How To Create a Dynamic Learning Environment in Your Home
characters exemplify good behavior and the story line shows good winning over evil in the end(as it ultimately will in the real world). Look for educational videos to enhance unit studies or current fascinations. Educational computer games can provide motivation to learn phonics, math languages, and more while teaching basic computer skills at the same time.
ARTS AND CRAFTS
Teach your child to create something with his hands every day. I try to write every day and encourage my children to create a drawing or other project. In a few years, we will work on journals, correspendence and nature journals.
BOOKS
It goes without saying that reading aloud during the early years especially is critical and, for us, has been part of our daily routine. Children’s books can be purchased for ten cents each at yard sales. Stock up when you can. Also check out library sales and homeschool book fairs.
YOUR BACKYARD
Get out into the yard and take time to look at things and explore. Get binoculars, a magnifying glass. Make insect collection jars. Use leaves, dried weeds, etc. to create art projects.
WALLS
Yes, walls. Why not put up a beautiful map of the world in a family gathering place such as the family room or dining room? National Geographic has a beautiful one for $89.99. We are considering this for a family Christmas gift. Mount tables and charts appropriate for your child’s age but also introduce him the periodic table of elements and a chart of the planets or stars.
Paint a wall with chalkboard paint. Set up a dry-erase board on an easel. Make a felt board. See Lights, Camera Action! Felt Productions Dazzle Preschoolers for more ideas about using felt boards.
Assign a wall space in the house to display your children’s art projects.
LEARNING CENTERS
In my grand master plan for our homeschool environment I envision small reading areas assigned to related subjects. One could be for science, one for math, one for foreign languages, etc.
A small bookcase, reading chair, and cassette player with headphones could be a language arts listening and reading center.
Consider setting up a workshop if you don’t have one. Pick up tools and small appliances, as well as obsolete computers at yard sales. Let your children take them apart and learn how to put them back together.
CASSETTE TAPES
Listening to quality music tapes or language tapes during play time can be a non-threatening way to introduce classical and
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