Free On-Line Beginning Readers

I found some great on-line beginning readers perfect for your kindergartener or first grader.  Your child can view and read the book on-line with the pdf, or you can print them out.  (I opted to have Luke read them on-line to save color ink).

Buttons Buttons

I See Shapes

How To Make a Mudpie

Our Pumpkin

I Am Special

I Can Read

I See Colors

For more advanced readers, try these.

Science Labs For Your Older Kiddos

One of the problems with homeschooling (especially older kiddos), is trying to figure out how to do fun science experiments without spending a ton of money on supplies.  That's why I love The Lab of Mr. Q. He has a monthly newsletter that gives you great, easy, inexpensive science experiments that you can do at home with your homeschoolers.  The boys and are I going to try out the lab above tomorrow here, but you can also access more newsletters here.

Get a ream of printer paper for only $1.08 at Staples

Do you have paper eating monsters at your house? LOL! Well, maybe I don't have REAL monsters, but it does seem that we go through an awful lot of paper!  You can save some money when you buy printer paper at Staples this week.

Use this 75% off HP paper at Staples coupon

along with this $1.00 of HP paper coupon

and get a ream of paper for only $1.08!  SWEET deal!

Making a Reading Pointer With Goodies from The Target Dollar Spot

Many beginning readers need to fingerpoint to each word as they read them.  They also love using pointers!  I decided to make Luke his very own pointer using a few erasers I found at the Target Dollar Spot.

The Supplies:

* Package of hand erasers (I found them at the Target Dollar Spot)

*Unsharpened pencil

Directions:
1. Simply Place one of the erasers on the wrong side of an unsharpened pencil (the side you would normally sharpen and write with).

2. Have your child use the pointer as they read their favorite beginning or emergent readers.

Here are a few printable emergent readers.

Roll, Say, Keep Review Game

Here is a fun game to review just about any skill from sight words to multiplication facts.  Luke and I used the game to review some of his sight words, but I have used it with my other boys to review math and  vocabulary words.  Really, the possibilities are endless!

The Supplies:


Roll Say Keep Template (we used this one)   or Roll Say Keep Sight Words Template

Mini flash cards (we used this one) which is kindergarten level.

For other grades here are a few more

Directions:

1. Print out the Roll Say Keep Template here.  (Optional: Print on card stock and laminate for durability and re-use).


2. Cut up flash cards featuring desired skill.  We used the sight words here.

3. Place 6 cards face down on the template, place the others face down to the side.

4. Have your child roll the dice, then turn over the card on that space.  Have them read the word (or answer the question).  If they get the answer right, they get to keep the card, and they replace the card with one from the pile.

Multiplication Poems

If your kiddos are having a hard time learning their multiplication facts, you may want to try one of these poems:

4 x 4 Poem


Want to drive a four by four truck?

Unless you're 16, you're out of luck!


6 x 6 Poem

Six times six. Magic tricks.

Abracadabra. Thirty-six.



6 x 7 Poem

Six and Seven are sad and blue.

They make number forty-two.



4 x 7 Poem

Four and seven went fishing with bait.

Four times seven equals twenty-eight.



7 x 5 Poem

Seven and five went for a drive.

Who's in the back seat?

It's thirty-five!



7 x 7 Poem

Seven and seven were doing fine.

They make number forty-nine.



7 x 8 Poem

Seven and eight are nifty chicks.

Eight times seven is fifty-six!



8 x 8 Poem
I ate and I ate and I got sick on the floor.

Eight times eight is sixty-four.



9 x 7 Poem

Nine and seven climb a tree!

They find number sixty-three!



9 x 8 Poem

Nine and eight!

What do they do?

They go play with seventy-two!



9 x 9 Poem

Nine and nine having fun!

They play tag with 81.



12 x 7 Poem

Twelve times seven, clean the floor.

Twelve times seven is eighty-four.

Lacing Bead Addition Task Cards

I found these great lacing beads at the Target dollar spot, and was inspired by Swamp Frog First Graders to make this activity for Luke.  I needed to modify the task cards a bit because Luke is not quite enough advanced to read the word form of numbers on his own, but I printed both so he can "grow with" this activity.  You can choose the best option that works for your own kiddo!

The Supplies:
Lacing Bead Addition Template (or print out the ones from the blog above)
Lacing Beads (from Target dollar spot)

Directions:

1. Print out the lacing bead addition template (on cardstock and laminate for durability).

2. Have your child follow the directions on the card.

3. For an added challenge, have your child write the equations on a piece of paper or white board.