Crafty Team

Christmas Tree Art

February 18, 2021 By Crafty Team Leave a Comment

Christmas Trees remind us of the best time of the year, so let’s get the kids excited about the upcoming season! We’ve got a wonderful DIY Christmas Tree Art project your kids will love. Our Winter Tree Art Project is designed using cubism art. It’s gorgeous, surprisingly easy to make, and an awesome keepsake for loved ones.

Wondering what cubism art is? You’ll find out what cubism art is and where cubism art originated.

This is a fantastic Christmas Art project for any age and ability. It’s also a fun way to get others together around the holiday table. Yes, there are a ton of amazing Christmas Tree Crafts out there, but this holiday craft is guaranteed to be creative, unique, and special. With just a few materials, your child will have colorful DIY Holiday Tree Art in just a few minutes.

CHRISTMAS TREE ART MATERIALS

Christmas Tree Template
Pastel Crayons
Q-Tips
Ruler
Pencil
Black Cardstock or Construction Paper

HOLIDAY TREE ART INSTRUCTIONS

Print our free Christmas Tree Art Template on cardstock paper.
Using a ruler, draw several diagonal lines across the template. Starting at the base of the Christmas Tree, draw a diagonal line with a pencil. Then, closer to the top, draw another diagonal line at the opposite angle. Continue this pattern until you have a healthy balance of lines (about 10 – 12) with plenty of room to color. See the video above for visual ideas.

3. Using a fall array of colors, outline each cube using the oil-based pastel crayons. Make sure to leave the middle area empty. Using a Q-Tip, blend in the remaining white space for a brushed appearance. Starting at the top of the page using an orange pastel color. Follow the next cube with a complementary color like yellow. Using a deep red color, surround the yellow colors as well. Follow this pattern until all cubes surrounding the tree are filled in with a complementary color.

4. Fill in the star using the yellow pastel hue.

5. Begin coloring in the tree’s pattern. To make the tree pop, continue to use complementary colors such as dark and light blues and greens for contrast. Follow the same pattern using the pastels to outline the cubes, wrapping up with the q-tips to blend the pastel color.

6. Once you are finished with the Christmas Tree Cubism Art Project, glue your beautiful masterpiece onto black cardstock and frame or give it away as a Christmas Gift. The possibilities are endless when it comes to sharing your gorgeous art creation.

Need some more Gorgeous Cubism Art Ideas? Click image below!

Valentine’s Day Art Project for Kids

February 8, 2021 By Crafty Team 2 Comments

Your kids are going to absolutely love this Valentine’s Day Art Project. Valentine’s Day is also a great time to introduce heart shapes to your little ones as well. With just a few simple steps, you could make this a keepsake, card or framed gift for a loved one.

If you have older children, it’s a great craft project for multiple ages. While this craft may look difficult, it’s simple with our step by step instructions and easy to follow video tutorial. However you decide to showcase your beautiful work of art, it’s memories will last a lifetime.

Valentine’s Day Craft Matericals

While there are a ton of fun Valentine’s Day Crafts out there, this holiday craft is creative, crafty, and clever. In just a few minutes with just a few materials, your child will have a gorgeous masterpiece for display.

Heart Shape Craft Template
Bleeding Tissue Paper (different than normal tissue paper)
Elmers Glue
Scissors
White Cardstock
Black Construction Paper
Container with water
Paintbrush

3D Heart Art Project for Kids

Print our free Heart Shape Craft Template on white cardstock paper. The paper will get fairly wet, so you’ll want thick paper if possible. Turn over the template so that you are creating it on the backside of the paper.

2. Use water to wet the paper a bit, then add the bleeding tissue paper circles in an overlapping fashion. Think about color choices placed together so that you have colors blending into different complementary colors to help the artwork pop. Check out the first photo above noting the matching color tones.

3. Add water over the top of the circles to confirm they are bleeding the colors onto the paper. Be careful with how much water you are adding — the colors may get washed out a bit or look fuzzy. Use just enough water to transfer. If you’d like to practice, first, try it on scrap paper for a test “run” (pun intended).

4. Once you have the outline filled with tissue paper, set the project aside to dry. To speed up the drying process, grab a blowdryer and set it to “low”.

5. When dry, shake or peel off the tissue paper. Once the tissue paper is removed, the color looks beautiful. Flip your project back over so you can see your gorgeous heart shape outline.

6. Cut out all of the shapes following the black lines so that your heart and L-O-V-E letters are in several pieces. Stay organized as you cut, as you’ll be reassembling the pattern next.

7. It’s time to choose a dark piece of construction paper as your background. Begin laying out each element of the Heart and Letters in their respective order following the picture’s pattern. HINT: Leave space in between each heart pattern — it will help make your 3D Heart Shape POP!

8. Glue all pieces in sequential order as shown above.

That’s it — only 8 simple steps for a gorgeous 3-D Heart Shaped Craft! Now, don’t forget to frame your project to ensure it lasts a lifetime! What a fun Val’s Day decoration to pull out each February season.

If you’d like to scale down this project and create a set of unique Valentine’s Day cards, it’s really simple to do. Just set your printer to print multiple pages per sheet — do a search on “how to print multiple pages per sheet for …” with printer name if you’re unsure. Once you set it up, you’ll have a template that’s perfect for cards of any holiday or occasion.

Snowflake Art Project

January 5, 2021 By Crafty Team 2 Comments

Looking for some fun winter art projects for kids? This DIY Snowflake Art Project will give your kids a creative craft to enjoy and even gift. It’s super easy to make, and who doesn’t love a gorgeous keepsake.

There are so many ways to enjoy this Snowflake Art Project. Using a little bit of ingenuity, you can shrink this beautiful art to fit a Card and send it to friends and family. It’s a wonderful project for multiple ages and whether it’s one student or many, you’ll love the simplicity of assembly. However you decide to showcase, this wonderful work of art will bring joy year after year.

SNOWFLAKE CRAFT MATERIALS

While there are a ton of fun winter Crafts out there, this holiday craft is creative, crafty, and super special. With just a few materials, your child will have a beautiful masterpiece in just a few minutes.

Snowflake Art Craft Template
Bleeding Tissue Paper (different than normal tissue paper)
Elmers Glue
White Cardstock
Black Construction Papers
Container with water
Paintbrush

SNOWFLAKE ART PROJECT INSTRUCTIONS

Print our free Snowflake Art Craft Template on white cardstock paper. We’ll be getting the paper wet, so you’ll want thick paper if possible. Turn over the template so that you are creating on the backside.

2. Use water to wet the paper a bit, then add the bleeding tissue paper circles in an overlapping fashion. You’ll want to think about your color choices so that you have colors blending into different hues, or even complementary colors to help the project pop. Check out the first photo above noting the color tones, using pastels for the single circles and darker colors for the base.

3. Add water over the top of the circles to ensure they are bleeding the colors onto the paper. However, be careful not to add too much water or you’ll get a “muted” look as the colors will be washed out a bit. Just enough water to transfer. Try it on scrap paper for best results.

4. Once you have the outline filled with tissue paper, set the project aside to dry. Use a blowdryer set to “low” to speed up the drying process.

5. When dry, shake or peel off the tissue paper. Once the tissue paper is removed, the color still remains. Flip your project back over so you can see your gorgeous snowflake outline.

6. Cut out all of the shapes following the black lines so that your snowflake is in several pieces. You’ll put them all back together so note unique pattern.

7. Choose a piece of construction paper with a dark color as your background. Begin laying out each element of the Snowflake in respective order.

Leave space in between each snowflake pattern as shown below. The space will help make your snowflake POP!

8. Glue all pieces in sequential order as shown above.

9. Your Crafty Classroom Snowflake Art Project is complete!

Don’t forget to frame your project to ensure it lasts a lifetime! What a fun Christmas decoration to pull out each winter or Christmas. If you’d like to scale down this project and create a set of unique Christmas cards, it’s really simple to do! Just set your printer to print multiple pages per sheet and you’ll have a template perfect for cards of any occasion.

Snowflake Window Clings

December 29, 2020 By Crafty Team Leave a Comment

What a perfect time to start thinking about the cold winter season’s indoor kid projects. We’ve got a terrific idea moms and teachers are going to love. This Snowflake Window Cling Project might look challenging, but it’s far from it! All you need are the right supplies. Thankfully, most items you’ll find in the house or classroom.

Whether you are thinking about this cold weather project as a Christmas snowflake window cling or winter window craft, you’ll love the simplicity and beauty of this winter activity.

What are window clings made of?

Now you no longer have to wonder what window clings are made of. It’s simply an acrylic paint. Once it dries, it can be placed on glass that sticks nicely to flat non-porous surfaces. If you’ve got big windows or an area that needs some season-appropriate decorations, we’e included an extra-large snowflake window cling to decorate. These snowflake window decals are gorgeous and creative that the neighbors will get to enjoy as well.

Snowflake Window Decals Material

Here’s a quick list of what you’ll need for the Snowflake Window stickers. You’ll be happy to discover most supplies can be found right in your home or classroom.

How do you make snowflake window clings?

For this DIY Snowflake Window Craft, you’ll need the Snowflake template along with some basic supplies. The base of the Snowflake Craft will be a laminated sheet. Using a laminator or hot iron, flatten the laminate sheet. If you don’t own a laminator, you can try a hot iron and heat the seat on a flat surface. Also, you might want to consider purchasing plastic sheets for crafting.

Using a cookie sheet, or a piece of scrap cardboard, place the printed Snowflake Template face up, and then laminated sheet on top. This is simply a lamination sheet that has been run through the laminator with nothing it it. It will give you a thick piece of transparent plastic that is wonderful for these types of craft projects.

2. To secure sheets, place tape on each side for a tight and flat fit. Blue painters tape is a great choice as it peels over quite easily.

3. Using light Blue Glass Acrylic Paint, begin following pattern at the top of template.

4. Choose a color for your larger snowflake and begin to trace the outline and fill in the shape.

5. Start with the center heart of the next snowflake. You can make different parts of the snowflake, different colors, just be sure the colors are thick and touch eachother. You don’t want any gaps where there is no paint as you won’t be able to peel off your snowflake when it’s dry. If you want portions of your snowflake to be transparent, then use Clear Window Paint. This is what we used in the center of two of the snowflakes.

6. You can play around with color mixing and adding color on top of other colors. (See our Hummingbird Window Decal for Vibrant Examples) Continue with blue and outline the outer bottom right snowflake and middle outer core area. Let dry OVERNIGHT. I know, it’s tempting to peel it when it starts looking ready after a couple of hours, but it’s NOT, the center is likely still wet with paint. (Ask me how I know this…)

7. Now that you’ve been very patient waiting for it to dry overnight, it’s time to peel each snowflake carefully by pulling with one hand and holding down the laminate paper below. It’s not a race, go slow, being careful to properly lift each appendage. You won’t want to “stretch” the work while peeling.

7. Your Snowflake Window Decals are now complete! Add them to a window anywhere in the house or give them out as gifts. Place them in your classroom windows

Aren’t they gorgeous! This is a perfect craft for older kids or students, especially when looking for a unique craft for the winter while you are stuck indoors.

How do you get window clings to stick again?

Naturally with this type of glass acrylic paint, you’ll find the window decal clings nicely to your windows. The kids will love to decorate for the season and you’ll love the affordability that comes with a DIY window cling snowflake treat. We’ve had them on our windows for years, however, if placed in a sunny window that receives direct sunlight this might be an issue.

Ready for SPRING!? Try our Free Hummingbird Window Cling Art Tutorials! This is a fantastic project for Mom and older kiddos, and the vibrant colors are sure to brighten up your windows.

Homeschool Checklist by Month

December 24, 2020 By Crafty Team Leave a Comment

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.

September

Startup and Setup

Open up your school room or corner. Get all your texts, resources, and other books laid out. Start the year on a good foot.

Quick Two Week Checkup

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.

Fill in any gaps with School Resources

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.

October

Get up to speed, if you did a staggered start

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.

Write Ideas for Winter Fun

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.

Plan Field Trips with Budget

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.

November

Perform a Progress Audit

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.

Make Adjustments to Your Schedule

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.

Sign up for any Winter Activities

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.

December

Mid-Year Review during Christmas 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.

Reorganize and Tidy Up Classroom for Efficiency

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.

Inventory School Supplies

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.

January

Remove Ineffective Homeschool Curriculum

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.

Purchase any needed school supplies

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.

Update portfolios or grade rosters as needed by your state

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.

February

Review Progress with Mini-Assessments

Conduct some mini-assessments. No need for long, complicated exams. Simply assess where your child is and everything he has learned.

Determine any Gaps in Goals

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.

Change it up with a Project

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.

Look Ahead Next Year for Changes

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?

March

Buy Supplemental Materials to fill in Gaps

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.

Keep a Running List of Child Needs

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. 3^rd grade math, spelling curriculum, handwriting, etc.

Take inventory of Resources

Be sure to go through everything you have. Take inventory of items on your list that you already own.

April

Research curriculum for Next Year

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.

Determine a Homeschool Budget

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.

Interview Student

Repeat this process at the end of the year. Have their answers changed? Take notes on what they share.

Compare to State Requirements

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.

May

Conduct End of Year Evaluations & Assessments

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.

Finalize Portfolios for Submission or Evaluation

It’s time to finalize portfolios. Make final decisions on what to include, complete any needed paperwork, and submit.

Determine 3-5 Curriculum Options

You have been researching curriculum and probably found more than you ever expected. Narrow down your choices to your top picks.

Plan to attend a homeschool conference or two

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.

June

Homeschool Goals for Next Year

Set your goals for next year. Make sure to write them down. Make a list of goals for your family, yourself, and each child.

Track Success

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.)

Shop Homeschool Sales

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.

Assess Leftover Homeschool Curriculum

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.

Create a Summer School Plan

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.

Summer Break Options

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.

July

Final Decisions on Curriculum

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.

Clean Classroom

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.

Field Trip Planning/Research

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.

August

Final Curriculum Orders

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.

Classroom Organization

Now that the classroom is really clean, organize all of your materials. Add in the new curriculum and resources. Assemble any new furniture.

Schedule Planning System

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.

Research State Laws for Grade level

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!

Scientific Method for Kids

December 22, 2020 By Crafty Team Leave a Comment

What kid doesn’t like blowing up things and getting messy? While Moms are not real keen on the idea of messes, they also know it’s just a part of the learning process. However, it’s not just about the experiments, it’s also about the process. Here is how the scientific method for kids work and some great science laboratory ideas to get your started that are easy, affordable, and of course, enjoyable for your kids!

Scientific Method Learning Pack for Kids

What is the first step of the scientific method for kids?

Ask a question

Kids are full of questions. You are probably answering them all day. So coming up with a question won’t be hard. However, the question needs to be focused and direct. This is where children will need help. Give them guidance to narrow down their ideas to one specific question that can be tested. Be sure to write down your question, this is the first step in the scientific method for kids. Practicing creating good questions is a skill that will also help in communication. Just one way in which the arts and sciences come together.

Do Research Before Your Science Experiment

Now that you have a question, it’s time to set the stage for a successful experiment. This requires research. Sometimes when going through the scientific method for kids, this site gets skipped or rushed. Many believe that kids either don’t need to or are not capable of research. However, why not start young. Research is an important skill for lifelong learning that can be used across all disciplines. Even if you are doing a simple experiment, model how to research and complete this step.

Read up on background information. Keep reading until your child feels confident sharing the information with someone knew. This is very important step in the scientific method.

Teaching Kids about a Hypothesis

So, you have written down your quest and researched your topic. It’s time to form a hypothesis. A hypothesis is an educated guess. It means you have a good idea of how things work and how your question will be answered. However a hypothesis can be proven wrong. Be sure that the kids know that a hypothesis is a guess. The point of the scientific method is not to necessarily prove that you are right. It’s a learning process, and even if your hypothesis is wrong, you are learning. In fact you will probably learn more from a failed hypothesis in the long run.

Experiments for Kids that Teach the Scientific Method

This is the fun part! Kids love experiments, especially ones with lots of noise or color. Plan your experiment. What are you testing and how will you test it? What materials do you need? How will you record data? Even if you are using a premise experiment plan, you should still take time to plan it before starting. Make sure everything is laid out and ready so you can just focus on the experiment, not finding or preparing supplies.

You can construct your own experiment to test the hypothesis or use one of the many lesson plans available on the internet. Here are some of our favorite experiments for kids:

Scientific Method Experiments

Looking for some easy science experiments where you can find staple items in the house? Try these simple yet super fun science activities that are easy to do, yet, educational for the kids.

Six Easy and Fun Experiments for Kids

Easy Science Experiments for Kids

37 Cool Science Experiments for Kids to Do at Home

Grab some of these awesome science-related ideas that are safe for the kids to do at home. Some of these science projects are great for younger ones without a lot of hands-on help. In fact, they rate the science activities by difficulty so it will be easy to determine the best projects to chose for your kids.

Cool Science Experiments for Kids

Simple Science Experiments for Kids

If you don’t have a lot of time, grab some of these ideas where supplies are ample in the home, affordable, and require a lot of hands-on activity for kids.

Simple Science Activities

Gather and Analyze Data from Your Experiment

Now that your experiment is over, it’s time for the real in-depth learning to begin. Look at your results. Crunch some numbers and see if your hypothesis was correct. You might even repeat the experiment or change a variable and see what happens. Now, look over your results again. This is where the meat of the scientific method comes in.

Present Data and Conclusions in Your Homeschool

Where would the world be in scientists kept all their discoveries to themselves? Synthesize you’re data, draw conclusions, and put it all into a presentation. This can be done through a lab report, oral report, or display. Invite over Grandma, Aunt Sarah, or your friends down the street to experience your presentation. This is also another way to incorporate language arts into science class. Most of all, have fun and celebrate what you have accomplished.

Ready to put all of these ideas into action? Try our affordable and easy to follow science notebook for kids!

Christmas Tree Craft

December 21, 2020 By Crafty Team Leave a Comment

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree, how lovely are they branches! Christmas is such a wonderful time to get the kids excited. We’ve got a wonderful DIY Christmas Tree Craft idea your kids will love. Our Christmas Tree Art Project is creative, easy to make, and a gorgeous keepsake for loved ones. You could even shrink down the size of the template to fit a Christmas Card to send to friends and family. This is a fantastic project for multiple ages and abilities and a fun way to get family and friends together around the holiday table. However you create, you’ll want to display your child’s Christmas Tree artwork year after year.

While there are a ton of fun Christmas Tree Crafts out there, this holiday craft is unique and special. With just a few materials, your child will have a beautiful and colorful Christmas tree in just a few minutes. Best of all, every tree turns into a unique masterpiece that children are excited to share.

Christmas Tree Craft Materials

Christmas Tree Template
Bleeding Tissue Paper (different than normal tissue paper)
Clear Elmers Glue
White Cardstock

Holiday Tree Craft Instructions

Print our free Christmas Tree Craft Template on cardstock paper. We’ll be getting the paper wet, so you’ll want a thicker paper if possible. Turn over the template so that you are creating on the back side.

2. Use water to wet the paper a bit, then add the bleeding tissue paper circles in an overlapping fashion. You’ll want to think about your color choices so that you have colors blending into different hues, or even complementary colors to help the project pop. You can see in the photo above that warm colors were used on the area of the star, and then it transitions into cooler colors for the tree.

4. Once you have the outline filled with tissue paper, set the project aside to dry. You can use a blowdryer set to “low” to speed things up if you are short on time.

5. When dry, shake or peel off the tissue paper. You’ll see that once the tissue paper is removed, the color still remains. Flip your project back over so you can see the Christmas tree outline.

6. Cut on the black lines so that your tree is in 6 different pieces.

7. Choose a piece of construction paper with a dark color as your background. Begin laying out each element of the Christmas Tree in respective order, beginning with the star. Leave space in between each set of branches so that the background can show through.

8. Glue all pieces in sequential order as shown above.

9. Your Crafty Classroom Christmas Tree Craft is complete!

Frame your project to ensure it lasts year after year! What a fun Christmas decoration to pull out each winter. Scale this project down a bit to create a set of unique Christmas cards from the kiddos. Simply set your printer to print multiple pages per sheet and you’ll have a template just right for holiday cards. Your kiddos can create four at a time!

When to Switch Homeschool Curriculum

December 18, 2020 By Crafty Team Leave a Comment

You have spent weeks or maybe months planning your homeschool year. Everything seems set and you know this will be the best year, ever. However, it isn’t. You are struggling and that shiny new curriculum is no longer exciting. You pictured these amazing days with everyone eager to dive in and learn. Instead, everyone is unhappy, including you. What are you supposed to do? Here’s a quick guide on when to switch homeschool curriculum.

Why isn’t this Curriculum Working for Us?

You are probably thinking that it is just you. Why can’t you get it to work? Your favorite blogger, Instagram influencer, and best friend have been raving about this book or program. You read up on the program carefully and even watched video reviews.

Before you go blaming yourself and feeling inadequate, take a step back from the situation. There are millions of homeschoolers worldwide, tens of thousands of books, resources, and programs. If one size fit all, there would not be such a huge market. Every family is unique, moreover, every child is unique. Juts because “everyone” is using it, doesn’t mean it will work for your family. Also, the truth is, everyone isn’t using it because there are so many options to choose from.

When to Switch Homeschool Curriculum

If you are struggling more than making progress it could be time for a change. Curriculum and resources are meant to be tools. Sometimes it takes some trial and error to find the best fit. Here are some signs that it’s time to look at switching:

You dread homeschooling each morning
The kids are resisting doing work or reading lessons
Lessons are not sinking in
You feel completely regretful or disappointed in your curriculum choice
Your homeschool is falling behind no matter what you do
You are questioning your ability to homeschool
Lessons are taking much longer than they should
Everyone is frustrated
You can’t see why so many people recommended this resource or curriculum

Why Switch Homeschool Curriculum

Homeschool curriculum is expensive and education isn’t always easy. Shouldn’t you just tough it out and at least get your money’s worth? The answer is likely no. When a resource is not working, it can ruin an entire homeschool year. Everyone gets frustrated, even the lessons you usually enjoy become overwhelming, and you just want to quit. Successful homeschooling requires there to be some peace and harmony in the home. This isn’t to say every lesson will be your favorite, but fighting a battle uphill everyday isn’t healthy for anyone.

It’s true that most schools take a one size fits all approach. However, is that the best way to educate? Embrace the beauty of being in control of your own school and do what works best for you and your family. Children learn more when they are engaged and confident. So, if you would rather have a root canal than teach one more lesson in that math book, that’s when to switch homeschool curriculum.

Where to Find New Homeschool Curriculum Resources

Now that you have decided to switch homeschool curriculum, you are probably wondering how to pick a better one. First, figure out exactly what isn’t working. Is it the format, workload, or learning style? Is there just one aspect of the curriculum that is making everyone dread it? Replacing just part of your curriculum choice can be an easy and economical way to improve your situation. Here are some tips on where to look and how to find the right resource:

Read reviews, lots of reviews. Visit blogs and independent reviewers, plus check out the reviews on Amazon or other booksellers.
Ask around to see what people are using. See if a friend has the replacement curriculum you are considering. Seeing resources first hand is always better than just picking them out from a catalog.
Determine your children’s learning styles and find a curriculum designed for that style.
Check out sites like Teacher Pay Teachers where you can find inexpensive curriculum options that are immediately available.
Shop used book sales.
See if sample are available online to try before you buy.

What to Do with Unused Homeschool Books

Now that you have found a new curriculum, what about the old one? Likely, you would like to recoup some of your investment. The cost of curriculum is usually the main deterrent to switching. However, there are numerous places to sell or swap curriculum. You will not make back every penny, but it will help offset the cost of new supplies. Check out online swap/sell groups on Facebook or look for a local bookstore. Also, consider selling on Ebay or similar platforms. Click here for 10 Places to Sell Your Used Homeschool Books

Building Fine Motor Skills with Tracing

December 11, 2020 By Crafty Team Leave a Comment

Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic are the backbones of all education. Usually, people think of writing as essays, poems, and research papers. However, writing includes handwriting in script and manuscript print. So, learning to write and practicing handwriting are in fact important activities. In fact, they are brain-building activities that deserve more time and consideration. What if your child isn’t ready for handwriting or is just starting to learn? Tracing is the name of the game. Here are some reasons and advice on building fine motor skills with tracing.

Why is Tracing Important?

In the grand scheme of things, tracing may seem like a waste of time. However, tracing is an important skill. It prepares the brain for language learning. Also, tracing helps children who have learning differences or language delays to master language. In addition, it helps create muscle memory which will improve handwriting in the long term.

Types of Tracing for Fine Motor Skills

Are you wondering what to trace? There are so many options. Some activities require tracing a shape, letter, or picture on solid lines. Others use dashes, dots, or faint lines with arrows. All of these are considered tracing. Also, connect the dot activities practice the same fine motor skills, they are a higher level of tracing. These will increase pencil control which is essential to legible handwriting. Here are some ideas for tracing type activities:

shapes
lines and curves
letters
numbers
name (first and/or last)
objects (for example: trees, cups, plates, animals, etc.)
mazes
connect the dots

How to Setup a Simple Tracing Binder

Having tracing activities ready will make adding this to your day so much easier. Instead of searching for what to do, or printing something new each day, you can have it all in a handy binder. This also makes it easier for your child. Plus, a tracing binder makes a great quiet activity for when you are working with other children, on the phone, or just need your child to be active but quiet. A tracing binder is a collection of tracing worksheets with various activities. Ideally, it would go from easier to harder, so the child will continue building fine motor skills with tracing. Also, use page protectors so the activities can be repeated over and over. Repetition is essential for skill mastery. Include the following items in your simple tracing binder:

various tracing worksheets
a pencil case to store pencils or dry erase markers
page protectors
dividers for different types of activities or different levels
stickers and a progress chart to keep track of mastered skills (optional)

Building Fine Motor Skills with Tracing

Fine motor skills are important for learning. They are the foundation of writing, hands-on work, pencil control and creativity. However, fine motor skills are also brain building. So, they help lay the foundation for all learning, even the kind that doesn’t require hands-on activity. Building fine motor skills with tracing is an easy way to prepare your child for school work. In addition, it is extremely important and helpful for children who struggle with language learning. Like copy work, tracing helps cement language patterns, usage, and writing skills. So, include tracing worksheets in your preschool program regularly.

Tracing Worksheets and Activities

Now that you are ready for tracing worksheets to build fine motor skills and pencil control, here’s some of the best bundles around.

Trace Activity Bundle with over 300 pages or fun!
Maze Writer for those who just hate to write!
Pencil Control Workbook for effortless daily practice.

Unicorn Crafts for Kids

December 7, 2020 By Crafty Team Leave a Comment

Does your child love unicorns? If so, they are going to LOVE this fun Unicorn Crafts for Kids! Whether you are looking for homeschool crafts, a unicorn-themed birthday party for preschoolers, or a classroom craft full of color, this fun, creative, and clever unicorn craft activity will be a HUGE hit!

This unicorn craft is perfect for all ages, including young ones. With just a few staple supplies and steps, you’ll have a beautiful display of a Rainbow Unicorn for a keepsake or gift.

Unicorn Craft Materials

Black Glue
Black Cardstock
Clear Elmer’s Glue
Paint Brush
Multi-colored Chalk Pastels

Rainbow Unicorn Craft Instructions

Using cardstock, use black glue to design mane as show in video.

2. Next, after black glue dries, draw clear glue in between black glue stripes.

3. Using a paint brush, gently blend clear glue in between left side design to prepare for pastel coloring.

4. After clear glue dries, use white pastel and color left side mane design.

5. Now, it’s time for the rainbow colors. Starting with red, begin the rainbow design as shown below and in video provided.

6. Once complete, use finger to blend all pastel colors gently across the page. Be careful not to blend colors together, finger should be wiped cleaned before proceeding.

7. Your Rainbow Unicorn Craft for Kids is now complete. Hang it on the fridge to display or give as a gift to loved ones.

Kindergarten Assessment Checklist

June 26, 2020 By Crafty Team Leave a Comment

Kindergarten is an important step in childhood and education. It marks the beginning of formal education. However, what should kindergarten students know? How can you know if your child learned enough during kindergarten. These are common questions for homeschool parents. So, we break down the how, why, and when to perform kindergarten assessments in your homeschool.

Why Do a Kindergarten Assessment?

What comes to mind when you hear the word assessment? You are probably conjuring up visions of final exams or standardized tests. However, there are many types of assessments. Kindergarten assessment is used to demonstrate progress. They are not like standardized tests. These are easy, and fun activities that your child can complete to demonstrate mastery. More importantly, you can easily see where your child needs some help. Both sides of an assessment are essential for a good education.

When to Do a Kindergarten Assessment

There are several ways to do this. The answer is do what works for your homeschool and child. Testing is a stressful topic, but tests do not have to be stressful. Remember to look at this as a measure of progress not a pass/fail situation. Saving assessments can be helpful, because they allow you to look back, compare, and see the progress made. No matter how you plan to use a kindergarten evaluation, be sure to do it when you are your child are feeling refreshed, rested, and not hungry! Here are a few options for your homeschool:

Give the same test at the beginning and end of the year to measure progress and growth.
Use as an end of year evaluation to drive curriculum choices for next year.
“Pre-test” a soon to be kindergartner so you know where he stands before starting school work.
Administer the same evaluation mid-year and end of year. Use the mid-year test to tweak the second half of the year. That way you are sure to hit the areas that need more attention.

What Subjects should Kindergartener know?

The sky is the limit in homeschooling, however that doesn’t mean you need to test your child in every subject! Early education assessments focus on math, reading and writing. These core subjects are the basis of all future learning. So, you may be learning about science, history, and music, too, but stick with the core subjects for your evaluation.

Language Arts Topics to Assess

The language arts comprise reading, writing, listening, and speaking. In kindergarten, we focus on reading and writing. Writing does not just mean writing stories. It is primarily handwriting and letter formation at this point. Reading includes sight words, sounds, and letter recognition. Here are the main topics to assess for your child:

Letter recognition
Initial consonant sounds
Short vowel sounds
Long vowel sounds
Sight words
Rhyming words
Consonant sounds
Syllables
Segmenting/spelling three letter words
Short creative writing
Basic information—name, phone number, address
Completing a sentence
Writing capital and lowercase letters

Math Topics to Assess

Like language arts, it is important to focus on the basics. Ensure that your child has mastered the foundations. Make the assessment fun and simple to understand. Here are some basic topics to cover in your evaluation:

Number work recognition
Numeral recognition
Shape recognition
Measurement
Counting
Numbers to 100
Basic addition
Basic subtraction

However and whenever you administer these assessments, keep in mind that all children develop at different rates. This is especially true in the early years. Make sure your child knows that you are focusing on what she does know, not on what she still needs to learn!

Would you like a FREE guide to assess your child for Kindergarten? Our free kindergarten assessment tests will help you determine any gaps in your child’s education, plus, it’s a great tool to show growth over the year!

These kindergarten assessment printables are great for the beginning of the year and end of the year testing. If you find your student needs extra practice on any of these concepts check out our free worksheets, or try our Kindergarten Reading & Language Arts Program or our Complete 36-Week Interactive Math Curriculum.

Writing Prompts for Kids

April 10, 2020 By Crafty Team Leave a Comment

Writing is an essential skill, and it requires practice. But, how do you get children to write? If you have told a child to “write a story.” more often than not you have been met with resistance. What you need are writing prompts. Take the struggle out of learning to write by using kindergarten writing prompts with your child.

What are Writing Prompts?

Writing prompts are story starters, scenarios, and ideas that inspire writing. These can be short sentences, partial sentences, “what if” statements, or or direct prompts. Each is used to “prompt” the student to write about a certain topic. Some examples include:

Tell me about the most exciting day last summer.
What if you could fly, how would your life change?
I woke up and then suddenly…
I once had the biggest surprise ever. (finish the story)

What are the Benefits of Using Writing Prompts?

Story prompts spark imagination and gets their writing juices flowing. They eliminate the anxiety of deciding what to write about. Students can just dive in and start writing. Story prompts are easy to use because they inspire or elicit ideas that the student already has. They also increase critical and creative thinking. Even professional writers use story prompts to prevent writer’s block.

How do I Write a Prompt?

Writing prompts can be fun and easy. You will need to do some creative thinking yourself. First, brainstorm ideas for stories. Think about everyday life experiences that your students could describe. Come up with some fantastical and creative ideas that would make wonderful fairy tails or science fiction type stories. Then consider story starters. Try to have a variety of prompts. Mixing up the style and type of prompt helps to develop stronger writing skills. This also keeps kids interested because the writing prompts are not predictable. Some children may gravitate to one type of prompt or excel in a certain type of writing. Mixing them up allows them to practice all types of writing, but also shine when their preferred style prompt is offered. Create a list of the prompts and keep it somewhere safe.

When to Use Writing Prompts

Writing prompts can be used in a variety of situations. First, you could use them as a daily journal starter. Set aside a certain amount of time each day, for example 20 minutes, for journal writing. Give your child a new prompt each day to complete in his or her journal. These can be rotated with free writing days where students can write about anything they wish.

Writing prompts can also be used in spelling and language arts lessons. The prompts could contain spelling words or be topics that could easily include certain spelling words. You can set a number of how many spelling words to include, or list the words you want worked into the story. The same thing can be done for language arts lessons on grammar. These are more advanced skills, but after some practice with story prompts will be a fun way to practice spelling and grammar. For younger students, especially kindergarten, focus more on idea formation and story telling than spelling and grammar.

Where Can I find Free Kindergarten Writing Prompts?

You could write your own prompts, but sometimes you just don’t have time. Plus, if you are not accustomed to writing prompts, this could be a difficult exercise for you. There are many books available with story prompts already created, however these cost money. You will also have to wait for them to arrive. Here’s a treasury of kindergarten story prompts that are available for instant download:

Tips and Tricks for Teaching Kindergarten Students to Write

Make it a habit. Do writing at the same time each day or week.
Encourage inventive spelling. Kindergarteners have big ideas but limited spelling skills, encourage them to spell the best they can and focus on the content more.
Work on grammar gradually. Like spelling, grammar is a budding skill. Ignore grammatical mistakes in the beginning and then gradually introduce one concept at a time, gently. Keep it simple! Focus on creative thought, not grammatical correctness.
Encourage the child to draw a picture to go with the story.
Be patient, writing is a skill that takes time to develop.
Write together and share your stories.
Allow younger or reluctant students to narrate their writing prompts until they feel comfortable with the process. Take it one step at a time.
Use story prompts as part of handwriting practice.
Need a place with a treasure trove of writing prompts? Try our Interactive Writing Prompts for Kindergarten!

Homeschool BINGO Games for Kids

March 20, 2020 By Crafty Team Leave a Comment

One of the best things about homeschooling is that you can do things a little differently. Sure you still need to learn your math facts, sight words, and history lessons, but you can do it your way. Textbooks are useful, and quizzes have their place. However, sometimes you need to think outside the box and just let the learning happen. A perfect way to do this is through BINGO games and hands-on fun. Let’s look at why you consider homeschool bingo games for kids. (HINT—-> Try our Editable Bingo Game Boards Here)

Making Learning Fun

Learning should be fun. That doesn’t mean that every second is entertaining and high energy. However, learning should be enjoyable, especially for younger children. We want our children to become lifelong learners. So, keeping them engaged and excited is important. There are many ways to make homeschooling fun and enjoyable. You can do hands-on projects, play games, go on field trips, or role play. This is why BINGO for kids is the perfect addition to your homeschooling toolbox.

Why use BINGO games in your homeschool?

BINGO games are great for all ages. We all know grandmas who love to play BINGO, turns out kids do, too. However, BINGO is more than just fun and games. It is a great educational tool. In fact, it is a great game for learning because it can be used at all stages of the learning process. BINGO can be part of initial learning, mastery, review, and assessment. This is helpful because once the kids know how to play, the possibilities are endless.

In addition, free BINGO games for kids can be used in small groups, individually, or with just two children. Also, it can be used in every subject. You can play free BINGO games at home or on the go. Additionally, it is easy to create and affordable. There are no special tools needed and boards can be used over and over again.

Ways to Use Bingo Boards in Learning

Everyone knows how to play BINGO. However, the boards can be used for more than just that game. Laminate the boards and use them over and over. Take a board with you to the grocery store or on the road for a scavenger hunt. You can also use them as a motivational tool. Fill the board with items or learn, such as Bible verses or math facts. They can mark each square once they have mastered the task. Once the board is full, they can claim a prize.

Ideas for Homeschooling with BINGO Games

Here is a list of ideas to get you started. Really anything can become a BINGO game. Use these ideas and then let your imagination run wild.

Review Vocabulary – For younger students, you can put a picture in each slot and announce the name. For older students, fill the board with vocabulary words. Then read the definition.
Phonics – Fill your boards with letters, digraphs, and blends. Then make each individual sound.
Math Facts – There are two ways to do this. First, you can fill the BINGO board with numbers that are answers to the problems you will announce. On the other hand, fill the board with math problems, then call out the answers.
Parts of speech – This can be used for any part of speech. Create a board with various words. Make it fit your needs. Then announce a part of speech such as noun, verb, pronoun, conjunction, etc. This can be used for all ages.
Science Theorems – Put the name or number of each theorem into the boxes. Read the theorem aloud.
History Dates or Figures – Fill your board with dates and/or names of historical figures. Announce an event or the biography of a celebrity.
Bible Verses – Create boards with chapter and verse numbers, for example John 3:16. Read the individual verses.

Editable Sight Word Bingo

Sight Word Bingo for your entire classroom! This editable set will help you create a customized BINGO game featuring your choice of 24 sight words! Simply type your list in once and watch as each BINGO board is filled with your words! This set includes 20 unique BINGO boards so your entire classroom can play without duplicate winners! Click Here

Monthly Preschool Themes & Topics

January 23, 2020 By Crafty Team Leave a Comment

Preschoolers are naturally curious and excited to learn. You may be wondering what to teach your preschooler and when. A new year is here with 12 months of learning opportunities. One of the easiest ways to structure your schooling and still have plenty of room for fun is with preschool learning themes by month. Each learning theme gives you a topic to springboard off of. Add in crafts, stories to read, activities or experiments, and maybe even a field trip.

Using Preschool Learning Themes by Month

You may be wondering where to start with preschool curriculum planning. It can be overwhelming to fill a whole year with lessons that are engaging, fun, and educational. This is where themes come in. By planning your month around a few or even one topic, you can be more direct in your lessons and not be looking for inspiration every day or week.

This style of teaching helps tie lessons together in a memorable way. Preschoolers can easily relate to these learning themes. They will be eager to learn more and participate in lessons. Best of all, it will be easier to incorporate play, imagination, and practical skills into your preschool day.

January:

Kick off the year by choosing from the following themes:

February:

Stay warm this February with these sweet learning ideas:

March:

Comes in like a lion, goes out like a lamb, but you will have tons of fun in between with these:

April:

Spring has sprung, so dive into these learning themes with your preschooler.

May:

May is full of flowers and fun, now it can be full of learning, too:

June:

It’s getting sunny and warm, with long summer days. Keep your learning going with these preschool themes:

July:

Liberty, life, and days at the beach. July is hot, hot, hot for preschool learning.

August:

Summer fun is winding down, but your preschooler will still be learning strong.

September:

School is heading back and Fall is blowing in, how about you try some of these:

October:

Leaves are falling and pumpkins are getting round, here’s some themes to keep you growing, too.

November:

It’s time to start gathering as a family and give thanks for all we have.

December:

The end of the year is here and the magical holiday season has begun these learning topics will make the season that much more special.

Looking for more learning fun? Check out the preschool printables at Preschool Mom.

How to Conquer the Clutter in the Classroom

May 9, 2019 By Crafty Team 1 Comment

Are the papers starting to get out of control in your homeschool or classroom? Have you accumulated a ton of curriculum over the years and it’s overwhelming? It’s time for a clean space — here’s how to conquer the clutter in the classroom.

It’s easy to allow your homeschool space or classroom to get messy. But, there’s a solution for all of it — declutter! It’s time to get your organization skills sharpened along with those fresh, new pencils. Here are 5 quick tips on getting your room tidy and neat before the school year ends. Less mess, less stress!

1. Write a quick list of homeschool curriculum

First, you need to know what you have before making decisions on what homeschool curriculum to keep or toss. Once the list is finalize, mark the curriculum that you need to keep for the next 2 years. Now that you have a comprehensive list of unnecessary homeschool materials, take them through a triage process. It’s very simple — reuse, recycle, or remove!

2. Removing unwanted homeschool curriculum

It’s now time to get rid of the paper pile up! You want a clean classroom, don’t you? You’ve loved on this curriculum for many years, and it worked for your homeschool child or classroom. Yet, it’s ready to go to a new home. I know, it’s tough. You have fond memories and know how valuable it is, so let someone else enjoy it too.

Here are some questions to consider:

Will I use this in the next 2 years? If yes, it’s a keeper! Put it in the keep pile for organizing later.
- But, can I reduce the double copies, ripped pages, or broken materials to make it more manageable?
- Can it be stored digitally and/or displayed on a tablet?

If I won’t be using it in the next two years, it’s time to give it away, sell, or store it digitally. Below you’ll find ways to sell or donate your used homeschool books, manuals, worksheets, and materials.

Remember, storing too many items takes up time and space, which ultimately takes up precious time from other important obligations. Plus, if you are getting a paycheck, it reduces your pay. Yes, you heard that right! If you are taking time to store unneeded items, you’re making less money based on the hours it takes to store them. If you’re a homeschool teacher, your wasting time without your family or doing something you love.

Also, recycle any of those papers, including duplicate copies, you longer need. Just think of it this way — your messy papers just may be transformed into thoughtful greeting cards to brighten someone’s day!

3. Remove the Broken Writing Utensils

Yes, we could come up with a hundred projects on how to recycle those broken crayons. But, if the ‘Recycle Old Crayons in the CrockPot’ is not on your school calendar this year, toss them! Plus, get rid of any pencils or pens that don’t work, are short, run out of ink, or just not useful anymore.

Now it’s time for some homeschool organization! Gather all of those colored pencils, markers, pens, and pencils you are keeping. You’ll find all you need to know below under Permanent Storage Solutions.

4. Resell Your Teaching Curriculum and Homeschool Resources

Make some extra money by reselling your previous purchases or inherited items. You’d be shocked at how much you can make by free advertising online using Craigslist, Facebook or a small percentage on eBay.

For free advertising, just search for “Craigslist + Location” and you’ll find a section ‘For Sale’. Facebook is also an easy way to make a little money from used homeschool materials. Click on Marketplace on the left hand tool bar, then select the ‘+Add something’ button on the left.

5. Permanent Storage Solutions

Now that the clutter is finding a new home, let’s discuss your homeschool curriculum and materials you want to store. Classroom organization is key to a stress free space.

There are many permanent storage solutions, and there’s not a perfect solution for everyone. But, here is what I’ve seen worked best digitally and physically.

Digital Storage Solutions

Google is a great way to store digital homeschool curriculum and printables. All you have to do is create a Gmail account, and you have 15G of free electronic space. Create folders based on grade then subject. It will make your job a lot easier when you’re looking for homeschool curriculum!

Another great tip is to name your digital files by product and brand. If you ever lose a file, you can always search for it by name.

Physical Storage Solutions

There are many homeschool hacks and classroom organizing tools available, but here are my frugal favorites:

What organizing tips do you have to help clean out the classroom clutter? Whether you are a homeschool mom or classroom teacher, we all deal with messes whether its paper, pencils, or programs. It’s time to get organized for a happy, stress free school day!

5 Easy Tips to Refresh your Homeschool Space

May 6, 2019 By Crafty Team Leave a Comment

Tired of the same old boring appearance with your homeschool? Is it time to give it a fresh, new appearance without killing the budget after a long break? Try these 5 easy tips to refresh your homeschool space!

Sometimes we need to kick it up a notch with our homeschool or classroom space. Maybe our students seem to be disengaged, disinterested, or discouraged. Or, as teachers, we can get a bit frustrated with the lack of color, excitement, or aesthetic appeal in our high traffic area.

It’s time to rejuvenate our bland and boring homeschool. It’s also time to put a little pep in your step as you walk into your genius making space. That’s why making these 5 small changes is an affordable solution, giving you and your students a whole new outlook on education in a fun and inspiring way!

Bean Bag Chairs

Having the right set of furniture is important to encourage learning. If kids are uncomfortable, they may lose focus and may get the squirms and wiggles. You might want to consider adding colorful Bean Bags to the decor!

Bean Bag chairs are naturally comfortable since they fit the contour of your position. They’re soft and attractive to kids, help promoting the learning process. Plus, they’re not stiff and hard like a typical school chair.

Having multi-sensory experiences keeps students active participants, especially for kids with special needs, including attention deficit disorders.Try these Bean Bag Chairs that come in different patterns and colors, are affordable, machine washable, and kid friendly!

Stability Balls

Sitting for long periods of time can get frustrating for kids, especially if they like to be active and engaged while learning. With a stability ball for kids, your child can stay active and participate in their education all at the same time!

You may consider using these exercise type balls as a station and rotate in groups with the bean bag chairs. That way, everyone gets a turn and keeps the kids connected and focused!

Large Area Rugs

Having a center where kids can sit and listen is another great tip to refresh your homeschool. Choosing a themed rug doesn’t have to be difficult, choose something that will encourage your children to run to the rug when it’s read aloud time!

There are a ton of large area rugs to choose from, but if your children are learning their ABCs, this ABC rug will teach and comfort your students.

Choose Bright Colors

Using bright colors promotes creativity and it’s inviting for kids. Teachers can add bright colors using fun chairs, wall decor, or area rugs. Try to keep with a color theme or using all colors of the rainbow. It would make a great learning tool reciting the colors of the amazing rainbow!

Get Kids Involved

Still stumped on what changes you can make to refresh and reboot the classroom? Get the kids involved in the decision making process! Not only will they give you great ideas, they’ll be proud of the choices and actively participate in all of the new decor! You’ll find kids love to help and giving them a hands-on experience is a huge part of the learning process.

Bringing new energy to your room with these easy ideas is a great habit for homeschool moms and teachers! Whether you make a few small fixes or revamp the entire room, either path will make a huge difference in your attitude and stamina! And, you’ll gain more connections, participation and energy in learning with all of your students.

Want to take a peek inside our homeschool classroom? We homeschool in the dining room and have some great tips to help you make the most of small room homeschooling. View Our Homeschool Classroom!

5 Tips to Balance Busyness in Your Homeschool

August 15, 2018 By Crafty Team Leave a Comment

The demands on moms today, especially homeschool moms, are overwhelming. The truth is, most of those demands we create for ourselves. Do you find yourself say, “I’m so busy!” or even, “I’m way too busy.” I understand.

Here are five tips to find homeschool balance and why super mom is not busy mom.

Tip One: Create a Homeschool Mission Statement

Before you balk, thinking this is one more thing you have to do, this can be super helpful. It doesn’t need to be fancy or overly complicated. A simple paragraph of what you want to accomplish this year in your homeschool can help keep you on track. For example, “Our homeschooling goal for this school year is to be consistent with read-alouds, complete all textbook work planned out, be consistent with our daily schedule, and participate in one out-of-the-house activity.”

That doesn’t seem like a big deal, right? But this is a powerful little paragraph as the other tips will show. If you want, you can also have a family mission statement. This can help you keep homeschooling in perspective, too.

Tip Two: Recognize Your Limits

Let’s face it. We can’t do all.the.things. And we certainly can’t honor our mission statement and still get them all done. We have to be honest with ourselves and recognize that there’s no way we can do more than we can do. We can always do what we should do, if we are careful to honor what we should do first.

If you’re the mom of littles, recognizing your limits will help you to spend your best energy on your own little family. Small children require great physical stamina!

As your kids grow, they demand more emotional energy. Knowing that you can’t pour from an empty cup will help you be available to them. Fill your cup with self-care and recognize when you’re moving into the burnout danger zone.

Tip Three: Learn to Say No (without explanation)

There are so many things that want our time and attention. A lot of them good things. Extracurricular activities, church, extended family, and friends. But hear me on this, you can’t say yes to everything without burning yourself out. If you’ve neglected your appearance, your health, or most importantly- your spiritual health, by saying yes to everything, it’s time to learn the power of no.

You can really say no without explanation. Ninety-nine percent of the time, no explanation is warranted anyway. Just say no. If it doesn’t help you honor your homeschool mission statement, you can turn it down. You have the power to do that.

Tip Four: Plan to Succeed

It doesn’t matter how you plan, as long as you do. In general, things don’t just happen.

Without a plan you’re more likely to overextend, say yes, and stray far from the good things you hope to accomplish. Our cell phones, Facebook, and boredom can distract us from our mission.

If you’re not a planner, creating a repeatable rhythm in your home can go a long way. Same wake-up times, same bed times, meals, and schooling.

If you fall somewhere between ninja planner and rhythm keeper, you can keep a simple calendar and a daily to-do list. Print our FREE (SIMPLE) Homeschool Planning Pack Here

Tip Five: Ask for Help

There are going to be times, despite your best efforts, where you just can’t get the important things done without asking for help. Just ask.

Whether it’s your mom-in-law, sister, or spouse, be specific about where you need help and let them share your burden for a bit. This can be humbling if we’re used to doing all the things ourselves, but no one who loves you would want you to tough it through burn out.

There are no awards to be won for being busy for the sake of being busy. It’s totally fine to let others pitch in so you can rest when you need to, or simply get caught up.

The homeschool year may be just starting for you. I hope that these five tips to go from super busy, mythical super mom to peaceful and productive and present mom, bless you.

What tip can you use today to bring peace to your own homeschool?

Homeschool Helps

There are days when having something fun and educational to do can be a life-saver! The Bible ABC Curriculum to the rescue.

Over 600 pages of downloadable resources for teaching children the Alphabet one week at a time. For each letter of the alphabet, you’ll receive 24 pages of Bible activities, games, worksheets, charts, coloring pages, math explorations and more. Designed to keep the prep work to a minimum, our Bible ABC Curriculum Notebook can be spread over 26 weeks. View the sample pages above for a detailed course outline and a suggested 4-day schedule. Suggested age range is Preschool to K4.

Bible ABC Curriculum Notebook

Character Training in 4 Easy Steps Using Chores

July 25, 2018 By Crafty Team Leave a Comment

Do your kids hide when you mention household chores? Do you hide when you have your own unfinished household chores waiting to be done? It’s easy to get overwhelmed when you have so many things on your plate. And it’s even easier to let chores slide when there are seemingly more important things to do. But what if you could combine your regular household chores with those vital teaching moments? Homeschooling affords us that very opportunity. Here are several ways you can include household chores as teaching moments.

1. Planning to Succeed

“A goal without a plan is just a wish.” —Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Teaching Moment: Making a plan to accomplish household chores provides an easy boundary of expectations.

It’s easier to finish what is planned. Sit down with your children with pen and paper in hand. Make a list of all the household chores and add them to a calendar. Now you have a deadline to finish the chores or a set time to tend to them on a regular basis. Giving your children a concrete visual of the work that needs to be done can help them “see” how it fits into the overall rhythm of the family.

2. Patience in Learning

“Patience is the companion of wisdom.” ~ St. Augustine

Teaching Moment: Practice patience with children learning a new skill so they can learn it more quickly.

If you’ve forgotten what it’s like to learn the skill required to do a new chore, try brushing your teeth with your left hand (or non-dominate hand). Try the same thing with writing your name. This is much like a child’s experience when learning something new. When you demonstrate patience towards their learning curve, they can begin to have patience with themselves in the learning process.

3. Diligence in Following Through

“Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.” ~ John Quincy Adams

Teaching Moment: Encouragement to finish the job well teaches diligence.

When the going gets tough, we tend to give up. So, it’s easy to understand our children’s tendency to give in when things are hard. It’s human nature. What can help to overcome this natural impulse so many have? Encouragement. As parents, our words hold power. Our children do want to please us. We can use this power for good through encouragement.

Applying this encouragement to our children’s work efforts can be magical.

When encouragement fails to motivate them to diligence, we can help them see how the finished chore fits into the big picture. For instance, if a child’s chore it to empty the dishwasher, the completion of it provides clean dishes for dinner. This helps the child see the importance of their place and their work within the family. It helps them feel valued and loved.

4. Having a Good Attitude

“With every job that must be done, there is an element of fun.” — Mary Poppins

Teaching Moment: Learning to have a positive attitude regarding our responsibilities helps us identify the fun in the work we have to do.

This makes the work easier to finish. Wouldn’t it be great if our kids could do everything with a happy countenance? Mom, this attitude starts with you. Modeling a good attitude while doing necessary tasks is the first step in establishing a good attitude in your children. This teaching moment has an impact far beyond teaching our children to have a good attitude. It will give you peace throughout your day. Why? A habit of a good attitude spills over to our homeschooling efforts, correcting our kids, and every element of our parenting.

There are so many teaching moments that we get to experience as homeschool parents. Using chores provides teaching moments that build character, and this serves our children for a lifetime. It makes our own parenting easier, too!

5 Games to Play with Flashcards

June 13, 2018 By Crafty Team 2 Comments

Flashcards are a wonderful educational tool, both in the classroom and at home. Teachers and homeschool moms alike can use flashcards games to teach kids a variety of important things, such as numbers, words, shapes and more!

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Investing In Your Students – Making Time

May 15, 2018 By Crafty Team 1 Comment

As a teacher, you do more than simply teaching reading and writing to your students. You teach them how to be law-abiding citizens, how to be kind friends, how to be a good person.Teaching is about investing in your students, making time to teach them everything they need to know to be successful in life. Here are a few ideas for making time so that you can make it a priority to invest in your students.

Investing in your Students: Making Time

Investing in your students is important. When you make time for your students, you’re creating a connection. This connection will make it easier to teach your students what they need to know, everything from reading skills to character development. Investing in your students is something you won’t regret. Here are some things you can do to make time.

Use Your Lunch Time

A great way to make time to invest in your students is to use your lunch time if you get duty-free lunch. They will notice it when you use your personal time for them, making them feel special. Once a week or every other week, take one lunch and spend it in the cafeteria with the kids. You’ll still get your personal time every other day, but making the effort that one special day every week will truly make a difference.

Join Them At Recess

The next time you’re on recess duty, join your students. Walk around and talk with them, join in on their game, whatever it takes to make use of your duty time to connect with them. If you have inside recess one day, start a game with all of the kids so that you can learn about each other. Since you already have recess duty regardless, make the most of this time in which you can invest in your students.

Stand By Your Classroom Door

When you students arrive each morning, stand by your classroom door and greet them. Take a few seconds to ask them questions about their lives, checking in on how things are going. This is the perfect time to invest in your students since you can’t use it for lessons anyway. This personal greeting will help set a positive mood for the day and will further develop your connection with your students.

Watch a Game or Concert

If your students have a sporting event or concert coming up, plan to stop by and watch. You don’t need to attend each and every one, but if you make a plan to go to a game here and there, your students will see you. They will appreciate the fact that you’re there for them, letting them know that you care about them and are invested in them.

Don’t Forget Self-Care

In order for you to have the time to invest in your students, you will need to remember self-care. If you burn yourself out, you won’t have as much to contribute to your students. Instead of obsessing about lesson plans or grading all weekend, make sure you take a day for you and your family so that you’re more refreshed when you start the work week. It might seem counterintuitive, but taking a break can make you more productive when you get back to it!

Investing in your students will be rewarding for both you and the kids in your class. This will help you develop a strong and binding relationship with your students, creating a fun and respectful atmosphere in your classroom. By making time for your students, you’re showing them that you care for each and every one of them.