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Phonics Game for Kids

Teaching kids how to read can be intimidating for first-time teachers. Yet, if you’re a veteran teacher, it can be stressful keeping the kids from getting bored. That’s why our Phonics Game for Kids are great for newbies and veteran teachers! HINT: Pair this with our Interactive Reading Program for extra Practice

If you have a child who is learning basic phonic skills, a struggling reader, or is ready for early reading skills, keep reading! With our DIY Phonics Game for Kids that are hands on, your kids will learn new digraphs or trigraphs in no time. Plus, it will keep the kids busy for hours while learning!

How Does a DIY Phonics Game Work

Wondering how our easy and creative language arts game work? Children simply match up letter blocks to word-ending blocks to create new words.  Keeping score for each assembled word makes this a fun and engaging activity for multiple children.

Word Family Game

Print this free Roll-a-Word score card to use with your word family blocks. There is room for four players to write in the words they make with each turn. The goal is to hit 15 words to win!

PRINT

Phonics Game Materials

DIY Phonics Game Instructions

  1. Determine what word families you want to use for your DIY Phonics Game in the phonics game printable. Count your blocks and lay them out to prepare for painting. Keep the correct amount of blocks paint free to use for the beginning sounds.

2. Paint several sides of multiple blocks with your choice of color. As you switch sides, make sure to let it air dry before beginning a new one.

3. When all blocks are dry, using a black sharpie, write your two letter or three letter endings using the phonics word family printables.

4. Write your beginning letters as well on the paint free blocks.

4. Print out Roll A Word Printable and prepare for having a fun game with up to 4 players!

5. First player rolls 3 beginning sound blocks and 5 ending word family blocks.

6. Keep track of all words discovered with each player. For each word, player gets a point. The first player who fills their column with 15 words is declared the winner!

7. Have a great time with this game. Building blocks also build proficient readers!

Ready for more Word Family Fun? Try our 36-Week Interactive Reading Program for K-1!

Summer Fun Activities with Games

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There are a ton of summer fun activities to do with your kids. You can turn lessons into games and it doesn’t matter what the subject is, kids can’t wait to learn! Summer is a perfect time to play games that will keep kids entertained while practicing skills. This will help prevent the summer slide that so many parents lament. So grab your kids, head outside, and let the learning begin.

Sidewalk Chalk Games

Who doesn’t love sidewalk chalk? It’s easy to use, colorful, and mother nature does all the cleaning up when you are finished. Chalk is a perfect way to practice basic skills and create challenges for your children this summer. Here are some ideas:

1.Letter race – See how quickly everyone can write their alphabet or spelling list on the driveway. Letters need to be formed correctly to count.

2. Connect the dots – Create a giant connect the dots page on your driveway or sidewalk

3. Obstacle course – Map out an obstacle course made out of chalk! Draw lanes to run in, squiggly lines to walk on, and wide boxes to jump over.

4. Scale the Universe – Plot out a scaled version of the solar system and have kids draw each planet in the correct position.

Water Balloon Games

Water balloons are cool fun. They fascinate kids as they explode, and provide a sweet respite from the summer heat. The sky’s the limit with water balloon game ideas. Plan some summer learning fun, just add water!

  1. Target Practice- Write numbers or letters on the pavement with chalk. As you call out each one, have the kids throw their balloon at the correct number or letter. This exercise gross motor skills, too.
  2. Epic Counting – Practice counting by tossing a water balloon back and forth gently. Count each time it is successfully passed. How long can you keep it going? This can be used for skip counting, too.
  3. Spelling Bash – Write one spelling word on each balloon. Have you child find each word that you say. If he finds the correct word, he gets to throw that balloon. Refreshing victory.

Beach Ball Games

Beach balls are colorful, versatile, and easy to find. They can be used at the beach or in your local park. The best part is that they easily deflate for storage. Gather up some inexpensive beach balls in different sizes and have a ball learning!

  1. Add It up! – Write numbers all over a large beach ball. Toss it back and forth to your child. Each time someone catches it, he has to add up the numbers his fingers are touching. This can be used for multiplication, too!
  2. Mini Ball Scramble – Collect 26 mini beach balls. Write one large letter on each ball. Have children take turns to see how many words they can make using the balls in 1 minute. For younger children, put all the balls in a bin and see how many they can identify.
  3. Fast Facts – Write multiple questions on each section of the ball. When a child catches the ball, he only has 10 seconds to answer one of the questions on the section he is touching before having to throw the ball to someone else. Keep a tally of points for each player. Add them up to see who won once all the questions are answered.

Summer learning can be easy, fun, and inexpensive! How are you keeping the kids learning this summer?

Free Distance Learning Programs

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Learning from home is on the rise. However, being home doesn’t mean your educational resources are limited. In fact, this is the best time to try distance learning. The Internet opens a world of possibilities. Better yet, there are masses of free resources to be used for everything from lesson planning and instruction, to supplemental resources and practice. If you are just beginning with distance learning for kids, here is a comprehensive guide with many subjects included to get you started with free distance learning programs.

What is Distance Learning?

While distance learning or distance education seems to coincide with online education, the official definition is a method of studying using live broadcast or classes through correspondence online, without the student requiring to attend a school or college.

Free Educational Websites & Subscriptions

The Internet is teeming with distance learning options. Some are actual online schools or curriculum suppliers. Beyond the curriculum, though, many websites provide educational games, interactive instruction, and incremental learning. There is something for everyone from early learning, to continuing education.

Here is a list of the most popular distance learning websites that are free or offering a free trial. (Note: these were free at the time of posting 5/13/2020, some offers may have changed or expired.)

Free Online Math Resources

If you are looking for awesome math resources online, here are some popular virtual math education portals and cool online math games. You’ll find several videos, articles, and lessons for free for many age ranges and levels.

Popular Reading Programs

There are a ton of free reading programs for preschool and elementary age kids on the internet. Keep in mind, you’ll find some subscription-based programs with trials while considering what’s best for your emerging reader.

Online Games for Kids

Kids love games and its a perfect way to teach strategic thinking, problem-solving, and focused learning. You’ll find these amazing websites a great tool to get your kids excited about their education!

Free Preschool Games

While preschoolers have a hard time sitting still, you may have an easier time keeping them focused on the tasks at hand using these interactive and free websites! You’ll find a ton of free preschool games along with sit down work such as worksheets, coloring pages, and more.

Free All in One Homeschool Curriculum

If you are looking for an all-inclusive learning site, these free online all-in-one resources are some of the most popular in the online world. As you can see, there are some great options. Please note that some may have a free trial for a limited period of time before expiring.

Virtual Extracurricular Activities

Looking for other subjects besides the 3 R’s? There are a ton of online curriculum homeschool based, but maybe you are looking for extra curriculum activities outside of these core subjects? Here are some websites and apps that teach everything from foreign languages, learning code, music appreciation, and learning to play instruments. These options will help round out your curriculum and serve your child’s unique needs.

Science Websites and History for Kids using Webcams

Sometimes, you need to close the books (or educational websites) and take an adventure. However, travel can be difficult or impossible for you right now. That’s when you have the adventure come to you! Here’s a collection of interactive experiences to keep your children’s interest piqued.

Science and history often go hand in hand as you take a tour around the world. You’ll discover virtual trips to see exotic animals, amazing space stations, and a broad range of sea creatures!

Science Websites for Kids

History for Kids

Geography for kids

Geography may sound a bit dull and boring, but you’ll be pleasantly surprised how fun this subject is with a visual experience! Try these fantastic and free websites to go around the world in a flash, plus you’ll fun some interactive games!

Online Art Classes for Kids

Museums are a wonderful way to experience the subject of art first hand. Even if you don’t live near a major museum, several offer virtual tours, interactive exhibits, and educational experiences. Below is a list of museums and other points of interest around the world that offer virtual experiences for art distance learning.

Free Organization Platforms for Teachers

Now that you have plenty of resources, it’s time to organize your lessons. This could be overwhelming. Thankfully, there are many online tools for teachers to plan lessons for school. These are also wonderful resources for at-home teachers. Therefore, we have a list of free online lesson planning programs, below.

Free Online Meeting Platforms

Distance learning at home can get lonely. Or perhaps you want to host a virtual activity or club. The Internet makes it possible to connect with other distance learners. Therefore, video conferencing software and apps are important tools for distance education. The following are popular online meeting platforms for students, clubs, and one-on-one instruction.

Continuing Education Teens & Adults

Parents and Teens, we’ve got awesome online courses and lessons for you too! Discover a new world of learning code, earn a degree, or expand your business skill sets with these continuing ed websites.

Free Editable Diplomas from Kindergarten Mom

Free Printable Education Resources

Online resources make distance learning easier than ever. However, distance learning does not have to happen online. Printable resources are a great no-tech option. Likewise, printables are ready immediately. You don’t want to wait for the mail to finally show up. Simply click and print. So, fire up your printer and check out these printable packets for your homeschool. You’ll find a ton of worksheets for multiple subjects including science, spelling, reading, writing, math, and more!

Homeschooling Through The Winter: Tips & Tricks to Make it Through

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Winter is here and the homeschool year is beginning to drag on. With the colder temperatures and shorter days, homeschooling through winter can be a challenge. This is the perfect time to have some fun, experience new things, and build precious memories. Here are some tips and tricks for making it through winter this year.

Winter Field Trips for Homeschooling

Leave the classroom behind! It is easy to focus on “doing school” and forget one of the best benefits of homeschooling–educating on your terms. Homeschooling shouldn’t be about plowing through checklists. It is really more about home than school! 

Take some field trips (see below), participate in a service project or visit family. Give your children so hands-on, real life experience. These memories will stick with them for years to come. Plus, they will have a chance to practice everything they are learning during school hours.

Schedule a Reading Week

Sometimes you just need a break. However, you don’t want to lose momentum and have to regroup everyone, especially after the holiday season. Reading week to the rescue!  For reading week, everyone has to read during school hours. It could be something specific or just anything they choose. You can mix assigned readings with free choice. 

Have everyone put together a pile of books, and then take a reading vacation. This maintains the rhythm of school without the burden of lessons. Make sure mom and dad get in on the act.  Print these FREE Reading Bookmarks, Charts and More for your Homeschool Reading Week!

Have a Snow Day

Every public school kid looks forward to snow days. Sometimes, homeschoolers just need to do the same. Close your school for the day, light a fire, mix up some hot chocolate, and let the kids just play in the snow. This will help burn off some steam in the middle of winter. Plus, they will be exploring nature, every moment is a learning opportunity.

Don’t get snow?  You can still take a day off.  Try whipping up a batch of this Super Soft & Sparkly Wintermint Playdough! Schools take off for all kinds of reasons. Pick your own and enjoy hours of play. Homeschool life is not meant to be all work and no fun! Try these fun Fine Motor Snow Man activity pages for some hands-on fun!

Mix It Up with Some Delicious Winter Cooking Lessons

Cook up some fun and tasty treats this winter. The kitchen is the best place to learn about science, math, geography, history, and nutrition. So, put down the books and notebooks, and take out the pots and pans.

Here are a few Kid-Friendly Winter Recipes to get you started:

You don’t have to be a master chef to teach through cooking. There are plenty of YouTube channels and cookbooks to guide you. Start where you feel comfortable and grow from there…or take on a challenge and learn together.

Winter Field Trip Ideas for homeschooling in winter

Winter is a great time for field trips, here are some ideas:

  • Museums
  • Art Gallery
  • Underground Mine Tour
  • Aquarium
  • Winter Nature Walk
  • Ice Skating
  • Factory tour
  • Town Hall
  • Fire Station
  • Tour of Your Town or County
  • A New Library
  • Skiing
  • Snow Tubing
  • Craft Studio
  • Train trip (near or far)

Homeschool Encouragement for Mom

Homeschooling through the winter can be hardest for mom. The excitement of the new year has worn off, the holidays are over, and summer feels very far away. It’s important to realize that homeschooling in winter is hard on every homeschool mom. You are not alone. Let’s look at some other self-care tips and tricks to make it through for mom. Here are some encouraging homeschool mom ideas:

  • Take care of your health. Get plenty of sleep and eat well. Sometimes getting sick is impossible to avoid. However, do what you can to keep yourself healthy and avoid the added pressure of homeschooling while sick.
  • Be willing to take time out and catch your breath. Sometimes, you just need 30 seconds to take a deep breath and move on. Giving yourself space and a bit of time is healthy and useful.
  • Get moving. Even if exercise is just a walk around your house or a quick workout on your stairs, getting your body moving will help you deal with the added stress.
  • Find a bit of comfort. Homeschool moms don’t have much time for pampering. However, make a routine of doing something nice for yourself each day. Enjoy a cup of tea. Use a nice body butter to smooth rough winter skin. Listen to a podcast. It doesn’t have to be big to have a big impact.
  • Connect with other moms. Whether it is online or in real life, having other moms on your side is therapeutic. Everyone has difficult homeschool days. And every homeschool mom is just trying to make it through the long winter. Get inspired by others, vent if you have to, and know that you are doing an amazing job!

Back to Homeschool Signs

While you are gearing up to start your homeschool year, don’t forget to take back to school photos of your kiddos! Even though you children are not in traditional classrooms, you still might want to have some record of your student’s growth at the start of each school year. Today I have some free printable back to homeschool signs you can use for your photos!

Free Back to School Signs

Don’t worry if you don’t homeschool! I’ve made signs that work for both traditional classrooms and homeschooling classrooms! Simply print the one that applies to you and you’ll be good to go!

First Day of Preschool Sign

I’ve designed this set of back to school signs to start at the Preschool year! I know you’ve probably been “tot-schooling” for the past year or two, but I had to start somewhere and the First Day of Preschool sign sounded like a good beginning. This first day of school sign will look adorable when placed inside a frame and used as a photo prop for your first day of school pictures.

Editable First Day of School Signs

I’ve left plenty of room at the top of the sign for you to add your child’s name, and there is room near the bottom to add the year. You can use a white chalk paint marker, or even your NOYO crayons work too! This makes the set super-versatile because you can edit what goes on each sign. If your handwriting is anything like mine, you might want to use alphabet stickers or something across the top instead. How cute would it be with a 3-D glitter name across the top?!

Back to School Photo Signs

Anyway, with so many different grade levels and options, this set is sure to last you through the year and with multiple children! Simply print what you need below (or save a copy to your computer just so you have one).

First Day of School Sign

This is a free printable back to school sign you can use for your back to school photos.

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First Day of Preschool Sign

This is a free printable back to school sign you can use for your back to school photos. This sign reads, "First day of Preschool," and has room to write your child's name.

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First Day of Kindergarten Sign

This is a free printable back to school sign you can use for your back to school photos. This sign reads, "First day of Kindergarten," and has room to write your child's name.

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First Day of First Grade Sign

This is a free printable back to school sign you can use for your back to school photos. This sign reads, "First day of 1st Grade," and has room to write your child's name.

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First Day of Second Grade Sign

This is a free printable back to school sign you can use for your back to school photos. This sign reads, "First day of 2nd Grade," and has room to write your child's name.

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First Day of Third Grade Sign

This is a free printable back to school sign you can use for your back to school photos. This sign reads, "First day of 3rd Grade," and has room to write your child's name.

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First Day of Fourth Grade Sign

This is a free printable back to school sign you can use for your back to school photos. This sign reads, "First day of 4th Grade," and has room to write your child's name.

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First Day of Fifth Grade Sign

This is a free printable back to school sign you can use for your back to school photos. This sign reads, "First day of 5th Grade," and has room to write your child's name.

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First Day of Sixth Grade Sign

This is a free printable back to school sign you can use for your back to school photos. This sign reads, "First day of 6th Grade," and has room to write your child's name.

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First Day of Seventh Grade Sign

This is a free printable back to school sign you can use for your back to school photos. This sign reads, "First day of 7th Grade," and has room to write your child's name.

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First Day of Eighth Grade Sign

This is a free printable back to school sign you can use for your back to school photos. This sign reads, "First day of 8th Grade," and has room to write your child's name.

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First Day of Ninth Grade Sign

This is a free printable back to school sign you can use for your back to school photos. This sign reads, "First day of 9th Grade," and has room to write your child's name.

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First Day of Tenth Grade Sign

This is a free printable back to school sign you can use for your back to school photos. This sign reads, "First day of 10th Grade," and has room to write your child's name.

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First Day of Eleventh Grade Sign

This is a free printable back to school sign you can use for your back to school photos. This sign reads, "First day of 11th Grade," and has room to write your child's name.

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First Day of Twelfth Grade Sign

This is a free printable back to school sign you can use for your back to school photos. This sign reads, "First day of 12th Grade," and has room to write your child's name.

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Free Homeschool Portfolio

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Homschool Planner

Print our Free Student Portfolio!

Homeschool record keeping is an important part of a successful homeschool. There are many systems for record keeping available. One of the most popular and flexible systems is a portfolio. This quick start guide will show you how to easily build a portfolio successfully for each of your children. Here are our favorite tips and tricks for keeping a homeschool portfolio.

What is a Homeschool Portfolio?

Our Student Portfolio is a Limited Time Subscriber Freebie Available Here

A portfolio is a means of record keeping and assessment. It demonstrates what has been learned by a child in a specific area of study or over a particular time period. The portfolio is more than just a collection of grades or transcripts. Portfolios show a student’s ability and experiences. It is a living collection that grows and changes over time

Portfolios eliminate the stress of completing an end of year assessment. Instead of expecting students to demonstrate everything they have learned in a large test, portfolios allow them to show how their learning has progressed. It also allows for creativity and personalization, something that can never happen on a paper and pencil test.

Why are Portfolios Important?

Portfolios are important for many reasons. Some states require families to maintain homeschool portfolios. Other states give the option of creating a portfolio or taking a standardized test. The portfolio is a concise way to show everything that was accomplished over the year. Knowing your state homeschool laws should be the first step in planning a portfolio. Check out Understanding Your Homeschool Requirements by State to learn more about what your state requires.

In addition to state homeschool requirements, there are other reasons to keep portfolios. Some homeschool charter schools require student portfolios. Also, portfolios are a perfect option for high school. Since portfolios are highly personalized, they are a perfect choice for demonstrating high school credit earned. Even if you are not required to keep a portfolio, it is a very useful record keeping system.

What are the Daily Logistics of Maintaining a Portfolio?

The portfolio is a yearly assessment but has to be maintained daily. The single binder portfolio is the most popular, and required by some states. Other options include an accordion file portfolio and digital portfolio. It is important to make daily maintenance simple. Keep one binder for each subject. Also have a binder for additional logs and sheets. (see below) Each day add completed work to the subject binder. Also. record grades, attendance, etc in appropriate logs. Keep all binders in a central location. (Students can help maintain binders, too!). At the end of the year, you can pull what you need from these binders. That will make year-end assessments quick and easy to complete.

What Should Be Included?

Every portfolio is unique. There are as many different styles as families who keep them! Always include whatever is required by your state. You can then get creative with the rest. Remember that less is more! A portfolio is a snapshot of the homeschool year. It should not include EVERYTHING! Include just enough to meet state requirements and demonstrate growth. Here is a sample list of what to include:

  • Colorful Cover Sheet: This should include the title “Homeschool Portfolio” and space to write Student’s Name and School Year
  • Student Profile Sheet: This contains all pertinent information about the student. It will include strengths, weaknesses, course of study, and other personal details.
  • Monthly Tracking Log: The log sheet shows how many days each subject has met. There is a log for each month of the school year. The page is a grid with subjects across top, room for 31 Days on left side, and totals on bottom
  • Weekly Tracking Log: Similar to the monthly tracking log but it breaks the records into weeks. This is set up with subjects on left side, days on top, and totals on right.
  • Quiz & Test Scores: This is a record of all quiz and test grades received for each subject.
  • Field Trips Log: Include where you went, the date, and what was learned.
  • Exemplary Examples of Work: Show off student progress. Include a collection of the best work from the year in various subjects.
  • All State Requirements: Make sure that all requirements are met and included.
  • Physical Education Log: Keep a log of what activities/sports were counted as physical education and time spent on each.
  • Extra Curricular Log: This is a place to record what is done outside the classroom. Include clubs, activities, and performances. Be sure to also note any special awards or recognitions earned.
  • Volunteer Hours Log: Volunteering is real work learning. It is also a requirement for graduation in some states. Record all volunteer activities, dates, and how long was spent on each event.

Subscriber Freebie!!

Our Student Portfolio is a Limited Time Subscriber Freebie Available Here

All you have to do is claim your free download by confirming your subscriber email address. If you’d like to join our subscriber list, we would LOVE to have you! It’s free to join and all the details are here:

Also…..Dont’ Miss our FREE Homeschool Planning Pack

Simple homeschool planning resources you will actually use!  Less is more when it comes to organizing and planning out your homeschool year.  These resources will help you set goals, keep track of curriculum decisions and orders, and teach your student to keep an independent weekly calendar.

  • Homeschool Goals
  • Homeschool Curriculum Planning
  • Independent Student Calendar

10 Places to SELL Your Used Homeschooling Curriculum

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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?

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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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Printable Early Readers for Kindergarten

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If you have little ones learning to read, you don’t want to miss this opportunity! Last year, we released our 36-week, R.E.A.D. Curriculum Notebook and it’s been an amazing success.  Parents and teachers all over the world have told us how easy, engaging and most of all…FUN our curriculum is for their students.  We’ve been inundated with requests to follow up the series (an idea we are excited to explore) and today we are releasing the very first extension titled, “R.E.A.D. Review Pack.”

 

Our R.E.A.D. Review Pack contains 28 early reader booklets, each designed to compliment our R.E.A.D. Curriculum Notebook.  This new set covers 30+ Word Families and 70 sight words.  With a structured and progressive design, each book contains a controlled list of words, making them excellent for review and building fluency.
When should you use the R.E.A.D. Review Pack?
We suggest using the review weeks outlined in our R.E.A.D. Curriculum Notebook (which cycle every 5 weeks in the curriculum) to introduce the new books. However, this set can be used at the end of the year to promote reading fluency. Additionally, the R.E.A.D. Review Pack can be used on it’s own if your child already has a basic understanding of phonetic sounds, blends and sight words.
 
My own Kindergartner is already near the end of the R.E.A.D. Curriculum Notebook and he is using this set of review books to build reading confidence and fluency. There is also a fun Book Box activity for students to make. Children can store their books and keep them all together for easy access.  My son loves bringing out his ‘Book Box’ to show me all the stories he knows how to read.

How do you assemble the early reader books?
One aspect of these books that we are really excited about, is how easy they are to assemble.  Believe me, with all the years of teaching we collectively have under our belts, we’ve experienced our share of struggles with mini-book assembly.   When designing this series of early readers we wanted to make sure we streamlined the process to save paper, save time and save the headache.  Check out this fun video we made to show you how easy it really is!
How much does the R.E.A.D. Review Pack cost?
As teachers and homeschoolers ourselves, we know how to stick to a budget.  That is precisely why we’ve always priced our curriculum affordably.  We want the majority of families across the world to be able to access and enjoy our teaching resources.
R.E.A.D. Review Pack
$15.00

Homeschool Tools: Binding Machine Giveaway!

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BindingMachine
I have such an amazing giveaway to share with you today!  I know you’ve probably been stocking up on eBooks and printable resources for the upcoming year, so I really want to bless another homeschool family with one of my favorite homeschool tools.
BindingMachinelogo

If you’ve never heard of a binding machine, or if you wonder how they work, come check out our step-by-step tutorial for how to bind your eBooks here. One benefit of eBooks is that you can print out what you need for multiple children and a binding machine makes it super simple to build your own workbooks.
 
Where to buy eBooks?The Crafty Classroom eStore

I also personally like CurrClick, Education.com, and  Evan Moor

Ready to Win? I’m giving away a Fellows Star+ 150 Comb Binding Machine to one lucky winner.  This is a $99 retail value, and you can enter to win below:

Please note that due to shipping costs  this giveaway is open to USA and Canada addresses only.

 

Simple Daily Homeschool Journal

Homeschool writing curriculum doesn’t have to be expensive.  We offer many affordable writing guides for children in our eStore, most of them under $5.00, but you can also put together a custom writing journal without breaking your homeschool budget.  Using three different notebooks, you can provide children with simple writing opportunities they can use to build important independent writing skills.  Purchase an inexpensive set of lined notebooks with the appropriate spacing for your child.   Use the printable schedules and title pages below to build and customize your writing journals.  (Alternatively, you can use these to create one single writing binder by using our printables as dividers in each section.)

DailyJournals

Print these four daily journal printables then read below for complete assembly and tips.

DailyVocab

How to Set up a Daily Vocabulary Journal

Step 1:
Paste the title of the journal on the outside of the notebook. On the inside cover paste the instructions.  Additionally you can customize these with your own instructions by writing them in.

Step 2:
Make two pockets to hold your spelling words.  Glue the first pocket to the front and write NEW on it.  Glue the second pocket to the back and write OLD on it.  Then cut index cards in half and write the words you want your child to work on.  Do an online search of grade specific vocabulary words (or choose from the list you’ll be making with your Daily Helper Journal.) 

Step 3:
Place a paper clip at the top of the first page and your ready to go!  At the end of the week have your child place the word into the OLD pocket in the back.  Every so often you can use these index cards as flashcards, for review purposes or to create additional learning opportunities.  (i.e. play an alphabetical order game, or match cards by number of syllables….etc.)

 

DailySpelling

 

How to set up you Daily Spelling Notebook:

Step 1:
Paste the title of the journal on the outside of the notebook. On the inside cover paste the instructions, filling in the blanks according to your child’s ability level. Alternatively you can write in your own custom weekly instructions as well.  You might also consider adding in some fun spelling websites or games on Friday for children to practice typing their words.

Step 2:
Make two pockets to hold your words.  Glue the first pocket to the front and write NEW on it.  Glue the second pocket to the back and write OLD on it.  Then cut index cards in half and write the words you want your child to work on.

Step 3:
Place a paper clip at the top of the first page for your child to store the current word list. At the end of the week have your child place the word into the OLD pocket in the back of the book to keep for later review.  You might consider providing children with additional hands on spelling ideas such as our alphabetical order train or letter tiles, making one day a week for games or review.

DailyWriting

How to set up your Daily Writing Journal

Step 1:
Paste the title of the journal on the outside of the notebook.  On the inside cover paste the instructions, filling in the blanks accordingly.  For my young daughter I decided to have her write five sentences or for at least 10 minutes.  This seemed to encourage her to write a bit faster :) Older children can easily  write more so you can choose what is best for your child.  

Step 2:
Setting up a daily journal is very simple!  Print a list of Story Starters, ( a quick internet search will pull up a ton, you can find age/theme appropriate for your child) and cut them into strips. Store them in a pocket in the front of your notebook.  Provide a paper clip for your child to place the story strip at the top of their sheet of paper.

DailyHelper

How to set up your Daily Helper Journal

Step 1:
Paste the title of the journal on the outside of the notebook.  On the inside cover paste the instructions.

Step 2:

Provide children with tabs, paperclips or bookmarks to organize this journal into different sections.  Label the sections with the suggested titles above or with your own as you see fit.  This journal can be used as a reference for newly learned words, grammar rules, and for keeping track of future words to add to spelling and vocabulary lists.

 

WritingGuidesHorizontal

 

Step-by-Step Writing Guides are now available in our eStore

Come Check them out today!

First Grade Mini Office

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MiniOfficeExpansionFirstGrade

 

Today I have a fantastic expansion set to add to our Mini Office Printables!

Our Mini office has been an amazing resource for my son’s Preschool and Kindergarten years, and I wanted to make sure I added in a few First Grade items for his upcoming year.

I decided to offer this as a First Grade Expansion Pack and it’s full of helpful resources you can use with your students

So What is a Mini Office?

A Mini Office is basically a custom built learning resource for your student.  The goal of a mini-office is to serve as a self led reference chart for children, freeing up time for teacher to work with other students and encouraging children to find answers to their own questions. The benefit of making a mini office is also in the size and the minimal supply list. All you’ll need is a couple of file folders, scissors, glue, and your printable pages.

Print Your Free First Grade Expansion Pack Here

(It’s near the bottom as I’ve got assembly instructions and other expansions available there as well)

What’s Included in this Expansion Pack:

 

Math:

  • Telling Time  (clock with moveable hour and minute hands, 5 minute intervals around)
  • Place Value Blocks (written word, number form and place value up to 1000)
  • Shape Symmetry (visual depiction of a line of symmetry)
  • Skip Counting (numbers 2-12, up to 12 numbers. First Grade Use: 2, 5, 10, and maybe 3)
  • Rounding Numbers (Visual Rounding Clown to help children round and estimate)

Language:

  • Writer’s Glove (The 5 W’s: Who, What, Where, When, and Why for writing sentences)

Geography:

  • USA State Map & Compass (State Names as well as Directional Compass for daily practice)

Social:

  • My Address/My Phone (Use as Reference and Practice)

 

My son won’t be starting his First Grade year until this September, so I might add a few more updates to this pack by then.  Be sure you are subscribed to our newsletter if you’d like updates on available resources!

Find More Mini Office Printables Here

 

Free Homeschool eBook

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FreeeBook

If you are looking for encouragment during your homeschool journey, my friend Jamerill Stewart has an amazing resource to share with you today.

Hope for the Heart of the Homeschoom Mom  (Kindle Edition) is Free Today and Tomorrow (2/24/15-2/25/15)

“The pages of Hope for the Heart of the Homeschool Mom is a collection of encouragement to prayerfully strengthen your soul for this God-given journey. A journey that’s beyond stretching and beyond worth it.”

“Hope. Encouragement. Sanity. On any number of homeschooling days, I’ve needed all three. It’s not that homeschooling is an unwanted chore. Homeschooling my children is one of my greatest joys. It’s a privilege. I’m so incredibly blessed by this undertaking.

And I’m challenged. I’m pulled. I’m stretched. I’m growing. I’m finding my reheated coffee in the microwave at 2 p.m. wondering where the morning went. Trying hard to soak up the sweet and sacred moments with these souls and miss stepping on the Lego pile in the process.

Friend, I’m sure you’ve felt the same.”

Grab your free Kindle eBook here!

 

 

 

$100 Homeschool Giveaway

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The first ever “Build Your Bundle” – Homeschool Edition sale is almost here!
Build Your Bundle - Homeschool Edition Sale: July 21-28 Save up to 92% on Popular Homeschooling Curriculum, Many from Cathy Duffy's Top 100 Picks!
You can enter to win $100 towards your purchase to use when the sale goes live on 7-21-14! Enter now through 11:59PM EST on 7-20-14. The winner will be announced the day the sale starts!

Be sure to look for the special coupon code you will get when you pin the giveaway on Pinterest!
Build Your Bundle - Homeschool Edition Sale: July 21-28 Save up to 92% on Popular Homeschooling Curriculum, Many from Cathy Duffy's Top 100 Picks! Enter to win $100 towards your purchase!
For one week only (July 21-28) save up to 92% on bestselling homeschooling products, including MANY on Cathy Duffy’s Top 100 list!
Not interested in entering the giveaway, but you want to be reminded
when the sale goes live? They will send you a reminder email! Click
here and enter your email address and click “Remind Me!”

Take a Sneek Peek at Our Bundles:

 

 

 
Build Your Bundle - Homeschool Edition Sale: July 21-28 Save up to 92% on Popular Homeschooling Curriculum, Many from Cathy Duffy's Top 100 Picks! Tots & Preschoolers BundleThis Bundle includes products for little ones:

  • Character Training Resources
  • Handwriting Curriculum
  • Preschool & Toddler Activities
  • Bible Curriculum
  • Full Preschool Curriculum
  • & More!
Kindergarten – 3rd Grade BundleThe K-3 Bundle includes products in the following subjects:

  • Reading
  • Math
  • Science
  • History
  • Handwriting
  • Character Training
  • Bible Resources
  • Full Kindergarten Curriculum
 Build Your Bundle - Homeschool Edition Sale: July 21-28 Save up to 92% on Popular Homeschooling Curriculum, Many from Cathy Duffy's Top 100 Picks!
Build Your Bundle - Homeschool Edition Sale: July 21-28 Save up to 92% on Popular Homeschooling Curriculum, Many from Cathy Duffy's Top 100 Picks! Elementary: 4th-6th BundleThe 4th-6th Bundle includes products in the following subjects:

  • History
  • Language Arts
  • Geography
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  • Math
  • Bible
  • Keyboarding
  • Writing Guides
  • Handwriting and Copywork Resources
  • Timeline Cards & Notebooking Pages
  • Customizable Homeschool Planner
Middle School BundleThis bundle features a full language arts curriculum from Cathy Duffy’s
Top 100 picks and two science curricula, one of which is also from Cathy
Duffy’s Top 100 picks, as well as:

  • A Complete Geography and History Curriculum
  • History Timeline/Book of Centuries
  • Renaissance and Reformation Notebooking Pages
  • Classical Music Curriculum
  • Creative Writing Course
  • Math Materials
  • Keyboarding Course
 Build Your Bundle - Homeschool Edition Sale: July 21-28 Save up to 92% on Popular Homeschooling Curriculum, Many from Cathy Duffy's Top 100 Picks!
Build Your Bundle - Homeschool Edition Sale: July 21-28 Save up to 92% on Popular Homeschooling Curriculum, Many from Cathy Duffy's Top 100 Picks! Bundle for High SchoolersThis bundle features:

  • New Testament Bible Curriculum
  • Introduction to Psychology
  • A full year of math curriculum
  • Resources for World History and Geography
  • Philosophy
  • Home Economics
  • College Prep Tools
  • Grammar
  • Creative Writing Course
  • Anatomy Science Unit study from Cathy Duffy’s Top 100 picks,
    and more!

You will receive enough materials for a full year of high school!

Charlotte Mason BundleThis bundle features a complete curriculum using the Charlotte Mason
Methods for:

  • Language Arts
  • Handwriting, and Reading
  • Geography
  • Nature Study
  • Artists Study
  • Poetry
  • And a variety of “extras” just for mom!Learn all about Charlotte Mason and enjoy a special bonus (a $90 value all by itself) of great, classic audio books!
 Build Your Bundle - Homeschool Edition Sale: July 21-28 Save up to 92% on Popular Homeschooling Curriculum, Many from Cathy Duffy's Top 100 Picks!
Build Your Bundle - Homeschool Edition Sale: July 21-28 Save up to 92% on Popular Homeschooling Curriculum, Many from Cathy Duffy's Top 100 Picks! Bundle Just for Moms!Save money, strengthen your marriage, and streamline your schedule using
our Mom Bundle. Find the encouragement you need and the insight to speak to your child’s heart (even that difficult child!). Whip your home into
shape and train your children to do their chores effectively using a popular book “chores program”.This bundle brims with useful tools to help you bring
calm to the chaos. Get them all for just $10!
“Build Your Own” BundlesOur “Build Your Own” bundles offer you the opportunity to select a certain number of products with a retail price of $19.99 or less for up to 80% off! We have MANY items to choose from, including Cathy Duffy Top 100 Picks!

When you purchase a combination of any 2 “Build Your Own” bundles, you will get the 3rd one at 50% off!

 Build Your Bundle - Homeschool Edition Sale: July 21-28 Save up to 92% on Popular Homeschooling Curriculum, Many from Cathy Duffy's Top 100 Picks!

Writing a Biography Printables

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writing notebook printables

With all the back to school mayhem going on at our house,
I haven’t had much time to tackle my “to-do” list.

One thing I really wanted to work on was posting more of our Writing Guides.
(I get emails about these all the time)

So I did scramble an extra evening to add in some more resources for writing a biography:

writing a biography for kids

Here is what this set includes:

Purpose and Description of a Written Biography
5 Step Instructions for Writing a Biography
Brainstorming Subject Sheet
Three Fact Finding Worksheets
Writing Tools Guide for a Biography
Fact Organization Sheet (First Draft Guide)
Self Editing Sheet
Final Draft Decorative Paper

You can print this entire set FREE here.

I’ve also posted some more helpful printables for your aspiring writers:

citing sources printable kids

Citing Sources
A simple guide for children that you can print and keep inside your writing binder.

transitions worksheet printable

Transitions:
This is a list of helpful words children can refer to when the right words just won’t come.

Both of these would be great to use alongside any research report, not just a biography.

Just as a side note here, I was up extra late last night finishing these,
so if you notice a typo please do let me know and I’ll fix it ASAP!
I am NEVER offended by the extra help!

If you don’t already, be sure to subscribe for updates!

The Homeschool Budget

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Do you have a homeschool budget?

Do you know what’s going out and what’s coming in?

Yeah.

Me neither.

And between all the Back-to-school supplies, Used-Curriculum sales and crazed Online ordering,
I am at a loss for what I actually spent on our Homeschool this year.

So in an effort to regain my sanity,
and in classic, “I should have done this FIRST” mode,
I have created a simple (and pretty) homeschool budget tracker.

Homeschool Budget Tracker

Nothing fancy.

Just a few places to keep track of what I spent for the year,
to help me plan for the following years.

It may look extra simple,
but over the past few years I’ve found that simple is good.

I even gave myself some simple rules for using this budget sheet.


Dear Self:

Rule #1: Don’t write down each and every individual item. Seriously, you have other things to do. You don’t want to give yourself a case of Budget Burnout like last year.

Rule #2: Don’t even separate things by subject, or child. Just keep your receipt and write down the dollar amount. Go for a general budget idea. Trust me, I know you.

Rule #3: Be proactive, write out a best guess at what you’ll spend beforehand. Come back and see how close to target you were. Give yourself a little incentive……Extra Homeschool dollars can be spent on coffee.

Rule #4 Tell the Truth. You know the difference between homeschool NEEDS and WANTS. You’ve got ZILLIONS of half used pencils. Reuse last years notebooks. Seriously. Get real girl and remember….coffee.

Rule #5: When you’re all done, look up the price of Private Education and pat yourself on the back. Job well done Momma!

What about you?
What Budget methods work for you?

How to Bind your Notebooks…

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This week I made a big purchase.

There has been something on my homeschool “wishlist” for quite some time.

I’ve spent the last year rationalizing away the cost.

Quietly planning all the different projects that I would use it for.

Promising myself that I would get my monies worth.

Do you know what it is yet?

It’s a binding machine!

It does things to my e-books that a stapler NEVER could.

(Oh sweet notebooking heaven)

I can’t believe it has taken me this long to get one!

So wondering how it works?

Here’s the deal:

Step 1: Print up your e-book.

Make sure to use cardstock for a cover page, and a back page.
(note: you can get special coverpages at the store if you want)

Step 2: Load your weapon:

This means you put your curly binding comb between the prongs,
pull the special lever to open it

Step 3: Poke all your holes:

For my machine that means entering the paper like so

And pulling down the big handle.

Crunch.

All the papers are stored in a drawer inside the machine. No mess.
(note: my particular machine can handle up to 10 sheets at a time)

Step 4: Start assembling your book.
Slide your freshly punched papers onto the open prongs of your binding comb.
(the black curly thing you opened in step 2)

Step 5: Continue until you have all the pages you want included.

Step 6: Release side lever and the binding comb closes back up.

Step 7: Enjoy your fancy looking notebook!


If your interested here is the machine that I purchased.
It’s called Fellowes Star Manual Comb Binding Machine
I also picked up some different sized combs:

Fellowes Plastic Comb Bindings
Note: Combs come in different capacity…
Some do up to 55 pages, some up to 150 pages.
You want to get a variety, but I use the 55page and 90pages the most!

Pssst: Like my garden notebook?
STAY TUNED!!

Kindle Fire: Can you Feel the Heat?

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Hey.
Look closely for a moment.
See that little red book in the back of
my newly sewn purse?

Ha! Tricked Ya.
That’s not really a book at all.

Oh wait….actually it is a book!
It’s thousands of books….and so much more!

It’s the Kindle Fire,
And let me tell ya,

This thing is HOT!

Not “Hot” as in stolen,
I assure you that I paid for my kindle,
but the price was so good that I almost FEEL guilty.

You see, I’ve wanted a tablet FOREVER.
But I could never get over the crazy price tags,
or the monthly subscription prices for web service.

So, when I first learned about the kindle,
the first question that came to mind was:

How does it work?:
(read: how much more am I going to pay in monthly fees?)

Cynical I know, but every penny counts.

Now I’ve only had this baby for a week or so,
but I’ll tell ya what I know:

Kindle Fire uses a Wifi connection to access most content.

(i.e. No additional monthly charges)

However, that means that to connect to the internet
you will need you’re own Wifi, or to be at a Wifi hotspot.

Now wait. I know what you’re thinking.

Oh darn. I was hoping that I could take my content with me.
I mean come on, I need to be able to hand this thing to the kids
to keep them quiet to let them play around while we’re
in the car, or grocery shopping or doing anything else in which I need
a few peaceful seconds to collect my thoughts.

Well, let me tell ya, You can!

Here’s How:

There are two ways to store your content with the Kindle Fire:

You can store your content on the CLOUD,
(which is free with your Kindle Fire purchase)

OR

You can store your content on your actual Kindle device.
(it comes with 8GB of data storage btw)

Anything that you STORE on your Kindle is accessible without a Wifi connection,

Anything that you leave in the Cloud is only accessible with a Wifi connection.

You decide what content you want to actually STORE on your Kindle,
and what content you only want available in the CLOUD.

Make sense? Are you following here?

It was a little confusing for me at first too.

But Here’s What I DO:
Anything I want to access on the road, I put on the device
Anything I want to access when I have WiFi I keep in the Cloud.

Pretty Simple right?

Here’s the breakdown for some of the features:

Books:

Pro: All my e-books in one spot, syncs with my kindle reader on my iPhone.

Con: The kindle fire screen isn’t like the original screen. Since it is a color screen there is a little bit of glare.
You can change the brightness of the screen depending on the enviornment you’re in.
I haven’t had any problems reading it , just wanted to point that out.

Apps:

Pro: Apps usually work without the wifi connection

Con: Not as many apps available in the Amazon Android market.
Check out some of the Top Apps here

Music:

Pro: I Love the interface for my music.
Nice and large, easy to connect to my car stereo.
I can FIND a song without crashing my car. Bonus!
(btw: I’m listening in my car with a simple tape deck–> mp3 adapter.)

Con: None

PDF Documents:

Pro: The kindle comes with a Document reader, it’s very simple to use.
You email yourself any files that you want to access on the kindle.

Con: PDF links are not clickable. However, there is a APP that I downloaded
that makes the PDF links clickable! Score.

Movies/TV:

Pro: Hulu, and Netflix work on Kindle.
You can purchase or rent additional movies using Amazon Prime.
AND You can upload movies you already own to the CLOUD.

Con: If you want to take movies on the go, you have to make sure you download
them to your kindle first. You can download your own movies or ones that you rent or
purchase from the Kindle Video library.

You can’t download videos from hulu or netflix, they are streaming (wifi connected) only.

Web Browsing:

Pro: FAST, FAST, FAST. I have fast WiFi though so that may be part of the deal.
Our favorite websites are accessible!

Cons: No Web Browsing outside a Wifi connection.
(this is where you would pay the monthly service fee)
Sometimes certain platforms don’t work.
For example when viewing the 3-D panorama of King Khufu’s tomb the connection slowed a bit.

Size/Shape:

Pro: Fits in one hand, not to heavy…and did I mention it fits in my purse!
Con: Nothing, I love the smaller handheld size. It’s just right for what I need.

Overall: LOVE LOVE LOVE it!
I know that it’s not as amazing as a higher end tablet
but it does the job for what I’ll be using it for!

And in CASE you’re wondering,
This is the case I purchased, which I also love:

M-Edge Incline Jacket
It has a magnetic closure, and will prop up my kindle
legnth or width ways.

Additionally I’d recommend getting this amazing screen protector:

ZAGG Shield for Kindle Fire
I know they sell a similar version for cheaper,
but I’ve had some experience with protective screens,
and this baby is AMAZING. There are no bubbles or fingerprints or smug marks
and I actually prefer the texture to the touch screen.

The trick with installing the screen is to really get the sticky side wet with the solution they provide.
BEST protective screen experience EVER!

I hope that helps you decide about the Kindle Fire!
You can learn so much more by reading about it on Amazon.

All I can say is This Homeschool Mama is Super Happy with it:

And if you have a question feel free to ask,
I’m not an expert but I’ll do my best to see what I can tell ya!

We Choose Virtues: A Review & Giveaway

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Today I’m SUPER, SUPER excited to share this post with you.
(Not just because there is a giveaway at the end)
But because I know you’re going to LOVE what I have to show you.

But first. Let me tell you a story.
It’s a story about a little boy.
A little boy who is bigger then two other little boys.
(I’m not naming any names here)

Well this little boy is a genius.
He is such a smart little boy.
He is WAY ahead in every subject,
He wants to know everything about anything,
He will talk non-stop for hours on end,
and his sense of adventure is unmatched.

However, this little boy is emotional.
and aren’t we all?

And this little boy has daily struggles.
He struggles with fairness,
He struggles with jealousy,
He struggles with honesty.
He whimpers and whines
at the thought of doing his chores,

And this little boy got lost at Walmart last week.
You can be sure that he was TOLD to follow.
But the boy just wandered off to the toy aisle instead.

This little boy is Five.
And the battle for his spirit is waging hard.
It is a long, hard, road to travel.
But it’s a fight that can be won.
One that is surely worth fighting for.

“Preach the word. Be ready to serve God in good times and bad. Correct people’s mistakes. Warn them. Cheer them up with words of hope. Be very patient as you do these things. Teach them carefully.” (2 Timothy 4:2 NIrV) -We Choose Virtues Teacher Memory Verse.

From Caterpillar…….to Butterfly!
We Choose Virtues is a character based education program
designed to help you build up biblical virtues in your child.

Using I am statements, simple catchphrases, and countering antonyms
We Choose Virtues takes children through 12 different biblical character traits.

Each virtue has it’s own catchphrases, bible verse, and corresponding activities.

The Teacher Cards are the “meat” of this program.
The front of the card is shown to the children, while
the back of the card provides you with everything you need
to teach the virtue.

Here is the Teacher Card for the virtue of Diligence:

I am statement:
“I am Diligent”

Catchphrase:
“I start fast, work hard and finish strong.”

I am NOT Statement:
“I am NOT slow to get started or lazy, and I don’t quit early!”

Virtue Verse:
All hard work pays off. But if all you do is talk, you will be poor.
Proverbs 14:23 NIrV

(Note: Be sure and get the “Faith” versions of
these cards for the scripture references)

On the back of the teacher cards:

Virtue Verse
Virtue Catchphrase ( I am….I am not….)
Bible Hero with Scripture Reference
Teaching Tip
Kids of VirtueVille Story
Virtue User Challenge
Fun Demonstrations
What to Say After I’m Sorry

These are large (8″x10″) and perfect for large classroom settings.
(There are smaller Homeschool versions of these too)

You can see how handy this is, These are ready to go right out of the box!
You really can just pick up a card and start teaching.

The Teacher Cards come on heavy cardstock with a slick surface.
I considered laminating them,
but they were so pretty I just decided to put them
into page protectors and that way I could store them
in a three-ring binder.

I’m totally loving that decision!

We Choose Virtues has a wide variety of products.
In fact, we were sent a Teacher Starter Kit
which not only came with the Teacher cards, but
also included Virtue Flashcards and a Virtue Poster as well.

The Virtue Flashcards are just as beautiful!
They are vibrant and engaging, and come with game play ideas.
The front of each card features the Virtue and Virtue Character,
and the back includes the catchphrase and bible verse.

The Virtue Poster contains each of the 12 virtues,
virtue characters, catchphrases, and bible verse.
It makes a fantastic reference chart that you can return to
through out the day….again and again as needed.

There are so many other products you can use alongside these Teaching Cards!
There are sticker charts, wall posters, checklists, self-review sheets,
and even a coloring book!

we choose virtues

In Fact, everyones a winner today because We Choose Virtues is giving
YOU a FREE downloadable Coloring book featuring the
children of VirtueVille!

But before you go snag that, write down this coupon code: BTS2011
That will save you 25% off any product until September 9th.

Oh, and while your busy clicking things go LIKE We Choose Virtues on Facebook
because they are very likeable…..and because someday out of the blue, you just might get facebook only coupons and freebies! This is also a great place to ask questions about the
different products to make sure you get the exact program you’re looking for!

And here are all my thoughts wrapped up in PRO’s and CON’s:

Pros:

  • I love the “I am” and “I am not” statements.
    Children are being taught that they have the power to choose their behavior,
    and even when it’s a reaction to another child’s behavior they are still responsible for that choice.
  • The VirtueVille Characters are unique, colorful, and memorable, helping children to really learn the catchphrases and corresponding bible verses.
  • I found the free character assessment to be helpful when trying to figure out the different areas that we needed to work on with each child.
    Not only keeping it organized, but we can look back later and see that we’re making progress.
  • There are so many different options to purchase. You can get just one product, or you can buy an entire kit.
  • There are also products for youth ages 12-18, if you are struggling with an older child.
    •

    Cons:

  • Before I realized the quality of these products, I was a bit concerned about the pricing. Once our kit came in the mail it was clear that the price was a direct reflection of the quality of these cards.I can’t stress enough about the vibrant colors, and even the feel of the cards. For example, on the flashcards you can actually “Feel” the lettering…it’s slightly raised. As an adict lover of all things “teacher” I totally appreciate these tiny details. As a Mom of four on a homeschool budget, I would make sure I had a good coupon first.
  • And really the only other CON I have is that I want more!
    Is it a CON to want more? I don’t know. These characters are super adorable, and modern!! And I’ll be patiently praying for little storybooks about each of them!
    •

    In Sum, I adore this program. We Choose Virtues is a quality based company with products you’re sure to use in your classroom or homeschool for a long time.
    And if you’re on a budget remember your coupon code: BTS2011 takes 25% off this week only. If you only bought one thing I’d recommend the Homeschool Teacher Cards, you can snag them for $26.25 with your discount.

     

    We Choose Virtues is graciously offering a Teacher Starter Kit
    to one lucky winner here on The Crafty Classroom.!

    The Teacher Starter Kit is what we were sent to review,
    so if you’re the winner you’ll be getting:

    The Virtue Poster
    13 Teacher Cards
    12 Flash Cards and game ideas

    Disclaimer: I was provided this product free of charge, one to review and one to give away to my readers. Opinions expressed in this post are my own honest thoughts about the product.

     

    Writing Notebook Printables

    By 4 Comments

    Oh, golly.

    This is one of those posts that has been sitting in my “draft” box,
    patiently waiting to be published.

    It was meant for May.
    (of 2011….so not too bad, but still)

    Do you ever do that?
    Get a post half finished then forget about it.
    For months.

    I do.
    (obviously.)

    However this time I think I lucked out,
    because there is nothing Seasonal (i.e. Christmas in July)
    about this post.

    And it happens to be perfect timing for “Back to School”
    so perhaps it was just meant to be.

    I suppose I COULD delete this introduction and PRETEND that I planned it this way…..

    But I guess what’s done is done, so without any further ado,
    I present to you May’s post: TODAY~

    writing notebook printables

    Writing Notebook Printables:

    I’ve been working (behind the scenes) on a writing notebook for Sissy.

    Sissy is going into the 3rd grade this year, and writing is NOT her favorite subject.
    (I’m sure she would say it a bit more eloquently, but you get the picture)

    So to trick inspire my dear daughter into working on those NECESSARY
    (and not something you’d want to cut from your school curriculum) skills, I came up with this Writing Notebook idea.

    writting guide printables

    And I know, I’m re-inventing the wheel here,
    but sometimes having just the right method for just the right child
    can work AMAZING miracles.

    printable writing guides

    The front of the notebook has a custom cover page,
    (I made a boy or girl version you can snag too)

    writing guide printable worksheets

    The back of the notebook has an editing marks sheet for reference.

    Please know that these might not be PERFECT printables.
    There might be a spelling error.
    The font is kinda funny and
    my grammar might be incorrect.
    (I’m sure the police will point that out to me shortly)

    But they are what they are and I’ll be using them to inspire my little girl this year,
    (I’ve got high hopes!)

    Instructional Paper guide

    So far I’ve uploaded a printable writing guide that will take children through the
    steps needed to write an Instructional Paper.

    And if you jump over to the main website, you might notice
    quite a few more titles that I’ve got in the works.
    (please read that to mean: Whenever I get a spare second)
    (and please read Spare Second to mean: When pigs fly)

    Oh the plans of a homeschooler…….