While some of us still rely on CDs and printed books
to learn about topics of interest, others are more
up-to-date in our use of technology and delight in
downloading podcasts or MP3 files. If that's your style,
check out Sonlight's
podcasts
or
videos
to explore the wide range of available resources
concerning homeschooling. Topics include:
What is my state's home
school law?
If you are just getting started in your home schooling
adventure, it is important that you know the laws
pertaining to home schooling in your state. A good
source of information concerning laws in each state is
the
Home School Legal Defense
Association.
Reading Evaluation
Are you interested in having your child's reading
level evaluated? Sonlight offers the
Let's Go
Learn online reading assessment which provides
evaluation of your child's skill in six separate
categories:
- High-Frequency Words
- Word Recognition
- Phonics/Word Analysis
- Oral Vocabulary
- Spelling
- Reading Comprehension
The assessment will determine your child's grade
level in each category, identify strengths and
weaknesses, and suggest ways to work with the child
to overcome areas of weakness.
Unbelievably Understandable Math with a Fun Twist!
Apples teach fractions, cars serve as rulers, a bear hunter shares his snacks and your children just may get hooked on Math. Whatever Math program you are using, this supplemental DVD series can help turn basic understanding into
a natural ability to remember and use what they
learn. "Professor" Justin and his friends get into one
hilarious situation after another, unlocking concepts
and building skills with great creativity.
MathTacular could become your children's favorite
math supplement.
Spelling
This one aspect of
Language Arts can go very smoothly for some students and
be an incredibly bumpy ride for others. I believe
it's that learning styles issue again. There are a
variety of products available, but I will present 3
options:
-
Sequential Spelling
is a program that was developed by a man with
dyslexia who could not use traditional programs
successfully. Sonlight began carrying this
program after many of our customers told us what a
difference it made for their students. It
doesn't follow the traditional phonic approach to
spelling, but it works.
-
All About Spelling
is to spelling what Winston Grammar was to grammar
instruction for my boys - designed for the kinesthetic
learner. Young children who seem to be geared
for "moving and shaking" should find this works as
it is tuned in to their mode of operation. The
Basic Interactive Kit provides the essential tools,
and then each program level provides teacher manual
and student packet.
-
Spelling Power
is a complete and effective spelling program to take
students from early elementary school through
college in only 15 focused minutes per day.
This is what I used with my boys (because I didn't
know about the other two programs) and found it
worked well for the ones who needed further spelling
practice even into high school. You can work
from the Spelling Power manual, making your own
copies of the daily lesson sheets, or purchase
Student Record Books for daily work.
Inspiration Outlining Software
- Ideas to Outlines in Seconds
Do your junior/senior high students find outlining in
preparation for writing to be a challenge? Perhaps
they have difficulty transforming the spiderweb-style
brainstorming into an outline. Now there is help
available from Inspiration Software.
You start with a theme or idea in the center of a
blank screen and type in related ideas that will appear
in linked colored bubbles. You can change the
bubbles' colors, shapes, and patterns or choose from
over 1,300 available illustrations to highlight and
differentiate among ideas.
After you've created your "idea map" click on the
Outline tool, and Inspiration will instantly transform
your once-scattered thoughts into a traditional,
well-organized outline. What a tool for writers in
high school or college!