Memorial Day is almost here. As you know, this is the day on which we remember those who died in active military service. Some of those who sacrificed their lives were brave Tuskegee Airmen.

Tuskegee Airman Captain Lawrence E. Dickson was just twenty-four years old when his plane went down in Austria during World War II. Last year, the Pentagon released this article announcing that remains found at an Austrian crash site are those of Captain Dickson.

In honor of Captain Lawrence E. Dickson and the courageous Tuskegee Airmen, I’ve compiled a list of resources you can use to teach your children about this elite group of talented pilots. 

Photographs of The Tuskegee Airmen:

• Getty Images of Tuskegee Airmen (click through multiple pages)
• Restoration Photos of Tuskegee Airmen
• Tuskegee University Photos
• Tuskegee Airmen Photo (credit for the photo shown above)

Books About The Tuskegee Airmen:

• Who Were the Tuskegee Airmen?
• The Tuskegee Airmen: Freedom Flyers of World War II
• The Tuskegee Airmen Story
• Wind Flyers
• When I Grow Up I Want to Be, Like the Brave Men of Tuskegee
• You Can Fly: The Tuskegee Airmen
• The Red Tails: World War II’s Tuskegee Airmen

Lesson Plans and Readings:

• Museum of Aviation Teacher’s Guide
• Tuskegee Airmen Fighting to Fly (NASA)

Online Videos:

• Tuskegee Airmen Tribute 
• Tuskegee Airmen: Brain POP 

Movies:

• The Tuskegee Airmen (1995) – free on Amazon Prime as of post date
• Red Tails (2012)

Coloring Pages:

• Keep Us Flying Coloring Page  (see the actual poster here)
• Modern Tuskegee Coloring Page

The Tuskegee Airmen are an important part of American history and we should teach children about their contributions to our nation. You can help by sharing this post via social media and email. 

This past summer I had the opportunity to present a few workshops at Southeast Homeschool Expo in Atlanta, Georgia. Many people I chatted with explained how they were in the process of moving their children from a traditional school setting into the homeschool setting.

Though these families had unique goals and diverse teaching methods, the question they asked was the same: How do I transition my child from traditional school to homeschool?

Transitioning from traditional school to homeschool can be intimidating, but it can be done. Here are seven tips to help you and your family make a smooth move.

1. Make sure you know your state’s homeschool laws. Every state has its rules for homeschooling. Review these guidelines carefully, so you remain compliant. State requirements vary, but some states may require testing, curriculum review, and student portfolios. The HSLDA website provides information about state regulations.

2. Don’t try to recreate school at home. Classroom lessons are structured for mass presentation. Homeschool lessons are formatted for personalized instruction, so take the time to create the comfortable atmosphere and reasonable schedule that fosters learning. School on the sofa, in the park, or at the library. You don’t need an official school room for teaching.

3. Take time to adjust. Fight the urge to nosedive into every suspect right away. If you do, you risk burnout and discouragement. Take time to adjust to this new educational experience by introducing subjects little by little. Consider just doing math and literature for the first week, then adding additional subjects in future weeks.

4. Don’t rush your curriculum choices. There are many curriculum choices available, so take time to research the ones that appeal to you. Download curriculum samples and question fellow homeschoolers about their curriculum choices. Be sure to sure to consider your family’s needs as well.

5. Find your child’s learning style. Save time and energy by taking time to discover your child’s learning style. Is your child a visual, auditory, tactile, or combination learner? Once you determine how your child learns, you can select appropriate curriculum and create effective and appealing lessons and activities. My favorite resource on student learning styles is The Way They Learn by Cynthia Tobias.

6. Pace yourself. Homeschooling is not a race, so don’t try to imitate other homeschooling families. Their homeschool will look much different than yours because their children are not your children. Always remember to work at a pace that best suits the needs of your child.

7. Don’t be hard on yourself. You are doing something amazing, inspiring, life-changing, and challenging. From time to time, you’ll encounter a challenge that may feel overwhelming. When challenges come, face them and keep on moving. Do not beat yourself up about what you did or did not do. Do not ruin your day by rehashing what did or did not happen. Give yourself lots of space and grace!

And here’s an additional thought…

Enjoy yourself! Homeschooling is a wonderful blessing you should enjoy. Have fun teaching and learning alongside your children. Make marvelous memories you’ll all look back on fondly.

Have you moved a child from traditional school into the homeschool? If so, let us know how things went. Would you offer any additional advice? Share your thoughts in the comments below and consider sharing this post with a mom who is making the transition from the traditional school to homeschool.

Not everyone has a large space for homeschooling. Some homeschool moms wonder if it’s really possible to homeschool effectively in a small space. Here’s some good news. It can be done! Click on the video below to learn how.

7 Tips for Homeschooling in a Small Space:

1. Be realistic.
2. Purge.
3. Use portable storage.
4. Spread out.
5. Think double duty.
6. Clean up daily.
7. Use online resources.

Now that you’ve watched the video, check out these storage photos from our household.

Thorpe Family Storage Solutions

This is a picture of my home’s foyer. The green chair is a great place for the kids to sit while putting on their shoes, but it’s also an excellent storage space. The seat cushion flips up and the school supplies can be tucked inside. Materials are hidden from view and do not take up valuable space.

Here’s a photo of the ottoman in our family room. It’s comfy and pretty, but it also contains a storage compartment. It’s another great place to keep things hidden.

Our storage bench serves a dual purpose. There’s seating at the top and roomy storage bins underneath. This is where we keep board games and math manipulatives. You can even see our large plastic storage bins next to the bench.

A few years ago, I purchased this table from the Goodwill Store. The open space under the tabletop is perfect for stacking notebooks and textbooks. On either side of the table, there are two doors that swing open for additional storage.

Unfortunately, Staples no longer sells the amazing swivel storage bin shown. The bin spin all the way around and has plenty of storage for school supplies of any size.

Additional Storage Ideas?

Do you have ideas for homeschooling in a small space? If so, please leave a comment. I would love to read your suggestions and I know other homeschool moms would too!

This question is frequently asked in the African-American Homeschool Moms Facebook group. Is it possible for a mom to work and homeschool successfully?  Moms can work and homeschool, but there is not a singular way to do so. The work/homeschool method will vary among families.

My dear friend Keisha is a working homeschool mom, so I asked her if she’d be willing to sit down and chat with me about her work/homeschool experience. Keisha agreed to talk with me and I’m happy to share our conversation with you.

Keisha is just one of many moms who proves it is possible to work and homeschool! She finds success by through advance planning and family support. Are you a working homeschool mom? If so, do you have any tips or suggestions? We’d love for you to leave a comment below!