Virtually Free Handwriting Book

Make a handwriting book that is All About Me

Make a cover using cardboard - cover it with duct tape, construction paper, scraps of wallpaper, etc. Don't forget to make a back cover as well. Let the kids decorate using the title "My Handwriting Book All About Me" or something to that effect. Use binder rings so you can add to the book as the year progresses.

And then and here's the cool part go to this website: http://www.writingwizard.longcountdown.com/handwriting_practice_worksheet_maker.html

and with the help of your kid(s) make up writing sheets to fill up the inside of the book for daily practice. Our book starts with my son's full name, his address, who lives in his home, his animals, his friends, favorite things, etc. This may also be done using other topics to connect with curriculum/classes.

Berry Season

Berry season is an annual tradition for our family that started with our homeschool group. When we first started going (an event sponsored by a homeschool family) my kids were 6 and 1 year(s) old. They mostly played and ate berries! But each season as the years have past my kids have expected and antcipated going into the fields to pick strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and starting last year cherries. The first question always asked is, "Who's coming?" referring to the families in our homeschool group. It occured to me this year that we have picked berries with most of these families since that first year, other families we have picked with for just a few years and each year we introduce new families to our homeschool group berry picking tradition. So, not so much just our family tradition but our homeschool family tradition! Some of the best traditions sneak right up on you! May all your berries be big, beautiful and boutiful and my you grow some homeschool family traditions. Happy Berry Season

Field Day!! - Homeschool Group Event

We just put on a Field Day for our homeschool group. This idea being the combined efforts of myself and another homeschool mom/friend. I thought I'd post because this has to be one the easiest events to do. Pick some events (three legged race, dash, etc), figure the supplies you need (stop watch w/ lap feature, fabric strips, finish line, etc.), make up some Field Day cards with the kids name, events and times so they have something to take home. Split the kids into two groups by grade (1st-4th and 5th and up) and request the help of the other parents for getting kids in line, watching which place their kids are in so they get their correct times, etc. Prizes were a Hershey's Kiss for each event winner and a blue ribbon for those who won the most events for their age group. Everyone brought lunches and we all kicked back after the games!! Fun was had by all and a couple kids (including mine!) asked when we can do it again! Remember: Good to have Field Day at a park near a playground for those parents with little ones.

Spelling Practice

I hate to put an age range on this idea. I think it would depend on the kid and of course you know your kids the best . . . . :)

Here's how we do my 9 year old's spelling: I find lists on line (sight word lists) or use spelling errors I find on other work for my spelling list.

Here's a list of fun spelling activities:

http://sd5.k12.mt.us/elrod/multiage/Spelling.html

edhelper.com (has different spelling lists and you can print off activities where you enter in your own spelling lists; there is a fee for edhelper $20/year -- I have had it for a few years and it is definitely worth the cost if you piecing stuff together)

And any creative ideas he comes up with -- they have to be approved of course :)

I write up an index card for each spelling word that he has to practice each week (usually 15 words). He chooses each day a way to practice his words (10-15 minutes each day). On Friday we do a quiz (verbal sometimes or written -- just depends on the day) and if he gets the spelling word correct it goes in an index card box (which he alphabetizes). Once he has the word in the box he is responsible for spelling it correctly -- he can always look in the box for the spelling of the word if he needs to.

Jamestown - 1607

Taking off from the History of the World curriculum. We do the regular stuff: read the story, answer questions about what we read and then write a summary. From there we also read the following books "Who's Saying What in Jamestown, Thomas Savage?" by Jean Fritz, from the Dear American series "Our Strange New Land, Elizabeth's Diary, Jamestown, Virginia, 1609" by Hermes, "James Towne Struggle for Survival" by Marcia Sewall and for the older set (middle school/high school) "The Paradox of Jamestown (1585-1700)" by Christopher Collier and James Lincoln Colier. "The Paradox of Jamestown" is about the social/political importance of Jamestown for our country as a whole. I am reading this book along with my middle schooler and having discussion sessions after each chapter -- this will carry on a few weeks as we continue to explore the third book in the "History of the World" series. "History of the World" activity book has a great activity to show how shareholders work -- my kids, both ages, enjoyed trying to trick each other into investing in certain "ships". Oh, and a video "National Geographic, The New World, Nightmare in Jamestown" don't shy away because of the title but definitely pre-view -- you know your kids best!

Earth Day - April 22nd

We had a great Earth Day with our homeschool community! It was simple and thoroughly enjoyable -- being as the day was nice and everyone was up for an early season park day. But this couldn't be just any park day because of course it was Earth Day! We showed up with our gloves and garbage bags and after a little bit of playing we all walked the park and picked up trash. I would guess our little Earth Day get-together took out about 20 pounds of garbage from our neighborhood park! Very simple! :)

Geology Rocks!

Geology Rocks! was a great success! We posted to our homeschool group to see who would be interested in a geology class with us. We had six awesome, engaged and participating kids -- a great group for our little house. For day one, I had all the kids bring their magnifying glasses and I borrowed a rock kit from a fellow homeschool mom (another great reason to have your homeschool community -- sharing of materials). For this first class we examined the rocks which where divided into three categories; sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic. First we looked at metamorphic rocks and came up with a list of adjectives; we continued this on for each group of rocks. After, completing our observations of each group of rocks we talked about what we know about how rocks are formed and made some predictions about how we thought they we're formed. This was great because the kids were able to share what they knew (one girl knew metamorphic meant change from one thing to another and one boy knew all about how sedimentary rock was formed) with all of us -- I love these moments in homeschooling! :) Some of the kids made lists of all the adjectives we came up with and some didn't -- it was their choice. We also examined sand my sister brought to me from Virginia -- it's very different that our west coast sand. Class lasted about 1 hour and there was time and good weather for playing afterwards!

Aztecs and Incas - Venn Diagram

I'm up and going. It rained last night so I'm really interest in getting out in garden (she says facetiously). :) Today the plan is to complete the venn diagrams for the Aztecs and Incas. For history we use the History of World as a jumping off point (we're starting book three). We really enjoy the stories, maps and activities however we like to dig a little deeper hence the venn diagram idea. I have done this very simply by reading out loud Great Civilizations Aztecs and Incas AD 1300-1532 by Penny Bateman and having the kids remark when they hear something interesting about the culture of each empire. We have a huge piece of paper separated in two columns, one column titled Incas and the other titled as Aztecs, as we come across interesting facts we list them under the correct heading. Today we are finishing the Incan portion, and reviewing all the info we gathered and creating our venn diagrams. The hope of course is by doing it this way I can give an assignment to compare something and they can do it on their own. We also printed out maps of the Americas and marked each empire on the map. Here's some movies we've watched: Ancient Civilizations for Children Ancient Inca; National Geographic Incan Mummies Secrets of the World, Ancient Civilizations Fall of the Aztec and Mayan Empires and Globe Trekker Central America. Books we've been reading: Cortes and the Aztec Conquest by Irwin Blacker; Children of the Incas by David Mangurian; The Spanish Conquests in the New World. Okay, I'm off to put hay on strawberries -- in the rain! :)

Area and Perimeter - Elementary

Okay, so I'm ready to roll tomorrow morning. I just realized that my youngest is having problems with perimeter and area. I found this out the usual way - correcting last weeks math sheets. So, I went to my school book shelf and was able to pull 5 math activity books for his grade level or close to it. A quick check in the appendixs revealed that only 3 of the books had area and perimeter activities. That narrows it down. But, and here's why I'm posting about this, the book with the best list of activites was my Family Math book. I just keep coming back to this one again and again! Here's what I'm doing for perimeter and area review/reminder: Family Math (by Stenmark, Thompson and Cossey) page 87 - Square Inches; page 89 - Expaned Rectangles; page 90 - Comparing Perimeters; page 96 - Perimeter Variations. I'll throw in a cooking experience with a little review via Math Chef (another great book I keep using over and over again) by D'Amico and Drummond page 122 -- Chapter 12 - What's the Area of a Brownie. I'll letcha know how it goes!

I did this and we now have it!! That's always the best feeling. And of course alterations are always made as we go along. In the end we used all the Family Math book ideas listed above with the exception of page 96 - Perimeter Variations. And we did use the idea from Math Chef only we used a pizza we made for lunch and measured the pan, transfered the measurements to paper and figured out the perimeter and area and then of course ate some yummy pizza!

Welcome to Eclectic Home Educator!

Welcome to Eclectic Home Educator!

What is "Eclectic Home Education" or "Eclectic Homeschooling"?

Eclectic by definition means deriving ideas, style and taste from diverse sources.

Home Education/Homeschooling means taught at home rather than in a public or private school.

Put them together and you have the type of schooling we do on a daily basis. We draw ideas, materials

and knowledge from various sources. As moms and teachers, we believe that the more diverse and well

rounded our children's educational experience is, the more equipped they will be for the future.

Eclectic homeschooling allows you to teach to your child's learning style without boredom or tears. It

also gives you the flexibility to fill in areas that your child may need help without taking away from the

core lesson.

Visit us each week for new, simple, to the point ideas that will help to teach your child and

possibly you as well.

Eclectic Home Education made easy.