Forgetful Momma

Secular Homeschooling in Canada

Homeschool

Secular Language Arts Curriculum

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We are more relaxed in all our subjects, secular language arts curriculum included. We have used two different curricula throughout our homeschooling journey, but there are many more, and there are some great apps available to use as well.

Secular Language Arts Curriculum

Secular Language Arts Curriculum

I think before we confuse anyone we should get a few things straight, like what is secular curriculum, and what is language arts.

Secular curriculum only discusses religious beliefs from an anthropological perspective. It is not faith-neutral (this becomes important especially when discussing science and history curricula). It does not posit biblical/religious beliefs as historical fact.

Language arts curriculum is the study of grammar, composition, spelling, and (sometimes) public speaking, typically taught as a single subject.

What is Secular Language Arts Curriculum?

Secular language art curriculum is curriculum, textbooks, workbooks/sheets, and other materials that do not contain religious material.

Secular Language Arts Curriculum for You

We have used BookShark language arts levels, k, 2 and 2 advanced. The program we are using, and LOVING now is Grammar Galaxy. You have the opinion of printed books, or digital with Grammar Galaxy, and she is coming out with audiobooks for the lower levels which is great for giving your child more independence and yourself some more time.

All About Learning Press
Offers courses in reading and spelling for preschool through grade 7.

Blossom and Root
Currently K-3 with 4th grade coming in 2020. A secular, nature based program that includes language arts, nature study, and art.

Essentials in Writing
Writing, literature, and online classes for ages 6 through high school. Shopping for Canadian homeschoolers.

Grammar Galaxy
A workbook based program where students solve problems through space “missions.” Note: you will see a dedication to God in these books, but the rest of the material and educational content is secular. You can read a review of this curriculum here.

JacKris Publishing
Soaring with Spelling, Winning with Writing, Growing with Grammar, and Digging into Diagramming. Grammar, spelling, and writing curriculum for grades 1-8. For Canadian homeschoolers.

Logic of English
Offers reading, phonics, spelling, and handwriting instruction for ages 4-7 with a second package for struggling readers ages 8 and up.

WriteShop Primary and Junior
Kindergarten through 6th grade writing curriculum. *Note: Per the website “WriteShop Primary and WriteShop Junior are free of religious references. WriteShop I and II contain occasional religious references.”

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Best Phonics App for Early Literacy Skills

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Does your child just not want to read? That’s how Gauge, almost seven, was until just a few weeks ago. He was happy to be read to, happy to flip through books on his own. He had no interested in sounding out words. And not for lack of early literacy skills.

HOMER for Homeschool Early Literacy Skills

HOMER Reading for Homeschool Early Literacy Skills

I received digital access to this product as well as reimbursement for the time spent writing this review in exchange for my honest thoughts. This post contains affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.

Until he decided that he knew how to read at the library one day. Just like that. He picked up a level reading book, sat down next to me and shocked me when he read it.

Why was I not freaking out about my almost seven year old not reading yet? Because I knew he wasn’t ready and I was doing my job in giving him the tools to get ready. What tools was I giving him?

HOMER for Homeschool Early Literacy Skills

I gave him HOMER Reading. HOMER Reading is a learn to read, fun and interactive app to spark your child’s interest in reading. It helps your child build critical skills with a personalized learn-to-read plan! Start a FREE trial to help your child fall in love with learning.

We use the app, but the program is available on as desktop as well as Android and Apple devices. My kids all have their own tablets for learning, and this was the best way to give him a chance to use it, to explore the app, and, apparently learn to read. HOMER Reading is ad-free, safe, and easy to use.

You can feel good about letting your child use this app on their own. Check it out for yourself before you let your child explore.

Gauge was able to use HOMER Reading which is age appropriate and includes many different topics for learning to read on his own. Your child will be able to use this app independently, depending on their age of course. This can give you a few free minutes to work with your other children, or to drink your coffee.

Literacy Skills Progress Tracking

Are you wondering how you child is doing? I mean beside seeing what they are doing, but maybe you are wondering if the app is working for you. You can track your child’s progress.

HOMER for Homeschool Early Literacy Skills- track progress

It’s More than Just A Early Literacy App

HOMER Reading, in my opinion, makes a stand alone reading curriculum for early elementary student.

HOMER Reading is more than just an app. It is a great overall addition to your homeschool. Not everyone knows what books are great beginner reader books, I didn’t when I had my first child. But HOMER Reading gives you some really great reading suggestions.

And beyond the the fun interactive app and reading suggestions, they have the Write & Draw area of their site. You can find it on the Track Progress page. They have some fun activities, including one on Exploring Egypt that we will be using a little later in our lessons, they also have some fun printables for back to school.

Families can try HOMER Reading free for 30 days and receive our exclusive back-to-school offer of just $45 for the year (over 60% off).

The Best Phonics App for Early Literacy Skills

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Daily Assignment Pages for Google Classroom & Slides

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You have finished your lesson plans for the month, and know exactly what you are going to be covering in each subject, each week, each day. Whether you are a homeschooler and public school teacher these daily assignment pages are great for using to keep your kids on task. They can be used in a variety of ways including in Google Classroom.

google classroom assignment pages - Google Classroom for Homeschool

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What are assignment pages?

These are editable slides, used in Google Slides, a free platform for anyone to use, and children can access them on their own devices. You fill in the date, what you want to your child to do that day.

For Example:

  • under Agenda, math lesson, read from XYZ book
  • I add the posted notes are there for any notes you want to leave them

Be creative and use this tool to help your child with their independence. Austin is taking her first online course where she has a due date for assignments. A note for her might be “did you work on your creative writing assignment?”

Assignment Pages for Google Classroom For Homeschoolers too!

Homeschoolers! This is for you too! Life gets busy, and we aren’t all homeschoolers that are strictly homeschoolers, a lot of us have a lot going on and as our kids get older it is nice to give them a little bit of freedom so you can do other things through the day.

These assignment pages or slides can be uploaded to your Google Classroom. Your child will go to the class you have assigned to them, and see what you what them to do.

You can set these up to be used in individual classes so you child knows exactly what they are doing.

daily Assignment Slide + Google Classroom

The image above if just an example of one way we are using these daily assignment slides in our homeschool. I’m using them in Google Classroom, especially for my sixth grader. It gives her a sense of independence and is a way to help her learn how to manage her time and assignments.

I have created these to be flexible, use your own fonts them. Have fun keeping everyone, including yourself up to date with your homeschool plans. It on;y takes a few minutes to do included moving to Google Classroom.

With these you don’t have to worry about losing your planner when everything is already online.

Daily Assignment Pages for Google Classroom & Slides

If you like shopping on Teachers Pay Teachers you can find these Daily Assignment Slides – Google Slides – Google Classroom there.

I am going to be having more of these going up, I just am working on getting them in Google Slides and able to be editable for you, otherwise, they are just pretty pictures.

Daily Assignment Pages for Google Classroom & Slides google classroom for homeschooling assignments

Recommended Resources for these Assignment Slides

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How to Set up Google Classroom for Homeschool

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Google Classroom isn’t just for use with public school. Us homeschoolers can use it to for teaching our kids. It is really easy to use once you get the hang of it. I’m going to walk you through just how easy it is to set up.

How to Set up Google Classroom for Homeschool

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Setting Up Google Classroom for Homeschool

The very first thing you need to do is go to Google Classroom. Now you need to create you first class. All you need to fill out is the class name, the rest you can leave blank.

How to Set up Google Classroom

After you have completed your class information it is time to create you first classwork, and assignment. Click you class, then at the top, click on Classwork. Now you can create your first assignment, quiz, question, or material.

You can edit this later on.

How to Set up Google Classroom

Now you just have to add your child into your class. You can invite them by email, or you can have them join the class with the class code that appears in the classroom header.

How to Set up Google Classroom

Google Classroom for Homeschool Parents

I love this for my older two children, 9 years and 11 years old. They get up, do their morning routine and then who ever is finished that first, hops on the the computer for math, Teaching Textbooks. Classroom gives them a little freedom from sitting around and waiting for me, or a sibling to catch up.

Google Classroom allows me to plan ahead, and not have to tell them what to do next, and then what to do next. That independence is worth a lot.

Once you have Classroom set up it gives you, the homeschool parent, time to work with other children. It gives you time to get something done around the house.

If you work, from home or out of the home, Google Classroom, might be your saving grace. You can assign assignments, giving them due dates, and you can mark their assignments. You don’t need to be at home to do any of this, you can do it from the coffee shop, library, or from work – while on your break of course.

Can I Use Google Classroom for Homeschool

Can I Use Google Classroom for Homeschool

Yes, you can use Google Classroom for homeschool. It is a great way to create reusable lesson plan, as you can reuse the assignments, and classes later on for you other children. You can archive classes and un-archive them later on.

Ways to use it in your homeschool this year:

How to Set up Google Classroom

BONUS: You can take these plan on the go! If your child is away from home, whether at another parent’s house or at Gramma’s, you can still get their assignments to them.

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The Importance of a Goodnight’s Sleep for Moms

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Sleep is not just important for our kids but it is also super important for moms too. While our kids need it for growing, the importance of a goodnight’s sleep for moms is needed for all that mom does. Consider it self-care if you will, getting a good nights sleep.

The Importance of a Goodnight's Sleep for Moms

Getting a Goodnight’s Sleep

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This is not a sponsored post.

I need sleep. I do not function at all without sleep now. Must be because I have done my time with babies that don’t sleep and am making up for the lack of it for years.

Without sleep it is hard to parent. It is hard to homeschool. It is hard to keep up with my site and shop. Without sleep, everything is harder.

Buying A New Mattress

We recently replaced our old mattress, it was 10 years old and well past time for a new one. If you laid on one side of the bed you had to be careful not to roll right off. It was becoming impossible to get a goodnight’s sleep.

We have needed a new mattress for a long time, but mattresses can be expensive.

We a big Amazon shoppers, which is why I can recommend so many items from them here, because I use them, I love my Prime membership. Which is why we started looking on Amazon for a mattress in a box. Plus, it being delivered to us as we no longer have a truck is really handy.

The mattress we bought is medium firm, which is what my husband, Blake, wanted, me, I like a softer mattress. I ended up topping our mattress up with a 2 inch mattress topper though, and now I am sleeping amazing again. Like, before I had kids even. I am good at falling asleep, not so good at staying asleep, but now I am sleeping in till 7am! Which is huge for me.

Have you seen one of these mattresses delivered? I wish I had taken a picture, and then a video of it decompressing. It is amazing how small they can get. And how fast they open up.

The Importance of a Goodnight's Sleep for Moms

What Happens when Mom Gets a Goodnight Sleep

When mom gets a good nights sleep, there isn’t anything that she can do. Such as:

  • lesson plan
  • execute said lesson plans
  • meal plan like no ones business
  • keep the house
  • keep the tiny humans alive, rather important if you ask me
  • have the ability to enjoy life
  • work her job, side hustle, passion project, etc

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