November 2020 Newsletter
Dear Friends,
A new month always provides a fresh start. Although you might have settled into a routine by now, we all make adjustments as we go. If something worked in October, keep it up! If not, let it go, and try something new. Do you need to add some structure? Creativity? Seasonal fun? Some extra time for yourself? How about some self-directed projects for the kids? Variety in reading? Some movement? I'd like to encourage you to embrace the freedom you have in your homeschool. Unfortunately, there is a lot we can't do these days because of the pandemic. Homeschooling offers a variety of opportunities to seize.
As we enter this new month of gratitude, I'd like to share a few recent moments of joy.
During one of my webinars in October, a new homeschool mom expressed how good it has been to spend so much time with her kids. She has noticed beautiful new things about how her kids think, reason, and learn. My heart swelled! YES! That is what homeschooling is all about!
Another mom, on another webinar, told me about how she is keeping her Lego-loving son engaged by using cityscape sets as springboards into research, writing, and further learning. I love it!
Another mom sent me a PDF of the beautiful bird-themed unit she put together for her young kids:
books about birds (both fiction and non-fiction)
book reports
bird related vocabulary
writing about bird observations
bird reports (habitat, diet, life cycle, behavior, etc.)
art (coloring, drawing, and other projects)
nature observation / bird watching
science (parts of birds / types of feathers / types of beaks / food chain)
field trip to an aviary
and even a couple of bird-themed math worksheets!
I hope this inspires you. You can take any theme of interest and use it across the subject areas. Letting your kids choose the theme is a great way to keep them engaged!
I am scaling back on my offerings for November and December. You can still schedule any of my Outschool classes, including "All About Pennsylvania" and my various "Virtual World Tours," but I am taking a break from webinars for the rest of the year. If you missed my "How To Make an E-Portfolio" webinar, you may purchase access to the recording and shared files for 2 weeks. Also, if you know of families who may be new to homeschooling and would like to purchase my 15 page printable packet for new families, this is now available ($5.) The packet includes a series of Q&A about homeschooling in PA, a school-district checklist, links to helpful resources, samples of educational objectives, sample affidavit, medical requirements by grade, and attendance trackers.
As always, if you have questions as you go, please let me know. During this month of gratitude, I'd like to say THANK YOU! Thank you for keeping me in business, and thank you for your referrals! I am thankful for YOU and our partnership. It is a joy for me to be a small part of your success!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Linda Cerynik