Groans. That’s how grammar lessons taught in the traditional way are usually greeted. And we can’t blame our kids for dreading grammar. It can be dry and tedious.
Skipping it isn’t a good option, however. Grammar is important because it comprises a significant part of college entrance exams. It also determines how our kids will be viewed by peers and potential employers.
Fortunately, there’s another way. Grammar can be fun! When it is, it helps make grammar lessons stick. Here are six easy steps for engaging grammar teaching.
My favorite way is to search for grammar fails online. Of course, you’ll want to review your finds before sharing them with your kids.
Be on the lookout for other humorous grammar examples. I just read from an instruction manual that was obviously not written by a native English speaker. It read: “Dont’s use the power button.”
#2 Make it Relevant
A research study found that depressed patients, who normally didn’t find anything funny, enjoyed psychiatric humor. Our kids will not only laugh at jokes they can relate to, but will enjoy grammar lessons that are about them. Instead of working with textbook sentences, have your students make up their own. They’re likely to be funny and a lot more enjoyable to analyze or edit.
#3 Make it Active
Grammar lessons don’t have to be limited to pencil and paper. They can involve movement and should, especially if you’re teaching younger boys. Grammar can be more fun if kids can move around while giving their answers orally.
Give your students motions to use for punctuation, for example. Have them jump up and down when you read a sentence that should end in an exclamation point. Or send them on an adjective scavenger hunt.
#4 Make it Social
Grammar can be a lot more fun to learn with other students or family members. You can have your child play one of the many free grammar games I’ve listed with you or a sibling. Or you can let them entertain one other by making grammar humorous and relevant. My kids and their friends had fun with dry sentences by reading them with funny accents.
#5 Make it Short
Anything stops being fun when it goes on too long. Long lessons also make it less likely that your child will remember what’s being taught. Even though grammar is important, it isn’t as important as reading for pleasure.
#6 Make it Suspenseful
Even though I liked English when I was in school, I didn’t look forward to learning new concepts.
Suspense is what makes us eagerly await the next chapter of a book or the next episode of a favorite show. We can build the fun of anticipation into our grammar teaching by having students edit a continuing story line by line or by teaching grammar within the context of a continuing story.
Grammar Galaxy: The Easiest Way to Make Grammar Fun for Beginning Readers
Speaking of suspense, I’ve been working on a complete language arts curriculum for two years. I’ve been telling my readers and podcast listeners about it all this time and I can finally announce that the first two levels are done!
Grammar Galaxy teaches grammar in a humorous, relevant, active, social, short, and suspenseful way. It uses the same approach for teaching literature concepts, vocabulary, spelling, composition, and even public speaking to students who have just started to read. Grammar Galaxy is most appropriate for advanced first graders, second graders, and older beginning or reluctant readers through the sixth grade. It’s perfect for teaching siblings, as Gena Mayo of IChooseJoy.org shares in her thorough review.
When my friend, who has two dyslexic sons I have been teaching literature and writing to for years, saw the cover of Grammar Galaxy, she said,
“This just looks like fun!”
That was my goal. Teachers read a short, humorous story about the royal English family living in Grammar Galaxy to their students. The English family has an enemy called the Gremlin, who tries to destroy the English language. In one story, the Gremlin labels all the fiction books in the library system as nonfiction, bringing them to life. The king appoints his three children Guardians of Grammar Galaxy, but there is more work than they can do alone. They recruit other students in the galaxy to complete missions to make things right and let them know if they solved the crisis.
Students spend just 10-15 minutes three days a week completing fun, active missions in their Mission Manuals that require little handwriting. They spend the rest of their language arts time reading, being read to, or listening to audiobooks.
To learn more, click here or on the rocket below. See you in Grammar Galaxy!
One of my favorite things to do is talk curriculum with homeschooling friends. If you do too, I think you’ll love this list of top picks from other homeschoolers in the Educents community. You may discover a new resource or decide to give something you’d checked out before a second look.
If you’d like to learn more about the resource, just click the link! If you want to get more involved in the Educents community to learn more about homeschooling and the curriculum offered on Educents, join the Educents Facebook group!
“As a child, I always hated math, even though I was good at it because it was soon boring. When I heard about Fred, I knew he had to be a part of our homeschool. My kids absolutely LOVE when it’s math time, and they are learning a ton about how to apply math to every day practical situations.”
“The writing portion of this resource was the first time EVER that my oldest son ever willing wrote anything! He was excited to write instead of hating it.”
“I absolutely love Magic School bus and all it has to offer. Each month you get a different science kit to take a Magic School Bus adventure. If you search really hard, online you can even find curriculum to go with each science kit and the episode from the television series.”
“My favorite resource at Educents at the moment is Life of Fred. There are so many to choose from I picked the Elementary Series. My kids love these books; we have them up to high school now. My most recent order was Life of Fred Chemistry. My kids will do these without arguing and love Fred and Kingie!”
“I love Times Tales because it’s made this year’s math lessons so much easier! My kiddos quickly mastered their multiplication tables in one sitting with the movie. It’s been such a blessing–instead of drills everyday, we can take more time to learn the actual concepts behind the facts!”
“The Magic School Bus Science Club is something your child gets in the mail each month, for a year! It includes numerous experiments per month, along with most of the materials required. (except household items such as scissors and tape). It is an incredible hands-on learning experience that helps children love science and have fun! My sons who are 4 and 6 absolutely love it!”
“Life of Fred Early Readers series has been a game changer in our homeschool! Both my 6 & 4-year-old boys beg me to do their reading lessons now that we have added Life of Fred. I have noticed an increase in their fluency and comprehension.”
“All three of my girls, ages 8 down to 4 loved watching this DVD and learning the stories. In 1 hour, both of my older girls had memorized their upper times tables! And the real kicker is I was only trying to teach one!”
“Learn to Mod Minecraft is an amazing program that teaches my son, a Minecraft lover, important computer programming skills through a game he loves to play. The lessons are easy to use, fun and engaging. I love that he is a learning a skill that I am not able to teach him.”
“My son loves history (he gets it from me), and I love to throw in “extras” to feed the need for more than what our curriculum calls for. Mini-units are great for that, and this was one of our favorites because we both love Ancient Egypt!”
“The violin starter set includes everything a budding violinist needs to begin their studies. The instrument is well made and economical. The lessons that are included are a huge money saver!”
“We LOVE Magformers in our homeschool! They are a high-quality toy that provide hours of creative play. They are a great way to bring the fun back into your homeschool; your kids won’t even realize they are learning all about structures and geometric shapes and architecture (bonus!).”
“A great resource for young astronomers is the Spectacular Space Unit Study. From writing, reading, math, and crafts, this complete unit, with its simple terms, will spark the interest of even your preschoolers!”
“I love the way the math is naturally integrated into Fred’s life, showing the importance of it in day-to-day life. The chapters are laugh-out-loud funny, and I often get asked to read “just one more.” I’ve never been a huge fan of math workbooks and worksheets, so the combination of math and story is a major win in my books!”
“We have these cards laminated because we know they’ll be used for years to come. My son, who learns best through rhyme and tactile input, is learning to write digits using these easy-to-remember number formation poems! I have reduced the size of the cards, added a ring binder, and now have a portable number set. We also use the cards for matching games and learning about quantity. Such a great price for all of the value provided by this set.”
What homeschool resource did you use this year that you would recommend? Leave your recommendation in the comments!!
I received free access to a video streaming service and was compensated for my time. All opinions are my own.
Video has long gotten a bad rap. We’ve heard that watching TV in particular has a negative impact on achievement. But did you know that this negative association with video is for very young children or for entertainment viewing and NOT for educational viewing? Quality educational videos can help our kids learn. If you’ve used videos in your homeschool, you already know this to be true.
How Video Can Help You Go Deeper with Any Subject
While my kids and I prefer to learn from books, we all appreciate the addition of video. Here’s why:
Video can help students make emotional connections to dry material. Can I just be real and say that not everything we study is fascinating? But video is attention-grabbing. A child who is getting drowsy while you are reading is suddenly alert when you play a video. I’ve heard some parents say how sad this is. I think it’s wonderful! We have another option for capturing the imaginations of our kids. When my children seem bored, I love to show them something gross. Whether it’s an ugly animal, a surgery, or a description of medieval weapons, gross videos make facts memorable.
Video can explain challenging concepts, especially for visual learners. The creativity and special effects characteristic of today’s videos can simplify material your child is struggling with, whether it’s math, language arts, or a science experiment. The added bonus is that video can explain higher-level concepts to younger students. If older brother is watching a history video, chances are good that younger sister will want to watch too. If it’s appropriate, you can let her, knowing that she is learning.
Video is an amazing medium for review. My kids love to read for our history curriculum. But honestly, it’s a lot to remember! Video is an enjoyable way to review for the whole family. My husband is working when we are reading, but he loves to learn with us by watching videos on the same subject in the evening.
How to Find Video to Enhance Your Homeschool Curriculum
There are a number of places I have found videos that will help you enjoy the above benefits. I have used:
the library. This is more time-consuming, so not my favorite.
Subscription video service. Many of the educational videos I want are DVD only. Sometimes when they arrive, they are unplayable.
YouTube. I love the range of videos, but hate the commercials.
Because I was dissatisfied with at least one aspect of other places to find videos, I was eager to try CuriosityStream.
It’s the world’s first ad-free, on-demand streaming service for quality programs that educate, inspire and entertain. CuriosityStream delivers over 1,000 titles of high-quality documentaries and series created by the most accomplished producers from around the world, whenever and wherever you want to watch.
CuriosityStream is on-demand, so I don’t have to spend time driving to the library. There are no unplayable DVDs and no commercials! You can bookmark videos that will enhance what you’re studying. We’ve been studying Shakespeare for history, so I am looking forward to watching a documentary about him. The kids wanted to learn about T-Rex, so I indulged them.
I promised an honest review, so I have to say that I’m not that interested in T-Rex. In fact, I’d prefer to keep this service a secret from the kids so I can watch all the amazing documentaries I’m interested in!
As with any video service, you will have to screen the content for what is appropriate for your family.
How to Enjoy CuriosityStream Now
You can get a free 30-day trial at CuriosityStream by clicking the Start Your Free Month button. You can also get a 15% discount for two additional months (through 11-1-15) with the code homeschool.
Standard Definition (regularly $2.99) will be reduced to $2.50 each month for two months after the free trial month (total charge $5).
High Definition (regularly $5.99) will be reduced to $5.09 each month for two months after the free trial month (total charge $10.18).
CuriosityStream is a great option for families who don’t get educational programming through cable. Be sure to follow CuriosityStream for updates on:
I have always enjoyed singing and playing the piano and I wanted my children to learn music. But I wasn’t one of those homeschooling moms who aspired to have a family band. Nor was I a mom who insisted on years of lessons. All three of my older boys have decided to quit lessons at various times. But today I’m thrilled to say that all three are avid musicians who enjoy playing together for the fun of it.
My younger three children are continuing with Hoffman Academy’s free piano lessons, but they haven’t yet become enthralled with music the way their older siblings have. Even if my younger three decide they want to take a break from piano, I want to make sure learn to appreciate music. Here’s why.
What the Research Says About Why Teaching Music Matters
Memory skill development (a key skill for academic success)
Emotional development (including anxiety coping skills)
Self-confidence (this is really a benefit for kids who don’t excel in sports, for example)
Teaching Music Isn’t Just About Voice and Instrument Lessons
When my son went to his first drum lesson, he was asked about his favorite music. He shrugged. He didn’t HAVE a favorite type of music. Now he listens to music all the time. I hadn’t been doing a good job teaching my kids to appreciate music. To appreciate something, we have to teach them its history, expose them to its experts and fans, and allow them to practice or experience it for themselves.
While taking music lessons helps a child appreciate music, lessons are not a prerequisite. In fact, teaching music appreciation may motivate our kids to take lessons. The problem is that we may be just as ill-equipped to teach music appreciation as we are to teach lessons. Or as in my case, you may be equipped, but just don’t have the time.
That’s where a new music appreciation course from my friend, Gena Mayo, comes in. Gena taught music appreciation in co-op classes and created a curriculum for those students that she is now making available to our students.
I honestly wasn’t planning on teaching music appreciation to my kids this year, but when I saw 21 Lessons in 20th Century American Music Appreciation, I changed my mind! I am now going to do a lesson every week. I think my kids will LOVE it. I know I will! This K-12 curriculum briefly teaches the history of 20th Century American music and uses YouTube links so kids can experience the genres and musicians firsthand. I really believe that this curriculum will motivate my kids to either continue with piano lessons or find another musical instrument they’re interested in as two of my older boys did.
A Music Appreciation Course Deal
For a limited time, Gena is making this course available for a 50% discount. That’s a steal! I wanted to be an affiliate for this course, because I know homeschoolers will love it.
Just go to the IChooseJoyNow store and enter the discount code LABORDAY20. Hurry! This discount ends on September 7th. After that date, the course will sell for just $25.
Want a free lesson to check it out? You’ll be given that option at the store link above.
When I heard about free learning resources for the summer, I was interested. But when I learned that Discovery Education and myOn Literacy were some of the free programs available to us homeschoolers, I couldn’t contain my excitement.
I have used Discovery Education with my family and the incredible videos and teaching helps they include are absolutely perfect for low-key summer learning. My association with myOn is a little more interesting! I used to be a sales rep for this incredible program that is marketed to public schools. Whether you have a beginning, struggling, or avid reader, you will be amazed by the interactive books that are available with reading supports (audio and highlighted text and more). It is like having an entire library in your home.
But that’s not all that’s included as freebies for and if you’re smart, you’ve already started scrolling down to see what you get! I’m definitely claiming my freebies now. Have a great learning summer!
Preschool is probably the most fun age to teach. Have you seen the crazy fun ideas for teaching our youngest students on Pinterest? My post about creative ways to occupy preschoolers has been very popular, so I know you have!
The Problem with Preschool
With the collective ideas of homeschool moms and teachers online, creativity isn’t the problem when teaching preschool; organization is! Preschool teaching, activities, and crafts require time to organize. And most moms who have preschoolers just don’t have that time. We get so busy, we put preschool on the back burner. And that’s a shame for our little ones and for us.
There is an Answer
What if all the ideas were organized and the materials were prepared in a 26-week curriculum for your three or four-year-old so you were ready to teach whenever you could find the time? That’s what Encompass Preschool is.
Four days a week there are morning board activities–this is like a bulletin board you create to focus attention on what you’re learning. Everything you’ll want to add to your morning board is ready for you to print. Don’t have a bulletin board? A large piece of cardboard (like those at craft stores for science projects) would work beautifully.
Encompass also includes group activities for siblings or friends, making your preschooler feel like a big kid! My older kids always loved doing preschool games and crafts with their younger siblings.
Workbox activities are also included. Workboxes are like learning kits for little ones. Fortunately, you won’t have to come up with the ideas for these, because Kathy Gossen, the creator of the curriculum, has already done the work for you!
Encompass really does encompass so much. Kathy shares that after completing this curriculum, your preschooler will have developed fine and gross motor skills, music, art, math, Bible, recitation, literacy, and cooking skills. They’ll be ready for kindergarten learning because they will be able to recognize all basic upper and lower case letters, numbers 1-20, basic shapes, colors, time to the half-hour, U.S. coins, write his/her full name, and demonstrate basic reasoning skills. In addition, he/she will have the opportunity to memorize several well-known Bible verses, poems and nursery rhymes that will hopefully have a life-long impact on behavioral development.
I can tell you that my preschoolers didn’t accomplish all that, but I wish they had!
With “over 400 exclusive printables, 3 PowerPoint presentations, editable lesson plans, a detailed scope and sequence, and nearly 300 links to the best supplemental resources found across the web including more free printables, YouTube videos, music downloads, computer games, iPad games, and more,” you would expect to pay a LOT for the convenience and breadth of this preschool curriculum.
That’s why I’m shocked and delighted that it is JUST $10.
After reviewing the quality of these materials and appreciating the incredible value of them, I asked Kathy if I could be an affiliate for Encompass and share it with my readers. I’m so crazy about it, I wish I had a preschooler to use it with!
If you will be teaching a preschooler, don’t miss this opportunity to spend less time preparing for preschool and more time enjoying it. Give yourself and your child the gift of Encompass Preschool.
I’m a Christian psychologist turned homeschooling mother of six. My life can be a little crazy, so I look for sanity-saving ideas to use and share. I hope you’ll read my About page to learn more.
#1 Make it Humorous
