61 Ways to Teach It

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Finish Well Homeschool Podcast, Podcast #145, 61 Ways to Teach It!, with Meredith Curtis on the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network61 Ways to Teach It

In “61 Ways to Teach It,” Episode, #145, Meredith Curtis gives homeschooling parents 61 teaching methods that work! Get out of a teaching rut and try out some new methods. From tried-and-true to out-of-the box, these 61 ways to teach your children will bring life to your homeschool adventure. Try a new teaching method this week.

 

 

 


Autumn at Powerline Productions

 

Powerline Productions, Inc.

Bringing Homeschool Joy to Families Everywhere!


Show Notes

There is not just one way to teach a subject

There are so many out-the-box and tried-and-true ways to teach

Not Just One Way to Teach

Teaching Method Fit What You are Trying to Teach

Teaching Method Fit Child’s Learning Style

Teaching Method Fit Parent’s Learning Style

Combine Several Methods for Multi-Sensory Exposure

Ways To Teach

  1. Reading Aloud
  2. Living Books
  3. Literature
  4. Great Books & Historical Documents
  5. Historical Fiction
  6. Biographies
  7. Picture Books
  8. Textbooks
  9. Magazines
  10. Cookbooks
  11. Memorizing
  12. Workbooks
  13. Lectures
  14. Discussions
  15. Group Discussions
  16. Asking Questions
  17. Answering Questions
  18. Narration
  19. Taking Notes
  20. Outline
  21. Write a Letter or Email
  22. Write a Summary
  23. Writing Report
  24. Retelling Stories
  25. Telling Stories
  26. Writing Stories
  27. Reciting Poems
  28. Writing Poems
  29. Writing Paragraphs
  30. Writing Essays
  31. Essay into Blog Post
  32. Write Like a Reporter
  33. Research
  34. Research Project
  35. Audios
  36. Movies
  37. Documentaries
  38. Live Classes Online
  39. Classes on Dvd
  40. Educational Songs
  41. Visual Aids
  42. Role-Playing
  43. Create a Radio Show
  44. Make a Movie
  45. Interview
  46. Host a News Show
  47. Mapping
  48. Timelines
  49. Drawing
  50. Illustrating
  51. Cartooning
  52. Experimenting
  53. Nature Walks
  54. Collections
  55. Experiment
  56. Projects
  57. Read a Book Aloud
  58. Give a Speech
  59. Creating a Website
  60. Start a Blog
  61. Teach Younger Children

 

Don’t limit yourself anymore—step out of the same-old-same-old today!

 

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Resources

How-to-Homeschool Books if you want to learn more about homeschooling or plan to homeschool 😊

Joyful and Successful Homeschooling by Meredith Curtis Unlocking the Mystery of Homeschooling High School by Meredith Curtis and Laura Nolette Quick & EZ Unit Study Fun by Meredith Curtis Seven R's of Homeschooling by Meredith Curtis

The following books give detailed instructions so you can have your own History Parties.

Let's Have Our Own Archaeological Dig by Meredith Curtis Let's Have Our Own Luau by Meredith Curtis Let's Have Our Own Medieval Banquet by Meredith Curtis Let's Have Our Own Olympic Games

These are just a few of our many resources that work well for all ages together!

Newspaper Reporting by Meredith Curtis Travel God's World Geography by Meredith Curtis Travel God's World Cookbook by Meredith Curtis HIS Story of the 20th Century by Meredith Curtis

More Podcasts You Might Find Helpful

Finish Well Homeschool Podcast, Podcast #130, Home is the Best Place to Raise Leaders, with Meredith Curtis on the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network Finish Well Homeschool Podcast, Podcast #118, Add Humanities to Your Home School, with Meredith Curtis on the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network Finish Well Homeschool Podcast, Podcast #113, 7 Ways to Save Big on Homeschool Curriculum, with Meredith Curtis on the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network Finish Well Radio, Podcast #82, Homeschooling from Genesis, with Meredith Curtis and Steven Policastro, on the Ultimate Homeschool Radio Network


 

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Check out the trailer here!


7 Steps to Create High School Classes with Living Books

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Finish Well Radio Show, Podcast #107, 7 Steps to Create Your Own High School Classes with Living Books with Meredith Curtis on the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network

7 Steps to Create Your Own High School Classes with Living Books

In “7 Steps to Create Your Own High School Classes with Living Books” episode #107, Meredith Curtis shares how she created all of her children’s high school classes. She began the process by listing all the books she wanted her daughter to read. From there, she went on to think about life skills, academic skills, and virtues she longed to see in her son and daughters. Finally, she packaged everything in an easy way where teens could keep their own records.

 

 

 


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Being World Changers, Raising World Changers!

 

 

 

 

 


Show Notes

It was time for high school and up to that point we had enjoyed a lot of freedom and creativity in our home school. Living books were at the center of our curriculum. When we used textbooks, we read them aloud together.

Could we carry on to high school?

Yes!

Here’s what I did starting when my oldest daughter was in 7th grade. I thought ahead.

Step #1: Creating High School Classes Begins with Prayer

Surrender my children and their high school education to the Lord.

Ask for wisdom and His plan in course creation.

Step #2: Creating High School Classes Requires Book Lists

I made a list of all the books I wanted my teens to write in high school

Classic Literature: Tale of Two Cities, Count of Monte Cristo 

Great Works: Mere Christianity, Wealth of the Nations

Inspirational: God’s Smuggler, Christian’s Secret to a Happy Life

Step#3: Crossing the Finish Line Lists

I also took time to prayerfully consider what virtues, values, habits, academic skills, workforce skills, and spiritual disciplines I wanted to see in their lives

Virtues/Habits/Values: hard work, kindness, servant’s heart,

Academic Skills: essays, research, reading at college level, analysis, advanced mathematics,

Practical/Work/Community/Church Skills: leadership, interview, resume, work with a team

Spiritual Disciplines: Quiet Times, serving at church, evangelize, defend the faith

Relational Wisdom: Purpose dating or courtship, honoring parents, building wholesome friendships.

Step #4: Dividing up Books

I divided my books into different categories which became classes.

Wealth of the Nations, Larry Burkett’s economic books, and Communist Manifesto went into the economics class.

Pride and Prejudice, Tale of Two Cities, and The Mysterious Affair at Styles went into British Literature.

Bondage Breaker, Christian’s Secret to a Happy Life, and From Prison to Praise became part of a Christianity Basics course (God’s Girls 101: Grow in Christ and Real Men 101: Godly Manhood).

The Hidden Art of Homemaking became the foundation of my homemaking course.

Understanding the Times was the main book in our worldview class.

Soon all my books were divided up.

Step #5: Creating High School Classes Requires Creating Assignments

Next, I created assignments that were practical and cultivating academic and life skills.

  • Essays
  • Life Prep e.g. Apartment Project, Mother’s Helper, Change the Oil
  • Interviews to Articles
  • Book Club
  • Speeches

Step #6: Laying It Out for Quick Read & Check Off

Then I laid out the course for over a year and produced handy-dandy check-off sheets.

Step #7: EZ Folder Method

Overview of class, hours chart, and check-off /syllabus went into color-coded folders. Kids now could keep their own records for me. All work went into pockets.

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Examples: Classes I’ve Created

Create a High School Class like Economics, Finances, and Business by Meredith Curtis Create a High School Class like Who Dun It? Murder Mystery Literature and Writing High School Class by Meredith Curtis Create a High School Class like American Literature & Research by Meredith Curtis Create a High School Class like Old Testament Survey Class by Meredith Curtis
Communications 101:Essays and Speeches High School Class Worldview Understanding the Times by Meredith Curtis God's Girls 101: Grow in Christ Real Men 101: Godly Manhood
God's Girls 104: Motherhood by Meredith Curtis Real Men 102: Freedom, Courtship, Marriage, & Family God's Girls 105: Homemaking by Meredith Curtis Real Men 103: Leadership

More Podcasts about Classes

Finish Well Radio Show, Podcast #106, 7 Reasons I Teach Newspaper Reporting In Middle School with Meredith Curtis on the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network Finish Well Radio Show, Podcast #096, How I Teach English in High School with Meredith Curtis on the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network Finish Well Radio Show, Podcast #090, Book Clubs Instead of Book Reports, with Meredith Curtis on the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network Finish Well Radio Badge, Podcast #060, 7 Benefits of Reading Classics

7 Reasons I Teach Newspaper Reporting In Middle School

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Finish Well Radio Show, Podcast #106, 7 Reasons I Teach Newspaper Reporting In Middle School with Meredith Curtis on the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network

7 Reasons I Teach Newspaper Reporting In Middle School

In “7 Reasons I Teach Newspaper Reporting in Middle School,” episode #106, Meredith Curtis shares how she hones in our children’s writing before they start high school by teaching them to write like reporters. Not only do they learn to write clearly and concisely, they have fun putting together a newspaper and write with a purpose—for others to read their writing. Not only that, newspapers played a huge part in the history of the United States, so studying newspaper writing, though the newspaper industry is fading away, helps children understand our past with clarity by putting on their reporter and editor hats. Getting children ready for essays, research papers, and literary analysis doesn’t have to be boring. Writing like a reporter is super-fun and so is creating your own newspaper. Be inspired to enjoy middle school English while investing in your children’s long term growth as writers.

 


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Being World Changers, Raising World Changers!

 

 

 

 

 


Show Notes

Common questions: “How do you teach English in middle school?” and “How do you get kids ready for high school.

One thing I do in middle school is teach my children to think like reporters.

Some time in middle school we do a newspaper writing course.

We learn to write headlines, bylines, news stories, and put together a newspaper to share with others.

How a newspaper works with editor, reporters, columnists, and business side

History of newspapers

This is really fun to do with another family or two or in a co-op setting if you don’t have a big family.

Here are the Skills I Teach: 

Reporters

Asking questions

Find way around newspaper

Lead

Who, what, where, and when in the first sentence. Why and/or how in second.

What is really happening?

What is important and what isn’t?

Headlines & Bylines

Bylines: who wrote it and where

Headlines: brief, eye-catching, make reader want to know more

Font

Editing

Editing matters because people will be reading your work

Grammar & spelling in a practical way

Editor marks

Supplemental grammar/spelling

Creating a Newspaper

So much involved from writing to editing to business side

Everyone gets a job

Everyone writes an article

Mom is publisher and possibly editor-in-chief too

Making and selling ads

Teamwork

History

Brief look at history of newspapers

American history—federalist and anti-federalist papers

Different Slant and honest about compared to today

Yellow Journalism

Fun!

Joy of creating something other people enjoy!

Joy of working together on a big project

Joy of growing as a writer

Joy of people reading your writing—writing has a purpose

English Courses

If you would like to use my English courses in your own homeschool, they are all available for sale in print at Amazon and as E-books from PowerineProd.com, PayHip, and TeachersPayTeachers.

You can learn about individual English courses:

Whatever path you choose for English in your own high school home school, I hope it will include lots of classic literature and writing. I think back to the basics is best!

Resources

American Literature & Research Newspaper Reporting by Meredith Curtis Communications 101:Essays and Speeches High School Class Foundations of Western Literature by Meredith Curtis
British Literature & Writing High School Class Who Dun It? Murder Mystery Literature and Writing High School Class HIS Story of the 20th Century by Meredith Curtis HIS Story of the 20th Century: High School Workbook by Meredith Curtis

How I Teach English in High School

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Finish Well Radio Show, Podcast #096, How I Teach English in High School with Meredith Curtis on the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast NetworkHow I Teach English in High School

In “How I Teach English in High School,” episode #096, Meredith Curtis shares the life skills she invests in her children during the high school years along with the classic literature they read and kinds of writing they do each year. Meredith actually teaches high school English for 5 years starting in 8thgrade. Her teens learn to work with original documents, give a decent speech, analyze literature, create stories, write excellent essays, write a novel, edit writing, and read a wide variety of classic literature. Sounds overwhelming? Not at all! Everything is broken down into bite-sized pieces in courses that are fun to teach and learn.  Be inspired to relax and enjoy high school while investing life skills your children will use in the decades ahead.

 

 


High School Curriculum by Powerline Productions

 

Powerline Productions, Inc.

Being World Changers, Raising World Changers!

 

 

 

 


Show Notes

Common question: “How do you teach English in high school?”

5 years instead of 4 to get all the skills and books in!

Classes taught in no particular order. Each one stands alone. A senior might take an English course with a freshman. Learning together is more fun!

In each course, I teach specific writing, research, and speaking skills. We also read classic literature, essays, and short stories.

Each time I teach these courses, they are a little different because they target specific needs and interests of the one or two of my teens taking the course.

Here are the Skills I Teach:  

Write a Excellent Essay, Give a Decent Speech, and Write a Effective Thesis Statements

Essays:wide variety, crafting workable thesis statements, using the thesis statement effectively, communicating clearly, making the essay enjoyable to read, having something worth saying, editing, rewriting

Speech:comfortableness in front of an audience, make it lighthearted. Speeches from reading picture book aloud all the way to persuasive speech with a dabble in debate.

Reading:Essays, Classic Literature

Listening:Speeches by Excellent Speakers

My Course: Communication 101: Essays & Speeches

 

Research, Working with Original Sources, Classic American Literature

Research Skills:Using a Library, Using the Internet, Citing Sources, Working with Original Documents (original sources from Age of Reason—Yikes!), Summarizing, Paraphrasing, Starting with a Research Question, Using Quotes, Outlines, Thesis Statements that can guide a paper, Writing Paper, Presenting Paper

Writing:Paraphrase, Précis, Thesis Statements, Essay, Articles, Research Paper. The step-by-step research and writing a research paper begins with weekly meetings to read research and notes aloud and share ideas.

Reading:Great American works from histories and poetry to adventures and humor

Reading Aloud Together:Sermons, Scenes from Plays

Book Club Discussions:Style of writing and change of writing over time. We often are studying American history at the same time so discussions can often end up intertwining American history.

My Course: American Literature and Research 

 

Literary Analysis, Ancient Literature

Reading:Starts right at the Beginning with Genesis and Tale of Gilgamesh, and we and work our way through ancient works by Aesop, Homer, Virgil, and Saint Augustine, and on to Robin Hood and fairy tales by Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen.

Analysis:While we move through history, we learn how to analysis literature starting with simple analysis and moving forward to a plot analysis later in the year.

Writing:Simple Review & Analysis Papers moving toward a Plot Analysis Paper, Fairy Tale

Book Club Discussions:One thing we notice and discuss is how all the ancient plots are repeated over and over all the way up to today in plays, literature, movies, and TV shows. It’s fun to see those ancient plots dressed up in modern clothes.

My Course: Foundations of Western Literaturewe start at the very beginning with Genesis and work our way through ancient works by Aesop, Homer, Virgil, and Saint Augustine, ending with Fairy Tales.

Classic British Literature, Creative Writing

We love British literature!

Reading:Classic works from Beowulf to Milton to Dickens to Austen to Lewis and so much more. The best books ever!

Reading Aloud:Poetry & Scenes from Shakespeare plays

Book Club Discussions:We love to get into deep discussions about all the amazing stories we read during the British Literature course in a book club setting complete with coffee and hot chocolate.

Writing:We use the literature as a springboard for writing assignments. When we read Canturbery Tales, we write “Tales to Israel.” We write an allegory when we read Pilgrim’s Progress and a sonnet when we read Shakespeare.

History:As a history buff, I have to share a bit of British history as we go and move through the books chronologically.

My Course: British Literature & Writing

 

Golden Age Mysteries, Creative Writing, Writing a Novel

Reading:“Golden-Age” mysteries by amazing authors like Agatha Christie, Sir Author Conan Doyle, Dorothy Sayers, and G.K. Chesterton.

Book Club Discussion:books and short stories we read throughout the year, noticing how the author built suspense, tricked us with red herrings, developed characters, and surprised us with the twist ending.

Watching:Classic TV Mysteries, too, like Perry Mason and Monk.

Preparation/Development:We spend half of the year developing our characters, especially our detective and sidekick, as well as working on dialogue, clues, red herrings, and plots. We worked on our stories as if they were one scene followed by the next scene and the next scene, etc.

Critique:Read & Review One Another’s Paper (this course is more fun with 2 or more)

Writing:Descriptive Paragraph about our Detective, Prep Assignments to “show” Characters, Outlines, Short Story, Novel

My Course: Who Dun It Murder Mystery Literature & Writing

Grammar Review

I Teach Grammer 3rdto 7thGrade. From 8thto 12thGrade, we just review grammar once a week with Daily Grams.

In high school, we focus on writing skills, as well as reading and discussing classic literature and works.

If you would like to use my English courses in your own homeschool, they are all available for sale in print at Amazon and as E-books from PayHip and TeachersPayTeachers.

You can learn more about all my high school courses here.

You can learn about individual English courses:
Communication 101: Essays and Speeches
Foundations of Western Literature
American Literature & Research
British Literature & Writing
Who Dun It? Murder Mystery & Writing

Whatever path you choose for English in your own high school home school, I hope it will include lots of classic literature and writing. I think back to the basics is best!

Resources

Always FREE Reading Lists for Every Age!

 

American Literature & Research British Literature & Writing High School Class Communications 101:Essays and Speeches High School Class Foundations of Western Literature by Meredith Curtis
Newspaper Reporting by Meredith Curtis Who Dun It? Murder Mystery Literature and Writing High School Class HIS Story of the 20th Century by Meredith Curtis HIS Story of the 20th Century: High School Workbook by Meredith Curtis

How to Enjoy History

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Finish Well Radio, Podcast #062, How to Enjoy HistoryIn “How to Enjoy History” Episode #062, Meredith Curtis reveals secrets to parents and teens that will make history thrilling and fun instead of dull and dreary. She shares how to use your hobbies and interests as a way to delve into the past so that you can connect with history. She also paints a picture for you of God’s Grand Story beginning with Creation. Finally, Meredith shares tips to help you remember people, places, and events.

 

 

 

 

 

 


Powerline Productions, Inc.Bringing fun history into your homeschooling!

 

 

 

 


Show Notes:

Argh! History!

Or maybe you like history, but you find it hard to keep track of everything in your mind, it’s hard to remember stuff.

Maybe your kids love history and you don’t, but you have to teach them.

Or maybe you love history and you want your teens and kids to love it, too.

History is not just a bunch of dry, boring facts.

History is a Grand Story written by God Himself with a beginning, focal point, and an end.

Creation………the Cross……..Jesus’ Return/New Heaven and New Earth

People who enjoy history, look for the story and the stories.

Like investigative reporters they want to know Who? What? When? Where? Why? And How?

How to Connect to History

Cody hates history, but knows all the football stats from the last 50 years.

Brittany hates history, but loves dressing retro.

Nate hates history, but loves vintage cars.

Mrs. Johnson hates teaching history, but she decorates country-style.

Let me tell you a secret. All four of these people enjoy history—they just don’t know it.

Connections Explained.

What is Your Connection to the Past?

Family Heritage & Stories

Cars, trucks, boats

Sports: football, baseball, basketball, soccer, car racing

Are you a foodie?

Ways to Look at History

Focus on…

  • Fashion
  • Sports, or a Sport
  • Music
  • Art
  • Architecture
  • Wars & Battles
  • Philosophy
  • Economics
  • Faith
  • Literature
  • Historical Fiction
  • Writing
  • Poetry
  • Science

Tips to Remember Historical People, Places, & Events

Maps & Photos

Timelines

Dates we Memorize:

Circa 4000 BC (general)/Circa 4174 God Creates the World!
Circa 2500 BC (general)/Circa 2538 The Flood
Circa 2100 BC (2166) Abraham—the nation of Israel is born!
Circa 1000 BC King David of Israel
Circa 325 BC Alexander the Great conquers the entire civilized world
Circa 4 BC Jesus is Born in Bethlehem
313 Edict of Milan (Emperor Constantine makes Christianity legal in the Roman Empire)
476 Fall of the Roman Empire
1066 William of Normandy Invades England—Battle of Hastings
1215 King John of England is forced to sign the Magna Charta
1492 Columbus sails for the Indies and finds the New World
1517 Martin Luther nails the “95 Theses” to the Wittenburg Door—Reformation begins
1607 English Settlement at Jamestown
1620 Pilgrims Land at Plymouth
1624 Dutch Settle New York
1628 Massachusetts Bay Colony founded
1776 Declaration of Independence signed, declares freedom from England
1861-1865 War Between the States—Slavery is finally abolished!
1914 World War I begins
1939-1945 World War II
1941 Japan attacks Pearl Harbor—USA enters WWII
1969 Neil Armstrong walks on the moon

 

Why we chose those dates.

History Labs

Have fun

Memorize Key Dates & Place Other Dates in Reference to Them.

Life Lessons from History Podcasts:

Finish Well Radio, Podcast #059, A Hero for all TimeFinish Well Radio, Episode #48, Life Began in a GardenFinish Well Radio, Podcast #38, Don't Be a NimrodFinish Well Radio, Podcast #42, Because He Loved HerFinish Well Radio, Podcast #050 The Real Kingdom and the CounterfeitFinish Well Radio, Podcast #49, Legend of Atlantis and Bull Leaping

 

 

 

 

 

Resources to Learn & Teach History the Fun Way

Ancient History Cookbook by Meredith CurtisAncient History Timeline by Meredith Curtis at Powerline Productions, Inc.Let's Have Our Own Archaeological Dig by Meredith CurtisLet's Have Our Own Olympic Games

HIS Story of the 20th CenturyHIS Story of the 20th Century High School WorkbookHIS Story of the 20th Century Middle School Workbook10 Black Athletes Who Changed the World LapbookFamilies Learning Together: American History Art Appreciation by Meredith CurtisAmerican History Cookbook by Meredith CurtisAmerican History Timeline

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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