Informational Text Resources

One area that my boys have had challenges in reading is with expository or informational texts.  K12 reader has a myriad of resources in that area (as well as many others!). An example of the first grade and fourth grade level are pictured above.  Here are the links:

1st grade

2nd grade

3rd grade

4th grade

5th grade

Multiplication Mania

If you are working on multiplication with your homeschoolers, you may want to check out some of the great resources at Math is Fun.  From tips on learning multiplication facts, to worksheets, to timed fact tests like the one above, you are guaranteed to find something to help.

Here are some more resources for multiplication lesson plans.

Calendar Daily/Morning Boards

Many homeschoolers start their day with a calendar or morning boards.  Here are a few I've seen in my perusals of other homeschooling blogs.  Maybe you will get some inspiration for your own calendar or morning board!

I love, love, love this board from Home(pre)schooling Jungle!  So many things to get inspiration from, and use.  You can take some basic ideas and change it around to match the needs of your own kiddos.

A few items to point out:

• The left side has a days of the week poem with a little library pocket to hold the different days of the week cards.  I have purchased these pockets myself at the Dollar Tree, you could also use small mailing envelopes.
• I love the 100s chart along with a dry erase marker to count the days of homeschooling!
• I also love the things we are learning this week section with flashcards on rings.  You could really customize these rings to fit your homeschooling needs with anything from colors and shapes to more advanced skills such as math facts and vocabulary words.  She has four sections on hers, which could work extremely well for homeschooling multiple kiddos.  Have one review ring for each of your students.
• On the right of the board she has used a pocket chart (they have these at many Target dollar spots right now for under $5) to provide a space for their daily schedule.  I know my kiddos like knowing what the day has in store for them, and it would be a great way to visually let them know what to expect.  You could also read it out loud during your morning meeting for your audio learners or non-readers.

I love the Veggie tale lessons on the top of this board from the Homeschooling Harts. 

Similar to the first board, this one was also made using a science project board.  I love that you can easily carry it from room to room, and can easily fold it for storage if need be, particularly if you don't have a dedicated homeschooling room.

I also love the alphabet chart along with pictures for practicing the alphabet and letter sounds for little ones.  Here is a link to a similar one.

You could also use a list of multiplication facts for older kiddos.

The following board from Homeschool Creations would be great for your older kiddos as well.

I love the way that she has incorporated place value into the chart on section 2 and the graphing of the temperature in section 6.  You can find these printables on her site here.

Here are a few more things that you might  find useful for a calendar or morning board:

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Calendar Tags

Daily sight words reading practice

Daily agenda

Do you do a Calendar or Daily Morning Board?  What things does yours include?

A Peek Into Our Homeschool Room

Here is a little peek into our homeschool room.  We share this are with my grocery stockpile, so I will just show a few views.

Our Bookshelves

We read a lot around here, so bookshelves are a must.  I am hoping to re-sort and label the green book bins by author or genre, I haven't quite decided yet. 

Our Supplies

I try to stock up on supplies during the back to school sales in the fall so that I can get the best prices.  Here are some of our supplies.  And yes they are in alphabetical order because I am a little OCD organized.

Desk Space

The kiddos normally work at the dining room table (as you can see in the picture below), the couch, or their rooms, so we don't really have separate desks for them. The oldest three each have a desk in their rooms.

 This is my desk which is in the homeschooling room area.

I am writing this post as part of the Not Back To School Hop. If you would like to share your curriculum plans, be sure to hop along! I would love to see what others are using!

Homeschool Organization Inspiration

I love looking at and stealing getting ideas from other homeschoolers' homeschool spaces.  Here are just a few ideas I've beeen looking at lately:

This scissor display from Spell Outloud is practical and fun!  She made it using a magnetic knife holder from Ikea.  I love the label at top - adds an element of literacy for the kiddos, and really what kid does not love to play with magnets?

I am all about color coding - with 6 boys it is one of the things that helps keep me sane - each boy has their own color and I try to get everything for them in that color from cups to hangers to notebooks and folders.  That is why I love this idea from Mama to 4 Blessings.

She has divided each week of work for her homeschooler into folders by color.

But the most ingenious part of her system (in my humble opinion) are the matching color coded tags for when she needs to make copies.  Love That!

Be sure to visit her blog to see how she makes the whole system work.  She will be sharing her workbox organization soon.

I also am going to be adding the idea of keeping a library bag like the one used by Amber at A Classic Housewife in a Modern World.  Usually each of my boys keeps their own library books, but then it is a scramble to find them or we have to re-check them out because we don't know where they all are.  I think this year I will make them keep them in one bag, they can take them out to read, but must return them to the bag.

You will also want to visit her blog to see how she organizes her calendar!

Also, I am seriously jealous of Amber because she has one of these - it has been on my Amazon wish list for awhile now :)  Do you have one? Do you love it? Hate it? Pros/Cons?

Stay tuned for some more inspiration - including shots from my own home!  Aren't you excited? LOL!  If you would like to share some of your own tips leave them in the comments below or email me and I will link up to you and share some link love!

Homeschool Planning - Setting up Your Homeschool Calendar

If you are anything like me, you want to do everything, and you want to do it now!  But, really, wouldn't it be easier, and so much calmer if you took things one step at a time? That's what I am trying to do, we'll see if that happens!

So, for today's organization/planning task, set up your homeschool calendar.  You can use a regular calendar, you can print this calendar template out, or you can try a calendar like Stephanie O'Dea' Totally Together which also includes sections to keeping your house clean and organized. (You can win a copy here!) Whatever you choose, just make sure it is something that you will use, and that won't add to your workload.

Now that you have picked out your calendar, it is time to start filling it in. Decide how many days you want to homeschool during the calendar year. Some families choose to Homeschool 4 days a week leaving one day as a fun day or co-op day.  Other families keep a traditional school year Monday - Friday approach.

Next, figure out what days you are NOT going to homeschool - for holidays, vacations, breaks, etc. Put those in your calendar now.

Look over the curriculm you have chosen (or your standards, themes, or whatever else you have planned). How many lessons are there? Tentatively divide them out among the days you plan on schooling.  I say tentatively, because things always happen. Maybe your child picks up a concept much quicker than you thought, or maybe they need a few extra days of review.

Don't forget to pencil in some planning days or hours for you!  It is much easier to spend a day planning when you don't have to spend that day teaching and grading as well.

Your last step - Relax and enjoy the rest of your day - I will have a new task for you tomorrow!

It's Planning Time!

Suddenly it is almost August! Where has the summer gone? I hope you have taken time for yourself so that you are feeling less stressed and refreshed - ready for a new year!  August is the time of year when homeschool parents really begin to think about the new year ahead. It is time to research new ideas to use in your homeschool, and new ways of doing some of the necessary things. I also begin to get excited about beginning the new year  fresh with my children.

As it is a new year, make some resolutions. Every homeschool parent can improve and make learning better for their children. Try some new things in your reading and math programs, improve your science program or teach more PE to improve the fitness of your children. If your organizational skills (or your children's) can be improved, work on this. Every year you should think about improving in some way!

Over the next few weeks I will be giving you some ideas for organizing and planning your homeschool year.  I will provide linkys for sharing some of your great ideas as well. And the best news?  I will also be giving away some fabulous back to school organzing and homeschool supply prizes through blog post contests and twitter parties.   Additional Prizes and Sponsors will be added - so check back frequently!

Prizes and Sponsors

(updated 7/25/11)

Totally Together organizer by Stephanie O'Dea

Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See Book - Homeschool Parent

Coupon Binder - Fernley Family

Ultimate Back-to-School Combo - Mabel's Labels

$25 Gift Card to Target- Homeschool Parent

If you would like to share a blog post or sponsor this contest, please contact me at kellys3ps@sbcglobal.net for more information.

Telling Time Fun Website and More Resources

Poking around the internet I found this fun computer matching game for practicing to tell time.  Luke is just learning to tell time to the hour and half hour, so this game was perfect for him. 

Here are a few more resouces for those of your homeschooling kiddos who are learning how to tell time:

Telling Time Matching Game

Telling Time Practice Worksheet

Telling Time Paste and Cut

Telling Time Practice

Telling Time To the Hour