The fact you’re here, reading this article tells me that you care about your child’s education. I know it can feel overwhelming for a parent considering homeschooling. There are so many things to consider, so many things to do, and what seems like so little time until school starts. So, where do you start?
Continue reading “Yes You Can Homeschool and This Can Help!”
Parents interested in homeschooling always ask me where they can get homeschool books, often assuming they are issued by the Department of Education. The good news is, we have endless homeschool curriculum choices in Nova Scotia.
Since the Department of Education does not specify what course of study we have to follow, homeschoolers can decide for ourselves. Under the Regulations of the Education Act, Section 39 (Home Education) refers to “a parent providing a home education” and states:
A registration form required by subsection (1) shall include,
(a) in the case of previous public school experience, the last grade level attained;
(b) in the case of previous home education experience, the program level of achievement and estimated equivalent public school grade level; and
(c) identification of the proposed home education program.
Therefore, homeschooling parents in the province of Nova Scotia are free to determine what our “education program” looks like, and are simply required to provide this information to the Department of Education.
Here are some of the more popular homeschooling approaches and a few of the many curriculum options …
Traditional or School-at-Home involves using a boxed curriculum and/or textbooks.
Curriculum examples: A Beka, Alpha Omega, Calvert
The Classical method involves using real/living books to teach the children to learn and think for themselves.
Curriculum examples: The Well-Trained Mind, Teaching the Trivium, Tapestry of Grace
The Charlotte Mason approach is similar to Classical, but with more of an emphasis on nature.
Curriculum examples: A Charlotte Mason Education, Ambleside Online
Unschooling involves child-led learning. The child decides what they want to learn about.
Curriculum example: Does not follow a curriculum, but reading Learning at Home by Marty Layne and the works of John Holt will give an idea what it’s about.
Montessori is a private school system, based on the works of Maria Montessori, with an emphasis on wooden tools and toys, and organization and order.
Curriculum examples: Lisa Nolan Montessori, Montessori Homeschool
Waldorf is also a private school system, based on the works of Rudolf Steiner, with an emphasis on arts and hand-crafts, music, natural materials, and nature.
Curriculum example: Oak Meadow
Many homeschoolers put together their own curriculum from a wide variety of curriculum choices, using a separate curriculum for each subject.
Curriculum examples: Teaching Textbooks (math), A Child’s Geography, Visual Latin
You can buy homeschool curriculum at any of the links above. There is also one homeschool curriculum store in Atlantic Canada where homeschool materials and curricula are available, Tree of Life, located in New Brunswick. A used homeschool curriculum store is also located in Berwick, Nova Scotia, Homegrown Homeschool Consignment. Many homeschoolers depend on their local library for wonderful books for their children, both fiction and non-fiction as well as online audio/video resources.
The Department of Education is currently revamping the correspondence courses and they are not available at this time. When they were offered, a full course load was not available, courses were expensive, tended to be full of the busywork typical of public school programs, and students received zero feedback from teachers during their courses. I have always recommended using a homeschool curriculum, designed for parents teacher their children one-on-one at home.
If you’re looking for more help getting started, click here for your FREE Getting Started Checklist!
If you’re already homeschooling in Nova Scotia, please help new homeschoolers by sharing what curriculum you use in the comments below!
Love, Luck &
Laughter,
Kimberly
Please note: This article was originally posted in April 2010 and has been revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness in April, 2022.
This article contains affiliate links. If you click through and buy, I make a few pennies to keep up Homeschooling in Nova Scotia. Thanks for your support!
The new year is a great time to add something new and fresh to spice up your homeschool! Educents can help make that possible with their end of year homeschool curriculum sale. Enjoy a little post-holiday shopping on your seat instead of your feet.
Out with the old, and in with the new! MY friends at Educents have come through with an end of the year blowout sale that’s too good to miss! These deals won’t be around after the first week of 2016, so act fast.
On top of the following already awesome deals, you can use the code SAVE15 for an extra 15% off sitewide (or FREESHIP for free U.S. Only shipping on orders over $49).
Life of Fred Elementary Math Series – The wildly popular Life of Fred books are a great way to get your child excited about math. Kids everywhere love the misadventures of math genius Fred. I keep meaning to pick some up for my literature loving daughter!
National Geographic Kids World Atlas | Space Encyclopedia – National Geographic is one of the most trusted names when it comes to education about our world. Through brilliant photography, the National Geographic World Atlas can help educate your entire family.
5 Kit Magic School Bus Variety Bundle – The Magic School Bus has spent decades educating children about all facets of science. Now, with this variety bundle, the lesson can continue in a fun and engaging way. Perfect for kids aged 5-10, this bundle will be more than enough for a whole school year of learning fun. My son especially loved The Magic School Bus when he was little and would have adored these kits.
Freestyle Building Kit – Children have loved building toys as long as simple wooden blocks have been around. The Freestyle Building Kit pushes creativity even further. The kit includes thousands of blocks in various, vibrant colours.
Spanish Course – Buy 1 Get 1 Free – Learning another language is one of the most valuable skills you can have, and countless studies have shown that the earlier you start, the easier it is to learn. This buy-one-get-one-free Spanish package is already a great deal, and now you can get it for even less.
Scholastic Beginning Reader Boxed Sets – When it comes to supplying books for young students, not many do it better than Scholastic. From LEGO to Star Wars and Clifford (three of OUR favourites), these books are a great way to get your littlest learners excited about reading.
Scholastic Young Reader Boxed Sets – And for slightly older readers, you can continue their education with classic books. With topics ranging from Harry Potter to Minecraft, any young reader is sure to find something they like.
Whether you are a parent hoping to turn playtime into learning time, a teacher stocking up supplies, or a homeschooler starting new lessons in January, there’s something for you at Educents!
What are you planning to spice up your homeschool with this month? Please let me know in th comments below!
Love, Luck &
Laughter,
Kimberly
This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and buy I may make a few pennies to keep up Homescooling in Nova Scotia. Thanks for your support!
I can’t believe it’s that time of the year again already! It seems just yesterday I was composing a post for the 2013 Curriculum Week and here it is, planning time once again. I’m still in full summer mode. Surprisingly, my children asked if we could start homeschool early this year! That’s never happened before, LOL. I’m not completely ready with everything we are going to use this year, so I will give you a rough sketch. In general, we are continuing on with our blend of following The Well-Trained Mind combined with Tapestry of Grace in our classical-eclectic way with a little bit of unschooling thrown in for good measure.
For both children:
Tapestry of Grace, Year 3 (covers History, Geography, Language Arts/Literature, Bible) combined with reading & curriculum suggestions from The Well-Trained Mind
The Periodic Table of Elements Coloring Book – we will be continuing to go over the table of elements together, one element at a time, as last year
Rosetta Stone French – we will be continuing on with it again this year – my youngest going at a slower pace than my eldest
For my 15 year old:
Teaching Textbooks: Geometry (need to pick this up when we can)
Henle Latin – possibly continuing with this, I need to have a discussion with my son on whether he is dropping this and just sticking with French this year
The Well-Educated Mind – we are using this as a supplement for our studies of Literature
A Rulebook for Arguments & Classic Rhetoric for the Modern Student (we didn’t find a used copy last year but are hoping to this year) – for our Rhetoric studies
Photography/filmmaking – my son started doing some promotional photography and videos over the summer and will continue to work on this over the year for credit
For my 10 year old:
Teaching Textbooks: Math 6 – we didn’t finish last year and are continuing
Prima Latina/Latina Christiana – my daughter wasn’t keen on studying Latin last year, so we are going to try again this year
And I will be keeping track of everything using The Ultimate Planning System and My Home School Grades!
What curriculum are you using this year? Are you excited about something new you found at a homeschool conference? Join in the 6th Annual “Not” Back-to-School Blog Hop and check out what curricula other families are using:
Love, Luck &
Laughter,
Kimberly
This post contains affiliate links, if you click through and buy I make a few pennies in order to keep up Homeschooling in Nova Scotia.
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Take a Sneek Peek at Our Bundles: |
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This bundle gives you a complete Christ-centered preschool program, including age-appropriate character-building tools, a stick-figure Bible study, a creation-based coloring book, a handwriting curriculum, an independent activity guide (for those times when you need a moment to focus), and much more! |
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Kindergarten – 3rd Grade BundleTeach your K-3 children basic skills and core truths through easily understandable lessons and hands-on activities. Our K-3 Bundle includes reading, math, science, handwriting, character training and Bible resources. Your children will experience life in 17th century America as they learn about the settlers and America’s 13 original colonies. You will have everything you need to savor these first days of discovery! |
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