15 Best Homeschooling Posts of 2013 from Navigating By Joy

fun homeschool projects

This year we let go of the last remnants of curriculum and enjoyed finding our own homeschooling groove.

In case you missed them, here’s a round-up of the most popular Navigating By Joy posts of 2013.  Click on the photos to see each post.

Science

Instead of following a science curriculum, we did at least one hands-on science activity each week, an approach that proved very popular with the kids!

1. Elephant toothpaste – Fun with catalysts

fun homeschool projects
Elephant toothpaste

2. Gummy bear science – Osmosis in action

fun homeschool projects

3. How to make sure science gets done when you’re not using a curriculum

I talk about our curriculum-free approach to science here.

fun homeschool projects
A few of this year’s science projects

History and geography

Some of our favourite projects this year have sprung from our reading of The Story of the World (vols 1 and 2).

4. Aboriginal dot painting for kids

fun homeschool projects
Aboriginal dot painting

5. Miniature Japanese zen garden for kids

fun homeschool projects
Miniature Japanese Zen garden 

6. Hands-on Russian history

fun homeschool projects
We drew St Basil’s Cathedral and learned about the Cyrillic alphabet when we studied early Russian history

Maths

In spring 2013 we began an experiment, doing our own thing in maths.  It’s gone better than I could have imagined, and I’m buzzing with ideas for 2014.

7. Pythagoras and the knotted rope

fun homeschool projects

8. How to help your children fall in love with maths

Pythagoras Lego Proof
Using Lego to prove the Pythagoras Theorem

9. Five Days of Maths Playtime

fun homeschool projects
An example of a curriculum-free week of maths

Homeschooling

10. Nine homeschool apps we wouldn’t be without

fun homeschool projects

11. Five Steps to an organised homeschool space

fun homeschool projects

12. The pros and cons of joining a homeschool co-op

fun homeschool projects
Is a homeschool co-op right for your family?

Language arts

13. Five writing games your kids will love

fun homeschool projects

14. How we do poetry teatime

fun homeschool projects

15. Our top 6 read-aloud chapter books

fun homeschool projects

Thank you to everyone who contributes to the homeschool blogging community – as a blogger, commenter or reader. I couldn’t homeschool without you!

I wish you all a very happy, healthy and successful 2014.

 

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I’m appreciatively linking up with:

Top 13 and Mosts Posts 2013

The Hip Homeschool Hop

Entertaining and Educational

Collage Friday

Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers

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17 thoughts on “15 Best Homeschooling Posts of 2013 from Navigating By Joy

  1. I’m glad to say that I’ve read all these posts, and have learnt much from them. It’s been really useful to follow the changes in your approach to homeschooling through your blog, and read the success stories that have come out from them. They’ve been very inspiring indeed!

    Wishing you a fantastic 2014. I shall look forward to reading about your new ideas. 🙂

  2. Oh my gosh, Lucinda!! Love them all. Pinning. I’ll need to go back and reread! These are great….

    I want my kids to come to your HS!! Now, if only you didn’t live on another continent, maybe we could work something out! LOL

    Lucinda, would you be interested in joining the “blog in a blink” Top 13 of ’13 linky?
    Monica, who manages the Catholic Bloggers Network has instituted the linky and you can find the inlinkz at her blog, mine or any of the others who are participating….. I’m sure you know her. She’s amazing! I know you have 15 here, but essentially, it is a year in rev of “top” posts, so it fits.
    Here is my link if you’d like to join.
    http://campfiresandcleats.blogspot.com/2013/12/top-13-and-mosts-posts-of-2013-with.html
    I am using a “top” post as well as my “mosts” posts that I linked to sarah’s at Amongst Lovely Things….the link to her hop is in mine, too, if you are into joining a “mosts” linky. ( Most clicked, most commented on, etc, etc….it’s fun.)
    Hope to see you there!
    It has been a blessing getting to know you and becoming friends with you this year, Lucinda!

    God bless and have a happy 2014~!~

    1. Chris, your comments always leave me smiling from ear to ear. 🙂 Your boys are very lucky to have such a positive and enthusiastic mom!
      Thank you for the invite to join your link up, it looks like a visual and inspiring feast!
      It has been a delight getting to know you this year, for sure. Here’s to more friendship and fun in 2014! God bless you!

  3. Thanks for linking up, Lucinda! I know many who glance thru the linky will be enticed to click over and will benefit from your post!

    Happy New Year!! (It’salmost 1AM here and wehad our New Yr Eve celebration already…the boys are getting ready for bed and I’m grabbing a minute for fun!)

    Looking fwd to more of your HS fun and inspiration in ’14!

    God bless!

  4. What a wonderful variety of posts, Lucinda! I think you have really found your homeschooling feet this year, and as a reader of your blog, it is a joy to see! I hope you continue to have lots of homeschool fun in 2014!

  5. Lucinda,

    I am not surprised there are a few maths posts in your most popular posts of the year. I am sure many people are looking for a better way to tackle this subject. I love all your ideas! Buzzing with ideas for 2014? I can’t wait! Thank you for sharing!

  6. Look at all of the wonderful content! I’m pinning this post to come back to it when I have some time — and need to gain inspiration. The LEGO stuff caught my eye!

    Thanks for linking with Collage Friday!

  7. I’ve revisited the rock post several times. My daughter is working to repeat the experiment. She got the igneous rock to work, but is having trouble with the sedimentary. We didn’t follow the directions very well and need to redo it with crayon shavings instead of crayon pieces ground in the food processor.

    1. I admire her persistence! I hope it works using a pencil sharpener. Grating certainly takes a while … especially disheartening if it doesn’t work!

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