Nature Crafts

How to Fail at Homeschooling….

May 18, 2019 By Valerie Mcclintick Leave a Comment

Homeschooling your children is a monumental task. If you ask, most homeschool moms would tell you that their biggest fear is failing! Everyone wants to get it right and do the best for their children. However, sometimes trying hard not to fail at homeschooling is the surest way to fail! Here are seven ways to fail at homeschooling and what to do instead.

Making Homeschool Your Number #1 Priority

This would seem like a positive move. Making homeschooling your top priority will make you work harder and focus on success which will guarantee you do not fail, right? Wrong! Your homeschool is important but it cannot come before all the truly important people in your life. Your husband, your children, and God should always be your primary focus. When homeschooling ranks above everyone and everything else, you will be missing out on the special opportunities to enjoy your family and will quickly burn out. You need clear priorities that place homeschool in its proper place, as something you do not your sole reason for being.

Tips for Success:

Homeschooling is important and can become consuming. However, it should never take the place of your focus on your family and faith. After all, those are probably the reasons you started homeschooling in the first place. You will have more success if homeschooling is a family priority that does not get in the way of living your life.

Great Expectations

You start your homeschool journey or the new year with high hopes. You are going to make this the best homeschool ever. Your children will love every activity and excel in every subject. You will show the world how superior the homeschool model is! Failure is not an option. With homeschooling, you children will be perfect. They will enter college at 15 and earn full scholarships to the most elite programs. Your homeschool room with be the envy of every social media maven and you will still cook nutritious, three course dinners every night before spending hours in front of the fire while Suzy plays Schubert on the piano and Johnny recites Plato from memory. Ah, you will not only not fail, you will be perfect! Nothing is perfect though, and hoisting high expectations for perfection on your children will squash their desire to learn, as well as their creativity.

Tips for Success:

Goals and standards are good, but they need to remain in check. Perfection doesn’t equal success. If you don’t want to fail, accept that learning requires failure sometimes. Your children will not do everything perfectly. That is part of learning. Instead, be realistic. Kids will be kids. Let them explore and make messes. Give your children room to grow at their own pace. Enjoy the journey instead of rushing for the goal. Failing sometimes is actually the best way to succeed!

Too Many Extracurricular Activities

What about socialization? Homeschool kids need socialization. If they spend too much time at home they will be social failures. They need time with other children and rigorous activities. So, signing up for every extracurricular under the sun makes sense. You don’t want to raise socially awkward children. However, running to all the activities causes homeschool failure. Parents and children get tired and worn out. Family life suffers. Getting school work done gets stressful because of time constraints. Instead of giving kids a happy social experience, you create misery.

Tips for Success:

Extracurricular activities are good. They just need balance. Socialization happens everywhere. Homeschool children do not need to be at activities every day. Focus on a few activities that your child really want to do. Pick ones that fit your schedule, budget, and family values.

Not Addressing Learning Needs

Taking a one size fits all approach is a sure way to fail. You choose the top rated curriculum. You know, the one “everyone” at co-op is raving about! This is what will make your homeschool successful. Your child struggles with the work. It isn’t working for him, and you don’t understand why. You keep at it. He just needs to try harder. Failure is not an option. But instead of progress, you both get more frustrated.

Tips for Success:

The beauty of homeschooling is that it is personal and individual education. Trying to force a square peg into a round hole will never work. Every child has learning needs and a unique learning style. If a program isn’t working, the problem is probably the program. When you find resources that fit your child’s learning needs, your homeschool will thrive.

Self Defeating Attitude

There are two sure fire ways to fail at homeschooling. The first is to believe that you will fail. The second is comparing yourself to others. Comparison is the thief of joy. There is no one right way to homeschool. When you set yourself up as not being good enough, you set yourself up to fail. It’s easy to think that someone else, especially someone you only know through social media or blogs, is doing a better job that you. Everyone has struggles and everyone experiences homeschooling failures sometimes.

Tips for Success:

Instead of feeling like you don’t measure up, look at what is going well. Work on building the homeschool that works best for your family. No one has it all together, all the time. You can do this, believe in yourself!

Expecting School at Home

Most homeschool parents went to traditional brick and mortar schools. They know how school works, so they model homeschooling on their experience at traditional school. However, homeschooling is not school at home. Schools are designed like a factory, they are setup for production and testable results. There are rigid standards and strict schedules. Alternatively, homeschooling is an education model, with more flexibility. If you are trying to replicate school at home, it will increase your chances of failure.

Tips for Success:

Homeschooling should be about education at home. It is a lifestyle, not a school choice. Develop a love of learning in your home. Focus on the experience, not checking off boxes to keep up with public schools. You chose to homeschool because you wanted to escape public school education. Dare to be different and educate your children as a family, not a school. There is a fine balance between pushing for childhood development, hitting suggested milestones, and the standards of educational growth while allowing self-led learning, engagement, and natural discovery. Finding that balance for your own homeschool will lead to a successful outcome.

Free Homeschool Student Portfolio

Simple homeschool planning resources you will actually use! These resources will help you meet state homeschooling requirements as well as add a little organization to your homeschool goals for the year. Inside you’ll find the following resources:

Colorful Cover Sheet
Student Profile Sheet
Monthly Tracking Log
Weekly Tracking Log
Daily Attendance Sheet
Quiz & Test Scores
Field Trips Log
Physical Education Log
Volunteer Hours Log

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Free Homeschool Portfolio

May 16, 2019 By Crafty Team Leave a Comment

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. Our Homeschool Portfolio is a limited time Subscriber Freebie Available Here

What is a Homeschool Portfolio?

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!!

For a limited time, our Student Portfolio is available to our newsletter subscribers for FREE! 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

Can You Afford to Homeschool?

May 10, 2019 By Valerie Mcclintick Leave a Comment

Homeschooling, like anything with kids, can be very expensive! You may be hyperventilating when you search for curriculum options. This can lead many prospective homeschoolers to quit before they begin. They feel like they could never afford homeschooling. Homeschooling does not have to be expensive!With a little planning, it is very doable. Before diving into purchasing curriculum, learn how to budget like a ninja for homeschooling. Here’s a four step plan for you to make an annual plan that works.

Take an Inventory of Income and Expenses

The key to making anything affordable is knowing how much you have to spend. Knowing how much you have coming in and going out is vital. If you already keep a budget, great! Look over it and decide how much you can allocate to homeschooling.

If you don’t have a written budget, or your budget is tight, dig a little deeper. Take some time to look over your expenses. What other expenses need to be covered? Is there anything that can be cut or modified to make more room for homeschool resources? You may want to get a budget tracking app, such as MINT, to help with tracking expenses. After a few months, you will have a better idea of where your money is going.

Decide What You Can Afford

Now that you have analyzed your expenses, it’s time to build your budget. How much can you afford to spend? How much money and how much time. Time probably wasn’t what you were thinking. Saving money takes time! Yes, there are ways to homeschool for almost nothing but, everything has a cost. If you are choosing to create everything yourself to save money, you need to find a way to budget more time. There’s no such thing as completely free. Buying a boxed curriculum is expensive, but you will not have to create lesson plans, activities, etc.

On the other hand, you can save hundreds of dollars by building your own curriculum. You will need to budget time to gather all the materials, write out lesson plans, make up tests, and so on. Homeschooling can be affordable, just be realistic when budgeting your time and money.

Create Goals for Each Student

Homeschooling can also get expensive when you don’t have a goal. It is easy to get swept up in the amazing curriculum options. It is important to know what you need and truly want your children to learn. What subjects are required? Is there anything else that you want to add? Be careful not to add too much. One or two additional subjects is plenty. Remember this is about budgeting time and money. If you buy more curriculum than you can use, you are wasting money.

Try our FREE Homeschool Goals Worksheet!

Look at your goals and make a list of exactly what you need for each child. Are there any special tools you will need( such as a microscope or laptop?) See how many resources you already have or can borrow. Now it’s time to divide your overall budget between your children according to their needs.

Do Your Homework

Research is an important part of being prepared. Know what you want and research the options BEFORE attending any type of curriculum sale or homeschool conference. This will help you stay focused and make an informed decision. Look into how the curriculum works and what learning styles it serves. Read over reviews for potential curriculum choices. Know how much the curriculum choices cost and what they go for used. Having a short list of ideas will keep you from getting overwhelmed with the options. Also, an informed consumer makes better decisions. Your research will keep you on budget and help you avoid buying something you don’t really want. Remember sales representatives can be very convincing. Of course, they all sell the “best” resources around.

Try our Free Simple Homeschool Planning Pack

How to Conquer the Clutter in the Classroom

May 9, 2019 By Crafty Team Leave a 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!

Fine Motor Activities for May

April 25, 2019 By Valerie Mcclintick Leave a Comment

If you are looking for ideas for your May Preschool Themes, today I have a great set of resources you can use to create many fun hands-on learning opportunities in your classroom. Our monthly fine motor activity packs have quickly become one of our best-selling resources for good reason! They are low-prep, interactive, simple, yet engaging activities that students of all ages are drawn to.

If you’ve missed any of the previous months, you can pick up the discounted Fine Motor Activity Bundle here. Here is a peek inside our May Fine Motor Activity Pack.

Seeds & Plants Fine Motor Printables

Our first theme for May is seeds and plants. Students work on a variety of different skill building exercises designed to create a thematic unit for your preschool classroom.

GEOBOARD: Students use rubberbands to create the pictures on a geoboard. Each sheet features a letter of the alphabet alongside a thematic picture.
MAZES: Students solve the mazes and follow the prompts. Each page features thematic mazes alongside a tracing activity or prompt.
PLAYDOUGH: Students use playdough to complete the prompts. Prompts require students to form and shape the dough to make pictures, solve problems, or complete the scene.

Spring Flowers Fine Motor Activities:

April showers bring May Flowers! After learning about seeds and plants, your classroom will be filled with flowers of all sorts!

TRACING: Students trace the pictures with colored pencils or fine tip markers. Each page features thematic content and prompts students to complete the pictures.
SNAP CUBE CREATIONS: Students use counting cubes to make thematic pictures These cubes can be snapped together. If you do not have cubes, students can color the squares in the grid to match the picture.
PUZZLE PICTURES: Students use puzzle blocks to create thematic pictures. These sheets feature thematic shapes and provide students with easy and more difficult patterns. A full-color example is available for easy reference.

Farm Animal Fine Motor Worksheets

After learning about all the new plant life that comes with spring, students will be thrilled to work on new farm life activities! This collection provides students with fun fine motor worksheets based on barns, and farm animals.

LISTENING SKILL SHEETS: Teachers will read the directions aloud and the student listens carefully to finish the task. Tasks involve fine motor elements, coloring, and prepositional positioning of drawings
CUISENAIRE™ ROD PICTURES: Students use colorful centimeter rods to build thematic pictures. Students are asked to color the rod key to show how many rods they used of each color.
BRICK BUILDERS: Students use classic building blocks to recreate these thematic pictures. Students work on storing, planning, and stacking before creating their final picture.

Mother’s Day Preschool Printables

Towards the end of May it’s time to celebrate our end of the year holidays; Mother’s Day and Memorial Day. With these printables activities, students will have a fun bouquet of tulips to give to Mom.

DOT & POKE: Students cut apart the halves. Students solve the dot to dot activities. Then, students use a push pin to poke a picture onto colored construction paper. See full instructions below.
CUT & SORT CROWNS: Each crown features a theme alongside a 4-step sequencing pattern. Students cut out the pictures and glue them in the correct order. Students write their name, color the pictures, then staple the sides to make a crown.
DAB & DOT: Students use daubers to dab by number in order to reveal the mystery picture. (Hold at a distance to help students see the pictures).

Memorial Day Fine Motor Worksheets

Finishing out our May themes is a collection of Memorial Day printables you can use to creat a patriotic unit in your classroom. Students can learn of the great sacrifice our men and women in uniform have made, and how we celebrate and thank the for their courage and bravery.

CUT & PASTE CRAFTIVITY: These crafty projects are perfect for little hands.Students color, glue, and cut to make fun, thematic pictures.Pair with a simple writing prompt or poem for extra learning!
POM PICTURES x 2: Students use pom-poms to complete the picture.For added difficulty have students use plastic tweezers to pick up the poms. Alternatively, students can glue poms to make these sheets into a simple craft project.

Our May Fine Motor Activity Pack is available as a single download, or part of our year-long Fine Motor Bundle here in our TPT store!

Homeschool Curriculum

March 10, 2019 By Valerie Mcclintick Leave a Comment

Homeschool Art Projects

March 10, 2019 By Valerie Mcclintick Leave a Comment

Free Homeschool Printables

March 10, 2019 By Valerie Mcclintick Leave a Comment

4 Easy and Frugal Homeschool Art Projects

February 13, 2019 By Crafty Team Leave a Comment

I don’t know about you, but the homeschool day goes really fast! And, it can be hard fitting in the time-consuming, clean up-consuming subject of art. To help my fellow homeschool moms, I’ve come up with a simple, yet SUPER engaging list of easy and frugal homeschool art projects.

Kids LOVE art — getting messy is fun! And, any creations they concoct can be proudly displayed or shown lovingly to their Grandma on FaceTime.

However, for Moms — crafts can be exhausting! The time suckers and messy materials can be somewhat daunting for our busy days! Yet, we also know our children’s joy and creativity soars with art. It’s an important subject NOT to skip.

That’s why these fast, simple, and frugal art activities are perfect to use as boredom busters for any preschoolers, kindergartners, and elementary school aged kids.

Are you looking for simple items you can purchase to keep your Homeschool Art Supply Closet full? We’ve compiled our favorite, frugal products and brands to make it easy for you to keep your art cabinet stocked. All of these products are tried and tested in our own homeschool classroom, and are well loved by the kiddos. We’ve picked these specific items because of the price and the quality, this is a list you don’t want to miss! Click Here

On a budget? No problem! Most craft materials can be found at the Dollar tree or on Amazon at a great price (and shipped right to your door!). These art crafts are also wonderful time fillers and distractors for after school, on weekends, playdates, and gift giving!

Popsicle Stick Crafts

The possibilities are endless with popsicle stick crafts but when you’re in a hurry, here are some exciting ideas. Remember, kids have vivid imaginations and giving them materials only will get their creative juices flowing! Grab some glue sticks, washable markers or paint and ask the kids to get creative.

Here are some ideas to use for Popsicle Stick crafts:

Build Tic Tac Toe Grids, glue together, and cut out 9 pieces of paper to fit inside boxes. Write ‘X’ and ‘O’s using markers on pieces of paper with different colors.
Make a star using 2 triangle shapes. One will be upside down on top of the other. The kids can paint or color them with markers.
Create a frame with sticks shaped as a square. The kids can write “family” or any words they wish or paint with favorite colors.

Beads

Beads are wonderful materials to make gorgeous designs, bracelets, necklaces, and much more! These innovative ideas may require a purchase of a bead kit for a low price. Using beads strengthen hand eye coordination, focus, creativity and fine motor skills!

Please note: We wouldn’t recommend attempting beads until your child is about 5 years old or any child who puts things in their mouths.

Pipe Cleaners

Pipe cleaners are one of the most versatile and simple craft materials you can use for tons of kid activity! They come in a variety of colors, they’re inexpensive, and easy to manipulate into any shape!

Here are some ideas to get you started with your creative kid:

Make a flower arrangement: draw and color a flower, cut it out, and pull stem through. Put it in a pretty vase or cup and pass it onto a neighbor!
Bend and twist 2 favorite colors to make a bracelet or necklace.
Cut pipe cleaner in half, add a wonderful array of colorful beads, and twist the end.

Playdough

Playdough is SO easy to make! Here is a step-by-step recipe and tutorial. Just combine 2 cups of flour, 2 tablespoons of oil, ½ cup salt, and 2 tablespoons of cream of tartar. Then, start adding 1 to 1 ½ cups of boiling water in increments to determine best consistency. Food coloring is also an option for a variety of colors.

Give each child a ball of dough, and the sky’s the limit! If you see some inactivity, throw some cookie cutters on the table for a little help. You’ll be amazed at what your child can create with his/her imagination!

Now, if you just don’t have the time or prefer commercial play dough, check out this colorful Play dough package.

Finding ways to give your kids creativity time fosters mental growth, stimulates new ideas, and encourages new pathways of thinking and problem-solving! Take time today to give your children these wonderful opportunities to grow and learn exponentially!

Looking for more easy and frugal ideas on homeschool art projects? Check out these crafts, activities, and printables here!

Amazon Book Coupon Deal for You!

December 14, 2017 By Valerie Mcclintick Leave a Comment

Don’t you love when you spot a deal that is so good you have to SHARE it with a friend?

Today, I found one of those deals and just had to pop on to SHARE the coupon code with you.

Amazon is offering $5.00 off your $15.00 book order when you use code: BOOKGIFT17 at checkout.

Hurry to shop because the offer expires at 12/15/2017 at 11:59PM

Here are some of my favorite titles to recommend:

Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein

Amelia Bedelia Box Set by Herman Parish

Beautiful Word Bible NIV published by Zondervan

The Biggest Story by Kevin DeYoung

I’m super excited about this offer, especially with Christmas coming and my need to creatively stretch and combine my homeschool and Christmas budget together. There are a few restrictions that apply, but there are still hundreds/thousands of books to choose from!

Happy Book Shopping!!

Fruit Shaped Mazes for Kids

April 17, 2017 By Valerie Mcclintick Leave a Comment

A fun collection of Heathy mazes for students! Each activity page teaches children the health benefits of a specific fruit. Students read, write, maze and trace their way to a good understanding of healthy fruits.

This fantastic set of healthy fruit activity pages is a great way to combine health with writing activities. Print this set FREE from BrainyMaze.com

Apple Maze & Activity Sheet

Apples grow on trees. Apples have good fiber. Apples can be red, green and yellow.

Banana Maze & Activity Sheet

Bananas grow on trees. Bananas have lots of potassium and help us digest food.

Blueberries Maze & Activity Sheet

Blueberries grown on bushes. Blueberries help to lower cholesterol and keep our hearts healthy.

Cherries Maze & Activity Sheet

Cherries grown on trees. Cherries can be red, pink or black. Some cherries can help us sleep better.

Grapes Maze & Activity Sheet

Grapes grown on a vine. Grapes can be red, green, yellow or purple. Grapes help to keep our hearts healthy.

Kiwi Maze & Activity Sheet

Kiwis grow on trees in tropical climates. Kiwis are full of fiber and are good for digestion. Kiwis are very high in Vitamin C.

Lemon Maze & Activity Sheet

Lemons grow on trees. Lemos are acidic and help our bodies stay balanced. Lemons detoxify and are good for our livers.

Oranges Maze & Activity Sheet

Oranges grow on trees. Oranges are filled with Vitamin C which help to keep people healthy.

Pears Maze & Activity Sheet

Pears grow on trees. Pears are full of fiber and are a goo source of Vitamin A which helps our hair, skin and nails.

Strawberries Maze & Activity Sheet

Strawberries grow on small strawberry plants. Strawberry seeds are on the outside and are full of Vitamin C.

Watermelon Maze & Activity Sheet

Watermelon grow on vines. Watermelon are mostly water and help us to stay hydrated. Watermelon have very few calories.

Alphabet Order Worksheets

November 25, 2016 By Valerie Mcclintick Leave a Comment

At BrainyMaze we’ve got a fun new set of Alphabetical Order Mazes for your kiddos! Children work their way through the maze by following the letters in the correct order. Below the maze is opportunity to practice handwriting skills by filling in the missing letters. This set includes three different mazes and we’ve got more on the way so stay tuned!

Print ABC Order Mazes from here

Making Art with Nature Prints

May 13, 2016 By Valerie Mcclintick Leave a Comment

Over the years I’ve noticed that there are some art projects that we only try once, and there are some that we repeat over and over because they are so much fun!

Making Nature Prints is one of those projects.

I think it’s because they are so simple to make, and the kids are always so thrilled with how their prints turn out.

How to Make Nature Prints:

Step 1. Purchase Sun Printing Paper. This is a special paper that will change with exposure to sunlight. It comes with a black bag inside and you must keep it dark until you are ready to use it.

Step 2. Choose something from nature that will leave a fun shadow on your paper. Look for leaves with interesting edges and shapes. Lay it on your paper in the direct sun for one to two minutes, being very careful not to touch it or move it in any way.

Step 3. Remove your item to reveal your print! How neat is that?!

Step 4: Repeat, Repeat, Repeat!

Buy Sun Printing Paper Here

Pin this project for later:

Free Compound Words Learning Game

December 12, 2015 By Valerie Mcclintick Leave a Comment

If you have a child who is showing progress with their reading ability, you might want to spend a day or two teaching them some compound words.

Compound words are words that are made up of two other words that have been “compounded” together.

I have three boys so I like to tell my children that they are “pounded” together because what little boy doesn’t like the idea of pounding something together?

Anyway, I designed this game to be single or multiplayer. Single players simple match up the words on the four different boards correctly.

Multiplayer can be played by placing all words into a small container and drawing one at a time and looking for the needed word on your board. There are four different boards making a total of 32 compound words for children to learn.

With younger children you could wait to cut the words completely apart, and first introduce them to the words:

The entire game is available in Black and White as well so those of you wanting to save on ink can print to your hearts content!

I’ve also included follow up worksheets for each word. These are blank boards with lined paper for children to write in their words and can be used alongside or after the game.

Print our free Compound Words Game Here from our sister site File Folder Fun.

Find More Free First Grade Languages Games Here

Names of Jesus Advent

November 18, 2015 By Valerie Mcclintick 15 Comments

Our Names of Jesus Advent Ornaments have been such a huge success over the years that I wanted to update them with new designs and even expand the options you have when making them.

I know there are so many Jesse Tree Ornaments available online, that I wanted to do something a little different and create Names of Jesus Ornaments that actually FIT onto the unfinished wooden Craft ornaments so you can make a sturdy set that will last for years to come.

First you’ll need to print out our ornaments. We provide you with Black and White so you can design your own, or Color Versions that are print ready!

Ned You’ll cut out and glue your designs to the front of the ornament. We used Modge Podge glue so that we can get that see through coat over the top of the ornaments. This gives them added protection over the years. Use a pen to write the coordinating Name of God onto the back of the ornament. If you’re using these as a countdown you might also write in the day as well (i.e. Numbers 1-24).

You can then decided to hand these with a small ribbon (above) or to place on an advent tree with small nails (below).

Either way you’re sure to have created a meaningful tradition with your family each Christmas. Pair these ornaments up with the FREE Names of Jesus Advent Unit Study Here and you’ve got yourself a month long curriculum.

You could even turn all the ornaments around so that children can reveal a new name of Jesus every day until Christmas.

Print Your Own Names of Jesus Ornaments Free Here

Try our Christmas Activity Pack Today!

Filled with 40 pages of games, crafts, activities and worksheets for K-5 students.

Find More Free Christmas Printables Here

Ornament Bible Verse Printables

Christmas Coloring Pages

Pop Up Nativity Craft

Preschool Christmas Printables

Pine Cone Science Printables

September 21, 2015 By Valerie Mcclintick 1 Comment

With Fall right around the corner, I’ve been trying to come up with as many hands on science printables as possible! One thing there always seems to be an abundance of around our property is pine cones. Pine Cones can be great learning tools in your classroom.

Pine Cone Science Printables This set includes a Cut and Paste Worksheet, Chart and Blank Labeling Sheet, Notebooking and Coloring Page. The pine cone clipart is also available for those of you who like to ake your own teaching resources, just be sure to read our terms of use first.

Learning Ideas: Start with a nature walk to collect pine cones, then take them back into the classroom. Submerge pinecones in water to watch them close up. Extract seeds from pine cones and then break open to look inside.

More Botany Printables

More Science Printables

Instant Access to 77 Homeschool eBooks!

August 2, 2015 By Valerie Mcclintick Leave a Comment

The 2015-2016 Homeschool year is on the horizon, and I want to make sure you see all the NEW resources in the 2015 Homeschool Omnibus sale! I know you’re super busy so here is what you need to know:

OMNIBUS FACTS AT A GLANCE

124 total resources: 77 eBooks and 47 MP3s
Over 100 speakers and homeschool authors have included resources
Total value is $754
Cost is $25 (3% of the actual value)
Sale Ends at 11:59pm PST on Aug 9th

Browse through all the titles included here.

So Which Titles am I Most Excited About?

Well, actually quite a few of them! I have children in multiple age brackets, Middle School, Elementary School and Preschool/Kindergarten so there is plenty I can put to good use from this bundle. My middle school aged child seems to be the hardest to find inexpensive resources for, so these are probably the one’s I’m most excited about. I’m really hoping she will build on her Geography skills this year so I’m especially excited about the following resources…..

The retail cost of these three products alone is $39.85!

The Homeschool Omnibus only costs $25….

and it includes 74 more eBooks and 47 mP3s.

It’s an amazing bundle sale that comes around only once a year!

Don’t Miss it!

Browse through all the titles included here.

If you have younger children you might take a peek at these titles when you flip through the Omnibus Catalog:

The retail cost of these five products alone is $46

The Homeschool Omnibus only costs $25….

and it includes 72 more eBooks and 47 mP3s.

It’s an amazing bundle sale that comes around only once a year!

Don’t Miss it!

Browse through all the titles included here.

You’ll Have to Hurry! The Sale Ends Soon:

Discount Homeschool Curriculum

May 25, 2015 By Valerie Mcclintick Leave a Comment

The Build Your Bundle Homeschool Curriculum Sale is Here! This sale is HUGE and includes many popular curriculum publishers at up to 90% off. You can choose from over 19 pre-assembled bundles or your can Build Your Own Bundle here. I’m hoping to highlight some of my favorites for you this week but for now, here are some quick links to get you started:

Bundles by Grade:

Preschool & Kindergarten

Bundles by Theme:

Charlotte Mason Bundle

Just for Girls Bundle

Mom Bundle

Be sure to take advantage of the Buy 2 Bundles Get One Free Offer!

Remember this sale comes around once a year for one week only:
Build Your Own Bundle Now!

Mother’s Day Freebie

May 10, 2015 By Valerie Mcclintick 2 Comments

Homeschool Buyers CoOp has a special Mother’s Day freebie for you through 5/13/2015 at 11:59 Pacific.

When you visit the Smart Points Vendor Hall you can choose one free eBook from about 15 different choices.

This is a great chance to pick up some free homeschooling resources for your kiddos.

I personally have used Write a Super Sentence, How to Teach Art to Children, and Daily Reading Comprehension with my children so I know these are REAL value freebies for you and would recommend taking a moment to grab them.

While you’re there I also recommend joining Homeschool Buyers CoOp, it’s free to join and you’ll score major savings on some top homeschool curriculum publishers. I’ve used this program to purchase quite a few resources this year including Wordly Wise Online, Mark Kistler’s Draw 3D, The Happy Scientist, TTRS Typing and more.

You can also join their affiliate program or refer your friends for Smart Points to earn credits towards future purchases. (All my links above earn me smart points when you join too!)

Nature Crafts

Making Homeschool Your Number #1 Priority

Tips for Success:

Great Expectations

Tips for Success:

Too Many Extracurricular Activities

Tips for Success:

Not Addressing Learning Needs

Tips for Success:

Self Defeating Attitude

Tips for Success:

Expecting School at Home

Tips for Success:

Free Homeschool Student Portfolio

Print our Free Student Portfolio!

What is a Homeschool Portfolio?

Why are Portfolios Important?

What are the Daily Logistics of Maintaining a Portfolio?

What Should Be Included?

Subscriber Freebie!!

Take an Inventory of Income and Expenses

Decide What You Can Afford

Create Goals for Each Student

Try our FREE Homeschool Goals Worksheet!

Do Your Homework

1. Write a quick list of homeschool curriculum

2. Removing unwanted homeschool curriculum

3. Remove the Broken Writing Utensils

4. Resell Your Teaching Curriculum and Homeschool Resources

5. Permanent Storage Solutions

Digital Storage Solutions

Physical Storage Solutions

Choose Bright Colors

Get Kids Involved

Seeds & Plants Fine Motor Printables

Spring Flowers Fine Motor Activities:

Farm Animal Fine Motor Worksheets

Mother’s Day Preschool Printables

Memorial Day Fine Motor Worksheets

Looking for more easy and frugal ideas on homeschool art projects? Check out these crafts, activities, and printables here!

Apple Maze & Activity Sheet

Banana Maze & Activity Sheet

Blueberries Maze & Activity Sheet

Cherries Maze & Activity Sheet

Grapes Maze & Activity Sheet

Kiwi Maze & Activity Sheet

Lemon Maze & Activity Sheet

Oranges Maze & Activity Sheet

Pears Maze & Activity Sheet

Strawberries Maze & Activity Sheet

Watermelon Maze & Activity Sheet

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