Written by Jamie C. Martin of Simple Homeschool
When we first began homeschooling, workbooks represented two things I desperately wanted to avoid: an impersonalized learning system and the idea of fitting all children into the same box/grade level.
We had a few workbooks on our shelf, but I only used them at a child’s request–not very often.
However, as my kids became older, I slowly began to see two benefits that workbooks also have to offer:
1. They leave a paper trail. This comes in handy when you need proof of all the learning, both informal and formal, that happens under your roof.
2. They can calm a mama’s or papa’s homeschool jitters.
Sometimes when you’re homeschooling, you feel completely out of your element. Making a habit of even one workbook page a day can take the edge off those insecurities.
When my kids were littles, my main goal was for them to fall in love with learning. It still is! But I think having the tiniest amount of book work might have settled my own worries just a tad while giving them 95+% interest-led learning freedom.
If this is something you’d like to try, look for a way to encourage your kids to agree to the idea, too, so that even this small minimum will not become a battleground.
Tip: I often tape a $5 bill in the back of a workbook and find that to be quite the compelling incentive! We also use our positivity bean jar to encourage this type of work.
Over the years we have found a few workbooks that worked well for us. So when the opportunity came to partner with Workman Publishing, creators of the colorful Big Fat Notebooks and our favorite Star Wars workbooks, I eagerly agreed to take a peek at their new line of summer workbooks.
Here’s an official overview:
“SUMMER BRAIN QUEST (just released this month) is an exciting new extension of our #1 bestselling Brain Quest brand (with 45 million copies in print).
SUMMER BRAIN QUEST is notable because it offers a one-of-a-kind learning experience that delivers personalized learning to every kid. Personalized learning tailors exercises to each child’s strengths, needs and interests.
Our goal was to empower kids to have a voice in what and how they learn. The workbooks achieve this through their interactive format.
SUMMER BRAIN QUEST is structured like a game; each book includes a pull-out map that guides kids on a learning quest. They fill in their route on the map by earning stickers for completing workbook pages as well as pursuing outdoor activities.”
“The map offers a choice of routes, allowing kids to customize their learning path and pursue what excites them most, and also encouraging them to jump around within the book to follow their curiosity.
Original artwork by video game artist Edison Yan makes every book feel fresh and fun. These are the most visually appealing books in the market.”
A quick guide to what’s covered in each workbook:
Since homeschool families don’t always follow specific grade levels, I thought it would be helpful to show you what’s included in each book so you can choose the one that fits your child best:
Summer Brain Quest: Between Grades K & 1 – phonics, reading, writing, counting, shapes, seasons, habitats, map skills, and more.
Between Grades 1 & 2 – reading comprehension, writing, addition and subtraction, earth science, the seasons, telling time, and more.
Between Grades 2 & 3 – adjectives versus adverbs, reading comprehension, writing opinions, word problems, place value, measurement, map skills, and more.
Between Grades 3 & 4 – writing, reading, number patterns, natural science, timelines, parts of speech, and more.
Between Grades 4 & 5 – reading comprehension, research and informative writing, grammar, multiplication and division, American history, and more.
Between Grades 5 & 6 – reading comprehension, writing essays, ancient history, grammar, fractions and decimals, climate, and more.
In all honesty, I would love these even more if they weren’t categorized by grade levels. I prefer it when workbooks are numbered (like Level 1, 2, 3) but without referring to specific grades–that way they offer more flexibility to homeschool families.
Yet there are many things I find appealing about the Summer Brain Quest series:
– Each page is beautiful, colorful, and well-designed! The gaming concept is fun for kids.
– Each book includes real-life suggestions for the summer, like outdoor games and quests to earn stickers for your map.
– There’s a certificate at the end to give to your child after completing the workbook.
– The back of each workbook features a recommended reading list to take to the library. There’s a little bit of twaddle included here and there, but most of the choices are lovely ones. I appreciate the emphasis on summer reading!
– Many of the activity pages could also be done alongside a parent orally if your child finds writing frustrating.
– Each book contains a section of Brain Quest questions on make-your-own flashcards. I cut several of these out to integrate into our morning homeschool time in a casual way over the months ahead!
This giveaway has ended; thanks for your interest!
To be entered to win, leave a comment on this post answering this question: How old are your kids and what has been your experience with workbooks thus far?
This post is sponsored by Workman Publishing. All opinions are my own!
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My kids are 9, 7, 5, 5, 3, and 1 and I love the Star Wars workbooks. These look great too and I want to try them!
My daughter is 9, and my sons are 7 and 5. My daughter has loved Brain Quest in the past and I was just thinking the other day how I should get Brain Quest workbooks again because I’m pretty sure my boys would love them!
I home school my son that is 9, and just starting with my 3 year old. We like workbooks that are colorful and easy to follow but not distracting. We find some books are easier for him to focus on than others. He prefers workbooks that he does not have to do a lot of writing, due to his struggle with fine motor skills.
My kids are 6 and 2. My 6 wants workbooks,likes filling them out, but I have a hard time finding good ones that align with our learning/her interests.
My kids are 8 and 4. We have tried a variety of workbooks to see what sticks. They love the Brainquest workbooks! What an awesome raffle!
My kids are 7 and 9, and workbooks have actually been good for us. They keep us on track and we can use as much or little as we want.
My children are 3, 5, 7, 9. I have three that LOVE workbooks. My 3 yr old uses all of the 5 yr old’s partially finished workbooks. I like that on “weird” days if we get a page done in each book subject then I feel like we accomplished one thing.
My boys are 11, 7 and 2. We use workbooks once in a while. My boys enjoy doing them from time to time. On those days, I definitely feel a little more accomplished! Those Summer Brainquest workbooks look awesome!
My kids are 15, 11, 7 and 4.
I don’t love workbooks, but I have found that sometimes we “need” them for various reasons. I would really like to try these workbooks!
I have twin toddlers to 2 teenagers and 4 in between for a total of 8 homeschooled kiddos. We would love to try these workbooks for summer activity!
The specific ages of my kiddos are 1,1,4,6,9,11,13, and 15. We use some workbooks for handwriting and spelling, but prefer reading aloud. My kids don’t mind workbooks and like the ability to work ahead!
My children are 10, 8, 6, and 3. We’ve use workbooks from time to time to supplement what we’re doing in our homeschool. Everyone likes the change in routine. I would love to try the Summer Brainquest workbooks.
I have five kids ages 10,8,6,4,3. I have workbooks on the shelf but rarely use them. My kids will sometimes ask for one and use it for a few days then move on.
My oldest three children graduated from public high school. I started homeschooling my fourth child when he was nine years old and continued on through the next five. I am now homeschooling my 7 year old grandson (of whom we have custody) and hopefully his 5 year old sister next fall. He is very competitive and enjoys doing a math worksheet here and there to beat his time. There are some days when playing outside with the goats and dogs, climbing trees and getting muddy in the creek, are the best things to do and an occasional worksheet can fill in during the rest times.
My kiddos are 9 and 12 and even though we tend not to use text or workbooks in our homeschool, I love the Brain Quest workbooks for just the reason you describe…a little bit of a paper trail and the pages are not too cluttered with clear instructions and tips. Both my kids LOVE the stickers at the back. We would love to receive the summer pack and give it a whirl! Thanks.
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I have 1 son who is 10. I also work with my friend’s children who are 9 and 7. I am a former teacher and never liked worksheets. I have struggled to find worthy workbooks to use in my homeschool. I would love to try this new series!
I have a 6 year old and a 2 year old. My 2 year old loves to grab her brother’s workbook and do “work” on her own, but my son struggles a bit with the reading comprehension assignments. Some days are better than others, of course, but this series that you’re offering sound fun. I know he’d enjoy them! Thank you for this opportunity!
Would love the chance to win. Thank you!
We have 8, 5, 2, and 10 months. We like workbooks off and on, as long as they are mixed with other types of learning. The Star Wars workbooks are a big hit here, and these look like they would be as well!
Our kids are 10, 7, 5, and 19 months. Our 10-year-old has never liked workbooks (even the fun original BrainQuest books) and our 7-year-old thinks they’re pretty cool. So we’ve got mixed reviews here. The BrainQuest summer workbooks look really neat! Thanks so much for the giveaway and the chance to win!
Our kids are 10, 7, and 3. Workbooks can be good or bad. Oftentimes, I find I have to really look to figure out what it is a section is asking for, which can be frustrating for both me, and the student. There have been some diamonds in the rough though! Thank you for the chance to win-theses books look like they would be pretty fun!
Such great looking work books! My boys are ages 10, 8, 3 and 15 months. My husband and I both cringe at the thought of workbooks and textbooks but recently (within the last few months), one of my older boys picked up some work books that we had on the shelf (gifted to us) and began to use them – and enjoyed it! I also found it wonderful to look back and see his progress and he enjoyed that too.
I really love the addition of the sticker chart and the wandering paths to be followed in this new book set. I can see my two older boys spending lots of (willing!) time in these books. I’ve already decided if I don’t win the set I’m going to buy it!
My boys are 6 and 9. By far their favorite are math workbooks they love them. When my older son was younger he worked through a good bit of a second grade Brain Quest workbook and we enjoyed it.
My kids are 9, 7, 5, 3, and 1. Workbooks seem to always be either too hard or too easy for the level they are intended for, so I am excited to see these.
I have 2 kiddos, 6 and 4. They are excited to start workbooks but we rarely complete them.