Book It!

If you have not heard of the Book It program...it's time for you to hear.

Book It is a program that works with Pizza Hut to offer reading incentives to children in kindergarten through sixth grade. Although Book It is only offered through participating schools, home educators may also enroll their children ages 5 through 12 into the program.

You can learn more about the Book It program here...or follow this link to enroll as a home school. The deadline for enrollment is September 1st.

A is for...

Today my 3-year-old and I played with our ABC cards. She identified each letter and then we practiced saying the sounds each letter makes. I was really surprised by how many she already knew! [Big brother has been teaching her lots of letter sounds lately.]

I asked her to think of words that begin with each letter as we went through them.  My son wanted to play too, so I asked him to write down the words she thought of.

Here is the list she came up with.

A is for Am and Andy

B is for Band

C is for Can't

D is for Dad

E is for Ear

F is for Frog

G is for Grape

H is for Heather

I is for Inch

J is for Jam

K is for Kitten

L is for Lamb

M is for Man

N is for Net

O is for On and Octopus

P is for Peeing [she's been wearing "big girl undies" and using the potty...it's exciting around here]

Q is for Queen [brother helped her out with this one]

R is for Rachel

S is for Sand

T is for Teeth and Tooth [again, brother was giving hints]

U is for Ummm [you know...as in, "ummmm, Mom, can I have a snack....ummmm, Mom, brother is being mean...ummmm, Mom, I peed in my pants a little" It is a legit word for a 3-year-old, right?]

V is for Van

W is for Whine [that goes along with "Ummm"]

X is for eXercise and X-ray [brother helped with X-ray]

Y is for Yam

Z is for Zipper

A New Adventure...

I mentioned that this project I did with my daughter gave me an idea.

Here it is:

I started out creating a few worksheets for my kids...and ended up opening an Etsy shop!

I call my little project: Snappy Printables.

I have only listed a few PDF sets, but I'm working on others and hope to add them soon.

You can read a bit about the concept and vision I have for this little endeavor on the "About Us" section of the Snappy Printables blog.

I am offering 3 sets of printable files in a giveaway, if any readers are interested. You can enter here.
Update: this giveaway has closed.

I'd also like to offer Home Education Journal readers 20% off everything in my shop during the month of April. Just enter the code: FRIENDSAPR11 when you make a purchase.

My kids love these. I hope yours will too!

Aside from working on this exciting adventure, we have been planting a garden [not like the one in January...a REAL garden], watching volcanoes explode and celebrating a very special birthday. I will share more soon!

Playing with Letters

A few days ago, my daughter and I played with letters.

My mom gave me a set of laminated pages, with large upper case letters on them.
I rolled out pink play dough into long, rounded strips.

We began our lesson by identifying the letters. If she was unsure about a letter, I told her its name and then asked her "What letter is this?" We repeated the process until she could correctly identify the letter.

Then I asked my three-year-old to trace each letter with her finger, carefully guiding her to trace each line in the same way she would write the letter. [For example: an L would be traced from top to bottom, then from left to right.]

Next, she arranged the play dough strips to form each letter. Her favorite part of this was using a play tool to cut the extra length off the ends of the strips.

Afterward, I would ask her again to identify the letter she had copied. "What letter did you make?" And finally, I congratulated her on her accomplishment, "Good job! You made the letter ____!"

This was a fun learning activity - and it gave me an idea. I really liked the concept of the pages; however there were a few things I disliked about them. I also had some ideas of how to make the pages a little more functional...so I have begun making my own. The kids and I are pretty excited about them and I hope to be finished soon so I can share them with you too!

In the meantime, if you do not have a similar set of protected pages, you could try reusing a clear plastic lid. Cut the edges off of the lid. Draw or print the alphabet on plain sheets of paper. Then place your clear lid over the letter you would like to teach your child about. Or maybe tape a sheet of plastic wrap to the table [with blue painter's tape - or another easily removable tape], leaving a space to slide your letter pages underneath. I'm sure you could do this exercise directly on your paper too...I imagine your play dough may stick a bit though. [I haven't tried any of these...they are just ideas. Let me know if you do & how they worked out.]

Following a Recipe

I admit...I am a terrible recipe follower. 

Not because I can't.  I just don't. I always "have" to add just a little something...or cut an ingredient, or tweak a step just a bit. I don't leave well enough alone very often. 

My son has been practicing sequencing lately as part of his reading comprehension.  His last few projects involved reading a recipe and labeling the placement of each step within that recipe.  So his page looked something like this:

Directions for making Peanut Butter Cracker Cookies:

Get out your crackers and peanut butter. Put peanut butter on half of the crackers and then cover with the other half. Melt chocolate. Dip the cracker sandwiches into chocolate with a fork or spoon. Let the chocolate drip from the cracker into the bowl. Cool cookies on wax paper.  Eat the cookies! 

Fill in the blanks with a number to tell the order of each step in the recipe.

______ Dip the crackers in chocolate.

______ Put peanut butter on the crackers.

______ Eat the cookies!

______ Get our your peanut butter.

______ Melt the chocolate.

______ Cool the cookies.


I thought it would be fun to actually MAKE some cookies as part of his assignment...so we did! 

+

=

[Yum!]

And we had lots of fun making them.  He was so excited!  Afterward, he told me it was [and I quote]: "Waaaaay too much fun, Mom.  I forgot I even had a Wii!" [Hahahahaha!  That just cracks me up.]

Of course, I HAD to modify the recipe...but in the spirit of learning to follow directions, we did follow all the steps.  I just added sprinkles on top at the end. :)

Once we had coated all of our cookies, we had some chocolate leftover, so we found a bag of pretzels and dipped them in too!  Yum! 

Here is a link to a recipe for similar cookies.*  You could simplify just about any recipe and do this exercise with your kids...they might even have so much fun they forget all about that Wii, or _________ [you fill in the blank with whatever they love to play with].


*[Since Ritz and most peanut butters contain hydrogenated oils, we found similar "healthier" crackers and peanut butter in the natural food section of our grocery store...and they tasted just as great!]

Clap-ping Par-ty

My son has been learning about syllables. Today, as he was "clapping" out each word, my youngest daughter [9 months] began to clap along with him.  She was so proud of herself...and he was delighted by her participation.  My other daughter chimed in and before anyone realized what was happening, the whole study session seemed to spontaneously erupt into an explosion of joyful clapping, laughter and various noise-making of all kinds.

Who knew syllables could be so much fun!?  :)

Practicing Letter Recognition

Now that my daughter has begun recognizing more of her ABC's, I decided to have her practice "spelling" words. 

I have a set of animal flashcards we look at together.  I ask her what animal is pictured on each card; then ask her to "spell" the word.  She reads the letters to me.  If she doesn't recognize a letter, she will say, "I don't know this one."  Then I tell her, and ask her to look at the letter again while she says its name.  At the end of her "spelling" she repeats the word she just "spelled". 

I do this for a couple reasons. First, when my son spells words I have him say the word, spell the word then say the word again. I want her to be familiar with this process when the time comes for her to spell words too. I also hope that saying and hearing the pattern of sounds the letters make and then studying which letters make those sounds will prepare and teach her as she begins learning her letter sounds. And it gives me an opportunity to listen to how she pronounces words and correct or reaffirm her annunciation. It is critical for her to be able to hear and discern the difference between subtle sounds. I don't emphasize this to her, our focus is on naming the letters, but the other steps are practice and preparation for her, whether she realizes it or not.  

The deck of cards I have is illustrated with bright colored photos and bold letters.  I like it, but I came across this set and think I might like it better.  I don't really like some of the photos they used in the set I have...like the dog on the cover...it's just his head.  It's not a big deal, but I prefer a picture of a whole dog.  Plus, I think these illustrations are pretty.  You can also purchase these in an English/Spanish set.  The same company also sells Picture Word flash cards. 

But you really don't even need flash cards.  You can do the same thing with a simple board book.  Ideally you want to choose a book with only a word or two per page...like this one for example.

It is a DIY first words book.  How fun is THAT?!  I think I want to make one for my girls!  I just found it at Sara's Party Perfect.  I think it's a great idea.

Sara is a graphic designer, illustrator, mom and a former art director for Martha Stewart Baby and Kids magazines.  No wonder she has such great ideas...  You can find out more about her here.

 
ps...I'm just passing on info I found - I'm not gettin' paid to advertise her or anything...

Free Printable Sight Word Flash Cards

My son has been practicing a list of "sight words", words that are used often and should be quickly identified without needing to sound them out.  We have been reading through a list of 50-100 words each day, for a little over a week now.  I decided to make him some flash cards; I thought it might be more fun that way, now that he has become more familiar with the words. 

So far, we've only used the cards to practice reading the words.  I record the time it takes him to go through the stack, and the number of words he was unable to decipher on his own.  I also think they will be great for practicing spelling the words, for practicing sentence structure and word comprehension by using each word in a sentence, or for determining word relationships by grouping and pairing words together.  I have lots of plans for these little cards.

I'm happy to share them with you too!

You can print and make your own set for free!*

*Well, almost free...you will need printer ink, cardstock, a cutting tool, tape or glue, and a little time - but - if you already have those on hand, there is no out of pocket cost for these puppies!

Here's the how to make your own set:

1.  Right click here.  Select "Open in New Window."

2.  Highlight the first document [move your mouse over the bar] and select the "download" button.

3.  Click the blue letters in the orange box, "Click here to start download." 

4.  Choose "save" and save the file to your computer.

You will need to repeat this for all 15 documents.  There are 14 word sheets, which will create 7 pages of 8 flash cards each for a total of 56 flash cards and a template for your flash card box.

[It's a free file server...please excuse all the advertisements...]

Print out the first page on letter size [8 1/2 inches x 11 inches] light to medium weight cardstock paper.  On the opposite side of the same page print out the second page, making sure to insert the paper so the words are printed in the same direction.  [So if you flip the paper horizontally, the words on each side are right side up...]  Repeat these steps for the next set of pages and the next and so on, until all 14 pages have been printed.  [There will be 7 printed pages total once this step is completed.]

Next, cut your flashcards out along the marked lines.  This will produce 8 cards per sheet for a total of 56 flash cards.

Note: don't become impatient and attempt to cut out the cards single-handed while holding a fussy baby in the other...or you might produce some cards that look like this:

 

Ironically, the flash card needing bandaging was marked, "don't" on one side and...

"not" on the other.  I will demonstrate how one might use these flash cards for sentence structuring and word comprehension.  *ahem*  Don't make a mistake like this. -OR- Here, let me show you what not to do.

Alright, once you have all the cards cut out, you can simply group them together with a rubber band, or place them in a plastic bag...OR...if you are ambitious, you can print out the box template and make your own box to store them in. 

It's actually a simple box.  You can even color it in if you like. 

The instructions for the box are on the template page.

So, to review...

your flashcards.

...be stupid like I was.

Make a box to put your fun new cards in.

Then enjoy playing and learning together with your children using your Sight Word Flash Cards...

...me.

Journal of the Home-Educated

Each of my older children has a journal.  My 2 year old mostly just colors in hers...although she pretends to write.  She will even "sound out" words and say various letters as she "writes".  She can make an "O"...so many words end up "oooo".  

My 5 year old has been writing in his since he was 4.  I really find it challenging to read phonetically sometimes.  It's great not only to see him interested in writing, but it's so special to peer into his little heart and mind at a new angle.  I think he is able to express his thoughts with more clarity when he writes than he is verbally.  Sometimes what he writes makes me laugh...sometimes it melts my heart, and occasionally, it causes me to take a step back and take a painfully honest look at myself, and my interaction with him.

Here are a few excerpts from my son's journal:

"I like doing my journal and I like doing my school."

"We used to almost have a baby.  When she popped she was beautiful!"

Our youngest daughter was born several months ago.  He was recalling when I was pregnant with her..."almost have a baby."  And when we talked about the baby being born we would say she was going to "pop out".   I know - it's not incredibly scientific...and unfortunately not too accurate either, I seriously wish they would just "pop" out.  But it's not too far of a stretch...they sorta pop out. 

I love that he calls her beautiful...so sweet!  He also wrote about the baby in another entry, which I didn't post this time.  In that one he calls her "cut" [cute].

"Bouncy balls are fun."

[naturally followed by renderings of bouncy balls: one for each family member and then three more, one each for his most favorite toys]

"I can't stop crying right away."

This is one of those entries that kind of grips me.  It catches me and forces me to think about how I am parenting.  My son is, well, dramatic...and emotional.  I'm not sure if it's his age, life changes that are happening in the family...or just his personality - or maybe something else.  However, it. is. so. painful...for him, for my husband and I...for his siblings. 

He has developed a tendency to respond to situations he dislikes with high pitched crying and screaming.  Recently, we have determined to take a "zero tolerance policy" approach to it.  It's just not ok for him to yell.  Whether it's a loud sad wailing or an angry outburst...he is punished whenever he chooses that behavior.  

While I think this is good, I also realized that sometimes he just needs to be removed from the situation and given time to consider what transpired.  Often I just expect and demand that he stop...right now.  And although I think he is able and must learn to discipline himself in that way...sometimes he needs some space and some time to cry and be sad.  Not to yell and be hysterical - that I won't tolerate...but I need to allow him some space to express his emotions in a healthy way.  It's my job to correct his poor behavior, but also to guide him and show him how to appropriately express his thoughts and emotions, not just to train him to suppress them, although that skill is also important. 

Sometimes we all just need a good cry.  

 

"I wish that Dad could stay home."

"I am good at Mario Brothers and I am good at Toy Story."

[wii games - see previous post...]

"Mom, I love you and sometimes I want to snuggle.  I love you."

[*smile*...*sigh* I mean, really...how precious is that?!]

"[My sister - I've omitted her name] is naughty sometimes.  [She does] not share sometimes."

"Lions are scary.  Alligators are scary.  I don't like bugs in our garden eatin' our food."

"I am happy 'cuz I'm doin' my journal."

And I am also happy he is journaling.  Good job, kiddo!

An ABC Flashcard Party

My 2 year old and I have been studying the alphabet together.  Everyday for the past several weeks, we go through the upper and lower case letters using flashcards.  I picked these up at a yard sale for less than $1.00.  Yay!  These cards, by School Zone, [you can also purchase here at Amazon.com] have colorful images on one side depicting something that begins with the letter shown on the flip side.  We use the "picture" side to identify objects...and I use them to quiz my older son on spelling.  ["Zebra starts with 'z'...Turtle starts with 't'..."]

But while we are studying ABC's, we only use the "letter" side.  I show her the card, and ask her if she knows the letter, [she claims she doesn't] and then I tell her the name of the letter and ask her to look at the letter and say its name.  Then she traces the letter with her finger [I make sure to direct her, so she will begin learning how to properly write the characters.] and tells me the name of the letter again. 

I mentioned before that she is frustrating to teach sometimes, because she often knows the answer, but chooses not to say it.  I KNOW she knows it!  But she will not divulge the answer unless she feels like it.  I'm not sure if it is laziness or lack of confidence - I'm fairly certain it's neither.  She is just determined.  She does things on her time, when SHE is ready...and if she decided she does or doesn't want to do or say something, no amount of coercion or bribery will sway her to act otherwise.

So, for the past several weeks, the only letter she would admit to recognizing has been "O" and "o".  That's it.  Out of 52 cards, she would only identify 2!  Two.  Ugh.  I was becoming discouraged.  Maybe it's just too difficult for her, I thought to myself.  Maybe she's not ready yet.  Maybe I'm an awful instructor...

So, you can imagine my shock when we began our routine of naming the letters on our flashcards this morning and she immediately began identifying all kinds of letters! 

Y...P...x...K...p...O...W...s...y...k...o...S...F...Q...q...- OH. MY. 

We were hi-five-ing  and cheering and laughing and having a little party the whole time!  Her brother was sitting next to her and cheering her on and laughing with delight and telling her how smart she is, then looking to me and asking if I "could even believe how smart she was getting"!  It was FUN!!! 

Jaw-dropping, discouragement-annihilating fun! 
Love those moments!

So, now I can breathe a little easier. I'm not crazy. I know she gets this stuff...she's just independent and determined and she kind of does her own thing. I truly admire that in her...although I often pray for wisdom on how to guide and direct that part of her character into becoming something healthy and useful for her, rather than discourage it - or ignore it and allow it to grow destructive roots in her heart.

Now I'm off to make her a "Good job!" page. My son asked me to make one for him yesterday and after her flashcards this morning he asked if we can make one for her too. We've started putting stickers on the page when he does really well in his academic studies. They are both excited to tell Dad all about it when he gets home today. :)

Magazine Alphabet

My son finished a project today that he has been working on for the last week.  His assignment was to search magazines and choose pictures of items that begin with each letter of the alphabet.  Next he needed to cut each picture out and tape them to his workbook page.  And then he was to write the letter each image begins with next to the pictures. 

His "workbook" is simply a basic spiral lined paper notebook. 

We found a box of them at Walmart several years ago marked 5 cents each - yes, that's right!!!  FIVE cents!  Can't beat that.  So we purchased them all...and have found great uses for them.  For my son's school workbooks I simply labeled each of them. 

We use them for just about everything, Math, Bible, Writing, Journaling - but I think that's a post for another day. 

I thought this project was a great way for him to develop motor skills as he practiced cutting with scissors, to identify images, to sound out and spell words, to gain experience organizing alphabetically, and to practice writing letters.  Plus, it was a way to put a few old magazines to good use! 

I was delighted with his creativity in choosing his pictures, so I thought I'd share with you what he found.

A is for Animals.

B is for Baby.

C is for Crackers.

D is for Dollars.

E is for Eat.

F is for Food.

G is for Grass.

H is for Him.

I is for Ice Cream.

J is for Jack-O-Lantern.

[He didn't know what this picture was, when I told him, he exclaimed, "Hey Mom!  That starts with J!"]

K is for Kid.

L is for Light.

[Because "the lamp is turned on and the brightness is coming out of it..."]

M is for Money.

[Ok, so far we have Dollars and Money...]

N is for Naked.

Now, when he came to me while I was cooking and proclaimed proudly that he had found a picture for "N" and it was "naked", I was initially slightly alarmed.  Ummmm...gee son, what kind of magazines are you ruffling through?  I was relieved when he clarified that it was a naked baby.  Ohhhh, a naked BABY...whew.  [I was pretty confident it couldn't be anything too risque...I mean, he was cutting up Martha Stewart and those free Parenting mags they send out to new moms...but you never know.  A boy could stumble upon a Dove advertisement or something...]  Naked.  Lol!

O is for On.  The boy is On the clouds.  Nice.

P is for Parachute.

[This picture is sooo tiny!  I'm amazed that he spotted that parachuting teddy in the first place - and knew what a parachute was.]

Now, "Q" was a little bit difficult.  All he could think of was quilt.  But he couldn't find a quilt.  So, I listed off as many "q" words as I could think of for him, and this is what he came back to show me:

Q is for Quack.

I know he misspelled several words...but spelling out the words wasn't even part of his assignment.  He tried on his own initiative and did pretty well phonetically.  So, I bit my OCD-perfectionist tongue and told him "good job."  We can work on the details later.  ;)

R is for Read.

[...because "these are words that you read, Mom."]

S is for Silly.

T is for Toy Story.

[This was by far his favorite picture to cut out: a Toy Story Lego Set.  See the missing triangle above Woody and Jessie's heads?  More on that later...]

U is for Up.

["This bear is riding an airplane...which goes Up in the sky."]

V is for Vegetables.

W is for Walk.

["Look, somebody is walking."]

"X" was another tricky letter.  Neither he nor I could think of very many words that begin with "X".  So I told him he could find a word with the letter "X" in it.  He found...

X is for relaX.

["Because it looked like she was gonna relax."]

Y is for You.

Remember the missing triangle from the Toy Story Lego set?

Z is for buZZ.

BuZZ Lightyear.  To the end of the alphabet...and beyond! 

So...now you have a use for your stash of unwanted magazines.  Turn them into crafts/homework.  ;)