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Learn About the 50 States

When learning about the 50 United States,  a few excellent resources can serve you well.  Too many choices will leave you feeling overwhelmed and lacking a sense of accomplishment.

These are our tried and true resources for learning about the states.

Drill and repetition has always been the foundation for our learning. This, coupled with books, games and activities, will  cement this knowledge for years to come!

Learn About the 50 States

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Memory Work (Apps, Flashcards) for Learning the 50 States

Through our homeschool program we learned  a few states and capitals each week. This constant drill and review cements knowledge of the states. We supplemented with these drill/repetition resources:

GeoMaster: a free app that drills state locations and capitals - much fun!

States & Capitals Flash Cards

Seterra Geography - a great site online for geography!

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Games For Learning The States

The Scrambled States of America This game is such fun!  We've had the book and DVD for years, and the game is such a fun addition to our collection. Learning about the 50 states has never been so easy! 

The 50 States Card Game

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My kids made up their own states and capitals review game at the pool. I'm always the "caller" -- I call a state name as they run off the diving board and they have to say the capital before they hit the water.  Fun! 

Notebooking the 50 States

The last time we learned the states, my children created notebooks.

We used our membership to Notebooking Pages and were able to download notebooking pages for each of the 50 states. This is a great project for your kids to sink their teeth into, and they will have a beautiful finished product when they are done!  

Map Tracing

Map tracing is an integral part of our geography studies. 

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Find maps you like, get some tracing paper and Sharpies, and trace each state as you go. Trace the entire United States, too. You will be amazed at how quickly your child will learn to draw each state and draw the entire United States. 

(Classical Conversations readers: I have used the maps from user heathergwyn on CC Connected.)

We have also found the 50 States Notebooking Pages to be very helpful with maps for tracing!

Fifty Nifty United States - A Song For Learning the States

This is the song I used in my elementary music classes when I was a teacher. It's catchy and your kids will be able to memorize all of the 50 states in alphabetical order in no time! 

 Whatever resources you choose, can I offer one piece of advice?

STAY CONSISTENT!  

I've found that children love it when you repeat things in the same way. Our 50 State study looks like this each week: 

  • introduce the new states (generally 4 or 5 per week) and their capitls -- DRILL THESE daily

  • listen to 50 Nifty United States and sing along

  • trace the entire United States daily and color in the states we are learning about

  • notebook about each of the states during that week

  • make books about the states available (strew around your house on coffee tables, bedside tables, etc...)

  • play games about the states as a family

Devise a plan that works for your children and stick to it. 

Most of all, HAVE FUN!  

Learn the 50 States

Are you studying the 50 United States this year?   Tell me about it! 

 

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Homeschooling: When Being Normal Looks Weird

Have you ever felt like you are the only "normal" one left?

Are you maybe the only one in your family who educates their children at home?  Are you the only homeschoolers in your church? Maybe you are the only ones in your community. 

When you abandon the ideal of traditional education you veer into (what is perceived by others) as weird territory? 

Sometimes I have just thrown my hands up to my husband and said, "Are we the only NORMAL ones left?"

When Being Normal Looks Weird: A Message to the Homeschool Critics

Have you ever felt like you are the only "normal" one left?

Are you maybe the only one in your family who homeschools?  Are you the only homeschoolers in your church? Maybe you are the only ones in your community. 

Sometimes I have just thrown my hands up to my husband and said, "Are we the only NORMAL ones left?"

At our very first  Great Homeschool Convention, we listened to a panel of Classical educators moderated by Andrew Kern.

A story was told by Martin Cothran that went something like this (I'm paraphrasing here, but you will get the general idea.):

In Australia there was a rugby match where all of the players were naked.   In the middle of the game, a fully clothed spectator went running across the field.  

Sometimes it seems as if WE, as homeschoolers, are that fully clothed spectator.  

Everyone on that field looks a certain way - and then we run across looking DIFFERENT. 

We get the feeling that being the only normal one left is weird, but as individuals who are convicted to home educate we must stay the course and do what we know is best for our own children.

After all, this new "normal" of compulsory schooling and assembly line education hasn't been around all that long. Educating your children at home used to be the way things were done.

Thinking deep thoughts about worthy ideals used to be in vogue. Reading REAL books used to be the norm. 

You get the point...

 

This story hit home with my husband and I at the convention. 

It really hit home, however, just a few days later.

In a series of unrelated events, we received criticism of our choice to homeschool (directly and indirectly). 

We were LONG past caring what others think of our decision to homeschool. After many years of doing this we KNOW this is the best path for our children, just as a parent that sends their child to school knows the best path for their child. 

After all, we shouldn't  do things to please others. We do not believe in conforming to the world.

When Being Normal Looks Weird: A Message to the Homeschool Critics

I didn't realize just how far we had evolved in our thinking until just recently. I was put in a position to articulate why we homeschool to a critic. After all, I consider myself a homeschool ambassador. 

I tried to pepper my words with grace and a remembrance of the time when I didn't quite understand why in the world someone would want to HOMESCHOOL. 

People criticize what they don't know or understand, and sometimes what intimidates or threatens them. 

When someone takes the time to criticize our decision as homeschoolers it tells me they either have too much time on their hands, or are woefully uninformed. I know, because this was once the way I behaved.

So my friends, the next time that neighbor, family member, or "friend" criticizes you (either to your face or behind your back), please remember the naked rugby tournament.

The next time you hear things like:

"Their children are so sheltered they won't be prepared for the real world. How are they going to learn to relate to other kids their own age? "

 

"You don't let your kids watch cable?"

 

"Do you really LIKE homeschooling?" (I actually got that one once.)

or (my personal favorite)

"Aren't you depriving the world of what your child has to offer?"

 - please remember what you are doing takes courage, sacrifice, and an obedience many people do not understand.

When I look at this picture, I remember a time  when we were at a crossroads. 

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My daughter had been crammed into the historically under-served "middle" in her public school classroom. Her once enthusiastic learning spirit had been squashed little by little. She didn't want to go to school because of a few mean girls in her class. She was only allowed to choose books from a certain shelf in the library because they were at her "reading level" (I knew she could read harder material, but they didn't give her the chance.). 

My son was thriving in a four year old preschool program at our church. I was literally sick thinking about putting him in public school Kindergarten and watching him go through the same equalization process. He was so very bright and precocious, too - if he didn't get a very patient, loving teacher he would probably spend the entire year in time out. 

Words from my time in graduate school for Educational Leadership kept ringing in my head:

"Schools are built for the adults that work in them, not the children."

Someone suggested I read Weapons of Mass Instruction.

That is when we just knew we had to make a change. 

We needed to return to NORMAL.  

I wish I would have known then what I do know about choosing to homeschool.

It isn't our job to make the critics understand; it is our job to raise these precious souls that have been entrusted to us in the best way we know how.

What we are doing by home educating our children is so normal it just appears weird.

My favorite scripture during these times of criticism is James 1: 2-4:

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

I like to meditate on these verses often. They keep me grounded and thankful. 

We are running a most worthy race, and if we persevere, we will lack nothing.

Remember - it's ok to look "weird" - you know you're really NORMAL. 

You CAN Homeschool

I've written an eBook chock full of encouragement, helpful advice, and so much more -- these are words from a former public school teacher, administrator, and parent. These words are born out of a need to help other parents in their homeschool endeavors.

This is our journey to being WEIRD.

I pray it blesses you.

Download the FREE eBook:

I'd love to hear your story about being WEIRD.

 Leave it for me in the comments below!

When Being Normal Looks Weird: A Message to the Homeschool Critics