Younger students can join in the Summer Reading fun with this FREE printable Summer Reading Pack.
This set includes a READ to 100 chart for students to color in each time they read a book. This is a super fun visual way to track progress over the Summer.
Four colorful bookmarks encourage children to READ and mark their place while reading. Finally, we’ve included a fun Super Reader award you can present to your child when they have read their books.
Looking for more Summer Learning?
Have you ever wanted to join a Summer Reading Program for homeschoolers? There are many available options if you know where to look. Here is a helpful list of resources you can use to encourage your homeschool children to stay busy reading over the Summer:
Personally, I like to incentivize my own children with our own Summer Reading Charts! This is what my middle schoolers will be doing over the Summer:
Want to join us?
Print your Free Homeschool Summer Reading Chart Here
Recently, I designed a Summer Reading and a Summer Writing Challenge for my younger kiddos, but my older children were feeling a bit left out. So today I whipped up a simple Summer Reading Challenge for Middle School grades. Because their book sizes are so varied, I thought it might be better to issue a page number challenge rather then a book number challenge. So the goal is to read 5,000 pages (of grade appropriate material) over the Summer Break. Many books include grade recommendations on the back, and you can show children how to research online to see whether or not the book they chosen is grade appropriate. Children keep track of the book title, author and then umber of pages they have read. Hint: During a 90 day Summer Break, 5,000 pages equals about 55 pages a day…..so it is roughly an hour of reading each day.
I’m going to reward my children with a special treat at our local ice cream shop when they finish their charts!
Print Middle School Summer Reading Challenge Sheet Here
Find Elementry Summer Reading Challenge Sheet Here
Try 100 Sentences for Summer for a special Summer Writing Challenge
Summer is around the corner and you might be looking for something simple for children to do over the break! This is a special READ to 100 Challenge you can use, simply print the page and hang in the classroom for children to color in as they read.
Once they have all 100 books colored in, you can reward them with a special bookmark and maybe even a sweet treat!
You can print this adorable set FREE in our Teachers Pay Teachers eStore.
(It’s the FREE Download in the upper right corner)
And before you start to accuse me of creating charts,
just for the sake of laminating them,
I’ll have you know that we take Summer Reading very….
VERY...seriously around here.
Not to mention that for the past two years
I have somehow misplaced my children’s charts…
Last year because we moved,
and the year before that because I had a baby
So Don’t Judge me. ;)
I already got a very STERN look from the librarian when I pleeded with her to take my word that the children did in fact complete their Summer Reading, even writing down all the Titles and Authors…..and that it was my fault completely and would she please let them choose a book to take home. Please….look at their little sad faces, they practically went blind with all the Summer Reading they did.
So as not repeat that this year, I decided I was going to get a bit more organized and actually make a chart that could be hung on the wall. My children’s wall. Making them responsible for keeping track of them. (You see where this is going right)
Ahem.
Anyway, after all that work,
making all those little boxes,
and adding in those adorable graphics
I of course decided that such a chart would last longer
If it was in fact laminated.
See. Win-Win.
Everyones Happy.
Go print your Chart and be Happy too!
Summer is here and school is ending. What are you doing this summer? Should you take the summer off or continue school through the fall? These are questions every homeschool mom asks. After working so hard all year, you might want to just kick back and relax. On the other hand, you don’t want your children to suffer from the infamous “summer slide.” Summer homeschool has many advantages and options. Let’s look at the pros, cons, and opportunities of homeschooling through summer.
If you are wrestling with deciding if you should do summer school or not, you are not alone. In fact, most homeschool families consider this question every year. For some students, summer school is very important. It helps them retain the skills learned over the year and bolster reading and math before the next year begins. Summer school can also give children the opportunity to learn some different skills, such as coding, or a second language. So, working through the summer has advantages. Students who struggle in math or reading, may need continued practice. On the other hand, students may want to learn something that is difficult to fit into their already busy day during the year. Either situation is a perfect reason to do homeschool summer school.
Homeschooling year round has many advantages. However, children still need to be children. After a long year, everyone needs some down time. Usually, mom could use a break as well. Homeschooling all year can be very stressful. We want our children to succeed and excel. However, we don’t want that to happen at the cost of their happiness. Likewise, you will need time to plan for next year and catch your breath. So, if you are very overwhelmed right now or burned out, you might want to skip homeschooling through the summer. You could always start next year early or do a mid-summer skills boost. Also, typical summer activities such as swimming, biking, and playing outside for hours do boost skills and brain power.
There are so many options when it comes to homeschooling summer school. You can use a pre-built program or design your own. In addition, several platforms offer online summer school. Also, there may be local in-person options such as skills based programs and summer camps. If you are going to design your own, focus on one or two skills. Summer school should always be a lighter load that is highly focused. Phonics, reading, math, writing, and electives are the typical subjects covered over the summer. In addition, unit studies make a perfect option for summer school.
Perhaps you only want to focus on skills for an hour each day. Or, you may not want to invest in another program. Either way, putting together a summer school program for your kids is easy. Which subjects or topics do you want to cover? Decide how long you want to spend on summer school each day/week. Then, pick printables, games, and manipulatives to teach or reinforce the subjects chose. Here are some ideas to get you started:
There are also many online options. Some are short classes, while others are full programs. When choosing a program, make sure it is something you can reasonably do. If you want to do a stand alone course, shoot for 8 weeks or less for length. Here are some online opportunities for homeschools this summer:
Connections Academy Online Summer School
Time 4 Learning Summer Learning Curriculum
Bridgeway Academy Summer School
American Academy National Home School Summer Homeschool Programs
How to Code: Computer Science Concepts and Python Exercises
The Power of Mathmatical Visualization
Online coding courses (free trial)
One of my children is excellent at reading, but his writing could stand some extra practice! I designed this activity pack to provide him with a fun Summer challenge; Write 100 Sentences over Summer Break!
100 Sentences 4 Summer Challenge
This pack includes:
Here is how it works:
Print up the entire notebook (1 for each child) and Bind it together if possible.
Everthing prints in assembly order with the reference charts and vocabulary boxes in the front.
Each day children will choose one picture story prompt, cut it out and paste it to the sentence sheet on the following page
Children then write one small sentence inspired by the picture they chose. (They can choose to draw their own picture as well.)
There are two lines of writing provided, so younger children can write short sentences like, “I am a skunk,” and older children can write sentences with more detail, “The little skunk smells a red flower.”
You can also encourage the children to try to use different end marks (. ! ?) for each page they fill up.
Two printable awards are included but we also recommend having a tangible treat or item for children who do complete this book. Best of all, this pack is print ready! You can bind them and send them home with students over the Summer break and invite them to bring back their completed notebook for a special prize!
Check out more Photos of 100 Sentences 4 Summer Here
We’ve got a ton of new teaching resources headed your way, so stay tuned!
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We no longer technically homeschool over the Summer.
Ever since joining a local charter school we’ve decided to try and stick to the Monday-Friday, September through June schedule, but that doesn’t mean we don’t learn over the Summer.
If you’re looking for some simple ways to encourage learning over the Summer break here is a list of some Summer Fun School activities:
Lately I’ve noticed that my children have been enjoying skits and plays. Sometimes in their Language Arts curriculum or with certain books they are encouraged to act out a story and they are so very happy to do so. I recently looked up some fun 2-3 person skits on Puppet Resources and thought I might keep a few on hand for those “boring” Summer days.
Summer of Photography!
Why not take your kids and your camera out on a daily hike with a goal. ABC’s in photos. Only pink things. Or have children arrange vacation photos with their own captions. There are some great ideas at Montessori-Now for using photography over the Summer.
Want to keep kids writing over the Summer?
Enlist a willing friend or family member to become Silly Story Penpals!
Initiate the conversation with your children writing a silly story then asking the penpal to return the
favor. This is a great way to sneak in some creative writing, penmanship, and basic language arts skills, all while having fun.
Space Crafts and Activities
Summer is a great time to learn astronomy! From Summer nights spent looking at the stars, to the Persides meteror showers in August, you’ll find some great Summer opportunities to learn all about our universe. We actually use this Meteror Shower Ap to keep track and be reminded of them.
If you really want to get into Space over the Summer, consider investing in a telescope, or participating in a local stargazer event.
Don’t forget about your local and semi-local museums!
Here is a list of US Museums by State.
There are so many wonderful exhibits to see, and it’s a great way for children to get excited about learning.
Chalk Pastels
This Summer we’ve ordered A Simple Start in Chalk Pastels, which includes 45 step by step tutorials. I plan on pulling it out whenever we hear “I’m bored,” or “It’s too hot,” ect…
Maybe by the end of Summer we’ll have a nice collection of artwork to start the year off.
If you’re not looking for a full on set of art lessons,
why not print out a few of these adorable Color-in-Quotes!
A set of pretty markers and a stack of these will go a long way on a HOT Summer afternoon!
Summer Reading!
Here is a handy printable your children can use to keep track of their Summer Reading. We laminated ours and used a dry erase marker. A special follow up worksheet is included as well. At the start of Summer make a goal, and when it is reached have an ice cream night with the family!
Summer Science Activities
Our ES brought some fun Soda bottle science activities last week, and the kids were loving every minute. They made tornados, dancing raisins, and even a shooting rocket bottle.
These science books include so many different science experiments you can do with your kiddos over the Summer, and they won’t even realize they are learning!
I’m sure there are TONS of other ideas out there,
I love how relaxed learning can be during the Summer!
Just a quick post to share some of the adorable
and FREE Summer resources I’ve found floating around the web.
Free Summer of Fun Calendar from Amanda Bennett
Free Summer Fun Activities from Money Saving Mom
Summer Reading Chart from The Crafty Classroom
(use this to keep track of your Summer Reading)
Summer Reading Worksheet from The Crafty Classroom
(use this for extended learning with your Summer Reading)
Reading Challenge Charts from Homeschool Creations
Adorable Printable Summer Calendars from The Brassy Apple
30 Days of Summer Fun from Sew Dang Cute
Summer Merit Badges from The Crafting Chicks
50 Summer Crafts from The Long Thread
Summer Reading Tent from Sew Mama Sew
Looking for more “Active” fun?
Check out my Homeschool P.E. links on Pinterest.
DIY Math Tools for Homeschool
DIY Language Arts Tools
Learning grammar and spelling doesn’t have to be boring!  Try these eight ideas in your own classroom to spice things up a bit. Most of these games are made with resources you can find around the house.
Free Printable Language Charts
Free Language File Folder Games
Writing Notebook (available in our eStore)
Be sure you check out our Favorite Homeschool Tools and Craft Supplies during your visit!
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You are ready to start homeschooling, now what? Keeping up with homeschooling is the easiest way to succeed. Here’s a month-by-month checklist of what to do in your homeschool. If you run on a different schedule, simply count September as month 1 of your year and go from there. Here’s a monthly homeschool checklist.
Open up your school room or corner. Get all your texts, resources, and other books laid out. Start the year on a good foot.
What is working? What’s not? Two weeks in you can tell a lot about how the year is going to go. Sit down and access how things have been going and adjust accordingly. Remember there is no way to know what works until you test it.
Did you realize that having one pack of markers just isn’t working? Is there a reference book or manipulative that will make learning easier? Fill the gaps and move on.
Sometimes, a staggered start is the way to go. Gradually slide into the school year. October is the time to jump all the way in.
The days are getting colder, it’s time to decide what you will do to keep the kids occupied this winter. Make a list of possible fun at home, in your neighborhood, and online.
Get those field trips nailed down. Decided where you will go and when. Calculate out the costs and search for deals. Then set a budget for the year.
The next quarter may already be in the books. It’s time to track your progress and see how you are doing. Are you way ahead? Have you fallen “behind”? Now is the time to see how those plans are playing out.
Now’s the time to get ready for the next quarter or semester. Pull out any new resources you will need. Adjust your schedule, pace, or plans if need be. Start off with the next quarter just as you did the first, on the right foot.
If you haven’t done so already, sign up for any winter activities. Make a plan for homeschooling through the holidays: Holidays are coming and you will need a plan. There will be more to do and much excitement. Decide how you will handle this, and when you will take a break.
Can you believe how far you have made it? Now, it’s time to do a mid-year review. Just like the reviews at two weeks and the end of the first quarter, it’s time to see what’s working and what is not. Are you still struggling through math? Have you not even started geography? Access what needs to change and how you can do thing differently.
Maybe that Pinterest layout isn’t actually the best set up for your space. Don’t be afraid to move things around and reorganize as you see fit. This is also a great time to do some of the deep cleanings that you keep putting off.
Count all your pencils, markers, crayons, scissors, etc. What do you need more of? Which has been the most popular? What could you use? This will help you plan for next year and next quarter.
Meet with each child to discuss what is working and what isn’t: Now, it’s time for the kids to weigh in. How are your children feeling about the year so far? Are the elements they would like to change? What do they feel is working well. It’s important to get their opinions, you may be surprised by the answers.
Now that you have asked the kids and taken stock yourself, it is time to replace or revamp anything that needs it. Be willing to try something new. You will be happy you did.
Fill in any gaps from your school supply inventory so you are ready for the rest of the year. Make a plan for keeping your sanity in February: February is the hardest month of the homeschool year. Get ahead of the Winter Homeschool Blues with a plan on how to cope. Connect with other moms, find special activities or projects, and maybe buy yourself a special tea, hand cream or other self pampering product. You deserve it.
Don’t wait for the end of the year. Get your records up to date so you are not drowning in record-keeping come spring. Consult your state requirements one more time, make sure you are on track for the year.
Conduct some mini-assessments. No need for long, complicated exams. Simply assess where your child is and everything he has learned.
Are there goals you haven’t reached? Did you make it to the correct chapter, but there is a skill your child has yet to master. Reassess your goals and plan accordingly.
February is the perfect time to try something new. Taking a break from school plans never means the learning ends. Plan a project week or reading week to catch your breath and make this difficult month easier.
It’s time to look forward to the next year. It may not feel like it, but it will be here before you know it. What would you like to accomplish next year? What would you change?
If your child has gaps in reading, math, or another skill, make small purchases to round out your learning. Look online for printables or low-cost solutions.
Make a full list of what you will need for each child. If you don’t know exactly which curriculum or book you plan to use, that is okay. Just compile a list of all the types or books or resources needs, i.e. 3rd grade math, spelling curriculum, handwriting, etc.
Be sure to go through everything you have. Take inventory of items on your list that you already own.
For the curriculum choices that you either don’t already own or have already chosen, start researching. Look into what options are available, see what fits your needs.
It is hard to plan without knowing what you have to spend. The homeschool catalogs make you feel like you need everything. Know where you stand financially so you can make wise decisions without regrets.
Repeat this process at the end of the year. Have their answers changed? Take notes on what they share.
It’s time to pull out those state requirements one more time. Make sure you have all the boxes checked. Be sure to tackle anything you miss asap.
Evaluate your child’s progress with end of year assessments. These do not have to be a written test, but must follow your state guidelines and requirements. Assess their progress and any gaps that need to be filled next year.
It’s time to finalize portfolios. Make final decisions on what to include, complete any needed paperwork, and submit.
You have been researching curriculum and probably found more than you ever expected. Narrow down your choices to your top picks.
Make the time to attend a homeschool conference. This will give you vital support, encouragement, and information to help next year be even better. It will also help you explore curriculum options.
Set your goals for next year. Make sure to write them down. Make a list of goals for your family, yourself, and each child.
Establish a rubric or set of benchmarks to measure success for your goals. How can you track your progress and know when the goal is met? (Planning a way to celebrate meeting a goal is a good idea, too.)
Now is the time to find sales, coupons, and discounts. See who is offering specials. Shop online sales groups, and stretch that budget to the max.
Life happens, and sometimes what seemed completely doable in August, just isn’t in real life. See if there is anything you have not completed. Decide if you will continue until it is finished or tack it on to next year.
What will you be learning this summer? Will you continue with math and reading lessons? Are you going to switch to a more unschooling or life schooling model? There is no right or wrong answer. Do what your family needs, not what everyone else is doing.
We all need some time to recharge our batteries and catch our breath. When will you take a break? How long will it be? As with everything, do what works for you.
Make your final decisions. If you are still stuck on deciding, contact the companies and see if you can get a sample PDF to preview. Either way, take a deep breath and be confident in your decisions. No plan is ever perfect.
Do a really deep clean of the classroom. Purge clutter or materials that are no longer usable. Get it all ready to head back to school in a clean and clutter-free environment.
Start researching ideas for field trips. Make a list of ideas near and far. Consider what you will be studying in science and history. Also, look for homeschool deals or events to save extra money. Make a dream list broken down by local, day trip, and extended stay. You can narrow it down in a couple of months when you finalize your plans and budget.
Place the last of your curriculum orders. Buy anything you haven’t. It can take some time for the curriculum to be delivered during the late summer rush. So, give yourself enough space so you aren’t stressing over items arriving in time.
Now that the classroom is really clean, organize all of your materials. Add in the new curriculum and resources. Assemble any new furniture.
Decide on a time and day to do your planning. Make sure it is a time that you can stick to every week. Making planning a habit will make it less stressful and more fruitful.
Check your state laws for the grade levels you will be teaching. Compile a list of requirements for each child.
Looking for an all in one curriculum or supplemental materials for your homeschool or classroom? We’ve got both! Check out our homeschool curriculum you can begin to use immediately!
As homeschool moms, we teach our children so many things to give them the best education possible. Across the board, teaching cursive penmanship is a dying art. Many schools no longer teach cursive. However, it is a valuable skill that helps to build your brain and develop cognitive abilities. Cursive is also helpful for children with dyslexia and is actually easier to produce than manuscript printing. You may be wondering where to begin, though. Here is a complete guide on how to teach your child cursive writing.
Like everything, teaching your child to write requires laying a solid foundation. This is where pre-writing exercises and activities come in. These help strengthen hands, increase pen control, and teach important strokes. Here are some ideas for pre-writing cursive activities:
Once you have completed enough pre-cursive activities that your child feels confident, it is time to start practicing strokes. Cursive writing is a series of strokes. These make up the basic form of the letters. Practicing strokes, helps children master letter formation before learning any of the letters. It also makes it easier to write fluidly once letter formation begins. The best resource I have found to demonstrate cursive strokes is this video. You can also use a tracing board that has strokes, and shapes on it for practice.
Writing is made up of letters, so it is important to learn and master the letters one by one. Unlike manuscript printing, which is usually taught in alphabetical order, cursive letters are taught in groups. Each group has similar strokes. Generally, the groups progress from easier to more challenging strokes. Teaching the individual letters in this order will make learning cursive easier and more enjoyable.
Here are some additional resources for teaching individual letters:
Now, your child is ready to start writing simple words. It is best to start with short words and gradually try longer ones. Remember to look back at the letter order. Choose words with simpler letters when children are first learning to combine letters into words. Use pre-made worksheets with common words or make your own. A cursive template is really useful for this, to get the examples perfect. However, do not expect perfection from your child. Mastering handwriting takes abundant practice and is something that improves with age. Young children, especially, are still building muscle control and hand/eye coordination.
Once your child has mastered short, simple words, it’s time to move on to sentences. Here are some excellent resources to get your child using his new cursive skills in various subjects.
If you are looking for a ready-made curriculum to teach cursive writing to your child, here are some recommendations. A complete curriculum will offer the ease of having it done already. You should feel free to incorporate resources and items listed above to meet your child’s individual needs and increase interest.
Winter is here and the homeschool year is beginning to drag on. With the colder temperatures and shorter days, homeschooling through winter can be a challenge. This is the perfect time to have some fun, experience new things, and build precious memories. Here are some tips and tricks for making it through winter this year.
Leave the classroom behind! It is easy to focus on “doing school” and forget one of the best benefits of homeschooling–educating on your terms. Homeschooling shouldn’t be about plowing through checklists. It is really more about home than school!
Take some field trips (see below), participate in a service project or visit family. Give your children so hands-on, real life experience. These memories will stick with them for years to come. Plus, they will have a chance to practice everything they are learning during school hours.
Sometimes you just need a break. However, you don’t want to lose momentum and have to regroup everyone, especially after the holiday season. Reading week to the rescue! For reading week, everyone has to read during school hours. It could be something specific or just anything they choose. You can mix assigned readings with free choice.
Have everyone put together a pile of books, and then take a reading vacation. This maintains the rhythm of school without the burden of lessons. Make sure mom and dad get in on the act. Print these FREE Reading Bookmarks, Charts and More for your Homeschool Reading Week!
Every public school kid looks forward to snow days. Sometimes, homeschoolers just need to do the same. Close your school for the day, light a fire, mix up some hot chocolate, and let the kids just play in the snow. This will help burn off some steam in the middle of winter. Plus, they will be exploring nature, every moment is a learning opportunity.
Don’t get snow? You can still take a day off. Try whipping up a batch of this Super Soft & Sparkly Wintermint Playdough! Schools take off for all kinds of reasons. Pick your own and enjoy hours of play. Homeschool life is not meant to be all work and no fun! Try these fun Fine Motor Snow Man activity pages for some hands-on fun!
Cook up some fun and tasty treats this winter. The kitchen is the best place to learn about science, math, geography, history, and nutrition. So, put down the books and notebooks, and take out the pots and pans.
Here are a few Kid-Friendly Winter Recipes to get you started:
You don’t have to be a master chef to teach through cooking. There are plenty of YouTube channels and cookbooks to guide you. Start where you feel comfortable and grow from there…or take on a challenge and learn together.
Winter is a great time for field trips, here are some ideas:
Homeschooling through the winter can be hardest for mom. The excitement of the new year has worn off, the holidays are over, and summer feels very far away. It’s important to realize that homeschooling in winter is hard on every homeschool mom. You are not alone. Let’s look at some other self-care tips and tricks to make it through for mom. Here are some encouraging homeschool mom ideas:
Although homeschooling is the perfect option for many families, unfortunately, it’s not for everyone. There are a variety of reasons why homeschooling isn’t for everyone, such as not having the time to homeschool or homeschooling simply doesn’t fit your child’s educational or emotional needs. If you’re wondering if homeschool is the right choice for you or not, ask yourself these five questions.
In order for homeschooling to work, the passion to homeschool needs to be there. You need to be excited about all of the possibilities of homeschooling. Each day should feel like a new day to explore and have fun while learning. If you aren’t passionate about teaching your child at home, then commitment might become lacking, in which case homeschooling might not be the right choice for you. Note: It’s not all sunshine and roses. There will always be times of struggle when homeschooling, (some have coined the term, “Homeschool Burnout,” but the desire to continue to breath life and learning into your children should be an ongoing passion.
Even if you have the passion to homeschool, you need to understand that homeschooling requires quite a bit of patience. It’s common to hear people say, “I just don’t have enough patience to homeschool…..” and there is a little truth to that…..homeschooling requires patience. Homeschooling takes time, energy, and commitment, just like anything else in life worth doing. Your children are not going to be perfect little students every day of the week and understanding that beforehand can help you prepare for the trials ahead. There are seasons of homeschooling that seem like a daily struggle sometimes, and that is totally normal. But like everything in life, when things are important to you, you stick with it and find a way to make it work. This goes back to my first point, deciding if homeschooling is important to you. If you lack the passion for homeschooling then when your patience is tried, and it will be, you’re more likely to become frustrated and give up homeschooling altogether. If you think your patience might be tried beyond your capability, there are many great homeschooling conferences (online and otherwise) to support the building of patience and realistic expectations. These conferences and homeschool support groups are amazing as you continue your homeschool journey. Sometimes all it takes is a new schedule, a little encouragement, or a renewed sense of purpose to instill order back into your homeschool. Take the summer to educate yourself about the specific joys and trials and the support resources available to you before making your decision to homeschool.
Homeschooling is a big commitment for your time. A BIG ONE! When you decide to homeschool, you’re dedicating a large portion of your day to educating your child, ensuring they learn and grow at an appropriate pace. Although you won’t be sitting down all day with your child, teaching for 8 hours straight, you will spend hours teaching and exploring with your kids. Many homeschooling families strive to teach independent learning in their children, but that can be difficult if your child is not yet reading on their own. So be realistic about your time scheduling, and even if you cannot dedicate yourself completely to homeschooling full-time, try looking into local charter programs, online school, or even block scheduling at private school settings.
Your kids are unique and with that uniqueness comes different needs. For one of your kids, homeschooling might lead to academic and emotional success, making it the right choice for them. On the other hand, another child might struggle with homeschooling, making it the wrong choice for your family. When deciding if homeschooling is right for you, take your children’s needs into consideration. Knowing your child’s specific learning abilities or disabilities is key to your decision. There’s no shame in admitting that homeschooling might not be the best choice for your child. Many homeschooling families have a child or two in public or private education, while they continue to homeschool their other children. Do what is best for your family and each of your children.
You might have the passion and patience to homeschool, but does your spouse? Even if you’re planning to be the one that does all of the teaching, it’s important that you have your spouse in your corner, supporting you in this decision. If your spouse isn’t comfortable with homeschooling, then homeschooling might not be an option for you at this time. Before making a decision take time to research and learn about the cost and benefits of homeschooling with your spouse. Attend conferences, and learn more about your state requirements. Find local groups and homeschool communities in your area that you can connect with and learn from. Make sure your spouse is 100% on board before making the leap into homeschool.
As a kid I loved Art.
It was my favorite subject.
Besides Recess and P.E. of course.
Art is something I try to include in my homeschool curriculum every year, but it always seems to take the back seat when life gets busy.
(If you follow my blog you may notice that I post TONS of art projects over the Summer when we actually have time for art. Â I call it Summer Art School)
Anyway, this year I found an amazing drawing curriculum that is ONLINE and requires NO help from me.
Let me repeat that.
NO HELP FROM MOM.
I provided art journals, #2 pencils, and when asked a drawing stump.
But that was it.
I set up their username and password and let them be for a couple of weeks. Â (i.e. Take it over Mark Kistler, this Mama is tired!)
Imagine my surprise when I picked up my daughter’s art journal and found this. (Continue Reading)
It’s mid-April and you homeschool mom’s know what that means:
Curriculum planning!
I know you are probably knee deep in your Springtime lessons; busy hatching butterflies, pressing wildflowers and dissecting frogs….but I also know you’re silently thinking and planning about what curriculum you will use next year!
Maybe you’re looking for a fun but educational way to keep your kiddos learning over the Summer break?
We’ll today we’re blessed to offer you a chance to relieve some of that burden with a fun giveaway!
Sallie Borrink Learning is offering one winner a $25 gift card to her online store…..and her store is FILLED with high quality teaching resources for pennies on the dollar.
I am seriously in LOVE with her Fun Fact Cards series, and even more in love with the price!
Cards are a quick, flexible, colorful and fun way to expand your unit! Start building interest in your topic each morning with these 30 fascinating fact cards that go beyond the basics.
These cards are used multiple ways by teachers and parents in many grades. I love reading about all the different ways teachers and parents use them!
Quick Fun Fact – Read the fact card each day and store them in a small basket where the students can look at them again and again. Or keep the set on a ring.
Fact of the Day Bulletin Board – Read a fact each day and display the cards on a special bulletin board or foam board.
Hallway Display – One teacher displayed them on the hallway chalkboard outside her door so many students and adults could read them.
Calendar Pocket Chart – Put a fact behind each number on the calendar and have a different student take it out each day. You can then display on bulletin board.
Geography Extension – Put the cards on a wall map with a string that points to where it ties in.
Go Fish – Create two sets and use for a game of Go Fish.
Memory Game – Create two sets and use for a Memory Game.
Scavenger Hunt – Use the cards to create a Scavenger Hunt.
School Bulletin Board – One kindergarten class had two students take the fact of the day down to the office each morning, “teach†the fact to the office staff, and then display the cards on the office bulletin board for everyone in the school to see.
The cards are 3×3 and there are 6 on a page. I made them small so they easily slide behind your date cards on the calendar pocket chart. They are also a good size for small hands if using them for a game. I also made them smaller to find the balance between making them colorful, but not taking too much ink when you print them.
The cards are unnumbered so they can be used in any month and in any sequence. You can use all the cards in the set or only a portion. This provides maximum flexibility for the teacher’s schedule. Use one set all month or use parts of two sets depending on your needs.
Also included is a hyperlinked list of the relevant websites where the facts were located.
Click Here for All Fun Fact Titles
More Popular products from Sallie Borrink Learning:
Ready to Win?
I know it’s supposed to be a blogging calendar,
a group effort where we (as the homeschooling community)
share with each other all of these different aspects of planning for the new year,
But I can’t help but see a different, more personal message to this schedule.
For example wouldn’t “Curriculum Week” more accurately be called:
MAKE SOME DECISIONS YOU CRAZY HOMESCHOOL LADY….WEEK.
Or at least that’s how I read it. I mean by August, I’ve already spent half the year driving everyone nuts with zillions of questions about the curriculum they are using, and it’s time to make some decisions. I must have 30 different products in my online carts……and I just keep saving them for later! Well, it’s crunch time baby, it’s Curriculum week. Time to hit BUY or DELETE and live with the decisions. (Or come back mid year and tell everyone why this curriculum failed miserably.) Either way, I’ve got some blog content right?
And next week, School Room Week….well, we all know what that really means:
CLEAN. YOUR. DISGUSTING. CLASSROOM. WEEK.
Really clean that thing. Pull everything out, books, paper, pens, crayons, and set it all out on the table….. even the wet diapers and moldy milk bottles that your toddler somehow shoved behind your desk while you were busy teaching fractions last year. Then when it’s all nice and dirtied up, snap a photo. You don’t have to post it or share it, but it will make you feel good later (after you’ve done a year’s worth of cleaning in a single day) to look back and see your progress. And during the 15 seconds that your classroom actually stays clean, snap an instagram photo to share with the rest of us. We love to think that our classrooms could be so clean like yours, don’t burst our bubbles or we will have nothing to live for.
Keep the dream alive homeschool moms.
And in a just a couple of weeks it will be School Photo Week
Which we all know is code for:
WASH THE SUMMER OFF YOUR KID & BREAK THE HORRIBLE NEWS WEEK
The days of bare feet and long summer locks are approaching an end. Throw them in the tub, give em’ a hair cut, find an article of clothing that still fits and doesn’t have too many stains or rips and put them in front of a camera. But before you snap the photo tell them that school starts in two weeks, so you’ll get a nice big grin for that family album.
*snicker*
Don’t get me wrong……for the most part we really do enjoy homeschooling.
And we really do have some very happy homescholing days.
There are some amazing benefits to homeschooling,
It’s a choice I’m committed to,
and I consider it a huge blessing to even have this choice.
……..BUT……..
There are also some VERY REAL days when I’ve considered shoving my children out the front door and telling them to walk their sorry behinds down to the public school…… or the coal mine,….. which ever they decide, because I’m checking myself into the spa (read: mental hospital) for some much needed sleep.
Ha! The coal mine.
That’ll teach them that Algebraic functions and Polynomial Equations are a PRIVILEGE to learn.
Oops….did I say that outloud?
moving on…
The final week on the calendar:
Day in the Life Week.
This one makes me giggle.
I mean…a REAL DAY IN THE LIFE?
or a MADE FOR TV DAY IN THE LIFE?
or even a
WHAT WE WILL DO THE FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL AND NEVER AGAIN
BECAUSE THERE WASN’T EVEN TIME TO SHOWER OR EAT
AND NOW I’M A STARVING HOMESCHOOL ZOMBIE MOM….DAY IN THE LIFE.
That first week back to school can be brutal right?
Oh, I hope you are reading this in good fun.
I am a huge homeschool advocate, these have just been some of the funny things I’ve noticed in our own crazy homeschool family.
I do plan on sharing all of our curriculum choices, once I make them
and photos of our classroom, once I clean it
But today I will share progress photos with you,
here is where we’re at folks:
Homeschool Curriculum:
Sonlight Core F
Homeschool Classroom:
Crazy Homeschool Mess
I took that photo three days ago and posted it to facebook.
It looks the same this morning.
Except now there are flies around that glass. They are new.
I promise to come back and post when those final decisions are made…..and things are cleaned up.
For now, enjoy all the other amazing homeschooling moms who have posted their curriculum this week as part of the NOT Back to School Blog Hop.
I always love reading these before I make my final choices :)
Drrrrrrrrr……Aaaaaaaaa….Giiiiiiiiiiiiiing
Sissy (9) has reached LONG DIVISION.
IF you missed our Curriculum post,
Sissy is using Math-U-See Delta, and so far (up to this point),
she has FLOWN through the book.
It’s been cake.
When we first hit long division,
She even FLEW through single digit divisors.
But then we hit double digit divisors and we literally came to a rushing halt.
It was like a smack in the face with cold broccoli.
The days of cake were long (division) gone.
It just wasn’t….sinking in.
We spent three weeks trying to get into a rythym with these,
printing off extra practice sheets and doubling our time for Math,
We kept our Base 10 blocks within arms reach of our dining table.
But nothing worked.
She would become frusterated.
She wouldn’t finish her lessons.
She would stay up to the wee hours struggling quietly in her room,
spending her nightly “reading” time with math instead.
“I HATE MATH”
was the new slogan around here.
It was really depressing, and
I finally talked with her ES about our frustrations.
(Education Specialist from a local charter school we joined)
And you know what she said?
“She’s just not ready.
It’s okay to put it up on the shelf and come back later.”
Whaaaaaat?
Oh.
Oh yeah.
I forgot.
We can do that.
We’re homeschoolers.
For some reason I thought that if we put enough hours into Math,
it would “CLICK” and a little lightbulb would go off right above her head.
And more honestly,
maybe I just needed permission to quit.
…mid book…
… before we finished…
…with pages left….
(ack!)
So that’s what we did.
We Quit.
Bunch-o-Quitters around here now.
Just kidding.
We tucked Math-U-See back up on the shelf for a while,
and decided we are going to give it another go in the Spring.
Obviously, we didn’t quit math entirely.
We brought out Envision Math instead, because
for some reason Math-U-See covers double digit divisors and Envision doesn’t.
So now, Sissy is happily using Envision Math.
We started mid book near lesson 8,
which strangely evened the scales in my OCD mind.
Balance has been restored.
The long-division weight has been lifted and
The girl is smiling about numbers again.
Well not so much smiling, but
I haven’t heard “I HATE MATH” all week!
And me?
I’m feeling pretty blessed with this small reminder of why we homeschool.
If you’re looking to rediscover your Homeschool Joy, check out Bloom this Summer!
