Crayons, crayons, everywhere!

The home we live in  does not have a school room,

just a large open L-shaped room that serves as living room,

dining room, sewing room, library, school room

 and occasionally a bedroom.

When you add my sewing cabinet

and all the STUFF you need to homeschool

the room can get crowded and unattractive.

My first passion was to organize the supplies we use every day.

We tried school boxes for each kid,

but they never held all the supplies they each needed.

Each kid had their own crayons.

Then, we had a huge box of community crayons.

We had crayons with the coloring books.

It seemed easier to keep most items in a community stash.

I had my heart set on an old, wooden portion of

a library card catalogue,

until I saw the prices.

I The Lord found something that worked even better.

I say the Lord because when I found this piece of furniture,

it was an answer to prayer.

Everytime I look at this piece, I am thankful for His provision.

Each drawer holds only one type of item.

One drawer holds all my glues.

Another holds all the tapes.

Other items assigned a drawer are

scissors, edging scissors, paints, rubber stamps,

skinny markers, fat markers, coloring crayons, flashcards,

pens and pencils and dry erase markers.

When we need colored pencils,

we just put that drawer on the table.

The dresser gets a lot of wear and tear,

but since shabby chic is in style,

I don't mind the paint wearing off the edges.

In 11 years, when I am done homeschooling,

I am pretty sure I can come up with a few other uses

for this amazing piece of furniture.

But for now,

the crayons aren't everywhere,

they're in one of the little black drawers.

 

And I have a great reminder from

Jehovah Jireh, My Provider,

who provided something more important

than a place to keep my crayons.

 

He provided salvation for my soul

through His Son, the Lord Jesus.

Unblocking Roadblocks

In Beka's second grade math curriculum,

she was learning measurement.

Along with memorizing the facts of measurement,

she was introduced to the standard 12 inch ruler

and a yardstick.

There were a few questions asking if  she should

use a ruler or a yardstick to measure an item.

She was confused,

then got a little frustrated.

Over the years I have learned,

when a kid is frustrated,

repeating the instructions LOUDER

or with more FRUSTRATION

doesn't help.

I won't tell you how many years it took to learn that,

it is a span that just can't be measured.

When there is a roadblock to learning,

we need to remove it, not pile on top of the roadblock

with our frustration or impatience.

Sometimes, I just put the worksheet aside

and work on something else for awhile.

Other times, I like to find a new way to approach the matter.

I like to SEE things,

Beka likes to TOUCH things,

so we created a new way to learn the concept.

A ruler and a yardstick were found,

a chart was made,

and fun ensued.

After less than five minutes of measuring with a ruler and a yardstick,

the concept was mastered.

Best of all,

we unblocked the roadblock,

and the joy of learning raced on.

Quick File Folder Game

File folder games are a quick and easy way
to reinforce a concept.
If an answer key is provided for self-correcting,
the student  can use the games alone
for quiet learning time.

Yes, I said quiet.
It happens once in awhile.

Sometimes a simple workbook page

can easily become a file folder game.

Watch for concepts that your child may need extra work to master,
or concepts your other kids will need to reinforce, as well.

This day we were learning which consonants are doubled at the end of word.

This is a page from a very old Bob Jones Spelling Grade 2 workbook,
first used by my married daughter, Jana.

We copied the pages for years,
or had the kids write their answers on paper.

Beka is the only child who gets to write in the book.

 For some reason, writing in a workbook
 is a big, big deal to my homeschooled children,
whose mother is very stingy thrifty.

My alpha and omega,

my first and my last child,

enjoying the moment

of a book that is older than half my children.

To make the file folder game,
I started by making two copies of the worksheet,

one on regular paper, one on cardstock.

I always print on fast draft to save ink.

I cut out the images from the paper copy and glued them down.

I used self adhesive laminating sheets to cover the pictures. 

 It makes the game last longer and makes it washable.

Yea, you know it,

even file folder games might get kid snarf on them.

A little bit of peanut butter or jelly,

a dribble of milk,

or a booger.

OK, there might be momma goobies on them, too,

like coffee dribbles or a crumble of chocolate that dropped while

you were frantically shoving candy into your mouth before the kids caught you.

Sometimes, mommies don't like to share.

Sometimes, mommies don't have to share.

Chocolate, that is.

Back to the game that we are making washable -

The apples on the cardstock were laminated on both sides

and carefully cut out.

Little pieces of velcro were glued...

...onto the game board

...and onto the little apple pieces.

A simple game to reinforce a concept.

The smaller pieces are kept in a small resealable bag or an envelope

and stored inside the file folder.

The game is stored in my file folder box of games

 and will be played a few more times a year.

Games break the monotony of book/workbook learning,

and they can be used interactively between student and teacher,

or individually by the student.

Years ago, my husband and I noticed that almost ALL kids are excited to start school.

Somehow, that joy of learning is lost, and kids, in all learning environments,

begin to dislike school and learning.

After homeschooling 17 years,

I learned that sometimes Mommies lose their joy of teaching.

What do you do in your home to stimulate that joy of learning and teaching?

Even if you public or private school,

I know you are putting in a lot of teaching hours with homework.

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Science Shelf

It's that time of year. 

School has started,

the winter rains will soon be a guest who always overstays his welcome,

and we'll be inside a lot.

We like to get in a few nature walks before umbrella season.

I don't have a book, I don't have a curriculum,

I don't have a Science journal. 

I feel pretty good about just getting outside

with two shoes that are the same

and a child whose face is wearing less than half their lunch.

Last Spring I found a shelf with a lot of neat compartments.

I put it on the fireplace mantle - empty.

I added some Scrabble letters to label the shelf.

It sat and waited and waited and waited.

When it probably gave up hope of ever being something useful again,

we went for a walk.

A tisket, a tasket, a rainbow-striped basket.

We were looking for mostly seeds,

discussing how each plant 

 gives off seed to produce more  plants the next season.

Some seeds were good to eat.

They didn't make it home to the shelf.

While she was picking blackberries,

I was enthralled with the rotting, mossy fence.

What a great plan - all plants can replant themselves.

^{Genesis 1:11}

Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass,

the herb that yields seed,

and the fruit tree that yields fruit

according to its kind,

whose seed is in itself, on the earth”;

and it was so.

The ol' timers in Minnesota said you can always predict winter's ferocity,

according to the mulberry bushes.

Lotsa' mulberries, lotsa snow.

Not many mulberries.

Lookin' like a mild winter in the PNW,

if this is a mulberry, that is.

You got to stop and smell the roses

You've got to count your many blessings everyday...

Each square holds a treasure.

The accent on the left is a present from Beka.

She was hiking in the mountains of Montana,

and fold this old steel can.

How well she understands her Mom's obscure taste.

As the sun shines and allows time outside,

we continue to add treasures to our shelf.

Every seed shows the wisdom of the Lord

in replenishing the earth.

Each of us that know Christ as our Savior,

carry the seed of the Word within us -

seed that can be spread and grown into new believers.

May we be as proliferate as dandelions,

the plant that is determined to take over the world.

Building Tens Family With Duplos

In first grade math, Rebekah had to add a column

of three numbers for the first time.

One of the tricks they taught

was to find  combinations of ten first.

We call these facts

The Tens Family.

Every member of this family has to = 10.

 
 

 

 First, I had Rebekah make stacks of Duplos,

from 1 to 10,  in two colors.

 

 While she was busy placing the stacks

neatly on my Quilting Mate,

I made a simple worksheet using Word.

 

Next, I had her fill in the worksheet,

combining the stacks of Duplos,

to find the answers.

From Left to Right

10 + 0 = 10

1 + 9 = 10

2 + 8 = 10

up to

10 + 0 = 10

I love how the Duplos clearly show the members

of the Tens Family,

and the beautiful patterning of numbers. 

They are bright, easy to use,

and make Math class feel like play time.

You could also use Legos,

if you don't have crawlers around,

who would feast on your manipulatives.

Next, I had her match up problems with the same addends.

(The numbers you add together are the addends.

The answer is the sum.)

This is the Commutative Property for Addition.

Remember that from Algebra?

a + b = b + a

so

1 + 9 = 9 + 1

2 + 8 = 8 + 2

For each math fact they memorize,

because of the Commutative Property,

they usually are learning two problems.

The exception?

You're right.

The doubles.

In this case, 5 + 5.

I use the term Commutative in first grade. 

Kids love big words.

If they can't remember the word, fine.

But, they can still understand the concept.

I tell my kids the smarter they are,

the less math they have to learn.

By using the Commutative property,

they only have to learn 6 problems

in the Tens Family, instead of 11.

Again, the Duplos clearly show the beautiful patterning

of the Commutative Property.

Scroll back up and admire the picture.

This is one of the reasons I love math!

You so easily see we have a God of order.

 We finished off the math lesson by easily tackling the math worksheet.

You can see where she swooped the numbers together,

to first make ten,

then add the third number.

(The other swoops were for doubles.)

I was so excited about this lesson,

especially since it is the end of the year,

and I am really, really, ready to quit.

 Beka later said,

"Math took a little longer than normal, Mom,

because you really got carried away."

To soften the blow, she added,

"But that's OK, Mom, because I like Math,

especially when you get to play with Duplos."

SCORE!

Heart Flashcards

At the beginning of the year, I wanted to make triangle flashcards for Rebekah.

I just used index cards, my paper cutter and a Sharpie.

Simple, easy, kinda ugly.

But, they worked.

Introducing math facts in this form shows the relationship between the numbers.

You can make two addition facts and two subtraction facts.

3+6=9

6+3=9

I introduce addition using the algebraic term "Commutative Property."

Remember a+b=b+a from 9th grade Algebra class?

It doesn't matter what order you add the numbers in addition,

the answer is the same.

If they remember the term, you're eight years ahead. 

If they don't, no biggie.

9-6=3

9-3=6

They can say the facts out loud, or write them down.

You can hold the cards up, covering one corner and ask them to fill in the missing number.

You can have them sort through all the cards and find all the other cards in the 9's Family -

5+4, 7+2, 9+0, 1+8

Then, the inspiration bug bit me.

I love hearts.

They're like a triangle.

I think children learn better when color and touching are involved.

I like to cut and paste.

That was my major, didja' know?

The larger heart is aobut 1 3/4 inches across.

The smaller one is 1 inch across.

I poked a hole through the hearts, pushed in a heart brad.

Used my sharpie to fill in the numbers.

You don't see the answer....

...now you do.

You can write neater.

I have had to give up my perfectionist ways for reality.

If I am a perfectionist, they won't get done.

Then we can't use them.

Then Beka ain't gunna get smarter.

Beka at the IKEA easle writing four math facts for the flashcard.

I found an adorable heart tin at the thrift store for $.99.

Life is good.

I wish I could promise you that she LOVES to use them,

but I am always real and honest.

They are prettier,

they are funner, (it's a word today)

and I had a blast making them.

She doesn't love using them,
 because she doesn't love math.

But, I'm doing what I can to make the journey more pleasant.

Maybe, with a few more bites from the inspiration bug,

she may learn to love math.

It's a goal I am shooting for.

Until then, I'm happy trying to find ways to
cut and paste those facts into her brain.

Any ideas for improving? 
For other skills you can teach with the hearts?
I'd love to hear your ideas.


(For other inspirational ideas from homeschooling mommies,
pop over to the blog carnival at Preschool Corner.)

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.