styles. It is a helpful video that is about 33 minutes long, so grab your coffee and a notebook to glean from this discussion by moms who have been around the block with different learning styles. From their website – “Do you and your child clash? Are you concerned about homeschooling because your student is just so different from you? You’re not alone! Each student is different and this can prove challenging to teachers. As a homeschooler, however, you have the unique opportunity to find tools that match your student’s unique learning style.”

Homeschool Buyers Co-op

Homeschool Buyers Co-op has this section on Learning Your Child’s Disposition and Learning Personality. You will find clever names for each personality that will hopefully help you learn how to relate to and help your children find an effective way to absorb the education being provided. The test that they offer is not free, but I found the characteristic descriptions very insightful.

Tips for studying

Here you will find tips for studying that are specific for 4 categories of learning styles: Kinesthetic, Visual, Audio, and Other Styles. They have a lot of great ideas that you can implement at home to help your children be more engaged in learning that might not be available in traditional school settings (for example, how chewing gum can help Kinesthetic learners!)

FamilyEducation

FamilyEducation works to assess your child’s personality so you can use that information to design your homeschool program to suit your child’s strengths. The article is quite detailed and you have to click to continue on to read all 6 sections. It is based on the Myers-Briggs personality typing system, which is widely accepted. “In the Myers-Briggs scheme, there are four basic elements of personality preferences. Each of these preferences is measured on a scale that has two “sides.” Knowing where a person’s tendency resides on each of these scales determines the person’s overall personality type.”

How to Enhance Learning Styles

How to Enhance Learning Styles is discussed in this link. If you scroll down, you will find a handy chart. Maybe it’s because I am a visual learner, but this chart makes a lot of sense to me so I plan to print it out and mark it up with my children’s names so I can remember what helps them to focus better. I do have 5 of them, after all, and I wouldn’t want to get them mixed up!

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In all of this research, I found that one book, The Way They Learn, was recommended repeatedly for dealing with the different learning styles. You can buy it on Amazon or look for “The Way They Learn” by Cynthia Ulrich Tobias at your local library!.

I hope this has helped you as much as it has me!

Be sure to check out the other posts in the How To Homeschool For Free series too!

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The end of the school year is coming up for most of us. It is the time when we look back at the year and evaluate what we have done. How do you assess your students? Do you observe and take notes, keep a portfolio, or something else? There are different ways to assess as well as different types of testing.

A standardized test is a norm-referenced test, like Iowa Basic Skills, that will identify learning problems and gaps in general knowledge.

Criterion-referenced tests are designed for public schools. It is possible that they will include questions that deal with evolution as fact as well as other terms that Christians might find irrelevant or offensive. They are still useful tools. You can be prepared by pre-screening the content.

Evaluation and assessment for all levels can also be done through written assignments, portfolio goals & review, lapbook collections, or any method that gathers work samples over a period of time. These last choices are less stressful options for the student and the parents, as a general rule. They show progress and completed projects.

There are numerous free testing tools available online. Consider each option along with the personality of each child. Some children are proficient learners, yet terrible test takers. They might be able to do well orally, rather than on paper or on the computer. If you do opt for a test that gives scores, be sure understand that not all scores are accurate, especially if you use a public school criterion-referenced test. I have used them in the past, just to see what areas might have gaps. Tests are useful tools, but they are not the final say in grade level by any means. And PLEASE know that low test score does not mean you are an awful teacher! This is not a personal grade for you, but rather a tool for finding gaps in learning.

State Testing

EdInformatics

EdInformatics provides a list of states that have assessments and benchmark test available online. Some are printable, while some are interactive. All states do not test the same things at the same grade levels. This page has resources for grades K-12.

Internet4Classrooms

Internet4Classrooms has a simple way to find an assessment to meet your needs. When you arrive on the page linked here, you might be asked to provide info. It’s optional. I only indicated that I was a homeschool parent, but I did not provide my name. That was acceptable, so I moved on to the main information. You simply click on the grade level or subject you are interested in testing. There is a wide variety of tests available here for printing as well.

Academic Benchmarks

Academic Benchmarks will give you the guidelines for your state and what is tested at each grade level. You might find things such as what is the Core Curriculum, Intended Learning Outcomes, as well as Grade Level articulations.

Secondary and College Testing

Test Prep and Practice

If you want to give the SAT a preview before you send your child off to take it “for real,” visit Test Prep Preview or Test Prep Practice. Both of these websites offer free testing samples, some close to full length. It it not limited to SAT and GED. The available tests include GRE, Vocational Exams, Law School LSAT, and many, many more.

Curriculum Placement Tests

Curriculum Placement Tests are another way to find gaps in your homeschool academics. Several curriculum companies offer free diagnostic and testing tools for your use. Even if you have to register to take the test, you are not obligated to buy the curriculum. I have used several of these tests over the years to expose my kids to the different terminology used in the various subjects. Sometimes when you stick with the same curriculum (which is great!) students might have a hard time answering questions that are worded a bit differently in another kind of setting. Talking about how there are different words for the same thing can be very helpful.

Sonlight

Sonlight provides Horizons Math readiness tests. You can go directly to Alpha Omega, which is the publisher’s website for Horizons, but you will have to register. If you want to skip that and just take the test, go through Sonlight. They also have tests for Teaching Textbooks, Singapore Math, and Saxon. Once you have your student take the test, look at the results to see where gaps are and do some reviewing!

Alpha Omega Homeschool

Alpha Omega Homeschool does ask you to register for the online diagnostic test. I have used it and found it to be a useful tool for finding what my kids haven’t learned yet. It is for grades 3 and up.

Math Mammoth

Math Mammoth tests are meant to be taken at the end of the school year to test for mastery. They will also work as general math diagnostic tests. The tests group the questions by topic, so it is easy to find where the gaps are.

If you are still with me and wondering why people would test if it is not required, I often tell my kids that I’m having them take a test so I know what else I need to teach them. That takes the pressure off when they come to an unknown topic. I tell them to leave everything blank that they haven’t learned yet. If they leave a lot blank on things that I know they have learned, I will return the test with a reminder of when we learned that topic and sometimes they will have that “light bulb moment!”

Be sure to check out the other posts in the How To Homeschool For Free series too!

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Have you heard of Lapbooking? How about Notebooking? If you have experience with these, you probably know how much kids love having a final product to show their learning progress to family and friends.

If you don’t know what I’m talking about, you might consider looking into it, at least once. You might think Lapbooks are mostly for younger kids, while Notebooking is for the older kids. However, each one can be used for any age group. You might have already done a version of one already, a poster board display for a science project is really a large lapbook! And, for those who scrapbook, your scrapbook is a detailed lapbook of sorts, as well! Each of these is a fun way of putting the information you’ve gathered into one place and making it easy to use as a reference later.

A lap book can also be called a layer book, flap book, or shutter book. Basically, it is made of at least 2 manila folders with sections of mini-books, pictures, facts, poems, or anything related to the lesson at hand. It can be about anything you choose. Some companies sell pre-made kits or they might charge you for downloading the sheets for cutting & coloring. I’m going to show you where to get these resources for free. Many of the sites I’ve visited had lists of old links that were no longer valid. All of these links here will give you valid links for FREE lapbooking downloads and examples.

Ignite the Fire

Terri Camp helps you see the many different ways you can use notebooking in your homeschool. She has a wealth of other resources as well to encourage you to find your child’s strengths to make homeschooling a blessing and not a chore. I put this link first because I love the way Terri Camp lights a fire under our desire for homeschooling! There is no set formula for each child. Find what works for you. It might not necessarily be what she does, but she is full of encouragement and ideas.

Highland Heritage Homeschool

The mom behind Highland Heritage Homeschool will explain a little more about lapbooking and will show you what will work for organizing a lapbook that isn’t finished in a day. She will also give you some links at the bottom, but most of them are outdated, as I found out. One of the links, though, is of an example lapbook, made by her daughter. She also has a page for getting ideas about other kinds of books students can make.

Now that you have an idea what Lapbooking and Notebooking are all about, I’ll share some resources for making your own without paying for downloads. Some of the links are for places that sell lapbooks, but I will tell you where to look for the freebies.

CurrClick

CurrClick is one of my favorite websites for getting good-quality freebies for downloading. I’m sure I’ve mentioned it before. If you search for “Lapbook” in their search bar, you will find some very reasonably priced items. If you then select the results to be sorted by price, the free ones should be at the top. I’ve done that HERE for you. There are many, many resources on this site to download for lapbooking and notebooking as well.

Homeschool Helper Online

Homeschool Helper Online has several links for resources for Lapbooks, Notebooks, Unit Studies, and other homeschool help links. I found quite a few I’d like to try soon. They have a good variety of topics from preschool up to high school.

Homeschool Share

Homeschool Share provides several free lapbooks, along with a plethora of resources for making your own to suit your needs for whatever project you have. There is also a well-maintained blog where the author welcomes us to look into their homeschool and share the progress of using lapbooks and notebooks in a fun way.

Homeschooling on a Shoestring

Homeschooling on a Shoestring will give you three videos with details on how to assemble lapbooks in various ways. This bottom of the page is full of links, and many of them are still valid.

Hands of a Child

Hands of a Child almost always has a free download. It changes often, though, so don’t wait to get the freebie. They also have a yahoo group to help parents and teachers learn how to use lapbooks and Hands of a Child resources effectively. There are actually several lapbooking yahoo and google groups. Just do a search if you are interested in joining one.

Dynamic 2 Moms

The Dynamic 2 Moms are Tina and Kelley and they have a passion for sharing what they know. They were homeschooled as children and now homeschool their own children. The resources for lapbooks, notebooks, and unit studies are well-organized. They also offer support resources for New-to-Homeschool parents.

I hope you will have some fun with this! I would really enjoy seeing you all post links to your lapbooks, too!

Be sure to check out the other posts in the How To Homeschool For Free series too!

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Does your home school schedule include vacation? Are you trying to find ways to keep kids independently entertained? When we are on a break, I let my kids have some online fun that we generally don’t have time for during school days. Here are some links that might keep kids occupied for a while and have them learning at the same time. Most of them are designed for independent playing, but some might require your assistance. The age of your child will also be a factor in how well they can play alone, of course. The last section includes some links and ideas for fun offline, too.

Online Fun!

Knowledge Adventure

Knowledge Adventure has over 100 online learning games. They have been categorized into different groups based on the age group and grade level. The fun educational games created by Knowledge Adventure games have gained awards and kudos from iParenting Media Award, the Toy Man Award of Excellence and the National Parenting Seal of Approval, to name a few.

PBS Kids

PBS Kids offers familiar faces and fun games. Your child might not realize he (she) is playing school when this is the activity. Curious George, Super Why, Clifford, and the Wild Kratts will make learning fun. This has been favorite for all 4 of my older children through the years.

Sheppard Software

I think I have mentioned Sheppard Software in past posts, but I think it’s worth mentioning again. The games are colorful and simple to understand. They also keep kids’ attention without discouraging them from trying again.

Education Place

Education Place has six games for students to play that help with speech, language, geography, math and spelling. These are designed to reinforce the lessons that the Houghton Mifflin textbooks contain. They are general enough, though, that any student can play & learn.

Game Classroom

Game Classroom has games for language arts and math for grades K-6, which are conveniently sorted according to skill, topic and grade level. There is also a homework help section and an assortment of educational articles covering topics such as kids online safety, homeschool tips, and the top educational iPad apps.

National Geographic Kids

Do you have a student who loves nature and crafts? Check out National Geographic Kids game center and craft corner. There is also a link for NG Little Kids! I was personally impressed by the amount of information & activities available on this website. It looks like one that would hold the attention of a good reader who was interested in nature activities.

Playing History

For older kids who enjoy role-playing games, Playing History might be of interest. For example, “Argument Wars is a game designed to highlight the role of argumentation and reasoning in civic engagement. Step into the shoes of a lawyer and participate in trials ripped straight out of the history books. In order to win points with the judge, you must analyze your arguments and evidence carefully and be prepared to not only back up yours claims, but to pop your opponent’s bubble when they make a misstep. Can you tip the scales of justice in your favor?” There are quite a few more simulation games, too. I might just try one myself!

Offline Fun!

Mom’s Minivan

Mom’s Minivan has quite a few ideas for keeping kids busy on a road trip. If it isn’t making things out of pipe-cleaners or counting cows, I hope you will find something fun for your family. We’ve consulted this website for several road trips. This mom does have some good ideas, and not just for games to play on the road.

Write and Perform a Play

There is no link for this one. Your kids might be interested in putting on a play for the family. Let them write it and use dress-up clothes for inspiration. Older kids could probably do this without much help, but smaller ones would need a little attention. My girls do this a few times a year and it’s so much fun to see them accomplish something fun and creative.

Small Notebook for a Simple Home

I came across a blog awhile back with some fun ideas on it. (Thank you, Pinterest!) Rachel Meeks of Small Notebook for a Simple Home tells some of her ideas for keeping things fun for kids of various ages. My favorite was letting the bigger kids have at the family photos and create a slideshow presentation. I know my oldest would love to do that! It would be a present for me in more ways than one. You might explore her website a little more, too, because she has some fantastic ideas for decluttering and living simply.

Education.com

Education.com has all kinds of great activity ideas for kids that you can do together, or that they can do independently. You can even narrow things down by age or grade level!

Happy Vacation! Get some rest… you deserve it!