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What To Do Until the Books Arrive?

 

 

If you have just begun to home school this year, or are waiting for your books to arrive, following are some simple ideas you can use to brainstorm things to do until the books arrive. Textbooks ordered can take between two to six weeks to arrive from a publisher. If a particular book is back ordered, it could take up to three or four months to arrive. Listed below are some ideas you can pursue until then. The ideas need to be adjusted for a student's age, level of skill, and area of interest.

 

1.     Review last spring's work. Many times students benefit from reviewing the basics they were taught the previous year. It provides a stronger base for the things they will learn this year. Dig out work from last year and have your student review.

 

2.     Make use of alternative curricula. Library books, workbooks from your local bookstore, reference books, or other creative tools can be useful in teaching one-time, one-setting topics. (Ex. - National Geographic, article addressing a country, topic, or culture. Bible verse, composition on what is being stated.)

 

3.    Unit Study. Choose a topic to study, or have your student pick one from a list you have created. Have them read information relating to the topic, and either write or do a related project. Some suggestions for unit studies are: Bible story or character, Country, state, or city, some aspect of government, business, science, biology, etc. A helpful resource for ideas is the World Book Course of Study which lists a breakdown of what units can be studied per grade level. (Your student's level of skill may vary from the grade appropriate recommendations.)

 

4.    Service Projects.  Let your student become involved in a church or community need one day a week for several weeks. Teaching your children to volunteer their time for a valuable cause can be character building as well as academic. Character development is a vital part of home schooling.

 

5.    Family project.  Paint the den, replant the garden or yard, clean out the garage, or clean out their closet! Teaching your children that these things are important can help them in their adult years.

 

6.    Come up with your own ideas. Keep the children involved in things, which require reading, writing and arithmetic.

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