Language arts is a huge chunk of your homeschool education, encompassing reading, literature, writing, vocabulary, spelling and even handwriting or typing. Avoid teaching these skills in isolation. Instead, use the natural approach to language arts by exploring these skills in context of great literature and meaningful writing assignments.
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QUOTABLES
DeeDee, about loving to read: "I didn't have librarians, teachers, or parents who were encouraging me and showing me that there was a world of books out there that were all these adventures that [I] could have been going on."
Ximena about raising kids who love great books: "Well now I have a reader snob because my son now is always like, 'But mom, that book was so poorly written.'"
DeeDee about teaching writing: "Give them the freedom to just write an okay paper, and then make it great in editing."
TIMESTAMPS
03:09 Common problems when homeschooling language arts:
Solutions for Language Arts
12:49 Work on fine motor skills by using Handwriting Without Tears, making lazy eights (on paper or in the air), and practicing cutting, tearing, tracing, and folding.
16:04 Emphasize phonics.
18:41 Do a lot of reading aloud. For solo reading, provide great books that are at or just under your child's reading level.
21:58 Write, write, write, write, write. Even if it's free writing or fun writing prompts, write daily.
24:08 Combine different aspects of language arts in assignments so skills are taught in context and not in isolation. For example, pull vocabulary from your readers or read-alouds versus random wordlists. Take writing topics from your history or science lessons.
For the natural approach to language arts, see BookShark Language Arts here. Combine it with BookShark Reading with History for a comprehensive (and pre-planned) approach.
SPECIAL SEGMENTS
01:00 Self-care Your Way
11:44 What We’re Reading
Thanks to show sponsor BookShark. Request a homeschool curriculum catalog or download samples at bookshark.com.
