A Different December

School schedules can be daunting and the busyness of December to-do's can be hectic. Put both together and you can easily find yourself and your children overwhelmed and burnt out during the month of December. This workshop will challenge you to set aside your normal school routine during the holiday season in order to make time for learning and fun that will also accomplish many of the December to-do's. And you won't miss a day of "school"!

Charlotte Mason Style Homeschooling

What do short lessons, living literature, nature study, handicrafts and artist study have in common? They're all bits and pieces of a wonderfully rich and full style of learning called Charlotte Mason homeschooling. During this workshop, be inspired as you learn about each aspect of CM style learning and how to effectively incorporate them into your homeschool.

Creative Homeschooling

Whether you're looking for one or two ideas to spice up the learning in your home, or hoping for an entire overhaul to hum-drum days, this workshop will suit your needs. Practical ideas are given for just about every subject and every age level. Fun centers, project-based learning, incentives, creative approaches to tough subjects and so much more - you will leave with a jump in your step and your children will thank you with joyful smiles during school time!

Creative Nature Study

There is no "right" way to incorporate nature study into your homeschool. This workshop will give you a wealth of practical suggestions for adding nature study in a way that suits your family's homeschool. Understand the importance of studying God's creation, feel confident (even if you're a novice), learn how to keep nature journals and learn what to do during nature study no matter where you live.

Homeschooling Gifted Kids

How is homeschooling a gifted child different than homeschooling other children? How do you meet the needs of your gifted child? How do you keep him challenged? What happens when he's smarter than you? How will you homeschool him and your other children at the same time? How do you keep him humble while encouraging his gifts? This workshop answers these questions and many more!

Homeschooling with Unit Studies

Unit studies offer a flexibility in homeschooling that can't be beat. Independence in learning, hands-on activities, literature-rich environments, and use with multiple ages are just some of the wonderful aspects of themed studies. Learn how to create your own unit studies and incorporate them effectively into your daily schedule during this very practical workshop.

Living Math

So many children (and parents) struggle with math during the school day. Whether you're hoping to learn how to ease the whining, add some new lessons to the regular textbook schedule or overhaul your math curriculum, this workshop will inspire you. Learn how to add "real" math lessons that make sense to your child. Questions will be answered very practically! What is living math? How will it help my child enjoy math again? How can I add it to my textbook curriculum without overwhelming my child? Why would I want to add living math to our schedule? What are some super ideas and resources for living math?

Project-Based Learning

Tests are good for students, I don't doubt that! But, what kind of "test" really helps a child show what they know? What kind of test helps a student think critically and creatively? What kind of test allows a student to use learning styles that meet their needs perfectly and require such skills as organization, presentation and research? Projects! Learn how to turn any teaching lesson, unit or test into a project that will help your children become immersed in their learning - and produce results that your child won't soon forget.

Raising Children Who Love the Lord

God has given us a huge responsibility as parents. He takes care of the details, but expects us to lead our children in a way that lights the path through our daily example, formal teaching and informal teaching. This workshop takes you step-by-step through Deuteronomy 6:1-9 providing practical suggestions for raising children to passionately love and follow our Lord.

Relaxed Homeschooling

You mean you don't use textbooks for every subject? You don't teach every subject every day?? Every single Friday is a fun schooling day??? Are you sure you're covering everything???? These questions and others are common when I explain our somewhat relaxed method of homeschooling. During this workshop, learn what a relaxed approach looks like and how it's perfectly acceptable for fulfilling state requirements and getting wonderful academic results.

Loving Living Math

Loving Living Math is a how-to book for parents wondering about living math. It not only explains the concept of living math, but offers tools to start implementing creative lessons today! Cindy has provided you with explanations, actual lessons and oodles of resources for the topics of logic, problem solving, using manipulatives, living math literature, games, math projects, writing, technology and more! She addresses the most frequent concerns about living math - What about the textbook? and What about fact drills? Those new to the idea of living math and veterans alike find this a very valuable resource.

Shining Dawn Books 2011

Homeschooling Gifted and Advanced Learners

The prospect of homeschooling gifted and advanced learners isn’t daunting anymore! Homeschooling Gifted and Advanced Learners gives parents all of the support and confidence they need to bring their children home to a school that meets every one of their academic, emotional, and social needs. The book clearly and concisely teaches parents how to homeschool their advanced learners, focusing on special considerations that often go along with gifted children such as providing challenging curriculum, offering outlets for artistic and creative talents, accelerating students into college courses early, and finding them true intellectual peers. Homeschooling Gifted and Advanced Learners covers everything from curriculum choices and learning styles, to integrating technology and online courses, to finding social support for both children and parents. From making the decision to homeschool to planning for the transition to college, the answers parents of gifted homeschooled students need to help their children succeed are in this book!

Prufrock Press 2011

Living Literature Grammar and Language Arts Lessons

Living Literature, Grammar, and Language Arts Packets is a series of 15 weekly language arts lessons centered around various twaddle-free fiction, non-fiction, and historical fiction picture books. Each week, the 3rd- to 4th-grade student is asked to read one of the books and complete a packet of language arts activities that relate to the book. The lessons are short and sweet, yet cover a vast array of language arts skills in the areas of: * Grammar * Reading comprehension * Critical thinking * Writing skills * Poetic devices * And more! Each week includes a spelling list and handwriting practice as well. All of the literature necessary to complete the packets is likely to be found at your local library.

Shining Dawn Books, LLC 2009

NaturExplorers Learning Units

with Melissa Leach

This series of nature study learning units meets the needs of homeschoolers from all learning styles. Each of the fifteen units written for 1st-8th graders offers hundreds of ideas for nature study, experiments, projects, writing prompts, research suggestions, literature go-alongs, poetry, artist study, composer study internet links and more. There are additional activity ideas for incorporating younger students, older students and even nature clubs or co-ops. Besides math and phonics, each topic can easily provide enough learning material for a complete unit study. Many people simply use the books for the wealth of nature study ideas and notebooking pages included. Current units available include *A Fungus Among Us *Animal Signs *Beautiful Birds *Butterflies Flutter By *Captivating Clouds *Constant Conifers *Delightful Deciduous Trees *Everchanging Erosion *Flying Creatures of the Night *Frogs and Toads *Fruits and Nuts *Hard as a Rock *Peaceful Ponds *Spectacular Spiders and *Wonderful Wildflowers.

Shining Dawn Books, LLC 2009