Interesting Courses through SchoolhouseTeachers.com

Hey, I don't know if you have heard about SchoolhouseTeachers.com yet...but if you haven't, you are missing out on an excellent resource, SERIOUSLY. Imagine a place, where you can get over 300 courses, NO additional fees, all for about $10 a month....OR if you bit the bullet.. $90 a year. 

I don't know about you but I'd be thinking.. Pretty good deal.. what's the catch?

Get this.. NO CATCH. Well okay.. One catch. You have until January 15 to lock in that price.  Cool eh?  Do note that I use affiliate links in this post which help my family and don't hurt you one bit. :)

You can learn more here:

 So let me tell you more about this wonderful resource.

As you may or may not know, my son and I have a on again off again study of Canada going.  Each year we start in a different place, go like mad for a while and then things change or get forgotten or complaints about methodology start and we stop.   I want to STOP that cycle.

To the end this year I bought a comprehensive history of Canada.   It's a fairly boring text but comprehensive.  I thought I could EASILY supplement and I can!  WOOT WOOT!!!!

 To go along with this book I plan to use a variety of hands-on learning options and worksheets and discoveries that I have picked up around the web BUT I have found THREE (and there will more than likely be more).. areas in SchoolhouseTeachers.com that I will be able to use.

First off:
EveryDay Explorers: Canada.

 This course walks us through every province of Canada, listing some highlights, 20 days to explore each province, with loads of sights to see, history to learn and geography to explore.

Add to that:
EveryDay Easels.

A big part of my hope is, as we finish each province, to use an artist study to capture something about the province that we wish to remember.   There are 5 and 10 day lesson plans in this course and you can jump around as you see fit.

 Daily Discoveries was an exciting find.

 My son loves all things animals and exploratory so adding a learning component is just awesome.

Anyways, as I said earlier they are having a great promotion on right now.  You really need to check it out.  Over 300 courses for 50% off with no additional fees.  It's a rock solid investment.

 Don't delay!   This special ends on January 15th.

Language Arts: Our Style

Welcome to the Virtual Curriculum Fair 2017 week two.  This week we talk all about language arts, how one plays around with words.   Our host is the lovely Susan.  You can learn more about the VFCF2017 right here.

I have to admit, it took a while to figure out a system to study Language Arts in our home.
Knowing that my boy (like his mother) tells stories as easily as breathing I thought, why not use that.

So I grabbed this freebie book from the library discard pile and off we set.

First he needs to draw a picture of the story he wants to write.  He spent days at this, getting all the details right and NO, I'm not allowed to show you.  :)

 Then you develop your main character.  This was harder than the lad anticipated.  He thought he could just do yellow, pointed ears character.   Then I asked : so how tall is he?   Does he eat meat or vegetables?   What makes him laugh?   Does he ever cry?   Does he have friends or is he a loner?

Once he had the character nailed down a bit better he moved on to writing his story.  Bit by bit he adds to it.  And bit by bit he learns.  Every day a 1/2 hour of work is required.

Each time he gets a chapter done, we sit down and we edit it together.  We make the changes right in his story, discussing spelling errors, word usage, sentence structure and all that fun stuff.

And you know what?   He's learning.  It's not a battle.  It's a sitting down and talking and learning together.  Sometimes I'll read a sentence and not know what it wrong with it, so I'll ask other folks and they'll show me what's wrong and then the lad and I both learn something new.

It's good to do this.  :)

I have to admit, I getting curious about what treasure his character is going to discover...

Anyways, this book has a variety of stories one can write out, from adventures to mysteries.
Draw it out, write it out chapter by chapter and just work your way through it.   We'll be working our way through it for a good time to come yet.  :)

I admit that we are taking our time with it, and we did get side-tracked when I was ill so are rather behind, but a new week is dawning and a lad will learn and grow, and I'll be there with him.

This post is part of the Virtual Curriculum Fair.   I do hope that you'll join us in reading through what some of us have put together.   Here's the list of the gang.  :)

Please visit my fellow homeschool bloggers who are writing about Playing with Words this week:

All posts will be live by Monday, January 9th at noon EST.

Delight Directed High School English by Susan @ Homeschooling Hearts & Minds

Act Your Part Well- 2017 VCF by Lisa @ Golden Grasses

The Search For Language by Michele@Family, Faith and Fridays

Our Top Picks for Language Arts by Amanda H @ Hopkins Homeschool

Multiple Approaches to Language Arts in 2017 by Laura @ Day by Day in Our World

How We Cover the Language Arts in Our Homeschool by Joelle @ Homeschooling for His Glory

Use Your Words by Laura @ Four Little Penguins

The Art of Perfecting Macarons by Jennifer @ A Glimpse of Our Life

Loving Languages Every Day by Jen K @ A Peace of Mind

Speech Therapy & Elementary Latin by Yvie @ Gypsy Road

The Readin' and Writin' Part of Homeschool by Shecki @ Greatly Blessed

Children Who Love Books by Lizzy @ Peaches At Home

Customizing High School Language Credits by Christy @ Unexpected Homeschool

A Poetry Feast by Sarah @ Delivering Grace

Teaching Language Arts without Curriculum by Brittney @ Mom's Heart

I know your pain and it is worth it! by Kim @ Good Sweet Love

Language Arts: Our Style by Annette @ A Net in Time

Words! Words! Words! by Lisa M @McClanahan 7

10 Wonderful Word Games (+1) by Lori @ At Home: where life happens

What About Reading Comprehension? by Kristen @ Sunrise to Sunset

Teaching Grammar and Writing Through Discussion by Chelli @ The Planted Trees