Posted by Cindy on May 24, 2007
Okay, this is probably a tip that most of you already know about, but they’re new to me and WAY cool!
Mini Offices are somewhat like lapbooks because they’re made out of file folders that you refold, but they’re used as reference sources that your child pulls out and places at their workspace when needed. You and your child decide what kinds of references would be handy.
map of USA and/or world
manuscript or cursive ABCs
multiplication table
number line
number or color words
grammar rules
writing rules or editing chart
phonics rules
vowel sounds
months and/or days of the week
how to write the date
money values
how to write an address
100s chart
shape names
tally mark values
Roman numerals
Then paste the references into the folders and you’ve created a mini office! Never again do you have to remind your child what short “a” sounds like! Never again do you have to spell the number eight out loud! Never again do you have to show your child how to write today’s date!
The possibilities are as endless as your imagination. Just in case your imagination doesn’t stretch that far, I’ve found some SUPER resources!! You’ll find pictures and lots of premade reproducibles. Get your printer and folders ready. You won’t be able to resist the urge to create once you see these sites!
Teaching Heart
Mrs. Meacham’s Classroom
Reagan All * Star Kinderbears
Busy Teacher’s Cafe
Shadow-Earth
Related Tags: homeschool, mini offices, reference
Posted by Cindy on May 23, 2007
Remember Field Day back in high school? (For me, it was a great day to get out of class! But I digress already.) Whether you belong to a large or small homeschool group, have just a few homeschooling friends, or even just want to try some games with your own children – Field Day can bring a lot of fun and excitement into a day of P.E. class!!
I’m lucky to belong to a fairly large homeschool group that does a Field Day every year. We have games, races, snacks and even ribbons! Here’s a picture of one of mine in action this year.
With a large group, we split the children into age groups and have events like:
Tug-of-war
Three-legged race
50 yard dash
Softball throw
Obstacle course
Sack race
Long Jump
We usually have a popcorn machine or cotton candy maker and lots of popsicles to make the day extra special. Ribbons are handed out at a mini awards ceremony. Of course, this sort of big-scale event costs a bit of money. I think each family usually contributes $3.00 to $5.00.
I’m also part of a very small group of homeschoolers that wants to put together a field day this year. Plans are in progress and we’re going to have a blast, even with only 6-8 children! With a smaller group, we’re going to be able to do some messier games like:
Wet sponge relay
Frisbee slime relay
Water balloon toss
Egg toss
Skittles in the spoon relay
We’ll probably add a few of the “regular” field day event listed above, too.
This smaller field day probably won’t include real ribbons. We’ll all bring our own drinks and snacks. And the competition won’t be nearly as fierce. But, boy does it sound like fun!
Either way you go – big or small – have a Field Day with your children. Memories will be made, so don’t forget the camera!
Related Tags: homeschool, field day, games, physical education, fun
Comments:
Filed Under: Co-op
Posted by Cindy on
We’re on our way to the Creation Museum today!! We’re so excited! We’ve been anxiously awaiting this day for years and now it’s here!!! I’ll be sure to post about out visit soon.
Posted by Cindy on
I’d love to see a Homeschooling Open House in every town of every state this summer! So many people want to homeschool, but don’t because they “don’t think they can do it”, “wouldn’t know where to begin”, “couldn’t possibly do as well as the public school”, “wouldn’t want their children to miss out socially”. You know all the excuses.
A non-threatening open house where people can come to find out more about homeschooling and get their questions answered by veteran homeschoolers may be just the thing to send those excuses flying out the window and bring new children home to school.
What would an open house include? Well, I’ll tell you what our little community of homeschoolers is going to do in July. Feel free to add more ideas in the comments!
We’re borrowing the community room of our local library for an hour and a half one evening in the middle of July – when people are thinking about the upcoming school year. (Around here, public school starts the first week of August.) About two weeks before, we’ll advertise the meeting in the newspaper and with flyers around town.
On the night of the meeting, after welcoming everyone, we plan to show an excellent dvd put out by HSLDA. Then, we’ll have a question & answer time. (Probably with a very small panel of veteran homeschoolers, as too many people would make for too many answers. Too many answers lead to very confused potential homeschoolers!) Finally, we’ll offer cookies and punch while our guests browse a few information tables and talk with us one on one.
We plan to set up three tables. One with whatever homeschooling catalogs we can get our hands on between now and then. One with a packet for them to take home including HSLDA info, state support group info, local support group info and some helpful websites. The third table will include some varied curriculum for them to look at so they can get an idea of the wonderful choices available.
It won’t be hard. I hope you’ll consider organizing an open house in your area.
Related Tags: homeschool, open house
Posted by Cindy on May 18, 2007
Are your kiddos getting bored with the same old math day after day? Do they whine and complain about math? Are you looking for a fun way to keep the math skills sharp this summer? Are you looking for a great way to boost those logical thinking skills? I have an answer – Play Games! Card Games. Board Games. Mental Games. Paper and Pencil Games. Whatever you find, I promise your children will do their math with smiles on their faces. Unless their sore losers, but that’s another post! 
Here are a few ideas to get you started. I betcha most of the games we have came from yard sales or Goodwill. Keep your eyes open this summer! Please add your favorite math games in a comment!!
SET
Mastermind
Battleship
Life
Monopoly
Backgammom
‘Smath
Money Matters For Kids
Sequence
Connect Four
Yahtzee
Hive Alive
Guess Who?
SkipBo
Dutch Blitz
Uno
Perfection
War
Rummy
Hearts
Dominoes
River Crossing
Block To Block
I also want to put a plug in for math computer games. I don’t let my kids have too much computer game time, but there are all sorts of really great free math game sites that are worth a half-hour here and there on those 95 degree days in the summer. (If I knew how to copy my favorites list for you I would, but there are too many math sites to list here. Do a search and you’ll find some great ones!)
Related Tags: math, games, homeschool, fun
Comments:
Filed Under: Math
