Snowball Fights! Sign up here to receive freebies, deals, and resources!! This post contains my referral link which helps support the work of this site. Here’s my full disclosure policy. I am a little sad that the snow is gone from our sweet little town. I do not know about you, but one of my favorite ways to spend a cold winter’s day is to enjoy a hot cup of something wonderful and watch my children sled in the snow. It really is magical. If you have been following me for any length of time, you will also know that my husband and I have definite goals for our kids that have nothing to do with snow or “curriculum”. One of our top goals is that our kids learn their math facts inside and out. Today I have combined my love for snow play and our goal of learning math facts (Well, at least multiplication). I created a set of snowball fight themed memory games to be played to teach and reinforce multiplication math facts for your kids and mine! Simply click on the image to go check it out! Before you leave, make sure you add your email into that box on the right. I like to surprise my readers with freebies to some of my latest creations as a special thank you!! Summertime Adventures for Boys and the Family (for those of you who cannot wait for warmer weather!!) Did You Enjoy this Article? Subscribe to receive our latest and greatest: right here
My First Link-up! Sign up here to receive freebies, deals, and resources!! This post contains my referral link which helps support the work of this site. Here’s my full disclosure policy. Hi Everyone! I have a special treat for you! I am co-hosting this weeks “Home School Link-Up this week! That means you will be able to meet some amazing homeschoolers, educators, and moms right at the end of this post! My new blogger friend, Lisa with Squishable Baby is the fabulous coordinator of these Link-ups. Thanks Lisa! Here we go… Hello Good morning homeschoolers, educators, teachers, friends, family and whomever I’ve missed. Welcome to the 9th homeschool link up hosted by Unschooling Momma and Moi. Last week’s link-up was awesome. I learned a great deal from all of you, and look forward to reading your posts this week! The purpose of this link up is to provide fellow homeschoolers, past homeschoolers, eduction buffs, want to be homeschoolers, parents who want to supplement, or whomever – with a variety of fantastic educational resources. Feel free to link up to 3 education posts. We would love to hear about educational projects, crafts, schedules, curriculum, alternative learning ideas – whatever you like that has to do with the education of our children. Feel free to be creative! This link-up is broad for education. If you have an education related giveaway or education related deals and freebies, please link them up. Here are a few guidelines… Link up any education related post or resources or homeschool project or post – old or new. We will pin our favorites to our homeschool Pinterest board. Let your imagination soar. If you are not a homeschooler and have a craft or project that you might think homeschoolers would benefit from – link up. If you link-up an old “deals” please make sure they are still valid at the time of linking. When linking up, please tweet about the link-up to help us grow. Tweet // When you tweet, please use #homeschoollinkup Grab a button and place it in your sidebar and help us grow! Enjoy the posts of your fellow homeschoolers and education experts! This weeks Blogger feature is Tracy at A Learning Journey Written by Tracy, A Learning Journey is an excellent blog for finding new resources for your homeschool. Last week, wrote about Homeschool Legacy, a shop that offers a variety of unit studies. She conducted a very thorough review and is running a giveaway. Personally, we don’t do a lot of unit study stuff, but I always feel it’s good to try new things. You never know what will work and what the children will enjoy. Definitely check out this product and enter the giveaway! Just click on the graphic, and it will take you to the review and giveaway. Our Cohost – Bekki Follow Bekki Blog YouTube Facebook Pinterest Twitter This week, we have a wonderful giveaway that is being offered by our co-host, Bekki Sayers at A Better Way to Homeschool. Bekki is a veteran homeschool Mom of 14 years, who creates wonderful fun packs and lesson plans for all grade levels. Her blog is a great resource for all homeschoolers. This week she is offering 21 fun and engaging Thanksgiving math activities for Preschool-Grade 1. Enter the rafflecopter below to win this great pack. a Rafflecopter giveaway I am searching for co-hosts in an attempt to grow this link up – if anyone is interested in hosting the homeschool linkup for a week, email me (Lisa) at lisa {at} squishablebaby {dot} com. Without further ado, it’s time to… // Since next week is Thanksgiving, I want to wish you all safe travels – wherever life takes you. I wish you a very happy and healthy Thanksgiving. I will be looking forward to seeing you in two weeks!
Division Games: Fun or Headache? Does the idea of teaching divisibility make you jump for joy or run for cover? I have taught 5th and 6th grade 7 years total now, (3 years in the classroom, plus 4 of my own kids so far) and I can tell you that many kids struggle with the divisibility rules. You now, things like “A number is divisible by 9 if the sum of all the digits equals a number is divisible by 9”. Easy? No? Fear not. These rules are very important when kids need to reduce fractions, so I got creative. I made 14 Divisibility Games and Activity Pack to help you reinforce divisibility. (I am giving a copy away to one of my lucky readers. Enter below) My boys love the pack. Actually, each time I pull out an activity they help me create a new one. We are now up to 14 fun activities:). You can visit my store to get your own copy. It is only on sale until 11/14/2013. Here is my 6th grader doing the color by divisibility activity. He loved that when you colored the numbers a picture emerged. What will you get in this 37 page activity pack? Let me share the table of content with you: Divisibility VocabularyDivisibility Word Search Divisibility Word Search-Key Match the Vocabulary WorksheetMatch the Vocabulary Worksheet-Key Divisibility Rules numbers 2, 5, and 10 Divisibility Rules numbers 3, 4, 9 Divisibility Rules numbers 6, 7, 8 Divisibility Tic Tac Toe Large Color Number Cards for Tic Tac Toe and BINGO!Large B/W Number Cards for Tic Tac Toe and BINGO! Tic Tac Toe Board Divisibility BINGODivisibility BINGO BoardsSmall Bingo Number cards Divisibility Quick Guide/answers for BINGOGraphing the Winner Template-Use with Games Find Hidden Symbol- Divisible by 5Find Hidden Symbol- Divisible by 5-Key Find Hidden Symbol- Divisible by 9 Find Hidden Symbol- Divisible by 9-KeyWhat’s the Divisibility Drill Worksheet What’s the Divisibility Drill-KeyWhat’s Your Divisibility Worksheet What’s Your Divisibility Worksheet Key Divisibility Memory MEMORY CARDS Divisibility Quick Reference Enter to win your copy a Rafflecopter giveaway Can’t wait? Order your instant download at my store.
Meet Discount School Supply I am really excited to introduce you to Discount School Supply! Founder Ron Elliott has the vision “to offer the highest quality products at the lowest possible prices.” What do you need to know? They have over 5,000 amazing products for kids. I’ll show you enough to get you started. Honestly, it is worth a trip to their website every time you need school supplies, children’s toys, or gifts. My kids have always been really into make-believe and role-playing.Look at this cool play station! My Hometown™ Play Space 10 unique interchangeable signs allow children to imagine they are in a bank, ice cream parlour, fruit and veggie stand, pizza shop, barber shop, pet store, grocery store, doctor’s office, fire station, or post office! Arts and Crafts Galore!You name it, they have it. I personally like to keep a healthy supply of arts and crafts materials on hand, but I HATE to spend top dollar for things like construction paper! Construction paper! Colorations® Cup and Tray Tempera Cakes Alphabet Stamping Sticks – Set of 26 (sold as upper case or lower case sets) Excellerations™ Jumbo Lacing Beads – 36 Pieces When you visit Discount School Supply, scroll to the very bottom of the page. In the lower right-hand corner is a list of great free resources for you! “This post was created in partnership with eAccountable and is not officially a part of Discount School Supply or any other DSS brands. All opinions are my own.”
5 EASY Ways to Deal with Homeschool Frustration Inside: Real solutions for the Frustrated homeschooler You woke up ready to rock this homeschool gig. You even had it all together. Until… You find the baby decorated her wall with her diaper contents and your middle schooler needs help with math. You begin to cry. When 5:00 rolls around you look in the mirror and realize the person staring back at you not only looks like she fought a battle and lost but she forgot to plan for dinner… again. So you cry again and pour cold cereal for dinner. I bump into home-school moms all the time who are frustrated.Are you one of them? … Read More »
Meet Melissa and Doug! Meet the Sponsors Monday! I am excited to spotlight Melissa and Doug… I love these guys! Melissa and Doug are real people who got their toy business started in a very humble way. Doug was too embarrassed to ask Melissa to marry him, so he asked her to start a business with him instead. Don’t you just love that? These guys make the kid of toys that grandparents would be proud to see we bought for our kids! High Quality, purposeful, educational and fun! Here are some of my ABSOLUTE FAVORITES! Melissa and Doug Wooden Shape Sorting Clock This is my current favorite!!! What a fun way to allow your children to learn all about the the face of an analogue clock! This multi-sensory clock face has all the fundamental topics you will need to address reading an analogue clock. I love that it even has the “half past”, “quarter past”, and “quart to” phrases! Standard Unit Blocks You have to trust me on this one. Your kids will love plain blocks! This is the opitome of the classic toy. My boys build towers, castles, obstacle courses, and traps using their blocks! Fold and Go Barn Isn’t this the sweetest? My boys have outgrown their play-set days. (I was forced to say that under duress. They will still break out cool toy sets and make believe, especially on rainy days!) Shape Sorting Cube My second oldest son loved this toy when he was a baby! Sturdy, brightly colored, and loads of fun. My kids absolutely LOVED shape sorters. Honestly, I do not think anyone can do much better than Melissa and Doug toys. They are some of the highest Quality toys available for our kids and grandchildren. (No, I do not have grandchildren yet, but someday I will:)) What is your favorite Melissa and Doug Toy?
How to Make Your Day Flow Peacefully So You Can Enjoy Your Preschooler Inside: Practical ways to help you with that energetic happy preschooler plus a Bonus Naptime Training Game {Printable} First and Foremost. Preschoolers grow up really, really, really quickly. Those hugs and kisses they offer so frequently are numbered. There will be a day that you are chasing them down, so, listen carefully… Hug and kiss your preschoolers a lot! Tell them you love them- More. Second.Take a few days to assess your life. Do you already have a schedule and daily routine or are you like me when I had my second child, snickering behind my back at the suggestion that a preschooler can be scheduled (and love it!). Third. For the sake of the desperate, I am going to assume you are new to parenting preschoolers and homeschooling. You are trying to figure out your older child’s math lesson while your very busy, yet delightful tot is running around. Your delightful little munchkin does not want to sit and wait for school to be done for their fun to begin. They will create their own fun and include glitter and nail polish-so you need a plan. Without a plan, that delightful little munchkin will play with your carving knife, hide in your dryer, or paint your bathroom with nail polish while you are feeling great about your homschooling abilities in the other room. Yes, I am speaking from experience. If you do not have it built into your day already, spend the next week or two establishing a rhythm to your children’s day. Photo by Alicja Colon Create: Rinse and Repeat Schedule. Here’s kinda what I did with my boys. Psst: Anyone who tells you “This is the exact recipe for success for scheduling kids” is lying. Or they don’t have kids yet. Kids definitely need a schedule, love a schedule, thrive when living by a schedule, and can mess up a schedule before you can set a timer. There is no such thing as “one size fits all”, so use this as a guideline to get you started. Sample Rinse Repeat Schedule: Homeschooling with Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers Wake I woke up kids at 7:00. LOL. Who am I kidding? One of my boys woke up at 5:30 every day. I had to train him to stay in bed reading quietly until 7. Yes. You can do that.) Clean room I had my boys make beds and get dressed, even if I was helping them every step of the way. By the way… This is parenting for the win. Have your kids work alongside you while they are incapable of doing it right and train them up in the right attitude/heart. Eventually, they will be able to out work you, but they can also “Out Attitude” you. Train for heart first, ability comes later. Eat breakfast Yes, mama. You too! Calendar Time. 15-20 Minutes. This is a public school term. But my kids loved it. Gather near a calendar or activity board. This is a time of “Repeat after me” or “let’s sing…” Find today’s date. Sing Seven Days in a Week song. Count the dates up to today. Recite the months of the year. Use calendar time to work on any memory work pieces, like bible verse, poetry, or phone numbers. Sing silly songs. 2-4 a day. Mama, don’t roll your eyes. Embrace silly… your kids need it, and frankly so do you. Use Youtube if necessary. Your kids need silly songs. Here are Some starters: Stand Strong, Love my lips, I am a pizza. Need More? Here you go. Memory work: month’s of the year, bible verses, poems, your address and phone number Real Alouds. I know it’s more comfy to cozy on the sofa, but adding a circle time reader is good for teaching sitting still. Weather: talked about the weather, graphed weather, dresses “weather bear“ Counting: Count to 10, or 50, or 100. SKip Counting. Calendar time will quickly turn into a favorite part of your kids’ day. Table activity/ Baby-Toddler 1st Nap Time Cut and paste activities with the little ones. Prepare yourself for, “mommy help me” a bazillion times. Older kids work on things like handwriting, copy-work, spelling. Think, “What can my olders work independently”. Math time for “olders”. 5-15 minutes of instruction, then they work independently. This will not work when the math lessons are tough, they get confused, or you are holding the math lesson sideways hoping that the change of view will help it make sense. Snack Outside whenever possible. Outside play 15-45 minutes- all kids. If you have a picnic table, you can work with older kids while littles play. Let them play for a few first. Please embrace the Danish Motto, “There is no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing.” Snuggle and Read time, followed by… Roomtime/playpen time Train your littles to play independently. 15-60 minutes. No electronics. Put on music, Pull out a special toy/set of toys, Bring Down the Blocks, Present a fun activity- The key is you help set up a fun activity. Use a timer. When timer dings, sing the clean-up song and teach them to clean up their mess. Help mommy make lunch Oh, mama. Let them help you- at least 3 times a week. The other days, let them play near you or just outside (if safe). Lunch Yes, mama. You too! After lunch.This is a good show time while you work with older kids. I used car seats, high chairs, and playpens to wrangle my squirrelly boys. They Loved the baby Einstein videos:). Pro Tip- Streamline your kid’s meals. When you limit breakfast and lunch choices you bring peace to mealtimes. Take the “What’s for breakfast/lunch question” off the menu. Choose 1-3 healthy things that you will always have for these meals. Nap-time/quiet-time Perfect time to work with older students! My boys napped/rested for 1.5-2 hours every day until their 5th birthday. Kids need this downtime. Mom’s need this downtime. If you are like me with my oldest son, and you find that you never lovingly enforced nap/quiet time- Start tomorrow. [leadpages_leadbox leadbox_id=1455e0246639c5] [/leadpages_leadbox] Art/ errands Free play Dinner prep (include kids in prep- setting table, mixing, measuring, etc- at least 3 times a week) Family time A.K.A.- this time of day moms sit on the sofa and doze off. Bedtime routine (no electronics) All my kids went to bed by 8:00, most were in bed by 7:30 until they were ten. We send older kids to bed before 9:00 to read for a bit, then lights out. Sleep Kids need sleep. Moms need sleep. Dads need sleep. Repeat. Every Day. Click here to Enroll: [leadpages_leadbox leadbox_id=1467bfd46639c5] [/leadpages_leadbox] In this FREE 7-day course, you’ll learn to filter your homeschooling and parenting through the lens of character training. Get on the roster TODAY (it’s FREE!) before the doors close. WHAT YOU’LL GET Stop measuring success by grades, achievements, awards, and worksheets. When you enroll in this course, you’ll discover: The Best Measure of Parenting and Homeschooling Success The #1 Mistake Homeschoolers Make with their Kids One Powerful Phrase that will change the way you homeschool forever But let’s be honest. You’re already rockin’ it as a mom and homeschooler. Lazy moms do not take free Character training courses to improve their parenting skills. Just sayin’. What I hope you glean is that sometimes we all focus on the good things, rather than the best things. That’s what this course is all about. Helping you focus on the BEST. Click here to get on the roster today: [leadpages_leadbox leadbox_id=1467bfd46639c5] [/leadpages_leadbox]
Yes, I Have Blind-spots Yes, I Have Blind Spot is a post from Bekki @ A Better Way to Homeschool where we learn to train our children to become lifelong learners. If you have enjoyed this post, be sure to follow Bekki on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Google+! Did you ever walk right by something really interesting, but miss it altogether? I do this all the time! (Just ask my poor family) Actually I am quite clueless to my environment. I say this with the confidence that this “blindness” helps me have more grace with others. I am able to focus on people’s hearts and attitudes rather than what they are wearing or what their house looks like. Yes, that’s right. You can invite me over to your house when it’s a mess and I would not see it! (I will share some of my most embarrassing blind spots below.) With myself in mind, I would like to give you a slow tour of the right side of this website. See those little colorful squares to the right of my articles? I have you in mind as I partner with each and very one of those companies. (This is where I would say, wow… I never saw those before!) Those squares are called “buttons”. When you click on them, they take you to a valuable resource. Well, I think they are valuable! That’s why I chose each one. We all love sharing resources right? I am going to do a “Meet the Sponsor Monday” Series. I am really excited to spotlight each merchant and share my favorite products, homeschool resources, or cool facts about them. While I do have a business relationship with most of them, I think it’s a good match. I remain committed in my mission to come alongside and encourage and equip new and frustrated homeschoolers. I will only partner with companies that offer stellar products or services that I myself would use. So get ready to meet these amazing companies! Up first, Melissa and Doug… I can hardly wait until next Monday! Top 4 list of “Bekki’s Embarrassing Blind Spots. (In random order) ************************************************************ One of my dearest friends told me once that her husband had shocked her by shaving off his beard. I casually said, “He had a beard?” She almost died laughing at me (In love, of course). Our families spent years together. Apparently even she had never seen him without a beard. ************************************************************* Once I walked into my mom’s house to visit. I walked through the entry, passed the huge open living room and into the kitchen. She looked tired and was pouring a glass of iced tea, so I asked her what she was up to that day. She gave me a funny look, grabbed me by the arm and walked me back to the open living room I had just passed. Yep. That’s right. Christmas tree, piles of lights and about 20 boxes of decorations and village sets All Over the Room. I didn’t even see them! ***************************************************************************** Same dear friend as above asked me to run and get something from her van while she watched the kids on the swings. I looked at the parking lot and then back at my friend. I had no idea which one was hers. I could not even remember what color it was! (Yes, she laughed at me again!) ***************************************************************************** I was giving a new friend directions to my house while sitting in a parking lot. She asked me, “what color is your house?” (Big sigh). Even though I had lived in this home for 4 years, I honestly had no idea! ***************************************************************************** Did You Enjoy this Article? Subscribe here to make sure you do not miss a thing:)
Homeschoolers Have Imagination Homeschoolers Have Imagination is a post from Bekki @ A Better Way to Homeschool where we learn to train our children to become lifelong learners. If you have enjoyed this post, be sure to follow Bekki on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Google+! I was sipping on a hot cup of tea as I watched 4 of my 5 boys run and play in our open backyard. The 14 year old had constructed a wildly creative game which included characters, superpowers, challenges to overcome, and evil to defeat. It was amazing to watch them play, but what struck me most was the 14 year old. He was fully “in character”: crouching, running, pressing imaginary buttons on an invisible control panel, and leading his younger brothers. He proved, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that it is “cool to play make-believe”. Even when the youngest (7 years old) became bored, the older son was quick on his feet. “You want to quit now? Awww, I was just about to find a magic power disk that would allow you to use all forms of magic.” And just like that, the game was extended. Years ago I had a fellow homeschool mom share with me about her oldest child. She said he was frustrated with his public school friends because they had lost their imagination and forgotten what it was like to run around and play. At the time he was about 17 and still loved running and imagining. His friends thought he was crazy. What a thrill it is to have children who not only have active imaginations, but who feel the freedom to actually act on them! Let me ask you a few questions. Do your kids play make-believe? Do your kids entertain themselves without a lot of direction from you? Do you marvel at their creativity? Is the “default mode” for down time at your home electronic (TV or Video Game related?) Would your kids have fun or kill each other if you sent them outside right now for 30 minutes? Be sure to follow my next few posts as I share how we have nurtured our “inquiring, inquisitive, talented, and imaginative children. Did You Enjoy this Article? Subscribe to receive our latest and greatest: right here
Chores Update About two years ago I tore a tendon in my right elbow. Of course, I am right handed, so this caused me to be at a huge disadvantage in life (due to pride). I am a “do it all myself” kind of gal by nature, so asking my family to pick up my slack was not on the top of my list. I had surgery to repair my arm last year, and about a week ago I had that “Super Mom” come over and help me reorganize chores. Enter my life today. On the chore card for today was “deep clean mom and dad’s bathroom”. I took the child with the chore into the bathroom and began to instruct him the proper way to clean. Since it had literally been over 2 years since I had done it, I was right there, up to my eyelids in Comet. Did you know that a bathroom gets really dirty in two years? Before you report me to the health department… While I have used those Lysol wipes to tidy things up each week (or more), and I have periodically scrubbed this that, it’s been a long time since the whole bathroom has been spotless. Whew! Why do I share this with you? Without those chore cards, this bathroom would have been neglected longer. The cards have become the authority, not mom. Interesting. The kids have total respect for the laminated chore card. They do not complain. Go figure. They simply read their card and complete the task. We began the new chore cards on Monday. (click here to read more) After 3 days the kids and I have deep cleaned the laundry room, the refrigerator, the oven, the microwave, the floors, the living room, the entry, one bedroom, all the ceiling fans, and the master bath. The kids have commented that they love the cards and they can feel the house getting cleaner each day. Amazing! I would invite you to rethink your chore-list (or team-player duties). Do an experiment. Organize the chores, divide them up, and laminate the cards. Take on a no-excuses attitude. If the chores are on the card, they get done. period. More on Chores.
Homeschool Videos Homeschool Videos is a post from Bekki @ A Better Way to Homeschool where we learn to train our children to become lifelong learners. If you have enjoyed this post, be sure to follow Bekki on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Google+! Hi everyone! I wanted to make sure you knew that I have a YouTube Channel where I record videos to help you in your homeschooling journey. If you look a the menu bar at the top of this blog, you will see the tab How to Homeschool Videos. You can follow the link on that page right to this channel. I have recorded over 40 videos so far, and I try to add at least one video a week. My heart is to share with you the good, bad, and ugly of homeschooling from the perspective of a veteran (I’ve homeschooled for almost 15 years). I have 5 boys, ages 20, 15, 11, 10, and 8 as of today. Often times, I find it easier to record a video rather than write and edit a post here. I’d like to encourage you to: 1. First- Subscribe to this blog. Simply add your email in the box to the right and click subscribe. When I post a new idea or thought, you will get an email letting you know there is new information for you. (That way you do not miss anything) 2. Second- Follow the link to my YouTube Channel. Subscribe to the channel by clicking on the red subscribe button on the top right. You will get an email with a link to any new videos I record. 3. If you have any questions or ideas that I can address in an upcoming video, simply email me:). Here’s my latest video: Did You Enjoy this Article? Subscribe here to make sure you do not miss a thing:)
Electricity and Magnetism Electricity and Magnetism is a post from Bekki @ A Better Way to Homeschool where we learn to train our children to become lifelong learners. If you have enjoyed this post, be sure to follow Bekki on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Google+! Don’t you just love YouTube? I am using a cool hands on kit to teach the kids about electricity and motors. You can see the actual kit here: Elenco Snap Circuits UC-40 Upgrade Kit SC-100 to SC-500 (affiliate link) What is unbelievable is that even I can teach them about electricity using this kit! I know nothing about electricity and even less about motors and physics. This step by step, easy to snap and operate kit makes me seem brilliant! I do not know about you, but I love things like this. Every time we complete a simple project, we do YouTube research. Did I already tell you I love YouTube? We found a neat little instruction video that taught us all about electricity, magnetic fields, and the homopolar motor. Enjoy learning along side your kids! Did You Enjoy this Article? Subscribe here to make sure you do not miss a thing:)
Projects Don’t Have To Be Fancy! I am so thankful that homeschooling projects do not have to be planned or fancy to have their full impact on my kids learning. Aren’t you glad too? The boys were reading a chapter in Story of the World: Ancient Times and simply could not describe to me how a shaduf would work after reading the selection. They each read it. I reread it. I read it again. Somehow their brains could not picture this ancient irrigation tool. Solution: Impromptu Science, Physics, History Hands-on Learning Experience Materials: 2 sticks at least 4 feet long A Bucket of water A ziplock bag some kind of weight (they chose a shopping bag with pool balls) some string Directions:“Boys, here are the basic elements for making a shaduf. Figure out how to put them together in a way that allows you to fill the baggie with water from the bucket and then swing the arm around to water your make-believe garden.” Results: Dipping bag into the water Swinging the water around to reach the “garden”. “Crops” being watered. Here’s a (windy) explanation of what they learned, narrated by the youngest. Sometimes less is more in homeschooling. I had a whole afternoon of schooly looking activities planned for the boys. Instead, they were able to use critical thinking to solve a problem, build with their hands, and play in the water for over an hour. They learned more in this activity than I had planned for them to accomplish, even though we have nothing on paper to show for it. Aint Homeskoolin” Grate? (Yes, I misspelled on purpose. Sometimes you just have to jump out of the box!) [leadpages_leadbox leadbox_id=14776fb46639c5] [/leadpages_leadbox]
Insanely Easy Ways to Teach Kids Math Inside: Practical Strategies for Teaching Math and a handy math printable This post may contain affiliate links. Crocodile tears are big. Crocodile tears are ugly. photo by Steven Arenas I remember the day my son cried huge crocodile tears because he had already spent two hours “doing math” and still wasn’t done. We had just made the big jump to homeschool and he was not thriving. Why? “I know I am explaining these concepts to you, so why can’t you “pound out the lesson” in two seconds flat.” It’s easy to expect too much from our kids. photo by Senjuti Kundu I really expected too much from my son. [leadpages_leadbox leadbox_id=141827f46639c5] [/leadpages_leadbox] Don’t get me wrong, expectations are great. I am the queen of setting the bar high for my sons. But I was missing something critical. It turned out, he had made it all the way to 5th grade without mastering his math facts. After eating a big helping of guilty pie, we began working on fundamentals of math. (Click here for a 25 Minute Video Filled with Ideas to help you teach math) Great News if your Kids are behind: photo byEye for Ebony You can teach a 13-year-old a math concept in a day that they “should have learned” at an earlier age. So don’t panic if you suddenly realize they missed something. Simply identify the goal and create a learning strategy. Ask Yourself: Do you teach your child kindergarten, first grade, third-grade material… Or do you teach your child? Math Concepts and Skills by Age 3 Steps to teaching math facts Discover your child’s way of learning. I had to come face to face with that fact that my son learned differently than I do. His brain is wired differently. Math facts need to be memorized. Sorry. No way around this one. Actually, they need to be over-memorized. Practice over, and over, and over again. Examine your Own Math Mentality Do you hate math? Do you voice that to your children? Does math confuse you? Do you say things like, “I never could do math well,” rather than, “Hmmm, I do not remember how to do this right now, I guess my brain gets to exercise!” Many homeschoolers do not feel qualified to teach math, that’s OK. Instead learn it together! Discover the power of “yet”. Purpose to Speak Positively about Math “Math is everywhere!” “I’m glad I know how to add because that means I know _____.” “I like the challenge of math!” You get the idea. Get Help if you really Do Not Understand When you hit a math wall and simply cannot solve it in order to explain it to your child, seek help. Tell your student you need to have someone explain it to you. Affirm that there is always someone who is willing to help if you are humble enough to ask. Our kids need to see us ask for help! Here is a great online help for you and your kids. Related: Some Practical Math Resources Hands-On Math Activities Use Flash Cards Learn Fact Families Kids need to master facts as related groups. Creative Practice dry eraser markers on windows and mirrors sidewalk chalk pudding:) writing on sandpaper using magnetic numbers on fridge saying facts while playing ball, dancing, or rolling Math Fact Games Manipulatives Use anything from blocks and pattern tiles, Legos, Cheerios, M&M’s, and play games. “You grab 5 and I’ll give you 12 more, how many?” “If I make 4 groups of 3, how many will there be all together?” “Here are handfuls of snacks… divide them into 6 separate zip-lock baggies evenly.” Tip: Give kids time to explore manipulatives without giving them guidelines. I always let my kids “play” with new manipulatives a week or two before I use them in a lesson. Sources of Math Frustration: photo by ryan moreno Attitude: Sometimes it’s them… but sometimes it’s us. Curriculum. Curriculum causes so many issues. We feel our kids need to “get it” and be able to move forward from concept to concept. Page 27 means nothing. It’s like expecting a child to read a book but they only know 11 letters and sounds of the alphabet. Remember curriculum is a tool, not the goal. *Establish a clear math goal (or set of goals) for your student and use the curriculum to help you get there. That may mean you skip pages, even chapters of the book! Relief: There are only 3 types of math for most kids to master by high school: Arithmetic- number sense Algebra- equations Geometry- triangles, angles, etc Guilt. Comparing your kids to mine, hers or theirs. Asking, “Shouldn’t my child be at grade level?” (This is a futile question…) I feel like a failure because I barely can complete the fourth-grade math book without an answer key! Guilt binds us. We need to release it. Curriculum doesn’t teach our kids. We teach our kids and sometimes we may even a use curriculum. More ideas: Count everything. Work on facts daily. Print a bunch of math fact drill sheets and do timed drills (if they at least tolerate them I have one child that drills devastate. for some reason a timed drill shuts his brain down.) Do Car math: Ask math fact questions while running errands Bake Measure things with rulers, measuring tapes, straws, bananas Go to the store and pretend (or really buy) as many things as possible with $100. Lastly, it is important to remember that not all of our kids are destined to be mathematicians. That’s OK. But everyone really needs to know their basic math facts inside out. Focus on the basics and build your math program around fundamentals. Don’t rush your young children. If they master their facts they will be well ahead of their peers in the end and you can help avoid those crocodile tears. Preview of the Heart of Homeschooling God’s Way Master Class. We need to STOP measuring success by grades, achievements, awards, and worksheets.
Homeschooling: Step Three- How Do I Homeschool? When I looked over my first stacks of teaching materials I panicked. “You mean I have to teach this stuff?” Photo by Jon Toney Curriculum- “those stacks of learning materials we rely upon to teach their kids”, can freak out the best of us. Over the last two decades, I have learned to approach curriculum very differently. I no longer feel chained to this page or that lesson. Instead, I rely on what I call the covered wagon approach. The Covered Wagon You can also call this style of teaching/learning: thematic learning, or unit study. First: We choose a focus for the current period of study. I call this choosing the ” Golden Thread”. An example of a Golden Thread: Study Native American History for North America. Second: I need you to look at the picture of the covered wagon. Use your imagination with me. This wagon is on a journey to some destination. There are 4 wheels solidly on the ground to help the wagon make it to its destination. The wagon is steered and controlled by the grown-ups or older children. There are extra horses to facilitate quick side trips. Lastly, notice that the wagon itself is full of supplies and activities to occupy the travelers. How you Teach Using this method We first choose a destination (In this example: studying Native American History). This is where we decide what our final project will be to present what we have learned. Need Ideas for Projects? I have a Unit Study Idea Sheet for you at the end of this article. Second, we look down and see our 4 foundational Wheels: History, Science, Math, and English (Language and literature). We will look for ways to incorporate each of these subjects while teaching about Native American History. History: learn about the main native American groups. Focus: for each group of Native Americans learn: where they lived, what was the climate, what kinds of clothing did they wear, what they ate, did they worship a god? Science: Focus: examples: study weather. create graphs of your local weather, compare that with weather in the areas that the native tribe you are currently studying lived. Study Native American weapons. English: Focus spelling and vocabulary around the tribe you are studying. Choose 5-20 words a week to learn. Choose books to read together and independently about Native Americans. Complete daily copy work about Native Americans, weekly narration about Native Americans, and weekly dictation. Math: Estimate the distance from one tribe to another. research whether each tribe had a way to record numbers and record data. Complete word problems focus on Native Americans. The 4 Wheels of History, Science, English, and Math are your foundation. Just like the wheels of a real wagon would be on the ground every day, these subjects would make up your core learning. Third: Remind yourself that the wagon is “controlled” by older children and adults. A 5-year-old will not necessarily determine that they want to study Native Americans, but an older student might. Remind yourself that you are ultimately responsible for your destinations, but there are almost no wrong places to study! You choose! Fourth: In the picture above there is a lone rider on a fresh horse. With the Covered Wagon Approach, you need to be ready to break free from the wagon when a spontaneous learning opportunity presents itself. For example, maybe your student becomes fascinated with the Appaloosa horse of the plains nation. Take a side trail to study the Appaloosa and other breeds of horses. Look for ways to incorporate Math, Science, English and History while you are on this side trail. Once the burst of Inspired Learning fades, go back to the wagon. Fifth: The covered wagon. Just like the picture shows a wagon full of supplies and activities, you carry into your teaching an endless supply of activities and field trips to supplement your child’s learning. This is where art, music, dance, technology and things like theater fit in. Where can you go, what can you do, how can you see, taste, smell what you are learning about? In our Native American Study you could research and explore Native American Art and learn how to reproduce things like beaded bracelet’s, you could download Native music, attend a POW WOW in your area, visit the museum, watch History Channel Movies (or even Disney Movies), research YouTube videos, interview a local Native American and more. The Covered Wagon Approach means you jump into a golden thread and focus all your learning in that direction. You choose an historical focus and design, plan or purchase programs that incorporate all of those 4 foundational disciplines into that particular area of learning (You really do not need a specific curriculum to learn/teach this way: With the exception of math where you will learn from a math program of some sort. This can be as free or expensive as you desire!) Download your FREE “Unit Study Ideas” {Printable} Join us for the Heart of Homeschooling God’s Way Curriculum has nothing to do with homeschooling success Showers are optional and overrated No amount of knowledge looks beautiful on someone with a terrible attitude Coffee is one of the major food groups Children’s shirts have four clean surfaces: Front, back, inside front, and inside back Feeding kids chicken nuggets and corndogs don’t make you a bad mom The Lord will lead the way in raising and educating my kids
Lapbooking Resources Lapbooks are fun ways to organize what your kids are learning into a fun project that they will be proud to share! I love this article by Tina. Not everyone is cut out for ALL that lap booking can be. It can be too much coloring, cutting, and crafting for some kids (or their moms). Tina from Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool does a great job sharing how to balance the idea of lap booking when the reality is that your kids don’t want to color, cut and paste! Preview of the Heart of Homeschooling God’s Way Master Class. We need to STOP measuring success by grades, achievements, awards, and worksheets.
Homeschooling: Step Two I don’t always fail, but when I do it’s with epic style. photo by Maria I threw an egg at a trash can and missed. Splat! Tried to sit on a cooler at a tailgate party. A styrofoam cooler. Crunch! Backed the car into a parking space at the library and hit a pole. Dent. What do All of these things have in common? … Read More »
Homeschooling: Step One My first day of homeschooling ended with me in tears and nail polish on my bathroom floor. It wasn’t pretty. Thank goodness I asked for help! Homeschooling: Step One Breathe! Welcome to the wonderful world of educating your children. If you are anything like I was when I first began homeschooling my boys, you are overwhelmed and terrified of destroying your children. I know it feels overwhelming. Like you are up to your chin in jello with nothing but a toy lasso from your son’s Halloween costume to pull you out. But you will be ok. I am here to help you. To show you there is no Jello. I want to encourage you to breathe. There is nothing more important than for you to remember that “no one knows your kids better than you do.” You are perfectly suited to teach your children because: They are your kids. No one knows them like you do. You know what they love and hate. You are vested in their success. No one will believe in them with the same level of intensity that you will. Before you begin, let me encourage you to focus your heart. You can absolutely teach your kids, but you will be tempted to focus on the wrong things. Which Curriculum should you choose? Should you participate in State testing? Are your kids performing at “grade level”? Those are important, but wrong. Yes, you should consider questions like these but they have NOTHING to do with whether you will be a successful homeschooler. I would like to encourage you to grab a cup of something wonderful: tea, coffee, cranberry juice, etc. When I first started A Better Way to Homeschool, I wanted to share as many valuable and practical homeschooling advice, tips, stories and ideas as I possibly could. Because… Because… The Homeschooling path can be a dusty, intimidating and sometimes lonely journey. And scary. Do you ever worry about messing up your kids like I used to worry about messing up mine? We all do. Knowing that I wasn’t the only dust covered homeschooler, I began listening to other moms (and dads) and created my website. What I have learned over the past few decades is that homeschoolers want: Easy. You want easy common sense solutions to homeschooling your children and the confidence that whispers, “You are are doing a great job”. Peace of mind. You want to sleep soundly at night, with that little bit of drool coming out of the corner of your mouth because you know are walking down the right path with your kids, even if it’s a bit dusty. Company. You’re not the only one on that dusty lonely road. I’m just a bit further down the path, but I left footprints for you to follow or avoid. Homeschool classes for mom Homeschoolers are what my son calls “stupid busy”. You do it all: cooking, diapering, taxiing, scheduling, planning, and yes, teaching. You want to grab what you need to succeed in a simple and easy way because that’s all the time they have left in your daytime for simple and easy. Preview of the Heart of Homeschooling God’s Way Master Class. We need to STOP measuring success by grades, achievements, awards, and worksheets.