Saturday School: Games for Homeschool

Ok, so it has been a long while since I have added to this blog.  But, I hope to get back into updating it regularly.  So here we go...

Whether you homeschool or not, the information I am sharing today is wonderful for helping kids have fun while practicing the things they learn.

On the website http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/, there are many wonderful free games!  Games for math, science, history, and more.  These are games that are played while connected to the internet, they are single player games.

I highly recommend this website and the games on it to anyone wanting to have a fun review or practice session.  Some favorites:  Monkey Drive (math), Math Man, Fruit Splat (math), Food Chain Game, USA and World games (geography), and Comma Chameleon (punctuation).  There are so many more that are awesome too, and many that we haven't played yet, but look forward to playing soon.  :)

Have fun reviewing and practicing!  Awesome games!

Wednesday Why: Homeschool Resources

Wednesday Why:  What are some of the materials and resources I use or have used for homeschool?

First off when deciding to homeschool a family will find out that there is a ton of possible resources to use for teaching pretty much any subject.  Whether you want traditional books or online lessons and resources, there is an amazing amount to have to sift through to determine what works for you.  I highly suggest reading reviews both the positive and the negative to find if a resource will work for you, but even with the reviews, you won’t really know until you try it.  So, trial and error is really what every homeschooling family goes through to find what works best for them.  And because of that, for the sake of the budget, you will want to personally look through and review as much as the material that you are considering using if at all possible.  And it is possible, at least to a degree, by using library materials, or free online material (whether online websites or sellers that show some of the inside pages so you can get an idea if you would like it or not), or by asking around from friends, family or homeschooling associations.  For buying, I find that amazon and rainbow resource center are often the cheapest--at least if buying new.

So what are some specific materials and resources I have used or use?

Phonics Pathways:  If you need written-out lesson plans for teaching reading, this isn’t for you.  This book has simple but effective lessons, with ideas on how to enrich them and use them.

Spelling Workout:  Each lesson has a spelling list and then 4 or 5 activities that will test not just the spelling of the words, but also the meaning and usage of the word.

Saxon Math:  If you need lessons that are very precise, including what to say, Saxon math will help you in teaching math.  If you don’t like having a scripted lesson, Singapore Math or another math program may be better for you. *I only used K and 1 before deciding to not use them any more and use Singapore & Ray’s instead.

Singapore Math:  These lessons are not scripted, so you will need to be able to look at what the lesson is presenting and script your own lesson out of it.

Ray’s Arithmetic:  You will need to make your own lessons out of the material being presented.  Due to the its age, some of the wording as well as tables of weights and measures, etc. are dated.

Spectrum Science:  Contains brief reading sections and vocabulary, and questions to test knowledge and understanding of the reading and vocabulary.  Doesn’t have a lot of fluff, experiments and so forth involved, including pictures.  If you want a science book with photos, pictures, and prescribed experiments to do this isn’t for you.

Power Basics World History, United States History:  Like Spectrum Science, there aren’t photos or many illustrations, and the lessons contain vocabulary lists and readings to understand major points in history with small quizzes within each lesson and tests to cover a series of lessons.  Made for older grades, but can be watered-down to be used for younger grades by the teacher reviewing the lessons and simply teaching the main points they want to highlight.

These are just some examples of what I have used or am using and my thoughts on them.

Thrifty Thursday: Grocery Shopping with Kids Tips

Today I want to share ideas on how to still get the best deal when shopping with kids.  I say get the best deal and not just how to shop with kids because sometimes when shopping with antsy kids we too can get antsy and do more of a grab and go shopping trip and thus forget something or not get the best deals because we just grab not taking time to see if it is the lowest price per unit.

The first tip, whether shopping with kids or not, is to go with a list.  If possible, be as specific as possible--listing brands, prices, how much to get.  Example:  Kroger brand frozen corn .88/each (5).  The 5 in () indicates to get 5 packages of corn.  Why is this helpful?  Well, it allows you to do a quick shopping trip, but also if someone else in the family ends up being the one to do the shopping they know exactly what you were expecting/wanting.  Another thing that is helpful about being specific is you can know before hand what your total should be, and you have a ready made inventory of the items you are getting.  If you have older kids, have them help make the shopping list and be a part of budgeting the money for groceries.

Now on to specific things that might help when shopping with kids.

Give them a picture shopping list.  This gets them involved.  You can even make it a race to see who sees the items on their list first (give each kid a separate list if needed to keep contention at bay).  Here is an example using pictures of items in the sales flyer for Kroger this week (including the 3 day sale):

This type of shopping list can also be made into a bingo type game by rearranging the items for each kid, and then as items are added to the cart they can mark it off on their bingo card.  For little kids I would suggest connecting the crayon/pencil to the list.  Making a picture list:  If you get printed flyers, you can cut out the pictures of the things you want the kids to be in charge of; if you don't get printed flyers, you can copy and paste from online flyers and then print it out.

Another option for kids who can read is to scramble the items on your list or make other word games (crossword puzzles, wordsearches, etc)  See if they can beat you--you get the items while they figure out the word puzzles.  Or if they solve them in the car, then they can help get the items while in the store.  Or make their list of the snacky/treat items that can only be gotten if they figure out the word puzzles.  Here is an example:

(the answers are the same as the picture shopping list but with one more item added:  bread)

And if you are learning/teaching other languages, here is an example of a puzzle shopping list using ASL hand letters (answer key is first then the ASL shopping list).  This can also simply be used if you are learning/teaching ASL and they can practice the letters while you shop.

And a Spanish match shopping list:

Other games that can be played:  have your kids quiz you by asking you to figure out the cost per unit and which is cheaper, or how much something is when given only a % off, etc.; play the ABC or 123 game where you have to get the next letter or number before the other does (like the license plate game), see who can get to Z first or to 100.  Use terms/phrases in any foreign language that is being learned/taught.

Maps:  give or have the kids draw a map of the store and have them guide you to where you need to go.   Also, they can do this for the town--just be aware they may be telling you at every stop to turn or go straight...  But it is fun.

I hope these ideas are helpful in making shopping a better and funner experience for all.  Besides these hands on tips, it is very helpful to do the shopping when no one is hungry or tired.


NOTE 1:  The food images, as mentioned, are from the Kroger sales flyer for this week.  Here are the actual sale prices for these items:
Kroger bottled water 2.99; Kroger apple juice:  1.58; Kroger milk 3.69; Kroger cheese 1.99, 8 lb oranges 5.99; 8 lb russet potatoes 2.49;  Fuji or Braeburn apples 1.69/lb; Kroger frozen veggies .88; 1 dozen roses 18.99

NOTE 2: The ASL hand images are one of the fonts found on Fonts4Teachers by Educational Insights (ISBN: 1-56767-555-7).

First Aid Friday: Child-friendly Exercises

Part of being self-reliant is taking care of our health.  Below are some fun ideas for getting kids and ourselves to move and exercise:

Play at the park, in the snow, at the beach...  Play sports.  Jump rope, hoola hoop.  Hike.  Bike.  Play monster--chase each other around while the monster eats (tickles) the ones caught.  Play tag--freeze tag, buddy tag, etc.  Play leap frog.  Play in the sprinkler.  Jump on a trampoline.

Run/walk relay races; make them fun by imitating animal movements:  walk like a lion, leap like a frog, crawl like an inchworm, waddle like a duck, stroll like a giraffe, walk like a dog with only 3 legs, hop like a kangaroo, flap like a bird, do the funky chicken, snap like an alligator, sideways walk like a crab.  Imitate other things:  dig like a giant excavator, push like a bulldozer, swing like a wrecking ball, bounce like a jack-hammer...  Walk with a book on your head, an egg on a spoon or on your foot.

Make exercise routines that include what the kids are learning--Have the kids count, dictate/recite the ABC's, poems, etc while doing reps--jumping on a trampoline, lifting weights, doing sit-ups/crunches/push-ups, while jump roping, etc.

When cleaning:  imitate being "the claw" (like on Disney's Toy Story).  Imitate being bulldozers and excavators.  Have a race--who can pick up and put away 10 things first (let the kids win with great drama in favor of the kid, indicating that your sure you'll win next time...); do Karate Kid--wipe on/wipe off; wax on/wax off imitations.  Play I-spy:  spy a color of an item needing to be put away and then race to put everything that is that color away until get the right object, taking turns choosing.

Help a neighbor--yard or housework, some reason helping others with this kind of work is always better than having to clean your own mess!  and the kids enjoy helping, usually.

Tin-can Stilts:  Get 2 cans of the same size and tape any sharp edges.  Using a nail, punch a hole on both sides of the side of the can near the bottom.  Cut 2 long pieces of yarn and run it through the holes, tie a not to make connect the yarn into a continuous string.  Turn the cans upside down and walk while standing on the cans and holding onto the yarn handles.

Hope these are some fun and new ideas for having fun and getting more exercise and movement into our days.  Exercise doesn't have to be the worst part of the day.  Just remember to do it at your own pace, remember you should be able to hold a conversation even while running, if you are too out of breath to talk, you are pushing yourself too hard.  Keep yourself hydrated, and warm up and cool down to allow your muscles & body time to adjust to vigorous exercise.  It is my belief that when we are taking care of our bodies, when we do get sick, we are able to recover better than if we aren't taking care of our bodies; besides that we will get sick less when we are taking care of our health.

Wednesday Why: Deciding to Homeschool

To homeschool or not to homeschool, that’s a good question.  I periodically get asked why I homeschool.

*please see note below

I found the above cartoon a little while ago when I was browsing pinterest.  I think it is pretty funny, as well as accurate for some of the many reasons it presents for homeschooling.  So if I had to list out reasons as to why I homeschool, I think most, if not all, of these would be on my list as well as one of the reasons I like to homeschool:  I can really tailor the lessons and speed to each of my kids, they are individuals and so to have the best teaching and learning experience, they need individualized lessons.  

But, I’ll admit one of the biggest reasons why my family decided to homeschool is based on one very scary statistic we heard a few years ago--the average age a person (child) is exposed to pornography is 7 years old--and guess where most of the exposure came from?  Internet and school!!!  I learned this information through a person giving a lesson at church and don’t have a source, but even hearing it could be so is terrifying!--enough to make it worth the hard work and occasional headaches to homeschool and to invest in a good internet filter.  Note:  doing a quick search on google to see if I could find a source for the above statistic, many of the stats right now say the average age children are exposed to internet pornography is 11 years old, where some of the pornography was intentionally sought out, other was unwanted/accidental, but it did mention it often happened while a child was on the internet doing schoolwork.

Every family has different circumstances that would encourage them to choose to homeschool or not.  

Some possible benefits and disadvantages of homeschooling that will probably sway a family towards or against homeschooling:

1. You get to spend more time with your kids- & lots of it, no longer are they away during the day, so appointments, shopping, cleaning, etc. will need to be scheduled with them in tow or around another time when someone else can care for younger children.
2. You control/decide on the schedule, the lessons and topics, etc.
3. Focused teaching and learning--one on one, allowing for advancement in strengths, or extra time for weak spots.
4. More control over what is taught, when it is taught and how it is taught; able to answer questions along the way.
5. As the parent you choose the curriculum (some states have requirements as to specific subjects, but you still get to choose the curriculum to teach those subjects).  There is a massive variety of curriculum available, so you will need to think about what style and methods you want to use and then match curriculum to your these and your goals.
6. Will probably be asked why choose to homeschool, just be prepared for nay-sayers, don’t need to defend right to choose, be calm and kind in your response.
7. Learning happens on both the parent as well as the child side.  As does patience, hopefully.
8. Homeschooling usually has more costs associated with having to have school supplies, curriculum, etc. at home.  (there are ways to lessen these costs)
9. As a parent, you will have to be positive and encouraging, even on bad-hair days, got out of the wrong side of the bed days, Mondays and any other day/time you aren’t feeling perky and excited to share time and patience.
10. You will need to learn to budget not only money but time.
11. Each state has different laws that allow for homeschooling, some require more, others less; you will need to be aware of these laws so you don’t bring unnecessary headaches upon your family.

So...Which is better?

I have a friend in south Florida who once put it this way:  How do you get to Orlando?  Coming from south FL, you can take 95 or the turnpike, both get you there, the difference is time and cost.  By choosing to take 95, you cut down on some costs, but add on some time, whereas taking the turnpike you add on costs, but cut down on time.  Neither is necessarily better than the other, as they both get you there, it depends on what you want to save--time or money.  Her other question, what is better--red or yellow?  Again, it all depends, what are the colors going to be used for--painting a wall, a piece of clothing, frosting on a cake, etc?  Neither is better or worse than the other, they simply have different uses for different situations and such.  

The same is true for homeschooling.  I, like my friend, don’t view it as a better or worse choice when compared to public schools (except perhaps in specific circumstances), it is simply a choice in situations and desires.  I do homeschool, but not because I think the public schools are a bad choice, but simply because I have the choice (and responsibility) to teach my children and desire to be the one to teach them.  Of course there are some things they would get at public schools that they don’t/wouldn’t get at home, both good and bad.  I prefer to filter what they are presented and how, and so far it has worked out pretty good.

I hope this helps provide some things to think about when deciding to homeschool or not.  Once the decision is made, there will be other questions like:  what curriculum to use, how to schedule the days and weeks, etc., what to do if have younger children at home, what about homeschool associations, keeping records, and more.  Perhaps in future posts I will address these, but for this post I wanted to focus more on some of the whys of homeschooling.  Many of my friends that have homeschooled have also had times when they didn’t, and the kids went to public schools.  I think their kids turned out ok either way--they still learned what they needed to for college and life.  And asking the kids of their experiences after the fact-- they were glad they got the choice, and most of them really enjoyed being homeschooled at least some of the time growing up.

For some other thoughtful and funny advantages of homeschooling see:  http://heartofwisdom.com/blog/top-20-advantages-to-homeschooling/

*please note:  I have not visited or tried the website mentioned on the above cartoon.