So I came across this method several months ago and just recently revisited the idea of it. I think this would be a great way to introduce Benjamin to new things. He loves exploring and is curious so this might be for him! So exactly what is Strewing?
Strewing means scattering, or dispersing haphazardly. In homeschooling, to strew is to leave education books, materials, and games lying about in the child's path.
To learn more about Strewing, go to this article!
http://homeschooling.families.com/blog/homeschool-word-of-the-day-strewing
Monday, December 27, 2010
Endangered Minds
Have you noticed how hard it is to get a child to really think?
Have you ever wondered about the effects of television, computers and video games on thinking? Have you wondered if these things are beneficial or harmful to a child’s education? Sadly, there have been almost zero scientific studies on the effects of television and computer and video games. Businesses and families may not be particularly interested in finding out the answers to such a study. It would be very comforting to think that the effects of video games and television are not particularly harmful.
Although there are only a few real studies, there have been a few of very good quality. There is one particular study from Leiden University in the Netherlands that shows that television has negative effects on reading skills. Among the study’s other conclusions they stated that television:
- Displaces leisure reading and inhibits the growth of reading skills
- Requires less mental effort than reading
- May shorten the time children are willing to spend on finding an answer to intellectual problems they are set to solve
It is becoming easier and easier to study how people think. We just paste non-invasive electrodes on a person’s head to study brain waves. The recent television and video game studies have been done this way. Three effects on learning abilities have been suggested by these types of studies:
- Some television and video programming artificially manipulate the brain into paying attention by violating certain of its natural defenses with frequent visual and auditory changes.
- Television induces neural passivity and reduces “stick-to-it-iveness”.
- Television may have a hypnotic and possibly neurologically addictive effect on the brain by changing the frequency of its electrical impulses in ways that block active mental processing.
Television advertisers know that the best way to get viewers to pay attention is to capitalize on the brain’s instinctive responses to danger. Sudden close-ups and pans alert the brain because they violate the reflex needed to maintain a predictable personal space. Bright colors, quick movements or sudden noises get attention because the brain is programmed to changes that might predict danger.
Carefully planned manipulations separate the natural responses of the brain and the body. Although the brain is alerted there is no need to respond physically. Children thus stimulated without an outlet for the normal physical response could develop frustrations, irritability and hyperactivity. Also children become habituated to surprise and a circus like environment.
You may enjoy reading Endangered Minds by Jane Healy. She writes, “We care deeply about the ‘smartness’ of our children, but our culture lacks patience with the slow, time-consuming handwork by which intellects are woven. The quiet spaces of childhood have been disrupted by media assault and instant sensory gratification.”
So what does all this mean for homeschool parents? Well, consider the very subtle effects of how you are allowing your children to spend their time. How they spend their time may be altering their ability to learn and to get along with others. Just think about it.
Randi St. Denis is an educator, popular homeschool speaker, and a seasoned homeschooling mom. Randi works as a consultant to public, private, and homeschool families; providing teaching expertise and assistance for all types of children. You can visit her website at ChicagoHomeschoolExpo.com.
Source: http://www.homeschool-articles.com/endangered-minds/
Freebie Unit Study
The Monday freebie from Currclick is:
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| Click here! |
Description
This unit is a nice collection of activities to help you study Construction Equipment.
There are activities and links for students from preschool through highschool.
Enjoy!
Friday, December 24, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
6 months free subscription!
FREE 6 month print subscription for everyone!
by The Old Schoolhouse Magazine on Tuesday, December 21, 2010 at 4:35pm
Hey, all! How about a FREE 6 month print sub just for sharing a link with your FB friends, Twitter, blog friends or email group? That's right, FREE for anyone! Nothing to purchase to receive your free subscription. Here's what you need to do. Read up on this promo: http://bit.ly/g0Sda3 Then share those wonderful specials and the link with your friends. Once you've shared that, email our CS manager, Julie, at jott@thehomeschoolmagazine.com with your name, address, phone & email addy and she'll add you in for a FREE 6 month sub! If you already have a sub, then you'll get a FREE extension! Thank you for your help in getting the word out about these crazy subscription deals and YAY for Free stuff! ~Betsy
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Giveaway Ending Tonight!
The giveaway for the SpellQuizzer software ends in a few hours! Got a child on your Christmas list that might need this to help them ace those spelling tests???? Public or homeschooled it doesn't matter with this program!
Wonderful savings on The Old Schoolhouse homeschooling magazine!
The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine has been a favorite resource for homeschoolers for years. The pages of our magazine holds informative and encouraging articles written by homeschool educators and parents like you. Because we want to spread the news far and wide about homeschooling, we are on a quest to reach 25,000+ paid subscribers by the year's end. We have three fabulous options for a REALLY great deal on our magazine, as well as some freebies, until January 2nd!
Will you choose option A?
Option A is a one year subscription (normally $25) for $7.95 to anyone in the U.S. or Canada. What a great gift idea for only $7.95! Consider buying several subscriptions for friends and family members. AND, any $7.95 purchase will result in a GIFT for you--choose any digital TOS Planner--FREE.
Will it be option B?
We have lowered the price on the ONE YEAR subscription with the Cranberries & Cream tote and the E-Book: Cranberry Christmas, all for $19.95., U.S. and Canada only.
Or will you choose option C?
Finally, we are offering our two-year subscription (U.S. and Canada) on sale for $37 with Cranberries & Cream tote, a Schoolhouse Planner of your choice, plus the E-Book: Cranberry Christmas.
Whatever option you choose, you get freebies and a great deal! So which option, and freebies, will you choose? A, B, or C?
All subscriptions will start with our beautiful, 200 page Winter issue. Offer good on new subscriptions, renewals, and gift subscriptions in both the U.S. (overseas military included) and Canada.
And remember, shipping is always free at the Schoolhouse Store! (U.S. only)
Monday, December 20, 2010
Great Site to Help Lower Your Homeschooling Costs!
Fire Safety
This time of year seems to be the perfect time to teach children about fire safety. A fire can happen at anytime but when cold weather sets in, the use of furnaces/heaters raises the risks. USFA offers several activities that you can do with your child to teach them fire safety. Just go here to find out more!
Free Educational Computer Games for Preschool/Kindergarten!
I found a wonderful site that has free educational games for your preschool/kindergarten student to play! They also have games for older children as well!
You can also buy software from them as well!ENJOY!
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| Click here! |
You can also buy software from them as well!ENJOY!
Sign Up for the Giveaway!
Don't forget to sign up for my giveaway! This can be used for Public School or Homeschool! Check out my review: http://moralxpression.blogspot.com/2010/12/product-reviewgiveaway-spellquizzer.html
Currclick Monday Freebie!
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| Go Here for the freebie! |
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DescriptionFile Folder Games are a great tool to use to teach your little ones. Our kids don't even realize they are learning while they are playing! File Folder Games are ordered as printable files. You print your game boards and adhere them to the inside of file folders for easy storage.Dr. Mary is usually very merry indeed, but today she is losing patience! Someone has left words off of her patient's charts and to make matters worse, the words that are missing are all homophones. Homophones are words that sound alike but are spelled differently and have different meanings. Can you help Dr. Mary figure out the missing words on her patients' charts so she can properly diagnose them? Recommended Grade 3. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Friday, December 17, 2010
Product Review/Giveaway SpellQuizzer!
I was recently given the opportunity to review a wonderful program called SpellQuizzer. I would like to thank Dan Hite of Tedco Software for selecting me to do a product review of SpellQuizzer. My family and I have spent the last few days trying out this program. I must say I was very impressed!
So what is SpellQuizzer? It is a program to help you and your child take the frustration out of learning their spelling lists for school. It wasn’t designed for any certain curriculum and allows you to customize your own spelling lists. You can import spelling list or export list for others to use. And you know what the best thing is? It is so SIMPLE to use! I was surprised at how quickly it downloaded and was ready to go.
So exactly how does it work? Each week you enter your spelling list and then make an audio recording of each word. The program then quizzes your child. It plays each word back and checks the spelling as they type the word. It corrects them when they misspell a word and re-quizzes them after they’ve completed the list the first time. It only takes 5 to 10 minutes a day! No more frustration for you or your child! I think the best way to explain it is to see it! Click here to see a video demonstration of SpellQuizzer.
Here are a few more details that I found very helpful with this program:
1. It wasn’t designed for just public school students but also has a page dedicated to homeschoolers. Go Here!
2. It has a built in spellchecker that recognizes both US and UK English spellings. It warns the user when creating a spelling list if they enter a word that appears to be misspelled. This safeguard makes it easier for children to make their own spelling lists!
3. They also have a community forum site now! Go Here!
4. They are constantly adding new spelling lists to the site that you can download free! (Spelling Lists) These include pre-made sound recordings.
5. You do need a microphone to do the recordings. Most computers usually come with this but if not they are very inexpensive (usually under $10). Because Microphone Boost in some Windows installations isn’t turned on by default, the site shows you how to turn it on! Click here for details!
Overall I thought this program was very easy to navigate and use. I know we’ll be using it a lot at my house! Want to try it yourself? Head on over to SpellQuizzer and try their 30 day free trial . If you decided to buy it, you have no worries because it comes with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee!
Now for the best part of all! One luck winner is going to get a copy free! That’s right! Dan at Tedco has been nice enough to allow me to have a giveaway! It’s real easy to enter! Each of the following steps gets you a chance at winning this!
*Follow MoralXpression on Google Friend Connect
*Like MoralXpression on Facebook
*BONUS ENTRY! Like SpellQuizzer on Facebook!
*BONUS ENTRY! Like SpellQuizzer on Facebook!
Leave a comment telling me which one you did. Please leave a separate comment for each one. The contest will close on Tuesday December 21st, 2011 at 10pm EST. Once a winner has been chosen, I will send your name and email address to Dan at Tedco. He will send you the free Spellquizzer license.
Disclosure: A copy of the program SpellQuizzer was given to me in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation nor was I under obligation to give a positive review. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Food Fun!
Have you heard about Food Fun? Do you tell your children NOT to play with their food? Well then you need to hear about Food Fun, the organization that encourages children to play with their food! Here is what they say about their organization:
A 3-tiered lesson about healthy foods, food groups and where they come from. Our games are packed with multiple levels of learning for kids of all ages. But most importantly, they encourage children to create their own relationships with food, namely healthy foods.
Our healthy eating games will help you give them the basics for a healthy lifestyle.
We want to make it easy for you to teach your children. We want to work with you in raising a generation of healthy, happy children who have a whole ‘lotta fun with food!
We are parents. We believe in healthy eating and living. We want to have FUN!
And we want your kids to have fun while learning about healthy eating and living.
We know that when they play with their food it can be a messy thing. Spaghetti on the wall, salad on the floor, tomato sauce in their hair. So we have created FoodFun to let them play with their food, while sparing you the mess, even if it’s a healthy mess. In fact, instead of taking out the mop and bucket, you will be given the opportunity to teach your children an invaluable lesson.A 3-tiered lesson about healthy foods, food groups and where they come from. Our games are packed with multiple levels of learning for kids of all ages. But most importantly, they encourage children to create their own relationships with food, namely healthy foods.
Our healthy eating games will help you give them the basics for a healthy lifestyle.
We want to make it easy for you to teach your children. We want to work with you in raising a generation of healthy, happy children who have a whole ‘lotta fun with food!
Here are just a few of our newest games.
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FoodFarm
$19.00
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FoodFlash
$8.00
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FoodMoves
$19.00
Want to learn more? Head on over to http://foodfun.org/ ENJOY!
Wonderful Allergen Free Gingerbread House Recipe!
This is just one of the many great posts and ideas over at Only Sometimes Clever. I know that some of you have children with allergies so hope this site will be a blessing and a help to you! So head on over and see what else you might discover on her site! ENJOY!
Holy cow! First place in the gingerbread house competition!
8 Dec
I blogged a bit before about our intent to build a gingerbread house as a homeschooling project this week, then enter it into our city’s annual competition. Honestly, we did this with zero expectation of award; our desire was just to participate.There were three categories — one for kids 12 & under, one for teens and adults, and one for a group. I entered ours into the group category.
I did most of the icing, and I stood up the walls, but the boys did virtually all of the rest of it. They sketched out ideas, read books on gingerbread house-making, they chose the template, they helped make the dough and roll it out, they made decorating design decisions, the did most of the decorating… It really was a group effort. My inner sometimes-perfectionist threatened to rear its head and take over all the layout and correct a gloppy mistake, but for the most part, I let the boys’ ideas trump mine, and I let their glops alone.
We were planning on attending our city’s tree-lighting and assorted festivities (including ribbon-awarding) last night anyways… but when someone from the city called to let me know we’d won first place, I knew we had to get there. It was a bummer, because my hubby was running late, heading home after working for part of the day in a city 40 miles away… so we ended up running up literally just as they were announcing our names. So, the boys didn’t really get that tension/excitement buildup that comes from anxiously waiting to see if your name is called. (I hadn’t told them that we won.)
Still, it ended up being a fantastic night… The ribbon is now quite rumpled from the boys (and Audrey) admiring it.
The house is gluten-free, dairy-free (GFCF), nut-free and peanut-free. I used a cookie recipe I devised, royal icing, and candy bought from Walgreen’s.
Here’s the gingerbread house progression:
Before:
Cutting out the templates:
Audrey supervised:
Cutting out the dough:
The bare house, assembled:
Ethan adds some candy:
I ice some windows:
Knowing that my spelling is an issue of pride, and to keep me humble about both that, and about the house, God saw to it that, in a gingerbread-induced stupor, I misspelled “allergen.”
The house is done!
We’re all pleased:
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Teaching Toddlers to do Household Chores
I never set out to give my toddlers chores to do. You might be thinking, “That’s too young! Toddlers can’t do chores!” That’s what I thought too, that is until I was constantly tripping over my boys while trying to do my own household chores.
Let’s face it, toddlers want to help mom, even when mom doesn’t want or need help. But what better way to teach your toddlers to do chores than letting them help mom?
The number of chores you give your child to do will depend on your child. Some kids want to help more than others. At this age, the important thing is to teach them to clean up after themselves, not to try to get them to clean the entire house.
One of my sons is not interested in helping me pick up toys. He helps me for a minute then moves on to something else. However, he loves helping me with laundry and unloading the dishwasher.
My other son has to have everything around him arranged in a certain way. When we pick up his toys he makes sure everything is picked up and in its place. One day when we were picking up the family room he went into his bedroom and picked up the entire room. When we found him in there his room was spotless, and he’s not even 2 years old!
Besides picking up toys off the floor at the end of every day, I don’t require my boys to do certain chores, except as they want to help me. There are, however, a couple of chores they especially enjoy.
I realized my boys were old enough to help with the laundry when they started taking their clothes out of the dryer and running into their room to put them into their drawers! So now I let them put their own clothes away, and don’t worry about what drawers they put them in. The important thing is that they are helping and putting their own laundry away. They also enjoy putting their clothes into the washing machine. I take turns picking each child up so they can drop some clothing into the machine.
I had a terrible time trying to keep my toddlers out of my dishwasher until I realized they just wanted to help take dishes out of it. For awhile they handed me silverware to put away (I take all of the sharp knives out first), then they decided that they wanted to put the silverware into the drawer. They can’t even see into the drawer, but they drop it over the edge, into the drawer, then I put the silverware where it belongs.
I’ve had a lot of fun letting my toddler boys help with household chores. They don’t see chores as work, they think they are hanging out with and helping mom, which is what is important to them, and as they get older they will learn that household chores are a part of family life.
Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom who is the author of What’s for Dinner?, an e-cookbook containing more than 250 quick easy dinner ideas. For more recipes, organizing tips, home decorating, crafts, holiday hints, and more, visit Creative Homemaking at http://www.creativehomemaking.com.
Let’s face it, toddlers want to help mom, even when mom doesn’t want or need help. But what better way to teach your toddlers to do chores than letting them help mom?
The number of chores you give your child to do will depend on your child. Some kids want to help more than others. At this age, the important thing is to teach them to clean up after themselves, not to try to get them to clean the entire house.
One of my sons is not interested in helping me pick up toys. He helps me for a minute then moves on to something else. However, he loves helping me with laundry and unloading the dishwasher.
My other son has to have everything around him arranged in a certain way. When we pick up his toys he makes sure everything is picked up and in its place. One day when we were picking up the family room he went into his bedroom and picked up the entire room. When we found him in there his room was spotless, and he’s not even 2 years old!
Besides picking up toys off the floor at the end of every day, I don’t require my boys to do certain chores, except as they want to help me. There are, however, a couple of chores they especially enjoy.
I realized my boys were old enough to help with the laundry when they started taking their clothes out of the dryer and running into their room to put them into their drawers! So now I let them put their own clothes away, and don’t worry about what drawers they put them in. The important thing is that they are helping and putting their own laundry away. They also enjoy putting their clothes into the washing machine. I take turns picking each child up so they can drop some clothing into the machine.
I had a terrible time trying to keep my toddlers out of my dishwasher until I realized they just wanted to help take dishes out of it. For awhile they handed me silverware to put away (I take all of the sharp knives out first), then they decided that they wanted to put the silverware into the drawer. They can’t even see into the drawer, but they drop it over the edge, into the drawer, then I put the silverware where it belongs.
I’ve had a lot of fun letting my toddler boys help with household chores. They don’t see chores as work, they think they are hanging out with and helping mom, which is what is important to them, and as they get older they will learn that household chores are a part of family life.
Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom who is the author of What’s for Dinner?, an e-cookbook containing more than 250 quick easy dinner ideas. For more recipes, organizing tips, home decorating, crafts, holiday hints, and more, visit Creative Homemaking at http://www.creativehomemaking.com.
The Quest for a Thin Baby: How Far Some Parents Will Go
First there was the airbrushing of babies in magazines and now parents are starving newborns so they don’t become “fat babies”. What is this country coming to?
We all know that being overweight is unhealthy and can put a person at risk for medical illness. Being too thin, however, is also not healthy and often not attainable. Most of us were not meant to be a size zero. And those who do manage to starve themselves to this size, wind up regaining the weight. Yes, there are some people who are naturally skinny and they can be healthy. But most people really have to work to get (and stay) at that size, often using unhealthy methods. Society’s obsession with emaciation is leading to many adverse side effects.
Consider the case pending against Brittainy and Samuel Labberton for attempting to starve their newborn daughter to the point of clinical emaciation. They were much more concerned about the child’s looks than the child’s health! When the baby gained some (much-needed) weight during a hospitalization, Brittainy complained “’Oh my God, she’s fat’ and ‘I have a fat baby,’” according to Senior Deputy Prosecutor Carol Spoor. The baby’s dad was not better. He complained to detectives that his 9-month old daughter had “gained so much weight that now she is fat,” according to court documents. In fact, during a visitation after she was taken to a foster home, they gave the infant a bottle filled with a laxative to help remove some of the weight gained since the child’s removal from the house.
I see more subtle cases of this in my office, on a regular basis. I have seen mothers bring in normal-weight teen girls, complaining that they are too heavy. One mom even forced her daughter to drop her jeans so I could see “how disgusting her huge thighs are”. These moms are never pleased when I refuse to treat their daughters and instead I tell them that they are “healthy and beautiful.” Can you imagine what this does to a young girl’s self-image? My job is to help overweight kids get to a normal body weight, not to help young girls starve themselves to live up to some unrealistic expectation from their mothers!
The truth is that babies, children, and even adults NEED to have some body fat! The human brain is not fully developed at birth; during the first years of life, fat is used to nourish the brain and allow for proper development. Kids are supposed to have fat on their bodies, as well. Unlike adults, children are still growing and need sufficient calories and nutrients to do so. Even adults need some fat on their bodies. We were not meant to be stick-thin. A person considered “normal-weight” by the medical community would be considered enormous by Hollywood standards. Admiring pin-thin models and celebrities only leads our children to have more self-doubts and lower self-esteem. Instead of focusing on getting skinny, we should discuss getting healthy. There is a happy medium.
Children who feel accepted by their parents are more likely to feel secure, do better in school, and simply be happier. As parents, we must do all we can to nurture a positive sense of self in our children. Let’s stop obsessing about cellulite and a few extra pounds and instead focus on keeping weight in a healthy range, not too heavy and not too skinny. As my mom always says, “Everything in Moderation!”
Joanna Dolgoff MD is a pediatrician who specializes in child and adolescent weight management. She is the creator of Dr. Dolgoff’s Weigh.
Source: http://www.homeschool-articles.com/the-quest-for-a-thin-baby-how-far-some-parents-will-go/
We all know that being overweight is unhealthy and can put a person at risk for medical illness. Being too thin, however, is also not healthy and often not attainable. Most of us were not meant to be a size zero. And those who do manage to starve themselves to this size, wind up regaining the weight. Yes, there are some people who are naturally skinny and they can be healthy. But most people really have to work to get (and stay) at that size, often using unhealthy methods. Society’s obsession with emaciation is leading to many adverse side effects.
Consider the case pending against Brittainy and Samuel Labberton for attempting to starve their newborn daughter to the point of clinical emaciation. They were much more concerned about the child’s looks than the child’s health! When the baby gained some (much-needed) weight during a hospitalization, Brittainy complained “’Oh my God, she’s fat’ and ‘I have a fat baby,’” according to Senior Deputy Prosecutor Carol Spoor. The baby’s dad was not better. He complained to detectives that his 9-month old daughter had “gained so much weight that now she is fat,” according to court documents. In fact, during a visitation after she was taken to a foster home, they gave the infant a bottle filled with a laxative to help remove some of the weight gained since the child’s removal from the house.
I see more subtle cases of this in my office, on a regular basis. I have seen mothers bring in normal-weight teen girls, complaining that they are too heavy. One mom even forced her daughter to drop her jeans so I could see “how disgusting her huge thighs are”. These moms are never pleased when I refuse to treat their daughters and instead I tell them that they are “healthy and beautiful.” Can you imagine what this does to a young girl’s self-image? My job is to help overweight kids get to a normal body weight, not to help young girls starve themselves to live up to some unrealistic expectation from their mothers!
The truth is that babies, children, and even adults NEED to have some body fat! The human brain is not fully developed at birth; during the first years of life, fat is used to nourish the brain and allow for proper development. Kids are supposed to have fat on their bodies, as well. Unlike adults, children are still growing and need sufficient calories and nutrients to do so. Even adults need some fat on their bodies. We were not meant to be stick-thin. A person considered “normal-weight” by the medical community would be considered enormous by Hollywood standards. Admiring pin-thin models and celebrities only leads our children to have more self-doubts and lower self-esteem. Instead of focusing on getting skinny, we should discuss getting healthy. There is a happy medium.
Children who feel accepted by their parents are more likely to feel secure, do better in school, and simply be happier. As parents, we must do all we can to nurture a positive sense of self in our children. Let’s stop obsessing about cellulite and a few extra pounds and instead focus on keeping weight in a healthy range, not too heavy and not too skinny. As my mom always says, “Everything in Moderation!”
Joanna Dolgoff MD is a pediatrician who specializes in child and adolescent weight management. She is the creator of Dr. Dolgoff’s Weigh.
Source: http://www.homeschool-articles.com/the-quest-for-a-thin-baby-how-far-some-parents-will-go/
Monday, December 13, 2010
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Free Ebook!
Thematic Packs are collections of multi-leveled games focusing on Numbers, Colors, Letters and Shapes. They are ready to print, use and learn!
"Brr..it's cold" contains:
Winter themed matching cards and pieces for numbers (1-12)
Winter themed matching cards and pieces for letters
Winter themed matching cards and pieces for colors
Winter themed matching cards and pieces for shapes
Winter themed puzzles,
Winter them..go here to learn more! ENJOY!
Free printables/lapbook lessons
One of my favorite sites to get printable coloring pages and lessons is at Lapbook Lessons .
Right now they have some wonderful Christmas lapbooks that are free to print. They also have lots of ideas and links to other homeschooling freebies! I find that you can use part of all of the lapbooks that they offer. If you aren't homeschooling, you can still find things that you can do at home with your child! I hope you enjoy this site as much as I do! ENJOY!
Right now they have some wonderful Christmas lapbooks that are free to print. They also have lots of ideas and links to other homeschooling freebies! I find that you can use part of all of the lapbooks that they offer. If you aren't homeschooling, you can still find things that you can do at home with your child! I hope you enjoy this site as much as I do! ENJOY!
Friday, December 10, 2010
TV Watching Is Bad for Babies' Brains
Babies who watch TV are more likely to have delayed cognitive development and language at 14 months, especially if they're watching programs intended for adults and older children. We probably knew that 24 and Grey's Anatomy don't really qualify as educational content, but it's surprising that TV-watching made a difference at such a tender age. Go Here to read full article!
Gears!Gears!Gears!
Looking for gift ideas?
I love to get free things especially since I'm a stay at home mom. It gets really tight around the holidays so I'm always looking for neat and creative freebies. One place that I find myself going back to time and again is Vista Print! I've received calenders, t shirts, memo pads, and business cards, just to name a few! I especially love this site since I'm trying to build up my blog. Vista Print products are quality products too. I was impressed the first order that I received, the colors where so bright and the business cards were printed on quality card stock too. They are always offering freebies to show you the quality of their work. All you have to pay is shipping and handling which is very reasonable! To print business cards at home, I would spend more in paper and ink then it would cost for the shipping from them. If you are interested in seeing the freebie they are offering right now, head on over to Vista Print! ENJOY!
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Cutting shapes and lines!
Preschool Activity: Cutting Shapes and Lines
Cutting with scissors is a learned activity. By three years old your child should have no problem holding a pair of child-sized scissors. It takes them awhile to master this new skill, however, so be patient with them while they begin to show an interest in learning how to do it.
Purchase your child a pair of his own scissors. If your child is left-handed, make sure the scissors can be used by left- or right-handed children. Many scissors can be used by both.
Let your child try to cut with the scissors, and encourage him to cut the best he can. It may take awhile for him to get the hang of it. My boys were four years old before they could hold a pair of scissors correctly and cut with them.
After your child has learned to cut with his scissors, it’s time to practice cutting shapes and lines. This activity helps your preschooler master his cutting skills so he can move on to cutting out shapes for his own craft projects.
Have your child start cutting lines. Simply use a ruler to draw several lines on a piece of paper, and then have your child try to cut on the line. It will probably take awhile for your child to get the hang of it, but after he catches on he will be so proud of his new accomplishment. After lines, he is ready to move on to wavy lines, then ovals, and, finally, circles.
Preschoolers love this cutting activity. One of my sons spent at least an hour two days in a row cutting out shapes I had drawn for him. He was so excited he could cut on the lines that he wanted to cut them out over and over again.
Another skill that can be practiced with this activity is tracing. Before your child cuts out the shapes, have him first trace them with a pencil. This is also a skill that takes time to learn and that your child will enjoy trying to master.
Children enjoying learning things. Open up a whole new world for your child by teaching him something as simple as using a pair of scissors.
Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom of four. For resources for the Christian family, including parenting, toddler and preschool activities, homeschooling, family traditions, and more, visit http://www.Christian-Parent.com
Source: http://www.homeschool-articles.com/preschool-activity-cutting-shapes-and-lines/
Cutting with scissors is a learned activity. By three years old your child should have no problem holding a pair of child-sized scissors. It takes them awhile to master this new skill, however, so be patient with them while they begin to show an interest in learning how to do it.
Purchase your child a pair of his own scissors. If your child is left-handed, make sure the scissors can be used by left- or right-handed children. Many scissors can be used by both.
Let your child try to cut with the scissors, and encourage him to cut the best he can. It may take awhile for him to get the hang of it. My boys were four years old before they could hold a pair of scissors correctly and cut with them.
After your child has learned to cut with his scissors, it’s time to practice cutting shapes and lines. This activity helps your preschooler master his cutting skills so he can move on to cutting out shapes for his own craft projects.
Have your child start cutting lines. Simply use a ruler to draw several lines on a piece of paper, and then have your child try to cut on the line. It will probably take awhile for your child to get the hang of it, but after he catches on he will be so proud of his new accomplishment. After lines, he is ready to move on to wavy lines, then ovals, and, finally, circles.
Preschoolers love this cutting activity. One of my sons spent at least an hour two days in a row cutting out shapes I had drawn for him. He was so excited he could cut on the lines that he wanted to cut them out over and over again.
Another skill that can be practiced with this activity is tracing. Before your child cuts out the shapes, have him first trace them with a pencil. This is also a skill that takes time to learn and that your child will enjoy trying to master.
Children enjoying learning things. Open up a whole new world for your child by teaching him something as simple as using a pair of scissors.
Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom of four. For resources for the Christian family, including parenting, toddler and preschool activities, homeschooling, family traditions, and more, visit http://www.Christian-Parent.com
Source: http://www.homeschool-articles.com/preschool-activity-cutting-shapes-and-lines/
Super Spelling Ideas!
Super Spelling Ideas
Try these ideas to make spelling practice FUN!
A spelling program at www.SpellingCity.com contains over 28,000 spelling words, including plurals, contractions, future and past tenses. Spelling City provides spelling practice at home or school. Parents can enter and save their own spelling lists for their children, and students can play games with their words.
Use letter stickers and stamps to spell the words.
Write the phone number of a spelling word by writing the corresponding letters and numbers on a telephone. Be careful. There is not a “Q” or “Z” on a telephone.
Create a pyramid with the words.
For example:
C
CA
CAT
CATS
Here are some free spelling lists. Parents, please do not get too concerned over spelling. Many studies have been done for over one hundred years, and there is good evidence that direct instruction in spelling has limited long-term spelling effects. The most likely candidate for building spelling competence is reading. For more information on this research, read the reading-spelling connection.
Relax and have FUN with spelling!
Tamara Chilver is an elementary teacher, home educator, speaker, author of Homeschooling with TLC in the Elementary Grades and Tutoring Your Elementary Child with TLC, and creator of the television program Flip Your Family. Tamara’s approach gives parents teaching tools to enhance their children’s education and empowers them with confidence. For more teaching tips, visit TeachingWithTLC.com
.
Source: http://www.homeschool-articles.com/super-spelling-ideas/
Try these ideas to make spelling practice FUN!
A spelling program at www.SpellingCity.com contains over 28,000 spelling words, including plurals, contractions, future and past tenses. Spelling City provides spelling practice at home or school. Parents can enter and save their own spelling lists for their children, and students can play games with their words.
Use letter stickers and stamps to spell the words.
Write the phone number of a spelling word by writing the corresponding letters and numbers on a telephone. Be careful. There is not a “Q” or “Z” on a telephone.
Create a pyramid with the words.
For example:
C
CA
CAT
CATS
Here are some free spelling lists. Parents, please do not get too concerned over spelling. Many studies have been done for over one hundred years, and there is good evidence that direct instruction in spelling has limited long-term spelling effects. The most likely candidate for building spelling competence is reading. For more information on this research, read the reading-spelling connection.
Relax and have FUN with spelling!
Tamara Chilver is an elementary teacher, home educator, speaker, author of Homeschooling with TLC in the Elementary Grades and Tutoring Your Elementary Child with TLC, and creator of the television program Flip Your Family. Tamara’s approach gives parents teaching tools to enhance their children’s education and empowers them with confidence. For more teaching tips, visit TeachingWithTLC.com
.
Source: http://www.homeschool-articles.com/super-spelling-ideas/
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Sunday, December 5, 2010
1-2-3 Learn
I have got to tell you about my friend's website! It is called 1-2-3 Learn. She has lots of wonderful free downloads plus offers a 25.00 yearly membership to thousands of sheets in pdf form! She has some great holiday sheets right now for like a Santa countdown sheet! You can also "like" 1-2-3 Learn on Facebook and get updates as to when things are added. I hope get as much help from her site as I do! ENJOY!
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Today's Freebie
Shelley Lovett's ChildCareLand site offers a huge library of short teaching tips and learning activities videos (in streaming format) for preschool and kindergarten age students — over 300 brief, practical, helpful ideas and demonstrations that will enhance any pre-school or kindergarten age learning time.
Go here to get this freebie. ENJOY!
Crayon Scratch Art
I've been looking at different art projects to do with Benjamin. I've decided I would like to try crayon scratch art with him. How many of you have done this with your children? It seems pretty simple to do and also fun! The only thing is right now I have no black tempera paint, so that will have to be picked up at the craft store. I've listed a link below that gives an excellent tutorial on how to do these! ENJOY!
A Small Fox in a Big World blog
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Freebies!
Also here is some info on History Heritage, just go here to learn more! I love history and think it is very important for children to learn about. I feel that due to all the testing that public schools do now, history is pushed aside. I hope you find something that you can use! ENJOY!
Busy Busy
I'm so sorry for not posting much lately! I've been so busy with getting ready for the holiday and finals. My family had been sick for almost two weeks too. We are all better now but there for a while, we felt awful! I've got 6 more finals to go and this semester will be done!
So what did you and your family do for Thanksgiving? My family just had a quiet dinner here at home as we were all sick. And no I didn't do any Black Friday shopping, I never do!
So what did you and your family do for Thanksgiving? My family just had a quiet dinner here at home as we were all sick. And no I didn't do any Black Friday shopping, I never do!
Thursday, November 25, 2010
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Happy Thanksgiving from my family to your family! May we all take a moment to remember all that we are thankful for.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Marshmallow Turkeys!
Groupon Deal of the Day!
Friday, November 19, 2010
Knot-a-quilt give away!
My friend Heather over at Special Needs Homeschooling is having another great giveaway! She's giving away a Knot-a-Quilt. Heather's blog about homeschooling is an inspiration to everyone! She offers great advice and resources. Head on over to http://specialneedshomeschooling.com/ to find out more! You can also "like" the site on Facebook, I do! ENJOY!
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Hamburger Helper coupon
I don't usually post coupons on here but BlogSpark sent me this link for my readers. It's for .35 off 1 box of Hamburger helper. Its only good until Nov. 30! ENJOY!
Print Coupon here!
Print Coupon here!
 |
| Go Here! |
Free Thanksgiving Printables
Monday, November 15, 2010
Freebie of the Day
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| Go Here! |
The Thanksgiving File Folder Games Mini-Lapbook from Knowledge Box Central is a wonderful source of fun during the Thanksgiving Holiday! Your children will enjoy cutting and pasting the game together inside a file folder. These games can be played over and over, keeping their minds and little hands busy during the break! These games were designed for Kindergarten through about 3rd grade but could easily be "tweaked" to include younger AND older students (or even adults!)
Kids.woot deal today
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| http://kids.woot.com/ |
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Organizing Preschool Supplies
Organizing Preschool Supplies
If you are doing preschool at home, or even if you are just doing some extra preschool activities with your child from time to time, you probably have a lot of papers and craft supplies taking up space on your countertops and closet shelves.
It was hard for me to get excited about doing preschool activities without being organized first, so I set out to go through all of our supplies and set up an organized storage system that works for me.
Flash Cards and Card Games
I store all of my boys’ flash cards and card games in a small plastic storage container. This container is kept up in a closet where only I can get it down for them. It only took one time of me putting all the cards back in the boxes to realize they couldn’t handle getting into this container on their own!
Art Supplies
Most of our art supplies are stored where my boys can get to them. I purchased a three drawer plastic storage container that works great for art supplies. One drawer holds their crayons, colored pencils, scissors, and glue. The second drawer stores a variety of painting supplies. The third drawer stores miscellaneous items, such as felt pieces for the felt board and plastic letters for the magnetic board. This plastic container is kept near the kitchen table where my boys do their art projects. This keeps it within easy reach when they want to color, paint, or do some other art project.
Craft Supplies
I have a separate plastic storage container just for craft supplies. Most of these supplies aren’t used unless we are doing a special craft project, so the kids don’t need to get in there every day. This container stores things like google eyes, pipe cleaners, crepe paper, etc. This is also where I store the ink pads I don’t want them getting into by themselves.
Worksheets, Workbooks, and Project Instructions
If you like to collect preschool craft and activity ideas like I do, you probably have a lot of piles of paper that need to be sorted and organized. I purchased several plastic file folder storage boxes for all these papers, and they have worked great so far. I sorted my papers into categories like Christmas, Thanksgiving, spring, animals, alphabet, etc. I combined several categories together in one container, and then labeled each container so I would know exactly what is in it. I also placed all of our workbooks in these containers. It’s nice to have a place to put all those miscellaneous papers I always seem to run across. If I cut out an article from somewhere, or photocopy an idea from a book, I have a place to file it away where I can always find it again. You can put away the containers you don’t currently need and just leave out the ones you are currently using.
Preschool Manipulatives and Puzzles
Hopefully your preschooler has a lot of math manipulatives and puzzles to play with. These items should be set out where they can just pick up when they are bored. All of our puzzles are stored inside of benches we have around the table in our kitchen. When our boys want to do a puzzle, they can get them out themselves. Our math manipulatives are stored on a shelf in our entertainment center. Again, the kids have easy access to them and often pick them up when they are bored. We have sewing cards, patterning and sorting activities, and several number, matching, and reading games. I love to see my boys reaching for these great learning activities when they want something to do.
The preschool years are a fun time for you and your child. Whether you are doing preschool at home or your child attends preschool, make sure you have lots of stimulating activities for your child at home that are organized and ready to use when you need them.
Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom of five. For resources for the Christian family, including parenting, toddler and preschool activities, homeschooling, family traditions, and more, visit Christian-Parent.com.
It was hard for me to get excited about doing preschool activities without being organized first, so I set out to go through all of our supplies and set up an organized storage system that works for me.
Flash Cards and Card Games
I store all of my boys’ flash cards and card games in a small plastic storage container. This container is kept up in a closet where only I can get it down for them. It only took one time of me putting all the cards back in the boxes to realize they couldn’t handle getting into this container on their own!
Art Supplies
Most of our art supplies are stored where my boys can get to them. I purchased a three drawer plastic storage container that works great for art supplies. One drawer holds their crayons, colored pencils, scissors, and glue. The second drawer stores a variety of painting supplies. The third drawer stores miscellaneous items, such as felt pieces for the felt board and plastic letters for the magnetic board. This plastic container is kept near the kitchen table where my boys do their art projects. This keeps it within easy reach when they want to color, paint, or do some other art project.
Craft Supplies
I have a separate plastic storage container just for craft supplies. Most of these supplies aren’t used unless we are doing a special craft project, so the kids don’t need to get in there every day. This container stores things like google eyes, pipe cleaners, crepe paper, etc. This is also where I store the ink pads I don’t want them getting into by themselves.
Worksheets, Workbooks, and Project Instructions
If you like to collect preschool craft and activity ideas like I do, you probably have a lot of piles of paper that need to be sorted and organized. I purchased several plastic file folder storage boxes for all these papers, and they have worked great so far. I sorted my papers into categories like Christmas, Thanksgiving, spring, animals, alphabet, etc. I combined several categories together in one container, and then labeled each container so I would know exactly what is in it. I also placed all of our workbooks in these containers. It’s nice to have a place to put all those miscellaneous papers I always seem to run across. If I cut out an article from somewhere, or photocopy an idea from a book, I have a place to file it away where I can always find it again. You can put away the containers you don’t currently need and just leave out the ones you are currently using.
Preschool Manipulatives and Puzzles
Hopefully your preschooler has a lot of math manipulatives and puzzles to play with. These items should be set out where they can just pick up when they are bored. All of our puzzles are stored inside of benches we have around the table in our kitchen. When our boys want to do a puzzle, they can get them out themselves. Our math manipulatives are stored on a shelf in our entertainment center. Again, the kids have easy access to them and often pick them up when they are bored. We have sewing cards, patterning and sorting activities, and several number, matching, and reading games. I love to see my boys reaching for these great learning activities when they want something to do.
The preschool years are a fun time for you and your child. Whether you are doing preschool at home or your child attends preschool, make sure you have lots of stimulating activities for your child at home that are organized and ready to use when you need them.
Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom of five. For resources for the Christian family, including parenting, toddler and preschool activities, homeschooling, family traditions, and more, visit Christian-Parent.com.
Source:
http://www.homeschool-articles.com/organizing-preschool-supplies/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+homeschool-articles%2FjAcO+%28Homeschool+Articles+-+Articles%29&utm_content=FaceBook#Are You Thinking About Homeschooling? Teachers Are!
One might be surprised to know that the biggest influx to the home school arena today are professional teachers. The reasons they give are very interesting.
Most home school students out perform public school children on college entrance exams. Obviously most parents are doing something right whether they have teaching credentials or not.
Are there some sad stories about children that are not receiving an adequate education in the home school venue? The answer is yes, but there are more such stories found in the public school system. Government intervention is not a solution. Parent awareness and involvement (“those in the trenches”) is the solution. That is the case whether one has children in the home school or public school systems.
This is not said to put an impossible burden or even blame on parents. I say this to empower parents. The solution to today’s education is noticeably coming from you, the people.
Roma Cox worked as a para-professional in the public school system. She was part of a government funded program called Follow Through in which she was trained by psychologists on how to work with the children. Roma now shares what she has learned with others through her website Read-Phonics.com, workshops, and articles.
- In the 60s, teachers had more say so about what happened in their class rooms. However the government is more in control these days. It is important to know that the Vietnam War taught us that the war cannot be won from the White House. Likewise the teacher, who is in the trenches (metaphorically speaking) knows what her kids need. Unlike the bureaucracy, She sees them as human beings, and not as statistics. Heck, the school lunches were even much better in the 60s.
- Teachers rightfully complain they must now teach their children to pass the government mandated tests requiring them to sacrifice teaching of the basics.
- Class sizes have become so large that kids are taught to act like robots rather than individuals. Teachers find themselves having to teach as if a one size fits all… they are less able to individualize their curriculum.
- Recess and play time are being decreased. Many teachers complain this is creating stress, and forcing little ones to fit into unhealthy and unnatural molds .
Most home school students out perform public school children on college entrance exams. Obviously most parents are doing something right whether they have teaching credentials or not.
Are there some sad stories about children that are not receiving an adequate education in the home school venue? The answer is yes, but there are more such stories found in the public school system. Government intervention is not a solution. Parent awareness and involvement (“those in the trenches”) is the solution. That is the case whether one has children in the home school or public school systems.
This is not said to put an impossible burden or even blame on parents. I say this to empower parents. The solution to today’s education is noticeably coming from you, the people.
Roma Cox worked as a para-professional in the public school system. She was part of a government funded program called Follow Through in which she was trained by psychologists on how to work with the children. Roma now shares what she has learned with others through her website Read-Phonics.com, workshops, and articles.
Source: http://www.homeschool-articles.com/are-you-thinking-about-homeschooling-teachers-are/#
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