Homeschoolers

[ABC]

At the moment l am using text books from the Marretts in Werribee and Eureka learning cds to teach the kiddies ..... but am interested in what everyone else uses who is homeschooling

Want to have a look see at what else is available out there IYKWIM

TIA

Mishmash

[canberramomma]

We use lots of written and practical resources.

We have been using the Targeting series for English, Maths and now handwriting. Also, I love the Boost series for reinforcement as the kids relate to the dual approach of appealing workbooks and the related educational CD's.

I also try to find worksheets (online) for any books we are reading together. I find a lot of them on the EduHelper site, but you have to pay for membership. I'm sure there are loads of free resources, but it's a shortcut I use (for me!).

For science, we use some of the ideas and experiments from CSIRO's 'Science by Mail' emails as well as your usual kitchen experiments and observations of nature and (of course, in Canberra) Questacon. There's also a really good site called World History For Us All, which covers EVERYTHING! I'll post the link:
[url=http://worldhistoryforusall.sdsu.edu/default.htm[/URL]

For social studies, the kids get plenty of practical experience with our political and environmental activities as well as learning about history and various holiday observances, folk laws, myths and legends, etc.

We do heaps of hands on stuff with the local homeschooling group, too which is so valuable and covers so many aspects of education as children are learning whatever activity at the same time as team building and the all important socialisation!

We also play lots of word and math based games.

My children don't like the lap-booking thing, but I know plenty of children that find that method really worthwhile.

I would also be interested in what resources others use.

Some of my resource links are:
http://antontheinternet.com/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/
http://www.edhelperblog.com/
http://www.kidsknowit.com/
http://www.englishbanana.com/free-in...orksheets.html
http://www.abcteach.com/
http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/educational.htm
http://www.sitesforteachers.com/index.html

I'm sure I've heaps more bookmarked somewhere ...........

Also - many printing houses like RIC and Pascal have online ordering services and you can view sample pages of some of the books to check out the formatting.

[ABC]

Oh WOW thanx so much Sal

One site l found that the kids just love is The Toy Theater. Its free, educational and helps entertain the littlies when you need one on one with older ones

Toy Theater - Home

Thanx again
Mishmash

[canberramomma]

I had heard of The Toy Theatre somewhere (I realised once I had a looksee at your link), but Miss2 isn't really into the 'puter atm. Have bookmarked it for when she's a bit more interested. Thanks!

[morganah]

Although I do not home school, my DD loves smart kiddies it is a great maths site that has lots of online games and simulations also look at cococabana primary school website has lots of great links for online stuff.

Morganah

[ABC]

Cool thanx M

CM if you wanted to get her on the computer l highly recommend the Eureka Pre-Writing and Computer Skills disk.....just fantastic for when they are first learning

[canberramomma]

MM, yes, we had some Eureka stuff for Miss10 and Mr6, but then hubby (very helpfully) blew the MS partition on our hard drive away, and that software doesn't seem to be compatible with a Linux OS. Thinking I might have to take matters into my own hands and purchase a reasonable 2nd hand windows box!

Miss2 is def behind the others on the IT front!

[eire]

mish can i just ask what state you're in? i had a question for a nsw homeschooler...

[ABC]

I'm in Vic hun sorry.... if you want theres a homeschoolers site called The Rockpool Homeschool. Theres definitely pp from NSW there that may be able to help Eire

HTH

[canberramomma]

Can I also add (sorry, butting in here) that HEA - Home Educators Association - can help with most enquiries or, at least, put you on the right path.