Change the Toilet Paper Roll Song! Sung to the tune of This Old Man! Get your free copy Looking for Toilet Paper Crafts? https://abetterwaytohomeschool.com/toilet-paper-roll-activities-for-the-win.html
Critical Thinking Activities- Begin with WONDER Teach your kids to THINK by “wondering” out-loud. Hmmm Be intentional I wonder WHERE toilet paper was invented? our rice comes from? that missing sock goes once it packs itself and leaves the dryer? you will love when you move out someday? Hmmm I wonder WHAT would happen if I didn’t eat every bite on my plate. I take the time to send a card or visit in person rather than text message. I unplugged all electronic devices for the day Hmmm I wonder WHY you can hear me unwrap chocolate from across the house, but you don’t hear me ask you a question when we are two feet apart. it’s colder at the top of a mountain if heat rises? the author chose to end this book they way she did? Hmmm I wonder WHEN we can lay outsode and look at the clouds go by? you will realize how much I respect you as a person? you will no longer need me to show you how to do that because you become a pro? Hmmm I wonder WHO discovered moldy cheese is edible? will cure cancer? comes to complete stops at stop signs more: men, women, new drivers? was the first person to sky dive/snorkel/ strap themselves into a rocket ship decided link is a girl color? Hmmm I wonder HOW people use this math concept in real life? many different words we can think of together that would replace the word “said” how we can organize our day so we are BOTH content with our progress tonight? how I can help you achieve your goals?Wonder.It’s caught by our kids when they see our own curiousity and excitement. Be ok if wondering causes you to chase rabbits that are not on your to-do list. At the end of the day, we want our kids to be excited, curious, and motivated to learn……and those things are discovered along the way. Get your copy
Unit Study of Sound Alike words- Homophones Some words and concepts are trickier to master in the English Language. Like homophones. They sound the same, but have entirely different meanings. One brilliant way you massage those sound-alike words into our kids minds is to draw them. Check out the Language Nerds for ideas. Collect a list of most common homophones. Get some index cards and some colored pencils/markers. Each week, take the time to draw or find images that illustrate a group of synonyms. Example: Pair, pare, pear. On the front: draw/glue the image and the word; but, write the word in a spot that you can easily cover with your thumb. On the back: write just the word. A few times a week play games with the words. Pick 4 and create! Shuffle the deck and have your child pick 4 cards.Together, build the craziest, funniest, or weirdest sentence possible! ABC Order Give your student all, or a collection of the cards.Have them place the words in alphabetic order. Synonym sort! Group the words by parts of speech:Noun- pearVerb- pareAdjective-pair Spelling Bee!! Show just the imageSay the word-Spell Scrabble tiles Flip a wordSpell with scrabble letter tiles Build it!! Pick 4-5 words to build with play doe, sticks and rocks, or Legos! Challenging words need to be massaged in to our children’s minds. Have fun!!
A Growing Collection of Unit Studies Don’t over think teaching your kids- Insert any TopicHere’s how it works. Brew a cup of wonderfulGrab your unit Study PlannerBrainstorm a topicMap it out over a day, week, or longerCollect materialsExplode learning! …Read More »
Custom Advent Calendar as a Gift? WOW! I Squealed when I opened the first two “Bekki, you should post these online so people know how much you mean to me…” My little sister sent me a box filled with manilla envelopes, dated Dec1- Dec 25. When I tore open the first envelope I SQUEALED. This is by FAR, the BEST gifts I’ve ever received in the mail. HandmadeThoughtfulPaper adorablenessand a story that build each day… Want to bless your sister, mom, wife, daughter, or bestie? Here’s how to build your own Custom Advent Calendar Kit Step 1: Pause and close your eyes. Who comes to mind? Pick her. Step 2: Assemble your materials Supplies. You’ll need card making supplies. There are many kits available, but my amazing sister used goodies she had on hand. You can buy a hand full of cards, or even find advent DIY ornaments. Trust me, it’s the thought that counts! Step 3: Envelopes! Place each day’s card inside the manilla envelope and write the date on the front. My sister, Jackie included fun number stickers for me inside too, so I could number the set as I open them! Step 4: Box the envelopes up and mail them to your loved one. When I called my sister to say thank you, she said, “You told me you never receive letters in the mail and I just had to fix that! Blessed beyond blessed. That’s what your bestie will be. Send some Mini Clothes pins and ribbon and she can hang them each year:) PS- Remember to teach your kids to write good old fashioned letters, it’s such a small way to make a HUGE difference in someone’s day.
Paper Project for Kids- The Snowman Challenge Free Printable –>> Snowman-ChallengeDownload …Read More »
PAPER PROJECT FOR KIDS- Books of the Bible Craft! Paper projects can help transform your homeschooling!! Today’s Paper Project: Books of the Bible Craft. This one will delight you and your kids!! Enter to win! a Rafflecopter giveaway
Paper Project for Kids- Notebooking Paper projects can help transform your homeschooling!! Today’s Paper Project: Notebooking
Paper Project for Kids- Fortune Teller Folds Short and easy to follow videos with a new paper project in each clip.Paper projects can help transform your homeschooling!! Today’s Paper Project: Fortune Folds
Paper Projects for Kids- Mini Booklets Short and easy to follow videos with a new paper project in each clip. Paper projects can help transform your homeschooling!! …Read More »
The Powerful Giggle-Stress Busters for Students He sneaks up behind me with a grin. “Hey mom,” he whispers. “wanna see something funny? SWHOOSH! Out comes the phone with the goofy picture, corny joke, or hilarious video. Laughter. Science knows its benefits , the Bible declares its power, our kids love its affect, and by-golly, we all need a good healthy dose of it. Did you know that the funny bone is connected to learning retention, relieving stress, thinking creatively, and is a magic wand to teaching students?Bekki Sayler “But I’m not funny,” you say. You can change that! Start studying and collecting good, clean, goofy jokes, images, and videos. If you want to be a super hero start surprising your kids/students with jokes every day. But there are rules. Here are some research-supported tips for using humor to increase retention, from Sarah Henerdon Do Use humor to enhance classroom joyUse humor to develop a sense of communityUse content-related humorUse age-appropriate humor“Sandwich” humor between instruction and repetition Avoid SarcasmCruel or inappropriate humorForced humorOff-topic humorToo much humor Weaving laughter, smiles, and giggles into teaching and learning is an unfair advantage in the hands of a homeschool mom, classroom teacher, or professional eduator. Laughter disarms resistance and allows information to get catapulted directly into the center of the memory. It’s why Crash Course videos are so powerful for students. While we do not agree with all of the facts or view points, we do lean heavily on them for science and history because of the perfect blend of valuable vocabulary and processes with unsurpassable and surprising humor. Kids and their parents need a daily dose of laughter to combat stress. Because stress is so bad. Science says so and we KNOW so. Physical Symptoms of Stress SweatingIncreased heart rate or blood pressureVertigoShortness of breathMuscle tensionHeadaches and stomachachesFatigue Emotional Symptoms of Stress Hostility, irritability, and other mood changesIncreased worryingHelplessnessLoneliness Behavioral Symptoms of Stress Binge or reduced eatingDrug or alcohol misuseErratic sleep habits Cognitive Symptoms of Stress Memory lossLoss of concentrationNegative outlookDissociation (i.e., disconnection from your thoughts, feelings, and identity) Why Add Laughter to teaching? Short-term benefits of laughter Cools down your stress responseDecrease your heart rate and blood pressureGives you that “ahhhh” feeling afterwards Long-term effects of laughter Improves your immune systemRelieves painmake it easier to cope with difficult situationshelps you connect with other peoplelessens your stress, depression and anxiety and may make you feel happier An Unfunny Mom’g guide to Adding Humor to Teaching TRY. Hold fast to the FACT that humor can be learned. In fact, developing or refining your sense of humor may be easier than you think.Turn on your humor radar. Look for funny appropriate humor everywhere: shows you watch, music you listen to, greeting cards, memes, videos.Laugh. Don’t hold in your giggles. Let it out to play. Be like these quintuplets.Find funny friends and spend time with them. Teach your kids to do the same. (Just teach the rules above!)Add eye rolling humor into your kids’ day with notes, goofy learning activities, and jokes. How to Seamlessly add Humor to Math Lessons Get a set of joke filled math lessons that reenforce core math skills.Print them out.Select 1-3 joke pages for every few days.Sit back and watch the smiles creep in. We need these!! Important: Know what isn’t funny. Don’t laugh at the expense of others. Some forms of humor aren’t appropriate. Give your kids some grace as they work this out in their lives! You may need to set some boundaries. I have five sons- we definitely have joke boundaries.
14+ Amazing Gifts for Homeschoolers- 2021 He was adorable… When our oldest was little, his FAVORITE book was the Christmas Catalogue that came in the mail. He carried it everywhere, sat and looked at the pages for hours, practiced reading with the delicious sounding product descriptions, and marked every single toy he wanted that year. IMAGINE my shock, here in 2021, that anAmazon FUN Gift BOOK showed up in the mail!! I combed through it and marked it up, just like my son used to do! “I want a copy!” Wonderful toys and games to drool overstickers to mark favorite goodiescoloring page and paper activities All inside the colorful pages. Warning! You may want to join the Mother’s Against Cardboard Club too!! Don’t make Rookie Mistakes!! Here are my 14 Top Picks from this year’s Toy Guide! With shipping a little wonky this year, I thought it would be fun to start early wishlists! Lego Pickup Truck! I LOVE all things Melissa and Doug, but this ice cream scoop and serve is adorable! Balancing blocks are a GREAT hand eye coordination builder! PIZZA is Love! I say that every single Friday, because it’s a family tradition in our home. This wooden pizza kitchen and restaurant play set makes me want to harass my married son for grandkids!! Classic Sit and Spin! This toy saved me when my very active sons were little. They would spin their hearts out while I worked with an older brother during school. A fun cozy INSTANT a reading spot. Just add something fluffy, some books, and a cute kid. Wooden Teaching Clock! Homeschooler refuse to raise kids who can’t read an analogue clock! I don’t care that it’s frivolous. My family is obsessed with baby Yoda (his name is Grogu). Lego kits for older kids, like my husband are called Technic. Very detailed and amazingly challenging. My husband will be getting the JEEP for Christmas from the boys. Shhh. BEST throwback toy ever! Super Spirograph is still mesmerizing. 5 in one knitting station. This is such a fun craft. All five of my sons have used them to make beanie hats. Our youngest son can crank out beanies in abou an hour! Settlers of Catan is a family favorite in our home.so much fun! Good Ole Trike! This one is a MUSThave for gross motor development! Our backyard was always filled with fun toys! But I have to say I’m drooling over that glamping set! LOL. My husband and boys are all hammock lovers. Get Your Cardboard Box Challenge Kit Here!! Get Your free kit here!
7 Pre-K Thanksgiving Crafts 15 days of Thanksgiving Homeschooling ideas! Free of course! 7 Finger and Hand-painting Thanksgiving Crafts 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+! 20 Thanksgiving Math and Reading Activities Day one: Give ‘Em a Hand So I have been looking for those Easy Crafts that Even Mom … Read More »
Examples of Courage for Students The water was clear as glass. The air was still. PERFECT rowing conditions for our two youngest sons and their rowing crew. Picture this: three double rowing boats, one single boat and a coach in a small safety boat. The rowing crew set to practice on perfect water- four boats rowing in slightly different directions, coach flitting back and forth between each team. Our sons, Sam and Stephen were in one of the double boats and are the strongest on the water this year. Practice was half way complete. The boats were far away from shore and my youngest son got a “sick feeling” in the pit of his stomach. We call it a “check” in our family. Just as he was about to call out to the coach, BOOM!! A direct downward gust of wind slammed the water and turned the glass into a churning pool of disaster. The air went from still to sustained downward blasts over 20 knots. (These boats are unsafe when winds are over 8 knots!) My sons laughed for a split second, and then clicked into protective mode. Their team was in DANGER! It was a mad dash. My sons rowed straight for the typical shoreline, and helped one of the boats to shore. Then one sprinted to the opposite shoreline about 1/4 mile away to help the new crew while the other helped other teammates get the boats out of the water. Coach had her hands full helping the single rower boat because he was bobbing up and down like a cork trying desperately to stay right-sided. As the boys were telling the tale to me later, the hair was standing on the back of my neck. This could have been the day that 2 of my sons drowned! Instead, it was a day of relief and pride. My youngest son ran the 1/4 mile to reach the newbie crew. He raced into the water, grabbed the boat and dragged them to shore. “Everything became about saving the newbie crew” he told me later. After the team was on dry-ish land, their heartbeats settled. My youngest son looked the new crew in the eyes and grinned. When you tell this “near death tale” later, here’s some advice: Tune it down for your momTurn up the excitement for your dadAnd when you tell your friends? FULL drama. Add 10 foot waves and sharks into the story. The story you tell your friends. LOL Homeschooling and teaching in classrooms has little to do with actual academics. Oh, they’re important, the same way car insurance is important. Our kids need to be critical thinkers. They need compassion, mercy, and a healthy dose of courage. Not all of our kids will sprint a 1/4 mile to run into crazy water to save wide-eyed teammates. And that’s not the point either. We need to educate the whole child. We need to focus on a gentle and balanced education for the whole child, including body, mind, and spirit. I am so thankful that my boys’ adventure ended in a way that I can smile and be proud of how they responded.This could have been a very different message.And yet, I want you and I to keep our eye on the ball.Strength, Character, Attitudes, Grit, determination- these are the ingredients we want to add to our child’s lives.And it takes years- decades even.Hug your kids.Celebrate the big and little things that highlight character.You can teach them to divide fractions in an afternoon when they are 14-16.But character?That will take a full focus effort. Tell me more
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Christmas Activities: Build Your Own Christmas Tree Game Christmas is that wonderful time of year that delights our souls, causes us to wonder and distracts the daylights out of our kids. The best way to grab their attention during Christmas and the whole advent season is to improvise. This Christmas Activity is guaranteed to make them smile!! Buy Now Easy to Play …Read More »