MORNING BASKET
This one was a game-changer. When I discovered the concept of using a “morning basket” filled with “living books” and “read-alouds,” it forever changed my outlook on what homeschooling can look like.
Homeschooling doesn’t have to work like public school. Your child doesn’t have to work through a curriculum lesson everyday. A curriculum is an excellent tool for keeping records of your child’s progress and knowing (in general) what your child should be learning at his age. We do use one regularly but mostly as a guide.
However, if we don’t do anything else in a day, morning basket books are a staple in our home. The benefits are abundant. Cuddling on the couch with your children each day to read can develop a lasting bond. Introducing them to poetry, living history books, faith-based stories, biographies, daily bible reading, children’s classics, and other treasures like these during morning basket time can deposit vast knowledge and make it possible to fit in multiple subjects during the day. Plus, all of your children at multiple age levels can listen and learn together, saving you precious time!
NOTEBOOKING
Notebooking is the most brilliant homeschool idea that I have ever come across, and it pairs excellently with morning basket books. Notebooking is a tangible way for your children to demonstrate their knowledge and comprehension of what they have been learning. It can also provide a way to track progress. A notebooking page can be thought of as a “book report,” so to speak.
For younger children, after you have read to them, discussed something with them, gone through a curriculum lesson, or let them watch a learning video, have them create a notebook page to recap what they have learned. This can be in the form of art and illustration or writing a couple of sentences to summarize what they remember. If they can not write well, yet, have them verbally narrate to you what they know while you write it on the page for them. Let them decorate the page. Make it fun!
For older children, have them read books and do research on various topics. To show what they have learned, have them create notebook pages via writing, illustration, collages, graphic design, typing, or whatever way suits your guidelines. Before long, they will have a notebook full of tangible progress, expressed in creative ways unique to each child!
The possibilities are endless with notebooking, such as developing skills in oral and written narration, critical thinking, art and illustration, handwriting, cursive, typing, and comprehension. Give it a try!
Interested in notebooking? Check out my blog post about notebooking and score some free notebooking pages!
FLASHCARDS
I have recently discovered the power of using flashcards. How did I not realize this sooner? Because I generally ignored them and put more emphasis on my child finishing that workbook page, instead. Workbook pages are useful and can show tangible proof of progress. However, persistent jogging of the memory can having lasting results that manifests itself in many ways. As far as an immediate benefit, there is active engagement between parent and child. This is especially a useful tool for preschool and early elementary age children who may have not mastered reading and writing, yet.
Tip: Use these in your morning basket time!
Check out my guide for printing durable flashcards.
Looking for flashcards? Check out my resource page about Flashcards for various subjects.
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