Homeschool Freebie: Scheduling

Hello, friends!! Easter is over and we feel that we have survived a bit of a whirlwind around our house. We have spent time with friends and family, had a fantastic Easter celebration at church, shared a meal with our church family, and just spent some time together! Can it get any better than that?

We took yesterday off as an added bonus so we spent the day doing some cool new things you will hear about this week. But today, it is back to the grinding stone... the schoolroom. We started off our week with a Bible lesson and then began our weekly schedule meetings. This is something new that I have been doing as I would like to teach my girls how to schedule and take responsibility of their time. As they get older, I would like to see them develop time management skills and this is the first step to that. We begin our meeting with our stack of books and this form:

Learning 4 Keeps Homeschool Schedule Printable

If you will notice, it has places for a weekly goal and then a calendar for weekly routines. The weekly goals are what we would like to accomplish by the end of the week. The weekly routines are things that are either lessons, group activities, or trips like the library. At the bottom, I have included a reminder section with special notes to keep in mind throughout the week. For instance, we are planning a camping trip on Friday with a large group. By listing it on their "chart" as they call it, they can use their excitement for their trip to assist them in completing their goals. It is not a reward for completing school just something to which they can look forward.

Here is a sample chart that I completed with my daughter. We had not quite completed it but it does have most of her assignments listed.

Completed Schedule

My girls now work to complete their assignments and are learning the art of managing their time. As of now, they are eager to complete lessons to mark off their goals. I explained that if they choose to complete their history assignments in a day, they would be finished with that subject for the week and would free them up for other things. I know that they will still need me to help pace them, but I also know that if they can learn to manage their time now, it will greatly help them in the future.

Just in case this is something that you would be interested in, I have created a freebie for you to download! I have included a few different versions including a blank chart for you to insert your child's current subjects. I hope it is something you can use! Just click on the picture below to download!

Schoolhouse Review: Apologia

Hello, friends! I am so excited to bring you my first Review Crew post for 2013! There are so many great resources out there but homeschooling families are simply unaware of them. Over this next year, I will be using some of these great resources and then sharing them with you so that you will be made aware of a few options available!

Today, I will be sharing one of my faves: Apologia Educational Ministries. I had the pleasure of reviewing the Exploring Creation with Zoology II textbook and Exploring Creation with Zoology II notebooking journal. This book focuses on Day 5 of Creation: The Swimming Creatures and let me say that my girls were ecstatic when we received the new resources. Sea creatures, whales, dolphins... you name it filled the pages and my girls were eager to jump right in!

Description:

Apologia Science is a faith-based curriculum that focuses on Science through a Biblical worldview. Zoology II begins with a week's worth of reading and activities about the ocean itself before jumping into the different animals found in the ocean. A sample schedule is given to assist homeschool teachers in easily integrating Science into their schedules. However, the beauty of this program is the ability to adapt the books to your particular educational method. For instance, we wanted a steady routine of Science each day. So instead of following the sample schedule of completing Science twice a week, we did it four days a week. This enabled us to complete a lesson a week. Should you want to take a slower pace, you could easily stretch this lesson into 2-3 weeks depending on the level of your student.

Ocean Minibook

Each of the Zoology books flow seamlessly from one to another; however, each book is stand alone and can be completed independently from one another. The textbook is filled with hands-on projects that reinforce the lessons being taught and the journals include not only opportunities to write but to also complete mini-books, matchbooks, or other neat comprehension tools.

Routine:

As I mentioned before, we chose to use the curriculum in such a way that each lesson could be completed in a week. This schedule was labor intensive as there was much reading required in one sitting. However, we used it in a group setting so we had a great time reading it together! One advantage of this program is the ability to teach both my 3rd grader and 6th grader with the same curriculum. This will change next year as I will have a new track for my middle schooler; however, this year's science has become a great time of read-alouds, discussions, projects, and journaling activities. 

Here is how we used Apologia Zoology II:

Apologia Notebook Journal

Monday- Read half-way though the reading assignment for the lesson. As we came upon experiments or questions, we would complete them. 

Tuesday- Complete the reading by reading aloud as a group. (Again, we would complete any projects or experiments from the textbook as we came to them.)

Wednesday- Begin work in the journaling notebook. I chose to have them do the writing activities and projects in one journal... together. I was so pleased with this decision as they were much more eager to work through each page with a Science "buddy" so to speak. Much of this first journal day was answering comprehension questions and filling out journal prompts about their reading.

Thursday- My girls would complete their journals by creating a mini-book of some sort, completing a vocabulary crossword puzzle, as well as working on their handwriting with copywork. (Loved that feature by the way!)

 Good to Know:

1.) The textbook is reading intensive and the reading is at a higher elementary level. If you have a child that doesn't enjoy reading or is unable to read well, you will need to adapt the curriculum to your child. For instance, use the Science book as a read-aloud and break it into smaller pieces. You can also have your child working on their journal WHILE you are reading the textbook aloud. When they hear or see something interesting, allow them to draw and write about it in their journal! If they don't like to draw, allow them to print pictures off of the computer and paste them into their journal like a scrapbook!

Learning about Echolocation

2.) Some materials will be required for the projects and experiments; however, much of it you will already have around your home! I haven't bought anything so far and the experiments have been so much fun for my girls. I would highly recommend taking the time to complete the projects for each chapter. A convenient listing of materials is included in the book so that you can prepare for each week's lesson. It really does improve their learning retention which is always our goal!

3.)  There are two journaling options available. We chose to use the older option as I wanted to use it with both my 3rd grader and 6th grader. But there is a Notebook Jr. option for early learners.The Jr. Journal has coloring options and cut/paste activities that would be enjoyable for early learners.

4.) The textbook is $39 and the journal is $24. Again, I used one textbook and journal for both of my girls so that is an option if you are looking to save a penny.

5.)  This particular series is designed for Kindergarten through Sixth grade. Titles are also available for Middle and High School which I will be looking into for next year. Would you like to look at sample pages of Zoology II? Just click the pictures below:

My Thoughts:

I have searched far and wide for a Science curriculum that taught from a Biblical perspective that relieves the worry of evolutionary theories creeping in to our lessons. I also wanted a curriculum that focused on ONE topic for a year rather than jumped from one to another all year. I found both desires in Apologia resources. I enjoy the activities they include to make learning fun and the in-depth study of the topics. My girls have been learning with excitement and that alone makes it an A+ for this teacher.

Disclaimer:  I received a free copy of this product through the Schoolhouse Review Crew in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations.

New February Resources!

Hello, friends! I have been working on a few new packs and they are hot off the press! :) I am so excited about them but I think I say that about everything. LOL I truly never get tired of creating resources and there is a never ending supply of ideas.

I have been working on a few packs for February that you might like. First, I have a Sweet Treats Math Pack for Kindergarten!

Kindergarten Math Common Core Pack

This pack deals with numbers 1-20, counting, writing, addition, comparison, decomposing numbers, and making 10! Each activity is common core aligned for those that require it but it would be great for a homeschool or classroom. There is a puzzle game, two centers, and 23 printables with a fun candy shop theme! Here is a peek:

Kindergarten Math Common Core Pack

Also available is a new History Makers Pack for Black History Month. 

Black History Month Activity Pack

It includes activities and posters for the following: Ruby Bridges, Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman, George Washington Carver, Jackie Robinson and Thurgood Marshall. Just click on the picture above and download the preview to see all that is in this pack. You will find full color posters, writing activities, and projects!

I hope you are all having a fantastic week! Friday is coming and I am especially excited about tomorrow as it will be my first review for the Review Crew. I will be sharing with you about Apologia Science! See you tomorrow!

Cutting Without Fear

This week has been a great one here at Little Angels. We have been integrating new curriculum that have enriched each day and made it exciting! You will be hearing more about these resources soon in my reviews that begin in a week or two.

This week I have watched my girls blossom and grow each day. My oldest seems to be taking fertilizer at night as she seems a bit taller every morning. My Nat has lost some of that baby face that allowed me to pretend that she is stuck in time rather than growing up. My Lillee bud amazes me everyday with her new skills, vocabulary and eagerness to participate in whatever the rest of the family is doing. In fact, this eagerness is what I wanted to share about today.

It seems that as we get older, our willingness to try new things tends to waiver. Now, there is a reason I tend to stay away from cartwheels as gravity is becoming increasingly more unkind.  However, this fear of trying something new begins even before our chins begin to double. ;) In fact, I can remember being nervous to try something new when I was around my eldest daughter's age and I see this same hesitation sometimes in her as well.

What is it that stops us? Could it be intimidation? Maybe it is a lack of understanding and we don't want others to see us fail. Perhaps it is a fear of trying and then being ridiculed or mocked for doing it wrong. I, for one, have memories of this that still haunt me to this day.

I contemplated all of these things while watching my youngest hold a pair of scissors. Now, before you get all Child Services on me, she was sitting down and I was with her. Our focus during her school that day was cutting. Here she is when she begins:

Notice she has jumped in, scissors flipped, to tackle the difficult art of cutting. She did not ask for me to show her first. She did not worry about what I would think if she did it wrong. She was not a bit hesitant to try. This struck me as I am notorious for making sure I go with the flow. How does everyone else do it? What do they say I should do? Perhaps it is the need for success or to show that I have it all together... who knows? But I do know that a touch more of this determination to jump in and try would most assuredly expand my horizons and enrich my life.

I also considered how my daughter had someone looking over her and watching, ME. I was aware of how she was holding the scissors and making sure that her eyeballs would remain intact at all times. :) She was holding something that had the potential to hurt and I want what is best for her. This makes me consider how I have a Heavenly Father who is watching over me as well. I am holding choices in my hands that have the potential to hurt me if not made with care. However, the One watching over me is gently prodding me to proceed carefully and to handle my life with care. Eager to try while handling with care... hmmm.... this is the balance I want to have.

With each cut of my baby's scissors, she crept closer and closer to reaching her goal. Sure, I worked with her on correct finger placement and the correct manner to hold the scissors. Yet, my intention never changed: to assist my daughter in making something beautiful all by herself. Though she tried my way several times, she seemed to have better leverage by holding it the way she wanted and had much better control. So, I let her proceed as the goal would remain the same: to cut out her picture. This reminded me of how one method can work in some situations while another might be better for others. I need to be courageous enough to be different.

As you can see, she made it and I was there to share in the excitement! How beautiful to know that God is sharing in our triumphs as well! Notice the small bit of tape in the bottom corner? Yeah, me either. I like to think that God has a giant roll of that amazing invention sitting next to His throne just in case He needs to "fix" something and make it as good as new. ;)

Oh, the lessons I gleaned from my daughter's cutting lesson. Each day is an opportunity to learn something new... together. Have a fantastic day everyone!

Integrating Home Economics into the Homeschool!

Home Ec... Home Economics... what do you think of when you hear the name?  I think of a classroom full of ovens with girls in aprons burning their cakes. :) Hmmm... would that be circa 1960? You sure don't find those classrooms in our neck of the woods. Sadly, taking care of a home and food preparation are areas often overlooked for young people. But, think about it! We must all live and we must all eat!


Now, lest you think I am Martha Stewart, let me just say that I have often been found lacking myself in the cooking and cleaning department. You might say that I was a bit challenged in both areas when I first married; my husband just simply called me spoiled. I had a fantastic mother who prepared fabulous meals and would allow me to wake up whenever I wanted to on Saturdays. I fondly remember walking out of my room hearing the sound of a vacuum cleaner and sensing the smell of Pine-sol.

I was the child who would love to tackle a page of algebra problems but don't ask me to cut up a chicken! (Thankfully, I can now do both. *grin*) While I worked as a teacher in the classroom, I was out of my house for a great deal of the day. It was not filled with little children from morning to evening so taking care of the house was much quicker, less painful and usually occurred on Saturdays. But, oh my! How that changes when you homeschool. In my home, everyone is responsible for keeping a clean environment and contributes in their own way. Loading the dishwasher, washing clothes, and dusting are all skills that we begin to teach early. I found out a long time ago that I am not Wonder Woman and I don't have to be. There are ten, count them TEN, very capable hands that can work to keep a nice home. But, if it is not exciting for me, it can be pure drudgery for my girls.

Therefore, I have attempted to create a few games to make home economics a bit more fun.

Beat the Song

First is what I call Beat the Song. I simply choose a room and then turn on Pandora. (You could use a CD or any other method of music.) I turn it up and we have to try to get the room completely clean before the song is over, including vacuuming the floors.

Now, there is only one simple rule: All items that are picked up or moved MUST be put where they go! Otherwise, I would have a bedroom floor filled with items found in the living room. Not helping me much! This game has become a hit with my girls, even my preschooler jumps in. You can hear them giggling once it gets towards the end of the song as they dive to pick up the last scraps of paper from the floor.

What's Your Order?

Another game that we have created is What's Your Order? This game allows my girls to practice preparing food as well as service for others. They will prepare a menu of lunch items (whatever we have that day) and then I will act as the customer. One daughter will work as chef and the other as waitress. My third grader will bring me a menu and take my order. She will then tell my sixth grader in the kitchen what I would like before preparing my drink. My "chef" might make me a quesadilla, grilled cheese, or prepare a pizza. She can also whip up brownie cupcakes like nobody's business! My third grader will bring me the food when it is done and then places her own order with her sister. One perk of this process is the communication and cooperation that takes place. It also builds a servant-hood atmosphere as we all seek to help one another without looking for something in return. (Of course, they have been known to slip me a bill including tip. lol)

These are just a couple of ways that I have been seeking to integrate home economics into my homeschool. Do you have any ideas to share that would get kiddos exciting about the mundane tasks of cleaning and cooking? Comment below! I would love to hear them. :)

How to Create Your Own Flap Books

Hello, friends! Today, I decided to share with you something that I am doing with my girlies to create opportunities of review as well as to give creative ways to learn new material. To do this, all you need is a box of plain manilla file folders! Let me show you an example:

This past week, my girls were learning about five categories of animals (mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates.) So I decided to have them create an interactive chart of each group, their characteristics, and examples. Since there were five groups, I simply opened the file folder and cut the top cover into five equal sections. (Be sure to stop cutting at the fold!) That was all of the preparation required for us to get started.

Next, I handed each girl a folder. Now there are many ways you can do your titles (print them on your computer or buy cute packs) but I really wanted my girls to practice the spelling of each category. To do this, I handed them a pack of markers and gave them liberty to decorate their labels as they wanted they just had to ensure that each word was spelled correctly.

Lastly, the girls opened each flap to write the characteristics of each category and draw an example of an animal in that category. Here are a few examples of what my girls came up with: (I love the lizard and frog!)

A couple of notes

• It is easiest to lift one flap at a time to write in the information so you can ensure all of the information stays in its section.
• You might want to use crayons or test your markers before finishing the project.  Sharpies and some markers will bleed through the cover making it impossible to write on the back of the flap. Next time, I will have them use different markers so they can draw their example on the back of the flap to save space.

The best part of foldables is the fact that you can make these for any subject and any topic! If you have something that you want your child to remember, create a foldable that they can use to study to prepare for an exam or review.

So what do you do with the foldables when they are completed? We will be filing each foldable in our Knowledge Bank, a file box that will show what we have learned throughout the year. As they are manila folders, I use the little tab at the top to label the foldable. I can then file these by subject in our Knowledge Bank. They will have times throughout the semester to review what is on our Knowledge Bank and then take a review quiz on the information that is filed there. This will ensure that they are retaining the knowledge rather than learning it for a test before forgetting it.

So, next time you have some information that you want your kiddos to remember, grab a box of manila folders! Who knew that such a phenomenal tool was sitting in your supply closet? :) Have a fantastic weekend everyone!

Back in the Swing of Things and Honoring Dr. King

Hello, friends! I have been missing in action for this past week for two reasons. First, my internet was down for several days. **sigh**  This was a bummer as I missed my blogging, facebook, and email. I had to run to my husband's office a few times to check my email and make sure that I remained up to date with everything. But, a perk to this was that I was able to get several big projects done this week. :D So, there was a silver lining anyway!

Secondly, I now have a brand spankin new computer!! This was looooong overdue and my life on the internet zips as quickly as I need it to... maybe even faster! I am in love with this thing except that I am having to learn a whole new operating system. We will see how quickly I can catch on. :)

On the homeschool front, my Little Angels Academy has been on a roll this week as we have several new resources at our disposal thanks to the Schoolhouse Review Crew!! Whoop, whoop! We have jumped into Zoology with both feet and have enjoyed it immensely so far! I am also working on a new curriculum with my little preschooler and that has been interesting! She is enjoying "her school" but she definitely has some stubbornness issues.

Me-  "Lillee, count these objects."
Lillee-  "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6!"
Me- "Great! Now count to 5 for me!"
Lillee- "2, 3, 4, 5!"
Me- "No, Lillee. We start at 1! Watch my fingers."
Lillee- "Noooo Mama... we start at 2!"
Me- "Okay, so count my fingers for me."
Lillee- "1 ,2, 3, 4, 5!"
Me- "Now, count to 5 starting at 1."
Lillee- "Noooo Mama... you have to start at 2! See!"

Silly, silly girl...

Anyhoo... one project we worked on this week was our study on Martin Luther King, Jr. I used a book that we already had on hand and then the pack that I created for my TPT store. Here are a few pics...

"Our Thinking Map on Equality"

"Word Search Fun!"

"Vocabulary Sort"

Our "Vocabulary Knowledge" Folder which will be kept in our knowledge bank for later reference.

As I taught this lesson with my PK, 3rd grader, and 6th grade, I worked to differentiate the instruction throughout. Some of the activities really worked better for my younger daughter, but my Em is such a teacher that she loves to jump in, take part, and help. I am excited with how the day turned out. If you are still in need of some supplemental materials for your classroom, just click my link below! I have a freebie you can use as well as a pack for sale that includes the activities above and more~ I hope you enjoy them as much as we did!



Fall Fun and a New Technology Resource

Hello, friends!! What a week!! I hope you have all had a fantastic week as mine was great but very busy. The weather has been beautiful and we have had our A/C off and the windows open most of the week. For my Floridian friends, you know this can't be done too often so we are really enjoying it! This is also the time of year that we have a Fall Fellowship at our church. We will be having a volleyball tournament and yummy food so there has been quite a bit of prep going on this week for the day on Saturday. I am very thankful that I was able to fight off the sick minions from earlier in the week. :)

For my post today, I wanted to share with you a great new online program that I have found that is absolutely free!! It can be used for school educators as well as homeschoolers. This week was the first I had heard of it and after a quick registration, my kids got to work! I am loving it!! Want to know what it is?

This is a program for K-6 that is aligned with Common Core standards. It creates practice problems for each of the standards and records their level of mastery. As a teacher or parent, you can generate reports and find which strand the child struggles with. I can also assign homework for Math, Reading and Spelling for them to accomplish by a particular due date. For instance, the student may have to complete 4 Math, 4 Reading, and 2 Spelling practices by the end of the week. You can choose which strands you want them to work on as well as type in the spelling words for them to study. I love this new site and the girls have really enjoyed it as well. I have my oldest in 6th completing the 5th grade as a review. So far, I have only found practice for the concepts on the site, not actual teaching; this is still left to the instructor. It is simply a way for the teacher to assign practice for whatever the student is learning and having assessment numbers at your fingertips! Cool, huh? 

One of my girls' favorite features is the classroom wall that we can all post to that resembles a facebook or bulletin board wall. They can also choose a cute avatar and change their mood for the day. We are still exploring the program and I am really impressed with what I have found. 

Have you heard of ScootPad? If so, how do you integrate it into your classroom?

Wednesday Reflections and Fighting Sick Minions

Hello, friends. As I type this morning, my body feels as if it won't be able to sit up much longer. :( Sickness seems to be flying around our city like crazy and I am really feeling it today. So, I thought I would give a quick update on our homeschool progress.

NatNat (3rd)- currently working on graphing (bar graphs, plot graphs, circle graphs, pictographs) I love working with graphs as I am a very visual person. :) Expect to see a unit on graphing soon! She is also working with the parts of sentences and writing a letter. I am so pleased with how she is doing this year. She has really flourished and I am excited to watch her growth.

Em (6th)- currently working with lowest common multiples and factor trees. Greatest common factors and lowest common multiples can be a bit hard to grasp without getting them confused; but, we are having a pretty good time with it.  I LOVED doing factor trees when I was her age so it is fun to do them again. She is also working with sentence structure and labeling. Let me just say, predicate nouns and predicate adjectives boggle my brain sometimes! lol

Lillee- currently working on the letter A and the letter R. She has been recognizing them on signs, etc, so this is exciting for me. She is also counting up to 10 while pointing to objects. She has finally been understanding the 1:1 ratio. lol  She is also coloring (she has fantastic eye/hand coordination) and has mastered naming most of her colors. Her imaginative play has expanded and she is much more willing to play on her own. This definitely helps while the girls are working in school.

All in all, this has been a very successful year. The girls are not behind and seem to be grasping the concepts well. I still do not regret the semester schedule and I think it has really allowed more opportunities to spend time together and increase their time in other areas, like HOME EC! lol Chores are being completed, usually without grumbling, and my girls made the most fantastic, melt in your mouth, cupcakes I have eaten in a long while all while I rested in my chair. *sigh* Gotta love it!

Now, I am off to rest and see if I can fight back the evil minions that seem to be wanting to make me sick. Happy blogging!

Freebie Friday Literature Response Form!

Hello, friends! Have you checked out the hilarious pinterest posts from those that have linked up with my linky party?! Bwahahahahahahaa!!! That is all I have to say. You can see them here:

Don't forget to link up your favorite funny pics that best describes you! Voting will begin on Monday for the funniest link and the winner will receive a free item from my Learning 4 Keeps TPT store! 

For this Freebie Friday, I have included my Cut and Paste Literature Response form that assists students in writing a summary. This page is included in my new winter unit that revolves around the book The Biggest, Best Snowman by Margery Cuyler. This is one of my favorites to use every year! You can check out the entire unit by clicking the picture below:

Here is the Freebie! I hope you enjoy it! Just click on the link below to head to my TPT store and download it for free.

Also, check out my Learning 4 Keeps Design page as I have updated it with a new snowman clipart set!! I LOVE snowmen so this was a fun set. Enjoy!

Out with the New... On with the Old! :)

Hello, friends! As you can see, my blog header has been through a bit of a change this week. :) I liked my new header with my caricature but to be honest.... I missed seeing my three angels' smiling faces as soon as I open my page. Call me sentimental but there you go. In many ways, this blog is dedicated to them. Homeschooling was never our first plan but it has become our favorite. The opportunity to spend time with my children every day is one that I treasure. Better yet, I get the privilege of using my passion for learning and reading to impact my own children. How cool is that?!

This blog has become a place for me to share, learn, and grow all while I seek to guide my children in their education and values. I love the fact that I have a smiling 6th grader rather than a moody and stressed middle schooler. I have a 3rd grader who is unafraid to be herself and never meets a stranger. My three year old gets to learn from two of the smartest young ladies I know and tries so hard to be just like them.  I enjoy watching my girls interact with one another in love (most of the time :)) and support each other throughout the day. I enjoy watching them learn something new and know that I would miss it if we ever needed to do something different.

The faces of my children bring joy to my heart and for that reason, I dedicate this blog to them. We seek to view everyday as an opportunity to learn... together. :)

Happy Blogging my friends!

Celebrating Columbus Day and Sweetness from my Hubs!

Hello, friends! Today has been a bit of a rough day. I have been feeling sick for a few days. Yuck! But I have still managed to check a great majority of items off of my "It's Bugging Me Till I Can Get It Done!" List. You know the one I am talking about!! You don't want to do it but you have to and when you finally do it, it is not as bad as what you thought. Oh, yeah! That one! My list now only holds 1 more item and I don't have the strength to tackle it today. So, I have moved that to my procrastination file. tehehehehee Don't judge! ;)

Here is what my day started with from my sweet hubby:

That is a yummy Caramel Mocha, a new file box, sharpies and paper for my new clipart endeavors! Sorry, ladies... he is taken. ;) He even remembered the new hanging files to go IN the file box. Sigh... true love my friends, true love!

Next, the girls and I completed a unit on Christopher Columbus. I have thoroughly enjoyed the great resources on TPT! Our day included an interactive lesson, comprehension fun, internet scavenger hunts, a board game, vocabulary game, and writing activities that focus on Christopher Columbus. Even my Lillee got involved by coloring and creating a telescope. Here are a few pics!

Hope you have all had a fantastic day! Did you do anything for Columbus Day?

Finish My Work? Today?

Hello, friends! Have you ever had a kiddo that looks at you with wonder when you say they must finish their work? As a public school teacher, I ALWAYS had at least one student who would forget that, "yes, we actually do schoolwork at school!"  Since I have started homeschooling my little ladies, I got to play a bit of tug of war with my middle child which would take FOREVER on an assignment because she would sneak books to read under the table or play with her pencil for eternity and a day! (What can be so fascinating about a pencil I will never know!)

Anyhoo, I thought I would share a technique to help those stragglers finish their work. I have also seen this used for children with disabilities that needed encouragement or for those that struggle with Attention Deficit. Maybe it can help you as well!

It is a classwork completion puzzle. This is what it looks like:

Here's how to use it! The black and white picture is laminated and taped to the student's desk. Small velcro circles are attached to the blue circles. You then cut up the colored picture square on the dotted lines. Laminate these pieces and put the other side of the velcro on the back of these pieces. The student can then earn the pieces throughout the day when they complete what you have specified. For instance, they could receive a piece for finishing Math, Reading, Writing, and Language. After they have earned all four pieces, they receive some type of reward (ie. computer time, extra play, games, your choice). At the end of the day, they turn in their pieces and begin again tomorrow. 

Would you like to try it? I have a classwork completion puzzle pack available here. You can download a girl puzzle and boy puzzle for free! I hope it is a help to you!

Also, if you haven't linked up with the "Wowzers, What a Winner!" Giveaway, just click the link below! Twenty-seven teacher resource creators have teamed up so that 5 winners can be chosen to enjoy educational resource goodies! The winner will be announced on Saturday! Best of luck!

 Have a fantastic day!

Behavior Management? How Do You Manage?

Hello, friends! My topic today will be about behavior management! I confess that over the years teaching, I used several different methods. The "pull a card" method was my first, a little old but it was effective. I also created a "Take Five" method that used popsicle sticks and miniature hand stickers: fun and when I was consistent, very effective! Isn't that always the secret? Consistency...

Anyhoo, today there are many more great ideas out there to manage the classroom and many focus on reinforcing positive behavior rather than just punishing negative behaviors. So, I began to do a little research and created a behavior pack that I think you will like! It is based on the vertical behavior clipchart that so many are using! I thought that I would make it cutesy so I went with an adorable owl theme! For serious! This is one my favorites out of the items I have ever created. Evah! What do you think?

This pack includes decorative signs to encourage good choices! It also has seven circles that can be printed on cardstock, laminated and attached to a vertical ribbon strand or board. The student's names are written on clothespins and all begin on the Ready to Learn circle. The student's can move up the circles to Star Student  by choosing good behaviors throughout the day. They can also move down the circles to allow students to track their behavior and make better choices. A cause and effect chart is also included to explain the consequences of moving down the chart. Notecards have been included that can be stapled to homework or included in their homework folders that will let the parent know their child's behavior and a record form is also included for you to notate a child's behavior throughout the week. This could be used for every child or perhaps just the children that you feel needs a record of behavior for parent conferences or meetings. (I am sure a face popped into your head as soon as I said that!)   ;) 

I hope you can use it! Just to add a bit of excitement, I will be giving a pack away to the first comment on this blog post! Just comment and leave your email! You can also find it on my TPT store here.

This is a link up with What the Teacher Wants in her Behavior Management Linky Party!

Have a fantastic day everyone! And don't forget to enter for your chance to win one of the FIVE giveaways offered for my 100 follower celebration! Just click the link below!

Homeschool Reflection: Part Three

Today I will wrap up my Homeschool Reflection by looking at a few things we have accomplished in August!

Sunshine- Coloring, the number 1, colors: blue, red, green, yellow, purple, pink, and orange

She has also learned how to cut and glue, at least in theory. We haven't quite figured out how to cut on the line but we are having fun anyway! :) Here is a sample of her coloring. I think it is awesome for a three year old!

Next, we have my NatNat. She is in third grade this year and is doing such a great job! I have noticed that the topics she struggled with at the end of last year is being understood much easier now. She has been working with writing a "How To" paper, writing 6 digit numbers in expanded form, place value to the hundred thousands, fact families, compound subjects and verbs, review from last year and painting! We have also been learning about space, gravity, the universe, NASA and the Sun! Here is a picture she created with her new paint set:

Lastly, we have my Em. She is my sixth grade wonder. She has been working on writing a Personal Narrative, using descriptive words, exponents, properties of addition and multiplication, adding and subtracting decimals, 10 digit numbers, place value, compound subject and verbs, independent and dependent clauses, as well as correct punctuation. She has also been learning about space, gravity, the sun, NASA and the universe! Here is the picture she created with acrylic paints:

August was a great month for us and I am looking forward to a great year! Be sure to check in tomorrow as I will be featuring a great TPT seller in a Product Feature! It is an amazing Common Core resource for any classroom! You won't want to miss it! Happy Blogging!