The Wise Little Owl

I want to share a good resource website I have found.  NotebookingPages.com offers a variety of free resources from printables, chart, and schedules to specific resources by subject.  Give it a browse and see if there is something useful for you.

The Erskine Family's  "LIVINGBOOKS FOR THE EARS" is offering a free audio book for download for a limited time.  http://www.homeschoolradioshows.com/

 

It is nice to find resources for living books and I have signed up for their free newsletter and am looking forward to finding great resources for homeschooling on their site.

 

 

To download the free audio story  of the Arithmetic Fairy by E. Nesbit, click here

If you are a homeschooler who frequents Borders bookstore, then you need a Classroom Discount Card! 

All teachers, including homeschool teachers, are eligible for a discount card which provides a 25% on all educational and child related products anytime you shop at Borders.  In addition to the daily discount on educational items, Borders hosts appreciation days twice a year allowing teachers to use their cards and their dicounts on ANY iotem in Borders!

To take advantage of this, you must have a discount card.  The card must be obtained at Borders, as it is not available online.  As a homeschooler, you must complete the standard application and bring a copy of your "Letter of Intent."  This qualifies you for the discount card.

Please see their site for more details and make certain you sign up for this discount!  As homeschoolers, we need any deal or discount we can find!

Today we are reviewing more Classical Conversations (CC) work from last year. For the past couple of weeks, we have been reviewing math, Latin, history, English, science, etc. Our struggle last year was geography. I think it can be a challenge to bring geography to life for a 4-5 year old. Even with map coloring, puzzles, Atlas books, and globes, I found this to be my weakest subject.  Thankfully, I don't think it imperative that Flutterby memorize  or learn this topic indepth at such a young age.  Simple and relaxed exposure is enough right now.

Now I was not pushing for complete memorization during the CC program. Actually I viewed CC as a way to get our feet wet letting Flutterby practice sitting a bit and interacting with other children, while I was getting in a groove for lessons and having some accountability for work. Any memorization of facts was simply gravy.
However, I view this break from CC as a chance to move slowly and review. It complements the work we are doing at home nicely. Because I will be tutoring next year, it also gives me prep time for my lessons at CC next year. I am trying to improve my instruction so I will be successful next year in CC and at home with Flutterby.
Anyway, this is some of the work we did today along with some fun outside bike riding on a local bike trail…

• Phonics: 100 Easy Lessons lesson 38 
• Math:
  
  • RightStart B Lesson 2
  • Counting by 4s Song
• 
  
  Writing:
  • Kumon Numbers 1-30 Pages 34-35
  • Dot-to-dot Page 24
• 
  
  Read aloud and narration: 2 Hours of reading throughout the day
  • The Bible (KJV): Matthew 14, Leviticus 20-23, and Proverbs 30-31Audio provided through biblegateway.com
  • The Tail of Emily Windsnap by Liz Kessler

Borders has started their Summer reading program!  Children 12 and under are welcome to participate.  All that is required is to read 10 books (any books), complete the coupon listing the books read, and return the coupon to receive one of the program books FREE!  The free book selections range from Flat Stanley to Johnny Tremain. 

You can download and print the coupon here or go to any Borders location and pick up a coupon.  Get started today reading selections and earning a free book!!!

Today was our typical busy Tuesday. Flutterby went to vision therapy and to the occupational therapist. She did well at both and is making great improvements. She is actually to a point where her differences are hardly noticeable, if at all. The vision challenges have the furthest to go, but will be defeated in the next seven months, so that is a great comfort.

After the therapies and a break to watch a movie, we did some lessons. Flutterby has been showing interest in math again, so I decided to try RightStart again, starting at the beginning. Here is what we accomplished today.

• Phonics: 100 Easy Lessons lesson 37
  
• 
  
  Math:
  • RightStart B Lesson 1
    
  • Counting by 4s Song
    
• 
  
  Writing:
  • Kumon Numbers 1-30 Pages 32-33
    
  • Dot-to-dot Page 23
    
• 
  
  Read aloud and narration: 2 Hours of reading throughout the day
  • The Bible (KJV): Matthew 13, Leviticus 17, 18, 19, Proverbs 28, 29—Audio provided through biblegateway.com
    
  • The Tail of Emily Windsnap by Liz Kessler