Back in the days when I was a homeschooling newbie, I spent a lot of time studying online reviews and scouring through stacks of new and used textbooks, all in search of the one great curriculum that would cover absolutely everything I deemed important for my children to learn.
Little did I know that such a curriculum does not exist. Oh, the time and trouble I could have saved myself!
There are just too many things…and people…and places…and events…that I don’t want to see left out of my children’s education. Some of them are very important. Some maybe not so much, but they are nonetheless things I want my children to know. And since I don’t have the money, (and certainly not the SPACE!) for umpteen different books that together cover all the things I hope to see them learn, then it’s up to me to find ways to insert these things into their studies.
The simplest way I’ve found to do that is by using something we call “Of the Week”, and it’s proving to be a great way to introduce things like vocabulary words, the 50 states and their capitals, and even artists and specific works of art.
It started last year, almost by accident. We were working our way through “The Wind in the Willows” in our daily read aloud and though my children’s comprehension was fine, (kids can grasp far more from context than we usually give them credit for,) I also knew we were encountering words they didn’t fully understand and certainly couldn’t use in conversation.
So I started jotting some of these words down as we came across them and then presenting a “Word of the Week” every Monday. I would show them a new vocabulary word, give its definition, and then ask each child to use the word in a sentence. Then we would do the same every day for the rest of the week. On the next Monday we would briefly review the words we had learned and then begin with a new one.
How awesome it was then when my 4-year old told someone he, “disdained school”. (Okay, so I wasn’t exactly thrilled with the way he chose to use the word, but at least he used it correctly!) And when my 6 year old would call his sister’s instructions “vague” and when I’d hear my 12-year old describe a small child as “precocious”, I figured “Word of the Week” was working!
So I’ve added to it this year. In addition to “Word of the Week”, we also do “U.S. State of the Week” where we find the state on a map and review the state capital and some interesting facts about the state. I just use these flashcards I picked up at Hobby Lobby for $2.99 and then throw in any other information I have on my own.
We also do a “Painting of the Week”, using these Picture Study Portfolios from Simply Charlotte Mason. We quickly review some basic information about the painting and the artist who painted it.
We’ve also started doing a “Hymn of the Week”, because I love hymns and so many of them have amazing stories behind them. Books like the devotional Amazing Grace, by Kenneth W. Osbeck, offer a lot of information about the writer and sometimes share some of the backstory as well. More details can be found online, of course, and we usually head to YouTube to find the song and then listen to it every day that week.
You can fit it into your day in whatever way works for you, but for us it has worked best to go through our “Of the Week” list before we start into any of our other studies. (With the exception of Bible, which we usually do over breakfast.) The entire list usually takes no more than 5-10 minutes, though it may take somewhat longer on Mondays when we do some review of past “Of the Weeks.”
It’s a quick and easy way to introduce so many interesting things and names and places. Here are a few examples, though there are so many more possibilities:
U. S. Presidents
Inventors
Composers
Artists.
Musicians
Writers
World Leaders
Nations of the World
World Cities
National Parks
Wonders of the World
Native or Exotic birds
Native or Exotic mammals
Native or Exotic trees or flowers
Parts of Speech
Vocabulary Words
The list could go on and on without end. For us, it’s been a simple way to add in some of the “bits and pieces” I consider important, but that aren’t always covered in a textbook. The study doesn’t have to be incredibly in-depth or the lessons long and arduous to drive the information home to my children. And briefly touching on these things now may help them in more comprehensive study later.
So start your “Of the Week” list today! And be sure to share any of your own ideas with me here!
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This is such a great idea!! Thanks for sharing it!! I especially love that you are using hymns as part of your 'of the week.' I shared a hymn yesterday. So many people just don't know hymns anymore. My kids used to walk through the woods when they were very little talking about the 'ecosystem' because their older brothers and sisters were leaning about it. It was so cute. That's what I always called the 'trickle down effect.'
I love your term there–"Trickle Down Effect!" I see that again and again with my youngest. Even when I don't think he's paying the slightest bit of attention he is absorbing so much that pops out later when I'm least expecting it!
And I agree about the hymns. So many old hymns are filled with such amazing poetry and often cram-packed with doctrine, too. It makes me sad to see them neglected.
Thank you so much for stopping by today, Judith!
Love this idea, Tanya! There's always the 3 R's — but little nuggets like this that may seem insignificant are the fun things to throw into a school day.
You're right! I have so much fun teaching them the small things!
I love that your little one 'disdains' school! LOL!
I laughed because at the time he was only four and wasn't even officially doing school with us! But he definitely learned how to use the word disdain!
Thank you for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things blog hop! ♥
You're always so kind to host! Thank you!
This is BRILLIANT! I have such a hard time with how to do the extras. Like music, art etc. This is a great way to pick some fun things and not spend 2 hours every day on it. Great idea! Thank you!!!!!!
It's worked great for us, Kersten. I hope it can help you, too!
fantastic idea! simple and no-nonsense schooling. I like that. love the testimonials of how your children absorbed the information – how precocious you 4 year old is!
Haha! Thank you, Linda!
I LOVE this Idea, Tanya! Like you mentioned, I'm at the stage of trying to learn so much about every possibility (my oldest is 3.5) and these are practices I could incorporate at this very young age even before "formal" schooling! Awesome 🙂
It's worked very well for us. I hope it does for you as well! It's definitely a low-stress, non-time-consuming way to insert some of those little things you want them to learn.
I love this idea! I am featuring you as one of my favorites from the Hearts for Home Blog Hop. Be sure to stop by and grab an "I've been featured" button.
Thank you so much, Lisa!
You have stimulated my creativity with this one! My brain is racing with ways to incorporate this idea on Monday! Thank you so much!
Tina
Well be sure to share some of your creative ideas with me here! Thanks for stopping by today, Tina!
I love the idea of the Word of the Week. My kiddo are constantly asking what new words mean they hear on a movie or in a book. We have our Letter of the Week for learning purposes, and then correlate that with a Sight Word List for the Week. Then for my animal lover ,we do an Animal of the Week. I must admit though, I need to put more effort in presenting the animals. My son usually knows more than I do about them. Lol. (He's autistic and obsessed with animals.) This is the first time I've visited your blog. Thank you so much for sharing at The Mommy Club. Feel free to check us out at http://everystarisdifferent.blogspot.com.
So glad you found me! And glad to know "Of the Week" works for you, too!
I'll be sure to visit your blog! Thanks for stopping by today!
I am really loving this! I needed an idea to introduce vocabulary word into our homeschool, and this is the best way i have found. Thank you!
You're welcome! I hope it works as well for you as it has worked for us!