Home School Heartbeat Radio Program

Would you like your children to enjoy learning? Today on Home School Heartbeat, Mike Smith and his guest talk about adding some excitement to your homeschool program.

Mike Smith:


This week, I'm talking with Pamela Hall, a homeschooling mom and member of the 2004 All-USA Teacher Team. Pamela, how can a homeschooling parent turn his or her child's interests into educational opportunities?


Pamela Hall:


Well, again, I ask the children what they would like to learn, and I write down their ideas. Then I tailor a thematic unit around their ideas, bringing in all the areas. I use the library and the Internet for free resources, lessons, project ideas. And then I also just tap into our local homeschool group to create culminating activities and trips, and that's fun because we can arrange free or reduced trips in a group. Recently, my children wanted to learn about the Revolutionary War, and that's not my first choice, because history's not my favorite. We made a list of what they already knew, so I didn't have to re-teach what they already knew. Then we made a list of what they wanted to know, and that was the springboard for our studies. We learned about the Revolutionary War by reading it, watching it, acting it out with Legos. We cooked colonial times; we did art projects. Then we visited Jamestown and Yorktown. After that, the boys wrote reports and illustrated. And all of this included math, history, geography, reading, and writing. And it was so much fun that they're telling all their friends about it.


Mike:


Thank you so much, Pamela. And until next time, I'm Mike Smith.