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    May 2013 Giveaway - Oak Meadow Curriculum and School 

    1. Categories:
    2. Monthly Giveaways
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    SecularHomeschool.com is excited to partner again with Oak Meadow Curriculum and School on another amazing giveaway!! Oak Meadow’s uniquely creative curriculum includes assignments that ask children to read, write, and think, and also to paint, draw, play music, write poetry, and build things, encouraging balanced and healthy development.


    Join thousands of families who have discovered the joy of learning at home with this well-rounded and academically complete PreK–12 resource designed for homeschooling families. And be sure to check out curriculum samples, which will allow you to determine the correct grade placement and to see if Oak Meadow is the right fit for your family.


    This month, we are partnering with Oak Meadow to give away one complete homeschool curriculum for your grade of choice (preK-8) from Oak Meadow's renowned, creative homeschool curriculum materials to a lucky member of ...
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    Lessons From Nature 

    Published on 05-07-2013 07:52 PM
    1. Categories:
    2. Homeschooling Styles,
    3. General Homeschooling,
    4. In Other Words,
    5. Parenting
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    Spending time in nature can lead to some of the most enjoyable and profound learning experiences. Nature-based learning touches on and connects every academic discipline imaginable while enlivening the senses and invigorating the body. It encourages curiosity and inquiry, exploration and experimentation, while the mind catalogs, analyzes, and compares. Homeschoolers are in a unique position to take full advantage of the learning opportunities that present themselves right outside the door. Families who discover Oak Meadow homeschooling curriculum are delighted to find curriculum materials that actively support and encourage a close connection with nature.

    Learning and the Natural World

    The lessons that nature has to teach us are never ending. Being immersed in the natural flow of plant and animal life cycles, weather patterns, seasons, and the intricate dance connecting everything helps us find our own balance in the flow of life.

    It’s not surprising that children who play outside are healthier mentally, emotionally, and physically. Human beings have spent nearly the entirety of our existence outside. Our connection to the natural world is so profound that when we are deprived of it, it’s no surprise that we don’t fare well. More and more adults are recognizing the importance of outdoor play for children, and the value of unstructured nature-based explorations. In addition to this shift to include nature-based activity or “green exercise,” teachers and parents, environmentalists, and policy-makers have begun to realize that outdoor play and nature-based learning leads children toward a sense of environmental stewardship. Simply put, connecting with nature means appreciating nature and wanting to take care of it.

    Getting children back to nature is easy, fun, and beneficial in every way. And it seems
    ...
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    Summertime, and the livin' is....BUSY! 

    by
    Topsy
    Published on 05-10-2013 09:52 PM
    1. Categories:
    2. General Homeschooling,
    3. In Other Words
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    I’ve never been able to do completely year-round schooling. I’ve had intentions - - even made a complete summer plan one year - - but I’ve never been able to fully commit. I’m just entirely too conditioned by my own experience of “summer break,” I guess. But of course that doesn’t mean that the kiddos weren’t constantly learning - - even on the absolute laziest sun-kissed August day.

    If you’ve been starting to wind down for school year 2012/2013 then you might be pondering what you are going to do with the upcoming break time. Or if you’re a year-rounder, maybe you are looking for some ideas to “revitalize” your routine. Let’s explore just some of the ways that you and your kids can keep boredom at bay and the learning recharged this summer!

    Go Green

    Nothing says summer like working in the dirt, so get those trowels dusted off and those gardening gloves shaken out. Try one of these fun and educational ideas to get the dirt (and your brains) flying:


    Sharpen Skills

    In between turns with the super-soaker, there’s something to be said for keeping those noggin-juices flowing. And there are so many simple and effective sources for filling in learning gaps or just keeping your students’ skills sharp, including:

    • With no contracts, and only a month-to-month subscription required, Time4Learning offers a perfect summer curriculum for homeschoolers
    • Vocabulary Spelling City has just created a new summer word study program
    ...
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    10,000 Members Strong....and growing!! 

    by
    Topsy
    Published on 04-23-2013 06:05 AM

    Four years ago, I was feeling lonely. Actually, "distraught" might be a better term for my situation. I had tried valiantly to find a local support group that would fit, but the few that were nearby were either extremely politically divisive or so flaky that you never knew if anyone would even show up for planned events. My online search wasn't much more fruitful. Most forums I frequented felt more like radical indoctrination camps than homeschool support groups, and I was so frustrated that the discussions of curriculum seemed centered around only a few main publishers.

    And thus, SecularHomeschool.com was born in April of 2009. It was definitely a gamble, especially since I had practically convinced myself that I might be the one lone person in the world not homeschooling for solely religious reasons. But, it was quite thrilling to watch how quickly the little site grew, and grew, and grew. Thanks to the constant sponsorship of Time4Learning, the help of two incredibly hard-working homeschooling moms who came on board as admins, and the wonderful community of respect, common sense, and tolerance that each and every one of you have created, SHS became the "little engine that could."

    And now, I'm here to announce that we've just bypassed the 10,000 member mark!!

    Thank you to Time4Learning, Time4Writing, Vocabulary Spelling City, and all of our other sponsors. Thank you to pandahoneybee and aandwsmom who keep things running so smoothly around here. And thank you to our members who have made this journey such a fulfilling one. I couldn't be prouder of this site and all the people it represents.

    Weekly Poll: Special! How long have you been a member of SHS? 10,000 members strong! 

    by
    Aandwsmom
    Published on 05-15-2013 10:46 PM
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    Guess what happened at Secular Homeschool this week? Can you guess? No?! Well, we reached 10,000 members!!!!
    AWESOME!!! TERRIFIC!!!! WONDERFUL!!!! FANTASTIC!!!
    So, this week's poll is pertaining to that!
    How long have you been a member of SHS?
    I have been a member since October 2010!
    I love SHS! I love the difference in my homeschool BECAUSE of SHS and all of you members!
    Your daily insight, answers, questions and just plain fun all over the forum have made it a joy to be a member and a moderator!!
    So, please tell us how long you have been a member!!!
    Thank you for being a valued member of Secular Homeschool from the bottom of our hearts!
    Click here to tell us
    ...
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