Previously, I posted about using songs to signal transitions in the classroom. Today, however, I’d like to focus on using songs as teaching devices. Singing makes everything more fun (at least in our house) and it really aids with memory work. Children really seem to love using their voices to sing tunes and if you can sneak some facts in there, all the better! Here are some songs that we sing almost daily around here.
The Continents Song
We learned this song …

Read on »

Last weekend, I went to a great homeschool forum. One of the workshops was called “Ingredient #20: The Closet.” If you’re familiar with Leadership Education, at least the Thomas Jefferson Education version of it, you’ve probably heard of The Closet. The idea is to have an area in your home to store work and activities for younger children. A closet or cupboard work well for this. In a sense, it’s quite similar to the Montessori model of having work ready …

Read on »

I am now the proud owner of my very own laminating machine. I know–exciting, right? With this little beauty, I can now make activities that might actually stand a chance of surviving the sticky fingers of this house.
Here’s my new baby:
Ta-da!
I got mine at Target for like $28.00. Loved that price tag. And, so far, it’s worked really well! It heats up quickly and then you just stick whatever you want laminated in one of these:

Laminating pouches.
You send it through …

Read on »

Can I just say that I love authors who make it easy to work with their books? Jan Brett (whose work I adore) is one of those artists. On her website—www.janbrett.com–you will find tons of fantastic teacher helps and all of them have her delightful characters and illustrations worked into the activities. There are alphabet cards, classroom signs, character masks, phonogram flash cards, matching games, and even instructions on how to draw your own characters–and that’s just to name a …

Read on »

Here’s a glimpse at what Pearl has been working with the past couple of days. Prepare yourself for lots of pictures.
See my new cabinet? And doesn't the sight of tidy trays of work just make you happy? Or am I the only one…
You know what else makes me happy? This great plaque that my friend gave me. What a weird word–plaque.
As a sidenote, here's my current solution to little hands that want to get into everything. Works like a charm.
Sandpaper …

Read on »