The Ultimate Book of Homeschooling Ideas: 500+ Fun and Creative Learning Activities for Kids Ages 3-12 (Prima Home Learning Library)
The Ultimate Book of Homeschooling Ideas: 500+ Fun and Creative Learning Activities for Kids Ages 3-12 (Prima Home Learning Library) book cover

The Ultimate Book of Homeschooling Ideas: 500+ Fun and Creative Learning Activities for Kids Ages 3-12 (Prima Home Learning Library)

Paperback – November 26, 2002

Price
$18.00
Format
Paperback
Pages
360
Publisher
Crown
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-0761563600
Dimensions
7.99 x 0.89 x 9 inches
Weight
1.55 pounds

Description

Praise for The Ultimate Book of Homeschooling Ideas: "This book is much more than a well-organized list of creative things to do on a rainy day! It's a complete resource—the kind of information you'd find in the best 'how-to' homeschool manual." — Jane Boswell, Home Educator's Family Times "This book is truly a mother lode of ideas for learning! Whether you're struggling with teaching a particular subject or just looking for something new and different to spice up your experience, you'll find enough family-tested ideas here to keep you busy for years." — Laura Derrick, president, National Home Education Network"Each idea reaffirms the joy of learning as a family and reinforces the fact that homeschooling parents are creative, confident, and competent educators for their children." — Tammy Rosenblatt, founder and director, The Family Resource Center From the Inside Flap d Effective Home Learning Activities for Every SubjectAs a homeschooling parent, you're always looking for new and creative ways to teach your child the basics. Look no longer! Inside this innovative helper, you'll find kid-tested and parent-approved techniques for learning math, science, writing, history, manners, and more that you can easily adapt to your family's homeschooling needs. And even if you don't homeschool, you'll find this book a great teaching tool outside the classroom. You'll discover fun and educational activities for kids ages 3 to 12, including how to:·Create maps based on favorite stories, such as Treasure Island or The Wizard of Oz ·Make letters out of French fries as an alphabet learning aid ·Explore architecture by building igloos, castles, and bridges with sugar cubes and icing ·Review spelling words by writing them on the sidewalk with chalk ·And many more!This comprehen Fun and Effective Home Learning Activities for Every SubjectAs a homeschooling parent, you're always looking for new and creative ways to teach your child the basics. Look no longer! Inside this innovative helper, you'll find kid-tested and parent-approved techniques for learning math, science, writing, history, manners, and more that you can easily adapt to your family's homeschooling needs. And even if you don't homeschool, you'll find this book a great teaching tool outside the classroom. You'll discover fun and educational activities for kids ages 3 to 12, including how to: -Create maps based on favorite stories, such as "Treasure Island or "The Wizard of Oz -Make letters out of French fries as an alphabet learning aid -Explore architecture by building igloos, castles, and bridges with sugar cubes and icing -Review spelling words by writing them on the sidewalk with chalk -And many more!This comprehensive collection of tried-and-true--and generally inexpensive--ideas provides the best-of-the-best homeschooling activities that can be done anywhere, anytime, and by anyone. Linda Dobson, author of Homeschooling: The Early Years, The Homeschooling Book of Answers, and The Art of Education, is the news editor and columnist for Home Education Magazine. She is also a member of the National Home Education Network. The mother of three homeschooled children, she lives in Saranac Lake, New York. Read more

Features & Highlights

  • Fun and Effective Home Learning Activities for Every Subject
  • As a homeschooling parent, you're always looking for new and creative ways to teach your child the basics. Look no longer! Inside this innovative helper, you'll find kid-tested and parent-approved techniques for learning math, science, writing, history, manners, and more that you can easily adapt to your family's homeschooling needs. And even if you don't homeschool, you'll find this book a great teaching tool outside the classroom. You'll discover fun and educational activities for kids ages 3 to 12, including how to:·Create maps based on favorite stories, such as
  • Treasure Island
  • or
  • The Wizard of Oz
  • ·Make letters out of French fries as an alphabet learning aid ·Explore architecture by building igloos, castles, and bridges with sugar cubes and icing ·Review spelling words by writing them on the sidewalk with chalk ·And many more!This comprehensive collection of tried-and-true—and generally inexpensive—ideas provides the best-of-the-best homeschooling activities that can be done anywhere, anytime, and by anyone.

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
30%
(169)
★★★★
25%
(141)
★★★
15%
(84)
★★
7%
(39)
23%
(129)

Most Helpful Reviews

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Good for homeschooling, and education in general

Linda Dobson is well known in homeschooling circles. She has written several books; she is invited to speak at homeschooling conferences; and she has been homeschooling her own children for years. Most of the books she has written are very targeted at the homeschooling market. The title of this book indicates the same trend, but the reality is this book is for any family who wants to help their children learn and understand more in their education.
Her first chapter does focus homeschooling, as she talks about some key factors between public schools and homeschooling. She calls these the "school mind" and the "education mind." The "school mind" is more concerned about preserving the public school system than in educating the students. The "education mind" is focused on trying to help children learn.
The rest of the book is a wonderful collection of ideas on how to help children learn, from reading, to math, to character building, to other facets of a children's education. This is a great resource for rainy days, for when a child is bored, or for when a student is struggling with a particular subject.
If you are looking for ways to educate your children, this is a good book to have.
89 people found this helpful
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500+ ideas, not all of which are both fun and creative

This is an interesting book in that it has collected a large number of activities you can do with your kids. But of the 100 that I've read so far, probably only 30% are BOTH fun AND creative, and only 60% (including those that are both) are either one. Some activities are not too creative- like, "go look at the stars and pick out constellations". I mean, that's great, but what homeschooling families do not already do that? Others do not seem that fun: flash cards? That being said, I guess if you are totally new to homeschooling and have never been able to come up with a single thing other than watching television, you might find this book worth it. I wish I'd saved my money and done the research on the Internet.
54 people found this helpful
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Spend 15 minutes on the internet, and you will ...

Spend 15 minutes on the internet, and you will find all of these ideas and more for free. I feel very foolish having paid for this book and hope to save others doing the same.
35 people found this helpful
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Purchase this book now!

It's not all that often I give reviews on Amazon but I just had to comment on this amazing book. A wonderful resource for the homeschool parent or anybody with an avid interest in their child's learning. Full of unique and doable games, activities, crafts to aid in teaching your child. I could not put this down. Even once I read it, I have gone back time and again to re-read it to make sure I'm not forgetting about the many amazing ideas. Linda, thank you for making this book. It has been such a blessing to me as a teacher to my varied in ages children. I just had to tell you!!!
27 people found this helpful
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Lots of Creative Ideas, Potentially Overwhelming

I enjoyed the fact that the author compiled ideas from hundreds of homeschooling families around the country. That gave a little glimpse into the lives of a diversity of homeschooling families.

My main problem with this book, like the other homeschooling compendiums, is that one can quickly get lost and overwhelmed (or is it just me?) I just kept reading thinking "Okay, I will have to decide what out learning styles are and choose ideas based on that." Once I read a book filled with hundreds of ideas like this one, I finish it not sure exactly where to begin.

Having said that, I still see that the book could be a very useful resource for homeschoolers looking for more fun activities to complement their curriculum.
27 people found this helpful
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It is an excellent book to learn HOMESCHOOLING IDEAS!

Here in Argentina it is not usual home schooling, therefore we have no literature about it. My daughter has recently moved to another state, I live in Buenos Aires, and she asked me to look for books dealing with this subject. I had not a better idea than contacting AMAZON! It was interesting for me too. I did not know anything about it. I am learning! I am 79 years old!.
24 people found this helpful
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A must own!

Dobson begins her easy-to-read book with chapters appropriately titled "Helping Your Child Love Learning" and "Creating Your Own Educational Reform". After reading just these two chapters I was already in love with the book.

The remaining chapters consist of reader contributed ideas, lessons and games. These parents know how to make education so fun the kids probably won't even know they are learning! The ideas are easy, fast, inexpensive, and usually involve minimal research.

What really makes this book stand far and above others is Table 2.2, found on pages 34-37. This helpful table lists many popular off-the-shelf curriculums that can be easily recreated at home with materials you already have, or can be found used - all for under $100!

This book is truly ingenious! It's about time someone organized the ideas of creative parents into one handy reference. I cannot think of a better person to present this material other a personal favorite, Linda Dobson.
21 people found this helpful
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Refreshing resource!

The Ultimate Book of Homeschooling Ideas is really refreshing - a book that I recommend frequently to new homeschoolers. It doesn't point you to a structured plan, or reviews of packaged curricula or textbooks, but instead shares fun and creative everyday ideas that have been contributed from families all over the country. It's hard to imagine any homeschool that wouldn't find valuable ideas here. Her other books also have a lot of great information from a wide variety of sources, but this one, especially, shows concrete examples of how easily learning can be woven into hands-on activities. Don't expect to find a complete curriculum lined out in this book - that's not the idea at all. This is a reference book with delightful things you can use to spice up and enhance learning of a variety of subjects. For those who have come to expect education to look a certain way - the way it looks in schools - it might take some thought to realize how much is being learned by some of the fun activities. However, these are the kinds of things good teachers love to incorporate into their schedules when they have time - and homeschoolers have the gift of time! :)
18 people found this helpful
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Great ideas for YOUNGER kids in the elementary grades

I can't say this is a bad book. GREAT ideas for smaller kids. Just not much I can use for my 7th grader that will interest her.
15 people found this helpful
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Too simplistic!!

I purchased this book because of the wide range of ages in our home.

For us, this book was too simplistic. Children today are much more intellectual than our generation. I'll have to pass this book onto someone else. Though I thank Ms. Dobson for her efforts.
13 people found this helpful