Crafty Team

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.

Why Homeschooling Isn’t for Everyone

May 9, 2018 By Crafty Team 2 Comments

Homeschooling is such a great way for kids to learn, but is it the right choice for everyone? When I first started homeschooling (twelve years ago) you might have heard me say things like:

Homeschooling is the BEST thing for your child! -or
Everyone should homeschool no matter the cost. -or-
What do you mean you are sending your kids to school….don’t you love them?

Okay, that last one is a tad dramatic, but somehow I had the preconceived notion that because I had decided homeschooling was the best situation for my family, that is was the best situation for EVERY family.

(Did I mention I was a tad self-righteous as a young adult? Just a tad…)

Fast forward to today and I am still homeschooling two of my four children. My eldest two children, grades 7 and 9, were just enrolled in a local private school last year. My youngest two, grades 1 and 3, are still being educated and home and we continue our daily homeschool journey. We love and support our local charter school and my younger two boys take part in weekly on-campus enrichment classes.

So currently, we are like a hodge-podge homeschooling family now, but it’s working for us. And that is what the homeschool movement is all about…..doing what works best for each individual child and family.

So, back to the issue at hand…is homeschooling for everyone? Well, maybe not? If you are considering homeschooling, here are five questions to ask yourself before going any further.

Why Homeschooling Isn’t For Everyone

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.

1. Do You Have the Passion?

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.

2. Do You Have the Patience?

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.

3. Do You Have the Time to Dedicate

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.

4. What Are Your Children’s Needs?

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.

5. Are Both Parents On Board?

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.

10 Places to SELL Your Used Homeschooling Curriculum

March 28, 2018 By Crafty Team Leave a Comment

What do you do with your used homeschooling curriculum after the semester is done? Each time you need to purchase new homeschooling curriculum, you also have old curriculum you need to get rid of. One of the best things you can do is to sell your used homeschooling curriculum, helping fund the next set you need to buy.

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Dollar Bin Homeschool Deals… Are They Really Worth It?

February 14, 2018 By Crafty Team 1 Comment

These days, homeschooling on a budget means you look for every deal or discount you can. If something is free – you grab it. If something is a great deal – you stock up. So what about those dollar bin homeschool deals? You know – the little school supplies, notepads, and other trinkets you often find at the front of large megastores? Are they really worth it?…
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5 Tech Products You’ll Want for your Classroom

February 7, 2018 By Crafty Team Leave a Comment

There are many useful tools available for teachers. Technology can especially be a valuable tool in the classroom, helping to keep kids actively engaged. It can both help students learn, as well as make teaching easier for teachers. If you’re a teacher, here are 5 tech products you’ll want for your classroom….
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Homeschooling at Night: Why it Works

January 31, 2018 By Crafty Team 1 Comment

Does homeschooling at night really work? Many families say yes, it does! How do you homeschool at night, then, you ask? How do you know it is effective and doable? Here are four reasons people homeschool after the dinner plates have been put away, and why they say that it works!…
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6 Steps to the Perfect Homeschool Schedule

November 10, 2017 By Crafty Team 2 Comments

Are you tired of planning and re-planning out your homeschool year? There is nothing worse than spending hours upon hours getting organized only to have 2 weeks of sick days to throw a wrench in the works. Or do you start off the year strong, checking off each item from your homeschool planner…..only to completely ignore your plans by the second month in? Well, guess what? It doesn’t have to be this hard. Today, I’m gong to share 6 Simple Steps you can follow to create YOUR perfect homeschool schedule.

Sticking to a homeschool scheduled doesn’t have to be that hard. In fact, it can really be quite easy with a little preparation at the start of the year. Here are six tangible ways you can make your homeschool schedule work for you.

Choosing the Right Start And End Date

Between September 1 and June 1 there are195 weekdays. Most curriculums have 170 days of lessons

So, if your curriculum has 170 days in the curriculum, you could feasibly start the school year September 1, and end June 1 and still have 15 weekdays off.

15 days might seem like a lot but there is still more you need to consider.

Are you going to want specific holidays or birthdays off?
How many doctor’s appointments does your family typically go to in a year, including sick appointments?
Does your curriculum build in review days, or will your child need extra review time?
Will you be taking many field trips?
Does your child work well when they’re sick?If the answer is no, then you’ll probably need extra sick days.
Are you willing to have your children work in the evening if they didn’t complete their school work?
Do you want to go on a family vacation before all the other kids get out of school?

There is nothing worse than feeling like you need to cram lessons down your kids throats so they finish the school year on time.I would rather start our school year in the middle of August and end mid-June.That way I can have a few more flexible days during the year for Doctor’s appointments and field trips.

Staying On Track During School Hours

Have a consistent start time.If your kids are consistently not completing their work, then you may need to adjust accordingly.
Stay home during school hours as much as possible.
Don’t take phone calls during school hours.
Don’t do chores during school hours.
Pick up your groceries from the store using one of the many online shopping programs.
Use YouTube if your child is struggling with a concept but you don’t have instructional time to explain it multiple times.(I also find my kids hearing something explained in a different way by someone else generally helps them understand a new concept faster).
Plan daily breaks to help with focus.
Know what time of day your kids work best and plan accordingly.

Planning Ahead To Stay On Schedule

Know what assignments your kids can do on their own.Plan your days around it.
Get ahead on favorite subjects on weekends and days off.
If you need to miss a day during the week, work on Saturday.
Plan your week on Sunday evening.Do this every week, because curveballs happen.

What To Do When Something Derails Your Schedule

Build in plenty of flexible days at the beginning of the year so no one falls behind in work.
Complete the most critical parts of the missed lessons immediately but then move on and make everything else up gradually.
Extend your school day by ½ and hour to an hour until everything is made up.

Making The Most Out of Sick Days

If your kids are seriously sick let them rest as much as possible, otherwise, try and have them do some work.
Do the worksheets you can verbally.Obviously writing is an important skill, but for the sake of staying on schedule, you can do the writing for a day or two if your kids just can’t focus.
Read their lessons and books out loud to them.
Eliminate enrichment work until they’re better.
Watch educational cartoons or documentaries on what they’re currently working.

Staying Emotionally Healthy

An exhausted homeschool Mom is one who will have a hard time staying on schedule.

Get enough sleep.
Stay home Sunday nights.Emotionally prepare yourself for the week.
Learn to say “I’m sorry no.My plate is too full with homeschooling.”A lot of people assume because you’re at home full time you can do favors for them or the church.Most of us have a hard time saying no.Homeschooling is a fulltime job.You can say no.I promise it gets easier.
Don’t do activities just for the sake of doing them.Take a step back.
Give yourself time out of the house without the kids.

Looking for more?

Print our Free SIMPLE Weekly Homeschool Planner Here.