tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81250405099982949882024-02-20T01:00:00.500-08:00First Grade Homeschool CurriculumUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger60125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8125040509998294988.post-28917253328403065822015-03-13T09:30:00.000-07:002015-03-13T09:30:00.039-07:00Homeschool Learning Styles<b id="docs-internal-guid-5d9bae95-0b03-bcff-db1a-70c00035d7fa" style="font-weight: normal;"></b><br />
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-5d9bae95-0b03-bcff-db1a-70c00035d7fa" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How do you learn? How does your husband or wife learn? Do you know the </span><a href="http://www.time4learning.com/learning-styles.shtml" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: yellow; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">homeschool learning styles</span></a><span style="background-color: yellow; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">of your student? Regardless of how you school, public, private, or homeschool, knowing how you and your child learn is crucial. If you are not teaching toward your child’s learning style, you are paddling up a swift running river. It can be done, but you will fight hard the whole way. </span></b></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-5d9bae95-0b03-bcff-db1a-70c00035d7fa" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A simple learning styles inventory (test) will shed light on which styles are most dominant. Most people will have more than one learning style, but one will shine more than the others. Once you know your preferred learning style and the preferred learning style of your child, you can tailor your homeschool lessons to fit you both. It doesn’t matter if you are use </span><a href="http://www.time4learning.com/homeschool/eclectic-homeschooling.shtml" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: yellow; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">eclectic homeschooling</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, traditional homeschooling, or unschooling, teaching and learning with learning styles in mind will make homeschooling easier and more productive.</span></b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8125040509998294988.post-26056168467549183012015-02-18T12:00:00.000-08:002015-02-18T12:00:01.880-08:00Homeschool Science<b id="docs-internal-guid-5d9bae95-0b07-3694-df1f-2524914cda84" style="font-weight: normal;"></b><br />
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-5d9bae95-0b07-3694-df1f-2524914cda84" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Science is a favorite subject for many first graders. One reason</span><a href="http://www.science4us.com/elementary-homeschool-science/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> science in elementary</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is so fun is because it can be very hands-on and it involves studying animals at one time or another. Who doesn’t love kitties and puppies? </span></b></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-5d9bae95-0b07-3694-df1f-2524914cda84" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are great homeschool textbooks with super illustrations, but illustrations can only take you so far. Sometimes you just want to get your hands dirty. While first graders typically do not participate in </span><a href="http://www.science4us.com/elementary-science-fair-projects" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">elementary science fair projects</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, you totally can since you homeschool. Lots of homeschool co-ops and homeschool support groups offer science fairs that first graders can enter. This is a great opportunity for your child to shine and learn tons along the way. If there is not a science fair event in your local support groups or co-op, maybe you can be the pioneer and start one. </span></div>
</b><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8125040509998294988.post-50011450015561302922015-01-05T09:00:00.000-08:002015-01-05T09:00:01.306-08:00Alphabetical OrderYou and your first grader have been working hard learning to spell words. Now it is time to teach your child about putting <a href="http://www.spellingcity.com/alphabetical-order-practice.html">words in ABC order</a>.
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A good mix of worksheets, hands-on activities, and games work well to accomplish teaching alphabetizing. <a href="http://www.spellingcity.com/Games/alphabetize.html">ABC games </a>can be games you make up or online educational ABC games. Most first graders benefit from learning to alphabetize up to the second letter or third letter. If your child has a hard time, just teach them to go to the second letter for now. There is plenty of time to master this skill, and it is practiced each year in subsequent years in most <a href="http://www.elementaryhomeschoolcurriculum.com/">elementary homeschool curriculum </a>programs.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8125040509998294988.post-81924646879448764712014-12-09T10:00:00.000-08:002014-12-09T10:00:01.403-08:00Choosing a Homeschool Curriculum<b id="docs-internal-guid-5d9bae95-0b14-9d98-d89f-253c83fc228c" style="font-weight: normal;"></b><br />
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-5d9bae95-0b14-9d98-d89f-253c83fc228c" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What is your favorite </span><a href="http://www.firstgradehomeschoolcurriculum.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">first grade homeschool curriculum</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">? What makes it your favorite? Does it meet your child’s learning style? Is it easy to follow, totally scripted, and quick to implement? </span></b></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-5d9bae95-0b14-9d98-d89f-253c83fc228c" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Finding the perfect homeschool curriculum is almost impossible. It is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Mos of the time you will not find a ‘perfect’ curriculum, but several really good ones. A curriculum that claims to be the ‘end all’ sends red flags up for me. </span></div>
<br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I’m looking for a good</span><a href="http://www.science4us.com/homeschool" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> first grade science curriculum</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, for example, some of the things I look for are lots of hands-on activities with textbook or online learning. I like something that is laid out very well, but that I can stray from when I choose. I check demos or excerpts of the lessons to see first hand the quality of what I will be getting. I want to know if it is aligned to state and national standards. I want to know if the cost includes everything I need, or will I need to purchase extra items. I want to know if the company I purchase from has some type of warranty or refund policy. </span></div>
<br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You will have some of the same requirements I’ve listed and many more. Just keep in mind that even when you think you have thoroughly checked out a potential curriculum, once you get it home, it just might not be what you need or want. That’s what homeschool swap boards are for. </span></div>
</b><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8125040509998294988.post-46092552710350821022014-11-12T16:42:00.000-08:002014-11-12T16:42:00.079-08:00A Solid Foundation<b id="docs-internal-guid-5d9bae95-0b13-42fa-d2fd-261378ed0746" style="font-weight: normal;"></b><br />
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-5d9bae95-0b13-42fa-d2fd-261378ed0746" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Learning to read involves practice, practice, and more practice. A healthy blend of phonics and sight words lays a good solid foundation for learning to read. Playing </span><a href="http://www.learninggamesforkids.com/spelling-games/short-vowel-games.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">short vowel games</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> helps kids understand those sounds that can be hard for some kids to master. If your child is a </span><a href="http://www.time4learning.com/visual-learners.shtml" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">right-brained visual learner</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, then you might want to consider online flash animation games, charts, graphs, use of colors…to stimulate them. </span></b></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-5d9bae95-0b13-42fa-d2fd-261378ed0746" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let your child read into a recorder so they can hear themselves. Have them practice by reading to a younger sibling, their pet, or a stuffed animal or doll. Create language experience stories with your child. Help them write the stories down. Encourage them to practice reading those stories. Have one night every month or so where your child reads a short story to the whole family. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Just keep practicing, practicing, and practicing!</span></div>
</b><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8125040509998294988.post-58668651566568977302014-10-21T11:00:00.000-07:002014-10-21T11:00:02.043-07:00Syl*la*bles<b id="docs-internal-guid-5d9bae95-0b12-7139-bd71-e87a2e210b9f" style="font-weight: normal;"></b><br />
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-5d9bae95-0b12-7139-bd71-e87a2e210b9f" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I know you have explained what </span><a href="http://www.spellingcity.com/syllables-segmenting.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">syllables</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> are to your first grader. So what are they? According to Dictionary.com, a syllable is an uninterrupted segment of speech consisting of a vowel sound, a diphthong, or a syllabic consonant, with or without preceding or following consonant sounds: “Eye,” “sty,” “act,” and “should” are English words of one syllable. “Eyelet,” “stifle,” “enact,” and “shouldn't” are two-syllable words.</span></b></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-5d9bae95-0b12-7139-bd71-e87a2e210b9f" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Breaking words into syllables helps kids decode words. It is one component of phonological awareness. Students gain the ability to hear phonemes that comprise words and to explore speech sounds as syllables. Students who have well-developed phonological skills generally learn to read with more success. Kids can “clap” syllables, put their hand over their mouth and see how many times their mouth opens, or play other </span><a href="http://www.vocabulary.co.il/syllables/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">syllable games</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></div>
</b><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8125040509998294988.post-22633501362470453862014-09-24T08:00:00.000-07:002014-09-24T08:00:01.761-07:00A Rainbow of Gifts and Talents<b id="docs-internal-guid-5d9bae95-0b11-19f7-4595-b859619c1f10" style="font-weight: normal;"></b><br />
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-5d9bae95-0b11-19f7-4595-b859619c1f10" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Homeschoolers comes in a rainbow of gifts and talents. Some are gifted mathematicians, some hate math. Some take hours to complete a lesson and others zip right through them. Some need remedial help. Some have physical challenges. Some are gung ho and some are burned out. Some are sweet all day and others need a nap twice a day. Despite their gifts and talents or lack thereof, all are unique and precious. They just want to know you believe in them. </span></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.time4learning.com/learning-special-needs.shtml" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Special needs learning</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> represents a great many homeschoolers. Parents who homeschool their special needs child feel they can give their child more attention and a better quality education because they have their child’s best interest at heart. They understand their child’s needs. They know their child can achieve whatever they set their mind to. They sound like every other homeschool child to me...able to achieve whatever they set their mind to. Isn’t it wonderful that kids can be taught in an atmosphere where the sky's the limit. They are nurtured and expected to achieve, so they do, regardless of their </span><a href="http://www.time4learning.com/special-education.shtml" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">special education</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> needs or their academic giftedness. </span></div>
</b><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8125040509998294988.post-89510073898901659602014-08-08T15:00:00.000-07:002014-08-08T15:00:02.418-07:00Popular Homeschool Word Lists<b id="docs-internal-guid-5d9bae95-0b0f-4244-6be3-94ee928e422c" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b><br />
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-5d9bae95-0b0f-4244-6be3-94ee928e422c" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Does your child cry when it comes time to practice spelling? Are they bored or frustrated? Regardless of which, it might be time to change the way you handle spelling. </span></b></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-5d9bae95-0b0f-4244-6be3-94ee928e422c" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Frustration and boredom can both be averted, to some degree, by adding spelling games to your curricula. Use </span><a href="http://www.spellingcity.com/popular-word-lists.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">popular word lists</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> for spelling practice. Base your spelling practice on problem words you find in your child’s writing. Start by learning to spell basic </span><a href="http://www.spellingcity.com/dolch-words.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dolch words</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let your child be the teacher and test your spelling. They can give you a spelling test which they grade. They will have to know how to spell the words they give you, or have an answer sheet. Even if they use an answer sheet, they will be focused on the correct spellings in order to grade your paper. Be sure to miss a few so they can correct them. It makes excellent practice for them. </span></div>
</b><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8125040509998294988.post-4497194694493627672014-07-28T12:00:00.000-07:002014-07-28T12:00:02.438-07:00Homeschool Phonics<b id="docs-internal-guid-5d9bae95-0b0d-edcd-5d54-7e707f127560" style="font-weight: normal;"></b><br />
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-5d9bae95-0b0d-edcd-5d54-7e707f127560" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Learning to read is foremost for all first graders. If a solid foundation is laid down in the beginning, all other skills will come much easier. </span><a href="http://www.time4learning.com/readingpyramid/phonics.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Phonics</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is a huge part of laying down that crucial foundation. </span></b></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-5d9bae95-0b0d-edcd-5d54-7e707f127560" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Actually a healthy blend of </span><a href="http://www.spellingcity.com/spelling-curriculum.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">phonics and sight word curriculum</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> works best. There are just some words that cannot be sounded out. Dolch Words are a good place to start. Some kids benefit from drill and repetition while others need hands-on lessons, visual stimulation, or games. If you are unsure of your child’s learning style, choose a variety of methods. That will make sure cover the most senses. </span></div>
</b><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8125040509998294988.post-87587794243963205102014-06-06T13:00:00.000-07:002014-06-06T13:00:03.202-07:00Homeschool Summer School<b id="docs-internal-guid-5d9bae95-0b0c-9f20-a99c-ad6e4767f819" style="font-weight: normal;"></b><br />
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-5d9bae95-0b0c-9f20-a99c-ad6e4767f819" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Unless you homeschool year round, summer is time for fun and relaxation. We used to homeschool year round, but during the summer we were very laid back and took things much slower. How do you handle the summer months?</span></b></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-5d9bae95-0b0c-9f20-a99c-ad6e4767f819" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some kids need a little extra practice during the summer months just to stay sharp. Some kids need remedial help during the summer. </span><a href="http://www.time4learning.com/summer-school.shtml" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Online summer school</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is one answer. Kids can work at their own pace on specific areas of need. If your child just needs help in one area, say </span><a href="http://www.time4writing.com/online-writing-tutor/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">online tutoring in writing</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, then just have them work on that one area so that they don’t view themselves as being punished over the summer. </span></div>
<br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Keep summer learning relaxed and loose. You will be surprised at how much your kids pick up and retain. </span></b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8125040509998294988.post-32649616699900552602014-05-22T16:34:00.000-07:002014-05-22T16:34:00.074-07:00Homeschool LIterature<b id="docs-internal-guid-5d9bae95-0b0b-6b1d-b495-bcc22285db53" style="font-weight: normal;"></b><br />
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-5d9bae95-0b0b-6b1d-b495-bcc22285db53" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Homeschooling is an adventure. You get to choose how and what to teach your child. You get to choose the books you want you child exposed to. Literature for homeschoolers is rich. You can choose living books if that is your fave. You can choose books about homeschoolers or written by homeschoolers. You can even have your child join a </span><a href="http://www.homeschoolliterature.com/homeschool-literature-book-club" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">homeschool book club</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. How great is that?</span></b></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-5d9bae95-0b0b-6b1d-b495-bcc22285db53" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is easy to setup</span><a href="http://www.spellingcity.com/literature-based-word-lists.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> literature-based word lists</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to cover spelling exercises each week. Many popular books have spelling lists already created. They are free to use at SpellingCity.com.</span><a href="http://www.learninggamesforkids.com/literature-games.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Literature games</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> are another way to review favorite stories. Online educational games have become very popular among homeschoolers. Let you kids play a few today.</span></b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8125040509998294988.post-56327898505052719982014-04-03T11:30:00.000-07:002014-04-03T11:30:00.870-07:00Homeschool Keyboarding<b id="docs-internal-guid-5d9bae95-0b08-b3d5-9ef5-43424ff65472" style="font-weight: normal;"></b><br />
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-5d9bae95-0b08-b3d5-9ef5-43424ff65472" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I was a kid, typing classes were not taught until high school. I can still remember sitting in a class full of clicking and buzzing typewriters. I was one of the lucky ones though, I snagged an electric typewriter. </span></b></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-5d9bae95-0b08-b3d5-9ef5-43424ff65472" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Time and technology marches on. First graders learn keyboarding as part of their homeschool curriculum today. </span><a href="about:blank" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kids learning software </span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">requires to use a keyboard to answer questions and create things. </span></div>
<br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The hunt and peck method just doesn't cut it in today’s techie world, although my husband is king of this style of typing. Just don’t challenge him to a typing test unless you have an extra hour! </span></div>
<br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.learninggamesforkids.com/keyboarding_games.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Keyboarding games</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> are the most popular method for teaching typing today. Kids are encouraged to push harder and harder with each game, trying to beat their last time with fewer errors. The flash animation and arcade style games capture their attention and they learn to type in a low pressure situation. </span></div>
</b><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8125040509998294988.post-21017867769032883862012-11-16T09:36:00.001-08:002014-03-28T16:47:24.876-07:00Homeschool Literature<div>
Where are all the books by and about homeschoolers? Great question! <a href="http://www.homeschoolliterature.com/books-by-grade">HomeschoolLiterature.com</a> is a super place to investigate. They offer book reviews by and about homeschoolers. They also offer resources you can use with your child. </div>
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You might want to begin building a library full of books by and about homeschoolers. You might even find books that tell how a homeschooler wrote their own book. I hope that it will encourage your child to write. I know my daughter did not really enjoy writing until I told her a <a href="http://www.homeschoolliterature.com/category/books-by-homeschoolers">homeschooled kid was the author </a>of one of her favorite books, Eargon. That was all it took for her. She was suddenly determined she could write a book too. She has started and stopped several times. I am thrilled she tries. Right now, she keeps busy writing anime stories because she LOVES anime! </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8125040509998294988.post-61031248512531939932012-11-05T09:32:00.001-08:002014-03-28T15:15:48.076-07:00Turkey Time<div>"Gobble, gobble, gobble...." Almost a century ago, the wild turkey just about became extinct. Their habitats were destroyed when forest areas were being cleared. But don’t cry just yet…the wild turkey has fought his way back. You will now find them in 49 states--all but Alaska. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.learninggamesforkids.com/social_studies_games/benjamin-franklin.html">Benjamin Franklin</a> was a big fan of the wild turkey. In fact, he was very sad when the bald eagle was chosen as a symbol of the United States of America. He was rooting for the wild turkey. Franklin called the wild turkey a "...more respectable Bird..." and "...a true original native of North America."</div><div><br /></div><div><div>Interesting Facts About Turkeys:</div><div><br /></div><div><ul><li>Turkeys are large birds, related to pheasants. Wild turkeys are native to wooded areas of North America. (Turkeys were not mentioned by name in original accounts of the 1621 Plymouth Thanksgiving celebration. Wild turkeys would have lived in the surrounding area and may have been included in the fowl eaten at the meal however.) </li><li>Male turkeys are called toms. Female turkeys are called hens. </li><li>Only male turkeys make gobbling sounds. </li><li>Wild turkeys eat seeds, acorns, and insects. </li><li>Wild turkeys can run and are good fliers. Domesticated turkeys cannot fly. </li><li>Wild turkeys are not as fat as domesticated turkeys.</li><li>Domesticated turkeys are related to Mexican turkeys. </li><li>Spanish Conquistadors took Mexican turkeys to Europe in the 16th century. Turkeys were raised in Europe before the Pilgrims left there. </li><li>In this country, the average person in the United States eats almost 19 pounds of turkey each year. </li></ul></div><div><br /></div><div>Help your child learn what Benjamin Franklin had to say about the national seal of the United States of America. Ask your child to explain why Franklin thought the turkey was more appropriate than the bald eagle. Challenge your child to design a new seal -- using a turkey instead of the eagle.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8125040509998294988.post-65755262693449901962012-10-16T09:07:00.001-07:002014-03-28T15:17:10.866-07:00Reading and Spelling<p>Does your first grader have trouble with his reading skills? Maybe they need a little boost in spelling. <a href="http://www.spellingcity.com/reading-comprehension.html">Reading comprehension</a> and spelling are a couple; they go together. </p> <p>It is crucial for your first grader to master five basic skill areas–phonemic awareness, phonics, reading, reading comprehension, vocabulary, and fluency in order to be a successful reader. </p> <p>As your child learns, he builds upon these skills and the skills build upon each other. Check out a good <a href="http://www.time4learning.com/readingpyramid/index.htm">reading skills pyramid</a> to find out what your child needs to master and when. </p> <p>A fun way to practice reading and <a href="http://www.learninggamesforkids.com/spelling-games.html">spelling skills</a> is by playing online games. Games help reinforce skills being learned. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8125040509998294988.post-78234281016690762842012-10-03T09:24:00.001-07:002014-03-28T15:18:14.289-07:00Tips for Homeschooling Your First Grader<div><b>#1 - First Grade</b> <b>is the Doorway to your Child's Education </b></div><div>Help make it a positive experience for them. If your child loves first grade, odds are he will enjoy the rest of his schooling. </div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>#2 - Your First Grader is a Big Responsibility </b></div><div>Do not be all stressed out or start to panic. While this is an important time in the life of your child, you might not feel ready or prepared. Relax, breathe, and have fun. Your child will learn more than you ever dreamed, but only if you are calm and relaxed. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>#3 - Your First Grader is Super Important</b> </div><div>Build importance in your child and his first grade work. Show him in simple, small ways. For example, let him sit beside you when you read, even if he is not the youngest child. Let him have special school crayons or a special pencil for use only when doing schoolwork. </div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>#4 - Your First Grader Owns His Work </b></div><div>If you have children younger than your first grader, do not let them work in his workbooks. They belong to him and they are his. It is his important work. Make his work special for first graders only. Then when your preschooler gets to first grade, it will be new and exciting. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>#5 - Play Learning Games with Your First Grader</b> </div><div><a href="http://www.vocabulary.co.il/word-play/">Word games</a> and letter games are full of great educational benefits. Keep a healthy balance between work and play. When the work is too hard or frustrating, it might be time to pull out a few good <a href="http://www.time4learning.com/learning-games.shtml">games</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>#6 - Focus on Reading </b></div><div> Reading is fundamental. It is the base of his learning pyramid. If your child learns nothing more than how to be great reader (with good <a href="http://www.time4learning.com/readingpyramid/Comprehension.htm">comprehension skills</a>) then he will be prepared for the rest of his school years. Center your first grade curriculum on your reading program. Do not leave out other subjects at all because they are also important. It is easy to incorporate writing, spelling, language, and <a href="http://www.spellingcity.com/spelling-curriculum.html">phonics</a> into your reading program. Science and history can be taught during story time, which is important to any good reading program. </div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8125040509998294988.post-75376942788221127722012-09-18T09:19:00.001-07:002014-03-28T15:18:53.566-07:00Journaling<div>Journaling is not for adults only. It is a great way for kids to express themselves and practice <a href="http://www.spellingcity.com/student-writing-practice.html">writing</a>. It a safe place for them to be creative with their personal ideas. Journals are also a great way to preserve memories. </div><div><br /></div><div>So, you might be asking, “How can I help my child start journaling?” Here are a few tips:</div><div><br /></div><div><div><ul><li>It must be fun for your child or they won’t do it. </li><li>Take them to the Dollar Store and let them pick out funky tablets; neat notebooks; fun pens, pencils, and markers; and even stickers. Tell them they can use the new supplies to not only decorate their new journal, but to also make entries in it.</li><li>Allow them to write about whatever they choose. Only supply prompts if they ask. </li><li>Tell them their journal is their to write down their thoughts, and it is NOT homework. Also, let them know it is private. They do not have to show it to anyone unless they want to.</li><li>Tell them they do not need to worry about grammar or punctuation. This is a place to get the thoughts out of their head and on to paper. </li><li>If they are not good at writing much just yet, have them draw pictures to represent what they want to say. Encourage them to write words under the pictures. </li><li>Tell them they can cut out words from old magazines and newspapers to use in their journal. </li><li>Model journal writing to your child by letting them see you write in yours, or better yet, the two of you can set aside a time to write in your journal together. </li></ul></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8125040509998294988.post-16314137465247419812012-09-04T09:16:00.001-07:002014-03-28T15:19:58.364-07:00I Spy Bingo<div>I spy, you spy, we all spy ______. I Spy is a fun game, and it is very educational. This is a great game to play in the car (<a href="http://www.time4learning.com/roadschooling.shtml">carschooling</a>). </div><div><br /></div><div>Start by making homemade bingo type boards. I am sure if you google blank bingo boards or something similar, you will find a place to print them. Once you have the boards, glue them onto cardstock, then go on a search for pictures. Either draw and color your own pictures in the squares or copy clip art from the web or out of a clip art book. You can easily store them in ziplock bags with dry erase markers or wipe off crayons and an old sock to use for erasing. </div><div><br /></div><div>Here are two ideas to help get you started. </div><div><br /></div><div>·<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><b>Traffic/Road Signs</b>-stop sign, yield sign, stop light, no U turn, do not enter, speed limit sin, one way, slow, school crossing…</div><div><br /></div><div>·<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><b>Vehicles</b>- trucks, cars, semi truck, tractor, helicopter, train, motorcycle, van, boat, tow truck, airplane… you can also make some different colors if your child needs practice with colors. </div><div><br /></div><div> Laminate your boards before the first use. Be sure to leave about 1/8th of an inch of the lamination when you trim them. This will help stop them from coming apart. </div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8125040509998294988.post-83503454594758414022012-08-20T09:12:00.001-07:002014-03-28T15:20:33.506-07:00Homeschooling Your Way<div>The public school is set on No Child Left Behind. They have cut many classes and shortened others in order to teach to the test. Yes, reading and math are very important, but so are <a href="http://www.learninggamesforkids.com/art_and_music_games.html">art, music</a>, and homemaking. </div><div><br /></div><div>Homeschoolers have the advantage of adding whatever <a href="http://www.time4learning.com/homeschool-curriculum.htm">curriculum choices</a> and topics they want to their child’s education. What a blessing that is! You can go as fast or as slow as you need. You have the opportunity to teach to your child’s <a href="http://www.time4learning.com/learning-styles.shtml">learning style</a>. You can make the lessons as simple or as challenging as you wish, or as your child needs. </div><div><br /></div><div>You can build responsibility and challenges in your child by adding crafts that take several stages and days to complete; more cooking and gardening and work with real tools; more complex fairy tales; and responsibility for a chore or a pet to name just a few. </div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8125040509998294988.post-67626401468530523872012-08-03T09:09:00.002-07:002014-03-28T15:21:54.713-07:00Getting Started<div>First grade is where you find out just how ready your child is for the coming grades. It is crucial that you build a solid foundation. Without it, your child might struggle with the work that is ahead of them. </div><div>Make sure that you have everything you will need for the <a href="http://www.time4learning.com/backtoschool.shtml">coming school year</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>§ Curriculum and other academic resources </div><div>§ Paper (writing, drawing, construction, and scrap) </div><div>§ Pencils (regular and colored) and pencil sharpeners </div><div>§ Crayons, markers, and watercolors </div><div>§ Addition/subtraction flashcards, sight word cards, telling time cards, etc. </div><div>§ White board or chalkboard </div><div>§ Art supplies </div><div>§ Bulletin boards or charts of the ABC’s, numbers, days of the week, months of the year and so forth </div><div>§ Beginner readers and many books for story time </div><div>§ Field trips and activities planned for at the first half of the school year </div><div><br /></div><div><div>You can find lots of the supplies you need at yard sales, the Dollar Store, used curriculum buys, other friends that homeschool… You can make lots of the items you need, and don’t forget to use the local library. </div><div><br /></div><div>You definitely need to have a schedule. You do not have to have a strict schedule, but it is easier in the beginning if you have something to follow. You will want to bend sometimes to allow time for creativity, field trips, further exploration and more. Be flexible, your kids will thank you, and it will help you avoid burnout. </div><div><br /></div><div>Do not forget to allow for breaks in your school day. The little learners need them the most. If you have an ADHD child as I do, then breaks are essential. Try not to schedule more than 30-45 minutes at a time. Then stop for a 5-10 minute break. Have the kids run around the back yard, get a drink, go to the restroom, or just stretch. Your child will actually learn more if you plan breaks into your day. </div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8125040509998294988.post-2968737234324268182012-07-18T09:04:00.001-07:002014-03-28T15:22:47.618-07:00Board Games<div>Games, games, and more <a href="http://www.time4learning.com/learning-games.shtml">games</a>, that is what makes a dull, boring day come to life. Homeschooling families should have a wide assortment of board games at their disposal. Not only are board games great family-time activities, but they are also an excellent source for learning and reinforcing academics. </div><div><br /></div><div>Keep the learning stuff as just your secret. If you tell your child you are going to help them work on developing small muscles skills, improve their memory, practice classifying, following directions, learning fair play, increasing their attention span, or improving their visual discrimination, they are likely to tell you they do not want to play. I won’t tell if y0u won’t. </div><div><br /></div><div>A great place to pick up board games is at yard sales. Always check the game to make sure all the pieces are there before you purchase it. For fun, challenge your children to make up their own board game. </div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8125040509998294988.post-71432774579553691882012-07-02T09:01:00.001-07:002014-03-28T15:23:37.412-07:00Music<div>Do you include music in your <a href="http://www.time4learning.com/homeschool/homeschooling.shtml">homeschool lessons</a>? Music should be an integral part of every homeschooler's curriculum. Even if you are not musical, it is easy to expose your child to a variety of good music. Try including jazz, classical, Christian, folk, patriotic, popular (familiar) music. Do not forget to include your children's favorites. </div><div><br /></div><div>Children love music. They enjoy skipping, twirling, dancing, singing, tiptoeing, and resting to it. They can listen to <a href="http://www.learninggamesforkids.com/art_and_music_games.html">music</a> in the car, in their room, as part of a lesson, with the family… Allow them to enjoy music often and to express themselves through a variety of music in a variety of ways. Very soon, they will begin selecting their favorites, so get ready to play them over and over. I will not tell if you put in earplugs! </div><div><br /></div><div>Use some of your art time to make homemade musical instruments. You can make them from everyday items. A simple google search will turn up loads of ideas. For example, your child can make a tambourine from two aluminum pie pans or foam plates taped together with dried beans inside. A drum can simply be a former oatmeal box. Bang two sticks . Ring bells if you have them. Just be creative!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8125040509998294988.post-4761545508276882482012-06-15T09:08:00.001-07:002014-03-28T15:24:19.874-07:00Art<div>First graders seem to enjoy <a href="http://www.time4learning.com/art_lessons_online.shtml">art</a> projects, so give them plenty of opportunities to draw, paint, cut, paste, and sculpt. Keep your art supplies in a special caddy or box that they decorate. Rubbermaid has divided totes that work great, or check the Dollar Store for totes. </div><div><br /></div><div>Begin to collect art books and craft supplies from yard sales. You would be amazed at what people do not want anymore. Try to stay away from having your child color in coloring books. Encourage them to be creative by drawing and coloring their own pictures. There are books that have the beginning of a picture and your child completes it by drawing in the majority. This is good for kids who constantly say, “I don’t know what to draw.” </div><div><br /></div><div><div>It is a good idea to always have plenty of plain white paper, colored paper, crayons, paints, scissors, glue, pipe cleaners, tape, sidewalk chalk, glue sticks, old magazines, homemade play dough… Put out some supplies with no instructions to follow. Tell your child to create as they wish. Watch out for a burst of creativity. If you have miscellaneous items such as fabric, yarn, cardboard, beads, sequins, spangles, googly eyes and such, put them out too. The more the merrier. </div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8125040509998294988.post-9270312387115630972012-06-05T09:03:00.002-07:002014-03-28T15:25:10.494-07:00Flag Day is Everyday<div>June 14th is Flag Day. Celebrate then and every day. A <a href="http://www.learninggamesforkids.com/geography_games/random_games/flags.html">flag</a> is more than colored cloth hanging on a pole. A flag contains symbols that mean something to people. The American flag has thirteen red and white stripes that stand for our thirteen original colonies (states). It also has fifty stars, with each standing for one of our fifty states. Try making a flag that would mean something to you by using symbols to stand for important things in your life. </div><div><br /></div><div><div>Your Own Flag</div><div><br /></div><div>Supplies:</div><div>·<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>12 x 18 (or poster board) </div><div>·<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Markers </div><div>·<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Scissors </div><div>·<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Tape </div><div>·<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>3/4 " dowel (optional) </div><div>·<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Lamination or clear Con-Tact paper (optional)</div><div><br /></div><div>Directions:</div><div>1.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Write your name (really big) in the middle of the paper. Decide what things in your life are important to you. It could be your hobbies, team sports, pets, church, or anything else. </div><div>2.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Pick a symbol to stand for each activity and draw them on the flag. (Or you could cut the symbols from construction paper and use glue to place them on the flag.) </div><div>3.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>It is a good idea to laminate your flag or cover with clear Con-Tact paper in order to strengthen it. </div><div>4.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>You can attach your new flag to a wooden dowel if you have one. PVC also works. Put several pieces of tape on the left (short) edge and wrap this around your dowel so that your flag will be able to stand up. </div><div>5.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Fly it someplace special!</div><div><br /></div><div> Here is a great <a href="http://www.world-free-printable-flags.com/printable-flags-for-children.html">link</a> for flag making. </div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8125040509998294988.post-68739176133352767822012-05-22T09:49:00.001-07:002014-03-28T15:25:57.983-07:00Reduce, Reuse, Recycle<div><div>What is waste? Waste is anything we throw away or get rid of. Do you know about Reduce, Reuse, Recycle? <a href="http://www.spellingcity.com/earth-science.html">Introduce your kids to the terms </a>and encourage them to practice the three R's of waste management. Practicing all three of these activities every day is not only important for a healthy environment, but it can also be fun too. </div><div><br /></div><div>·<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><b>Reduce</b>-To make something smaller or use less, resulting in a smaller amount of waste. </div><div>·<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><b>Reuse</b>- You can "reuse" materials in their original form instead of throwing them away, or pass those materials on to others who could use them too! Remember, one man's trash is another man's treasure! It is fun to reuse things when you are crafting. </div><div>·<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><b>Recycle</b>-Don’t just toss everything in the trash. Lots of things (like cans, bottles, paper, and cardboard) can be remade into the same item or something new. Making new items from recycled ones also takes less energy and fewer resources than making products from brand new materials.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div>Here are fun 3 R songs your kids might enjoy singing.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>EnviroKid</b> (to the tune of Itsy Bitsy Spider)</div><div>Pesticides and dog poop</div><div>Soap and oil and dirt</div><div>Can go down the storm drains</div><div>What will they hurt?</div><div>Fish, birds and harbor seals,</div><div>Eagles, deer and squid.</div><div>Think before you use things</div><div>Be an EnviroKid! </div><div> </div><div><b>Recycle and Reuse </b>(to the tune of BINGO)</div><div>If you see *paper*, pick it up and put it in its place,</div><div>R-E-C-Y-C-L-E,</div><div>R-E-C-Y-C-L-E,</div><div>R-E-C-Y-C-L-E,</div><div>and put it in its place.</div><div>(*Replace paper with bottles, pop cans and cardboard.) </div><div>If your feet outgrow your shoes, do you know what to do?</div><div>R-E-U-S-E,</div><div>R-E-U-S-E,</div><div>R-E-U-S-E,</div><div>and give them to Goodwill. </div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Recycle Boogie</b> (to the tune of Hokey Pokey)</div><div>You put your plastic in, but take the caps off. You put your plastic in and recycle all about. </div><div>Do the recycle boogie and recycle all around, that’s what it’s all about (clap, clap).</div><div>You put your paper in, but keep the garbage out. You put the paper in and recycle all about.</div><div>Do the recycle boogie and recycle all around, that’s what it’s all about (clap, clap).</div><div>You put your cans in, but you smash them first. You put your cans in and recycle all about.</div><div>Do the recycle boogie and recycle all around, that’s what it’s all about (clap, clap). </div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Reduce, Recycle and Reuse</b> (to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star)</div><div>Reduce, recycle and reuse,</div><div>Be smart with the things you choose.</div><div>Recycle paper, cans and tin,</div><div>Throw the cardboard boxes in.</div><div>Reduce, recycle and reuse,</div><div>And our earth we will not lose.</div><div>Recycle, recycle show you care.</div><div>Save some water, land, and air.</div><div>Paper, plastic, things we buy,</div><div>Can be recycled if we try.</div><div>Recycle, recycle show you care.</div><div>Save some water, land and air (and electricity!)</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0