Getting Started: Tips for New Homeschoolers Making the decision to homeschool is often the most difficult part of the entire process. Once you’re in, you’ll want to set a firm foundation with these highly recommended books. It can be challenging to see beyond the traditional school model, but these books will help you cast a vision and give you the courage you need. If you are a beginner in the homeschooling journey, below are some quick but effective tips for new homeschoolers. Teaching from Rest Awaking Wonder For The Children’s Sake Homeschool Community New homeschool families often wonder who will make up their community. You might need to do some research, ask around, or maybe just go and hang out at a local educational attraction during school hours. Also, consider bringing grandparents into your support system. If they are unsure about their new role as a grandparent of homeschoolers, let them know about this blog post. Want more tips for new homeschoolers? Continue reading. Deschooling Deschooling, also called unschooling, is simply a process of untangling beliefs about education and decompressing from the pressure of traditional school. The best way to do that is through field trips, library visits, conversations, nature walks/study, reading aloud to your children, and doing school work while in your pajamas. New homeschooling families need time to evaluate their beliefs about education, discover how their children learn best, and even how their child’s day should look. Deschooling includes coming together and learning as a family, discovering your child’s interests, and embracing a new lifestyle. Take weeks or even months to move through this stage. Once you are ready to introduce the curriculum, Beautiful Feet Books has incredible resources that are perfect for that delicate stage of transitioning from a traditional school mindset to a homeschooling one. Ease Into Homeschooling Some families prefer to ease into homeschooling by using a traditional workbook approach. Master Books resources are ideal for new homeschool families who are feeling wobbly about completely abandoning the structure and set-up of traditional schools. The workbooks are straightforward, easy to use, and cover a variety of subjects and grade levels. Still Overwhelmed? Start with books and specifically reading aloud! Yes, even to your readers. This is actually one of our favorite tips for new homeschoolers. Reading aloud is a relationship builder. Check out our free read-aloud booklist and get started right away. We also have a free read-aloud planner. Need more convincing and help getting started with read-aloud? Grab any of these books and you’ll be well on your way. Give Your Child the World Honey for a Child’s Heart The Read-Aloud Family Jim Trelease’s Read-Aloud Handbook Need a one-on-one consultation? Contact the office and book a Curriculum Consultation with Hester. Phone: 604-505-2194 or Email
I’m a fan of a well-designed homeschool curriculum but I’ve pulled back a bit to allow more room for books. I was not a confident homeschooler in the early years and relied heavily on curriculum for the step-by-step guidance that I needed. These days, I enjoy planning themes for the month, finding relevant books, activities, and other resources, and then using our morning time to dive in. I’m amazed at the vast content that we’ve been able to cover over the years and I love watching my children take what they’ve learned from one little picture book into their day and weave it into their play and conversations. The last of my 7 learners is a bit of a reluctant learner but he never turns down a read-aloud or a hands-on activity to accompany the book…another benefit of using books. June is a great time of year to transition to using more books even if it’s just to keep summer learning going. Curriculum studies are often winding down at this time of year and June is full of educational themes and topics. We’ve pulled together a few book stacks to help you cover the following topics. June is National Indigenous History Month Indian Tribes of North America – Coloring Book Hiawatha Northwest Coast Indians – Coloring Book How Summer Came to Canada Island of the Blue Dolphins Canadian Fairy Tales The Indian School World Ocean Day is June 8th Island Boy My First Book About the Oceans A Morning to Polish and Keep What Lives in a Shell One Morning in Maine Follow the Water from Brook to Ocean Oceans Sea Animals – Sticker & Coloring Book Time of Wonder June 5th is National Health and Fitness Day Hear Your Heart My First Book About the Brain How Many Teeth Lungs My First Human Body Coloring Book June 21st is World Music Day Musical Instruments Great Composers Meet the Orchestra Spiritual Lives of the Great Composers Music Activity Book The Story of the Orchestra The Gift of Music A few other resources to mention… June 1st is World Milk Day and we carry a sweet little resource for you to read to your children…Milk From Cow to Carton. You don’t need to look much farther than your grocery store to add a fun activity to accompany this read-aloud; a menu filled with fun dairy foods! If you are looking for a more complete study on where our food comes from we carry a bunch of picture books that are a great place to start: How Do Apples Grow, From Seed to Plant, Honeymakers, The Vegetables We Eat. It’s the story behind The Swiss Family Robinson that makes this novel a good choice for Fathers Day. The author, Johann David Wyss (1743-1818) was a pastor in Switzerland. He created this story to entertain and instruct his boys after they developed an interest in the Robinson Crusoe story. This is a classic family read-aloud and will prime your children for hours of summer creative play. If you are looking to add some formal learning to this novel we also carry the Swiss Family Robinson Comprehension Guide. Also, don’t forget that this novel has been made into a movie. See our Movie Night Book Stack for a complete list of novels that have been made into movies. June marks the beginning of the summer season. The Reasons for the Seasons does a great job explaining why seasons change. Add these titles to round out your child’s understanding of the relationship between the seasons and solar system: The Moon Book, The Sky is Full of Stars, The Big Dipper, Along Came Galileo. Visit us again next month for a new list of books that you can add to your summer homeschool. by Adrianne Curwen Adrianne is a wife to a public-school educator/administrator and a homeschooling Mama to seven children, ranging in age from 7 to 23. She believes that we have a unique opportunity as homeschoolers to design individualized education that suits giftings, interests, and passions. She and her husband have used a blend of registered homeschooling, enrolment with independent DL schools, and participation in public trade school programs to design individualized programs for their children. She is passionate about using as many read-alouds, picture books, novels, and conversations to educate her children but also gets excited by the amazing homeschool-designed curriculum that’s out there. Adrianne is thrilled by her new role as Communication Specialist for Classical Education Books and is grateful to have an opportunity to learn something new. She is grateful, every day, for her saviour, Jesus Christ, and has no greater joy than when she sees her most important missions field walk with Him.
Asian immigration to Canada can be traced back to the mid-19th century when Chinese workers arrived on the west coast to work on the Canadian Pacific Railway. May is Asian Heritage Month in Canada and we’ve gathered a stack of books to help you and your family learn about the heritage of our Asian community. Use the links to find complete descriptions of each book. Anno’s China The Five Chinese Brothers Ruby’s Wish Water Buffalo Days Chu Ju’s House The Story About Ping Tikki Tikki Tembo The Tale of the Mandarin Ducks The Story of Little Babaji Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Inside Out and Back Again Rikki Tikki Tavi El Chino Ming Lo Moves the Mountain The Lotus Seed Something Beautiful for God Crow Boy Once A Mouse Grandfather’s Journey Taste of Asia by Adrianne Curwen Adrianne is a wife to a public-school educator/administrator and a homeschooling Mama to seven children, ranging in age from 7 to 23. She believes that we have a unique opportunity as homeschoolers to design individualized education that suits giftings, interests, and passions. She and her husband have used a blend of registered homeschooling, enrolment with independent DL schools, and participation in public trade school programs to design individualized programs for their children. She is passionate about using as many read-alouds, picture books, novels, and conversations to educate her children but also gets excited by the amazing homeschool-designed curriculum that’s out there. Adrianne is thrilled by her new role as Communication Specialist for Classical Education Books and is grateful to have an opportunity to learn something new. She is grateful, every day, for her saviour, Jesus Christ, and has no greater joy than when she sees her most important missions field walk with Him.
Easter Weekend – April 2nd-4th The Easter Egg A Tale for Easter The Garden, the Curtain, and the Cross The Garden, the Curtain, and the Cross – Coloring and Activity Book The Passion of the King of Glory National Wildlife Week – April 4th-10th Encyclopedia of Animals Kingfisher First Encyclopedia of Animals Call of the Wild and White Fang The Jungle Book Vimy Ridge Day – World War I – April 9th Airplanes of World War I – Coloring Book
Subjects that are seen as “extra-curricular” can be the first to slide when life gets busy and sadly, I am guilty of this. You don’t have to look very far to find research that will encourage you to make art a regular component of your homeschool life so I encourage you to think through how you will work it into your days. We have a selection of art curriculum that you can work through with your children but also consider taking the time to introduce your children to famous artists and their work. We have used several of these Katie books; they are a fun way to introduce your children to the art world. Add a package of watercolour pencils, paintbrushes, and a new watercolour art book and you have the ingredients for making beautiful homeschool memories. Katie and the Mona Lisa Katie and the British Artists Katie and the Waterlily Pond Katie’s Picture Show Katie and the Bathers Katie and the Starry Night by Adrianne Curwen Adrianne is a wife to a public-school educator/administrator and a homeschooling Mama to seven children, ranging in age from 7 to 23. She believes that we have a unique opportunity as homeschoolers to design individualized education that suits giftings, interests, and passions. She and her husband have used a blend of registered homeschooling, enrolment with independent DL schools, and participation in public trade school programs to design individualized programs for their children. She is passionate about using as many read-alouds, picture books, novels, and conversations to educate her children but also gets excited by the amazing homeschool-designed curriculum that’s out there. Adrianne is thrilled by her new role as Communication Specialist for Classical Education Books and is grateful to have an opportunity to learn something new. She is grateful, every day, for her saviour, Jesus Christ, and has no greater joy than when she sees her most important missions field walk with Him.
We have used several of these Bible Storybooks over the years and it would be a challenge to pick a favourite. It’s important that our children hear the bible read to them on a regular basis as hearing the words, wisdom, and instruction over the years builds a strong foundation. What at times seems to be information that is beyond young ones does build over time. A solid bible storybook is another tool we can use to build a solid foundation. They help young ones access wisdom and truth early in their lives and they give a high-altitude view of the bible, using stories as a way to communicate. As well, cycling through these stories year after year becomes the basis for more advanced learning, making these great resources for the grammar stage of learning. The Big Picture Story Bible The Jesus Storybook Bible The Story Bible A Child’s Garden of Bible Stories The Golden Children’s Bible The Child’s Story Bible The Children’s Illustrated Story Bible Story Bible for Older Children – Old Testament Story Bible for Older Children – New Testament Journey Through the Bible
It’s March and I live in British Columbia so when I look out my window it’s spring. I have a favorite season but overall, I simply get excited about the changes that all the seasons bring. A new season naturally brings changes to weather, wardrobe, and activities but I like to purposefully exhaust as many changes as possible right down to the resources we use for our homeschooling: pumpkin picture books in October and Christmas books in December. Now is the time to scour your shelves for all things spring and we’ve compiled a stack of resources that would make great additions to your springtime learning. Coloring Books Don’t let the fact that these are coloring books fool you, they are full of more than just coloring. Your children will learn a lot as they read through these pages and be inspired to learn more. They are a great starting point for some springtime learning. Forest Animals My First Book About Backyard Nature Backyard Nature Coloring Book Picture Books You might still need a blanket but these picture books about nature would make great read alouds as you sit outside enjoying the change of season. I have to be so purposeful to get outside in the winter months but that all changes once springtime rolls around. We eat outside, read outside, and work through our morning time routine outside. Wangari Maathai Stellaluna The Gift of the Tree The Rainforest Grew All Around We’re Sailing to Galapagos Have You Seen Birds? Wonders of Nature Novels and Nature Stories All of the reading here has a spring/nature theme. Use the links below to see a full description of each title. The Penderwicks in Spring Come To My Tomorrowland The Burgess Bird Book for Children Outdoor Secrets Jack’s Insects We hope you are excited about the appearance of spring, but we also know that the events of life can cause the darkness of winter to take root where it is not welcome. Know that the CEB team is here to help you navigate through your homeschooling journey no matter what season you wake up to today. by Adrianne Curwen Adrianne is a wife to a public-school educator/administrator and a homeschooling Mama to seven children, ranging in age from 7 to 23. She believes that we have a unique opportunity as homeschoolers to design individualized education that suits giftings, interests, and passions. She and her husband have used a blend of registered homeschooling, enrolment with independent DL schools, and participation in public trade school programs to design individualized programs for their children. She is passionate about using as many read-alouds, picture books, novels, and conversations to educate her children but also gets excited by the amazing homeschool-designed curriculum that’s out there. Adrianne is thrilled by her new role as Communication Specialist for Classical Education Books and is grateful to have an opportunity to learn something new. She is grateful, every day, for her saviour, Jesus Christ, and has no greater joy than when she sees her most important missions field walk with Him.
Gail Gibbons books are a favourite amongst homeschoolers and this trio is packed with information and great pictures. We’ll be adding to our Solar System unit this year with some colouring pages, notebooking pages, and of course constructing the solar system is a classic homeschool activity. We’ve used balloons, lego, or playdough over the years but I’m planning to try using painted rocks next. Also, there are some pretty cool apps that you can download onto your phone to make looking at the night sky pretty exciting. It all starts with reading aloud to your children; a foundation that can’t be understated and really can stand on its own. The Planets Stargazers The Moon Book by Adrianne Curwen Adrianne is a wife to a public-school educator/administrator and a homeschooling Mama to seven children, ranging in age from 7 to 23. She believes that we have a unique opportunity as homeschoolers to design individualized education that suits giftings, interests, and passions. She and her husband have used a blend of registered homeschooling, enrolment with independent DL schools, and participation in public trade school programs to design individualized programs for their children. She is passionate about using as many read-alouds, picture books, novels, and conversations to educate her children but also gets excited by the amazing homeschool-designed curriculum that’s out there. Adrianne is thrilled by her new role as Communication Specialist for Classical Education Books and is grateful to have an opportunity to learn something new. She is grateful, every day, for her saviour, Jesus Christ, and has no greater joy than when she sees her most important missions field walk with Him.
The Zeezok Music Appreciation program comes in many pieces and the program is so versatile. My favorite thing about this program are the books about the composers. These books, by Opal Wheeler, are living books at their best. Each story is captivating and some of them include short pieces of music that a young aspiring musician can try to play on a keyboard or piano. With details about their character and life, these are read-alouds that are the perfect addition to your morning basket. They are about a grade 3 reading level so they can also be used for independent reading. But you don’t need to just read the books and plink out the tunes on your own. You can also purchase a thumb drive that contains all the music referred to in each book. And if that wasn’t enough, you can purchase a Student Activity Book, a Coloring book, and another thumb drive with files to create a lapbook. The question is, how much is too much? Well, how much time do you want to spend studying music? I have been teaching through the Student Activity Book One. It contains about 4 lessons for each reader. The lessons repeat their content for each reader, so you know what to expect. Each set of lessons starts with comprehension questions, a lesson that points out good character traits shown by the composer, and some activities like mapping the composer’s travels, or recipes to make food from their time and culture. It spends time talking about music theory and music styles because there is a difference between classical and baroque music. It introduces the instruments of the orchestra as well as how different kinds of orchestras are arranged. The Student Activity book is quite an in-depth study of music, not just composers. It’s not exactly a living text, but it is hands-on, and it often refers to the files on the thumb drive for the Lapbook activities. There are two Activity books, Book 1 covers Bach, Beethoven, Haydn, Schubert, Mozart, Paganini, and Handel. You can purchase the complete study here. Book 2 covers Chopin, Schumann, Wagner, Foster, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, and MacDowell. Quick Facts: Living books about composers for any age. Add the music thumb drive to play the music referred to in the books. Make it a full-year study of composers, music styles, and orchestra by adding in the Student Activity and Lapbook. Book 1 is for Grades 2-4. Book 2 is for Grades 5-7. The Activity books are flexible in that you can choose to skip a certain aspect of study and not miss out on the rest of the course. (i.e. the character study is a bit long and boring and irrelevant). by Hester VanBraeden Hester is a second-generation home-educating parent who is keenly aware that her own education is not complete, and comfortable that it probably never will be. She has many years of experience with children, books, and curriculum. She loves to travel to worlds and times beyond the present with her children through many books. Hester and her husband have four children and live in the lower mainland of BC.
Many of these book covers take me back to my childhood. I always looked for Bill Peet books in my school library to sign out. Kermit the Hermit The Wump World Hubert’s Hair-Raising Adventure Farewell to Shady Glade Chester the Worldly Pig The Ant and the Elephant Buford the Little Bighorn The Gnats of Knotty Pine Cyrus the Unsinkable Sea Serpent Big Bad Bruce Smokey Huge Harold Jennifer and Josephine Cowardly Clyde How Droofus the Dragon Lost His Head Eli Ella Capyboppy The Spooky Tail of Prewitt Peacock The Caboose Who Got Loose The Whingdingdilly Go beyond reading these great picture books to your children and introduce them to the author. Bill Peet An Autobiography
Big Red Barn Gift this book alongside a farm animal colouring book and a fresh box of crayons. Or you could pick up a few animal figures to go with it. Snow A fresh stack of white paper, a new pair of scissors, and a copy of this book is all you need for a special gift for someone who would enjoy cutting out snowflakes. If you are really brave you could add glue and glitter. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? Purchase Playdough in an assortment of colours or supplies to make your own. A package of googly eyes, feathers, and pipe cleaners are just a few additions that will help create the animals in this book. The Gift of the Christmas Cookie Pick up ingredients and supplies to bake and then gift Christmas cookies to others. To make it extra special add a set of their very own measuring cups and spoons. Such a yummy way to introduce fractions. Harold and the Purple Crayon A purple craft box filled with purple art supplies would make such a cute gift. How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World A book like this would be nice to give alongside a new recipe binder. It’s so fun to collect your own tried and true recipes. Snowman-Cold=Puddle The picture book is just begging to be read alongside a science activity. Be creative, pick up a few supplies along with a copy of this book and you have the makings of a fun winter science activity. by Adrianne Curwen Adrianne is a wife to a public-school educator/administrator and a homeschooling Mama to seven children, ranging in age from 7 to 23. She believes that we have a unique opportunity as homeschoolers to design individualized education that suits giftings, interests, and passions. She and her husband have used a blend of registered homeschooling, enrolment with independent DL schools, and participation in public trade school programs to design individualized programs for their children. She is passionate about using as many read-alouds, picture books, novels, and conversations to educate her children but also gets excited by the amazing homeschool-designed curriculum that’s out there. Adrianne is thrilled by her new role as Communication Specialist for Classical Education Books and is grateful to have an opportunity to learn something new. She is grateful, every day, for her saviour, Jesus Christ, and has no greater joy than when she sees her most important missions field walk with Him.
The Mitten Katy and the Big Snow Snow Stopping By Snow on a Snowy Evening Snowflake Bentley Owl Moon Snow is Falling White Snow, Bright Snow Winter on the Farm Snowman-Cold=Puddle Brave Irene
Tom Sawyer Heidi Pride and Prejudice Black Beauty Animal Farm Where to Red Fern Grows Little Women Robinson Crusoe The Swiss Family Robinson Old Yeller Emma Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland Anne of Green Gables Watership Down Mr. Popper’s Penguins Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Charlotte’s Web The Secret Garden Mary Poppins 1984 There are many ways to enjoy time together as a family and bonding over books and movies is a simple way to connect. Start of course by reading the book and then plan a fun movie night! You can keep it simple and just add some popcorn or you can add some extra steps and make an event out of it: pre-made tickets, a ticket booth, concession stand, an usher, or maybe even go big with a projector to create a big-screen experience. Homeschooling families have a special relationship with books and they are certainly the focus in all of our families. Adding a movie night is fun and can even be used as a tool to encourage those reluctant readers. In our home, we’ve often said ‘no’ to movies unless the novel was read first. It’s been the nudge that some of our kiddos have needed. We all want our children to develop critical thinking skills and taking the time to read a book and then watch the movie is a great way to get those gears going. You don’t need to dampen the fun by pulling out worksheets; a simple conversation will do. Begin with open ended questions that encourage your child to compare and contrast the book and the movie. You’ll also be developing social skills in your children as you read and then watch; encouraging your children to consider the perspectives and creativity of others. Please keep in mind that this is not an endorsement of all of these movies. You’ll have to take the time to research and figure out what works for your family’s standard. Enjoy. by Adrianne Curwen Adrianne is a wife to a public-school educator/administrator and a homeschooling Mama to seven children, ranging in age from 7 to 23. She believes that we have a unique opportunity as homeschoolers to design individualized education that suits giftings, interests, and passions. She and her husband have used a blend of registered homeschooling, enrolment with independent DL schools, and participation in public trade school programs to design individualized programs for their children. She is passionate about using as many read-alouds, picture books, novels, and conversations to educate her children but also gets excited by the amazing homeschool-designed curriculum that’s out there. Adrianne is thrilled by her new role as Communication Specialist for Classical Education Books and is grateful to have an opportunity to learn something new. She is grateful, every day, for her saviour, Jesus Christ, and has no greater joy than when she sees her most important missions field walk with Him.
Rikki Tikki Tavi Velveteen Rabbit Frog & Toad Together Guess How Much I Love You Saint Valentine The Monkey & The Crocodile The Owl & The Pussycat
I really enjoy allowing the rhythm of the year to guide us through some of our learning. February has a lot packed into it and this Book Stack has great titles to help you move through the month and all the learning themes that go along with it. Started off February by reading Groundhog Day. It’s a cute picture book that takes you through the history of this fun tradition and teaches about groundhogs. We also carry a sweet story about a groundhog and his shadow called Gregory’s Shadow. Black History Month You can use any of these titles to help you learn about and commemorate Black History Month: Elijah Underground to Canada If You Travelled on the Underground Railroad Valentine’s Day Saint Valentine was a historical figure. Take the time to learn about him and the story behind this special day. We also carry a couple of fun Valentine’s books, Nate and the Mushy Valentine is a short easy to read chapter book and Cranberry Valentine, a picture book. Family Day It’s Family Day on February 12th in New Brunswick, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia. Little Fur Family We’re Going on a Bear Hunt Nova Scotia Heritage Day, Yukon Heritage Day, Islander Day B is for Bluenose, I is for Island, and T is for Territories are fun alphabet picture books. The pictures will take you on a mini-tour of each area and help you celebrate Nova Scotia Heritage Day, Yukon Heritage Day, and Islander Day (Oh, and don’t forget Anne of Green Gables and all the sequels). Chinese New Year February 12 is Chinese New Year. This is a great time to learn about China, the culture, traditions, and legends. Ping Anno’s China Ruby’s Wish Ming Lo Moves the Mountain Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Chu Ju’s House Happy Reading! by Adrianne Curwen Adrianne is a wife to a public-school educator/administrator and a homeschooling Mama to seven children, ranging in age from 7 to 23. She believes that we have a unique opportunity as homeschoolers to design individualized education that suits giftings, interests, and passions. She and her husband have used a blend of registered homeschooling, enrolment with independent DL schools, and participation in public trade school programs to design individualized programs for their children. She is passionate about using as many read-alouds, picture books, novels, and conversations to educate her children but also gets excited by the amazing homeschool-designed curriculum that’s out there. Adrianne is thrilled by her new role as Communication Specialist for Classical Education Books and is grateful to have an opportunity to learn something new. She is grateful, every day, for her saviour, Jesus Christ, and has no greater joy than when she sees her most important missions field walk with Him.
