Counting By Tens

I was a little frustrated that I couldn't find my 1-100 number chart when I needed it.

I know I had touched it several times earlier in the year when I didn't need it.

I looked in a few obvious places, then gave up.

We made do.

Using a piece of posterboard, I just markered in the first rows of numbers.

As I taught Rebekah how to count by tens, I filled in a few columns.

Then, I had her fill in the rest of the rows.

I was pleasantly surprised that she caught on quickly

and enjoyed being able to use the PERMANENT Magic Marker.

It bothered my type A personality that it wasn't perfectly ordered,

but it worked.  Sometimes my rubber bands are just too tight.

An unorgainzed disappointment turned into a blessing,

because writing out the numbers cemented the concept more quickly

than just reading along with the store-bought chart.

Of course, a few days later  I found the chart in my bedroom,

in a pile that should have been dealt with months ago, 

 so I will use it to reinforce the concept.

Brain Hats

I love to cut and paste.  In college, I would sometimes even proclaim  "Cut and Paste" as my major, instead of Elementary Education.  It was the best part of college, other than reading children's literature.

True to the contrary nature between children and parents, my kids don't always enjoy cutting and pasting.  They want to do their worksheets and get school done.

When I found these brain hats made by Chris at Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers,  who got them from Erin,  who got them from Ellen, I knew this would be a manditory cut and paste project.  I can always use more brains.  It seems I haven't had a rational, complete thought for years.  It seems when you start having babies and start talking baby talk, the brain cells just....uh....uh....umm.....what was I saying?

I showed the rabbit trail I took so you could see the blessings just one blog can lead you to.

There were two options, labeled or self-labeling.

Yep, I chose labeled.

We had to finish quickly or the unfinished projects would be

 accidentally?!?!?!

 shoved under couch cushions,

slipped behind a dresser,

 get kicked under the stove or fridge,

(well, how DOES stuff get under there?)

or eaten by the dog, and we don't even have a dog.

If I only had a brain!

Oh, I guess I do now.

So does Jon.

So does Rebekah.

She's doing math wearing her hat,

so I can see what portion of her brain she is currently using.

See that little yellow area? 

Yea, it's churning out math facts -

if I taped it together correctly and if Beka is wearing it correctly.

The post brain project construction area.

Not too bad.

No paper cuts, no unfinished projects.

Another win for the Cut and Past Momma!

Princess E from the Silent Kingdom

There are times in homeschooling when a  little more instruction and activity than what the curriculum provides is necesary to cement a new concept. I have always made up little games, projects, worksheets, manipulatives and activities, but never kept track of my ideas.  Blogging has provided that storage house for me.

Please let me introduce Princess E from the Silent Kingdom.  She doesn't speak, but she has the ability to change a short vowel sound in a single syllable word into its long vowel sound. 

I bought the clothespins and stands at Michaels and my son, Jon, drilled small arm holes in them for me so they would be ready to create. Rebekah did the painting, the face creating and most of the gluing.  She used chenille stems (we used to call them pipe cleaners) for arms, yarn for hair, a remnant with princess fluff on the bottom for the royal robe.  Princess had a crown, but it fell off and the vacuum ate it.

We made our own flashcards to show how hat turns to hate, fat to fate, tap to tape, win to wine.  I purchase these great plastic index card boxes at the beginning of the year when they are very cheap and keep them in a supply box until I need them for an activity.  Rebekah decorated the box with princess stickers.

Princess E regalty presides over the desk when we are going through the flashcards so we remember her special ability.

The original idea came from these vintage cards I found years ago.  Of course, I couldn't find them at the time, so I made  my own set.

I added and "ed" and "ing" card for later suffix lessons.  You can see more clearly how the root word is written on the card and the  "e" is written on the folded end.

You may feel you don't have time to do anything above and beyond your core curriculum, but sometimes it may take a day or two of worksheets for a new concept to kick in, so a project can relieve the pressure your child may feel while trying to master the skill.  The project doesn't have to be fancy, it doesn't even have to be something you keep for all the kids.   Creating releases the frustration your child may feel.   By the time we were done creating and were reviewing, it made sense to Rebekah. Now, a casual glance at  Princess E reigning from the bookshelf is all it takes to review this phonics skill in her mind.

It's All Worth While

Homeschooling is a hard path. I can't gloss over the reality.  Buying books and supplies for an entire year is a challenge.  Keeping up with each subject for each kid is more challenging.  Recording grades and filing proof takes diligence and organization.  Being kind and patient as you repeat the same instructions over and over and over is challenging.  Breaking up another fight when the kids have lost their cool without losing yours is more challenging.

When homeschooling is added to a life that already includes three meals and two loads of laundry a day, the task can only be tackled with Undaunted Courage.

But, every day, there is always that little reminder,

that little reward,

that little encouragement...

....that reminds you that it is all worth while...

(a love note on top of the pile of work that needs to be corrected)

School on a "Raft"

One morning, Rebekah decided to do her school on a "raft." In case your family doesn't play this incredibly fun game I used to play with my siblings, the rules are as follows:

1. Make a raft. Usually it is a blanket on the floor.

2. Collect your supplies. You must be well-prepared. This includes snacks...

...sleeping babies.....

....schoolbooks and tea. (in the background.)

3. Stay on the raft. You may not leave the raft once you shove off into the salty ocean waters because there are sharks in the ocean.

It was a good thing we weren't far from shore, yet. Rebekah had to retrieve my forgotten coffee cup so had to jump from the "dock" to the "raft" so she wouldn't get eaten by sharks.

(This is the trump card that the adult holds and the kids don't understand until they are adults. Yes, they are playing a fun, creative game, but they are STAYING IN ONE PLACE. :) Get it?
It can make a mess, so I remind the kids that supplies are limited and you have to live primatively on a raft. We are into survival, not luxery.)

Jon, after courageously braving a shark attack to stoke the fire, decided to stay in the murky waters, despite Beka's urgent warnings.

AAWWWWWWGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!! Bitten by a shark.

He'll have to learn to listen to a woman.

File Folder Games

Every year, I have added a few more games to my File Folder Games box. Of course, with no toddlers eating my markers, drooling all over my papers and stealing my scissors to cut their own hair, it is much easier to cut, color and paste in peace.

Self-checking file folder games are great for filling in those quiet moments when you are teaching one child and another is ever-so-patiently waiting for your attention. They are a fun way to emphasize a new skill you are introducing.

Early on I could never afford the colored folders. When buying colored folder, make sure there isn't printing on the inside. My early games were also very simple, but the kids enjoyed them, anyway.

This summer, this was my book of choice.

ISBN # 0-590-96380-5 Phonics Quick and Easy Learning Games by Wiley Blevins, published by Scholastic.

It isn't a file folder game book, but all the games were easily adapted for this format. The games reinforce beginning consonants, short vowels, consonant blends, long vowels, digraphs, rhyming words, r-controlled vowels and more.

Unlike all my other file folder games, these games are for the parent to play with their kids. Since I only have one in elementary school, this will work for me this year.

I made copies of each of the games and put the pages in their own file folders. I bought a plastic accordian folder at Target for $1. I also stocked a pencil case with with colored pencils, markers, scissors, and glue sticks and put both items in a tote bag. Every time I was going to be in the car longer than a half an hour, I carried the bag with me and worked on my projects. As I was working, I used post-it notes to mark what still needed to be done with each game.

The book has a pattern for a die you are to make, but I knew that would last about one minute, so I opted for these paper spinners from a dollar store. I used little stickers to adapt each spinner for the options needed for each game.

Office Max had free laminating for teachers last year, so I was in for about three weeks in a row with games and manipulatives I had been coloring for a few years in preparation for teaching first grade. This year, they offered 50% off, so I was thankful for that.

If I don't want to laminate, I use peel and stick laminating sheets from Avery. It is much clearer than clear contact paper, doesn't bubble, but it more expensive and harder to find. When I tried to buy it this year at Wal-Mart, the kid sent me back to the fabric store where the rolls of clear vinyl were. When I tried to buy them at Fred Meyer, I ran into a pleasant clerk that hadn't learned the English term, "laminating" yet, but was eager to help me. I knew there would be NO WAY I would be able to describe what I needed, so I hunted myself, but didn't find them. These are my final sheets from last summer's cutting and pasting.

I glue the instructions on the outside of the folder and glue the game boards on the inside.

While putting these away, I found a few I didn't finish from last year. There's ALWAYS something for a homeschooling mommy to do, isn't there?

Check out:

Enchanted Learning

Childcareland You also can sign up to receive daily emails with worksheets, craft ideas and video instructions for projects. My favorite site for pre-school and kindergarden.

Homeschool Hutt

Preschool Printables I made some of these years ago. Very fun!

Hope this inspires you to create fun learning activities for your homeschool.

ABC Jars - Part 2

These are the additions I've developed for the ABC Jar Project.

I made an extra set of vowels, "blanks" and a question mark.

You can make them find the missing vowel in the middle of small words,

or you could leave off either the beginning or the ending consonant.

I began collecting mini things to begin sorting when school begins this week.

I raided the Barbie accessories, the bathroom, my sewing cabinet and the junk drawer.

Have fun crafting!