My daughter loves a program called Tux Paint. She uses it at school and all year has begged for us to get it. I kept forgetting to look it up....and wasn't looking forward to finding it because we have a Mac and, well, so much of the software for Macs is expensive. And although fun or helpful, it eats through a budget way too quickly.
I finally looked it up today... it's a free download! And I'm posting the site it can be found on. There are other freebies for education there as well, although I've not explored them. So, enjoy!
Educational Freeware
UPDATE:
This site is actually a compilation of free downloads and on-line sites. All have been checked out and evaluated for their effectiveness for a certain age group or subject. These are high ranking games, activities and software. I've liked what I've seen so far... although I've not tried the downloads yet. Many of the sites (maybe all) that we like are also listed in there. So... a great place to check out.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Friday, February 29, 2008
Planet Books
Our family recently purchased a set of books from a book order my daughter brought home. I was drawn to the set because they were all about the planets and my daughter had started getting in to the stars. I figured this would be the next step. I was surprised, however, to see just how much information was in the books.
These books would be below older kids, although for a quick refresher they might like to read them to younger kids. But it's really geared towards the younger side of the elementary ages. There are 11 books, each book talks only about one planet (the 10th one is the Sun... which is technically a star). 23 pages of information and 1 page of glossary terms each.
The set is called "Space Launch!" Put out by Gareth Stevens Publishing, A Weekly Reader Company. Below are the titles:
Series: Space Launch
Let's Explore Earth
Let's Explore Jupiter
Let's Explore Mars
Let's Explore Mercury
Let's Explore the Moon
Let's Explore Neptune
Let's Explore Saturn
Let's Explore the Sun
Let's Explore Uranus
Let's Explore Venus
Let's Explore Pluto and Beyond
These books would be below older kids, although for a quick refresher they might like to read them to younger kids. But it's really geared towards the younger side of the elementary ages. There are 11 books, each book talks only about one planet (the 10th one is the Sun... which is technically a star). 23 pages of information and 1 page of glossary terms each.
The set is called "Space Launch!" Put out by Gareth Stevens Publishing, A Weekly Reader Company. Below are the titles:
Series: Space Launch
Let's Explore Earth
Let's Explore Jupiter
Let's Explore Mars
Let's Explore Mercury
Let's Explore the Moon
Let's Explore Neptune
Let's Explore Saturn
Let's Explore the Sun
Let's Explore Uranus
Let's Explore Venus
Let's Explore Pluto and Beyond
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Handy-Dandy Websites
I will do my best to catagorize these according to grade. Again, it's a very loose guideline.
PreK-2
Free to join. Great workshets on all subjects.
PreK-2
Letter recognition/tracing/sounds
Handwriting/penmanship/cursive. This site also has many homeschool helps like schedules and organizers.
Early reading/math skills/conceptsFree to join. Great workshets on all subjects.
A wide variety of fun worksheets. You can also generate your own math workshets here.
Shakespeare is Elementary
Us Government for Kids
More coming soon....I suddenly got VERY tired.
KKS
No need to worry about "winging it."
Homeschooling doesn't mean just "winging it" with a bunch of half hearted hopes. Improving as you go along is part of the normal growth of your family's homeschool experience - children and adults. It takes some planning on your part, not trying to squeeze someone else's plan into your family. It takes planning even to transition much of the planning over to your children as they mature. Let them also try this exercise. Include your spouse and other concerned relatives and friends in your homeschool journey.
Here is the full article:
http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/articles/010107.htm
KKS
Here is the full article:
http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/articles/010107.htm
KKS
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
First Meeting
Okay.. we're going to start... so, if you're in the local area and are interested in starting a group with us... and figuring it all out together (it's not in stone yet)... then please join us next week on Thursday, March 6th at 10:00am. If you're interested, call either Juanita or Tara for more information and the meeting location. Thanks.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Edible Math
During lunch, Beth and Jeremy started counting their crackers. Jeremy was just counting them as I put jelly on them. Beth went over and got some. Counted them out. Then went back for more. Counted those out. And then added them together. She then did subraction by way of eating a certain number at a time. Jeremy started trying to do the same.
I mention this because Beth (especially) is a very hands-on and visual learner. She's also one of those do-it-myselfers. Sometimes, with subjects like math and language, it's hard to figure out how to help such learners to "learn". This is a great way which is also a "real life" learning experience, and not just on paper. For learners like Beth, this is a must.
I had been working with little rocks doing a similiar thing with Beth weeks ago. I figured she was ready to see it on paper as well and to work between the hands on and the paper. But I was wrong. As soon as the numbers were on paper, she got frustrated and gave up. I've decided that we'll stick with the hands on and visual stuff for now. She knows what her numbers look like written, but the math sentences don't compute for her yet. And because getting frustrated means shutting down all together for her, we'll just work with what she's able to understand and add the "tough" stuff later on down the road. I'm sure I'll try several times before the timing is just right.
I mention this because Beth (especially) is a very hands-on and visual learner. She's also one of those do-it-myselfers. Sometimes, with subjects like math and language, it's hard to figure out how to help such learners to "learn". This is a great way which is also a "real life" learning experience, and not just on paper. For learners like Beth, this is a must.
I had been working with little rocks doing a similiar thing with Beth weeks ago. I figured she was ready to see it on paper as well and to work between the hands on and the paper. But I was wrong. As soon as the numbers were on paper, she got frustrated and gave up. I've decided that we'll stick with the hands on and visual stuff for now. She knows what her numbers look like written, but the math sentences don't compute for her yet. And because getting frustrated means shutting down all together for her, we'll just work with what she's able to understand and add the "tough" stuff later on down the road. I'm sure I'll try several times before the timing is just right.
A Cute Poem....
My Aunt Kathy wrote this and I thought I would share it with all of you.......
Dr Seuss
Dr Seuss was really smart.
With rhyming words he did his part
to make us laugh and make us start
to understand that books are art.
I liked his books when I was seven.
Hop on Pop was phonics heaven.
He had his rhyming engines revvin',
inventing noothbrush, zamp, and grevin.
When I grew up it was divine
to read his books to children mine,
and they as well did like them fine.
Oh, for those days I sometimes pine.
But nowadays with deeper pleasure
than for which there is a measure
I read to those who are my treasure--
the perfect cure for stress and pressure.
It matters not if I must read
Go, Dog. Go! till my eyes bleed.
Two year olds with playful greed
constant repetition need!
Yes, Dr. Seuss was one smart guy.
Within each story's plot may lie
a deeper truth in which to try
to live and learn and grow.
Goodbye!
by Kathy Stanley
Dr Seuss
Dr Seuss was really smart.
With rhyming words he did his part
to make us laugh and make us start
to understand that books are art.
I liked his books when I was seven.
Hop on Pop was phonics heaven.
He had his rhyming engines revvin',
inventing noothbrush, zamp, and grevin.
When I grew up it was divine
to read his books to children mine,
and they as well did like them fine.
Oh, for those days I sometimes pine.
But nowadays with deeper pleasure
than for which there is a measure
I read to those who are my treasure--
the perfect cure for stress and pressure.
It matters not if I must read
Go, Dog. Go! till my eyes bleed.
Two year olds with playful greed
constant repetition need!
Yes, Dr. Seuss was one smart guy.
Within each story's plot may lie
a deeper truth in which to try
to live and learn and grow.
Goodbye!
by Kathy Stanley
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Winging it, are you?
Alright, so I had a quick question for whomever would like to answer.
It is Sunday night. For me that is planning night. I sit down and try to think of the various things Liliana and I can do during the upcoming week, both activities as well as mark pages in her various workbooks that we could complete together.
How do other people plan? Do you do it weekly or monthly? Do you have weekly goals that help you decide what to work on. I feel like I am just winging it and wondering if all the pieces will come together inside of my children someday.
It is Sunday night. For me that is planning night. I sit down and try to think of the various things Liliana and I can do during the upcoming week, both activities as well as mark pages in her various workbooks that we could complete together.
How do other people plan? Do you do it weekly or monthly? Do you have weekly goals that help you decide what to work on. I feel like I am just winging it and wondering if all the pieces will come together inside of my children someday.
Brite Music
Has anyone heard of Brite Music? I hadn't until a couple of weeks ago. I've still not heard any of their stuff, but a friend has a lot of their stuff and was telling me about it.
It's teaching values and manners and how to get along in life through music and story-like dialogs that kids listen to. The lady who writes the songs is LDS. I believe that they also allow you to hear a sample on-line before ordering. And, they even have other things, like work books to go along with the series. I did notice that they do series specials over the course of several months. Anyway, for anyone whose children are auditory learners (or who learn tons through music) this might be something worth checking out.
It's teaching values and manners and how to get along in life through music and story-like dialogs that kids listen to. The lady who writes the songs is LDS. I believe that they also allow you to hear a sample on-line before ordering. And, they even have other things, like work books to go along with the series. I did notice that they do series specials over the course of several months. Anyway, for anyone whose children are auditory learners (or who learn tons through music) this might be something worth checking out.
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