Khan Academy Math: Not Shaming + INCLUSION = PROMOTION?

If you are a homeschooling parent, chances are you are quite familiar with Khan Academy website. If you're not familiar with it, make sure you check it out; it is an invaluable resource!

Khan Academy is a website started in 2008 by Salman Khan, a former hedge fund analyst, who began tutoring his cousin online. After awhile, other of Khan's relative's children began using his tutoring videos with their own children. Before long, his videos took off! And I mean through the roof! Through a combination of relatable lectures and SmoothDraw, Khan brought clarity to complex math ideas.

Before long, maybe a year!, Salman Khan quit his full time job to focus on creating and building Khan Academy School, a website with thousands of videos of discrete concepts and ideas for teachers, classes, and students. All of his work is completely free to users of the website. 

We used Khan Academy during our homeschooling years for higher math concepts that I was completely unable to understand, much less convey with any clarity to the kids. My kids became self-learners, in part, because of Khan Academy. I send my sincerest and heart-felt appreciation to Salman Khan.

 

KHAN DO!

Anyway, the reason for bringing up The Khan Academy is this. My friend Janeen brought a Christian website to my attention, specifically an article criticizing Khan Academy for promoting the LGBT agenda. The purpose of the article was to discourage Christian parents from using the Khan Academy because of its Leftist agenda, based on those who fund KA. The so-called evidence of this claim is coming through in the material presented as exercise problems. Take this example given in the OP:

The lesson is on "Irregular Plural Nouns: from 'f' to 'ves.'" The unsuspecting student is told to "Choose the correct plural noun to use in this sentence":

'Brittany and Sofia went to lunch with their _____ every Saturday.'"

Khan Academy's "correct" answer reveals the gay agenda behind the English "problem":

The only choices are "wifes" or "wives."

GASP, the gay agenda (as Janeen texted to me)!
Because INCLUDING is PROMOTING.  😠

And my educated and intellectual opinion is this: 
Those bitching about this can fuck right off.

On the other hand, I strenuously endorse Khan Academy as a source of inclusive, well-executed personal learning opportunities that are absolutely FREE and much of the material is available on YouTube. Subject matter on KA ranges from beginner to extremely advanced math to science to computing to arts and humanities to history or econ to test taking to career exploration to support resources for parents and teachers.

Khan Academy is truly an AMAZING resource that, sometimes, I think we don't deserve!  LOL
Salman Khan, many thanks to your dedication to the spread of accessible resources for all! Khan has also given us some wonderful TEDtalks and other resources on YouTube, please check it out!

No, REALLY, What Do You Think?

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ABSOLUTELY FREE TEXTBOOKS!

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Maybe you are a great homeschooling parent, already familiar with and using OpenCourseWare, or maybe you are like me, unfamiliar. Let's look at these programs. OpenCourseWare (OCW) are lessons, lectures, textbooks, teaching materials, and more created by universities and published online in digital form for free access. Projects to provide free access to educational materials of this nature have been around since the 1990s. I don't know where I've been.

Tonight I ran across information about OpenStax, a global collection of educational materials completely coordinated by volunteers and maintained by generous donations by philanthropists like Bill and Melinda Gates, Andrew W. Mellon, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and others under the auspices of Rice University in Houston. The entire collection is available completely free of charge. It can be downloaded in various digital forms and can also be remixed and edited. WOW.

Make sure you check out OpenStax K-12 materials here. I haven't used it and I haven't vetted the site. So if you know anything, please comment below.

MIT also has Open CourseWare here. 
In my fantasy brain, I'm at MIT.

Has anyone tried Homeschoolsciencegeek?

I'm fricking' amazed that these humans and foundations have funded this program. YES, if my husband and I were zillionaires, we would TOTALLY do something like this.

Thanks to those who have made getting education materials into all hands a priority.

Free Online Literature Discussions

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Have you heard of Pinkmonkey?

The self-description of the website:

Pink Monkey is a "G" rated study resource for junior high, high school, college students, teachers and home schoolers. What does PinkMonkey offer you? The World's largest library of free online Literature Summaries, with over 460 Study Guides / Book Notes / Chapter Summaries online currently, and so much more. No more trips to the book store; no more fruitless searching for a booknote that no one ever has in stock!
You'll find it all here, online 24/7!

My sister, a high school literature teacher in a public school just turned me on to it and WOW was I pleasantly surprised. I'm already a big fan of lit summaries available at sparknotes.com, litcharts.com, schmoop.com, cliffnotes.com, softschools.com, bookrags.com, novelguide.com, thebestnotes.com, homework-online.com, etc., so it's no surprise that a new resource appeals to me.

Let me know if you check it out and find it useful.  :)

Homeschool Curriculum Confession

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You know those table conversations with other homeschooling parents where you sit with your heads together talking about curriculum options, problems, pros and cons, efficacy, and whatnot? You know those conversations, right? They can go on forever. OH, how I hate those conversations.

There are dozens of publishers out there marketing to the homeschool family and they all put out the new and improved stuff. Everyone has their own opinions about what is best and what is not working. Well, I can not participate in those...because I have no idea about homeschooling curriculum.

A decade ago, when we were still at the beginning of this homeschool journey I was far better able to participate in those discussions, but I seldom did. 

I have this friend, Laura, who could and did talk about curriculum and online programs ad infinitum back in the day. She knew every single new thing that came down the pike and she thought I did too. What did I think? Had I tried it? What was good about it or bad about it? What did I think of the price? Had I read the reviews? Did I want to try it with her?

I could not keep up and I didn't even try. I'm not sure how aware Laura was of the fact that I simply had no opinion on any of the new and improved materials back in the day because I had no knowledge of it.

My old standby answer:
TEXTBOOKS!

My complete disinterest in following every new thing being released was because I spent about two straight years in the beginning researching materials, everything I could find, just like every other new homeschooling parent. I maniacally researched until my eyes were red and tearing up. And I found most of it to be either weirdly Christian and mythology-based, way overpriced, or simply unimpressive. So ten years ago or so I completely stopped researching homeschool curriculum. 

I don't care what is new. 

I don't care what is hot.

I don't care how great it is.

I don't care what anyone else is doing.

I don't care who recommends it.

I don't care what anyone else thinks.

Don't ask me because I can't tell you a single thing about the various math curriculum (especially math) or science or writing curriculum; I can't say what is worth recommending to another parent; I can't say what you will or won't like about it. Your opinion on a material is valid and fine with me.

My only opinion is to use what you like and don't ask me about it because unless it is a textbook, I truly don't know.

There you go, my secret confession.
I'm Karen and I don't know about homeschool curriculum. 

Yay Me.

Homeschool History

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I've got a great recommendation for anyone who is an atheist or secular homeschooler: Joy Hakim.

Joy Hakim 

Joy Hakim is an American author/past school teacher who has written a ten-volume history of the United States, A History of US, and Freedom: A History of US (a trade book to accompany a 16-part PBS series), and Reading Science Stories, all published by Oxford University Press. Hakim is also the author of The Story of Science, three volumes co-published by Smithsonian Books and the National Science Teachers Association. (from Wikipedia)

Hakim's A History of US is a rare history book in that it does not take the usual tact of passing off history myth as history. As Amazon.com describes this 11-book series:

Whether it's standing on the podium in Seneca Falls with the Suffragettes or riding on the first subway car beneath New York City in 1907, the books in Joy Hakim's A History of US series weave together exciting stories that bring American history to life. Readers may want to start with War, Terrible War, the tragic and bloody account of the Civil War that has been hailed by critics as magnificent. Or All the People, brought fully up-to-date in this new edition with a thoughtful and engaging examination of our world after September 11th. No matter which book they read, young people will never think of American history as boring again. Joy Hakim's single, clear voice offers continuity and narrative drama as she shares with a young audience her love of and fascination with the people of the past. 

The newest edition of Hakim's celebrated series is now available in an 11-volume set containing revisions and updates to all 10 main volumes and the Sourcebook and Index.

I have loved history for most of my life but, even as a kid, I was aware of the slanted, mythologized, larger-than-life way that most textbooks and history texts portray American history and American historical figures. When I found these books a few years ago I read them myself and loved them!

My own kids, non-book-readers, still followed each book and enjoyed the anecdotal stories as well as the accessibility of history through Joy Hakim's writing.* Also available to homeschoolers and others at Amazon.com are workbooks for The History of Science books, assessment books for The History of US books, and other additional materials for those who might be interested.

Also, please check out this phenomenal accompanying website for Freedom: A History of US.

In 1995, Pulitzer-prize winning historian David McCullough went before the Senate Education Committee in support of a bill sponsored by Lamar Alexander and Ted Kennedy intended to improve the teaching and learning of history. McCullough gave a scathing attack on the state of textbooks, but cited Hakim's book as an exception: Joy Hakim's new...multi-volume History of the United States is superb. But others are dismal almost beyond describing.

I can also recommend the three-book The Story of Science series. Using the workbooks, my daughter devoured this series of books during her first year of homeschool high school. And I loved reading this series too.

Even better, I priced the eleven-book The History of US books, used, on Amazon.com for about $44 plus shipping.

*  In full disclosure, John has not read the entire series.

Homeschool: General Science

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This evening John and I were doing some work in his General Science book and it occurred to me that I haven't said much about his science work. You already know that we're big fans of textbooks and online resources in this house and this textbook is a great example of what we love about using textbooks.

We are using the Prentice-Hall text called Physical Science: Concepts in Action, purchased from Amazon.com used for less than $12, which included the price of shipping. Also available for this textbook on Amazon.com is a reading and study student workbook, CD-ROM with transparencies, lab workbook, additional reading booklet, additional reading and skills booklet, teacher's edition, and a variety of test and quiz booklets. The workbook is internet-linked...I love that about the Prentice-Hall/Pearson textbooks!

John wanted me to mention the book on my blog because, according to him, it's a comprehensive look at foundations of physical science that every student needs for higher levels of science study. 
Yep, he said that. We recommend it.

At this point in the text John is studying Chemistry and the classification of matter. He's enjoying the excellent examples given to clarify concepts, he told me so! Although we have covered a great deal of these science fundamentals in prior years, this textbook brings the content up to a more mature and engaging level. 

Aussie Eclipse

My husband and I are very involved with astronomy, geology, and other fields of science; this textbook has several sections specifically dealing with Earth Science and Astronomy, to my delight. John has been around all things astronomy for the entirety of his life and, somehow, perhaps by sheer will of ignoring, he reports that he has very little knowledge of astronomy but now he's interested in it.  LOL
KIDS! So he's looking forward to those chapters.

Next month John, JD, and I will be taking a field trip to the southwest where we will visit Meteor Crater, the Painted Desert, and the Grand Canyon! And so much more! We are looking forward to applying what we know to that visit...and to learning so much more! We're seriously excited about making this trip.

Anyway, just passing along another reliable resource for homeschoolers.

 GREETINGS to all readers in China

Homeschool Curriculum: High School

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I get alot of questions from friends and readers about what materials we use here at the house. Homeschooling parents tend to be amazing researchers and I'm sure that most of the questions come to me from parents who want the best for their kids. I'm happy to share the materials that we use with an important caveat.

I truly believe that every family homeschools differently and the materials that we have here at our home are our choices among the seeming infinite choices out there. Also, my homeschool philosophy might be a bit extreme for many homeschooling families. Although we have textbooks and lessons and assignments I lean to the unschooling side. That might seem contradictory, course books and instruction and unschooling, but I assure you that it is so.

John enjoys having structure to his lessons so I provide him with lesson plans, skill training, reading expectations, and other stuff. But what he actually accomplishes is almost never what I plan for him. The learning here is quite child/teen-led. 

But I'm happy with so many of the materials that we use here. The internet plays a tremendous role in our day. But here are the books and materials that answer the question:  What do YOU use?

• The Language of Literature, Grade 9, McDougal Littel
• Biology textbook and workbook, Grade 9, Prentiss-Hall
• Civics, Grade 9, Prentice-Hall
• Java: A Beginner's Guide, Herbert Schildt
• Physical Science: Concepts in Action, Prentice-Hall
• Missouri's Rules of the Road book
• The History of US, Joy Hakim
• Puzzle Baron's Logic Puzzles, Puzzle Baron
• Key to Algebra, Key Curriculum Press, Julie King
• Concise Guide to Writing, Axelrod and Cooper
• Introduction to the Short Story

High School

The high school years, the teen years, can be a wonderful time of growth and stretching and productivity. Don't fear it! Read the newspaper, science journals, watch the debates, follow the weather, take driver's ed classes, travel, attend lectures, visit every museum you can, read classic novels, watch stage plays, spend time on college campuses, dig into every single library available to you, create unique internships, expose your teen to unique people and ideas, research dissimilar values and ethics, watch foreign films and listen to unfamiliar music, lay hands on as many types of handiwork as possible. Use whatever resources you have available and create your own set of high school materials. 

You can do this!

Secular U.S. History

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Hey Secular and Atheist Homeschoolers!

Maybe you know about this already but someone just told me about a phenomenal website called US History that I'm exploring tonight and just had to come over here to spread it around. The website has links galore, access to free US History textbooks and other textbooks, a gift shop with cool stuff that nerds will love, interesting content on history issues, and so much more.

John and I are doing a year of Civics and US History during this election year. We have been very happy with the amazing resources online and we'll be adding this one. BTW, we also love the whitehouse.gov; check that one out too because it is almost the only resource you truly need. Not the only one you will want.  ;)

While we're at it

Do you have any good online resources

to pass along?

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Also, a quick reminder to pop over to secularhomeschool.com; check out the forums for Soup to Nuts and join in the conversations!

Thrifty Books for Homeschoolers

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Have you heard of a website called Thrift Books? This website has some very affordable books and they offer free shipping. I did a little bit of research on the website and I found one of our favorite science books, Prentiss-Hall Biology, for less than $15. The reading and study guides are also available for just pennies on the dollar!

Textbooks, Folks!

I also found tons of excellent literature books, poetry, history, economics, homeschool, even books for how to teach preschool. And I love it that Thrift Books has donated over a million books worldwide to promote literacy. 

Anyway, check it out for some good values.

Homeschool: SPLURGE!

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So many of the homeschoolers that I know are people who are counting pennies and living frugally. I also know people who are able to put out the jack for amazingly expensive trips and gadgets for their brood. I sit somewhere in the middle there.

Most families never really sit and talk brass tacks with their kids when it comes to money, but why not? Budgeting is a wonderful, ongoing homeschool lesson. How to spend the money we have, how to use the resources available to us. Here are some other idea that so many of us are working hard to balance and weigh how to spend finite cash. 

When homeschooling, families are sitting at the budgeting table, it can be difficult to figure out what needs to be in the cross hairs when cash is running low. This post is simply my thoughts on what is essential to this homeschooling family and what we found to be unnecessary splurge bait. I think it's totally possible, acceptable, and adequate to actually spend nothing on homeschooling. Somebody else might have a completely different list of splurge bait.


The public library is still a viable source of materials for a complete education. It is completely possible to educate yourself thoroughly through books from the library.

But if you do have some cash to spend, here is my list of essential purchases for a homeschool family:

• World Travel
• Horses
• A Fabulous Computer System
• A Smart Phone
• A 3D Printer
• Membership to all of the Best Clubs

OK, not really. My actual list for essential splurges for OUR family has been:

• Computer and printer
• We LOVED edhelper.com back in the day but I'm sure there are better membership websites for homeschoolers. I hope you will post your links below.
• Netflix! Though youtube.com is amazing and free.
• A car
• Co-op Fees, Camp Fees, Gymnastics Classes, Wall Climbing lessons, Korean Lessons, Community Theater fees, and the like.
• A Trampoline, a Decent Bicycle, Play and Exercise Equipment
• An Amazing Topographical Map that I bought from an auction held by a school district
• We have also splurged on several online courses from Coursera and The Great Courses
  

Of course I have spent cash money on books; I've spent many, many, many dollars on books. Most of it unwisely and unnecessarily. Probably most of us do this. Almost every homeschooling family I have ever known has a fabulous, fabulous library. Many of us have shelves and shelves of books that are amazing to have, but not particularly essential.

If I had it to do all over again, honestly, I'd skip the amazing personal library. So many dollars spent on books that were never used by the kids, however awesome I thought they were.

I'd love to talk about curriculum because I know that this is important to so many readers. But I've never felt it essential to own this type of material. I've seen many books and book sets from many publishers but I simply can't speak knowledgeably about them, sorry. In fact, stopped keeping up with every new set of materials coming out.

My own decision was to spend dollars on math and science books as well as on grammar and writing textbooks. We've used the library for literature, science, history, current events, music and art, and almost every single other thing. Seldom do I purchase workbooks, but I have bought science lab workbooks from time to time. 

Why Frugal is Possible

The internet is such a treasure trove of materials, I don't even know where to begin there. More and more websites are available for homeschoolers, students, and teachers; over the years I have become overwhelmed with the numerous free and low cost sites. Also I have made about a thousand worksheets and other materials on my own by using our decent printer and a word processing program. And homeschoolers are well-known for sharing resource materials, supplies, repurposing resources, and passing along used books. And don't forget the yard sales!

 

Our homeschooling ended several years ago, 

so your frugal/free ideas would be appreciated! 

Please share them in the comments.

Bottom line: homeschooling frugally is very possible. Figure out your own essentials based on your own family and ability. I'm a huge believer in passing along my books and extra materials to homeschoolers coming up behind me. Share the love.

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Stressing Over Homeschool Materials...NOT!
Homeschooling on a Single Income
You Must be so Patient

Doing the Civics 1: Homeschooling Freshman High School

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John and I have been working on what we generally think of as high school Freshman course work. English and Writing, Biology, JAVA, Algebra, Literature, and Civics. He has several other projects that he is working on on his own also: a writing project, some game development, and some online video blogging. I've got Civics on My Own Mind this evening.

I've already talked about how our trip last year to Philadelphia fueled his interest in American History (We'd love to get to Boston, DC, and the beautiful state of Virginia soon) and that interest of his has made it so easy to "teach" American history to him because he cares! Because he can relate to the place and the time now. John has figured out that the events of the past really do matter in today's world. What a lucky kid John is. Imagine if, when you were learning Civics, you got to visit the actual location of the events that you were learning about!

I feel like the coolest mother with the coolest partner in the world...because we get to give these experiences to our child. And this kid appreciates them! I am fully aware that my privilege is showing when I say this because I come from a place of want. I'm overwhelmed with gratitude for my husband's brain and excellent business acumen that allows us to have these extra special opportunities.

Anyway, we are using a Civics textbook that I bought on Amazon.com. The textbook is Civics: Government & Economics in Action by Prentice Hall Publishers, Third Edition, 2007. I got it used from Amazon for less than $15.00. We also use the many online resources at our disposal from whitehouse.gov to the many, many excellent videos on youtube. Today we watched videos about Shay's Rebellion and the 1787 Constitutional Convention.

Why am I mentioning this?
Because John is not the only teen living in this house. My daughter is also here and we also have a teen friend living with us.
Today during our lessons today John and I were watching a video on youtube by a teacher named Keith Hughes. Mr. Hughes has been teaching for over fifteen years and he is engaging as heck! I know because the other teens in this house were so entertained by him that we all watched several of his videos in a row...voluntarily!  LOL

While we also LOVE John Green's Crash Courses, I personally find that they move super fast; they are entertaining, but DENSE. We do watch the Crash Courses on occasion because John Green is amazing.

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Homeschool Lesson Today: The Third Presidential Debate

Timed Tests and Homeschooling

YOU are your Best Gizmo

Stressing Over Homeschool Curriculum....NOT!

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Have you ever heard the old joke about how, if you go to a fight a hockey game will erupt? Go to any homeschool event and sit with one or more homeschooling parents and a conversation about curriculum will erupt. The tiresome, never ending, fretting conversation about curriculum. Have those parents be secular and the conversation is almost always about secular science curriculum. Even harder: atheist homeschool science.

I have stayed out of those conversations for almost a decade now.

I don't want to know what you are using and I don't want to explain why I am using what I am using as compared to what I have not selected to use. I don't want to know about the newest, shiny gimmick. I don't want to hear about the most recent apps.

My conversations about what materials we use happen with my son only; absolutely no one else gets input. When determining materials John and I consider four things: John's learning styles, my teaching style, our ability to afford the materials, and what we want to cover.

I have absolutely no need to look at every new gimmick that comes out onto the market. With the number of homeschooling families growing so quickly the amount of available materials has also grown at a phenomenal rate over the years we have homeschooled in this family. So many of my beloved friends who homeschool have kept up with so many of the newest materials being revealed each year. I have watched families change curriculum choices again and again and again.

I know! I get it! You want to do your absolute best.

If I may be so bold, my best advice to you when you hear the ravings about the wondrous results a family is getting from their curriculum:  IGNORE THEM. Be happy for them, congratulate them, and move along. There is absolutely no need for competition, nothing works for everyone, and just relax. Once you have selected your homeschool materials, close that door, put your head down, and get to it. 

Nothing brings more stress to homeschooling moms and dads than those fears that they are missing something magical, special, 

new and improved, or perfect. But you are missing nothing. Every single homeschooling family is unique and all of those choices are unique as well. 

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Other posts you might enjoy:

Thinking About Homeschooling? Here is the Info You are Looking For

Secular Homeschooling Materials

Do You Need a Homeschool Strategy?

How do you Know What to Teach?

Curriculum for our Atheist Homeschool
Parents Need to Deschool Too: Part One

Thinking About Homeschooling? Here's the Info You're Looking For

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This blog post is for parents who are considering whether or not to homeschool their kids. I created this series of posts just for you.

Prospective Homeschool Parents: Part 1 of 5

Prospective Homeschool Parents: Part 2 of 5: Your Homeschool Fears
Prospective Homeschool Parents: Part 3 of 5: Benefits of Homeschooling

Prospective Homeschool Parents: Part 4 of 5: Negatives of Homeschooling

Prospective Homeschool Parents: Part 5 of 5: SOCIALIZATION

The Case Against Homeschooling
A Case Against Homeschooling, Really
In Retrospect

How Do I Homeschool?

Reasons Why You Should Not Homeschool
Thirteen Things I Wish I Would have Known about Homeschool When I Got Started

Putting the Children First: Karen Loethen's Thoughts

If you take the time to read through a few of these posts I do hope you leave a comment or two to let me know if they have been helpful.  Thanks.

Curriculum for our Atheist Homeschool

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Back to serious lessons with John.
This boy is absolutely determined to feel productive and to use our time together wisely. Before I even got up today he read a chapter in his Civics book, wrote a piece about one of his interests for me to read, and completed a page in Key to Algebra 3. This human being does phenomenal things when he is given some leadership, direction, and thinking conversation. Coming home from Colorado was absolutely the correct thing to do for John.

(I have important and meaningful stories about my other kids, my husband, and some very important people in my life; it was correct to come home)

John and I have been working hard at determining what materials to use this year for his freshman year of homeschool. We are quite happy with what we have decided to use and with what we have acquired. The image at right is a small collection of books we are opening just today. But our lessons are not primarily about books, they are about a multi-media, multi-venue approach to learning about our freshman subjects and about the world around us.

This year is amazing for the year that my son begins to open his eyes and notice the world around him.  This year the news is absolutely full of important things to know, the debates and Donald Trump are entertaining and informing as HELL, the online news sources are remarkable ways of opening the eyes of my son and making him more aware, Americans are faced with understanding exactly why immigration happens and who these immigrants are and how that informs our country about immigration at our own borders, NPR is freaking spot on and worth listening to 24/7, and his Civics textbook is internet-connected.
(HUZZAH)

I have purchased several used textbooks off of Amazon.com this year for John's freshman year. The Civics textbook I bought is from the year 2007. It is not very current and does not have a single thing useful about today:  2015, and I think that today's political atmosphere is dynamic and vital.  HOWEVER, this textbook is internet-connected. Many units and lessons contain an internet site, page, or further information. I love it. Charts, graphs, internet sources, other ways to further explore subject matter. Yeah, that was a good ten bucks, well spent.

I have multiple textbooks on Algebra that I've purchased from Amazon.com. Looking at my bookshelf right here in this room I see FOUR Algebra textbooks, each one costing me no more than ten bucks. Each book also having teacher books available on Amazon.com if a parent would need or want one, usually as a much higher price.

Right now John is doing the Key to Algebra by Key Curriculum Press, authors are Julie King and Peter Rasmussen. I love the Key to... series books. If you have a young teen and want to intro them to algebra but you don't know how to do that, please check out this source for algebra. For less then eighty bucks, this entire ten-workbook series will explain in simple language with easy-to-follow examples. Word problems make sense and will help your child understand abstract concepts and equations. 

I know squat about algebra and my son is able to move forward confidently and successfully through these books. 

Caveat: John gets math.

But my daughter struggles with Algebra and she, too, felt successful with Key to Algebra as well as Key to Fractions, Key to Geometry, and Key to Decimals.

And just for a mention, The Story of US by Joy Hakim, in fact, anything by Joy Hakim, VERY worth a read for American History. This is an eleven-book series, totally secular, very inclusive, and honest about issues without being dogmatic or nationalistic. It's not a cheap series, even used, but it is absolutely the way you want to teach history. You will be come a lover of America again,not as a shallow flag-waving, blind patriotism kind of pride but the kind of pride that makes me want to continue defending the principles, values, and ideas on which that our country was founded.

As for SCIENCE:  TEXTBOOKS and other books. The library is truly full of science books. Free your mind from needing a textbook. There is nothing spoon-fed. But there is still plenty of materials out there. Please check out Joy Hakim's three book The Story of Science series.  Great reads!

Incidentally, to supplement the Civics books and websites, John and I have been watching the second Republican debate --we're both reeeeeeeally looking forward to hearing from the Democrats. 😉

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Other posts you might enjoy:

John Green's Crash Course!

Who is Who?
Secular Homeschooling Materials

John Green's Crash Course!

I am still Homeschool Atheist Momma!

Secular homeschool am I am atheist I don’t believe in God doubting god and religion Atheist parenting secular parenting freethinking parenting homeschool secular challenging children

I have decided that we are going to go easy on lessons for awhile. Since we are already going easy on lessons.  lol

We have been spending so much time reconnecting with people, following new life goals, and arranging our lives that sitting at the table and doing work is, like, last on our list.

Recently the kids turned me on to John Green's Youtube videos on American History. Since we are doing an American History unit, we have watched a good number of these videos and I can recommend them!

The series is called Crash Course!.
On Crash Course! former Mental Floss writers John and Hank Green have put together hundreds of excellent educational videos that your kid will LOVE. And so will you.

Besides being humorous and irreverent, the series is brilliantly done! But watch each video at least twice because he moves so quickly and tangentially that my fifty-year-old brain can't follow. But the kids love it and are learning so much!

Don't expect boring textbook lectures or mainstream mythology about history. John Green is going to tell it like it is. It's refreshing as heck.
Plus, the kids actually look forward to it and get enthusiastic about it.
SO...WIN.

We've been watching history videos but you can find videos on Literature, Chemistry, Biology, World History, Ecology, Current Events, and probably more.

 

SO check them out and let me know what you think!
Let me know what your kids think!

 

Did you pin this on Pinterest?  I did.

 

 

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